It's true...I moved! But only for the summer. My hubby and I just relocated up to Northern Virginia for a few months and I'll be back in Charlottesville in September. Of course, I'll be visiting the good ol' C-ville occasionally so I'll be around from time to time.
I've been busy getting back into business after the move last week and am already getting back up to speed. It's easy to forget how much work moving is even when you only need to move your clothes and studio supplies!
All of this makes me so grateful that I have a job where I can move where I need to and work from practically any location. Owning your own business rocks! When we moved, I quit my full-time 9 to 5 job so now I'm only working my other full-time job - the faux dessert business. It's going to be nice having flexibility and more time to put into getting the Jenni B Originals name out there.
I have some REALLY exciting news to share in my next entry but I want to save it. Stay tuned!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Candied Apples - Look But Don't Taste!
Faux Candied Apples So I just added a new item to my Etsy shop. A faux candied apple! Okay, so it's a fake caramel apple with nuts that looks good enough to eat. I have to keep reminding myself to resist the temptation! And I know this item is really just perfect for Fall decor, but I've been so excited about it I just couldn't wait. I made up quite a few varieties of these last week and had a lot of fun making something different than cupcakes. It's like my life has been overrun with cupcakes the past few months!
These apples (sold in sets of three) are going to be in the Craft Fair Section of The Country Sampler, August/September issue. They'll also be up on their website in July. I'll be sure to post about them again then. But of course, they'll be available for purchase in my shop before then - just because I can't wait until July!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The "Chef Executive Officer" Tells All
I dropped a line to the local newspaper, The Daily Progress, to let them know about my giant faux cupcake order and they wanted to do a write-up. It was featured in today's paper! It turned out to be extremely well done. The author, David Maurer, included some great stories and customer quotes in the article and gives a great overview of my young business.
Also, an update as promised...the big account I made the cupcakes for was Electrolux. They are working with Best Buy and launching a new line of major appliances. The celebrity spokesperson they've hired is Kelly Ripa. Check out their cupcake advertising campaign! The cupcakes I made are going to be featured in their tradeshow area. I will post pics once I receive some!
Thanks, Daily Progress!
Also, an update as promised...the big account I made the cupcakes for was Electrolux. They are working with Best Buy and launching a new line of major appliances. The celebrity spokesperson they've hired is Kelly Ripa. Check out their cupcake advertising campaign! The cupcakes I made are going to be featured in their tradeshow area. I will post pics once I receive some!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Cupcakes, Cupcakes Everywhere!
Ok, so my question is this: Am I in Cupcake Heaven or Cupcake Hell? I'm still trying to decide on how I would answer that!
I just completed an order for over 500 jumbo cupcakes for the upcoming Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago, April 11 - 13, for an undisclosed client. This is top secret stuff! Once the show has begun, I can post more about this mystery.
Thankfully, my part is over. I've been working (with some great friends & family) on this monster of a project for the past month. And I'm finally done! I learned lots of great lessons and, overall, had a wonderful time!
Friday, March 28, 2008
"Crafting with Jenni B" Cupcake Girlfriends Party Time!
Hello, Virginia Living Television fans! My mom, Jana, made a special trip out to Virginia to be a guest on "Crafting with Jenni B." We were so glad to have her! We wanted to share with our viewers some of our favorite things to do together. One, of course, is crafting and the other is getting together with our girlfriends for a good time!
Cupcakes were our theme, as you can tell! We shared two crafts on the air and also wanted to provide some instructions in case you missed it!
Cupcake Party Aprons
Canvas Apron
Fabric Pen in Brown
Ruler
Double Stick Tape
Word Processor
Printer
Paper
Sponge Paintbrush
Acrylic Paint in Brown
Colorful fabric, ¼ yard
Ribbon and/or ric rac
Hot glue gun
Glue gun sticks
Scissors
Pencil
Bling to decorate with like buttons/rhinestones
One of the fun things about this apron is that it doesn’t have to be an apron at all. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be decorated with cupcakes. Use these same techniques on canvas totes & purses. Different colors & embellishments will bring out your creativity!
