Ok today I have another great blogger back today to share some great ideas with you guys!   Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl is an amazing blogger, incredibly talented handy gal, and a great friend!  She has been incredibly supportive for me and I just love her to death!  I got to meet her in person this year at Blissdom and she is just as incredibly friendly and helpful in person as she is on her blog!  Please make sure you head over and check her out if you haven’t already!  

I think you guys will love the project she has up for us today.  Super easy and a great way to customize your own fun party plates!  Enjoy!

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Congratulations to Jess and her husband! The photos of her little man are sooo sweet! I couldn't be more excited for them both.

I want to thank Jess for inviting me over today to share with you an easy craft tutorial. I call these my citrus themed glass plates.

First let me take a minute to introduce myself. I'm Brittany, aka Pretty Handy Girl. I write a blog called, what else: Pretty Handy Girl! I'm on a mission to empower people to take on their own DIY project.

Some of my projects have been pretty:

Some of them have been ugly:

Some are fanciful:

And others are adventurous:

Regardless the project, I always provide detailed directions and pictures to help empower you to build it, craft it, sew it, or fix it yourself! I hope you will stop by soon and say "hi!"

Before my 4oth birthday party, I had been scouring the stores for some pretty citrus colored plates to serve sweets on. I was coming up empty-handed, was running out of time, and was concerned about my budget. I happened to stumble upon some glass plates I bought at Goodwill awhile ago. And then the idea hit me! Why not make my own decorative plates! 

Materials:

• Mod Podge Glossy
• Paint Brush
• Jar of Water
• Glass Cleaner
• Paper Towels
• Scrapbook Paper (thin works better)
• Glass Plates
• Recycled Jar or Cans to Dry Plates on
• Scissors
• Pencil

Instructions: 1. Clean the bottom of the glass plates with glass cleaner.

2. Trace around the plate on the scrapbook paper.

3. Cut out the circle.

4. Snip four slits into the circle but NOT all the way to the center.

5. Snip four more slits centered between the first set of slits. You should end up with eight cuts equally spaced.

6. Cover the bottom of your glass plate with mod podge.

7. Center the cutout circle onto the bottom of the plate, pattern side down. Gently press the paper onto the plate allowing the paper to overlap slightly at each slit.

8. Liberally apply mod podge over the scrapbook paper.

9. Use your finger to smooth out the wrinkles in the paper. But, be gentle or the paper will tear.

10. Lay the plates upside down on the jars and cans until dry. Add more mod podge if needed to seal the scrapbook paper and glue it down.

Turn them over and enjoy your unique decorative plates. Note: Do not fully submerse the plates in water, wipe them off and wash the tops so as not to mess up the paper side. Stack them with a paper towel in between so they don't stick together.

 

Load them up with some light citrus sweets and they will be the hit of the party!

 The possibilities are endless with these plates. Think about personalizing them with photos or monograms. What are your ideas for making your own plates?

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I LOVE this!  Can’t you think how quick and easy this would be to do for holidays or themed birthday parties?  How cute would these be to give Christmas Cookies on over the season?  Oh my brain is spinning with possibilities!  How would you customize yours?  I wanna know!

Who doesn’t love a good summer BBQ?  With Father’s Day this weekend and the 4th of July around the corner you may be planning a summer party of your own.  If you are – let me share some great entertaining finds that I have seen browsing online!  All of these are under $25 so you don’t have to break the bank while keeping your party looking good.  And as always – I am not being compensated at all for sharing these – this is just me finding great deals for you!

I think having one of these great drink dispensers is always handy during a party – it keeps you from having to refill a pitcher multiple times and the built in ice tray is perfect for keep it cool!

Drink Dispenser from World Market – $19.99

I am loving this next set of ketchup and mustard bottles!  So vintage and cute!!!  And you can’t beat the price!

Ketchup and Mustard Bottle Set from World Market – $3.99

You need a good serving tray and this bright Melamine one is the perfect touch!

Multi Floral Melamine Serving Tray from Target – $9.99

Love these Stars and Strips placemats and napkins!  The placemats are cork!  How cute are those! 

Stars and Stripes Napkins and Placemats from World Market – $5.98-9.99

Love this vintage print on this green melamine dining set.  Very groovy!

Green Geometric 12 pc Melamine Dinnerware Set from Target – $21.99

I adore the print on this Party Tub!  Such a pretty pallet!

Summer Goddess Print Party Bucket from World Market – $19.99

Another handy cute item would be this steel utensil caddy!  Perfect for keeping all your flatware organized!

Steel Blue Utensil Caddy from Target – $9.99

Finally – having a couple of these mesh food guards are a godsend when you have an abundance of pesky critters that also want to enjoy your tasty treats.  And for a set of three – you can’t beat the price!

Set of Three Collapsible Mesh Food Tents from World Market – $8.98

So there you go – eight great summer entertaining essentials!  Find anything you had to have?  What is your must have accessory for a good BBQ?  I wanna know!

