Made By Stephie

OMG - I can't believe that it has been over three months since I have posted anything!!! It's an understatement to say that I have been busy! My photography business is doing really well right now - but I missed my blog and all of my wonderful followers! Here is one of my first crafts of the Christmas season!

I love love shopping the fabric section at Hobby Lobby - so many bright and beautiful prints! I am constantly buying yards when it's on sale and I have finally found something to do with some of it.

Isn't she beautiful!

Here is how I did it:

I started off by wrapping my wreath form with a strip of fabric.

Once I got it completely covered I started with my little flowers. I cut tons of circles out of coordinating fabrics - 3 different sizes. I used some glasses to trace for my circles - but anything would do!

Next I stacked the three sizes on top of each other and just kind of "pinched" one side and folded it to the middle and then pinched the other side and folded it to the middle.

Then I just stuck a straight pen through the middle of the folds and stuck it in the wreath form.

And that's it! I made several different kinds out of some of my favorite fabrics!

Have a good Tuesday!!

$7.00 Starburst Mirror!

I am sooooo proud that I finally got this project finished! I've had the mirror, $2.62 from GoodWill, for about 4 months or so - just sitting in my craft cabinet waiting to be turned into something fabulous. I bought some bamboo skewers from the Dollar Tree shortly after. I tried to layout a pattern I liked with the skewers - but there was just something missing. Then - back to school season rolled around and the light bulb went off! Rulers would be perfect! So - I waited for a few weeks - until the rulers went on super sale ($.25 each) and scooped a bunch up!

So here is what I used!

$2.62 mirror from GoodWill
$1.00 pack of bamboo skewers
$.25 rulers (I used 16 of them $4.00)
And - my ever trusty Gorilla Glue

First I laid out a pattern -

Then I just flipped it over and glued it together!

All finished and in it's temporary home...

Back to Blogging!

Hey Guys!

I am back from my blogging hiatus! School and my photo biz has really kept me busy lately - but I am glad to be back! I miss being crafty and making things. I am working on a project now that should be done in a day or so! I can't wait to share it with you!

Here are a few pics from what has been keeping me busy! As always you can check out my work on my photography blog: www.stephiehicksphotography.com/blog

Terrific Tuesday Photos

Yay! My fav day of the week!

This week I am participating in Trendy Treehouse's Shutter Love Tuesdays.

I love linking up photos to Trendy Treehouse! The theme this week is faces.

Look at this sweet angel face! He was soooo happy and content hanging out under that tree!

You can check out more photos from that shoot on my Stephie Hicks Photography blog!

I'm Back in the Saddle Again...

Wow! I have been away for a while. The past few weeks have been mad crazy and unfortunately Made By Stephie had to be put on the back burner for a while. But - I am sooooo happy to be back to the blogging world! If you are wondering where I have been for the past few weeks head over to my photography blog and check out all of the fun stuff I have been up to Just click right...HERE!

Now to Matty Monday!!

Matty made these wonderfully delicious cupcakes...

This week, one of my co-workers (shot-out to Chelsea!) was on a blueberry kick,
having purchased a large quantity of in-season blueberries, while she was back
home in Arkansas. So hearing about the berries made crave them somthin’ bad, so
behold this week’s recipe:

This is a great go-to cupcake, perfect amount of light sweetness, almost like a
muffin… This one’s not for the sweet tooth, uses tons of sugar though. The
whipped topping is a perfect addition and super easy!

Till next time!
Matty

Here is the Recipe!

For the cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish
Whipped cream

For the whipped cream

2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Martha Stewart's Cupcakes by the Editors of Martha Stewart Living

Method

Make the cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line standard or mini muffin tins with paper liners.

2. Whisk together both flours, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla.

3. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each. Fold in blueberries by hand.

4. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until pale golden, about 25 minutes for standard and 15 for mini.

5. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored up to 3 days at room temperature in airtight containers.

Make the whipped cream

1. Whisk heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add confectioners’ sugar, and whisk until combined. If not using immediately, whipped cream can be refrigerated, covered tightly, up to 3 hours in an airtight container.

2. To finish, dollop cupcakes with whipped cream, and garnish with berries. Serve immediately.

Terrific Tuesday Photos

Happy Tuesday! This is one of my favorite days of the week! I love sharing my photography with you guys and I love love participating in all of the photo contest out here in blogland every week!

Here are some Summery Travel photos that I have taken! Hope you enjoy them!

I took this photo during my summer studying abroad. I spent a quarter studying photography at SCAD's campus in Lacoste France and was able to take a few trips to Paris!