First, you’ll want to decide on your theme. Anyone that knows me also knows that I love cupcakes. So naturally, I went with a cupcake theme on this Crafting With Jenni B episode!
Decide which words or saying you’d like to print across the bottom. Print it out on your computer. I made my letters about 4” high. Cut them out and tape them together into a long strip if necessary. Make sure they’ll fit across the bottom of the apron! Find the center of the words by folding the strip in half from side to side.
Find the center of the apron by folding it in half from side to side and make a small crease in the fabric on the fold. This way you can line the wording up exactly in the center. Put your words behind the apron and secure with tape (double sided works easiest). Trace the letters in pencil before you fill them in with the fabric marker to ensure the wording looks how you’d like it to.
Make your cupcake for the apron next. Draw a pattern on some lined paper for the cupcake bottom. I just made a trapeze shape. Then make a pattern on some paper for the cupcake icing. Make it as big and as fluffy as you’d like!
When your patterns are made, take the cupcake cup and outline it on the apron making sure it’s centered (use the same technique as you did for the wording). Outline it with pencil before filling it in with the brown fabric marker. You can even apply acrylic paint with a sponge brush (just make sure you mix it with a medium so it can be washed – the medium can be found in the same section of the craft store as the acrylic paint).
Once the cup of the cupcake has dried, you’re ready to add the “icing”! Trace the icing pattern on to the fabric of your choice. I liked the bright green fabric with pink dots that resemble sprinkles. Cut out the fabric and place it on your cupcake cup to get the alignment correct. Apply it with fabric glue and let dry.
Now for the fun part – adding embellishments. I like coordinating ric rac and ribbon. All you need to do is use your glue gun to put small dots on the apron and then immediately place the ribbon over it. I actually placed a row of ric rac on the cupcake cup and added a flower button and a rhinestone. I put some rhinestones on some of the polka dots on the cupcake as well.
And you’re all done! Enjoy.
Cupcake Party Placemats
Large piece of paper or tissue paper
Pink scrapbook paper
Brown paper from a paper bag or packing material
Ruler
Hot glue/sticks
Double-stick tape
Ribbon or ric rac for embellishment
Pencil
Scissors
Draw a pattern for your cupcake bottom on the large piece of paper or tissue paper. Use a ruler as necessary. We made our bottoms about 8” high and 10” across at the widest point. Then draw a pattern for your icing.
Trace around the pattern for your icing and the cup and then cut them out. Make more than one if you’d like to! I got two cupcake tops from one piece of 12” x 12” scrapbook paper.
Next you’re going to add your embellishment to the cupcake bottom. We used a brown ribbon with a little bit of pink, but you could use ric rac as well. Just make sure it isn’t too bulky so your plate will lie flat when you put it on your placemat! Apply it with some hot glue or craft glue. You don’t have to go to the very top edge of the cupcake bottom because the cupcake top will cover it!
Place double-stick tape along the top edge of the front of the cupcake bottom. Press the cupcake top on.
You’re ready to use your placemat for your very own Girlfriends Party!
Cupcakes were our theme, as you can tell! We shared two crafts on the air and also wanted to provide some instructions in case you missed it!
Cupcake Party Aprons
Canvas Apron
Fabric Pen in Brown
Ruler
Double Stick Tape
Word Processor
Printer
Paper
Sponge Paintbrush
Acrylic Paint in Brown
Colorful fabric, ¼ yard
Ribbon and/or ric rac
Hot glue gun
Glue gun sticks
Scissors
Pencil
Bling to decorate with like buttons/rhinestones
One of the fun things about this apron is that it doesn’t have to be an apron at all. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be decorated with cupcakes. Use these same techniques on canvas totes & purses. Different colors & embellishments will bring out your creativity!
First, you’ll want to decide on your theme. Anyone that knows me also knows that I love cupcakes. So naturally, I went with a cupcake theme on this Crafting With Jenni B episode!
Decide which words or saying you’d like to print across the bottom. Print it out on your computer. I made my letters about 4” high. Cut them out and tape them together into a long strip if necessary. Make sure they’ll fit across the bottom of the apron! Find the center of the words by folding the strip in half from side to side.
