Dessert Tables and Features of 2012

Parties of 2012
     ~Dessert Tables and Dessert Features

Sweet Style!

Easter Blessings

Mother's Day

Lalaloopsy

Mallard Duck ~Hunting Theme

Summer Fun

Americana

Book Worm

 

African Safari Party

 

Camping ~Moose Loves Smores

Fall Time

Magazine Features
   from the amazing parties of Jenny Dixon from
www.craftthatparty.blogspot.com
All party styling by Jenny!

Featured on Tori Spelling and Amy Atlas

Photo by http://www.facebook.com/studioonetwoonephotography?ref=stream

As seen in Birds Party Magazine ~ Photo by Jenny Dixon
 Cake toppers and cupcake toppers by  http://lovesugarkisses.blogspot.com/
Balloon pops, marshmallow pops, cake and cupcake by www.samantha-sweets.com

Cake by www.samantha-sweets.com

As seen in The Party Dress Magazine

Toppers and oreos by http://lovesugarkisses.blogspot.com/

Photo by   http://www.facebook.com/studioonetwoonephotography?ref=stream

Gingerbread House Tutorial

I'm so pleased to share with you, that I recently WON the Dream House Award~2012~Gingerbread House Tour Display and Competition for Mt. Pleasant, PA!

It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!
Here's the Dream House I created
          "Welcome to Gingerbread Land"

The trophy was made by Peter O'Rourke of O'Rourke Glass in Mt. Pleasant ~ www.aglassgift.com
The annual competition raises money for the www.woundedwarriorproject.com
 

Gingerbread photos available on
http://www.samantha-sweets.com/p/gingerbread.html?spref=fb

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Gingerbread House Tutorial from Samantha's Sweets...

     Create your own gingerbread house!  It's one of the magical things about the Christmas season.

   Here's how...

Ingredients:  Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie Mix ~in the pouch~ is a great cookie mix.  I add a little extra cinnamon and spices for an extra kick. 
Royal Icing:
Wilton Recipe~
3 tbsp. Meringue Powder
4 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
6 tbsp. water    Beat all ingredients at low speed for 7-10 minutes or until icing forms peaks.
*You can also purchase royal icing mixes at specialty kitchen and party stores and just add water.
*I also use Candy Melts to construct my houses.  It works great!  Sometimes you may find a few cracks when it drys; just coat back over it.

Candy, fondant, gumpaste and sprinkles, are the other items I like to decorate with. 

Tutorial...

Dimensions of this template are... 
Front and Back: 4 x 4 inch square with 4inch angles(pitched roof)
Roof:  4 1/2inch by 5inch(width) rectangle  
Sides:  4 x 5 inch(width)
Gingerbread House Templates available on --http://www.patterns.gingerbreadbydesign.com/

The gingerbread should cut very well with out cracking, using a serrated knife. 

Yummy!

Candy Melts are great to use but cool off and harden quickly. 
It is a race against time, so you may want to use a piping bag with no decorating tip. 

 Construct the four pieces ~ front, back and 2 sides.  Hold in place, each piece, until set.  You may need an extra set of hands to help.  ; )

I like to brush on edible glitter and sparkle with my gingerbread house designs, for a whimsy effect.
Brush the edible glitter on the Neccos, fondant decorations and even the white chocolate candy melts.

This gingerbread house was made for a very special party project with

Jenny Dixon~my sweet party friend.

Check out her website  http://craftthatparty.blogspot.com/  Wait until you see the amazing dessert tables she put together for a whimsy and wonderful gingerbread decorating party!


Jenny's adorable party is now feautured on
Amy Atlas!!!
Check it out! http://blog.amyatlas.com/2012/12/18/a-gingerbread-girl-guest-dessert-feature/

Party by http://craftthatparty.blogspot.com/ 
Photography by http://www.facebook.com/studioonetwoonephotography?ref=stream
Printables by:  www.blushprintables.com/
Fondant Oreos and peppermint cupcake toppers by http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Sugar-Kisses/157585400962486?ref=stream
Desserts and cake by me
www.samantha-sweets.com

Having Fun and Gingerbread House Creations...

 Have a Sweet Christmas
from
Samantha's Sweets!

From Thanksgiving to Christmas

Transforming your decor from season to season...

This year, I totally wanted to simplify with the whole decorating thing.  Samantha's Sweets has been very busy in the kitchen and family time is ultra important.  I didn't want to spend hours decorating for Christmas, so I just transformed my Thanksgiving decorations into Christmas!

Fireplace Mantel...

Fall ~ Thanksgiving

I filled some large mason jars with stones, mini pine cones and sticks from the back yard.  I added a few sparkly pumpkins and a vintage pitcher with more sticks and beach wood.  Simple and inexpensive.

For Christmas~

We added some snow sparkle inside the jars and used glitter spray and snowy glitter on the sticks.  Just spray and sprinkle, for winter touched sticks.  The Nativity is placed not under the tree, but front and center for all to see. 
~Because Jesus came, we have to much to be thankful for.  : )


Dining Room...
Thanksgiving~

 To Christmas~

 I changed the table runner, brought out the Christmas dishes, changed a few accents and added snow sparkle instead of the pine cones for the wine glasses.  Now I need to purchase more wine glasses for our next get together--but a worthy sacrifice none the less. ; )

I just took out the Fall colors and added some red berries and a little snow sparkle.  I also added my vintage measuring cups, cookie cutters, snowman cupcakes and a gingerbread J Peg from Jenny ~ available on http://craftthatparty.blogspot.com/

Gingerbread Tree!

Simple Gingerbread Tree with Gingerbread Man Ornaments...

Step 1:  Bake your mini gingerbread men.
Step 2:  Cut 2 1/2 inch pieces of ribbon.
Step 3:  Hot glue both ends of the ribbon onto the back of the gingerbread cookie at the head.  *Use royal icing if you would like the ornaments to be edible.
Step 4:  Hang on the tree!

It smells great and looks super cute!

Let the Cookie Baking Begin!

Christmas Cookie Designs!

Here are some Christmas cookie designs for you! 
    Christmas cookies are one of my favorite things about this holiday season!

Be inspired!
    I frost my cookies many different ways...
        using:     *Candy Melts  *Fondant  *Powdered Sugar Glaze  *Chocolate *Sprinkles

 

Happy Baking

Comment below for cookie decorating questions...