Happy Mother's Day ~ a tea-party and button-flower cupcake-toppers

In celebration of every woman who has brought a person into this world or raised a child as your own ~ you are loved and given thanks for on this day. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Here are some flowers and cupcakes for you ~

My sisters and I threw a little Mother's Day party this past week -- no boys allowed (except for babies). As it was a dressed-down, relaxed occasion, no true tea cups or cutlery were involved :)

These yummy lemon cupcakes are super easy to make and so are the button-flower toppers.

First, the cupcakes:
- 250g butter
- 250g sugar
- 250g self-raising flour
- 5-6 eggs
- 1 fresh lemon, squeezed

--- Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer till fluffy and white, then slowly mix in the eggs. When well-combined, blend in the flour and fresh lemon juice.
--- Pour into mini cupcake cases and bake in a preheated oven for 12-15 min at 180 degrees C.
--- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Then tap them out of the cases, cut in half horizontally and fill with meringue frosting and jam.

... and the meringue frosting (really light and not too sweet!) :
- 4 egg whites
- 2/3 cup sugar
- pinch of salt
- pinch of cream of tartar
- the juice of 1/2 a lemon
--- Combine all the ingredients in a double boiler. Stir over low heat till the sugar is dissolved.
--- Transfer to an electric mixer and use the whisk to whip till stiff peaks form.
Note: If you frost your cupcakes immediately, they can sit out without being refrigerated. However if you make the frosting a day or two ahead, store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to frost, re-whip the meringue as it will have separated.
Disclaimer: If you have concerns about salmonella, you can read more online about meringue frosting safety, and further note that I haven't died of it yet :D

I colored half of the frosting pink, sprinkled lemon rind on top of a few cupcakes, and filled the rest with strawberry jam. I also did not have a cake stand, so I made my own out of a glass bowl, platter, and fruit-plate cloche cover :)

On our menu we also had chocolate-dipped pretzels, fruit-kabobs, dip and chips, raspberry punch, and other miscellaneous yummy things that I shall not proceed into at this time.

The Cupcake-Toppers!!
I used toothpicks (clean new ones OF COURSE), assorted buttons and mulberry roses, and patterned paper.
All you have to do is cut random leaf-shapes out of your patterned paper. Alternatively you could use a die-cut or puncher. Using craft-glue (and if you are reading this blog you probably have some of that lying around), adhere the buttons and flowers together as you please and glue them onto the toothpick. Layer the leaves below the button-flowers. THE IMPORTANT PART: Let the glue dry. If you don't, you will get a glue-y mess on your cupcakes haha. When the glue is dry, stick the toppers in your cupcakes and admire, then take them out and consume cupcakes.
(A waste of time, if you ask me...)

You can cut a few flag banners and stamp words on them too. They mix very well with the button-flowers.

We also decorated the house a little bit. I found fresh roses at the florist and filled a few mason jars and glass bowls with them.

I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo
~ V

*PS: linking-up-love : I am going crazy over DIY nowadays, so hopping on the bandwagon with everyone else ... @ http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/ and