I LOVE baking. If I had chosen a career in the culinary arts, my dream would definitely be to own my own pastry shop. I know it’s a very demanding life — behind those colorful and delicious cakes are countless early mornings, long days in the kitchen, and a huge amount of logistics. I truly admire pastry chefs.

I didn’t go to pastry school, but I do consider myself an amateur baker — the one responsible for making the family’s birthday cakes. And since I’m a diagnosed perfectionist… okay, not officially diagnosed, but self-aware — I always place this expectation on myself to create a beautiful cake. With every new sweet project, I keep improving my techniques and exploring new ones.

In this post, I’ll not only share the recipe for each component of this sweet creation, but I’ll also tell you about the difficulties I faced (there are always some when I bake — it means I’m learning). I’ll explain why certain things didn’t go as planned and how you can avoid the same mistakes if you decide to recreate this cake at home. Ready?

I’m not entirely sure, but I’d say it took me around 6 hours in total to make this cake.

🛒 Ingredients

Chocolate & Coffee Cake

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup oil

• 3 tablespoons instant coffee

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 cup 70% cocoa powder

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

Whipped Cream

• 250 ml heavy cream, very cold

• 1–2 tablespoons powdered sugar

• 1–2 tablespoon mascarpone (optional, for extra stability)

Chocolate Ganache

• 200 g baking chocolate

• 200 ml heavy cream

Filling → Coffee Whipped Cream + Oreos (Crunchy Heaven)

• 200 ml heavy cream

• 2 teaspoons instant coffee (strong)

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 10–12 chopped Oreos (use less if you prefer it less sweet)

Cookies are DELICIOUS! There is a vast variety of cookie flavours you can make! Did you know it’s been said that chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident? In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield ran out of baker’s chocolate and used broken pieces of a Nestlé chocolate bar instead, expecting them to melt into the dough. But the chunks stayed intact, and voilà: the chocolate chip cookie was born!

Well, I decided to honour them by turning them into coasters to level up our afternoon teas. I made four cookies: the classic, two brownie — one with white chocolate and one with pintarolas — and one red velvet. Check out how it’s done!

So, it’s Christmas again.

So today I’m here to tell you about the gifts I made for my loved ones, and how heartwarming it felt to see that, years later, my grandma still keeps hers. 

The first thing we need to do before DIYing a present is deciding what we’re going to make, right? Not gonna lie, my creative light bulb doesn’t always spark on its own. I often need to grab a little inspiration from Pinterest. Even so, one thing that always helps is thinking about what the other person truly values.

For example, I have a friend who absolutely loves reading. So for her present, I’d make a must-have reader’s kit with a custom bookmark, a “favorite quotes” notebook, some highlighters, a crochet book cover to protect her reads, and of course… a new book for her to enjoy.

This year, I made another present for her in honor of her passion. And I actually filmed a video to show you how I did it, but that post isn’t out yet, so no spoilers… it’s coming soon!

But of course, not everyone feels confident crafting something from scratch — and that’s totally okay! A meaningful gift doesn’t have to be handmade in a literal “arts-and-crafts” way. Sometimes the most thoughtful presents are the ones that create memories instead of objects.

These gifts may not sit on a shelf, but they stay in the heart and that’s what really matters.

At the end of the day, Christmas gifting isn’t about perfection or about making something extravagant. It’s about intention. It’s about taking a moment to think of someone you love and saying: “Hey, I made this for you. You matter to me.”

Whether you craft a whole birthday box, decorate a jar, cook something sweet, or plan a simple experience you can share together… the magic is the same.

So this year, try gifting something with a little extra love in it, made by your hands, your time and your heart. I promise it feels just as amazing to give as it does to receive.

I wish you the happiest Christmas! 

See you next time! Ladybug out!

I LOVE Christmas. The streets start glowing with lights, Christmas trees pop up everywhere, and the radio only plays festive songs like All I Want for Christmas is You (a classic!). And of course, Home Alone is always on TV — as it should be. But the best part? Sharing this magical season with the people we love. Seeing family and friends gathered around the Christmas table is hands down one of the most heartwarming moments of the year.

In this post, I’ll show you how to make an adorable clay candy cane to bring the Christmas spirit into your home! It’s super easy — let’s get started?

Hi guys!

It’s with so much joy that I finally get to introduce my Etsy store: Everly Planned!

The goal with Everly Planned is simple: help you live your life with less stress and more intention, by offering aesthetic digital planners that make it easier to keep track of everything happening in your busy, beautiful life.

And I also want to grow the shop beyond planners. I’d love to create more digital products — and this is where you come in. What would you love to see in the store?

Feel free to leave your ideas down in the comments, or send me an email at thecraftyladybug06@gmail.com. I’d be so happy to hear your suggestions!

If you'd like to stop by and explore, here’s the link to the shop: Everly Planned 

You’re always welcome there!

See you next time! Ladybug out!

She’s ambitious, adventurous, empathetic, charismatic, independent — and above all, brave and determined. A true Gryffindor! Everything she stands for is everything I aspire to be. She reminds us to never give up on our dreams, no matter how hard — or even impossible — they might seem.

So, in her honor, I’m going to show you how to create a beautiful lantern inspired by the Corona flag, the symbol of Rapunzel’s kingdom. 

I absolutely love flowers. They’re a classic gift — stunning, delicate, and full of meaning. But let’s be real… fresh bouquets don’t last long and can get expensive.

So here’s a magical solution: make your own flowers out of toilet paper! It might sound odd, but trust me — the result is stunning, and it’s such a relaxing craft. Plus, you can personalize them with your favorite colors and use them for so many creative projects!