Christmas Cupcakes

With December on the doorstep, there is no way to ignore that Christmas is right around the corner. We're starting to feel the festive spirit and are looking forward to enjoying the season of goodwill, good food and good company!

These Christmas cupcakes we discovered online are adorable! We think we will defiantly be making them over the coming weeks, to share some Christmas treats with our friends and family.

Whilst these festive cupcake designs look very professional, they are actually really easy to create! We've put together a quick tutorial and recipe to show you how to make these festive treats yourself once Christmas arrives!

Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients
Cupcake:                                         Icing:
110g Softened Butter                   140g Softened Butter
120g Caster Sugar                         280g Icing Sugar
110g Self Raising Flour                1-2 tbsp Milk
2 Lightly Beaten Eggs                   Green Food Colouring
1-2 tbsp Milk                                 White Milk Chocolate
1tsp Vanilla Extract                       Edible Decorations

Recipe
1. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
2. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
3. Beat in the eggs a little at a time.
4. Fold in the sifted flour. Adding a dash of milk until the right consistency is achieved.
5. Spoon into cupcake cases lining a muffin tin and bake for 10-15 minutes (or until a knife comes out clean after begin inserted into the centre of a cake).
6. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
7. For the buttercream icing, beat the butter in a large bowl until soft.
8. Slowly add the sugar whist beating, adding a dash of milk until smooth and creamy.
9. Mix in a few drops of food colouring until a even colour is achieved.
10. Spoon icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe in a spiralling motion onto the cooled cupcakes to create the Christmas tree effect on half the cakes.
11. Decorate the trees with a few edible sugar balls and a star to top of the creation!
12. To create the modern chocolate tree design, use a clean knife to spread an even layer of butter icing on the remaining cupcakes.
13. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a simmering saucepan.
14. Use a spoon to drizzle some melted chocolate onto a flat sheet of greaseproof paper in a zip zag shape about 2 inches tall.
15. Carefully place some edible sugar balls into the chocolate and allow to cool.
16. Once completely cooled, carefully remove from the paper and stick upright into the layer of icing on the last batch of cupcakes. 

Then your Christmas cupcakes are complete! Display on a cupcake stand to present them to your friends and family before they get gobbled up!

Will you be baking festive cupcakes this Christmas?

Frozen Party People

We love a Frozen party here at Flingers. It has been one of the most popular party themes of the year, and we don't think it is going to go away just yet.

If you are planning a Frozen themed party in the coming weeks, don't forget to invite along the Frozen crew! Sure to be a bit hit with all the guests, use lifesize cardboard cut outs of the Frozen characters to make your party an authentic Frozen experience!

You could even use them as photo booth props so everyone can have their picture taken with their favourite characters from the Disney film! Or if you know someone who is a true Frozen fan, why not spoil them this Christmas with their very own cardboard Olaf or Anna cut out as a surprise Christmas present?

Or if  the Frozen fan you know doesn't have much spare room for a lifesize cut out at home, you could always treat them to a more manageable but still very fun balloon! At Flingers, we have a great selection of Frozen balloons, from Olaf supershape balloons, to huge bubble balloons, or holographic foil balloons available both online and in store.

Holographic Balloon  |  Olaf Balloon  |  Frozen Supershape Balloon  |  Bubble Balloon  |  Handheld Frozen Balloon

If you're looking for more Frozen party inspiration, take a look at our Frozen moodboard of fun decorations and treats to get inspired for the party theme.

You can order your Frozen lifesize cut outs online or head in store to find out more information. Whilst you're there, check out our full range of Frozen party essentials to get your party planning well underway!

Are you a Frozen fan?

DIY Photobooth Props

No party is complete without some photo booth fun! Getting all your guests in front of the camera and having a giggle whilst hiding behind some silly glasses or a large moustache is a great way to capture special memories of all your closest friends and family.

If you are only planning a small get together with your closest friends and don't want to splash out on renting an expensive professional photo booth for the party, why not make your own DIY photo booth and props? It's so simple!

Firstly you need a background. At Flingers we have some awesome Scene Setters available which would be perfect for this! From Hollywood Landscapes and Beach Scenes to Disco Backgrounds and much more.

Secondly, you need the all essential photo props! We've put together some fun free printable Photobooth Props for you to download and make at home in five easy steps.

How to make your Photobooth DIY Props:

1. Print our DIY Photo Props out onto A4 paper.
2. Mount each prop onto some cardboard or foam using some spray adhesive. 
3. Carefully cut out each prop and shape using a sharp scissors. 
4. Attach a short stick to each prop to allow them to be handled easily.
5. Let the party begin!

Download your Free Printable Photo Booth Props

Will you be trying out a photo booth at your next party?

Movember Bakes

Are you taking part in Movember this year, or do you know someone who is?

By growing some (sometimes peculiar) facial hair, men are raising money for and raising awareness of mens health. If someone you know is struggling to style their upper lip growth, point them in the direction of our tips for styling their new moustache or use this handy diagram to pinpoint which type of moustache is best suited for them.

Moustache Cookie Cutter

If you are not growing a moustache this month, why not get involved and raise money for charity by baking and selling some well themed biscuit treats?