Find the center of the apron by folding it in half from side to side and make a small crease in the fabric on the fold. This way you can line the wording up exactly in the center. Put your words behind the apron and secure with tape (double sided works easiest). Trace the letters in pencil before you fill them in with the fabric marker to ensure the wording looks how you’d like it to.
Make your cupcake for the apron next. Draw a pattern on some lined paper for the cupcake bottom. I just made a trapeze shape. Then make a pattern on some paper for the cupcake icing. Make it as big and as fluffy as you’d like!
When your patterns are made, take the cupcake cup and outline it on the apron making sure it’s centered (use the same technique as you did for the wording). Outline it with pencil before filling it in with the brown fabric marker. You can even apply acrylic paint with a sponge brush (just make sure you mix it with a medium so it can be washed – the medium can be found in the same section of the craft store as the acrylic paint).
Once the cup of the cupcake has dried, you’re ready to add the “icing”! Trace the icing pattern on to the fabric of your choice. I liked the bright green fabric with pink dots that resemble sprinkles. Cut out the fabric and place it on your cupcake cup to get the alignment correct. Apply it with fabric glue and let dry.
Now for the fun part – adding embellishments. I like coordinating ric rac and ribbon. All you need to do is use your glue gun to put small dots on the apron and then immediately place the ribbon over it. I actually placed a row of ric rac on the cupcake cup and added a flower button and a rhinestone. I put some rhinestones on some of the polka dots on the cupcake as well.
And you’re all done! Enjoy.
Cupcake Party Placemats
Large piece of paper or tissue paper
Pink scrapbook paper
Brown paper from a paper bag or packing material
Ruler
Hot glue/sticks
Double-stick tape
Ribbon or ric rac for embellishment
Pencil
Scissors
Draw a pattern for your cupcake bottom on the large piece of paper or tissue paper. Use a ruler as necessary. We made our bottoms about 8” high and 10” across at the widest point. Then draw a pattern for your icing.
Trace around the pattern for your icing and the cup and then cut them out. Make more than one if you’d like to! I got two cupcake tops from one piece of 12” x 12” scrapbook paper.
Next you’re going to add your embellishment to the cupcake bottom. We used a brown ribbon with a little bit of pink, but you could use ric rac as well. Just make sure it isn’t too bulky so your plate will lie flat when you put it on your placemat! Apply it with some hot glue or craft glue. You don’t have to go to the very top edge of the cupcake bottom because the cupcake top will cover it!
Place double-stick tape along the top edge of the front of the cupcake bottom. Press the cupcake top on.
You’re ready to use your placemat for your very own Girlfriends Party!
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Martha Stewart Show Experience
I just put together a small collage of my experience at The Martha Stewart Show on Dec. 7 and I thought I'd share it with my readers. You can see me, my mom and my in-laws who were all so kind to come and support me in New York City. Thanks for making it a great time!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Virginia Living TV's "Crafting with Jenni B"
On the first episode of "Crafting with Jenni B", my host, Tammy Barboza, and I made a fun Springtime Tree and darling Faux Springtime Candy Truffles. As promised, the directions are below. Please do respond and/or send pictures of your version of the tree and treats. We'd love to see them!
If you would rather just purchase your Springtime Ornaments, you may do so at http://www.jenniboriginals.etsy.com/. There are many other faux food items, gifts, and decorations available as well!
If you would rather just purchase your Springtime Ornaments, you may do so at http://www.jenniboriginals.etsy.com/. There are many other faux food items, gifts, and decorations available as well!
Springtime Display Tree
This unique and fun-to-make tree brings a little of the outdoors inside. Decorate it with small, lightweight ornaments such as the Faux Springtime Candy Truffles (shown below).
Supplies you’ll need:
7 – 8 Small branches and twigs cut from trees (small leaves or sprouts add extra personality)
White spray paint
Plaster of Paris
Water
Mixing container
A terra cotta pot to anchor the branches into
Acrylic paint in your choice of color
Sponge brush
Easter grass
Once you’ve selected and cut your branches/twigs from trees, spray paint them white. Let them dry completely.