Well with Memorial Day weekend kicking off the outdoor party season this past weekend I thought I would toss together some party prep ideas that you can use for your own festivities this summer! 

1.  Don’t be afraid to use mismatched regular wood dining chairs as part of your set up

As this picture clearly shows – mismatched wood dining chairs can look eclectic and chic for your next al fresco dinner party.  And let’s face it – you would feel way more like saying “al fresco” with these chairs than you would with some folding plastic ones! 

eclectic patio design

2.  Create conversation spaces

Parties thrive on conversation and good company!  So make sure you set up areas at your party that facilitate that fact.  This seating area provides you all the key components – a comfy place to sit, a seating arrangement that let’s people face on another and a table to set food or drinks on. 

contemporary patio design by los angeles COCOCOZY

3.  Make it feel like a vacation

Nothing makes a party feel more like an escape from the real world than giving it a little island vibe!  I love these painted patio chairs.  They create a fun, bright atmosphere without a whole lot of effort!  Throw in some colorful pillows and towels and you are set for an island attitude on your local latitude!

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

4.  Light up your night

Nothing keeps a party going like a little light!  Let’s face it – it is hard to talk in the dark.  But don’t think you have to get all expensive with your lighting.  This is still one of my favorite ideas – terracotta pots, a little sand and a bunch of plain white candles.  Bonus points if a couple of them are citronella to keep away the bugs!

Photo via Southern Living

5.  Don’t be afraid to use your “fine” china

If it is a small get together – you can really make it feel more homey and inviting by using your regular dishes or even something a little nicer.  Just remember your audience and know when to go all out and when to break out just the Chinet.

contemporary patio design by san francisco architect Sutton Suzuki Architects

6.  Have a “signature” drink

It doesn’t matter if it is a pitcher of sangria or just something colorful like the picture below – but having a signature drink for your get-together can be one of those special touches that makes people anticipate coming! 

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

7.  Make some shade

If you are entertaining during the daytime – it is advisable to have a shady spot where the fair skinned and overheated can gather.   Umbrellas or canopies can be a great way to set up some shade that is also portable.

mediterranean patio design by other metros landscape architect Carolyn Chadwick

There you go – those are my seven tips for Outdoor Entertaining!  Now what about you?  Do you have a great tip that you would love to share?  I wanna hear it!

This weekend – we went back home to have an early Thanksgiving with the Hubby’s family.  Saturday AM my brilliantly craft mother-in-law Lynn said “Jess – remember that one centerpiece with the gilded fruit you showed.  I want to do that.  Can you help?”  Of course she was talking about this beautiful centerpiece from Martha that I featured in my Setting A Harvest Table post.  It has pears, magnolia leaves and cedar boughs.  The pears are gilded and the magnolia leaves have been sprayed gold.  Just beautiful and a a great choice!

She already had picked up pomegranates, pears and edible cake glitter.  You can find the edible glitter in the Cake Decorating section of most craft stores.  Luckily, she also has a great big ol cedar tree out in the yard that we clipped some boughs off of – but we didn’t have any Magnolia leaves.  So instead – I clipped off some pretty ivy leaves off of her trellis.  Here are all the supplies we used below.

 

The cake glitter was super easy to work with – you just put it in a bowl and brush it on dry with a paint brush. 

I brushed it on all the fruit and then also put it on the ivy leaves.  Once I got it all arranged in the wood trough Lynn had – I went back over the tops of the fruit with a little more of the glitter.  There now it is perfect.

 

So here it is on the table.  I just love how it turned out – so elegant but super easy. 

 

Everyone kept walking in and watching me put it together and saying, “Well – that was simple!”  Only took about 10 minutes.  So if you are looking for a quick easy centerpiece – this one is a piece of cake.

So what do you think?  Have you ever done anything similar?  Do you think you might try this out?  I would love to know if you think you will!  

P.S. Don’t forget to hop over and enter my giveaway for a $45 CSN Stores gift card!

Linking this up to

Metamorphosis Monday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Table Top Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life 
Get Your Craft On with Kim @ Today’s Creative Blog
Make it Yours Day with Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden
Show and Tell with Becca @ Blue Cricket Designs
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Transformation Thursday with Gina @ Shabby Chic Cottage 
Weekend Wrap Up Party with Jen @ Tatertots and Jello 

(Note: This is a repost from last year – but since I had like 5 followers at the time, I figure for most of you it will be brand new!)

We are reaching that magical season. It is a season for giving. It is a season for sharing. It is a season of trashing your kitchen to create that perfect meal for family and friends.

Personally, for me the first couple weeks of November has become the time when I start planning for those upcoming holiday parties. One thing that has really become a lifesaver for me over the last several years has been my Hostess Journal.

I know what you are thinking, what is this? This is something that you need to create for your own sanity. I got the idea from an old back issue of Domino (RIP) and it is seriously a lifesaver. (If you are a devotee who also cannot stand parting with any issue, it is in the December 2007/January 2008 issue on page 102. Sniff sniff – I miss it so!)

