Paint Swatch Garland

Loving this idea from Oh Crafts! I know I have tons of paint swatches hanging out. Great way to recycle them! Cute embellishments for invites or cards also.

Guacamole Bruschetta

*Justataste.com*

This I CANNOT wait to try! I love avocados and tomatoes together. Mmm another great treat for a BBQ! I think I need to have one REAL soon!

Guacamole Bruschetta

Yield: 12-15 servings

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 6 min

Ingredients:

½ loaf French bread
1 clove garlic
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 tomatoes, medium chopped
2 avocados, medium chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup chopped cilantro
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

Slice the French bread on the diagonal into ½" rounds and place on a baking sheet.

Toast the sliced bread in the oven for 3 minutes, then flip each piece over and toast an additional 3 minutes.

Remove the toasted bread from the oven and immediately rub with the clove of garlic (it works best to first cut a small tip off the garlic clove so that the oils will seep out).

Brush the tops of the garlic-rubbed toasts with olive oil and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, avocado, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Mix together gently making sure the avocado is well coated in the lime juice.

Spoon a portion of the mixture onto each of the garlic toasts and serve.

Confetti Eggs

This looks like a good time! What a fun game! I want to have a party like this.


Rules of The Game:

1. Hide your eggs as usual and let friends hunt for them
2. When everyone has finished, the smashing begins
3. Nicely (no throwing) smash the eggs on friends' heads
4. The one who gets the golden confetti smashed on their head wins the grand prize.

How To Make The Eggs:

1. Use a sewing pin and poke a hole at the top of the egg
2. Open a larger hole at the bottom of the egg
3. Let the egg drain out of the bigger hole into a bowl- blowing through the top small hole if necessary.
4. Rinse and let dry.
5. Color the eggshells- let dry thoroughly
6. Fill each egg about halfway with confetti (fruity pebbles, or your choice of filling). You can use a funnel if you need to
7. Cut a piece of tissue paper slightly larger than the egg's hole. Glue the paper to the edges of the hole.
8. Let the smashing begin!

*tutorial and picts from Oh Happy Day*

Hanging Vases

I need to get me some of these:

*girlsloveweddings*

So that I can do this:

*Everours*

WOW!!

Rainbow Slush

This is making my mouth water! I am someone who single-handedly keeps a sno-shack in business. Flavored ice is really one of my very favorite treats, in any form (weird, right?!). This would be so adorable to have for a BBQ! 

This is how you make it:

You Need:

Frozen pops, trifle bowl, scissors, fork, and small bowl

Separate by color 

Cut open tubes and empty into bowl

Take your fork and smash them up so there aren't any big chunks. Try and get it super soft so it spreads evenly

Empty into the trifle bowl

Use fork to smooth down evenly. 

Repeat with each color remembering to place trifle bowl in freezer between colors so they don't mix

Take out of freezer long enough to soften a little before serving

More pictures and tutorial found *here*.

Glass Bubbles

I've been seeing these around a lot lately and I'm in love! I wish I would have know about these around Christmas time, then I could have stalked up on the ornaments. Aren't they so pretty?

*weddingfresh*

*phelans1*

There's Just Something About

Balloons that get me every time!

*dressdesigndecor*




*vintagerosegarden*

No-Sew Banner

I am contemplating putting one of these in baby's room. I feel these banners (while I do love them) are super trendy right now, and I want the nursery to have more of a classic/elegant feel, so the jury's still out. However, this is the most amazing way to make it happen. I would want it to be made from fabric, and I thought "Really, I'm going to sit and sew a triangle banner together?" Not that it would be hard, but maybe time consuming. I love this! Take square fabric, fold in half, tie together, hang. Perfect!! Love that she used handkerchiefs! The possibilities are endless with this!!
THANK YOU MOTHER HUDDLE!

Threaded Balloons

These are pretty awesome! Why is it that the elementary school crafts can look so amazing? Remember making paper mache' easter eggs? I love these! It's all in a different language, so this is what I got from it.

• Mix half water half glue.  
• Place the strings/yarn into the glue then onto the balloon. 
• Let dry hanging. 
• Pop the balloon and remove. 

Sweet!

*BabyDeco* 

Here are some other amazing things you can do with this. Maybe a nursery addition?? COOL!!

*x4duros*

Carnation Creations

Saw these today on Studio 5 and they took my breath away! Something amazing to do with Carnations, which are so inexpensive! They are a ruffly dream! Someone do this for a wedding!!! I can't wait to make them for something- maybe just for fun! LOVE them!
studio5

Rainbow Party

I love this decor for any party. What a great way to kick off  spring/summer. It would also be so pretty with a monochromatic color scheme. I love that the streamers are high and the flowers are low, so you can still chat and have pretty decor at the same time.

found on *oh happy day* in Rue Magazine

Last Minute Super Bowl Recipes

Ok so this week ended up being madness, therefore I did not get a great Super Bowl post in. I apologize! I'm sad I didn't get some fun decor or printables up for you all. I guess there's next year, right?! Well, for any of you out there who still need some quick and easy recipe ideas- here are a few of my favorite.      

