I haven’t dyed Easter eggs since I was a kid, but something made me stop in the aisle of the grocery store this week and grab a kit. Of course being the DIYer that I am, I couldn’t stop at just dunking the eggs in colored dye. I broke out some of my neon washi tapes and went to town decorating them with stripes. I’m enjoying the pop of color seeing them in a bowl on my counter top!
I’m sharing some of my entertaining ideas for spicing up your champagne toasts this holiday season over on the Society Social blog, The Social Diary; be sure to head over and check them out!
After playing with pom-poms last week, I tried my hand at using the same bakers twine to make little tassels for some other present wrapping this weekend. The weather is getting a little chillier, and I’m off to an annual holiday celebration with my friends tonight, so I’m really starting to feel the Christmas spirit. Here’s hoping you’re beginning your celebrations this weekend too, cheers!
I’m miraculously half-way done with my Christmas shopping already, so now comes my favorite part: the wrapping! This year I plan to forgo my usual grosgrain ribbon and try something a little more three-dimensional. Leftover baker’s twine inspired me with the festive red and white colors, so I decided to whip up some fluffy pom-poms to top my presents. Making them is easy as pie; all you need is some baker’s twine, a fork, and a pair of scissors.
To start, wrap the twine the fork until it starts to look round and full. Then, thread the end of your twine through the center of the fork and tie it around the ball of twine. Finally, trim the loops and slide the ball of twine off the fork. After a few fluffs and puffs you have a pom-pom for the top of your gift! 
There are two kinds of people in the world: wrapping paper rippers, and wrapping paper openers. Some relish in the frenzied tearing of paper to see what’s inside — but not me, I’m in the latter group. I carefully pick apart the seams of the present, because to me the wrapping is one of the best parts of the gift. I’ll fold up pieces of the paper to reuse or save if I like the pattern, cards get tacked up on my bulletin board or fridge, and I’m the one picking up ribbons and bows at the end of the party and rolling them up in my pocket. This why I’m drawn to the chalkboard tags on Kate’s Papergoods (having an awesome name doesn’t hurt either). I love the idea of re-purposing these on different gifts, using them at parties to note seating arrangements, or writing little messages on them for fun. How special would you feel if one was on the gift you were opening?
All images via Kate’s Papergoods
Don’t you love it when you have one of those AHA! moments for a DIY project? I have been majorly crushing on the Kate Spade Bixby clutch, and crossing my fingers for a miracle sale so I can make it mine. But it turns out, I may have found a way to actually make it mine. I found a similar style clutch at Nordstrom’s that is just begging for a little hot glue, paint, and a few wooden beads, don’t you think?
Bixby clutch via Kate Spade, Adele Leather Clutch by Melie Bianco via Nordstrom
Before I head out for the weekend I thought I’d share a little craft I pulled together for the Bachelorette party I’m attending. I bought some clear button holders at the craft store, and picked up blingy engagement ring stickers from the scrapbooking section. I made a template for the buttons and cut out each piece of paper and added an “O” sticker. I hope the bride-to-be likes them; I will certainly be wearing one tonight as I order drinks!
PS: You can download the template here!
I finally finished upholstering the arm-chair in my living room, and I really mean “finally” — I started this project in the Fall and got frustrated with it and came up with an excuse to not work on it every weekend after that. But now that it’s done I’m so happy with the final look!
Here’s what the chair looked like before, I pulled back the sun-faded navy fabric and found crazy psychedelic flowers underneath:
And here’s another look at what it looks like after some blood sweat and tears:
Now that all of my Valentine’s day party invites have gone out in the mail I can share pictures of them. I drew out the image and scanned it into my computer to edit it. Then I printed them out and affixed them to super cute polka-dot notecards from Paper Source. Can’t wait to sip cocktails and inhale cupcakes with my girlfriends this weekend!
