Life in Pictures.

Let's Party: How to Make a Strawberry Topiary

I saw these in a book a while ago and HAD to make one for Easter.  I thought they were too cool!  The best part is they are EASY.  In a matter of 20 minutes I was able to create something that looked really fun and unique.  If you are hosting a mother's day brunch, wedding or baby shower, or anything else for that matter...try one of these as a centerpeice or in your buffet line.  Yummy!  I'll include an easy dip recipe that you can serve with it for even more yumminess! :)

Supplies you'll need:

A craft topiary form.  I used one with two foam balls.  You could do one or three if you choose...depending on how big you want it to be. 

A base/pot for the topiary

a glue gun

some floral moss

toothpicks

strawberries (I needed about 4lbs for this one)

Wash and dry your strawberries.  Leave the stems ON.  This is what keeps them from falling off the toothpicks!

Glue your topiary base and form into your pot.  Secure it REALLY well.  The topiary will be REALLY top heavy so you want your base to be secure.

I started out sticking toothpicks into my topiary like this..

 

 

As you go you may have to move things around a little and fill in here and there, but it gives you a good place to start.

Stick your srawberries on the toothpicks through the stem to give the toothpicks something to grab a hold of.

Continue to fill in around the foam topiary forms until you have this..

 

 

Isn't that cool???  I think it would be cute with little fruit kabobs on it too! :)

Here's the dreamy dip to serve with this or ANY fruit:

1 package (8oz) of cream cheese, softened

1 jar of marshmallow creme

zest of 1 orange

a little bit of orange juice squeezed from the orange you zest

combine all ingredients and mix until smooth and creamy. 

What do you think?  Pretty easy for a lot of WOW! factor, huh? 

Have a great day!

-t

Video: How to make your own Glitter Embellishments

A while ago I made this video and then forgot to share it here.  If you are familiar with my scrapbooking then you know that I use a LOT of glitter.  I think it makes everything look better. ;)

Usually when I go to the scrapbook store I can't find that perfect embellishment to go with the project I'm working on...not to mention a lot of times the pre-made glittered embellishments are WAY expensive...so I figured out a way to make my own...and even a way to keep the glitter from getting everywhere! :)

If you are a crafter hopefully this will help!! :)

Have a great day!

-t

Make an Easy and Inexpensive Easter/Spring Centerpiece

Are you hosting Easter dinner at your house this weekend?  I do a LOT of entertaining.  I love to do it and it works out well since our house is basically smack dab in the middle of all of our relatives that live in the area, so it's a good meeting point for holidays.  This year we are getting the added benefit of having my brother's inlaws come too.  My philosophy is always the more the merrier.  I just love being surrounded by fun people, eating good food and enjoying good conversation.  Plus, it gives me an excuse to make all the fun new recipes and fancy appetizers that I've been looking for an excuse to try. :)

If you are having a beautiful meal it only helps to have a few beautiful decorations too, right??  One of my FAVORITE things to do and absolute BEST tips is to use what you already have at home to create something new for each holiday.  Transform it into something different and beautiful with just a few new things.  Not only does it cut costs, but it helps cut down on the amount of stuff you have to store from year to year.  I thought I'd share a little something I whipped up for my Easter centerpeice this year.  It is fun and easy.  Inexpensive and beautiful.  Does that sound good to you?? ;)  I am going to line my dinner table with these this year..

Here's what you will need for each one you would like to make.  Grab your 40% off coupon and head to Michaels.  A lot of this stuff you might already have lying around! :)

1 white pillar candle (medium height) I buy mine at IKEA for about $1 each

1 medium sized terra cotta pot

White acrylic paint

Paint brush

green reindeer moss (found in the floral dept at craft store, a bag will do a few of these)

1 paper butterfly (usually come in small boxes of 8-10 for a few dollars at the craft store)

2 small fake quail eggs (usually come in a small bag of 12-15 for a few dollars at the craft store)

1 small bunch of small white flowers (in floral dept at craft store about $1, one bunch will make 3 or 4 pots)

some old newspaper to stuff in th bottom of your pot

glue gun

Plug in your glue gun.  Take your dry paint brush and a small amount of paint and brush it over the outside of your pot.  Don't cover the whole pot.  If you just dry brush a few strokes on it t will give it an older, more antique look.  Let it dry, it will dry very quickly.  Crunch up 1 piece of newspaper and stuff it in the bottom of your pot.  Stick your pillar candle in the pot on top of the newspaper.  (remember this is not for a long term decoration, that's why I'm not gluing the candle to the pot.  I want to be able to remove the candle and use the por again for another project later)

Glue some moss around the top of the pot to fill the gap between the pot and the candle.  (Don't use too much glue so you can remove it later.  I glued mine down first so I could take a shot for you to see what it looks like)  Take two of your eggs and glue them to the moss like you see in the picture.  Take a few of your small white flowers and glue them down into the moss as well.  Add a small dot of glue to the paper butterfly and stick to the pot. You're done! 

       

    

Now make a few of them and line them up down the center of your table.  Repetition makes a powerful design statement!!  I'm going to dress one of mine up like this for the center of the table...

  

 

   

I want to see what yours look like if you make them!!  Send me an email with pictures or link here and I'll post them! :)

Have a great day!

-t

Crafty Corner: Tissue Paper Pom Poms

I made these a few weeks ago for Ash's birthday and they are SO easy, not to mention they really make it look like a party.  You can buy a kit to make them at Michael's for  around $20, but if you make your own you can do it for about $3.  Find tissue at Wal Mart for about 97 cents and in any color you can think of...

 

How to make the Pom Poms:

You'll need 8 sheets (1 package) of tissue paper for each pom pom, fishing line and some floral wire.

1. Stack your 8 sheets of tissue.  Make 1 1/2 inch wide accordian folds, creasing with each fold. 

2. Fold an 18 piece of floral wire in half, and slip over the center of folded tissue; twist.  With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes. 

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time. 

4. Tie a length of fishing line to floral wire so you can hang them.

(Step by Step pictures from Martha's website)

        

 

Have fun creating these!!

-t

President's Day

Are you home with the kiddos tomorrow and wondering what to do to keep them busy???  Have no fear!  Here are a few fun ideas for you!  Grab a couple of kids from the neighborhood and throw an impromptu president's day party!  It can be educational and fun!!

Study a little about George Washington and make these cute wigs for them to act it out...

 

thy are SO easy!!!  Here are the instructions.

How about these cute hats while you learn a little about Honest Abe...

   

and some instructions.

Finally, how about these log cabins...TOO cute!!!

   

The day will be over and the kids will be back in school before you know it!! :)

Have a great day!

-t