Everyday Celebrating

DIY: Strawberry tree in urn

Last week, I posted a picture of the strawberry tree centerpieces I had at my 2003 wedding.

This week, here's a different version of the strawberry tree.  Chocolate covered AND in an urn.  

Here's how you create it:

First, let me say that this is not a dessert that is easily transported.  This would be something you'd want to either serve at your home or assemble after you arrive at your destination.

You'll need:

 - one styrofoam cone.  Use styrofoam, not floral cone.  The floral oasis isn't as sturdy. 

 - toothpicks

 - 3 lbs of strawberries to cover a 9X4 cone

 - chocolate melt

 - a block of styrofoam

 - one urn

 - hot glue/gun

 - kale

You'll want to dip your strawberries first.  Wash and cut the green off each strawberry and dip it into melted chocolate.  Stick all the strawberries into the freezer so a) the chocolate can set and b) the strawberries get hard.  A harder strawberry is easier to work with in getting a secure fit.

Next, you'll want to fill up the urn.  You have two ways of achieving this. You can either get a larger cone that will go to the bottom of the urn (shaving off the sides to make it fit) or you can stick a piece of styrofoam in the bottom and glue the cone on top.

In the photo above, I filled the urn with styrofoam and newspaper. I then covered the entire top of the urn in kale.  I did this by using toothpicks and gluing the kale down.

From here, break toothpicks in half and start working your way up from the bottom.  You want to put your largest strawberries on the bottom and work your way up in sizes.  There may be places where the strawberries don't meet.  For those places, you can stick in a few pieces of kale or sprigs of mint to cover the styrofoam.

 

Finally, you can decorate your urn with a ribbon or other festive ornament.   Easy and makes a great centerpiece for your dessert table!

This dessert is great for other occasions too like July 4th, showers, Valentine's Day, etc.

DIY: Christmas Present Tree Stand

Do you put up several Christmas trees?  Or are you not a fan of tree skirts?  

Looking for a unique way to hide the tree stand?

Hide your tree stand in a present!   

Here's how you do it:

1.  Find a box that is at least as big as your tree stand.  Also, make sure the box will clear the bottom of your tree.  I lucked out with this box!   Just happened to be in my garage.  You'll notice that I cut off two of the flaps.  I cut off two flaps so I wouldn't have to cut through 4 flaps when making the hole for the tree.

2.  Place the stand inside the box (like above).  Close the flaps and tape together.  Then cut a hole in the top of the box so it coordinates in placement with the hole in the stand inside.

3.  From there, wrap the box like you would a present.  Depending on the size of the box and how much room the stand has to move or flip over, you may want to wrap the box without flipping it over like you would a normal present.  I wrapped this one by putting the seam on the top and back of the box.  This way, the front of the box would be smooth with no seam.  Also, make sure you add a bow or other embellishments before you install the tree. After you finish wrapping, cut the same hole in the wrapping paper, so the stand is visible from the outside of the wrapped box.

4.  You'll need help with the next step.  Have one person lower the tree into the box.  The other person will guide the tree into the stand inside the box.  If your box is much bigger than the stand, you may want to cut a larger hole so that one of your hands can move the stand if needed.

Done!  No more ugly stand!

A perfect addition to a decorative tree that you may not be using as your main tree.

 
Stay tuned ... lots more holiday decor ideas to come! 

DIY: Layered Ribbon tree

We all remember the coffee filter trees that were the craze last year.  Well... here's another fun DIY tree that you can make with ribbon.

These fab trees are from Sparkle and she gives a tutorial on how to create them. 

While she suggest uses styrofoam bases, remember that you can roll poster board for the same affect.  Styrofoam is expensive if you're creating several of these trees.  Here's where I talk about creating cones out of poster board.  2 sheets for $1 at the Dollar Tree and... you can create any size you need depending on how you cut/roll it.

 

DIY: Pumpkin door decor

Looking for something for your door that's NOT a wreath?

Here ya go!

All you have to do is get a plastic or foam pumpkin, slice it in half and decorate as you please.

Maybe decoupaging the pumpkins like I did last year?

DIY: Personalized Dinnerware!

So I'm gonna say flat out.  I WILL be doing this.  You know how there are some crafts you come across that makes you just stop in your tracks?  That was me with this.  LOVE!

I stumbled upon this great trick over at Brooklyn Limestone.  And while I've written on plates in the past, this just really stood out to me.  

Basically, she bought inexpensive white dishes.  (Hint: Goodwill or even Dollar Tree)

Then she wrote on them using a Porcelaine 150 pen.  Want to write text like in the photo?  Use painters tape to create the lines.

Want a damask or other design?  Use a stencil.