While you are letting the twigs dry, apply a few coats of acrylic paint to the terra cotta pot with a sponge brush. Cover it completely. Don’t worry about painting all of the inside because you won’t be seeing most of the inside. Just make sure you get the upper inside rim. Let your pot dry completely.
Once your branches and pot are both dry, try arranging the branches in the pot. Make them look fairly natural. Once you have the set-up, you’re ready to mix the plaster. The plaster will help the branches stay in place exactly how you want them. Make sure you plug the hole in the bottom of your pot so the plaster doesn’t go through before you begin mixing.
By following the directions on your Plaster of Paris container (usually one part water to two parts plaster), mix the plaster. It should be pretty thin but will set up fast. Holding the branches with one hand, pour the plaster into your pot with the other. Mix more plaster if needed to fill the pot. Hold the branches in place for about ten minutes in the pot or until they can stand on their own.
When the plaster is dry (it only takes a couple of hours), cover the top of the pot with Easter grass to hide the white plaster.
Now you’re ready to decorate your Springtime Tree!
7 – 8 Small branches and twigs cut from trees (small leaves or sprouts add extra personality)
White spray paint
Plaster of Paris
Water
Mixing container
A terra cotta pot to anchor the branches into
Acrylic paint in your choice of color
Sponge brush
Easter grass
Once you’ve selected and cut your branches/twigs from trees, spray paint them white. Let them dry completely.
While you are letting the twigs dry, apply a few coats of acrylic paint to the terra cotta pot with a sponge brush. Cover it completely. Don’t worry about painting all of the inside because you won’t be seeing most of the inside. Just make sure you get the upper inside rim. Let your pot dry completely.
Once your branches and pot are both dry, try arranging the branches in the pot. Make them look fairly natural. Once you have the set-up, you’re ready to mix the plaster. The plaster will help the branches stay in place exactly how you want them. Make sure you plug the hole in the bottom of your pot so the plaster doesn’t go through before you begin mixing.
By following the directions on your Plaster of Paris container (usually one part water to two parts plaster), mix the plaster. It should be pretty thin but will set up fast. Holding the branches with one hand, pour the plaster into your pot with the other. Mix more plaster if needed to fill the pot. Hold the branches in place for about ten minutes in the pot or until they can stand on their own.
When the plaster is dry (it only takes a couple of hours), cover the top of the pot with Easter grass to hide the white plaster.
Now you’re ready to decorate your Springtime Tree!
Faux Springtime Candy Truffle Ornaments
These little cuties are perfect displayed on the Springtime Display Tree or on a nice white tree. They can even be made into place card holders or refrigerator magnets. Just use your imagination!
Supplies you’ll need:Crayola Model Magic (or other air-dry clay)
Wax paper
Acrylic paint in pastel colors
Paintbrush
3-D paint in pastel colors
Small beads in pastel colors
Clear glitter
Fishing line
Needle
Candle
Needle nosed pliers
Small foil and/or paper candy cups
Take small amounts of air-drying clay and mold them into candy shapes like domes, squares, and balls. Take into account the size of the candy cups you’ll eventually be putting them into. Make as many candy forms as you wish.
Once you’ve molded your candy, let it dry over night. When you begin painting it (don’t paint them all if you want some to remain white) with the acrylic paints, they don’t have to be completely dry. They should just be dry enough that they don’t lose their shapes as you paint and decorate them.
Now you’re ready to embellish them! Make swirls of color and add the beads and glitter as desired. You can get inspiration by looking at the chocolate candy in your local sweet shop. Just be creative! This is where you can have a lot of fun.
Before moving on, make sure your candies are completely dry. Another overnight wait should be good enough. If you would like to hang your treats, you can thread the fishing line through the candy. Do this by sticking a needle through the candy, from side to side. Then slide your line through the hole the needle made. Sometimes it works a little easier if you lick the end of the fishing line before pushing it through. Once the line is through just take the ends and melt them over a candle flame. Clamp them with the pliers to secure the joint. You’re ready to place them in the candy cup!
If you aren’t making the truffles into ornaments, just place them in the candy cup and skip the process with the fishing line. To secure the candy in their cups, just add some hot glue to the bottom of the candy and then firmly press it into the cup.
