Christmas Cupcakes « The Hybrid Chick

Christmas Cupcakes

By Shabby Shaz Thursday July 30, 2009

This cupcake is the perfect Christmas gift for a scrapping or crafting friend. Designed to please, it will also go down well at a time when we tend to overindulge in calories. This way they can have their cupcake and enjoy it too – guilt free.

In Australia when I was growing up these used to be called “Patty Cakes” and were cooked in a patty cake pan. Just a little international trivia for you.

You will need the following.

Cupcake Template by Kelleigh Ratzlaff
Kit used is Click by Kelley Mickus
Double Sided Sticky Tape
Ink for distressing
Tags
Beads
A Paper Clip
Wide Wired Ribbon made into a rose or a purchased flower.
Epson Premium Presentation Paper
Bits and pieces for the inside (more on that further down)

Print out the template using your chosen kit and score on the appropriate lines. I then used my ScorPal and scorbug to put emboss adorable little dimple dots all over the top sections of the cupcake. Isn’t that Scorbug the cutest little tool? Super easy to use too!

Then use the distressing ink to go over all the creases and edges of the template. Inking the corners and folds gives the projects so much dimension and is especially good with this type of kit colours.

It is also useful for covering up the template lines if you forget to turn that layer off before you print. How do I know that?

I find it easier to ink and let it dry before assembling the item. Then when it is finished, and all stuck together I just give some area’s another touch up with the ink if I think the project needs it.

The use your fancy edge scissors to give the top edge of the cupcake holder a pretty ruffled border.

Use the double sided tape to assemble the cupcake and cupcake holder. Now set them aside while we work on the filling.

I wanted to include some beads and scrapping bits and pieces as a gift. Rather than just putting the beads in little plastic bags I got one of those cute little plastic skin care travel containers and added the beads to that.

First a red layer, then a little scrap tag from Kelley’s Click kit. Then a layer of green and another tag, finally a layer of the gold with a smile tag to top if off.

All in keeping with our Christmas in July theme in red green and gold.

So cute – I think I may have to give myself one of these.

Then I made the topping. Firstly I folded the wired ribbon into a ribbon rose. Then made a stamen center for the flower. As I didn’t have any wire handy I used a paper clip and straightened it out with the wire cutter/pliers.

Add on a variety of beads, bending the top of the paper clip right over to secure them. Then take some 24 gauge beading wire, tie it around the paper clip and use the wire tool (mine is from Making Memories) to twirl the wire around into a spiral. You could use a shishkabob stick or large toothpick to do that. Do as many spiral wires as you like.

This one ended up with 5 spirals. Insert this into the middle of the ribbon rose and wind the wire around the bottom of the rose to secure. Set it aside.

Next you can make a little divider for inside the cupcake. Mine is based on the size of the bead container and has three segregations. You could make 4 or just 2.

Then start adding those little bits and pieces of scrapping brick-a-brac that we all love. I have included wire rim tags, little white cardstock tags, word art tags, pearls on string, ribbons, stick on crystal bling. I plan on putting some little chocolates in there are well.

You can add anything you like of course.

Depending what you add, if you have the space add another layer by cutting some more scrap cardstock and making another layer of “goodie-ness”. Here I have added some silk flowers.

Close the whole thing together, using the tabs at the top to secure and place it inside the cupcake holder.

Add some bling to the top or any other embellishments you love, and the ribbon rose. Now doesn’t that look just like a big swirl of scrummy buttercream icing on there? I really like how trimming the cupcake holder allows a little of the newsprint paper to show over the top rim.

There you have it – a delicious looking hybrid cupcake with a wonderful surprise in the middle. Yum!