Sucre, spice & everything nice

Around St. Louis - Bowood Farms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 19:15:00 +0000

The Central West End is half an hour from my house, so I don't often go, even though my favorite store in St. Louis is there. About twice a year I go to Bowood Farms. It's gorgeous!

Creating Hot Chocolate Stirrers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Movie Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:04:00 +0000

For a few tips on putting together your movie night, see the Sucre Shop blog!

Marquee DIY Made For Hanukkah

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:14:00 +0000

I've always been a fan of Oh Happy Day's vintage marquee and finally had the perfect excuse to make one! I was asked by Houzz.com to style a Hanukkah dessert table, and I knew the marquee would be just the thing to brighten it up. Here is how my sign turned out:

I made my sign say "SPIN", but love that I can rearrange the letters and use it for other things... I think "SIP" would be so cute to have at a cocktail party.

Here is how you do it in 10 easy steps!

Supply list:
2 foam core boards (one for the letters and one for the background) // paper to cover the background foam core // poster board // spray paint // glue gun // globe lights // cutting board, pen knife & ruler // compas cutter like this:

The compass cutter isn't completely necessary, but it only cost $6 and really sped up this process!
Simple steps:
Step 1: Draw or trace letters onto the foam core, and cut them out using the pen knife.
Step 2: Cut several 1" strips of poster board and set them aside for later.
Step 3: Measure and mark on your letters where you want your lights to go.
Step 4: Use a compass cutter to cut circles for lights in the letters.

Step 5: Position your letters on top of the foam board where you'd like them to go, and mark through the holes you've made in your letters onto the background foam board. Step 6: Use spray adhesive to cover your background board with gift wrap, or spray paint it.
Step 7: Cut circles there too - the bulbs will go in front of your letters, and the cord will screw in through the back of the background board like this picture of my layers smooshed together:

*An important note about the size of your holes!
Before you cut all of your holes, test your bulb to make sure it will fit through the letter. Also, test the piece from the electrical cord to be sure it will fit through the backing. The bulb piece is smaller than the electrical cord, so I made the holes on my backing slightly larger, as you can see here:

Step 8: Use a hot glue gun to attach the 1" strips of poster board to the outside of your letters.
Step 9: Spray paint your letters.
Step 10: Put it all together!
When you are done screwing them in the back will look so messy! Which is why the board backing makes your marquee easier to display.

(messy back.)

How long did this take? One little afternoon, for something my family and friends will enjoy for years to come.

"spin" photo on table by Bernella Gooseberry

Vintage Ice Cream Cups- Remade by Sucre Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Introducing Sucre Shop's newest ice cream cups!

I have always been a big fan of vintage designs and styling, but let's be honest, an old food container isn't always a great idea. I wanted to design a cup with all of the charm of a vintage ice cream cup, and none of the yellowed paper. Erika and I worked together to find a great mix of color and pattern. She created the ice cream icons (including ice cream spoons!)and I think we were really able to create something consistent with the vintage style we love. Hope you love them too! They are available here and also for wholesale. Wholesale inquiries please contact me at info@sucreshop.com

Thin Mints - All Grown Up & Back In The Day Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:04:00 +0000

I got a new cook book a week ago, and have made more recipes from it more quickly than any other cookbook I've ever purchased. It's eye candy. It's recipes are bananas. It makes me feel happy! I first heard of Back In The Day Bakery from the talented Lilly Lui who I am lucky enough to work with every day. Lilly went to SCAD and I love hearing stories of her beloved Savannah. I happened across this cookbook one day at Barnes & Noble and knew Cheryl and Griffith Day are my kinda people. I bake often, but still needed a shopping list when I got this cookbook. Somehow I've made it my whole life never having ground cardamom, mace and sea salt in my pantry. I also restocked on strawberries and buttermilk. First go-round I made the most insanely delicious fresh strawberry cupcakes with fresh strawberry icing. It tastes like the most delicious berries and cream I've ever eaten. Like, unbelievably good. Then I made the Buttermilk Biscones - a biscuit scone good for breakfast lunch and dinner. Every time I make something from this cookbook I think it gets better and better. My most recent baking adventure was the Chocolate Mint Cookie - like Thin Mints for adults. The best cookie sandwich ever made.