Make sure you tell your guests that these yummy little treats aren’t real because they’ll probably want to take a bite!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Spring is Coming Early!
Okay, so it may still be freezing outside but I still want Spring to come early! I've been cooking up some new Springy items in hopes that the weather would cooperate. Check out some of the latest!
This is just a small variety of some of my springtime items.
I still can't get over the mini cupcakes. I've added glass glitter
to this one to resemble sugar. Then I couldn't help but put it on
a tree. Now I have a cupcake tree for Spring!
I sort of hope nobody buys these so I can use them all season. :)
Actually, one of my favorite things about this item is that it's
so versatile. It's a place card holder, it's a picture holder,
it's an ornament! Plus, if you use them as place card holders at your
bridal or baby shower, you can also use them as favors.
The guests can just take them home and use them to hold their own pictures!
Would you take a look at these place card holders? I created them
for my new show, "Crafting with Jenni B". We made them
on the first episode. You'll definitely see the instructions on
how to make them here on my blog in the next week or so.
Wouldn't these be the cutest thing sitting at
each place of your next Spring gathering? Yes!!
Ever wonder what my studio looks like? Well, here it is! Half of
it, anyway. I had to take a picture since it was so clean. I have
to admit, this is probably my favorite room in the house. I got
to design it as well as the adjoining bathroom to my own
specifications. It was fun! I love having my very own space to work in.
Friday, January 18, 2008
New Year = New Opportunities
So much has happened since the last time I've posted...where to begin?
On December 7 I was on LIVE National Television with Martha Stewart herself, making faux tart Christmas tree ornaments. It was truly an experience! Martha was kind and warm for the few minutes I saw here as we were making our treats.
It all started back in October when a producer of the show contacted me through my little Etsy shop. A couple of months, sleepless nights, and overnighted newly developed ideas later, I was in New York City with my mom and in-laws enjoying a new adventure. Being on live television wasn't the most pleasant experience but all the adrenaline made me sort of numb so I was able to perform. Click here to see my Martha Stewart Show footage!
I was only in New York for 2 days and it all seems like a dream now. My mom fulfilled her life long dream of seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and seeing Central Park in the snow. New York City truly is a magical place during the holiday season! Twinkling lights, millions (literally) of shoppers, cold air, and high spirits.
When I returned, it was so much fun to see all of the orders for faux food that were coming in. My mom and I worked day and night for a week solid to get all of the orders in the mail. It was great fun!
After seeing an article in the paper with a picture of me with some of faux treats, I got a call from a local public television station. The man calling thought my desserts were real and wanted me to host a cooking show! After meeting with him and explaining to him that I wasn't exactly the best chef, he offered me my very own crafting show. It will only air once a month at this point in three counties, but I am extremely excited about it.
On December 7 I was on LIVE National Television with Martha Stewart herself, making faux tart Christmas tree ornaments. It was truly an experience! Martha was kind and warm for the few minutes I saw here as we were making our treats.
It all started back in October when a producer of the show contacted me through my little Etsy shop. A couple of months, sleepless nights, and overnighted newly developed ideas later, I was in New York City with my mom and in-laws enjoying a new adventure. Being on live television wasn't the most pleasant experience but all the adrenaline made me sort of numb so I was able to perform. Click here to see my Martha Stewart Show footage!
I was only in New York for 2 days and it all seems like a dream now. My mom fulfilled her life long dream of seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and seeing Central Park in the snow. New York City truly is a magical place during the holiday season! Twinkling lights, millions (literally) of shoppers, cold air, and high spirits.
When I returned, it was so much fun to see all of the orders for faux food that were coming in. My mom and I worked day and night for a week solid to get all of the orders in the mail. It was great fun!
After seeing an article in the paper with a picture of me with some of faux treats, I got a call from a local public television station. The man calling thought my desserts were real and wanted me to host a cooking show! After meeting with him and explaining to him that I wasn't exactly the best chef, he offered me my very own crafting show. It will only air once a month at this point in three counties, but I am extremely excited about it.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
