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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Brain Cupcakes!

October 24, 2011 Leave a Comment

Pastries aren’t my strongest suit, but when I had an idea to decorate cupcakes to look like bloody brains, I couldn’t help but try it. It took me a few tries to get the right look. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to read about what didn’t work for me.

Supplies

at least 2 unfrosted cupcakes (I used an organic cocoa cayenne cake mix that is perfect for surprising Halloween treats)

white frosting

serrated knife

red gel icing

ziploc bag (or a pastry bag if you have one on hand)

scissors

Directions

Cut one cupcake in half and carve it in to a dome shape.

Stick the dome to the uncarved cupcake using a dollop of frosting.

Draw a line down the center of the dome using the gel icing. Fill a ziploc bag with frosting. Trim a small piece from one of the corners.

Squeezing from the far side of the bag toward the tip, ice a brain-looking pattern on to each half of the cupcake dome.

Fill in gaps in the frosting with the red gel icing. If you notice, I used sparkly gel. I decided these must be Twilight vampire brains – y’know, the sparkly kind of vampire? Anyway, these aren’t perfect, but they make me happy.

What didn’t work

I cut too big of a hole in my frosting bag to begin with. The brain pattern was too thick and the frosting too high. The result didn’t look realistic.

The smaller the dome the better. Since the dome and brain frosting are held on to the cupcake with more frosting, the top gets heavy when there’s a lot of weight on it. If they’re too heavy, the’ll slide off. Believe me. :)

Filed Under: Halloween, How-to Tagged With: brains, cake decorating, cupcake, frosting, halloween, icing, twilight, zombie

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Projects from Halloweens Past
Next Post: How-to: Pawnee Goddess Costume »

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
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Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
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[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
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