A Bridal Shower

This week my mom and aunt (and I helped a little too!) put on a bridal shower for my sister-in-law to-be. Every shower is a masterpiece with these two! They create fabulous buffet tables.

For this shower, they chose a red geranium picnic theme- perfect for summer. Notice the neutral table cloths that help the red flowers pop.

To create the levels, put a table cloth on the table, then place Styrofoam wedges and/or sturdy boxes around the table. (These Styrofoam wedges were created, I believe, from a flat screen TV package. Good way to recycle!)

Next, put a matching table cloth over the wedges and boxes. Place your matching dishes on the wedges and flat part of the table. We usually weave some kind of greenery or garland around the dishes. Sometimes we use tea light candles in the spread to add some atmosphere.

Doesn't it look beautiful? The large water jug on the end really adds a lot (I think this one is from Costco.) This leaves the hostesses free from having to refill water pitchers and doesn't make too much mess. (Just make sure you have a dish under the jar to catch any spills.)

Mmmm..... yummy desserts! Mini cupcakes, fruit pizza squares, and daisy sugar cookies. (I made the cookies, but my cute sister-in-law decorated them for me.)

I think a good plate rack is a must-have for entertaining. Not only does it look nice, but it saves space on the table so you can fit more.

A candy station is a great way to do party favors. Find candy in colors that match your theme in put them in clear glass apothecary jars. Provide bags or boxes with a thank you message so that guests can create their own cute favors.

Some of us like shower games, and some of us don't. We decided to do one game for this shower and it turned out great! (This was my main contribution to the shower.) It is a candy bar matching game. Guests draw a slip of paper with a wedding phrase on it. They have to match that phrase with the candy bar that describes it. If they are correct, they get to keep their candy bar. It gives everyone a prize!

Butterfingers- first date interactions
Pay Day- Wedding ring purchase date
Twix- Bachelor Party pranks
Mounds- gifts
Big Hunk- groom
Sweethearts- the bride and groom
Lifesavers- parents
Sugar Daddy- Father of the Bride
Runts OR Jr. Mints- Flower girl and ring bearer
100 Grand- the reception
Fast break- leaving the reception
Zero- Post wedding bank accounts
Rocky Road- the first year
Airheads- bridesmaids
Ring pop- wedding ring
Symphony- first dance
Hot tamales- the bride
5th Avenue- dress shop
Treasures- wedding photos
Almond Joy- Happily Ever After
Kisses- You may now kiss the bride
Three Musketeers- groomsman
Twizzlers- tie the knot
Nerds- In-laws (only works if in-laws are giving the shower!)
Bliss- wedded bliss
Goobers- friends who decorate the car
Whoppers- the bill for the wedding

For my gift, I created a basket of kitchen items in the bride's kitchen colors- red and black. I used a red dishpan and filled it with dish towels, a pitcher, oven mitts, a juicer, measuring cups, and a spoon rest.

I wrapped it in cellophane and tied it with a variety of red and black ribbons.

I made a black and white card and put the bride and groom's initials on the front of it with red stickers.

It was a great shower. My mom and aunt do awesome work!

Secret Sister Gifts

Recently I returned from girl's camp. It was a lot of fun! As part of the camp we drew names in advance of a "secret sister." We were supposed to give our secret sister one gift each day during camp. I drew Stephanie, who is one of the other leaders. Of course I had to make my gifts!

The first thing I made was a monogram letter of her last name. I found the wooden 'N' on clearance at Walmart for $1! You can also buy them at most any craft store. I painted the letter, traced the letter on paper, cut out the paper and attached it to the wood with Modge Podge. I went pretty simple with this one, only adding the black ribbon as an embellishment.

I didn't know the colors of her home, so I chose what I hoped would be neutral enough to go anywhere. (I even scoured her Facebook page looking for clues!)

