Filed In: diy
inspiration for fall entertaining
Last weekend we hosted a small fall themed dinner party for a few of our friends. We made chili and cornbread and carved pumpkins and it was very cozy and casual. After the success of last year’s party, I couldn’t wait to start planning for this year so here are a few of the simple ideas and recipes that I used for inspiration –
Top row from left to right:
– Sparkling sangria recipe from Sweet Paul
– This tabletop looks simple and inviting: Local Milk
– Three vegetarian chili recipes by Emma on A Beautiful Mess
2nd row from left to right:
– Easy cornbread muffin recipe from Smith & Ratliff
– Make this dried fruit bouquet and place them on each place setting for an extra special touch
– A modern take on a simple, harvest centerpiece spotted on Julep
3rd row from left to right:
– Colorful leaves and vines serve as table settings in this fall dinner by Once Wed
– These apple muffin donuts sound delicious! So many things you can do with freshly picked apples
– Mini pumpkins as sign holders from A Fabulous Fete
Bottom row from left to right:
– Fresh vegetables are the best for an autumn dinner as seen here
– Apple cider sangria made with fresh apple cider from How Sweet It Is
– Make a centerpiece from veggies and greens picked in the garden: Suvi Sur Le Vif
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Share on Twitterdiy | valentine treat bags
These decorated treat bags are very easy to make and can be used for wrapping candies or small gifts for friends, family and sweethearts. Here’s how I created mine –
what you’ll need:
• cotton drawstring bags (I used 3×5 inch bags and bought them here from Oh, Hello Friend)
• stamps (I found mine at my local craft store)
• ink pads in various colors
• cardboard scrap
• conversation heart candies
how to make:
Place a piece of cardboard scrap inside a drawstring bag and then stamp words or an image on the front of the bag. Remove the cardboard scrap and set aside to dry. Fill with conversation heart candies and tie a bow. Give to a special someone or pass out to your closet girlfriends! How simple is that!
photo credit kate zitzer
a valentine’s craft party
I like to think of Valentine’s Day as the time to celebrate all kinds of love – a day to show anyone and everyone that means something to you how much you truly care about them! This year I wanted to make lots of little valentines and send them out to all my friends and family. I decided to make it a party and invited a few girlfriends over to drink wine and create some fun things for our sweethearts! Here’s a look at the party –
I had a lot of fun searching for supplies – red and pink construction paper, patterned ribbon and twine, hearts in all different sizes, heart shaped buttons and paint chips in shades of red and pink, patterned paper, kraft paper and envelopes, several roles of washi tape, all sorts of stamps and a deck of playing cards. I also supplied my girlfriends with glasses of wine and some treats – a salty and sweet trail mix served in red, white and pink baking cups. And as a party gift, I decorated muslin bags and filled with conversation heart candies.
I can’t wait to send out my valentines. I hope over the next few days you get to enjoy a little time celebrating with your sweethearts and appreciating all the special things in your life. I know I’ll be spending time with my love and our sweet pup.
photo credit kate zitzer
a last minute holiday entertaining and decorating guide
I put together a last minute holiday entertaining and decorating guide for New Year’s Eve. This year I’m loving metallics, fringe and lots of sparkle. Check out my Pinterest board for more inspiration
Make your party table really shine by wrapping glass candleholders in copper or silver metal tape inspired by Martha Stewart.
Add a little extra to your balloons this year. I love this DIY idea from Firefly Events and seen on Sweet Thing of adding strips of colored fabric and lace ribbon to the bottom of large round balloons.
Tomkat Studio dressed up drinks with festive flag stirrers and pretty bows. All you need is gold ribbon.
Pop the cork and let the bubbly flow. The poinsettia champagne cocktail by Loku sounds delicious!
Every party needs a disco ball. Read how to make your own on Project Wedding.
Use leftover holiday tinsel to make this New Year’s number banner from Martha Stewart and hang above the mantel.
DIY large curtains of fringe garland from Oh Happy Day. I plan to use them as a photobooth backdrop.
Decorate walls and windows with metallic garland and bright tissue paper fringe such as this one from Confetti System.
A pretty party hat from Studio DIY made from tinsel, mod podge and a lot of glitter.
When the clock strikes twelve, invite friends to toss confetti and shower the air with paper. Find out how to make these confetti bags on Somewhere Splendid.
diy | ornament wreath
If you’ve seen my diy ornaments or caught last week’s post on how to make your own winter bouquet then you know I love a handmade holiday. In keeping with this theme, I hosted a holiday diy party for a few of my girlfriends. To generate project ideas, I created this pinboard and asked the girls to take a look. They chose the ornament wreath (I was secretly hoping for this one) and they turned out beautifully! I’ve really enjoyed seeing photos of their wreaths hanging in their homes!
We had a great time making these wreaths and here’s how you can make one too:
Begin by wrapping and gluing ribbon around the sytrofoam wreath. I found each guest needed almost an entire spool of ribbon to wrap their wreath. Then tie another piece of ribbon around the wreath for hanging. Glue the biggest ornaments on first in an even pattern around the outside of the wreath. I recommend organizing the ornaments around the wreath before gluing so you don’t have any gaps. Next glue the medium size ornaments around the inside of the wreath. Let glue dry. Begin layering all different sizes on top of the wreath – ornaments can be glued to each other or directly to the wreath, either method works. Lastly fill in all the extra spaces with the smallest ornaments.
For this project, I prefered using the round ornaments. However, it may be easier to fill in the gaps if you choose to use different shapes. Also, make sure you have plenty of ornaments and glue sticks – I used over a dozen glue sticks and over 50 ornaments for my wreath. You can always return any leftovers when you’re finished.
For the party I set up two tables – a crafting station and another area for snacks. The focus of this party was on crafting so I dedicated the whole dining room table for wreath making. I arranged enough chairs around it so my guests were comfortable while they worked. I piled the ornaments in clear bowls (grouping like sizes together) in the center of the table so they were visibile and accessibile for everyone.
Before the party, I stocked up on supplies. I borrowed hot glue guns and scissors so I had one per guest. Here’s a shopping list of items you can find at any craft store – hot glue guns, glue sticks, scissors, ribbon in several colors and patterns, styrofoam wreaths and ornaments in a variety of sizes and colors. Invite your friends over and start crafting!
