Tag Archives: baking

June 17, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

When completing the Road to Infinity War pinspiration posts, I missed out one significant character, Black Panther. So to mark recent the home entertainment release of Black Panther in the UK. I am sharing my favourite Wakanda themed crafts and products.

Pins from Pinterest inspired by Black Panther

Black Panther Cookies — Cookies by Afropolitan Mom

The Afropolitan Mom has some amazing recipes inspired by the movie, I am including two of them on my list. First up these, cookies based on the Black Panther mask. The easy step-by-step instructions mean you can easily whisk up a batch for your viewing party.

Heart of Wakanda Cocktail — Cocktails by Afropolitan Mom

Next up also from Afropolitan Mom, is this cocktail. Her interpretation fo the Heart of Wakanda drink from the movie. Whilst this cocktail will not give you the power of the Black Panther, it certainly looks like the drink from the movie. The site also has a Vibranium themed cocktail, which takes its inspiration from the blue in the Black Panther suit.

Nakia's Infinity Wrap — Knitted Wrap pattern by Jeff Gillies

Whilst watching the movie in the cinema the first time, I immediately became obsessed with Nakia’s green shawl. During the weeks that followed my obsession and that online also grew. With a dedicated Ravelry group and article on Buzzfeed. Jeff Gillies also made the pattern available online, I joined the hundreds of others in casting on this wonderful wrap.

All of the costumes in Black Panther were stunning, I adored the mixing of traditional African design with the technically advanced designs from Wakanda. The Kimoyo Bracelets are probably the perfect example of this fusion. The Vibranium beads, carved with traditional glyphs, have many uses in the films including communication devices. RockLove Jewelry has beautiful replica bracelets, complete with a glow-in-the-dark “prime bead.”

Leave a comment

May 9, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

Avengers Infinity War has now been released, but I never did complete my series of Road to Infinity War pinspiration posts. So for the last character in the series, it is the turn of Spider-Man. Peter Parker’s alter ego has remained a fan favourite for years, due to the reboot movie franchises and animated series. Personally, I am a fan of the 1994 Spider-Man: Animated Series.

Pins from Pinterest inspired by Spider-Man

Spider-Man blanket — Spider Web Blanket by AnneM

The Spider-Man’s Web Blanket by AnneM, is an amazing pattern. I am obsessed with knitting patterns that use different construction methods. Which this pattern does, the blanket is knit from the inside out and the “webbing” is added afterwards. Creating a visually stunning blanket.

Candy Apples, always remember me of Bonfire Night. We always ate toffee apples whilst watching the fireworks. I never thought of having them at any time other than in November. But these are seriously cute. I love how Nerdy Mum make eyes from marshmallow to decorate them.

Spider Man Cross Stitch — Cross Stitch by Nikki Pattern

I love how this cross stitch used the different shade of thread to add a geometric dimension to the sewn artwork. The different triangles interlock to create a textured effect to Spider-Man’s mask.

Normally, I have added cupcake or cake pop recipes to these pinspiration posts. However, this Spider-Man cake is fabulous. Amanda’s Cookin has given detailed instructions not only on how to decorate the cake but also to make the oval-shaped cake.

You can see all my Pinspiration posts here, these including more Avengers themed ideas. If you would like to be featured in a future post please contact me.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.

Leave a comment

March 14, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

For this Pinspiration post, it is the turn of the Incredible Hulk. Although Bruce Banner’s alter ego has only had one stand-alone film in the MCU, he still proves to be one of the most popular characters.
I must have been hungry when I collated this list as it included several recipes for Hulk inspired food!

Hulk

Cake Pops seemed to be incredibly popular a few years ago, appearing in coffee shops or dessert buffets everywhere. Geeky shaped treats also started appearing on blogs, like these Hulk Fists. Craftsy has a simple tutorial explaining how to mould these cake pops. I think they would be amazing for any superhero themed party.

I only recently discovered the Geeks Who Eat blog, but they have quickly become some of my favourite bloggers. They manage to create innovative recipes related to marking the release of a new movie, game or TV Show. Like these Hulk Smash Potatoes, they produced to make the cinema release of Thor: Ragnarok.

