Hi there! Welcome to my GIRLY SPAZMS. I am most productive when I'm about to lose it. Easily distracted and daydreaming, I fight my way through the day just so I have moments like these. Please visit often as I am updating and adding new things when time allows . Feel free to drop me a line. Say hi, leave comments, suggestions, feedback & your experiences . Thanks for visiting my crafty blog & be sure to check out my etsy shop too.

2/15/13

Knock you crazy?.. brownies... You bet!


So for namesake and because my son gave out these amazing brownies for valentine's day, we're gonna call these "knock you crazy" brownies, but this recipe is the same "knock you naked" brownies you can find all over the net just adjusted for a larger pan...

These brownies are truly easy to make. I was introduced to them by our great friend linda, and although when I first read the recipe the word "double boiler" just scared the be-jebeeze out of me.  Linda was right there saying "it's easy. you can do it." 

So I did it! 

The recipe below will be enough for a 10" X 13" pan. 

You will need: 

10 by 13 pan (greased up with some butter) 

wax paper (you can use clear wrap too but I would double layer it)

2 sticks of unsalted butter

1 can of evaporated milk

1-2 bags of caramel squares unwrapped, 
                      if you want to use caramel bits I'd recommend 3-4 bags. 

1 bag (about 8 oz.) of pecan chopped or bits

1 bag of semisweet chocolate chips

First step is to make the bottom layer of brownies.
Turn on oven to 350 F. 

I like putting all the wet ingredients first. I'm sure there is a formal baking rule somewhere, but this is how I do it.. 

  • Melt one stick of butter in microwave for 30 seconds. 
  • Place melted butter with 1/3 evaporated milk & 1/2 bag of pecans
  • Mix in one box of german chocolate cake mix.
This mix will be very thick. It's okay. Dump it all into the greased pan and pat it down evenly. 

Throw in oven for about 9 minutes. 

While this is baking, assuming you've got all your caramels unwrapped already.

Start your double boiler.

Promise someone at home brownies if they do this for you. 
Here is my set up
 Now here is the intimidating part for those of you who don't do this sort of thing regularly..  Put enough water in the pan where the inside pan is not bobbing around. 
Start the water on high... Then as soon as you here the "knocking" that means your water is boiling, and you should turn down the heat. Turn it down to  medium or even low. Be patient and it will all eventually melt. 


Start
use 1 cup of milk with your caramels
About 10 minutes in.
Stir it periodically.





















Somewhere in between the caramels melting, your bottom layer of brownies should have beeped...  Take it out and let it cool on the stove while you finish the caramels. 
Perfectly melted caramels without getting burned. 
This is what your brownies should look like.. puffy and odd.. uncooked! 




Now you're going to take your caramel and pour it right on top of this...



Then pour a package of your semi-sweet chocolate chips on top... 




Now you can let this stand while you repeat and make another batch of brownies. Repeat step 1 w/ the stick of melted butter, evaporated milk (use the what's left in the can), remaining half bag of the pecans, and cake mix...

After you have your clump of brownie dough, you're going to lay a sheet of wax paper( or clear wrap) down on a flat surface. 

wax paper... 

shape brownie dough roughly the same size as your pan.. 


Then you're going to flip this piece onto your chocolate chips & caramel.

It's easier if you have someone help you flip it on, but not absolutely necessary.


Caramel all sandwiched in!




Now bake! I bake it at 350 degrees F for about 29 minutes.

When done, bring out let cool, cut and serve with sprinkled sugar on top.

Yum!
Chocolate, Caramel, Pecans... How can you go wrong?


Let me know if you have any questions, as this is my first baking tutorial.
Thanks for stopping by! 

shen


Tip: You can warm these up in the microwave for a few seconds for more ooze!

Valentines Prep..


Instead of dwelling on why I haven't blogged since < insert ridiculous amount of time here > , let's just get on to this week. I was recently in a car accident in January so the doctor has put me on limited work duties, giving me limited time at work, and rest at home. When I'm feeling up to it I craft and do housework. 
This week was v-day prepping. 
I managed to make a 2 layer guava cake! yay! 


Before Gel topping.. 

With gel topping..
Inside!
We had this cake to celebrate the Lunar (Chinese New Year)..
I made some shaker cards for my favorite kiddos...







Close up of Judy's.. 

