Setting up photoshoots is hard work, so I always have to have a few quick and easy desserts for the display that pack some design punch and save time! And I have to say, these perfectly poisonous parfaits from the Bewitching Halloween Party are so embarrassingly easy to make, I almost feel silly sharing how…
tutorials
{Real Party} Niahm’s Bright Butterfly Birthday
Nicole from Tradewind Tiaras is the most incredible DIYer I know. Every party she throws has the most amazing handcrafted details that not only shows her talent, but her love for what she does and the people that she celebrates. I was truly honored to be able to help a bit with her daughter’s…
Building a Better Dessert Table Backdrop
I get questions about my backdrops often enough that I’ve finally (finally!) taken a few minutes to spill all my secrets. When you create a dessert table display, choose a background with interesting architecture, natural beauty or create some of your own visual interest. The Midsummer’s Night Dream and Beach Baby parties took advantage of…
{Tutorial} Graduation Caps for Push Pops
There’s been quite the call for a tutorial on how to make these little pushpop hats seen in the ” bright future” graduation party! I’m happy to be able to show you how they were made. It wasn’t an extremely scientific process to creating these little hats, so as with all tutorials, I am sure you…
{Tutorial} Sewn Circle Garland
The circle garlands from the graduation shoot were super easy to make and created a nice pop of color and fun to the backdrop. They did require the use of a sewing machine–but I promise that I only have rudimentary sewing skills and by no means can I do much more than sew a straight…
Carrot Patch Cupcake Tutorial
Recently, I went to an Easter Egg hunt at Courtney’s house (of Charming Whimsy) where she once again produced a fabulous spread with lots of fun things for the kids to do and lots of special treats. The cupcakes she made for the party were so unique and creative—little carrot patches complete with dirt and…
{Tutorial} Pomander Flower Balls
Today I am sharing my step-by-step DIY tutorial on how to make these simple and elegant flower pomander balls over on Pizzazzerie. They are so easy and the materials widely accessible – your friendly neighborhood WalMart will do for supplies to create something that looks distinctly high-end! You can find the tutorial here.
A Kid’s New Years Eve
As the master of activity-filled parties for kids, I thought I’d ask Carrie Pasfield to write up a post on how she celebrates New Years Eve with her brood. I have to say, I’d sign up to be a Pasfield! Do you want to spend New Years Eve with your little kids and still want…
{Tutorial} Gift Card Wrapping – Superchick Style
Last week, Genevieve, aka Superchick, from Celebrate Today…the Superchick Way was fabulous enough to ask me to do a little guest post here on her blog. I asked if she’d like to return the favor, and I am SO glad she did!! Not only is Superchick super entertaining to read, she can rock a craft…
{FREEBIE} Witty Christmas Wine Tags
We all need something a little witty and fun for Christmas bottle giving! I’m offering FREE printables to make these wine tags. Merry Christmas! You can catch the free printables HERE!
Gingerbread House Tutorial and How-To…From a PRO!
I know that Nicole from Tikkido definitely had a few chuckles when she read my post about my gingerbread house making fiasco. And after she stopped rolling on the floor, she sent me an email where she graciously offered to right all my wrongs with a gingerbread house tutorial to beat all gingerbread house tutorials….
Advent Calendars – A Few How to Guides
I can hardly believe that it is actually almost time to put out an advent calendar! For those that look forward to the big day with child-like excitement, advent calendars are a great way to count down to Christmas. There are many great ideas out there to make your own, and I’ve gathered a few…
Gingerbread House: Lessons Learned
Sometimes you make insane decisions that are a little painful to live through, but in the end end up OK. Deciding to make an 18 inch tall gingerbread house from scratch for a dessert table spread (and everything else on the dessert table) when you’ve never made a gingerbread house in your life squarely falls in…
{Tutorial} Painted Leaves Thanksgiving Napkins
When I look at all the fancy tables out there, it’s almost always the little details of the design that I marvel over. The hostess that goes just that little extra mile to show her guests how special they are to her are the ones that leave an impression. For my kid’s table, I added…
{Tutorial} Thanksgiving Turkey Finger Puppets
My kids played and played and played with these cutie patootie Thanksgiving turkey finger puppets for hours after I made them…you would have thought they were some fancy toy with lots of lights and bells and whistles. But no, just a few scraps of felt and thread and lots of childhood imagination happily at work….
