{ideas & inspiration} Doily Paper Bag DIY

I am totally smitten with this idea! I was visiting Jenny Doh’s Blog, Crescendo Oh, and discovered this really neat paper doily DIY she created. Like many of you, Jenny is admittedly doily obsessed. Cannot say I blame her or you, if you are. This DIY is so simple and would really be something special at vintage themed wedding. 

Here’s how Jenny did it…

A few simple lunch brown paper bags, like the ones you use to pack a lunch and a few paper doilies. If you want to dye the paper doilies, see Jenny’s tutorial here. This lady does it all!

Use Mod Podge {love this stuff!} to stick the doilies to the bag and let dry.

Once they have dried, use a white gel pen to embellish the bag in any design you choose. My favorite white gel pen is Uni-Ball Signo.

There you have it, a sweet doily DIY. How amazing would this doily paper bag look if you asked your calligrapher to add your guests names in the center of the doily in a fancy script? Pretty amazing, I think. This is certainly a paper bag your guests will not  want to throw away.

Visit Jenny’s blog here and find many amazing ideas on her blog!

{ideas & inspiration} Painted Place Setting DIY

This is one of my all time favorite DIYs. You can let your creative mind go as far as it will take you to make it special! It also serves as a favor and place card all in one.

All you need to create this sweet DIY is a Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Paint Marker, a white porcelain plate, and an oven. Write the names of your guests on individual oven safe plates with the pen. Get as fancy as you want with the script to add a bit of flair to the plate. Place the plate in an oven and bake for 30 minutes at 300ºF. Remove the plate and let cool.

You now you have a gorgeous plate with a beautiful gloss finished name that your guests can take with them and safely use at home. What a splendid idea. Don’t you agree?

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{ideas & inspiration} Sugar, Sugar

I found a sweet, literally, DIY to share with you! This project comes for the lovely Italian blog Daily Suze. Daily Suze is filled with tons of inspiration on every page.You could literally spend hours reading all the beautiful posts on this blog. Inspiration abounds!

One of the DIY projects I found on Daily Suze is so simple {just the way I like my DIYs} that I had to share. I love that you can make it in different hues of whatever color you choose to use. This would make a great favor for showers, baby or wedding. Presented in a beautiful gift box, it would make a sweet farewell favor for your wedding guests. Take a look…

Told you it was a sweet one! For detailed instructions on how to make this visit Daily Suze here.

{ideas & inspiration} Painted Place Setting DIY

I now have yet another favorite and easy DIY to share with you. You can let your creative mind go as far as it will take you to make it  fancy and special! It also serves as a favor and place card all in one. So what am I talking about? Scroll down for a look.

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All you need to create this sweet DIY is a Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Paint Marker, a white porcelain plate, and an oven. Write the names of your guests on individual oven safe plates with the marker. Get as fancy as you want with the script to add a bit of flair to the plate. Use different color markers to add flowers or designs. Place the plate in an oven and bake for 30 minutes at 300ºF. Remove the plate and let cool.

You now you have a gorgeous plate with a beautiful gloss finished name that your guests can take with them and safely use at home. What a splendid idea. Don’t you agree?

{ideas & inspiration} Garden Party Lighting Ideas

You are going to love these simple yet elegant ideas! Sunday’s are my “chillax” days. I catch up on correspondence, emails, catch up on my favorite blogs, and discover new ones. Yesterday, I discovered Karen Lidbeck’s blog and fell in love with the ideas on her blog. Two in particular really caught my eye. These amazing ideas are so easy to recreate and would be a hit at your wedding or garden party!

Here are Karen’s own words on how to create this elegant idea for yourself:

“Hang with clothesline from a tree, beams or a pergola over your table. Pad the bottom with moss and stand pillar candles inside.”

By using two galvanized tubs, Karen was able to bring light to a gardens border. Here is what Karen said about this garden project:

“Stacking various old galvanized containers for height. The middle is planted with flowers and the top is filled with water and floating candles.”

Thinking outside the box at its best. It does not get any easier than this folks!  lease be sure to visit Karen Lidbeck’s blog it is quite lovely.

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{ideas & inspiration} Read, Recycled, Reuse

I have to say I never thought that newspaper can be made to look so attractive; then I saw this sweet little DIY on Project Wedding. Scroll down the post for tons of ideas on how to incorporate newspaper at your wedding!

Then I thought, “Hmmm are there other great newspaper re-use ideas?” To my surprise there sure was. Here are a few that I came across on my hunt:

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{ideas & inspiration} – Cute As a Button

This button cookie is such a cute idea for a wedding favor. I bet your guests will think so, too!  Who doesn’t like cookies especially when they are all tied in a bow and ready to go! How clever!

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{cakes & sweets} Have you ever seen a

…cupcake {by Tracy James of Cotton & Crumbs}  so incredibly gorgeous and sweet looking? Maybe, but here’s another to add to the list. Not only are these cupcakes lovely but  the lace around the cupcake liner can be a simple and easy DIY project!

They are just simply adorable!

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Crowning Glory

A simple handmade chain of daisies is the perfect bridal crown.

{Russian Vogue}

{DIY} Let ‘em Eat Dirt!

With the warmer months just around the corner, I thought I’d share this simple DIY that I came across in Martha Stewart’s Living Magazine. I was so taken by this adorable idea that I am actually going to try it! I think it’s the perfect idea for any spring party like a bridal or baby shower. Or how about a party just to celebrate the warmer weather?

You could go the Martha route and make homemade pudding {see recipe below} or you can get the box kind, top the pudding with crush some Oreo cookies, stick a mint spring on top, and your done! I’m all about simplicity! Oh and you can find the potting glasses here.

Makes 20 three-ounce servings (5 1/2 cups)

· 3/4 pint sugar

· 6 tablespoons cornstarch

· 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

· Pinch of salt

· 2 1/2 cups heavy cream

· 2 1/2 cups whole milk

· 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

· 12 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

· 14 chocolate cookies, ground fine

· 20 sprigs edible, organic flowering herbs

Whisk sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt in a medium pan. Combine cream, milk, and vanilla in a large measuring cup. Whisk 2 cups liquid into dry ingredients until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Whisk in remaining cream mixture until smooth.

Place pan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, 7 to 8 minutes. Add chocolate; cook, whisking until melted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in butter until melted. Divide pudding between glasses, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top. Refrigerate until completely set, about 1 hour; chill until ready to serve.

Just before serving, top each with 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed cookies, and "plant" an herb sprig. Serve cold.

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