Hulk Smash Toast by From Girlie to Nerdy

Who doesn’t love Avocado on Toast? It is my go-to Sunday Brunch option. Danielle created this amazing Hulk Smash Avocado Toast to introduce her son to the popular breakfast dish. I think it is a great food to eat when to start your all day Avengers movie marathon.

If you are not a budding chef or have no culinary skills, I had to include something non-food based. This cross stitch pattern by Hall Stitches on Etsy, featuring both the silhouettes of The Hulk and Bruce Banner. I love the simple design, shows the two sides of the character resulting in a beautiful handmade piece of art for you to create.

You can see all my Pinspiration posts here, these including more Avengers themed ideas. If you would like to be featured in a future post please contact me.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.

1 Comment

March 9, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

For this week’s Pinspiration post, it is the turn of Iron Man, the superhero who started the Marvel Movies franchise. I struggled to find fun tutorials to include on this list. I am unsure if it is because I am not a fan of Tony Stark or the lack of Iron Man Crafts.

Iron Man

These cookie cutters inspired by Tony Stark’s helmet could be used to make iced cookies. Or with fondant icing for decorations on cupcakes, like cakes below. 3DArtBoutique also sell cutters inspired by other Avengers.

Iron Man Cupcakes — Cupcakes by Food, Fun & Faraway Places

The Iron Man themed cupcakes on the Food, Fun & Faraway Places’ blog would look amazing without the helmet decoration. I love the simple look of the red and yellow swirls. However, the extra decoration makes them look really impressive.

We all know Tony Stark likes a drink, whether it’s drinking champagne with Pepper, or a pre-fight whiskey with Loki, so of course, I had to include an Iron Man themed cocktail!

Iron Man Coin Purse — Loungefly Coin Purse

Although, this isn’t a craft. I love this coin purse from Loungefly. It is one of the cutest pieces of Iron Man merchandise I have seen. Perfect for any Avengers fan, not just those on Team Stark.

You can see all my Pinspiration posts here, these including more Avengers themed ideas. If you would like to be featured in a future post please contact me.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.

Leave a comment

March 5, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

This week as part of the Marvel Movie Marathon, it was time to re-watch Thor: Dark World. This week also saw the release of Thor: Ragnarok on digital demand. So it’s the ideal time to have a Thor-themed viewing party. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

Thor

As well coming up with the idea of Marvel Movie Marathon, Monica at Popcorner Reviews created this amazing Mjolnir Milkshake! The s’more flavoured milkshake is decorated with a sweet and salty marshmallow/pretzel hammer. In her post she gives detailed instruction on creating the mighty hammers.

Mjolnir Cupcakes by Spaceships and Laser Beams

If you are not a fan of milkshakes, you can decorate your cupcakes with Thor’s mighty hammer, as seem on Spaceships and Laserbeam’s Blog. Even though I am an awful baker, I love cupcakes! I am always looking for cute and unusual cupcake decorations. So expect to see a few more of the next few weeks.

Erini at Adorkable Me put together a cute Casual (or Everyday) Cosplay outfit inspired by Thor. I love the idea of using an open front cardigan as a cape. It is a concept I will definitely try to incorporate into my future everyday cosplay outfits. If you wanted to add more of a movie twist to the outfit you could add the official Mjolnir necklace.

Thor Inspired Nail Art by Happy Little Geek

Finally, I had to include Happy Little Geek’s Thor Manicure. Inspired by the classic Thor ourfit from The Avengers movie, Charlie’s tutorial is a great introduction into geeky themed nail art. Her step by step instructions, easily explain several techniques. Making it a great tutorail for a beginner, and the finished result looks amazing!

You can see all my Pinspiration posts here, these including more Avengers themed ideas. If you would like to be featured in a future post please contact me.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.

2 Comments

February 21, 2018

Filed under Pinspirational

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will know I have been re-watching all the MCU movies before the release of Avengers: Infinity War in April. But I wanted to do something special on the blog leading up to this cinematic event. So for the next few weeks, I am going to showcase some of my favourite “pins” from Pinterest based on a character from the MCU. Starting with my favourite Avenger, Captain America.

