Tutorials & Crafts

May 13, 2013

Decorated Champagne Glass Cookie Party Favors–DIY

For two…. …or more. Either way, a bit o’ the bubbly always makes a celebration sparkle. In this case, for an engagement. Best wishes to the happy couple! DIY Champagne Glass Cookie Party Favors: Things You’ll Need: Sugar Cookie Recipe & Tutorial Royal Icing Recipe & Tutorial Gold cake coloring (I used Americolor Gold) Icing decorating bag or parchment cone #3 decorating tip Gold dragees (two sizes) White colored pearlized luster powder (optional) (one brand is Wilton) Super gold luster… [Read More]

Apr 25, 2013

Bridal Shower Gifts and Wrapping Ideas

I love to wrap gifts. I always have. Part of the fun for me is finding inspiration in the gift choice, the colors, paper and in ribbon. Having an excuse to shop for paper and ribbon is like buying a new pair of party shoes. I get giddy! The inspiration for this “wedding cake wrap”, as my friend called it, since she thought it looked like a tiered wedding cake, began with the bride’s registry. I noticed… [Read More]

Filed Under: Decorations, DIY Crafts & Decorations Tagged With: bridal shower, bridal shower gift wrapping ideas, creative gift wrapping, creative ideas, wedding

Apr 22, 2013

Bridal Shower Tulip Cookies with a Plantable Tag of Wild Flowers

These cookies have been cordially invited to Diana’s bridal shower. The bride loves fresh flowers and natural accents in sage green and soft yellow. Romantic touches on the leaves. Soft yellow edible glitter was sprinkled on the petals while the icing was wet and white pearlized powder was brushed on the entire cookie after the icing had dried. In keeping with Diana’s concern and love for the environment, I chose plantable paper to make the bride and groom tags. Wild… [Read More]

Filed Under: Bridal Cookies, Decorated Cookies, DIY Crafts & Decorations, Fun Ideas, Party Favors Tagged With: Bridal Cookies, bridal shower, Decorated Cookies, gift tags, plantable paper tags for cookies, tulip cookies

Mar 21, 2013

Marshmallow Bunny Pops Tutorial

If you read my Facebook page you’d know I’ve had 2 days notice that my boys were coming home for their spring breaks! Joy and panic! With no time for a new post with photos, etc., I’m re-posting these cute bunny marshmallow pops from 2011 for one big, wonderful reason – I found all the marshmallows this week at my local chain grocery stores!! The jumbo marshmallows are in Safeway and the curly marshmallows are at Ralphs so now all… [Read More]

Filed Under: DIY Treats, Fun Ideas, Party Favors, Spring & Easter Cookies Tagged With: bunny pops, easter treats, marshmallow pops

Feb 11, 2013

Meringue Cookie Heart Pops

meringue Valentine heart cookie pops West Elm valentine cookie decorating workshop

While I was making Meringue Heart Cookies for a recent post, I thought how cute they would be sandwiched with white chocolate ganache or white candy coating, dipped in colorful sprinkles and placed on a red and white striped straw, so I gave it a try. Won’t they be fun to attach to Valentines? If you’ve made the meringue hearts you only need a few more things to transform them into pops. If you’re using *white chocolate ganache: 1. Heavy… [Read More]

Filed Under: DIY Treats, Featured, Fun Ideas, Party Favors, Seasonal, Valentine's Day Cookies Tagged With: baking, baking with kids, cookie decorating tutorial, cookies, decorated cookies to make with kids, diy, heart pops, meringhue heart pops, meringue cookies, meringue hearts, meringues, straws, valentine's day, valentine's day cookies, valentine’s Day treats

Jan 23, 2013

“Be Still My (Meringue) Heart” Cookies

Chocolate might reign supreme as the sweet choice for Valentine’s Day but if something lighter tickles your fancy, meringue heart cookies just might make your heart go all aflutter. Made with ingredients most of us already have on hand in our kitchens, the ingredients are simple: egg whites, cream of tartar, granulated sugar (either ‘super fine’ or regular), and vanilla. The pink food coloring for tinting the meringue is optional but soft pink hearts are the language of love on… [Read More]

Filed Under: Bridal Cookies, DIY Treats, Featured, Seasonal, Specialty Treats, Valentine's Day Cookies Tagged With: baking, cookie decorating tip, cookie decorating tutorial, cookies, Decorated Cookies, disco dust, diy, meringue heart cookies, meringue hearts, meringues, non-fat cookies, pink heart cookies, tutorial, valentine's day, valentine's day cookies, valentine’s Day treats

Nov 19, 2012

Pink and Orange Foil Wrapped Peppermint Patties

What is a party without mints? I believe my emotional need for colorful party mints goes back to my days in Job’s Daughters. There was not one reception or installation that did not have a plate of swirled fondant mints and every reception and installation had its own unique color scheme, usually two colors. When I was installed as Honored Queen, my colors were grass green and buttercup yellow. I kept one color of each mint for years as… [Read More]

Filed Under: Decorations, DIY Treats Tagged With: party, party decorations, party favors, party ideas, peppermint patties

Nov 17, 2012

A Colorful Party Prep Weekend and A Great Kitchen Tip

Party prep continues this weekend for my Mother-in laws big pink and orange birthday bash one week from today. I ordered custom cocktails napkins online from Paper-Source. When I saw the paper lantern design I couldn’t resist. Taking it outside… I love having fragrant flowers where people gather. We planted stock with chine blue pansies in areas where guests will linger in the backyard. I opened the door to the yard last night around midnight and the fragrance was… [Read More]

Filed Under: DIY Crafts & Decorations, Miscellany Tagged With: baking tips, party ideas

Nov 13, 2012

Pink and Orange Holiday Banister Decorations

In continuing to decorate using hot pink and orange for our upcoming party, I’m happy to say I have finished decorating the banister. This is a huge relief for me. One thing I was reminded of, yet again, when creating a new display using all new materials, plan on it taking three times longer than you originally thought it would take. Even though I had a vision of what I wanted to create when I purchased everything, I still didn’t… [Read More]

Filed Under: Decorations, DIY Crafts & Decorations Tagged With: decorating ideas, holiday entertaining, holidays, party, party decorations, party ideas, pink and orange, stair decorations

Nov 10, 2012

Packaging Palooza Party Favors

To continue the Palooza Birthday Party Extravanga prep, my next step was to package the custom Jeanapalooza m&m’s in small cello bags but since I’m also making special decorated cookies for the party I wanted a different look for the m&m’s. I found these little clear plastic 2 x 3 inch boxes at a cake decorating supply store for .45 each but they are also available on the web, sold in bulk for half the price. I thought this might… [Read More]