Do It Your Freaking Self - Bark Recipes Archives

Easy DIY Magical Mermaid Bark

on June 21, 2017

Dive under the sea with some Magical Mermaid Bark! Inspired by your favorite mermaid, this sweet treat is a must have for your summer parties or treat table!

This post may contain affiliate links. Shopping from these links means that the price stays the same for you but I get a few pennies to keep the coffee pot full and possibly the cat fed.

In case you didn’t hear there is apparently a mermaid trend this summer. Does it look like I’m caring about that?? Okay maybe a little. But seriously folks, I was watching The Little Mermaid with a friend (because that is what we do okay?) and we were both feeling the need for some sugar and well, this happened. I feel no shame or guilt about any of it. None at all. So yeah, be a mermaid, get that swimsuit. Eat some chocolate and just embrace that -ish okay? Okay!

Easy DIY Magical Mermaid Bark

Time:20-30 minutes plus cool time
Cost: $15 or less depending on what you have on hand
Magic level: Titus Burgess as Sebastian magical.

Supplies:

Wilton Candy Melts in Light Blue, Teal and Lavender
Piping Bag
Sanding Sugars in purple and blue. – Learn how to make your own here!
Sugar pearls
Small seashell candy mold
Coconut chips
Microwave safe bowls

If you’re up to making your own sanding sugars go ahead and make those first.

Make your purple seashells! Place 1/4 cup lavender candy melts into a piping bag. Twist the top closed and microwave for 30 seconds. Pull it out and squish around. Microwave again in 15 second bursts, mixing and squishing in between until it’s all melted. Cut a hole in the tip of the bag and fill each cavity in the mold. You may not fill all of them, but fill as many as you can. If you have any overage, simply use the edge of a spatula to smooth out. Place in fridge or freezer for 10 minutes.

Make your base!
In separate ceramic bowls, melt your candy melts. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Return to microwave and zap in 15 second bursts, stiring in between until fully melted. Do this for each color you’ll be using.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place dolops of each color next to each other on the parchment paper. This is where I like to get my agression out and sometimes act like Jackson Pollock. Just go with it.

Next, use a butter knife or spatula to smooth out and swirl the colors until you’re happy with the design. While the chocolate is still kinda melty, spread your place the seashells on the base bark and sprinkle with the coconut bark, sanding sugars, and sugar pearls.

Place in the freezer for 10 minutes or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes until the chocolate is set.

Break it up while jamming to your favorite version of Under The Sea and eat your mermaid bark with your equally mermaid obsessed best buds!

Don’t forget to PIN this post if you’re as obsessed with all things mermaid and magic!

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

ByChelsea

Strawberry Candy Bark with Valentines Treat Boxes

on January 12, 2017

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. Disclosure: I’m a proud Oriental Trading Blogger, and I received free products to faciliate today’s post. The opinions are my own.

Valentines day is just around the corner… or as I like to call it “Singles Awareness Day” or SAD for short. Because this year especially, it gets sad around these parts. But thankfully… a wonderful woman named Leslie Knope has given me something else to celebrate! Let me introduce you to Galentines Day.

“Oh it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Basically it’s like Valentines Day, but instead of getting smoochy with your significant other, you’re spending it being awesome with your favorite gal pals. Get with it! The inspiration for today’s 3 Ingredient Strawberry Candy Bark? Well, I love the taste of strawberry and milk chocolate together and well, when I’m sad I’m eating chocolate. So this more of a selfish project, but who doesn’t want to eat chocolate for breakfast when they’re sad or celebrating? Win Win guys! I’m also giving these away as party favors for our Galentines day party this year!

For my Galentines Day Party, I teamed up with Oriental Trading to help you guys with all of your party planning needs. If you’re in need of some cool boxes, craft items, or valentines for the kids Oriental Trading has your back with their Valentines Shop! Stay tuned for the full party reveal soon!

Strawberry Candy Bark
Cost: $10 or less
Time: 30 min
Skill Level: Ridiculously easy

ByChelsea

New Years Eve Dessert Chocolate Bark

on December 27, 2016

Ya’ll!!! 2016 is almost over! And it couldn’t come soon enough. Go home 2016, you’ve been drunk, hung over, and now you’re drunk again. Anyway, I promised myself I wouldn’t work over the holiday break – I’ve had a lot of plates spinning this year, and not all of them the same color/size/type if you know what I mean. I think one of them was a bowl or something – but I made this New Years Eve Dessert Chocolate Bark for a friend’s pre-New Years Eve photoshoot and it was too cute and festive not to share!

Not to mention that I found the mini-marshmallows that usually come in hot chocolate, you know the ones, yeah, those get sold separately. They’re called Mallow Bits and they are the new staple at all of my parties. Hot chocolate bar? Mallow Bits. Chocolate pretzel station? Mallow bits. Anything with s’mores? Mallow Bits. Cupcake bar? Yep. Mallow Bits. I’m having them on everything and you can’t stop me. Day = made.

New Years Eve Dessert Chocolate Bark
Cost: $10 or less
Time: 30 minutes
Skill level: Beginner – Make it with kids!
Continue reading

ByChelsea

How to Make Oreo Peppermint Bark

on November 3, 2016

Is it officially okay to order peppermint everything? Because it is seriously beginning to be my favorite time of the year! Now, of course, I absolutely do NOT start Christmas prep until after Thanksgiving… because I actually really like Thanksgiving.. BUT I adore peppermint. And this is the time of year that it all comes out of hiding. I totally stock up. Anyone else a flavor hoarder?

