photo website_zpsf15f51e8.png

Monday, January 21, 2013

Announcement the Winner of 2 Original Butterfly paintings + USD 25 Target Giftcard Giveaway




From the bottom of my heart; I thank you so much for all of you who participated in this giveaway.  For those of you whom are not so lucky this time, there will be another giveaway coming soon. To improve curiositaellya blog I would love some input from you on how I can improve and be  better in another giveaway in the future.  I am not an expert on this and I only do this based on I know how and I am learning everyday as I go a long. For that, I truly appreciate it. Once again, "thank you All!"

For MeganP, please contact me with home address so I can send your winning prizes.

Thank you so much !

Friday, January 18, 2013

Ombre Sweetheart Banana Cakes

Yesterday I was having fun baking these two four stacks Ombre Sweetheart Banana Cakes. And today I continued by putting on the cream cheese frosting and took pictures of these two lovely Sweetheart Banana Cakes.

I used an old recipe that was given to me from an old  friend of mine. It is very easy to do and guarantee that you can never go wrong baking this cake. I modified the recipe by adding 2 ripe bananas and it is very moist and to my surprise tastes quite delicious. I know sometime you probably questioning and wondering the cake made to look like this, is it taste as good as it looks. My answer is; it does taste delicious as it looks. 

Both cakes are the same cake but I used two different food coloring, one is red and the other one is blue.

I wish I used a different method of creating the little purple heart sprinkle sugar  to create a crisp edge of a heart shape on the top the second cake. But I did not. More less I think it is a pretty cake.

I did not do a good job in cutting the first cake to show the inside of the cake because the flowers were on the way. But It is still showing the nice ombre color I want.
















::Recipe::

Ombre Sweetheart Banana Cake

Cake
~ 1 pkg yellow cake mix or French Vanilla Cake Mix
~ 1 small pkg instant vanilla pudding
~ 4 large eggs
~ 1/2 cup cold water
~ 1/2 cup vegetable oil
~ 3 ripe bananas {I used 2 bananas but I think it will taste so much better with 3}
~ Food coloring, red and blue for the above cakes.

Preheat oven 350 deg. Grease and flour 4-1/4 by 4-1/4 inch heart shape cake moulding. {I got mine from Home Goods. You can use any size. You can probably get 3 of 4 stacks cake by using this size heart shape cake moulding.}

In a bowl; by using a fork smash the bananas and
mix all the ingredients together using electric mixer for about 5 to 10 minutes.

To get the ombre color. Take a small new bowl and put about half cup of batter and pour for the first {bottom} heart cake and put a tiny drop of color and mix well with spoon. Pour 2/3 close to the top rim of the pan. Then bake for 16 minutes. The cake will slide right off when cool. Wash the cake moulding.  Then for the second cake, put another half cup of batter and pour it on a new bowl but this time double coloring and mix it well with spoon. Then pour it on the pan. And bake for 16 minutes.
Repeat the second step for the third layer cake but this time triple the food coloring to get the color slightly darker than the second cake. Repeat the same process for the fourth cake but this time make sure you have a lot more of food coloring. So that the color will show more of gradation. You can test the colored batter by spoon it on a flat plate. Doing it this way you can see the different for each color, whether you need more color or not.

Note: I have only one heart shape cake moulding. If you are planning to do this I think it is better to have two or more cake moulding.


Cream Cheese Frosting
~ 1 cup cream cheese at room temperature
~ 1/4 cup butter at room temperature
~ 3 tablespoon powder sugar
~ vanilla
Mix all together with electric mixer.

If you need to decorate with different color of Cream Cheese Frosting; then take 1/4 cup of cream cheese mix then put a drop of color. Then decorate the cake.


Before you decorate the cake with Cream Cheese Frosting you need to 'crumb coat' the cake first. To do this you need to make 'icing.'

~ 1 white egg at room temperature
~ 2 tblspoon powder sugar
~ Using electric mixer mix until stiff. 
Before you put the crumb coat. You need to put the Cream Cheese Frosting in between layers of cake. So do that first. Then using spatula smear the icing thinly to cover the cake. Then put in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Then proceed decorate the cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.



--------------<<<<<<>>>>>>-------------

Good luck Everyone and,
thank you for stopping by !







Thursday, January 17, 2013

Washi Tape

Aren't we all love washi tape ?
I do !

I can't wait to receive my washi tapes that I ordered through Etsy. By the way, Etsy is a great source to get washi tapes {here}. But I just have learned that we can make our own washi tape. Tutorial below.

Washi tape are being used in almost anything. Art, vases, glassware, packaging, cards, wall, even taped on bicycle. The sky is the limit. Use your own imagination.

