Paired Glitz

This was a DIY project in that I saw and did for my secrete Santa. I shopped around to fine Styrofoam pairs. I stuck a wooden skewer in them and spray painted then stuck that in a large block of Styrofoam to let them dry once they were dry I modge podged them using a foam brush and then rolled them in glitter and continued to let them dry again. I also did apples which turned out well but were more difficult because glue and paint drips hardened on the spheres.

Stuffing Party

I have taken on helping my friend with her wedding recently we held a fondue party so that she could have assistance with her DIY invitations. It was a great hit with cheese fondue for starters, meat for a main course, and chocolate for dessert. We called it a stuffing party.Here are the pictures.

I used Pyrex dishes I received as a gift from a dear and wonderful Friend Nancy, they were also my guest of honors favorite color and wedding theme color., so it made for a nice tie in.

We used serving trays that we had painted with chalk board spray paint to label the different types of sauces available to try.

I decided to use paper towel instead of napkins because it would hold up better I folded it in half then down to create a pocket for the poker and fork.

Underneath the fondue pots are 6 tiles I picked up at the local hardware store for 16 cents a piece. I did this to protect the table from unwanted oil spills. I was also able to use my plate tier to help corral and organize the food choices. We swapped these oil pots out for small crock pots to melt the chocolate in

Meat should be cooked at 350 degrees

Chocolate at warm

and Cheese at 200.

Table for Xmas

Ornaments

I found my self wondering around Micheal's the other day and couldn't help but resist purchasing several glass ornaments. I decided to purchase them with out any idea to do with them. Here is what I came up with.

These three I took glittery ribbon and used a siccor blade to curl it then removed the top of the empty ornament and feed small langhts of the ribbon into the opening and then replaced the top adding extra ribbon to the top.

For this one I stuffed it with tinsel and painted a black stripe around it then using a gold glitter pen maid a box to  mimic Santa's belt.

Not the Same Old Bag and Dance

 I know some of us get tired of the same old bag and dance. Here are some different ways to wrap gifts for next year or even birthdays.Most of these items came from the dollar store with an exception of few. This is a great way to impress and make your gifts look great.

 Place the gift inside another beautiful gift. like a mirrored box or jewelry box.

 Wrap in shirt boxes and make your own gift tags using  a computer add glitter to intensify.

For several boxes wrap in paper then tie together with ribbon so they are easy to hand out on Christmas day.

 Stock it, in s stocking.If you have several small things place them together in the stocking,

For baked goods reuse Pringels cans wrapped in Christmas paper to give gifts like chocolate covered pretzels and cookies.

 Boxed up! Place the gift in a decorative Xmas box to use for storing Christmas decorations.

When its to large and awkward to wrap purchase cellophane bags and use ribbon to tie closed attach an ornament to seal the deal,

Gifty Giving!

Gift Basket Ideas

When I give a gift I like to include things that help the receiver use the gift. For example if I buy someone a pasta bowl I want them to be able to have pasta, spices and sauces so they can enjoy the bowl I bought them. I don't want my gift to inconvenience them by having to go to the store and purchase more things in order to use it, I find this concept especially fun at bridal and baby showers. Here are some ideas for baskets to put with pieces you might purchase this season.

I make most of my baskets form things that come from HomeGoods stores, TJMaxx, Marshalls, World Market, and other places!
Great Griller's/Press: grilling sauces, bread, recipe book, spatula, spices,apron, and olive oil.

Tea-novists: Tea pot, several different flavors of tea, mug, towels, lemon, honey, and tea bag rests.
Cheese Chiefs: Cheese board, cheese spreaders/knives, cheese, wine, and crackers.

Wine Lovers: Wine red and white, glasses, stoppers, openers, and glass markers.
Crock Pot Connoisseurs: BBQ, cook book, apron, spices, laddie, and soups.

Pasta Prima-donas: Pasta bowel, pasta types, olive oils, sauces, spices, ladle, dipping oil, and garlic press

Coffee Captions: Mugs, flavored syrups, coffee, stirs, biscottii, iced coffee cup shortbread, and Cinnamon.

Baker Babes: Oven mitts, rolling pin, cookie cutters, cookie/muffin mix, mixing bowels, frosting, spatula, whisk, and apron.