Next, I embellished a pair of flip-flops just for her. Right now Walmart has a lot of different colors of flip-flops available for only $2 a pair! I picked up the trim at Walmart too.

I cut the trim to size, then attached it with E-600 glue. I will only use this glue outside. It smells wretched for a while until it dries completely! I then created a flower using this tutorial that I have linked to several times before.

I attached the flower with the stinky glue and left the shoes outside for a while to dry and air out!

I wanted to make sure that Stephanie knew each item was for her and that it was the secret sister gift so I created tags. My fall back method for gift tags is to place a single letter (or double for a wedding) monogram on a plain tag. It looks so clean and sharp.

I matched the tag to a ribbon and attached one to each gift.

I was going to make a third gift but I ran out of time so I just did candy for the last day.

I still want to do the giveaway! I haven't had much time for promoting lately, but as soon as I get 200 "likes" on my Facebook page, I will giveaway a headband or hair clip!

Red Rose Wedding Cards

Please excuse the not-so-great photos. I made the cards right before the club met and it was already getting dark when I tried to take pictures.

I decided to go with a wedding theme for card club this month. I cut a small black card from cardstock, and covered it with a black and white patterned paper.

I then made the roses from red cardstock using this tutorial I have linked to before. I don't draw the spiral, I just cut it and round the corners off.

I cut a green leaf from some handmade paper I had in my stash, and attached the roses to the cards.

I also had a lot of these cute little metal wedding sayings I had been given so I could attach them to the cards at no cost.


I am very pleased with how they turned out. They are pretty, cheap, and not time consuming. (I made 10 of them in less than 2 hours.)

What should I make for next month's card club? I should get started early this month!

Giveaway!!!

I want to give away one of the new headbands I have been making. BUT I want to reach 200 fans on Facebook first! I am currently at 172 fans so I only need 28 more. Become a fan if you want to be able to enter the contest!

Senior Portraits and a Few Tips

The other day I had the fun opportunity to take my cousin's senior portraits. She is graduating from high school soon and wanted pictures for her graduation announcements.

It was so fun to have pictures of her involved in what she likes instead of just the standard school photo package.

I didn't think the fence pictures would turn out well but I really like this one.

This one would be great for the yearbook. Too bad it's too late!

I am very much an amateur photographer but here's a few tips I have picked up along the way for doing portraits:

1. Take pictures in the shade. Although it may seem like you should take the picture in the bright sunlight, this creates harsh lines and shadows on a persons face. Take photos on sunny days, but in the shade. Then brighten the photo on the computer if needed.


2. Taking pictures from above someone is always flattering. Taking pictures from below someone is not flattering. It makes them seem large and even somewhat awkward. I love having brides sit down with their wedding dress all around them. Then, I climb up on something tall and shoot down on them. Works like a charm every time! (See the first picture for an example. I tried to move it down here but can't because Blogger is being stubborn!)


3. It is not always best to center the person in the photo. Follow the rule of thirds when composing your shot.


4. Say really stupid things to make the person smile naturally. I attempt to crack jokes or I act like some famous Hollywood photographer trying to get real smiles. They are so much better than posed or fake ones.


5. Let your subject suggest poses and shots. Often times, these are some of the best shots because the subject feels comfortable. (The fence shot above is an example of this. It was her idea, I didn't really think it would work.)

The Boutique is here!

First off, welcome new readers! It is so great to have you here. I appreciate all of the comments!

If you didn't already know, this weekend I am selling my items at my first ever boutique. I am nervous! I drove up this afternoon and set it up. There were so many professional looking booths there already! We'll see how it goes!

Here are a few items that are available at the boutique that I haven't listed on Etsy yet.

Washer necklace

Summer fabric flower necklace

Turquoise headband

Nautical headband

Shoe clips (sorry for the sideways picture)

My Etsy shop will be closed this weekend while everything is at the craft show. I will open back up Monday and will add the new items that didn't sell over the course of the next week.
(And then I can finally blog about something besides this show!)