Pinspiration: Captain America

Captain America inspired Sweater — Photo by Kyle Cassidy

First up is the knitting pattern inspired by the Super Solider outfit by Linda J. Dunn from the Geek Knits book. As a knitter and Captain America fan, I added this tunic to my “Ravelry Queue” (like a To Read shelf in Goodreads) the moment I saw it. The problem is when would I wear it. All the Captian America and Avengers movies were released in the spring. And with the majority of cons in the summer, so there is no time I could wear this sweater.

These shield cookies look extremely complicated to make but are visually stunning. Luckily Rosie’s Dessert Spot has a simple instructional video with step by step directions. I am sure they are a lot tastier than Vibranium.

Captain America Geek Chic — Brooklyn navy yard by jordandene

I love this geek chic outfit Jordandene put together on Polyvore. Based around her lovely Winter Solider Tank. Which features the classic quote from the Captain America sequel. For me, this is a perfect outfit for an autumnal day. I can imagine wearing this whilst walking along the Brooklyn Promenade with a cup of coffee in hand. Maybe grabbing a lobster roll at Luke’s in Dumbo or stopping to take photos of the iconic skyline.

Captain America Pinata — Photo by Maureen Wilkinson

I am obsessed with pinatas. They were not really a thing in the U.K. when I was growing up. So I didn’t discover the joy of a pinata until I was an adult. In fact, I insisted on having a wedding cake pinata at my wedding, just so I could join in. So the idea of making a Captain America themed pinata seems so much fun to me. In Maureen Wilkinson, she explains how she made a Captain America Sheild pinata for her son’s birthday party.

Next week is some of my favourite posts inspired by Thor, if you’d like to be featured in my future pinspiration post, please contact me.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.

3 Comments

October 27, 2017

Filed under Pinspirational

All week on my Facebook page, I have highlighted some of the Stranger Things posts from some of my fellow geeky bloggers. Today, I am rounding my some of the posts for you to “pin” for future reference. I think these projects would be great for viewing party this weekend.

(P)inspiration – Stranger Things

View this post on Instagram

Next week look for our first style challenge: #strangerthings. 💀👻🎃 Our bloggers are going to stun you! Wanna participate? Email us! {address in bio} #geekchic #geekfashion #fashionblogger #geekyfashionbloggeralliance

A post shared by Geeky Fashion Blogger Alliance (@geekyfashionbloggeralliance) on Oct 17, 2017 at 7:56pm PDT

Stranger Things is a great show to cosplay! It is even easier to everyday cosplay the characters. You can easily re-create an outfit with, a retro 80’s t-shirt, trucker cap, and converse shoes. This week, the Geeky Fashion Blogger Alliance on Instagram have showcased Stranger Things everyday cosplay. It’s amazing to see all the fabulous creations. Be sure to check out their account for future style challenges.

Over at Popcorner Reviews, Monica has created the cutest cupcakes. Decorated with themes from the programme. Using cereal to create Eleven’s favourite waffles. Or icing and M&M’s to make Joyce’s bright coloured holiday lights. Along with “Eggos” waffles, they would be ideal for a dessert buffet.

I was really hoping to find a tutorial for some Stranger Things nail art. But I couldn’t find anything cute. Fortunately, Espionage Cosmetics have some adorable Holiday Lights nail wraps. Originally, designed for wearing over the Christmas holidays, I think they would be perfect for your Stranger Things viewing party.

Finally, what is a viewing party with out a themed cocktail! Luckily Danielle at From Girlie to Nerdy has created the Upside Down Blackberry Smash. A fruity cocktail, that uses coloured vodka and fresh berries to represent the alternate dimension!

Are you having a viewing party this weekend? Or just binge watching the show as quickly as possible?

Don’t forget to check out my Stranger Things must haves.
If you are in London check out Geeky Tourist’s list of “Stranger Things” to do in London this weekend.

