Coconut Sugar Cookies

I thought it would be fun to post my latest cookie experiment. I've played around with some yummy ingredients and I think what I've come up with is the perfect tropical vacation in a cookie. These Coconut Sugar Cookies have me day dreaming of tropical beaches and summer breezes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Coconut Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 C. Butter (room temperature)

3/4 C. Coconut Oil

1 1/4 C. Sugar

3/4 C. Powdered Sugar

2 T. Coconut Water

2 Eggs

1 t. Coconut Extract

1/2 t. Baking Soda

1/2 t. Cream of Tarter

1 t. Salt

5 1/2 C. Flour

Cream together Butter, Oil, Sugars, Water, Eggs, and Coconut Extract.

Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to butter mixture.

Mix until everything is combined.  Your dough should be a little crumbly.

Roll a heaping tablespoon sized ball of dough and place it on your cookie sheet

To give these cookies their signature rough edge.  Put 1/4 c of sugar and a pinch of salt in a dish (this is in addition to the sugar and salt listed above.)  Stick the bottom of a glass into the sugar salt mixture and firmly press it into the center of your dough ball. 

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.  They should just barely be browning on the bottom.    Move cookies to a cooling rack. 

Coconut Frosting:

1/2 C. Butter (room temperature)

1/2 C. Sour Cream

¼ C. Cream Cheese (room temperature)

2 ½ C. Powdered Sugar (approximately, I don’t measure)

1 t. Coconut Extract

1/2 t. Salt

1/4 C. Coconut Water

Grated Coconut (to sprinkle on top of frosted cookie)

Start by creaming together butter, sour ream, coconut extract, salt and coconut water.

Slowly add powdered sugar until your frosting is the desired taste & consistency. 

Store the frosting in a sealed container in the refrigerator until chilled. Frost cookies right before serving adding some grated coconut on top. The room temperature cookie paired with the chilled frosting and shredded coconut is heavenly!

Surprise! Confetti Packaging

With Christmas fast approaching I thought it would be fun to do my very first tutorial on what I call, Confetti Packaging. 

{Due to the confetti layered within the wrapping!}

This packaging is all about fun and is as enjoyable for grown ups as it is for kids. 

{Side Note}: My example was made in Birthday Party colors but this packaging style can easily be customized to any occasion...  

unless you are planning on doing a neon themed Christmas in which case you can ignore this side note, ha ha

Here is what you will need:

an item to be wrapped

Kraft paper or any solid colored wrapping paper

one sheet of white tissue paper (white or other light colors works best)

colored paper

scissors

tape

Optional:

twine or ribbon for wrapping

gift tag

colored pencil or pen

craft punch

To assemble your package:

Begin by using your Kraft paper to wrap your item.

Cut fun confetti shapes out of your colorful paper with scissors or a craft punch 

Sprinkle your confetti on top of the wrapped package 

Center and layer your sheet of tissue paper on top

This is the hardest part, gently pull tissue paper tight around the sides of your package and with both hands flip package over, be careful not to let the confetti spill out.

Continue to wrap your package in the tissue paper securing it well with tape

Add a tag and twine for the final touch and...

Ta-da! 

Sources: ball of twine, Kraft paper, colored paper similar to, Neon Pink Ombre Gift tag, tissue paper (Costco: seasonal in store)

Coffee Table Project

I'm so excited to share with you one of my latest painting projects. I purchased this table from Goodwill a year and a half ago.

I was originally planing on turning the table into an ottoman. I fell in love with this piece the moment I saw it. The carved details and sturdy construction is amazing. The original dark wood, not my favorite but that's what paint is for, right?!

After patiently waiting in the living room for a year, my coffee table finally has its well deserved makeover!

The inspiration?

My growing collection of metallic spray paint! 

 I've fallen head over heals for the stuff and one day after painting most of my mason jars and some random vases, I was literally walking around my house looking for more things to paint, ha ha!

It's like the table was calling out to be made shinny and pretty. Besides, who can resist chrome and white!? 

I know I can't!

Hello

"Hello" stickers by California Craft can be purchased here

It's been a while hasn't it?!

Shortly after starting this blog I found out I was pregnant.  "yay!"

Then morning all day sickness kicked in.  "ugh"

While pregnant I couldn't keep up with my three little girls, my shop and a blog, so the blog got cut.

*Sorry blog*

Now a year later I have the sweetest little boy and I've decided to call a "do-over" on the blog. ha ha!

Grown-ups should totally get do-overs from time to time, right?!

It is not often enough that I get to see the after pictures of the supplies I sell, but when I do I am always blown away!  Today I was so excited to see the original manila tags that I sold to a lovely couple in France, were turned into these lovely place cards for their wedding!

I think it looks amazing. I love the sand & sea wedding colors as well as the hand written script on each tag.

You can see more lovely wedding details here at http://so-lovely-moments.blogspot.com
The beautiful picture is the work of http://elapoppies-photography.com/blog/

Tag Love

Today I'm having some fun with these manila tags.  It's nice to stop working every once in a while and just play :)  If you know me well, you know that I have tons of miscellaneous craft supplies. Many of my supplies are things that I've salvaged and saved for random projects like this.  

Scrap-hoarder?  I hope it doesn't come to that, ha ha!

 For my tags I used a scrap of fabric, feather, tape,  stickers, more stickers,
(can you ever have to many stickers?!)
and a sharpie (metallic silver & black) to customize these tags!

I really love how they turned out!

Facebook Fan Page!

I've wanted to put together a blog and Facebook page FOR-EVE-ER...but to be honest they both felt like such ginormous steps & so I've put it off... until now!  California Craft now has her very own fan page, can you genderise a shop?! Why yes you can :)  So with out further ado the new Facebook Fan page is here:

Also...Welcome to California Craft's new blog!!!  

I'm so excited to share with you some of the things I love and love to make!