Chocolate Frogs

In my Halloween Post, I mentioned the Chocolate Frogs. Let me tell you, confectioner, I am not! You would think..Wilton Candy Melts, Mold..easy Peasy..not so much.

First I tried melting them in a ziplock baggy..i thought melt..snip off the end...squeeze into the mold..done..bang! Not so much..they melted ok for the most part..but they didnt really squeeze out well through the baggy..and the baggy and chocolate was hot! If i have finger/hand prints left after that experience, it's  Hogwarts Miracle!

Then I just tried melting in a bowl..and thought i'd scoop it in..I tried melting in the microwave..in a makeshift double boiler...these melts have a fine line between melted and separated and ash...i had a hard time finding it...but I found all those other statuses..easily!!


So much work..and in my trial run the best i got was 7 candy frogs, two bags of wasted chocolate melts, and a Pyrex bowl that just wasn't salvageable with the hardened chocolate ash.

On my next trip to Michaels to get more Candy Melts, i found this great Melt & Decorate Bottle...I needed a thicker pour so just took the top off..but finally found a rhythm where i could melt, mold 4 frogs, melt , mold the other four..put the frogs in the refrigerator and the bottle in the freezer, wait 20 minutes and repeat. I would have to use a spatula to get any melted chocolate out good..but finally...it worked!

Candy Melts - i suggest using light cocoa only..even if you're a dark choclate fan

Frog Mold

Melt & Decorate Bottle

**the links to the products mentioned above, contain affiliate links to Amazon..if you use those links and make purchases, i may make a small commission on those items. You can read more about my affiliate status on my Disclosure page

Hogwarts at Gymboree

"That's so clever, Oh My God look at that!" Yay! People are back on our floor in total awe!! If you're not familiar, Gymboree Corporate in full celebration of childhood, goes all out for Halloween. Competition all out! For many years..those stuffy accountants on the 5th floor (or the 770 building) won the competition..i mean we're accountants..how could we possibly pull that off..and then production pulled out the stop using their creative forces to start planning and creating, in December the year prior! We still pulled off an amazing skit or dance...but lost the coveted trophy..the bragging rights.
this year we decided to pull out the stops and create a Wonderful world of Wizardry with Harry Potter.

Platform 9 3/4

Hogwart's Express

Myrtle

The Sorting Hat

The magical winged keys (thanks to my fabulous Silhouette!)

The Great Hall

Advanced Potions Class

Hogsmeade

The Wampum Tree

Bertie Bott's Sweet Shops

The Chocolate Frogs

The Dementors ( I copied Ashley Phipps/Simply Designing PB Hanging Ghosts Knock Off knock off...took it a step further, painted the balls black and used Rit Dye to dye the cheesecloth.*

The Quiddich Stadium

If you're checking this before the evening of the 30th..check back to see video of our amazing post Harry/Draco duel celebration!
Do we win? That remains to be seen and will be discussed at a a future Town Hall..check back to find out!

*I live in an apartment, so needed to do the Sink Method for dying..I used a bucket. Rit Dye Rit Dye Liquid Fabric Dye, 8-Ounce, Black notes on the bottle you should wear gloves...that's not a suggestion, unless you like dyed hangs..alhtough the black dye came off with a bit of Comet Comet Powder Cleanser with Bleach, 25 Oz and a Ranger Craft Scrubbie
. Rit Dye Color RemoverRit Dye Powdered Fabric Dye, Color Remover, 2-Ounce would probably also work.

**This post contains affiliate links to Amazon and other craft sites..If purchased I amy receive some compensation that goes to power this blog and my crafting/beauty habit.