Such Pretty Things

Happy New Year 2012!

Thank you to all my wonderful and devoted readers for making 2011 a truly fabulous year!

Wishing all of you a very happy, healthy, joyous, colorful and pretty new year in 2012!

XOXO

Jessica

Glittery Pastel Party Horns

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, I have been on the hunt for some pretty and festive decorations. As is often the case, I've had a hard time finding anything in my pastel color palette.  So, I took matters into my own hands and made these...

Glittery Pastel Party Horns! Here's what you'll need to make some, too:

- Basic solid-colored party horns (I got my silver glitter ones at Party City)

- Tissue paper in your choice of colors (The Dollar Tree Store often stocks packs of pretty pastels)

- Mylar sheets (available at art and craft stores)

- Glitter (I used Martha Stewart's Tinsel Glitter in Sterling)

- Clear glue (I used good, old Elmer's)

- Paint brush

- Trim or narrow ribbon in coordinating color

- Scissors (a Fringe Scissors is also great if you want to avoid Carpal Tunnel!).

- Glue gun or tape

Directions: To begin, lay a rectangular sheet of tissue paper out on your work surface and smooth it down flat. Paint a narrow stripe of glue along one straight edge. Sprinkle on your glitter and tap off excess. It should look something like this...

Repeat the process with your remaining sheets of tissue and allow to dry completely. Once dry, use your scissors to cut your fringe (in narrow strips, stopping about half an inch short of the top of the tissue paper).

Next, cut your sheets of mylar in the same fashion. How much fringe you'll need in total will depend on how fluffy you want your party horns to be and how many of them you are making. I cut a ton because I wanted mine super fluffy!

Using a glue gun or tape, neatly attach your fringe layers to the outside edge of the horn opening, layering and alternating your tissue colors and mylar as you go. As a final touch, glue some glittery trim over your glued/taped fringe edge to neaten it up.  I also added a bit of extra trim around the mouthpiece. Now, fluff up your fringe and you are ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!!

:-)

Jessica

All That Glitters...

It's no secret that I like a little bling now and then - especially during the holidays.  And glitter nail polishes seem to be all the rage right now.

When I saw this fabulous polish by Deborah Lippmann, I just couldn't resist.

It's called "Happy Birthday" and it's filled with tons of multi-colored, multi-shaped glitter.

So fun! It looks very cool on it's own - or layered over a solid color for a more subtle look. I also love these lower-priced versions that I found at my local CVS (pictured on the left and middle: Wet n' Wild #238C and Milani "Gems")...

Have a Happy and Glittery Day!

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

Millinery Flower Ornaments

These millinery flower ornaments are really fun and easy to make. All you need are some mercury glass ball ornaments (such as Shiny Brite), some millinery flower heads, and some rhinestones.  I used all vintage supplies for mine, but you can easily replicate these using new materials from the craft store.

Simply affix your millinery flower heads to the balls with a little bit of hot glue and hold in place until dry.  Then, add a small flat-back rhinestone (or pearl, bead, sequin, etc...) to the center of each flower. I also added some extra rhinestones in between the flowers for a little extra bling.

These are obviously perfect for adorning your tree, but they also make a lovely gift for someone special!

Happy Holidays! :-)

XOXO

Jessica

Hurry, hurry...

Run, don't walk!  My absolutely favorite monogram mugs from Anthropologie are now on sale for only $4! Such pretty patterns and colors!

At these prices, you can practically get the entire alphabet!  Get your initials, spell out a word... or your name!  These make the perfect gift for almost everyone on your list.  I'll be tucking in some Starbucks gift cards and using these for our teacher's gifts this year.  And I'm also getting them for my entire family!  Maybe even a few for myself...

:-)

Jessica

 

Winter Cleaning

I am in the midst of my "Winter Cleaning".  We're having a big holiday party in a few weeks and I want to get the house in order.  I find that entertaining is always a good catalyst for me to get all those projects done that I have been putting off (and off and off).  Case in point, my vintage china plate collection.

It's gotten totally out of hand - with stacks and stacks piled on virtually every surface!

So, I felt it was time to do a little "editing".

I've decided that I am just going to keep my absolute favorites and the rest are headed for my shop and the donation center. The plates in these photos are actually "the keepers". But I have many, many more that I just don't have room for, so look for a shop update in the new year.  (And for all of you who have emailed about purchasing them, I promise I will give everyone a head's up here on the blog before I list them).

Now my house is going to look a little spiffier and I will be a little less likely to end up on an episode of "Hoarders"!

:-)

Jessica