The Easiest 4th of July Cupcake Picks...Ever

Aren't these little Star picks just the cutest?

I can't even...

When I started styling my little photo shoot for the Mason Jar Sippers with Darby Smart, I was trying to work with what I had around the house to make something super quick.  I started grabbing red and blue fruit, some red plates, nautical 4th of July napkins, and cupcake wrappers with patriotic colors. But I didn't have anything to decorate the cupcakes.

So I came up with some crazy easy toppers that took 5 minutes to make.

 All you need is some silver floral wire and star stickers. 

That's it.

Cut your floral wire to different lengths and sandwich one end between two star stickers. 

Using different size stars in reds and blues makes it just about perfect.

Boom. You are done.

Don't they look darling??

I'm telling you. This is the easiest diy for your 4th of July party or get together.

Yarn Monster Cupcake Picks

In case some of you missed the ever popular Spooktacular over with the fabulous Eighteen25 girls, here was my project for this year...the cutest Yarn Monster Cupcake Picks I ever did see!

They are not hard to make and you only need a few supplies you probably already have in your crafty stash.

Pinwheel on a Stick

Hello there!

I wanted to peek in with a quick and easy tutorial to make easy pinwheel picks.  Yesterday I made these and the cupcakes because we celebrated Cati's birthday at school today.  Her birthday is not until the end of the summer but they celebrate all the summer birthdays during the last few weeks of school.

Which is rather confusing for Cati. :) She keeps asking, "Am I six now?" 

But hey...she got some yummy cupcakes out of it.

I honestly think these are more versatile then just popping them into a cupcake.  Embellish a package or bag, a garland or wreath, or pop a big one into a goody bag. 

Sorry that I forgot to remove all those hot glue strings before styling these cuties.  :)

It just proves us bloggers are real people with real lives. And some of us...maybe, kinda, might be...legally blind and failed to catch this until photo editing.  So there.  You now know I am legally blind even behind a lens.

I love the colors and patterns of this paper so much. :)

Here are some quick and easy steps to make these lovelies...
(sorry...they don't spin)  :)

Cut two 3x3 inch squares from 2 pieces of paper.  Double sided paper would be easier!

Using double sided tape, tape wrong sides of paper squares together to create a two sided square.

Fold one corner to the opposite corner on both sides creating a crease shaped like an "X."  Cut on the folds until you almost get to the middle leaving about 1/2 inch.

 Fold the left point down with the point towards the middle.  If you start with the left like I did, pull the left side of the other three triangles too.  Secure them with hot glue in the center.

Embellish the middle with a button or bead and hot glue a lollipop stick or skewer to the back.

That's it!

Happy Day Sweet Friends!

D.I.Y. Burlap Bags + Mason Jar Favors

Hey sweet friends!  

Ready for more tablescape fun?

Today I have a simple tutorial to make burlap bags to cover mason jars along with some wood circle tags.

I have seen photos of pretty flower arrangements wrapped in burlap and I loved the idea for little favors for my table.  But I imagined me wasting more burlap then necessary and got very sad. I remembered I still had some burlap garland lying around from another project and found it to be the perfect solution.

And it ended up being crazy easy!

Here is what you need to make these...

Burlap Garland (found in the wreath section of a craft store)

Mason jars (size optional)

Twine

Natural Wood Circle tags (Or buy those unfinished wooden tags like these)

glue gun

scissors

 

First, I laid a mason jar on the strip of burlap to size the bag.

Then I folded the burlap over until it was slightly higher then my jar and cut.

I did this for all of them at the same time and just used the first piece to measure the rest.

To make the bags, I went for my glue gun.  I actually glued both sides at the bottom first so I knew how to line up the sides. This stuff can shift on you pretty easy.

Like this.

Then I glued the rest of the way up on each side being careful that it adhered because it is so thinly woven. 

Trim the top to make it straight and cut loose fibers.

Now you have a bag!

I placed my mason jar inside all snug and cute!

Next...Wood Circle Tags.  

I made these from a branch from my yard during the fall and had a bunch left over.  I simply sawed off the circles and drilled holes in each one.  I used alphabet stamps for the names of each guest at my table.

