DIY Menu Board

While recently working on a wedding photo shoot, I was tasked with coming up with a creative way to display the menu for guests.  The theme of the wedding was luxury, luxury, luxury, and a whole lot of gold. I was excited with the way it turned out - I can only show a bit of it since this may appear in a wedding magazine coming up!   I can however, give you the full project tutorial.



For this project you will need:

1. Over the door hanging mirror, found at Lowe's 
2. "M" "E" "N" "U" wooden letters (find them in the wood crafts section of Michael's
3. Krylon Premium Gold spray paint 
4. Martha Stewart Crafts antique effect medium 
5. Martha Stewart Crafts gold paint (or any gold paint will do) 
6. Paint brush 
7. Martha Stewart Decoupage gloss finish & decoupage decorations (leaves) 
8. Martha Stewart clear glass paint in gold 
9. Gold paint pen 
10. Wood glue 
11. Painters tape 

Step 1:  Spray paint your wood letters in gold spray paint. Allow to fully dry!

Step 2:   Prepare your over the door mirror - clean thoroughly with glass cleaner

Step 3:  Outline with painters tape before you paint the edges of the mirror! 

Step 4: Prepare your mirror edge paint.  Mix a small amount of gold paint with the antique medium effect.  This medium ensures that you don't just have a one-toned gold paint on the edges of the mirror. 

Step 5:  Glue on the wood letters with wood glue.   Then decoupage the embellishments on.  To decoupage, you will want to paint a small amount of the glue on the glass surface, then paint the glue on the embellishments on top.  Don't overwork!  You will see the brush strokes even when it's dry... 

Step 6: Allow the embellishments and decoupage to dry before writing the menu in with gold pen.  Once finished, paint the glass with the antique glass paint.  This was a step to make the mirror look a bit more vintage.  If you prefer, you can skip this step and the mirror will be bright and shinny! 

Step 7:  Get a little helper to touch up with the antique finish...

And voila... here's a partial shot on location. I can't show it all because it might appear in a wedding magazine...

I have marveled at mom's who plan their menus for the week and post it gloriously for all to see in their kitchen. Tomorrow I'll show you I am taking this luxury menu for a wedding and converting it into something a family can use everyday! 

Halloween Treat Cones

Tired of the boring standard plastic pumpkins to distribute Halloween candy?  Elevate your trick-or-treating or Halloween party with these DIY treat cones!  I just adore this idea by past design team member, Marie Ramirez, and today we are sharing a complete tutorial. 

Supplies Needed:

Candy cone template (Google search and take your pick!) 

Halloween stamps by PSA Essentials, found here at More Than Paper 

Scallop punch

Ribbon

Heavy glue

Stickles

Crepe paper

Halloween paper  by Basic grey

Instructions: 

1. Trace and cut candy cone template

2. Stamp image in a triangle pattern making sure to turn stamp slightly so they are not all going the same direction.

3. Glue cone shape with heavy duty glue 

4. Adhere ribbon around cone and trim to desired length

5. Stamp image and punch out with scallop punch

6. Add stickles (optional)

7. Back with halloween paper and cut out leaving 1/4 inch boarder around scallop

9. Tape bamboo skewer to the inside of the cone leave 1 inch or more hanging out the bottom so you can stick it into styrafoam

10. Glue crepe paper in a ruffle pattern around edge.  Voila! 

I love how she has set the cones in a bed of candy corn! 

What an adorable way to display your candy this season! 

Will you give this a try? 

Barn Birthday Party

Sunday we hosted Molly's 4th birthday party at Lawton Stables on Hilton Head Island.  With 18 kids and 24 adults, it was surprisingly not chaotic!  It was a fantastic party spent with great friends and a fun way to spend a few hours on a Sunday.

Molly and I crafted for a few weeks leading up to the party. I'll share a few tutorials on projects but here's a look back at some of the details and fun. Up first is a "Happy Bday Molly" banner that we created using burlap, stencils, red paint, & red gingham fabric.  You can also see the "4" canvas I created with paint, Mod Podge & pictures from Molly from year 3-4 of her life.  I used mason jars, ribbon and my PSA personalized stamp for flower vases.

I used scrap wood, chalkboard paint, and chalkboard marker to create a few signs around the stables.  The adorable farm yard invitations are from Swanky Press, my go-to stationer for all things party!  (On this invitation, I was able to change the colors a bit at no additional charge. That's Swanky Press' claim to fame!) 

Molly wore a "4" and "Molly" T-Shirt from Swanky Press! I found the cute skirt on Etsy. Bandanas and hats are from Oriental Trading Company and guests took them home as party favors. 

Plastic milk bottles and paper straws (also from Swanky Press... I told you they were my go-to for party supplies!) made for a fun drink display. 

My mom generously donated her time (and resources) to making 42 sandwiches for everyone. I created these gable boxes to put sandwiches, a bag of chips and a piece of fruit in.  I used my PSA Essentials custom stamp to decorate the boxes.   I worked with an amazing designer (Lesley!) at PSA to create the perfect stamp.  For customers, there's an up charge to custom design work but well worth it.  Want one? Head over here and make your custom design request in the notes. 

Grandpa generously donated his time to filling up the gable boxes. 

For easy favors, I bought wrapped decorated farmyard cookies are from Chasing Fireflies and the adorable stickers that coordinated with the invitation by Swanky Press.  I also scored these theme appropriate lolipops from Oriental Trading. 

 Time for some pony ride photos! 

The kids not only had a ton of fun riding the ponies but also feeding the barnyard animals. 

Lastly, it was time for cake and cupcakes by Ronnie's Bakery, Cakes by Lou.   Cupcake toppers are super easy to make.  I used my PSA Essentials custom stamp of course! 

It was a special day, made fabulous by our friends and both sets of grandparents.  We feel tremendously blessed and are so thankful we can have such a wonderful party. 

Happy 4th to my Molly!  I can't believe you are 4. 

Halloween Cards

At PSA Essentials, I am gearing up for my favorite crafty holiday -- Halloween!  Why is it my favorite? There's so much opportunity to create. From spooky to cutesy, the possibilities are endless.  Pinterest is a buzz with crafts for the holiday, come check them out here on my board.  I have been pinning away!  PSA Essentials has the cutest Halloween stamps, check out what our talented design team has done with them for Halloween.

Card by Kelley Eubanks, uses PSA Funky Numbers and PSA Haunted Shack Peel & Stick stamps

Card by Kelley Eubanks, uses PSA Haunted Shack Peel & Stick stamps 

Card by Carly Robertson, uses UBU Happy Halloween Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials

Card by Kelley Eubanks, uses UBU Happy Halloween Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials 

Card by Kelley Eubanks, uses Hello Kitty Reindeer Games stamps by PSA Essentials


card by Jennifer Ingle, uses PSA Haunted Shack Peel & Stick stamps

Find these stamps at More Than Paper, they have great prices at on PSA Essentials Peel & Stick Stamps.  Check them out here!