A Sneak Peek!

Been busy, busy today preparing for tomorrow's "Fall Harvest" celebration! All the details to come quite soon!

But in the meantime... Take a Peek at the official invitation!

Invitation Ingredients

Orange Gingham Scrapbooking paper = Bo Bunny and Pink Paisley Papers

Pumpkin = Big Bazzill Brad in Apricot + green ribbon

My Very Own Magnetic Bulletin Board

I do adore Ballard Designs and when I received a recent catalog I immediately loved these magnetic bulletin boards.  As I looked at them I thought ... I can make that! So, with a few modifications, that is what my weekend was this past weekend and I am pleased with the end result. Mine ended up a bit more... ornate (nobody ever accused me of being a simple girl)

First off, I started with a 12x18 piece of sheet metal from my neighborhood hardware store (approx $7). These pieces of sheet metal come in various "thicknesses", I made sure to pick one on the slightly sturdier side. I had some black and white toile already (free! after I have owned it for more than a year I count it as free! heehee) that patched my black and white bedroom perfectly, and I picked up some velvet ribbon to add as an accent ($3). The more expensive and surprisingly difficult item to find was a 12x18 sized frame ($30). I was hoping to find a more decorative, but you will see how I jazzed it up in my own way.

Using a hot glue gun, I affixed the fabric to the piece of sheet metal. I then criss-crossed the velvet ribbon over the top, attaching when the ribbons crossed. *Note: I ran out of the velvet ribbon and had to go to three stores to find more. Really? Sheesh. Also, I think I would measure better next time. It just doesn't look as polished to me... but a good first try regardless.

The end product.... still maybe just a little bit too plain for my taste, and certainly, plain old refrigerator magnets simply wouldn't do. The magnets on this bulletin board need to be special. Another visit to my craft shop and I found these fun crystal and silver items in the jewelry making aisle, as well as some fun vintage-y medallions ($9) I used them to create some magnets, as well as a pretty little bow on the top corner of the frame.

So now, for roughly the same amount of money, I have a beautiful 12x18 magnetic board to coordinate perfectly in my bedroom, on the wall over my reading corner. I can easily hang pictures, magazine articles, wish lists and of course... inspirations.

Note: There is still time to enter for my Halloween giveaway! See post below...

A New Cake Stand

I went to the farmer's market on Saturday, as there are only a few more left before we must wait until next year rolls around. While wandering about, I happened to end up in the "craft" section, honest mistake, really. I came across a booth full of lovely little cake stands, all different sizes, heights and types.

Upon further inspection and discussion with the crafter, it turned out that these adorable and wide variety of cake stands are simply plates adhered to a glass candlestick.... some new, some vintage.

Um... stinking cute, and I had cash burning a hole in my pocket... so, after MUCH review, here is what I went home with:

Now. If you are somebody who typically receives a plate or tin or basket of Christmas goodies from me... don't be too surprised if this is what it is delivered on this year. I can't wait to go "plate hunting" for the makings of my perfect cake stand gifts. I think the biggest challenge will be figuring out what adhesive to use.

Now, how in the world can I improve upon this already clever design? Hmmmm... let me think. How, oh how, can I make this cake stand even more perfect? OH! I know!.....

chocolate, caramel, ooey, gooey brownie goodness

Sugar and Spice! A Babyshower

Sorry for my summer hiatus! I was so excited to be the hostess to my friend's recent baby shower and had to share! I had been seeing some lovely ideas for a "Sugar and Spice" theme on both Kara's Party Ideas as well as Kara's inspiration "ModernEve"... and used the ideas to create my own. I fashioned the invitations from scrapbook paper I found, and went with a bright pink and tangerine color combination. The invitations turned out adorable!


Decor: I had a lot of fun creating this "Sugar and Spice" banner that displayed over the buffet. Also displayed on the buffet is the afternoon's "menu", something I have noticed done by catering company's. Of course, mine was completely in theme! I used Photoshop and"Shabby Princess" papers from the "Blossom" Collection. Everything was perfectly coordinated (I couldn't allow anything less!) I found lots of cute fuchsia and orange ribbons (I am a ribbon junkie!) and of course, fresh flowers abound. I also had an assortment of Izze's Sparkling Juices... in coordinating shades of orange, pink and deep red!

Food and Favors: I was originally going to use shakers full of cinnamon sugar as the invitations for the shower... but that later transformed into party favors. I ordered them about 1 1/2 weeks in advance from fooddirect.com.... and I received an email the day before the Saturday shower, Friday, that they would arrive on Monday. Nice. I had to scramble... quickly finding some itty bitty personal sized shakers at a kitchen store nearby my house. Not quite what I had in mind, but it worked.

Games: We had a lot of fun with the games. Along with the invitation I also included a little insert on the same scrapbook paper announcing the mother-to-be's registry information as well as "Pampers for Prizes". For every pack of diapers brought, they were entered in a raffle for a gift certificate. She ended up with enough diapers to last her months! We also played this Baby Shower guessing game that I saw here. We had B-Barrettes/Bows, A-Applesauce, B-Bib, Y-Yellow Rubber Duck, S-Socks, H-Hat, O-Onesie, W-Washcloth, E-Electric Outlet Plugs, R-Rattle. Some of them were really stumped! I was afraid it would be too easy, however we did end up with two winners...we had to ask the secret tie-breaking question, "How many times did mommy-to-be have to get up last night for a bathroom visit?"



I loved the little trivia idea that "Modern Eve" did at her Sugar and Spice Party, so I made one of my own. It was pretty funny and I tried to make some of the answers a little bit silly for fun.

At my best friend's baby shower years ago I made up a madlib, this time I found one pre-made here. It ended up pretty darned funny, and I made sure to print it on pretty paper for the baby-book.

All in all, I think it was a success! My dear hubby helped me so much! Our entire SUV was filled to the brim with items I had to transport. I can't wait until the next excuse for a party!