Sunday, March 3, 2013

Bridesmaid Invites

What you need:
Glue
Ribbon (I choose a 1/2 in but any width will work)
Pencil boxes (I choose the 4.5x4.5 size)
Sticker letters
2" wooden letters
Modge Podge
Card stock
Ruler
Pencil
Small paper flowers
Button dowels
String
Felt hearts stickers
Acrylic Paint & Paintbrushes

Step 1:
I painted each pencil box with the color of your choice.  My wedding colors are sunflower gold and mint so I choose gold for the box color since it is the darker of the two and would cover with less coats. I started by painting the top and back and letting that dry, then applied a second coat.  I then flipped over the box and painted the remaining three sides and bottom with two coats of paint.

Step 2:
I painted the bottom of the lid and all interior sides with two coats of paint.  I left the bottom unpainted because I wanted to glue mint card-stock to the bottom but you can choose to paint the bottom instead. There  is no real reason as to why I decided to do it that way, I just wanted to.







Step 3:
While the paint was drying in between coats I painted a wooden letter for each box.  I started by painting the sides black to add dimension and then painted the top silver.  As with the box, it took two coats of paint per letter.

Step 4:
Once the paint on the boxes was dry I cut a piece of mint card-stock to fit the bottom and glued it in.











Step 5:
I glued the letters (each of my bridesmaids first initial) to the bottom right hand corner of the lid and adorned the top right hand corner by gluing small paper flowers of difference colors. They didn't have shades of green so I went with shades of blue.











Step 6:
I printed a picture of myself with each of my bridesmaids and adhered it to the bottom of the lid with Matte Modge Podge.  I guesstimated the center of the bottom of the lid but you can also measure out and mark with pencil marks if you want a precise center.











Step 7:
I took the sticker letters and posed my question. Again, I eyes the placement of the letters but you can hold the ruler or a piece of paper up for a more precise line.











Step 8:
I used puff paint to write our wedding date on felt heart stickers and let the paint dry. I then removed the sticker backing and adhered to the back inside of the box. I started by placing the center 21 and then spaced the other two hearts proportional to the center heart.







Step 9:
I lucked out and had 4" x 12" card stock which was perfect for making 4" x 4" cards to fit inside the box.  I measured out the 4" cards and cut accordingly.  I then created 3" x 3" boxes in Word and typed out a little list of questions to ask the girls to be my maids.  I glued the 3" x 3" printed quesions to the front of the 4" x 4" card stock and a 3" x 3" "Call me" to the back.














Step 10:
I got a few small trinkets to put in the box, tissues, chap stick, pedicure kit and glow in the dark rings. I placed the pedicure kit and ring in a small chiffon bag and tied.  I then placed everything in the box.


Step 11:
I painted and glued wooden button dowels onto the front middle edge of the box and strung a string through a small hole in the front of the box (punched trough with a large needle).  I tied a large knot and the end of the string that wouldn't pull through the hole and glued in place.  I then covered the hole with another paper flower.  I wrapped the string around the button twice and then around the button on the front of the flower.





Step 12:
To spruce up the 4" x 4" cards I glued a few paper flowers to the corners of the card (opposite that of the adorned corners of the box).







Step 13:
I tied a ribbon around the box







Step 14:
I made a mint "Will you" card out of 2" x 2" mint card stock and 1" x 1" printed paper. I used string to tied this to the center of the ribbon.

Voila, All done.

Now you can mail or hand deliver to your bridesmaids.

Personal Pear Pies

I got the inspiration for these from Sharemykitchen.com but I don't like blue cheese so I made a few modifications. I also served these as a dessert.

I followed the instructions from the website for preparing the pears but saved the scrapings from the middle of the pears to make the filling.

The filling:

Leftover pear centers (seeds removed)
Milk
Sugar
Dash of vanilla

Vanilla Ice-Cream

To make the filling I  pureed the pear scraping with a bit of milk, a dash of vanilla and a few tablespoons of sugar.  I added milk and sugar until the scrapings were to a foamy syrupy consistency.  I drizzled a little of the filing inside the pear and then added one scoop of vanilla to each pear. I drizzled any remaining puree over the vanilla ice-cream.

Things you find on Pintrest can work for you as well. Yay!


Sliced Pears

Pear scraps (save these)

Brushed with lemon juice

 Covered with puff pastry

Brushed with milk and leaves made

Sliced puff pastry


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Christmas Advent Calendar



I was having trouble finding an advent calendar in stores that I liked so I decided to make one myself.

What you'll need:
cardstock
glue
24 mini cupcake or muffin tin
scissors
compass
ruler (not pictured)
number stickers
candies
adhesive backed magnets

Step 1:
Measure the diameter of a muffin cup, this will be the inner circle of your candy covers. If you don't have measurements on your compass you'll need to have a ruler on hand to measure the distance of your compass.  You'll have to divide the distance by 2 to get the radius of your circles.  Adjust the compass to the radius and draw 24 circles on your card stock (I choose red and green, but you can choose any color or pattern)

 





Step 2: 
Measure the diameter of the distance between two muffin cups, this will be the outer circle of your candy covers. As before, if you don't have measurements on your compass you'll need to have a ruler on hand to measure the distance of your compass.  You'll have to divide the distance by 2 to get the radius of your circles.  Adjust the compass to the radius and draw 24 circles on your card stock (I choose different colors to mix it up.)



Step 3:
Put candies in each muffin cup.














Step 4:
Cut out all the circles you drew.  Glue the smaller inner circles to the larger outer circle. Then stick a number on each circle 1-24.

Step 5:
Cut adhesive magnets and adhere to the back of the circle.  I cut two magnets per circle, just big enough to grab onto the metal muffin tin.  You can also cut 4 magnets per circle for a firmer hold.


Step 6:
Grab a baggie to keep your numbers in at the end of each day.  Attach a magnet to the inside of the baggie so you can stick it to the muffin tin.


















Finally, place your circles over each tin and you're done.

Bonus, you already have each circle saved in a baggie so you can toss it in with your holiday decorations and be ready for next year (you'll just have to buy new candy).