(that's me!)

Using twine, I threaded the two ends through the backside of the tag to the front leaving a circle of twine in the back to put around my bag covered jar.

After slipping it over the top, I pulled the two pieces to tighten it and tied a bow.

You end up with really sweet and pretty favors. 

(I added tulips which are my favorite flower)

And of course, you can use the bags in other ways... 

Fill them with goodies and tie them off with ribbon, twine, a clothespin, or unique clip.  

Package a small, handmade gift. 

Make a longer bag to present a pretty bouquet of flowers. 

Wrap it around a candle or potted plant. 

Gift some organic, whole bean coffee or scented soaps.
May Day flower gifts

So many uses! 

Obviously, they are porous so use them wisely (like don't pour ground coffee in there...hahaha!) 

But I think they are so fabulously versatile.

  Pretty easy bags for a pretty presentation. 

What do you think?

Love and hugs to each and every one of you!

♥

Coffee Filter Flowers and Video Tutorial

Hello sweet friends!

It has been inexcusably long since I have posted.  I know.  But I do have legitimate reasoning.

The kiddos got sick.

The kiddos got ME sick.

Been preparing for an upcoming gala next weekend.

I have had 101 appointments and hence...no access to blog land. 

We actually have been going through a lot of personal stuff with our oldest daughter.  I promise, nothing alarming or worrisome.  But she has been having behavioral problems and struggling in school.  So I have been determined to get to the bottom of it and I think we are on our way to a solution.  It has taken all my time and energy which I have no doubt all of you are amazingly understanding about.

But GOOD NEWS...I am going to be sharing all the elements of this DIY Tablescape I have been working on.  I think you will like some of the ideas I have come up with. The gala theme this year is "A Knight in the Garden." Garden?  Flowers?  I am so in.

Do you remember last year's table?  Here are some photos to jog your memory...

1. family nest centerpiece

2. twig and paper leaf place cards

3. napkin ring wraps

4. bird house with bird magnet favors

5. diy fabric square chargers

So here we go with the first part of  Gala Tablescape 2012...

My idea was to have a bunch of flowers...I mean A LOT...all over my table.  I was going to make a runner, inspired by this, but my table is round so I figured I could just arrange a bunch in the center with some candle light. I realized coffee filters could be my solution.

I think I am the last person to get on the coffee filter flower train.  I have always admired them but to be honest, my crafty self can NOT pull it off. I tried all the different methods I have seen (rolling them with masking tape, roses) but for some reason, I am missing some coffee filter flower making gene.  So while failing miserably trying this...quite by accident...I came up with my own way of making them. 

And it's easy! 

Everyone chic scream for easy!

First I dyed them.  

I experimented with tea, food coloring, washable markers, and watered down acrylic paint.  They all work great but I had the most fun with food coloring.  I found I had a lot of leeway with it. You can even use kool aid too!  I just soaked them for about 10 minutes and dried them in individual layers.

The soft colors of these are so lovely.  

Here they are folded twice into cones and cut with a scalloped edge all ready to make the flowers.

Check out my video below with a step by step on how to make the flowers.  I needed both hands and I figured using my tripod for a picture tutorial would be more time consuming then just doing a video.  

I don't necessarily call this a vlog because  only my hands are in the video. But I guess it is.  I was probably sporting yoga pants, a hoodie, and working on day 2 of needing a shower.

I love being a mom. :)

Oh, and my voice sounds funny.  Kinda valley girlish.  Never knew that about me but whatever.

Or...WHAT-everrrr. ;)

Hope you like the step by step and let me know if you would want more vloggy tutes.

What do you think? Aren't they crazy easy for being so pretty?

BTW...if you want me to show you how to make these with a stem, I can do that too.

Here are a bunch as I was playing with as a practice run on my kitchen table (which is round like my gala table).  I think I am just going to have all the flowers loose to work as the centerpiece with those candlesticks in the middle to add height. Sorry you can't see a completed look but at least you see the flowers!


