{free printable} Please Take One Halloween Candy Sign

Every year I feel bad that I leave our house (and candy) unattended while we take our kidlets out and about the neighborhood, but this year I'm setting this sign out with the candy and having a guilt free night.

If you would like to download your own copy go HERE. Hope your little ghosts and goblins have a great night of trick or treating.  Happy Halloween!

{free printable} Anniversary/Any Event Notecards

Just a few weeks ago the hubs and I celebrated our 9th anniversary.  So in honor of that momentous event I've made some printable anniversary cards for you!  Whether you're celebrating your 1st or 40th anniversary these sweet little animal cards will get the job done (especially if you're like me and NEVER remember to pick up cards at the grocery store).

These cards could really be used for any event:  birthday, valentines day, just to say 'hello'....etc.  It's always good to have generic cards laying around in case you need them in a pinch.  So print out a few pages and have them handy.
Download FREE printable cards HERE.

{tutorial & free printable} Halloween Burlap Wreath

These burlap wreaths are popping up all over the internet, but I specifically found inspiration at Craftaholics Anonymous to make mine.

I've seen most burlap wreaths made with wire hangers bent into a circle, but I chose to use a wreath form.  However, the green would definitely poke through so I needed to paint mine black first.

I used basic craft paint, but I suppose if you had black spray paint laying around that would work too.

While the paint is drying, lay out your burlap and cut 1x18 inch strips of fabric.  I chose to make mine a bit longer than other tutorials because the wreath form is thicker than a wire so it requires more fabric to wrap around.

I cut strips from approximately 3/4th of a yard of fabric and that seemed plenty for my wreath, but if you like a more fuller look I would purchase at least a yard of burlap to be safe.

 Just as I was about to begin wrapping my wreath with fabric I looked down to see black paint splatters all over my shirt.  What can I say I'm a messy crafter, but if anyone has any tips as how I could remove paint splatters from a shirt please send them my way.  Back to the wreath-- just tie knots of fabric around your wreath until your satisfied with the fullness.  Make sure NOT to pull too tight on the burlap when knotting-- it's very sensitive and will break with just a little amount of strength.  I then attached this little crow I found at the dollar store with some super glue and wire.  Now your wreath is ready to hang.  I paired mine with this little "trick or treat" sign I had laying around, but you could hang your wreath with my printable file below.  All you would need to do is mod podge it onto some wood or tin and string with some burlap or ribbon.

To download your own "Trick or Treat" sign go HERE
Total Cost of the Project: $8
Wreath Form (Joanne's Fabric with 50% off coupon): $4
1 Yard of Black Burlap Fabric (Joanne's Fabric with 40% off coupon): $3
Black Crow (Dollar Store): $1

{recipe} Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

 This recipe came from Sprinkles' pumpkin spice cake box.  It adds just the right amount of cinnamon to any spice cake, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie or cinnamon roll.  Seriously so good!  I tell ya, those folks over at the Sprinkles company know what they're doing.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

milk-- add in 1 teaspoon increments to your desired consistency

 Directions:

Using your electric mixer, beat cream cheese, unsalted butter, salt, and cinnamon on medium low speed until smooth and creamy (approximately 2 or 3 minutes).  Reduce speed to low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until incorporated.  Add the vanilla; beat just until mixed.  Do not over-beat or the frosting will incorporate too much air. It should be creamy and dense like ice cream.  Add milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, if frosting is not of a spreadable consistency.

 Piping Tip: 

More often than not I’m too lazy to get out all of my baking gear so I use Ziplock baggies to pipe frosting.  I make cut in one of the corners (about 1/2 inch off) and insert my tip so it’s a snug fit.  Then I fill the bag up with frosting and pipe away.  Super easy and super lazy, I know!

Enjoy!  This frosting is DIVINE and just in time for the holidays.

{free printables} Trick or Treat Halloween Party

I've got everything you need to throw one spooktacular Halloween party!  This printable includes:  5" Happy Halloween Circular Image, "Eat, Drink & Be Scary" Print, an assortment of Spooky Apothecary Jar Labels, "Trick or Treat" Banner, Food Labels, Fill-in Invites, and 2" Cupcake Toppers/Party Circles.

I wish I was a girl of more clever words, but lets be honest I'm tired today and the kids are about to wake up from their nap.  So it is what it is.  Enjoy!  :)

To download the FREE printables go HERE

To download the FREE invitations go HERE

{recipe} Coffee/Crumb Cake

Not sure what you'd call this cake... coffee cake or crumb cake?  Whatever you call--  call it DELISH!  The cake is incredibly moist and the crumb topping is beyond tasty and crumbly.  I could have eaten the topping raw without the cake and been satisfied.

COFFEE/CRUMB CAKE RECIPE

CRUMB TOPPING

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon almond extract

CAKE BATTER

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream

2 cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

Position the oven rack in the center and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease your cake pan and dust with flour. Set aside.

Make the Crumb: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon.  Melt the butter and stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Gradually drizzle the melted butter mixture into the flour mixture while continuously and gently tossing with a fork. Continue to toss until all the butter is absorbed and you have a uniformly moistened crumb mixture. If texture of crumb is too small, gently squeeze small clumps together to make large crumbs ranging in size from that of a pea to that of a grape.  Set aside while you make the cake batter.

Make the Batter: In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each one is added. Beat in the vanilla and sour cream, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Add flour mixture to the sour cream mixture and beat on low or stir with a large spoon until evenly combined.

Assembling & Cooking:

Turn the batter into the prepared pan(s) and spread evenly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the batter with your fingers, covering the batter evenly and completely. Bake 8-inch rounds for 20-25 minutes, or a 9- by 13-inch pan for 30-35 minutes, or a 9- or 10-inch tube pan for 35-40 minutes. Cake is done when a wooden pick or cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean, and the sides of the cake are golden and slightly pulling away from the edge of the pan. Remove from the oven and let the cake cool in its pan(s) set on a wire rack. Carefully transfer the cake, crumb side up, onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

 My cake was baked in one 9 inch Springform pan and I had to cook it significantly longer than expected.  This turned out delicious and I found myself going back for seconds, thirds and even forths.  An extremely dangerous cake for someone who is on a diet and trying to lose their last bit of post baby weight.  So in order to NOT eat it all box them up and deliver some slices to your neighbors.  Spread the calories and the love!

 Download the circular cake box slice template HERE