Naughty or Nice ?

Imagine the surprise of your guest when you bring out this lump of sparkling coal for dessert! Berkeley-based artist Anandamayi Arnold’s sparkling lumps of black coal, otherwise known as “surprise balls” {stop it Alison!} are not quite what they appear to be. These delights are filled with goodies and treats. To get to the goodies you unravel the ball {made of ribbon and papier-mâché} and in the middle is the surprise. Where did I come across these devilish lumps? Anthology’s Winter Gift Guide, of course!

 So which were you this year…naughty or nice? I was both…in a very good way!

{via Anthology’s Winter Gift Guide}

{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} – 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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{reception ideas} Postcard Satchels

Wouldn’t these make the perfect escort card and favor all in one? You can write your guests name and the name of their table right onto the satchel along with a short and sweet message on the other side.

To continue the travel theme assign your reception tables the names of countries or places you have visited together. Line them up in a vintage suitcase much like the one in the image below and voilà…the perfect escort card and favor all in one! Quite clever.

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Lace & Burlap Herb Pots

No explanation needed to create these lovely herb post. Pick your favorite herb, plant it in a 4”pot, glue and overlap the burlap to pot, and tie with lace. A perfect favor for your guests, and the earth!

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Valentine’s Day Letter Cookies

How darling are these Valentine’s Day Letter cookies? When I stumbled upon these cookies on Sweetapolita, I knew that I had to share these with you. Why limit their use to just Valentine’s Day? This would be perfect for a bridal shower or as a parting wedding favor for your guests.

I am in love with the little “wax stamp” Have you seen anything as sweet as these Valentine’s Day cookies?

For instructions on how to make these beauties click on source below.

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Rough Around the Edges

Sometimes things in their most natural state are when they are most beautiful.

Visit Laura Treloars’ Etsy store here.

{gifts} Just Being Audrey

I came across this adorable illustrations for the book, “Just Being Audrey’” on a blog called The Cinnamon Rabbit {how great is that name?}. The blog happens to belong to, Julia Denos, the illustrator of this adorable children’s book.

Besides loving the illustrations, I love the idea of teaching young women about the irreplaceable Audrey Hepburn who happens to be one of my favorite people of all time. Not only because of her beauty but also because all her life she was just being “Audrey.” She gave freely from her heart and her desire to help people was surpassed only by her kindness.

What a perfect way to show girls that it is OK to be you. I think this book is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special young lady in your life or  a great thank you gift for your junior bridesmaid. Don’t you?

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