I was playing around with my Washi tapes and decided to dress-up my Smarties a bit...
I just wrapped each roll in some colored tissue paper and then wrapped them with Washi Tape.
So simple and fun...and you can make them to match any decor or color scheme!
:-)
Jessica
OK, so I am a day later than promised with these, but I think you will forgive me when you see how cute and easy these no-sew aprons are to make! I was actually going to skip aprons for the cake decorating party this year. I just couldn't find any as nice as the ones I found for the last party and and I really didn't have the time to sew any myself. But.....I was walking though the girls' department at Target over the weekend and I found these adorable ruffled tulle skirts on CLEARANCE!
I instantly had an idea - why not turn them into aprons? The great thing about elastic and tulle is that they do not unravel easily - making them perfect for a no-sew project. So I grabbed a bunch and got to work. I began by carefully cutting each skirt down the side seems. The result: two apron panels per skirt! Then I used my iron and some Heat n Bond (available at craft and sewing shops) to attach a 4-foot length of pink ruffled ribbon to the elastic waistband of each apron.
As a finishing touch, I added some clip-on fabric flowers (H&M) that the girls can later wear in their hair.
So, for less than $5 a piece (and without any sewing!!!), I have a pile of pretty aprons! And they were so easy and quick to make - I was actually able to finish 12 aprons in just a few hours!
:-)
Jessica
Now that I am back from London, I am shifting into high gear for Mini-mini-me's cake-decorating birthday party! This past weekend we worked on the party favors - little cake-decorating kits for the girls to take home...
Each kit contains disposable icing bags, a coupler set, two wilton piping tips, and a variety of colorful sprinkles. I packaged up the sprinkles in cute little bags...
And the tips, too...
I then packed everything up into little boxes with clear tops and added a label.
Each girl will also take home a can of Wilton's Decorator Icing (the type specifically designed for piping roses, leaves, etc...). To pretty up the can, I covered the existing wrappers with scrapbook paper and added a label.
Tomorrow I will be back with the party aprons I made (hint, hint - lots of ruffles and tulle involved!).
XOXO
Jessica
If you are looking for a cute little last minute Valentine's Day gift for someone special, consider these adorable cosmetic bags that I found at Forever 21...
I just love the metallic heart print and the pretty colors...and at only $5.80 each, they are a real bargain!
Stuff one with some little trinkets and candy...and when it's empty, the bag is perfect for traveling or storing make-up!
I bought one for each of the girls and I am filling them with little gifts like hand lotion, sparkly jewelry, and i-tunes cards...
...and lots of sweet candies.
I hope they like them!
XOXO
Jessica
These heart-shaped marshmallow pops are a great little treat for Valentine's Day.
They are soooo easy to make and are a wonderful activity to do with the kiddies! You will need heart-shaped marshmallows (I found mine at Target)...
They came in a mixed bag of pretty pink and white...
You will also need white chocolate (or candy melts), lollipops sticks (my cute striped ones are from World Market)...
...and SPRINKLES (of course)!
To make them, simply insert the sticks into the base of the marshmallows - pushing them in as far as you can without them coming out the top. Melt your chocolate as instructed and carefully dip your marshmallows in the chocolate. I dipped some completely in chocolate and others I chose to just coat the fronts. Quickly add your sprinkles before the chocolate hardens and lay them on wax or parchment paper to set.
Once set, you can serve them as is...or put them in little cello bags tied with a ribbon. They make great little favors to hand out at Valentine's Day parties. Personally, I like presenting them as a colorful bouquet!
XOXO
Jessica
Some of you may remember that "Mini-mini-me" had a cake-decorating party for her birthday two years ago. We held it at a wonderful local bakery and the girls all had a blast. Just last week, I was discussing possible themes for this year's party with Mini-mini when she mentioned that she would really, really like to have another cake-decorating party this year. At first, I was a bit hesitant. We've certainly done a lot of party themes over the years, but surely we could come up with something new and exciting? But, after some thought, I decided Mini-mini really should have what she wants. After all, It is HER birthday! And it really is such a fun party.
So, yes, we will be doing another cake-decorating party this year. But we will be doing things a bit differently. For one, we will be having it at home this time around. The bakery was lovely, but I think it will be even more fun to do it ourselves. This way, we can have all the pastel prettiness we want!
I will, of course, be delighted to share all the details with you here. For starters, this is the invitation that we picked out (not our wording, but you get the idea). Isn't it just adorable!
It was designed by the very talented Sarah at Delight Paperie and we found them on Etsy. Her shop also has lots of coordinating items like stickers and pretty envelopes! I have a ton of decorating and favor ideas, so there will definitely be more to come in the upcoming weeks...
XOXO
Jessica
I discovered a new collection of super cute Valentine's Day supplies at Target this week! These adorable striped straws are slightly wider and shorter than the typical paper straws that we have come to love.
They come as a set of 20 straws in a mix of fun colors for only $3.00!
And these plates and napkins are a real steal at only a $1.00 a pack!
Such a fun heart-shaped pattern...
These supplies are all so pretty for Valentine's Day, but I am thinking they would work equally well for a "circus" themed party. These cups ($2.00) especially...
Happy Tuesday!
:-)
Jessica
I just adore these pretty pastel heart-shaped lollipops as a sweet treat for Valentine's Day! What I particularly love about them is that they look opaque - a nice twist on the typical translucent lollipop, don't you think? They appear to be made of something like tinted white chocolate, but they are really just your regular, old lollipops!
I enjoy re-wrapping candy (the packing isn't always so lovely), so I placed these in some clear cello bags and tied them simply with some red and white baker's twine.
These pretty pops got me thinking about making some of my own opaque lollies, so I did some research and found this great tutorial. It's definitely on my list of "must-trys"! Have you ever made some?
Happy Monday!
:-)
Jessica
I will forever love a good, old-fashioned candy cup.
Especially ones made by Martha...
...and filled with chocolate nonpareils.
:-)
Jessica
Truth be told, Mini-me is a bit of a party-pooper these days. This was the second year in a row that she outright refused to dress up for Halloween. This came as a great disappointment to her mother (moi), who LOVES to come up with pretty costumes each year. I suppose it was inevitable, but nonetheless, a bit disappointing. It would actually have been completely devastating if not for the fact that I still have my Mini-mini-me - through whom I can continue to live out all my tulle-festooned fantasies. Ballerinas, brides, and princesses - we've done them all over the years. This year Mini-mini decided that she would like to dress up as Audrey Hepburn. I had contemplated making a costume for her and then I found a gorgeous vintage prom dress on Etsy.
It was a stunning shade of Tiffany Blue, tea length, and sized in something like a double zero. It was perfect...and with a few alterations, fit her beautifully!
We accessorized with some large Tiffany Blue pearls and some sparkly earrings...
Then we piled her long hair high up on her head and, as a finishing touch, added a rhinestone tiara.
I am so happy that Mini-mini-me loved her costume and that I had one more year to indulge in frothy layers of tulle. It all goes by way too quickly, but I remain hopeful that Mini-me will once again someday rediscover her inner princess.
XO
Jessica
