Thank you for your interest in my little nook of the internet. I welcome any comments or suggestions you may have. One of my favorite aspects to having a blog is hearing about your projects and questions. I answer every email I receive, however, it may take me a few days due to my busy schedule. Feel free to email me directly at Rachel{at}cravingsomecreativity{dot}com
I am also active on social media and can be reached through:
Kristen says
Hi Rachel, I didn’t want to leave a review about your Oreo cream cheese frosting because I’m probably doing something wrong. I’ve made it two years in a row for my son’s birthday and the taste is delicious, but it turns out runny… I don’t add any milk because it’s like a creamy soup. I’ve been following the instructions to a T and whipped the heck out of it (both times). My mixer was getting really hot. I forgot to cool the bowl beforehand, but that can’t be the reason, can it? It could never be piped high. I have ended up putting into the fridge overnight before frosting, but even then, it’s runnier than I would have hoped. What am I doing wrong???
Rachel says
I admit, years ago when I started making my own frosting was not easy until I figured out a few things. I have another cream cheese frosting recipe that the oreo frosting is based off of and I just wrote new step-by-step instructions with photos of each step. That might be really helpful and is packed with tips. I am currently rewriting every recipe to include these steps, but the Oreo frosting is on the “soon” list. I can give a few common mistakes that I did before I perfected this. Hope it helps. 1. Homemade frostings are lighter and generally fluffier than what we find in the store. The whipping of air into the frosting is what gives it structure, not just the ingredients. The more you whip it (like 5-7 minutes at least after the powdered sugar is added- I have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer so I haven’t made this with a handheld). 2. The only way to thicken the ingredients is to add more powdered sugar or more oreos which might make it too sweet. You can try cornstarch but only 1-2 Tbsp as it may make the frosting chalky. 3. The frozen bowl is shockingly necessary if you want to pipe it. I generally won’t make frosting without a frozen bowl. Same with making my own whip cream. 3. Do not attempt to soften the butter and cream cheese via microwave. It will almost never work out. The butter and cream cheese should only be softened just enough to not be lumpy, any more than that and it’s bad.
I hope that helps because I used to be in exactly the same predicament years ago. A friend who had her own cake baking company clued me in to all of these things. I really, really hope it works out for you too.
Kristen says
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for writing back with your tips. But, I figured it out!!! I think. So, I put the mixture into the fridge to sit overnight and about 2 hours later, it came to me: German cream cheese. I live in Germany and they have cream cheese in every grocery store. It tastes the same and we use it to spread on bread, bagels, what-have-you. However, unlike in the States, it doesn’t come in a wrapped block like the butter does. It is in a tub and if you use it and then check on it a few days later, there is a little pool of cream cheese juice at the bottom of where it was used. I think the answer to my problem is to strain it of its water a few days before I plan to make the frosting (I also do this with pumpkin purée for pumpkin pie here!). This time, as an emergency measure, I transferred the already-made frosting to a strainer lined with coffee filters and sat it on top of a bowl to catch any drippings. This morning, it was still not perfect, but decidedly less runny! Of course, after the fact, the efficacy could be better. If I strain the cream cheese at the beginning, I’m sure your recipe will be awesome! Anyways, thank you so much for writing back!
Rachel says
I’m glad that it is turning out better. Unfortunately, it is a known problem in the recipe blog community about resolving ingredient differences between the States and European countries. Products have different measuring systems, moisture content, and even definitions. Most of recipe writers agree that weighing ingredients is vastly superior, but it’s impossible to know all the difference from items in the United States. I am so glad you wrote and asked! This has been truly helpful to me as well for future writing and recipe development.
Neels Marais says
Hi Rachel, firstly, thanks for the acceptance, I’m really looking forward to see the projects and to get new ideas. We’re having a cherry wood kitchen. Can we also paint this with chalk paint? We would like to change it to a white kitchen.
Rachel says
Hi Neels. I actually have red-brown cabinets and my husband insisted that I never paint them, so I changed everything else, lol. If you like, you can see our kitchen here. Yes, you can certainly paint cabinets with chalk paint. I am not discouraging Chalk paint at all, but I have also seen many clients and friends believe that Chalk paint is their only option for painting cabinets, even though that isn’t what they really wanted. Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore both make excellent cabinet paint options that are durable, don’t require priming, and sometimes do not require sealing. With chalk paint, I highly recommend sealing with a high quality polyacrylic. You can put wax over the poly if you want to antique them, but poly will give you more durability and they will last longer. I have a few posts that might help – Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets, How To Protect with A Top Coat, My Favorite Paints for Furniture. Feel free to email me or comment on a post with any questions.
Neels Marais says
Thanks Rachel. I’m staying in South Africa, not sure if they will have that type of paint or where to find it.
Jeanine Whitaker says
Love the redone trunk! Inspiration. One question, after you place the maps on the trunk did you seal it additionally?
Thank you for the fabulous idea.
Rachel says
I did seal it additionally. The spray coats were mostly to make sure that I sealed the map so it didn’t change color or get wet. Then I used a heavier duty mod podge.
Wendy says
Great site ! You have lots of decor and how to ideas
Thank you
Brenda says
Hi jst saw your post for recovering your dishwasher i have the same model but i ws wondering if your home depot had different sizes in this stainless steel paper when i went to my home depot it only had one size and it ws too short in the width ?
Rachel says
I can’t remember the exact brand but I think this is what I used: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Con-Tact-Multipurpose-72-in-x-18-in-Stainless-Steel-Drawer-Shelf-Liner-06F-C8M02-06/100388888 From the comments on Home Depot’s website, some people didn’t like that product for covering appliances although I can say that mine has held up very well and we wash dishes every other day. No bubbles and it wipes easily with a cloth. When I did my dishwasher, mine was about 1 inch short in length when rolling horizontally. I actually like the black band at the bottom, but hubby didn’t. So we matched it up so the seam was not noticeable. Hope this helps!
diane says
I have a very big blackboard or chockboard (not sure) that I am trying to find the price for. can you help? It looks like one you have posted.
Rachel says
I paid about $17 for mine at homegoods. The one I have wasn’t originally a chalkboard though, it had a burlap fabric over it for push pins.
Kendall says
Hi Rachel!
Just stopped in to visit your site. Looks amazing! I am so looking forward to getting some great ideas from you. See you soon <3
Ms.Kendall
Rachel says
Awww, your so sweet! And I figured your probably got enough of the little man during daytime hours. Thank you for stopping by and see you tomorrow! /hugs
Brent says
How did you get started? What how much time do you have to have to create these wonderful projects? Love to know. Thanks.
Rachel says
I have always had this split interest in art/creativity and sciences. I pursued my scientific side in my career and have comfortably achieved many of the things I desired there. Currently, I work full time but intend to leave my current position at the end of this year. My priorities in life have changed now that I have a family. I started this website for two reasons. First, I am pretty shy so I would like to keep those tendencies at bay after I leave my position. Secondly, I find it time to pursue my arty/creative side while giving my family the best support I can. Truthfully, my website and creations have taken a whole lot of time in the first 3 months. I did not have any experience in web design (or any social media). My husband has been extremely supportive and I am very lucky.