Take a look of how these creative people used their washi tape.




Source; http://pinterest.com/pin/112941903124864947/








Make your own washi tape {TUTORIAL}
Source; Aeshetic Nest
------<<<<>>>>-----

I hope you enjoy the "Washi tape" presentation !

And,
"thank you for stopping by!"

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January '13 Interior Journal/Collage No. 2

This interior journal/collage supposed to be posted for the month of February 2013. I am having a sleep deprivation tonight so I decided to post this journal/collage now. Since it is 5 am in the morning I think I am going to make a cup of coffee and try to stay awake until morning since I have to go somewhere at 9 am. I created this interior journal/collage a long time a go. And I still have many that I have not posted yet. I like the juxtaposition of the soft blue decorative pillows, the grey wall and the architectural drawing hanging as a group above the sofa.









I do hope you enjoy this interior picture journal & collage.

Thank you !

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Pre-Valentine Hearts {Soft Pink Chocolate Hearts + Bath Soap}

Valentine {complete story of the origin of Valentine's day; here} is a month a way but I am looking for a 'heart object' inspiration to bake or to photograph. So yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble and  as always I love looking at pictures through magazines to find any inspiration about anything from sewing, decorating and displaying, cooking, photography, fashion etc. Usually I ended up with buying something small as I know I could get any of these books book  at Amazon.com for much cheaper prize. But yesterday I bought a bargain recipe book called "Tapas - Tantalizing Small Plates From The Mediterranean" for USD 7.98 plus a heart shape bath soap. And after, I headed over to Home Goods and found this cutest small round box filled with pretty heart shape soft pink chocolates for USD 9.99. I love Home Goods for pretty small little thing like this one. Oh, I also bought a bottle of  pink Himalayan salt for USD 2.99. I just knew it would be lovely to style for food photography.

I got some ideas as to what I want to create for Valentine this coming Februaary. But today I played around with these two heart objects that I found yesterday and photographed them. 










I think I have quite enough inspirations from these 2 lovely heart objects. But will find some more....

Thank you for stopping by !

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

2 Framed Handpainted Butterflies + USD 25.00 Target Giftcard Giveaway (Closed)


Hello,
I am re-posting this Giveaway and I want to let you know that if you already participated or going to participate  this giveaway and already followed or going to follow curiositaellya through Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friends Connect or all three , please write in below post comment. As I am accumulating your point in order for me to draw the winning number by the end of the giveaway. 
For example; "maryheart is following through FB and Twitter."
This is  to make it easy for me to track which one follow what and how many points they got. From the bottom of my heart; thank you so much !



Here is a chance for you to win 2 butterflies pink and blue framed  hand painted art by Ellya and USD 25.00 Target gift card.

Butterfly in blue frame size: 6-1/2' x 4-3/4" and frame size,  7-1/2" x 9".
Butterfly in pink frame size: 4-3/4" x 6-1/2" and frame size, 6-3/4" x 8-1/2"

These paintings are beautiful to decorate your daughter's room or powder room or any room you like.



the deet:

1. 1 point for following on Facebook, or
2. 1 point for following on Twitter, or
3. 2 points for signing in Google Friend 
4. This is a  must ! Leave in a comment in the bottom of this post mentioning about which of the 3 above  you followed. This is because there is no way I will know what you have done unless you mentioned it. And it will make it easy for me. For this, I thank you so much !
(Note: You can do all of those three for the total point of 4. Points means the number of name appear on the list. If you followed all three that means the number of your name will appear is, 4 times.)
4. 2 points for putting a comments on the last 4 posts if you already a follower on the above, like Facebook, Twitter and Google Friends Connect.
5. Please be 18 years or older!
6. For US & Canada residents only !

Giveaway will start Jan. 07th, 2013 at 0:30 am EST and will end Jan. 21st, 2013 at 0:30 am EST.

1 winner will be chosen. A real email address  required and will not be made public or used for other purposes.
 The winner will be contacted the same day through email and must reply with home address within 4 days. Failure to reply after 3 days; we will draw another winner.


Best of luck !

Home Made Skinny Mocha in a Coca Cola Glass

It is very hot today in Delray, Florida. I just finished re-painted a head board for the guest bedroom. I am happy with the result but suddenly and as I am sweating 'a glass of cold mocha' entering my head and I could taste it down my throat. So I whipped what ever I have in my kitchen; Chocolate Soy Milk and fresh brewed coffee with lots of ice. 

Oh yeaaa.....!!!


Mix 1/2 cup of fresh brewed coffee and 1 cup Chocolate Soymilk. Pour in the glass and with lots of ice cubes.

------<<>>-----