Ways to Accessorize Your Bedroom Image Ways to Accessorize Your BedroomOne topic that I often receive questions on, is how to frost cupcakes.  I’ve been wanting to post on this topic for some time, but wanted to do a nice complete post, something that would be a nice reference for you to come back to.  I hope this post will be a good resource for you.  I remember when I first started decorating cupcakes I too was very interested in (and intimidated by) creating a beautiful swirl on cupcakes.  After doing it only a few time I found that filling a piping bag and adding a nice swirl of frosting on cupcakes is actually much easier and quicker than spreading frosting! A few tips to get you started… In order for the frosting to have enough body (be thick enough) to hold up, you need a good frosting to start with.  Make sure not to add to much liquid, or allow your ingredients to be too warm.  I would not recommend using canned (pre-made) frosting to pipe on cupcakes, it’s usually not firm enough to hold up. 

I have heard of people adding powdered sugar to canned frosting to thicken it… but if you are going to do that, it’s just as easy to make it yourself. I’ve posted recipes for American Buttercream, and Cream Cheese Frosting, the two frostings I use most of the time.  exterior door paint blueSwiss Meringue Buttercream (explained beautifully by Rosie of Sweetapolita) also makes a beautiful frosting for piping.decorate my room youtubeLarge round tip, Open star (Wilton 1M), Closed star (Wilton 2D), French tipexterior paint colors for mobile home To frost cupcakes, you’ll want to use a large (sometimes called jumbo) decorating tip.  The four most common shapes (openings) are shown above. 

The Wilton 1M and 2D are often available at craft stores, the others you may have to buy on-line.  I like to use a coupler to hold my tips in place, for these large tips you’ll need a large coupler as well.  Large tips can also be used without a coupler, by simply setting the tip inside the bag, then filling with frosting. And for a grand finale… my first ever video!  Simple and to the point, but I think it’s sometimes helpful to just see something done from start to finish.  No, my counters are not dirty, yes the grout is brown… that is the color of the grout.  My kitchen (and counters) are original to my house, which was built in 1958.  Have fun experimenting with different tips and frostings.  Use concentrated gel coloring to color your frosting (like Americolor or Wilton).  Add some sprinkles, and you’ve got a beautiful and delicious treat! Several other posts you may find helpful as you learn to make beautiful cupcakes… How to Bake Cupcakes  (tips to help you bake beautiful and delicious cupcakes)

Cupcake Liners (answers to common questions, and my favorite liners) Cupcakes, Frostings & Fillings 312 comments  /  leave a comment »Feeling like our homes are "ours" is super important, but not all of us have the money to decorate our houses and apartments like the perfectly designed spaces we see in catalogues. It's why knowing some solid DIY home decor tricks are key for those of us living on limited budgets who still want to totally love our home decorating. In an article for Health, Feng Shui expert and author Jamie Barrett said that your home furnishings can definitely affect your personal energy. A room's design and decor can make you feel drained or frazzled, or conversely, can help you feel calm or cheerful. So as frivolous as it may seem, home decorating is actually kind of important. My own bedroom was initially pretty small and simple, but as soon as I reorganized some of the furniture, painted the walls a calming lilac, and added a few easy DIY wall decorations, it became a cozy safe haven where I literally love spending time.

Not only that, but my roommate's mom is kind of a DIY maven, and a single weekend visit transformed our common space from dull and barren to completely homey in a matter of hours — and none of the changes were too hard on our wallets; so I'm a firm believer in cheap and creative solutions to decorating dilemmas. If you're moving into a new space and are looking for some cool decorating tips, or are just on the hunt for some ways to accent the space you already have, here are nine super creative home decorating ideas that should definitely help inspire you. Home decor author and blogger Laura Putnam recommended using your wall space, or "gallery walls" in a piece on her site about simple ways to decorate your home. "Gallery walls have become very popular over the last few years. The great thing about them is that pretty much every single one of them is different," Putnam said. Just gather picture frames in various shapes and sizes and arrange art and personal photos on one central wall space.

And don't be afraid to paint your frames if you want them to match. In a piece for Real Simple, interior designer Michael Garvey recommended using mirrors as an incredibly simple decorating tool. He suggested putting a small table up against a mirror, and then placing a plant with big branches or flowers on the table on the mirror side. This will instantly make the plant look twice as large and will also help open up a small room by creating the illusion of a larger space. West Elm Peruvian Handmade Mirrors, $34.00, West Elm Stick-on wall paper is an amazingly cheap alternative to traditional wall paper and gives you a ton more pattern variety than simply painting. You can find stick-on wallpaper in retro florals, faux hard wood, or even brick. Candles are another amazingly cheap and easy way to add a personal and cozy decorating touch. Place a candle in an old mason jar for a rustic look, or put them up against a few small mirrors for an amplified glow. Wine bottle lamps take a little leg work, but if you have a power drill and some patience it is well worth it.

You're also sure to get a ton of compliments from guests on this completely unique accent piece. On the lifestyle blog Living Well, Spending Less, lifestyle blogger and home decor expert Ashley Ann Campbell said, "Whether it is spray paint, porch paint, craft paint or wall paint – nothing can provide an instant makeover and facelift like paint." If you don't want to repaint a whole room you can opt for just an accent wall, or even get creative and paint patterns using store-bought stencils or a stencil of your own design. Also, don't be afraid to paint doors too! This is crazy simple. Just use a thrift-store or vintage tray as an accent piece for any tables in your home. You can use it to either hold other decorations, like a small vase of flowers or candles, or just as a place for odds and ends, like keys and remote controls. And if you're really ambitious, you can decorate it with stencils of your choosing. The Sorry Girls have a super simple tutorial on their YouTube channel to walk you through how to make a DIY hanging mason jar light of your very own.