Halloween Day 26: {Guest Blogger} Halloween Blocks Tutorial
I’m very excited to have a guest blogger today! My Halloween enthusiast, party planning friend and Frog Prince helper, Courtney Charles, was getting crafty this week and offered to send over a tutorial for these cute CUTE little Halloween blocks. They were easy enough to make that it was no sweat to make them for…
Halloween Day 14: Pottery Barn Style, Dollar Store Price!
We’ve all done it. We’ve all gleefully opened the mailbox, pulled out the Pottery Barn catalog and coveted at least something inside. The good news about Pottery Barn items is that if you are a bit industrious, you can replicate their style. There are several such bloggers out there that have not only done this,…
Halloween Day 6: Halloween Window Subway Art
Mary Janes and Galoshes wrote a really great tutorial for halloween themed “subway art.” She includes a template and step by step instructions for this neat little bit of Halloween decor made from a thrifted frame!
Halloween Day 5: Candy Topiaries
With so much candy available during Halloween, it’s no surprise they are fodder for craft projects. The Two Crafty Sisters came up with these darling candy topiaries for a little festive decorating using candy corn, gumdrops and jellybeans. I love the spiky balls of candy, but the striped sticks and jar holders are details that…
Halloween Day 2: Decorating with Silhouettes
Martha always has an abundance of great halloween ideas, and this year’s batch does not dissapoint! The templates and tutorials for decorating with silhouettes are on my list of favorites. There is a window in my front room that will be getting this elegant gothic curtain treatment. It’s wonderful that the materials are simple, too–just…
Cake Stands: DIY Tutorials
A nice cake stand or cupcake tower is a good thing to have on hand for entertaining. There are so many ways to use them–for cupcakes, cakes, appetizers, little decorative vingnettes, and the list goes on. You can find inexpensive, but beautiful cake stands at places like Homegoods or Marshall’s, but if you’re looking for…
Paper Rose Favor Boxes: The DIY Tutorial
Paper roses were part of the decor theme at the Midsummer’s Night fairy party, and I couldn’t help but carry them into the party favors. These favor boxes are very simple to make, although they take a bit of time. The Ingredients: Pre-made favor box Colored paper Ribbon Tape Scissors Glue Gun You’ll notice there…
DIY Party Decor: Loopy-Loo Garland
IS•LY (also known as I Still Love You) has an inventive take on party bunting in her tutorial for Loopy-Loo Garland. She shows how simple materials and a simple technique make for a steller party decoration! Using 1×6 inch strips of good quality paper and a length of ribbon… You loop and sew until…
The Birthday Crown: The DIY and How-To Tutorial
My then-3-year-old watched while I made item after item for her little brother’s frog prince birthday party earlier this year, and in the process, I think I created a monster. I now have a little girl that is totally obsessed with parties, the birthday kind in particular! Makes her momma proud. Her only request besides “princesses” for…
Chocolate Candy Dipped Marshmallows Pops On-a-Stick: DIY Tutorial and How-To
Everything is more fun on a stick, right? These candy-dipped marshmallows were a big hit with the kids, as well as the adults that would admit it, at my son’s birthday party. And since the occasion came up yesterday to make them again, I thought I’d show ya’ll how it was done. These marshmallows-on-a-stick are…
Button Bouquet Flower Tutorial
One of my favorite blogs, Everything Etsy, is also in Mother’s day prep mode. At the site, she’s posted up a great little tutorial on these cute fabric button bouquets. In addition to being a great gift, I can see how these would make a perfect little centerpiece or buffet decoration for a little girl’s…
Tissue Pouf Ball Pom Pom Arrangement Tutorial and How To- Part 2
And now for the wildly anticipated conclusion of how to make a tissue pouf ball/pom pom arrangement! Now that you have your three pouf balls made, you’re going to figure what the heck you did with dowel rods/shiskabob skewers while you were playing with all that tissue paper. Gently look through the flower petals until…
Tissue Pouf Ball Pom Pom Arrangement Tutorial and How To- Part 1
I’ve had a few requests on how to make these fluffy little tissue poufs/balls/pom-poms. I promised I would do a tutorial, and I’ve finally gotten to it! Tissue poms are so versatile–hanging from the ceiling, sticking up out of the ground like giant flowers, or, like I’m going to explain today, as pretty “flower” arrangements….
Big Man Frog Prince Birthday Crown Tutorial
Rarely does my significant other have much of an opinion on what I do or do not do in my art projects. While I was working on little B’s frog prince birthday crown, he heard me mention “maribou” and he flat out put a stop to it. No feathers. I pleaded for pom-poms. There…