Popcorn Pros: Flavorings for popcorn, varied pop corn types, two tubs for popcorn, DVDs (classics)

Lunch Liaisons: Collapsible containers for storage, chop sticks, hot and cold drink containers, soup container, lunch bag, and silverware.

Pancake Perfectionists: Pancake mixes, spatulas, syrups, bowel, whisk, mixing bowel, and pancake shapes.

Tiered Elegance

 Went to TJMaxx and found these plates that I loved but I didn't want to by 4 of each so I decided to by 2 sets of four small appetizer plates a large dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, and two crystal candle sticks. I attached the candle sticks to the bottom of the bowl and salad plate with E600 glue (find at most crafting stores works on dishes,but dont advise running it through dishwasher). I decided not to attach all three to give me options and make cleaning easier. I can use it to hold jewelry, in the bathroom for organization. Or even the office to hold supplies.

Holiday Center Pieces

Reuse that gift basket you got last year to put flowers in , by a Styrofoam piece to put inside and attach to the bottom of basket, The purchase stems from your favorite store and try to space evenly.

Use your favorite vase or glass holding piece to group cheap ornaments form the dollar store, for depth add lights or strings of beads for texture.

Place trees at various levels on a plate add candles or ornaments here and there in the plate. Add a large wreath to place around it.

Santa's Belt Insperation

Stuffed left over tinsel in an ornament painted black stripe on the ornament and then drew a gold glitter box like a buckle on it with a glitter gel pin

Made gift tags from word document on cumputer glued then glittered. Fun an easy lots of colors and shapes.

Tissue Paper Trees

Need:
3 Styrofoam cones
Hot glue and hot glue gun
Several pieces of desired color tissue paper
Pencil
Scissors

1. Cut tissue into squares about one inch by one inch.
2. Wrap tissue paper around the eraser end of a pen(place in the middle of square when wrapping) and using glue gun put a dot of glue on the paper.
3. Then touch it to the the cone going up and down.
4. Place it closely together.
5. Then cut on an angle from the top of the cone down with the scissors to trim the tree shape. (DO this part of the garbage can) save you from some headache clean up.

Baby's Shower Ideas

 I recently hosted another baby shower, this one was a three hour drive away so I had to bring everything with me, including a microwave.We ended up having in a meeting room at a bank. The picture above is what ended up as our center pieces. We wanted them to be things mommy could use again. So we bought baby bottles stuffed them with iridescent cellophane and added ribbons, bibs and pacifiers, we surrounded them with shells and risen drops.

Meatballs, cucumber sandwiches, dips, chips, crackers, chicken sandwiches

Party favors are boxes shaped in bottles tied with ribbon, I placed two square guests soaps in each one, the soaps I bought from TJ Maxx for about 4-5 dollars there where 12 in each box.  Which made the favors about 30 dollars.

The Glass Act

Took those small Halloween plastic rings that come in shapes modge podged them and dipped in glitter make for fun and cheep wine rings, also took about 20 mins to do with prep and all.

Found these at the dollar store so I put them on earings and uded as wine glass rings.

I saw these in the store, to make them I covered the top with news paper, and used painters tape around the bottom to establish an even line and used chalk board spray paint, I was able to find chalk at the dollar store to send with them. The glasses I bought at the dollar store.

Storage and Display Sport Momentos

I ran in college and my budget right now is low but I took my bib numbers and added them in a memory frame I purchased from Hobby Lobby. Eventually the medals will have their own shadow box and so will the batons I have from every school I ran and or coached at. The biggest thing is to protect from light and dust.

Statement Necklace

Took resien drops and glued to felt using E600 glue, attaches with a magnetic purse clasp I attached before adding design, backed the felt with fabric stiffener then added another layer of felt underneath so it lays comfortably on the skin.

Message Board

Took the frame of a cork board and covered it with fabric using a staple gun then took a roll of ribbon and and attached it in a vertical pattern adhering it to the edge with a staple gun.

First look at Christmas decorating

Grouping I like to try and keep it at three for tall objects and varied color pallets for everyday decorating I stay with in the same color family but for Christmas I venture out!

This reindeer votive helps keep the varied heights fluent through out this piece.

Jewelry Part III

 

Jewelry Part II