I use just a basic journal and I make notes before and after any big get together. The purpose of this to let you record an idea of what you wanted the event to be like and what ended up happening. It is also a great way for you to get yourself organized and avoid running into last minute emergencies. If you like most of us and only host a couple of big events every year, it can be hard to remember what went well and what did not. A Hostess Journal solves all of that and gives you a place to perfect your game plan.  You can use it to be as detailed as you want!  I will explain below how I use mine so that you can see one way of doing this – but to each his own!  You have to find a way that works well for you! 

Before the Event

In the before, I write down the number of guests and general theme. Next, I outline a rough menu. This is really an area where you can look at ideas and debate the time and cost of creating it.

Once I have a rough idea of the menu I start a cooking timeline. Here you really want to focus on what you can do the day (or two days before), what can you do the morning of and what has to be done right before. On the right before (since that is where a lot of your cooking and prep time lies) the cooking timeline will help you figure out how to time everything to come out hot and ready at the right time. I like to start with the time I like to eat and work back from there. For example, in the case of Thanksgiving, I would start with dinner at 5:00. The bird needs to set for 30 minutes so it will have to come out of the oven by 4:30. Based on the size of the bird, I can then back it up to when it needs to go in. At that point, you can start planning your sides to make sure that you have time to actually fix everything you want to for the meal within the allotted time.

The next gut check of your plan is to fill in a cooking and serving dish outline. This helps me figure out if I am going to need two things at once so I can potentially rearrange or if I am going to be short a large bowl so I can either improvise or get another. Personally, I like to lay all this out in two columns. One column that breaks down the cooking timeline and the other will keep me straight with the cooking and serving dish required.

By the time you actually draw up your timeline and dish needs, you will have narrowed your menu down to what is achievable based on your timeframe and resources.  It is always a time, money and drama saver to understand what is ACTUALLY possible given your allotted time.   From here, you can use this to build your shopping list.  If you plan this out far enough in advance, you can shop for your pantry type items well in advance of the holiday rush to make sure you get the best price. 

I also like to use the journal to write down my decoration needs (do I need to iron the linens prior?), music ideas, and any other random thoughts. This will at least get you up and ready to go for the day of your party.

After the Event

I like to sit down the morning after, with a cup of coffee, and go over how the plan actually worked. Did I estimate the right amount of time it would take to peel and cut up that pile of potatoes? Do I need to adjust my expectations on how many sides I needed or how big they need to be to serve the number of people at the meal? Did we run out of anything? Was there one dish that everyone picked at and one that people all took seconds on?

This is also a great time to note anything you needed that you didn’t have! Did you run out of plates, forks, glasses?  Did anyone break anything?  Were your short napkins or storage containers? (Note: I did not anticipate the number of storage containers I would need after  Thanksgiving a couple of years ago!  Something to consider this year - especially if it is your first time.)

The after takes much less time, but it really lets you evaluate and make changes for next time. The first time you do this it will seem time consuming and pain in the you-know-what. But I am telling you, the next time you need to plan a big get together, having your notes from the last time will save you all manner of drama!

I also use this when we just have people over for watch football or have a movie night.  Obviously – it is not as detailed for a smaller event – but it helps me remember if I had too much or too little of something which can save major dollars on your next party!

I hope this was helpful! Do you currently do something like this? Is this a new idea you think you could use? Or does it just overly obsessive?  Please share your thoughts!

 

Since Thanksgiving is fast approaching and other Holiday meals and gatherings are on the horizon – I thought it would be nice to share some ideas on setting a harvest table.  So here are some of the images I have found that inspired me!  Hope you enjoy!

This beautiful display uses hints of gold, red and amber to really make a stunning statement.

Photo via House Beautiful

Love this gilded pear centerpiece from Martha – a lovely sparkly touch to your table.

Photo via Martha Stewart  

Create a candle “garden” using simple white pillars and seasonal gourds.

 Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

Make simple place cards out of natural card stock.

Photo via Southern Living  

Wrapping some simple bits of ribbon around napkins can create an amazing look – just slip in a sprig of berries and you are set.

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens 

To create different layers of height to your centerpiece – just use rounds of rough cut firewood to elevate candles and floral arrangements.

Photo via Southern Living

Make simple but beautiful centerpieces by adding corn and lentils around candles.  Natural and cheap!

Photo via Better Homes & Gardens 

I love this idea.  Use a piece of twine with individual words wrapped around it and weave it down the table. Simple but powerful!

Photo via Southern Living

And don’t forget to gussy up your hutch …

Photo via Better Homes & Gardens

And your chandi! 

Photo via Better Homes & Gardens

So there you go – tons of ideas to get you started on planning your own harvest table!  So tell me – are you hosting a dinner or party this year?  What is your favorite idea?  And if you want more ideas, hop over to my Facebook page!  I have some great collections of Thanksgiving crafts and an article on napkin folding you have to check out!