Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Baking, Baking, Baking...just keep Baking. Or is it swimming? I think Dory (Finding Nemo) sang it as swimming swimming swimming...but its baking baking baking in my head. May have something to do with all the baking going on around here. Something about the holidays brings out my inner baker. I've always been a cook and not a baker. 2011 brought me into my baking side of life. I mastered the cupcake, and making oat flour cookies this year...and I'm excited to see what new talents I discover in 2012!

I happened upon this post from Bakerella featuring their oh so beautiful cupcakes. 


So when it came time to make treats for children's church...I went this route. Only, I had helping hands a.k.a. kids...

I used Wilton's melting chips in green and painted the melted candy onto each tree with a basting brush.  Then I let the kids add M&Ms and a gumdrop top while I got busy on the cupcakes.  Each tree was centered on the cupcake and then I piped icing around the base.  Add red sprinkles ... Done!  It was a fun, quick project we all enjoyed! 

 And I am pretty sure the kids at church will enjoy eating just as much as we enjoyed making them!

Happy Holiday Baking!

Filling your advent Calendar

What do you put in your Advent Calendars?  We are doing a filled advent calendar this year for the first time.  In years past we just had a countdown calendar that we moved the snowflake from number to number.  This year I am making an advent calendar with an activity or gift in each day. 

I love this Free printable from The Petit Cadeau!  Its full of ideas and premade cards ready to add to your calendar!  There are extras so you can pick and choose what you prefer.  I'm going to avoid filling it with tons of candy and gifts, and lean more on the activty side. 

 

Christmas Advent Calendars

I've had an Advent Calendar that we used for several years, however, it saw its last Christmas last year.  It was a simple, store bought countdown calendar.  You simply moved the snowflake to the correct date until Christmas day.  I loved having it for J, simply to avoid the 25 days of "how many more days?" question.  He knew he could go count it himself! 

This is year I am planning to DiY one.  I love the idea of adding little trinkets and gifts for each day.  We can deter not only the "how many days" question but also the "can we open a gift" one too! Lil Bug won't quite understand the concept yet, but I think its a great tradition to start with her....I love family traditions!

Here are some of the DIY countdown calendars I am pondering...

Simple pouches, made from Scrapbook paper from Kimberly Petersen

Bucket list Calendar made from Dollar Store items! Via Infarrantly Creative

UPDATE****
Our Advent Calendar 2011

I went with pockets made from scrapbook paper.  Inside each pocket is an activity from the free printable advent activities I posted about here.