This opens up unlimited possibilities for holiday dishes.  Write the words to your favorite Christmas Carol!  Write a message to someone on their birthday!  Write the words to your wedding song on your anniversary.  ENDLESS possibilities.

And making a set would make a great gift!

Hop over to her blog and check out the rest of the photos.  

SmileBooks METREAT 2011

Let me tell you about something NEW....

As a blogger, I spent last year at several different blog conferences.  And while those were fabulous, definitely,  I wanted to create something new this year.  Really focus in my time on an aspect of my life that I've been neglecting.

I felt like there just wasn't time to see FRIENDS.  Being a wife and a mother and an employee and blogger and gosh knows what else, women tend to put friends last.  In the heirarchy of life, it just slides to the bottom.  You figure they'll always be there.  We'll catch up later.  And then months roll by, even years and the catch up never comes.  Sound familiar?

Earlier this year I decided to reprioritize some, slow down on blog conferences and create something new.  Where, for one long weekend, I'd focus on celebrating friendships.  To really do what it took to make it happen, for me.  I began talking this over with one of my best friends NakedJen and the METREAT was born!  

What is the METREAT?  
It is taking time out for yourself to reconnect with those you normally let slide.  It's about taking the time to create memories and inside jokes and to celebrate life and the amazing things in your life you have to be thankful for.

For this first METREAT, SmileBooks came on as the title sponsor and you've heard me talk about them before. They help you create amazing photo books with ease!  Not only that, they have a design service that will design the book FOR you because they realize that not everyone has the time or maybe they'd like to spend that time creating MORE memories!   

As a sponsor of the METREAT, SmileBooks is offering a 40% discount on photo books through 9/30/11.

Just follow the link to learn more and get started.  Their photo books are perfect to create documentation for your summer memories such as:

• a baseball season
• graduation
• summer vacation
• trip to the grandparents
• July 4th celebration
• Back to school
• boating season
• fishing tournament

and of course, birthdays and other celebrations!

Do you have questions about how to create books or other questions to ask the SmileBooks team?

I'll be hosting a Twitter party on Thursday, August 4 at 8pm EST.  Use the hash #METREAT. I'll be joined by Tracy of the SmileBooks team and she'll be on hand to answer any questions you have about creating your own photo books.  We'll be chatting about taking time for yourself and documenting those memories and also how to upload your books to Facebook to share!

In the weeks to come, I'll tell you more about the METREAT and show you the photo book.  In the meantime, here's one of the great photos from the weekend!  

Thank you to SmileBooks for their support of creating new memories!

 

Still time to: Draw a portrait of Dad for Father's Day

Those of us with children love seeing their perspectives in drawing.

Design Editor provides a great FREE printable for Father's Day.  Simply print it out and have your child draw a portrait of Daddy.  So fun to compare their skills year after year!

 

DIY: Photo envelope liners

I absolutely love lined envelopes.  And while I've made my share of liners, I have never made liners that feature a PHOTO!  Brilliant!

Sidenote: Those that are reading this that usually receive a holiday card from me...you may see this idea again in December.  LOL   Maybe.

Paige of  Paiges of Style gives a tutorial on creating lined envelopes.  This fabulous tutorial gives a photo step by step of creating the template and then she goes on to show you how to use a photo.

This tutorial is one to bookmark for sure!

Don't forget, these will work on ANY envelope.  You don't have to save it for a special occasion or invitation.  You can line any envelope!  Birthday, anniversary or graduation cards or just a special note dropped to a friend.  

DIY: Stamped paper plates

Aren't these stamped moustache plates cute?

You can create whatever design you want on your paper plates using a sponge and paste food coloring.

Emily at Remarkable Home gives a full tutorial on the easy process including cutting the sponge into a cute shape.

You have plenty of time to create fun plates for your July 4th gathering.  Stars and stripes, anyone?

For the new mom: Hospital survival kit!

I love this idea from My Own Road!  

When you're pregnant and even in the hospital, everyone brings gifts for the BABY!  But what about the MOTHER?   Whether you have a traditional birth or a c-section, the Mom is exhausted after and while the new baby is totally worthy of all the fuss, it's so nice for the MOM to receive some pampering as well.

Jennifer of My Own Road created some fabulous printables to attach to gift bags.  Create your own hospital survival kit for the new Mom.  While most Moms have a hospital bag packed, fill this bag with some things they may not think of or just a few pampering items like these things that Jennifer recommends:

Visit her site to read the descriptions.

As someone who had a c-section and stayed in the hospital for 4 days, I can tell you that this would have been a VERY welcomed gift!  

Jennifer has created those printables in both pink AND blue.  Save them for your next visit to the new Mommy!