 

No Bake Cookies

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Velveeta and Rotel Queso

Tyler introduced me to this a few years ago and it's become a party staple! 

• 1 10-oz can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained (we used the one with
• 1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into ½” cubes (we used the 2% velveeta and it tasted the same)

In a large microwaveable bowl MIX the can of undrained Rotel tomatoes with a 16-oz package of Velveeta cheese cut into ½” cubes.
Microwave on on medium HIGH setting for 5 minutes or until melted. Stir after 3 minutes.

Fruit Dip

• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry cream cheese

In a mixing bowl, combine the frozen whipped topping, marshmallow creme, and cream cheese. Mix until smooth. Serve chilled.

(I add the whipped cream very last, and add it to my liking. You don't need all of it- the more you put in the fluffier, but I feel it dilutes the flavor a little. Start with 1/2 of it and taste it.)

Party on people!

Fragrance Swap

I saw this idea in a magazine the other day and think it would be so fun! I am always down for a party, and this would be a unique one. There are so many millions of perfumes out there, it's fun to discover new scents. Here's the plan:
Everyone invited brings a perfume. One they are bored with or have never worn before. You have papers cut for everyone to sample the smells, and coffee beans handy to neutralize the nose.
What a great theme!! I want to do this with Men's cologne actually. I feel like that's hard. Can't wait to try this!

Apothecary Genius

I really love apothecary jars. They are so pretty and versatile at the same time. They can be quite pricey though. I came across this genius post and had to share.

This is what you do:

1.Find glass jars (preferably lidded) as well as glass candlesticks

2.Mix and match them until you've found your fav. combinations

3.Clean them with a rag and some glass cleaner

4.The candlestick should be lightly sanded for a rough texture to help with the hold. Do it over a garbage can since it is glass.

5. Glue. She recommended using this e-6000. She read it was the best for gluing glass together. It takes 10-15 min to dry so you can have some time to play with the placement. You can get it at a lumber store for about $2.50

I think they look so great! Amazing idea!

*photos and how to by *atriptoholland.blogspot.com*

We are also making something similar (great treat stands) in RS in a few weeks, but I think they are great for a Halloween Party. Hopefully it'll give you enough time to get them made. ;)

1.Take any candlestick holder

2.Paint the color you'd like- all black for halloween

3.Glue (another reason to buy E-6000) the topper of your choice; ceramic plate, glass bowl, even the dollar store has some pretty silver platters that would look awesome on top. The visual I saw had painted all the bases black + a vase. They each had various toppers and then were surrounded with fake cobwebs (to make it look spooky). I wish I had a picture to show you, as I am very much a visual person, so let me know if you have any questions on these.

They end up looking like these:

*picts:themotherhuddle*

Bling Place Card Frames

If it's not common knowledge yet, you will probably soon become overwhelmingly aware that I LOVE BLING! :) I like to tell myself I know how to bling tastefully, (someone better tell me when I get out of control) but hopefully that's indeed the case :).  Anyways, naturally I was drawn to this awesome place card idea. They are so easy to make. All-A-Dollar has little frames and you can find the gems at any craft store. Add a glue gun and printer and you are set. I also love them as an invite or favor idea. So so cute.

I happened upon this baby at *organize.com*. You can also buy them if you are not up for making them.

I Heart Martha

I LOVE Martha Stewart. Check out these way cute ideas.

How easy would it be to find some candlesticks at a thrift store or the dollar store. Super cheap and super cute.

 I can't wait to make these yummy adorable apples! Get the recipe here.

photos *martha stewart*

Balloon Bliss

I love the versatility of balloons. Way cute ideas that can be used for any occasion.

top two picts from *Oh Happy Day*

SO adorable invitations from *on-hand modern*

this would be so pretty for a christmas photo shoot!

*Jigsaw London*

Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper...so wonderful in so many ways! One of my favorite ways to use this wonderful stuff is for parties/showers. It is a great place to start when in need of a theme or a great way to tie it all together. It is so pretty as a table runner + water bottle wraps + gifts. 3 in 1. Such a simple and inexpensive way to take the party to the next level.

isn't this so lovely? one of my fav picts. 

*photo: www.marthastewart.com*

Water Bottle How To:

1. take label off whatever bottle you are trying to re-wrap. use that label as your template

2. place label (or trace) on wrapping paper and cut (razor or paper cutter will be your best friend here)

3. take new wrapping paper label and glue/tape onto bottle

4. *optional* place cute sticker or cut out on label