Or surprise someone who is attempting to grow a facial masterpiece this month with a box of Moustache biscuits as a great way to inspire them to keep on going.

Create your moustache biscuits with a cookie cutter fit for the job. Pick up a Moustache Cookie Cutter for just 99p before end end of the month to get baking your Movember treats.

However you are taking part, remember to donate and raise money for the issues at the heart of the Movember challenge.

Are you taking part in Movember?

Paper Cup Craft | Frozen Crown

At Flingers we love a crafty party tutorial using simple partyware, and turning it into something fun, pretty and colourful! So it is obvious that we love this Frozen Crown Tutorial, made by simply using a spotty blue paper party cup!
 
You can find the tutorial on kidschaos.com and it is super simple but sure to put a big smile on the face of the princess who wants to be the star of her very own Frozen party.

Frozen is a big party theme this year and it looks set to stick around through the Winter months making the party theme feel a lot more magical as the temperature outside drops. If you are planning a special birthday party soon, get inspired by some Frozen party inspiration that we posted on the blog recently! Full of perfect touches to create the Frozen theme at your party.

The great thing about this paper cup tutorial is that is lends itself well to any sort of party theme you may be planning. Using different coloured paper cups and fluffy pom poms, you can create a crown fit for any occasion!

At Flingers we stock a wide range of coloured and patterned cups that would be perfect to use for this crafty party tutorial. Stock up now and you could make all the guests at your next party turn into paper cup royalty!

Do you know a frozen princess who would love a crown like this?

Make it a White Christmas

It's never too soon to start dreaming of a white Christmas! At Flingers we are stocking up on all things festive to make sure that your Christmas parties are winter wonderlands.

Rather than relying on the weather, the best way to make this Christmas a white one is with lots of wonderful decorations! We think these hanging snowflake decorations are the perfect way to add some festive frost to your home, work or Christmas party.

Make your Christmas party a festive one this year with lots of crisp white decorations and partyware to get the wonderful white winter feeling. We've already picked out some winter wonderland party essentials including scattering silver confetti across tabletops for some added sparkle. We are also looking forward to using crepe paper streamers to create our own Christmas decorations this year. Or  create the ultimate winter wonderland at your festive gathering by hanging a lovely Christmas scene to any blank wall.

1. Frosty White Tablecover - £0.69
2. Joyful 3D Snowmen Decorations - £3.79
3. Silver & White Crepe Streamers - from £0.99
4. Silver Stardust Confetti - £1.39
5. Silver & White Paper Plates - from £0.99
6. Silver & White Paper Napkins - from £0.89
7. Winter Wonderland Room Roll - £11.99

Remember, you can order this and much more online at Flingers Party Shop now. With delivery starting from just £1.40. Keep an eye on the website for all the latest Christmas fancy dress and festive costumes too. We're here to get you through the party season!

Are you planning for a white Christmas?

Spiced Apple Autumn Bakes

Are you looking for a tasty Autumnal treat to get baking with this weekend? Our mouths are salivating at the idea of Valerie over on fromvalerieskitchen.com's apple cake with butterscotch sauce recipe.

Apple Cake Recipe

We think this is the perfect cake to officially welcome in Autumn with this weekend. Is there much better than the sweet smell of spiced baked apples wafting from the kitchen to make the house seem so much more homely?

You can find the recipe for this spiced apple cake here. As well as the recipe for the delicious butterscotch topping to go with it. Yum!

If you're planning to get baking this weekend, remember you can stock up on your bakeware essentials at Flingers. We think getting to enjoy this spiced apple cake whilst it still warm from the oven is one of those hearty treats that are good for the soul! It has apples in it, so it must be good for you!

Will you be baking up any treats this weekend?

Bonfire Night Plans

To us, Bonfire Night signals the start of Winter. After the madness of Halloween, we notice how much the nights have drawn in and there is a chill in the air making us reach for our woolly scarves and gloves to keep us warm.

If you can't make it out to a local organised fireworks event this year but don't want to miss out on all the fun, why not throw you're own Bonfire Night party? At Flingers, we're looking forward to inviting over all our close friends and family to watch our very own fireworks show this week. But of course we must keep or guests warm and happy with lots of hot snacks and drinks!

We've picked out all our party and tableware essentials to get a sophisticated Bonfire party on the go this week. Of course, black and silver and key colours for this kind of party. With a few glow stick bracelets and fountain cake candles to bring a little bit of the sparkle indoors. All you need to supply, are the fireworks!

1. Jet Black Table Cover - £2.99
2. Silver Glitter Cutlery - 24 pieces £3.39
3. Jet Black and Silver Paper Plates - 8 pack £1.99
4. Silver Star and Gold Star Balloons - 25 pack £10.99
5. Jet Black Paper Cups - 8 pack £1.99
6. Silver Paper Napkins - £1.29
7. Glow Stick Bracelets - £1.99
8. Ice Fountain Cake Candle - 2 pack £1.99
9. Foil Balloon Weight - £0.99

All this and more is available now at Flingers Party Shop. Order online and collect in store for free or pop along to pick up your Bonfire Party essentials in person.

Will you be going out to see a fireworks show or staying at home to enjoy your own?