Such Pretty Things

Sweets for your Sweet

I guess we just can't get enough sugar around here! These are some very simple and quick party favors that you can make inexpensively for almost any occasion. We made ours "pretty in pink" for Valentine's day...

To make some, you'll need some rock candy crystallized sugar sticks (I found mine at Party City, but most candy stores carry them in a rainbow of colors).

You'll also need "pretzel stick" bags (mine are from Wilton), coordinating ribbon (I used seam binding), and pretty millinery or favor flowers (shockingly, I used Forget-me-nots!).

Remove the unattractive printed-plastic bags that the sugar sticks are originally packaged in and slip them into the pretzel bags. Wind a small bunch of posies around the stick and secure with a ribbon bow. You will probably need to trim the bag to size. And there you go...

Super easy and so pretty!

XOXO

Jessica

 

Heart Cookies

The girls and I made some heart-shaped sugar cookies this morning.

Pale pink icing with colorful sugar crystals...

And a cold glass of milk, of course.

Yummy practice for Valentine's Day!

XOXO

Jessica

The Ice Cream Social: Invites

Hi! Thought I'd just pop-in and share the invites for Mini-mini-me's upcoming "Ice Cream Social" birthday party...

Aren't they adorable!  I was thinking of making some myself, but when I saw these from Meri Meri, I couldn't resist! I just love the tiny "sprinkle" beads and buttons and the pretty mint-colored envelopes!

More party details in the weeks to come!

Have a happy day!

:-)

Jessica

Valentine Pop-up Shop!

Hello All!  Just wanted to let you know that I added a bunch of items to my Valentine's Day Pop-up Shop. You'll find lots of pretty things for Valentine's Day crafts, such as vintage millinery flowers,

velvet and satin leaves,

and new forget-me-nots...

I have some beautiful, high-quality heart-shaped boxes in both metallic gold and velvet that are just waiting for you to embellish with pretty trims...

There are also lots of paper doilies, vintage sequins, rhinestones, beads and ribbons!

You'll find those fun heart-shaped sprinkles and pretty paper scrap, too.

For you collectors out there, you'll find some beautiful vintage candy boxes (so hard to part with!)...

...and vintage millinery covered hats!

And if your looking for a gift, I have some lovely new cameo necklaces...

and pretty pink glass vases for all your romantic arrangements!

So head on over and take a looky...

XOXO

Jessica

Wrapped Valentine's Day Candies

Here's an easy and pretty way to dress up some simple candies for Valentine's Day.  All you need is some colorful tissue or crepe paper, pretty ribbon in narrows widths, double-sided tape, and some round wrapped candies (I used Lindt chocolates).

Cut a rectangle of tissue that will completely encompass your chocolate when you wrap it (it should be slightly wider than your candy). Roll the candy (keeping it in the wrapper) in the paper, secure with a small piece of tape, and gently twist the ends.  Secure each end with a small ribbon bow.

These are so simple, but look sooooo fancy!

Present them in a pretty dish or a small heart-shaped box with a millinery flower on top...

And these would make equally lovely favors for a wedding or party - just change out the colors to match your theme!

I am planning to do a Valentine shop update this weekend, so I'll let you know when it's ready to go!

XOXO

Jessica

Mollie Makes!

I am so delighted and thrilled to be a part of Mollie Makes Magazine this month! It's issue No.Ten and it's the Valentine's Day issue. There is a piece on my collection of vintage valentine candy boxes! If you are not familiar with Mollie Makes, it is an absolutely gorgeous design, collecting, and craft magazine based in the UK. I was an instant fan when I read their first issue last year, so you can imagine how honored I felt when I found out I would be included on one of their pretty pages.

Here I am...

 

 Thank you so much, Mollie Makes!

* This issue goes on sale in shops in the UK tomorrow (12/19), but you can also find copies at bookstores here in the U.S. (I usually find mine at Barnes & Noble).  You can also subscribe or download an ipad version!

**And you can read more about my collection of vintage valentine candy boxes here, here, and here! And buy some here! I'll be adding more to the shop over the next few weeks...

:-)

Jessica

A Winner and A Party Idea

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the give-a-way! I truly wish I could send each and every one of you a package of pretty things, but alas, there can only be one winner.  So, I assigned each comment entry a number (in the order in which they were received) and enlisted the help of a random number generator. And the winner is.......Jill Lang!  Congratulations, Jill! 

Now, on to some fun party stuff! I can't believe it's already time to start planning the girls' birthday parties. "Mini-mini-me's" is first and she desperately wants a slumber party this year.  I can't say that I am completely overjoyed by this fact. I tend to prefer kids parties that end after about two hours and leave my sanity intact.  But...Mini-mini really wants a slumber party and her older sister has already had several, so I guess I am doomed. ;-) I've decided that to make it more fun (for me!), we should at least do a theme that we (I) haven't done before.  But what???  I feel I've done just about everything after all these years. I was really having a hard time coming up with something and then I just happened to see these by the check-out line at grocery store the other day...

Cotton Candy Ice Cream Cups!  The minute I saw them, I was instantly inspired to do something that involves ice cream. Really pretty ice cream! So, after much discussion, Mini-mini and I have decided on an "Ice Cream Social Slumber Party"! I'll be sharing projects and recipes as I plan over the next month, so stay tuned...

XOXO

Jessica

New Year, New Give-a-way!

To kick off a fabulous new year, I thought it was time for a little 2012 give-a-way. The winner will receive a box filled with lots and lots of pretty things.

You'll find vintage French velvet ribbon, a pretty cameo necklace, a candy necklace, vintage millinery flowers, vintage velvet leaves, vintage mercury glass balls, rose cabs, an aqua cameo, satin ribbon in five pastel colors, yummy and colorful sprinkles, pretty cupcake cases, vintage sequins...

and (of course!) lots of forget-me-nots!

Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner at random next Monday, January 16th. :-)

XOXO

Jessica