2 Comments

September 25, 2015

Filed under 5 Fandom Friday

5 Pumpkin Items Cannot Wait To Purchase

PSL – It will come as no surprise to readers of the blog that the first thing I love to buy when autumn rolls around is a Pumpkin Spice Latte! In fact autumn hasn’t truly arrived until I have had my first sip.
Pumpkin Puree – Autumn is a great time to get baking, I have already shared some of the recipes I want to try this year. The one thing I need for all this baking is Libby’s Pumpkin Puree!
Pumpkin Candles – As I mentioned in the last Fandom Friday, when visiting the States in the autumn my first stop is Starbucks for a PSL, my second is Bath and Body Works to stock up on scented candles, bubble bath, shower gel and antibac. Seeing as we aren’t going to America this year, I am looking for a substitute pumpkin candle – until I find one I will make do with the Infamous Boyfriend Candle.
Philosophy Pumpkin Icing Shower Gel – My search for autumnal scented products did uncover Philosophy’s Pumpkin Icing Shower Gel, I have used their Pumpkin Pie variety before – and it’s amazing for adding a quick burst of autumn into my morning routine.
Pumpkin Spice Latte M&Ms – I adore M&Ms so of course I was over the moon when I read about these limited edition PSL version. Unfortunately, they are not available in the UK (not even in a M&M World Store), but some quick stalking of some US stores online have produced some leads.
Edit: Amazon have them.

Thank you The Nerdy Girlie & Super Space Chick for creating Fandom Friday check out their blogs for more information. Or follow the #fandom5 or #5fandomfriday on Twitter.

6 Comments

September 22, 2015

Filed under Pinspirational

Recently I have pinned a lot of pumpkin themed recipes, and whilst it is fun to try adding some pumpkin to my overnight oats or yogurt for breakfast what I really want it to bake some calorific pumpkin treats, these are some of the recipes I am looking forward to trying this autumn.

Macarons are certainly en vogue in the baking world, one of my favourite things about Paris (or Covent Garden) is getting trying all the flavours in Ladurée. This recipe from Tasty Kitchen used the pumpkin in the filling and the “spice” is added to the macaron.

Autumn is the start of my hibernating months – lazy weekends, binge watching my new favourite TV show into the small hours followed by a hearty brunch. Obviously the healthy diet goes out the window on these weekends, so I am looking forward to indulging in these pancakes.

This recipe for pumpkin bread from Sallys Baking Addiction, can also be adapted to make muffins which I think would work well as part of a lazy weekend brunch or for a quick afternoon treat with your pumpkin spice latte.

In the UK prepackage “pumpkin spice” isn’t readily available so I have found this recipe to make your own version.

EDIT: There seems to be an issue displaying the pinterest widgets, I am looking into this and hopefully will find a solution soon.

Leave a comment

July 9, 2012

Filed under General

One of the things I am most looking forward to about the Olympics was seeing the Olympic Flame, after all it is the symbol of the ancient games, when the route for the torch relay was announced a few months ago, I remember hunting the listings for our home town. Unfortunately they were not planning on releasing the route for London until nearer the time. So next I looked for other local places and discovered the flame was passing very close to my In-Laws house in Stevenage, it also happened to be the weekend closest to my Mother-in-Law’s birthday, so we planned a little trip to visit them.

So on Sunday morning in the pouring rain we stood around and watched the procession of sponsorship van and cars pass, before watching Sarah Gosling (a former Olympic Gold Medallist) carrying the torch along Stevenage Old Town. We were amazed with the atmosphere, hundreds of people lining the street, the police on bike hi-fiving the crowds, the sponsership vans getting the crowd to dance, everyone was joining in.

In the afternoon, we had an indoor barbecue for my Mother-in-Law’s birthday, I had decided to make a cheesecake for the event. When browsing on Pinterest last week I saw this Olympic Pizza Cake, I thought what I great idea! Instead of just covering the cake in strawberries, I could create some themed Olympic Rings 🙂

The recipe, is the Baked Cheesecake from Hummingbird Book, the only adjustment I have made is to make the base, I find the one in the recipe a little thin and prefer more crust to my cheesecake.

Base

200g plain flour
75g butter
75g soft brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg

I then just decorated the cake with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, banana and kiwi. I know the rings should be interlinked – but I didn’t have the patiences to mess around with that and plus we all know the Olympic Rings are copy-written and I didn’t want to get in trouble.

Leave a comment