*Tips and Tricks*

*If you don't have a pastry bag, you can do a quick and easy make-shift one by using a ziplock bag and snipping a hole in the top. You can use scrapbooking scissors with the designed blades to snip a design too. Just fold the edges of the opening down (to avoid a mess!), fill the bag with the frosting, and then snip the top and ice away!

*Also, I just found a new product (well, new to me) at the grocery store last week and I LOVE it!!! It is Betty Crocker's Cupcake Icing and it is so great! Makes decorating cakes, cookies and all sorts of treats so easy and fun!

*Tips and Tricks*

*You can create homeade flavor to any boxed cake, frosting, etc. by adding a tiny bit of flavored extract. Use any flavor you like and it will give the food an extra burst of flavor, as well as make it taste homeade! Almond extract is one of my favorites!

*Save any containers from your groceries or take out (berries, salads, lunch meat containers, etc.). You can reuse them to make cute little care packages or give your guests leftovers. You can even decorate them if you want to be really crafty!

*Get a very "Pottery Barn"-ish look in your child's room by framing some of his/her artwork. Glue it on a colorful background, put it in a cute frame, and decorate his/her room with the work. The kids love to see their work displayed, and is an inexpensive way to add cute style to your little one's room! It makes great gifts for family too!