These pictures are terrible because the sun was shining directly in on the table, but this is my display table!

The show is in a model home so yes, that is a crib in the background.

My display may not be as professional as some of the other vendors but it didn't cost any money. The "table cloth" is a sheet, I borrowed some of the items from my mother and just used what I already had on hand. I made the flower clip stand myself and will be posting a tutorial on that in the next week or so (hopefully).

Wish me luck!

True Bargain Shopping

Why is it that "bargain shopping" articles and TV segments always feature expensive clothes?

A couple of days ago I was watching a local morning show on this very topic. They were featuring "bargain" capris and shorts for the low low price of $45. Are you kidding me? $45 is bargain price for a pair of little denim shorts?

Another day this past week I was reading a magazine article in which the author was promoting a tote bag that could fit all her personal and mommy items so it was nice and large. Only set her back $99. Woah! I could find bag just like it at Target for no more than $25.

Why don't they feature deals like these? (All my true stories)

-A pair of Adidas running shoes for $15 on clearance at Kohl's.
-A cute red Candies purse for $9 at Kohl's.
-This shirt that I refashioned from Old Navy for a total of $5.
-The $.97 layering tanks at Old Navy right now.
-The amazing $8 necklaces from Charlotte-Russe (I would link there but they aren't available online anymore).
-A couple of months ago there was a buy 4 get 1 free sale at Down East Basics. I bought four layering tees and got a free necklace!
-The shoes I got for my wedding (pretty white, flat sandles) from Payless for $4. FOUR- DOLLARS. That's right folks, my wedding shoes were only $4 and I am proud of it!

-Or just last Friday the buy-one-get-one-for-a-penny sale at Wet Seal where I got 2 shirts for $14. Then, I bought another shirt at Forever 21 with a gift card so I paid $2 for it. That's 3 shirts for $16.

Now THAT'S what I call bargain shopping!

Burned Flowers

So... I never lit a match until I was 24 years old. And, um, that was yesterday. These flowers are made by melting the edges near a flame. I had made them once or twice before but had to have my husband light the candle. I volunteered to make some for my brother's wedding if his fiancee wanted them for her bridesmaids. I wanted to practice some more in case she wants them and decided that I wasn't going to be able to wait around for my husband to light the candle. So, I finally lit a match! Kind of pathetic, I know.

I do like how the flowers turned out. I am going to attach them to alligator clips and headbands for my upcoming craft show.

So pretty for spring!

Click here for a tutorial from Mary Janes and Galoshes to make your own!

Anthro Inspired Pink and Yellow Necklace

DISCLAIMER! I know that my necklace does not look exactly like the Anthropologie one. I, of course, wanted to make it unique, but I also wanted to make with supplies I already had. I didn't want to spend any money on it!

Here is the Anthropoligie original:

Here is my necklace:
(It looks cuter on, see below)




They are both the same length but I didn't have enough beads so I have more chain and my necklace looks longer.






You need two strands of embroidery floss or other cord at least 30 inches long each.


I used 12 round glass beads, and wanted to use the coral beads pictured below.


You also need some chain to make the necklace the right length.





String one bead on both strands of floss. Pull it down to the center of the floss.

Tie knots on both ends of the bead. I crossed the floss pieces over each other like I was tying my shoes. I used triple knots to make it thick enough.

Continue to add beads, knotting between them until all the beads are strung.



The coral beads wouldn't fit on the floss. The hole was too small. So instead I used pink beads like the Anthro necklace. I used 2 dark pink and 6 light pink beads on each side.

String the colored beads on. Be careful to hold both ends. My beads fell off several times while I was stringing!

Tie the floss onto the chain with several good knots. You might want to put a little glue on too. Trim the ends of the string. Do this on both sides.

Attach a clasp in the middle of the chain and voila! You have a cute spring necklace!

If you make one I would love to see it!

Linking up to