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: 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?

DIY: Rainbow crepe paper wreath

Loving this crepe paper wreath from Fiskars.  Visit their site for the full tutorial!  

Make one out of any color combination.  You have plenty of time to get started on a red, white and blue one for July 4th celebrations!

DIY: Umbrella wreath

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

Looking for an easy colorful way to decorate warm weather patio celebrations?

All you need is a wreath form and a bag of drink parasols (found at party supply stores).

Family Chic shows additional photos. While she didn't use glue, I do recommend that if you're using this outdoors, I would definitely hot glue in the umbrellas.  Those umbrellas wouldn't last long in a thunderstorm.

You can coordinate the colors of parasols used for any celebrations... red, white and blue for July 4th, etc.

Also, this would make a great centerpiece lying flat on a table.  Fill the center with a floral arrangement or if your wreath is large enough, place a pitcher of margaritas in the middle.

Cheers!

 

DIY/Tutorial: Easter bunny craft project

A repost of an archive post ...a great craft project, just in time for Easter....

Kim Vallee of At Home with Kim Vallee posted these adorable felt bunnies she was planning on using for her upcoming Easter celebration.  Problem being, a retailer couldn't be found for the bunnies that are produced by Daft.  Kim sent out the call for someone to help create a template and how-to for these simple bunnies.

Enter Everyday Celebrating!
I was thrilled to jump in and design the template to make these bunnies come to life!

It only takes 2 pieces of craft foam or felt per bunny... plus scissors!  That's it!

Visit Kim's site for the downloadable template - compliments of Everyday Celebrating and At Home with Kim Vallee!

DIY: Ducky Punch

I've seen lots and lots of Ducky showers with ducks in the punchbowl.  BUT.  I've rarely seen the punch that actually looks like suds. 

Very cool sudsy punch and all the how to is over at Tidy Mom.

Bookmark it or throw it on your Pinterest.  This would be really cute at a school party!  Talk about wowing a crowd!

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Want to share/find more ways to create memories like these?  Join us at the Blog Frog Memories in Motion community.  Have a question about an upcoming occasion?  Throw a question up in the community and watch the help flood in!

Welcome to Spring!

photo credit

It's officially spring!

Breezy, "March winds", time of the year.

Hang up a ribbon curtain and let the flow of the movement and the feel of the breeze on your skin relax your soul!

DIY: Paper cup wreath

When I first happened upon this wreath by Twig and Thistle, I was flying through my reader and literally came to a screeching halt.

Clean. modern.  simple.  texture.  But what IS it, I thought.

Folds of heavy fabric is what I initially thought.  Or that heavy awesome double satin ribbon you always see on Martha Stewart but have yet to see in actual stores?  LOL

Nope.

Cups.  PAPER CUPS.  The kind of cups you can get at the dollar store in ANY color.  A whole stack for yes, a dollar.

Filing this photo away when I need a little somethin' different to fill a space.  Adds interest and is just the trick.

My cup runneth over.  (sorry... couldn't resist!)

 

Glaming it up for the Oscars!

I've had a few people email in to ask if I have any ideas for Oscar parties.  With the Oscars airing soon, I thought I'd throw out a few ideas I saw that are totally doable.

Family Fun magazine did a spread a couple years ago on several fun Halloween themed parties - one being "Hollywood Halloween".  The party was super cute and creative and some of the ideas would work brilliantly for the Oscars.  Let me show you....

First, you need the coveted Oscar.
Easy!  Goodwill has TONS of barbies.  Go pick up a few, spray paint them gold! 
Then hot glue him to a stand you've painted gold as well.  It will have to be something weighted like a tuna can.  Make sure you buy the lightest male barbie you can find. 

It works beautifully, see?

And see how they used him as a centerpiece by having him hold a ball or roses?
Easily done.  Pick up a ball of floral oasis and stick in flowers that match your color scheme.

Another decoration is the director's clap board.
Grab some black foam core and either draw out the layout with chalk or paint pen and get stick on letters.  Add a foam core hinge with a brad.

Food!
One of the easiest things they showed was using a coffee mug tree to hold pretzels.

Then purchase a used reel, spray paint it gold and use it to hold dips for your pretzels.

A couple things that are more time consuming and detailed would be to wrap up hot dogs in tissue paper tuxedos.

And also dress up your champagne with felt!

A few great ideas to get your mind working on what is doable for your Oscar get together!
If you throw a party, I'd love to show the post photos on the blog!  Contact me!

Easy Nilla wafer Sweet treats!

These have to be some of the most adorable and EASY Valentine's Day treats I've seen. Little girls will swoon!

Flexible Dreams shows you how easy it is!  Dip wafters into candy melt.  Add heart sprinkles for the bows and draw on a face with Wilton Food Writers.

These would be adorable for a girl's tea party or a baby shower as well!