I will check in with you soon for another fun tutorial.  It's a favor and a place card in one. I'm just plain tickled I actually will be back soon! I hope you will be back too. :)

Blessings lovelies!

P.S.  I hope this will launch an upcoming 2x a month series called Tablescape Tuesday.
Details to come!

Pretty Lanterns: Diffuse Light with Lace & Fabric

 I feel like I am coming home after a really long trip...I've missed all of you so much! I realized I have not had a fun DIY in a while for you guys so I had to remedy that right away.  I am gearing up for the Christmas issue for Good Living Magazine so today's little project was one of the projects for it.

Lucky lovelies...you get a bit of Christmas fun a little early!  

Actually, this will be a warm up to November where I will begin sharing pretty packaging ideas throughout the month. I can't promise it daily but I will try to do a bunch for some fun wrapping inspiration!

But back to these pretty little lanterns!

I am excited about this one because I am also planning my table for the upcoming Christmas Tea at our church.  I think these lanterns in varying sizes would look lovely as a centerpiece.  These ones above were actually my little practice ones. :) My husband and I were at Lowe's this weekend and spotted a bunch of these lanterns on clearance at $1.08 a piece!  We literally filled up the cart with them and we bought over 20 of them. I know I will find just the perfect thing for them...oooh I can't wait!

I had this little project in mind for awhile now so I knew some spray paint love was in order. 

So I brightened them up a bit with white and found my happy place.

Sigh.  I just ♥ white spray paint.

Now for adding fabric to the removable glass panels. 

1.  I actually used craft lace and a sparkly organza material to cover the glass.
2. I used Mod Podge but I tend to be a bit heavy handed with it.
3. You can use a paint brush to spread it on.
4. But I prefer to get all messy and use my fingers.

After spreading the glue, smooth your fabric onto the glass.  Wait until they are completely dry before placing them back into your lantern.

BTW...You really don't have to be precise when you cut out the pieces of fabric.  Just lay the glass on top of the fabric and cut around it.  The edges are hidden on the inside.  

Be sure to place them inside with the fabric on the outside of the glass.

 They look so pretty with the tea lights in them!  

I love how the lace one is more see through but the organza diffuses the light with a soft glow.

I can't wait to do this for the Christmas Tea tablescape with the different sized lanterns.

Other Ideas: You could also use Vellum paper or the the plastic paper like I used for the lemonade mason jars at the girl's birthday party. Tissue paper would work too and look lovely with that diffused glow look to it.  Wrap lace around glass votives or even large vases and place larger candles in them. So, so, so pretty.  I might lace up every glass container I own!

I promise to be back soon...HUGS!

♥

P.S.  I almost forgot...today I am at my sweet friend Tonya's blog with a guest post sharing the story of my faith for her 31 days series. 15 years ago today I met my Savior...♥


linking to:
the 36th avenue
a crafty soiree
show and share with southern lovely
someday crafts: whatever goes wednesday

DIY Twig Votive

Here is a simple and quick project to tackle in an hour. I showed you a sneek peek of this in the post showing all my Fall projects around the home.  And this one is going to be a FOR SURE repeat project for me.  

I got inspired by these from Martha Stewart who made this twig vase.  But I thought this idea would be lovely to make a votive and have the candle light peeking through the twigs inside the glass.  So I grabbed some twigs from the backyard, some glass votives and a glue gun and got to work.

Seriously...this probably does not even need a tutorial. I mean, all you do is take some sticks and hot glue to glass. SIMPLE!  Do this all the way around and put them as close together as you can.

Fill in the gaps with thinner sticks to make it look fuller.  I like the look of different lengths at the top.
Gives it a more organic looky-loo to it.

Pop a tea light in there, wrap with twine and leaves...done!  A great idea is to recycle your glass candles or buy some glass votives and. vases from the dollar store for a little collection or tablescape.   

And I want to try this using  mason jars and hang them!

Happy Crafting my precious friends!

P.S.  Sorry I have been so absent from this blog and from your blogs! And I have even dropped the ball returning emails.  PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I have been so busy with upcoming projects that I can't share with you JUST YET. Just know I appreciate every one of you and I will do my best  to visit you soon.