I made mini shaker valentine's cards for a few of my co-workers...




And helped the kiddos with their valentine's goodies.
Anthony gave out what we will call "knock you silly" brownies for his friends... 
FOR DIRECTIONS on brownies click here>>> http://girlyspazms.blogspot.com/2013/02/knock-you-crazy.html



Brownies all wrapped up and ready to go.. 
Sami gave out friendship bracelets... 


These were a simple design print & cut on the silhouette. 


Valentine's Day turned out to be a pretty awesome day. The hubs and I changed it up, and instead of our usual Napa trip, we went hiking up to Mission Peak in beautiful Fremont California. We had a cute little picnic at the top, and headed down. Made it home, showered, and went out for a great lobster, shrimp & salmon dinner. It was a really nice time. 


The view from Mission Peak..
We made it despite the horrible 50+ mph winds working against us. 


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
 Hope you all had a great one too, and have an amazing Presidents' Day Weekend!
I'm hoping that I'll get my paint this week so I can start painting & get my craft room finished finally.  When it's all ready, I plan on doing a youtube craft room tour. 
:::keeping fingers crossed::: 


shen

10/7/12

Simple. Quick. How to. Stamp on washi!!!

This was actually done in less than five minutes before I headed to the gym for my morning workout.

Typing this out is probably taking a lot more effort, but the results were so awesome I had to share...

Things you'll need:

  • Your washi tape
  • Acetate better known as transparency sheets (great deals on eBay btw)
  • Your stamp
  • Your ink
The set up
  1. Lay out your tape strips either vertical or horizontal, whatever you prefer on your transparency. (I tried reg paper but it tore up the paper pretty good)
  2. Ink your stamp
  3. Press firmly but not too much or you'll smear your design.
  4. Hold down sheet of transparency as you lift stamp directly up & off.
  5. Let ink dry
  6. When dry move strips of washi to clean transparency.
Silver spiderwebs on plain back washi

Sit back. Admire & use...

 

 

 

 

10/2/12

Cardboard letter adventures...


I'm back to revamping my craft room again.
With the never ending addition of new supplies, there's a constant need for storage space too. I'm preparing to take on my first sanding & repainting of this awesome piece of antique furniture I came across at a garage sale over the summer. It's totally cute & adorable. Just the prefect thing I've been looking for. I need to go to Restoration Hardware to get new pieces for it, and I also need to get some power tools so that I can do this job right the first time.
I've read a ton of "how to"-s on-line, and as much as I think I'm ready, I'm nervous as all hell.
So in the meantime while I muster up the courage to finally take on this project, I continue to organize, and decorate around the idea of having this finished piece one day in place. 


I wanted something crafty as wall decor... So..after much deliberation, and a few inspiration from facebook friends & pinterest pins.

This idea was born. At first, I was going to buy the 8 inch letters from Hobby Lobby. Which by the way, finally opened up locally in Morgan Hill, (http://www.yelp.com/biz/hobby-lobby-morgan-hill)  that turned out to be a fun adventure of strong margaritas and craft shopping. 
Instead, I decided to tackle it on, and make my own... 
I had a few too many post office boxes laying around the house due to a post office glitch that sent me a huge pile of supplies.


Tony opened the door & saw this staring back at him. Oops! 
So first things first, my trusty silhouette did the easy part & by Sunday morning at 6am, my letters were cut... 

Laid it across my kitchen floor.

Ginger: Didn't mind me, just passing through.
Me: GINGER! Move it! 

Maylin: Oh mom's doing something, let me get in the way.
Me: You too? Ugh. 
Maylin: So, mom... I was thinking... Oh, you're busy.
Me: MOVE IT. 

Maylin: Oh, there's something here... 



Maylin: Move?..but.. I have to rest.. 

Here's a C! 
All I did was trace my letters on to cardboard. (twice)
Cut them out.
Cut 2 Inch strips & taped them together to make them 3D.



Finished the first... Now he's waiting for his friends to join...
I'm still planning a couple more steps before they are officially done. 
There is still the decoupage with newspaper step. 
Then spray painting with white.
Then I'm going to cover them in my beautiful washi tapes.
I'm totally crossing my fingers & hoping that this turns out the way I am envisioning in my head. 

I'm hoping to have this done & up by mid-October.
Do you think I can do it? 
I'll update soon... 


shen