#LightTheWorld Advent Calendar Cards

"During Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

This year, we have an amazing opportunity to share that light by resolving to do the things Jesus Christ did. Every day leading up to Christmas, we [can] focus on a different Christ-like behavior and [look] for ways we can emulate His example." (from Mormon.org)

This year The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants us to

#LightTheWorld

In 25 Ways. Over 25 Days.

We are challenged to share our light and make the world brighter by participating in acts of service every day for 25 days, starting on the 1st December and finishing on Christmas Day. Mormon.org have provided a printable Advent Service Calendar with suggestions of acts of service you can participate in. You can find more details about this at Mormon.org.uk or Mormon.org

I decided that I wanted to encourage my children to participate in this, and since they each have a home-made Advent Calendar which I fill with goodies and scriptures/quotes each year, I thought I'd redesign the Service Calendar to fit into our existing Advent Calendars, and add a scripture for them to read to each day.

These are the cards that I made.

And here they are in my children's Advent Calendars, along with some chocolate, ready for tomorrow morning (1st December).

And I thought, since I'd gone to all that work, I may as well share them so that others can make use of them too! Just print the off, laminate them and  cut them out.

I made two different sizes to fit into our two different Advent Calendars:

The SHORT cards each measure 5.5 x 7 cm (2.2 x 2.8")

The LONG cards each measure 4.5 x 9 cm (1.8 x 3.5")

So, here are the links to download the pdf's:

SHORT page 1 (1 Dec - 12 Dec)

SHORT page 2 (13 Dec - 24 Dec)

LONG page 1 (1 Dec - 12 Dec)

LONG page 2 (13 Dec - 24 Dec)

Page 3 for both SHORT and LONG

This is a much bigger card measuring 14 x 20 cm (5.5 x 7.9")

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I'd love it if you would comment below and share some of the service experiences you have had through the month, or projects you have planned. That way we can inspire each other to serve, learn from each other, and share service ideas.

#LightTheWorld

Unicorn Cake

I was quite worried about making this cake. Because of my shoulder problems, I've not made very many cakes over the last few months, and certainly none as complicated as a 3D sculpted Unicorn! As the time came nearer and nearer to start work on it, the less I actually wanted to do it! Finally, it was time, I got stuck in, and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

I am so very happy with how well it came out, far better than I dreamed I could achieve!

I decided to use polystyrene to form the head and neck, to reduce the load on the structure, therefore allowing the structure to be less complicated. The body of the Unicorn would provide more than enough cake for the party goers, and more. For the structure itself I used cake frame rods, with cake cards in between to support the polystyrene pieces, as well as to separate them from the edible parts of the cake.

I coated the polystyrene forms with ganache, then cut my chocolate cake to the right general shape for the body, sandwiched with buttercream and trimmed to match the curve of the body. I crumbed the trimmings and mixed them with buttercream and used this mixture to form the Unicorn's back.

Once I was happy with the shape, I coated the whole thing with ganache, and left it to set. Then the fun began! I used partially set ganache to sculpt the Unicorn, incorporating as much muscular detail as I could manage.

At this point it looks like a chestnut horse walking through still water :)

Because my shoulder is still an issue, I enslaved my son to knead and roll out all of my fondant. He also mixed the colour for the pink fondant. Once the whole Unicorn was completely white, I had added the ears, horn and legs (all fondant) and I was reasonably happy with all of the seems, I left the whole thing to set up overnight.

Next morning I tacked the shading (with petal dust), colouring the horn and hooves gold and painting the eyes (with Americolor gel), and adding the tail and mane.

It really didn't start looking right until that mane was added!

The birthday girl was thrilled with her Unicorn for her 18th Birthday. Happy Birthday Aimee!!

20th Anniversary Ball

Hubby and I recently celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary! To mark the occasion, we decided to throw an Autumn themed ball for all of our friends.

It was such a wonderful evening! I felt like a bride all over again. I got my hair and nails done and found a stunning gown to wear. After the meal had been served, and the cake cut, we opened the dance floor dancing a waltz to the same music of our first dance at our wedding, "Now and Forever" by Air Supply (Our Song). We were so happy to have so many of our friends there to celebrate with us, just sad that none of our family could be there.

The cake was completely Fondant Free! I coated all three layers with white chocolate ganache, then distress painted it with teal food colour (for airbrush). Once dry I added some gold food paint, just dabbing it onto the top and bottom tiers, and brushing it onto the middle one. The leaves and border are made from gold and red Cake Lace.

Each layer was a different flavour - from the bottom, they are: Chocolate Cherry sponge with chocolate buttercream and black cherries, Toffee Apple sponge with cream cheese icing and caramel, and Spiced Pumpkin sponge with cream cheese icing.

We did all the cooking and decorating ourselves, catering for around 60 people! Hubby smoked pork joints for delicious pulled pork. I cooked up a huge pot of chicken stock to be used in my Pumpkin Soup and Hubby's Collard Greens.

I baked a huge batch of Cornbread, and purchased pre-made brioche slider buns (well, it was just a bit too much to make every single thing). I just wish I had thought to take photos before the eating began!

I also baked Pumpkin Pies and stacks of Gingerbread Men, and bought a few Apple Pies (really wish I had just made these myself).

We set up a Photo Booth with plenty of props for all our guests to have a bit of fun :)

 

The hall was decorated with fairy lights, teal organza banners, silk autumn leaves, balloons, led candles, fresh flowers and miniature pumpkins. We also had disco ball lights for the dancing.