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer you some tasty peppermint treats right? So here is some fun Oreo Peppermint Bark to help get yourself into the holiday spirit (even if it is 85 degrees out right now!) Planning on giving some edible gifts for the holidays this year? Try some fun and easy bark recipes!

Time: 20 Min + chill time
Cost: $10
Festive level: 9

ByChelsea

Dark Chocolate Orange Cranberry Bark

on October 20, 2016

This might seem like sacrilege and try not to fall out of your seats when I say this but….I think I may be pumpkin spiced out. Whew. That felt good to get off my chest.

But seriously though you guys, I love fall and all that it brings. I love sweater weather and pumpkin spice and pumpkins and all that stuff but I think I hit pumpkin spice overload what with the latte’s and cheerios among other things. So… what is a girl to do?

Super into chocolate this season? Click here for more chocolate bark recipes!

I turned to all things rich and tangy and whipped up some dark chocolate orange cranberry bark to satisfy my sugar and my spice cravings and you know what? It hit the spot! This bark is makes a perfect addition to any party, as a holiday gift or just because. With hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, this bark is sure to bring a smile to anyone looking to dig into the more tangy flavors this holiday season!

ByChelsea

4th of July Firecracker Bark

on July 4, 2016

One of the things I absolutely love about the 4th of July is of course, fireworks! I have very vivid memories of going fireworks shopping with my dad and lighting off bottle rockets when we lived in the country. I remember going to the county line to get the really cheap ones and armfulls of roman candles. When we moved to the suburbs (and to Shelby County where home fireworks were illegal) we would always go to the church picnic and celebrate there. Even now in my adult years I enjoy the fireworks shows… and I, being the Disney fan that I am, adore Disney’s fireworks. I especially love having them year round!

Now that I’m an adult and work with children, I’m really enjoying seeing the wonder for the first time. Yes, there are a lot of “Holy Crap” moments, because who doesn’t freak out a little bit at loud noises, but overall the 4th of July is almost magical in it’s own right. This Firecracker Bark gives you all of the pop and surprise of a firework, but without the accidental burn if you get too close. (Yep, I’ve done that too) And it’s a really quick impressive dessert for when you forget to make something for your friend’s 4th of July party.

Do you have a favorite 4th of July memory?

ByChelsea

Hank the Octopus Bark

on June 22, 2016

Make this fun Hank the Octopus Bark for your next Finding Dory party! Fun and colorful party snack kids can help with.

This post contains affiliate links. Please consider shopping from them. It helps support my craft supply addiction.

First off, let me tell you that I was first in line to see Finding Dory…. well maybe not because I do not deal with large crowds of kids. I went on a Monday and it was mostly to get out of the ridiculous heat or I would have gone later because I unfortunately am really bad at making time for myself. Can we talk about the fact that it was 112 degrees in LA that day? Thank goodness I don’t wear makeup or it would have been melting off. Seriously.

Okay, so Finding Dory. If I had gone at opening night, I would have pictured myself like Moses parting the red sea… of children. I’d be all like “Get out of my way. I need this in my life more than you do.” Because that is how I roll.

Now, I’m not going to give away the movie if you haven’t seen it yet (What is wrong with you?!?) but I will say that next to little baby Dory the breakout character for me was Hank the Octopus (septopus?). I mean, I love octopi (unless it’s like Sharktopus or something) anyway, so his character was a total bonus.

And keeping with my current love of chocolate bark, (Click here for some Dory Bark) I was inspired to make this Hank the Ocotpus Bark. He’s a little salty so I put some pretzels in it and kids will love adding the cute candy eyeballs.

ByChelsea

Finding Dory Bark

on June 13, 2016

Make your own chocolate bark inspired by Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory. Finding Dory Bark is a fun activity for kids and a fun addition to theme parties!

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Swimming, swimming, swimming!

Oh Dory! I’m so glad she’s getting her own movie. She totally deserves it. I can’t count the times I’ve quoted her when I’m having a rough day. Or just needed a friend. You see, Dory didn’t really have a reason to care about Marlin or him finding his son, but she did. She cared enough to go on this insane adventure for someone she barely knew even when she couldn’t remember what was going on. She just went because her heart told her to. And now I’m excited to see her favor returned.

I mostly love this movie because of the theme of conquering fear. I know a lot of us deal with it. I personally have a very visceral reaction to stepping out of my comfort zone and facing the unknown. Fear isn’t just being in a moment of fight or flight, it can also be a mindset which we see all too well in the character of Marlin and I love that Marlin is able to conquer that fear a bit with a little help from Dory. He could have given into despair, but she unknowingly helped push him to save his son and grow as a fish.

ByChelsea

How to Make Unicorn Bark

on April 19, 2016

I’ll admit I have a special affinity for unicorns. They’re mythical, magical, and they can stab you with their heads. Pretty awesome huh?

No, my house is not completely decorated in them. No, not everything I own has a unicorn on it, but I do love them. The term unicorn doesn’t always refer to the mythical white horse that bleeds silver (thank you Harry Potter) or poops glitter and marshmallows. It can also refer to something special, unique. In the start up world, a unicorn (in Canada they call them Narwhals and that makes me laugh) is astart up that is valued at over $1 Billion. Think about that! (with my pinky at my mouth) 1 Billion Dollars. I wouldn’t have to work at all with that kind of money… like ever… and still have some left over.

For me, I like to refer to people unicorns as those who freaking rock and are magical and not afraid to show it.

More Bark Recipes

Oh, and before you do anything else, Google Scotland’s national animal. DO IT!!!
Continue reading

ByChelsea