This is not a paid endorsement, just a glowing little review of a cookbook full of the best recipes and tips for at-home bakers! And, I want to go to Savannah asap.

Disco Dust Edible Glitter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:28:00 +0000

I love taking an idea and turning it into something else. I made these Zombie Squirrel Mints for Fiesta Resistance, and thought it would be fun to show a polar opposite squirrel mint. Lightbulb moment: glitter squirrels. Using the same base, cream cheese mints, you can create a completely different look.

This squirrel mold is proving to be quite versatile! So far I have only made delicious cream cheese mints with it, but I have big plans!

Recipe: Makes approximately 30 mints // 4 oz. cream cheese // 2 tbs. butter // 1lb. powdered sugar // A few drops of peppermint oil // Food coloring (optional) // Sugar (for rolling) // Disco Dust Edible Glitter // Bring cream cheese and butter to room temperature. Use a stand mixer, food processor or hand mixer to beat cream cheese and butter together. Add powdered sugar, a little at a time. It will be crumbly at first, but come together quickly. Carefully add a few drops of peppermint oil. If you add too much the peppermint will overpower the other flavors from the yummy cream cheese and butter, so use steady hand! If you are going to use food coloring, you can add that now, but I wanted the full effect of the glitter so I kept mine white. Roll a small amount of the mint batter into a ball. The trick here is that the mint has to be completely coated in sugar and glitter to prevent it from sticking to the mold. I made two plates, one with white sugar, and one with glitter sprinkles. First I rolled the front half in the glitter, then switched plates and rolled in the sugar. Press your sugary mint ball into the mold, and carefully peel it out. Mints should lay on a wire rack to dry.

I made my mint ball a little too large and it overlapped the outside of my mold. It started out as an accident, but I thought it made my squirrel mint look like a cameo, so I went with it! For edible glitter visit Koyal Wholesale.

How to Make an Edible Cupcake Stand

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:00:00 +0000

So excited about this fun post I did for Best Friends For Frosting, which reached over 1,000 in its first 24 hours! This was a really fun project to create. Hope you'll make some too!
How to Make an Edible Cupcake Stand

Sprinkles To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:36:00 +0000

Sprinkles-To-Go is an individual serving of sprinkles, ready when you are! I can imagine using these at parties and packing them in my kids school lunches. (Why not let them put some fun sprinkles on top of their yogurt?) They're fun & quick to make and unbelievably cute.

I have to give credit to I'm With Cupcake and their blog Fiesta Resistance for the idea to stuff a straw. They filled 'em up with colored sugar and made pixie sticks. Which is SO cute. So I was just thinking about what else I could put in them... sprinkles! These straws are so nice and thick, you can literally just fold over the end and it will stay, no reinforcing needed. I cut the straws in half so the portions would be right for topping a scoop of ice cream, and folded then ends. Now they're ready to fill. Filling method: pour the sprinkles in to the palm of your hand and scoop them into the straw. If I were using a smaller sprinkle I probably would have made a little funnel, but the hand fill method is just as easy to make a couple of these just to have around. Enjoy!

Something Is Missing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:37:00 +0000

This is good, but it makes me want cream cheese and lox. Step it up Rold Gold. Surely someone on your taste test team suggested Everything Bagel With Cream Cheese & Lox pretzels?

Salvage Yard!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 12:26:00 +0000

When I lived in New Orleans I loved architectural salvage yards. I love going to this one when I visit my hometown, Roanoke, VA. Black Dog salvage is amazing: rooms of doors, shutters, ceiling tiles, old sinks, fixtures, chandeliers, and claw feet. I could have walked away with a dozen claw feet at $15 each. But before I do, off to pinterest to get some ideas.

More Washi Tape Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:58:00 +0000

I like Washi tape. This much is clear. And so does everyone else. Why not? It's an easy inexpensive way to make just about anything look cuter. I love the designs by MT you can get at Cute Tape and yesterday I found some adorable patterns at Dick Blick. I am into all things REVERSIBLE lately, so as I was souping up some of my plain forks and spoons I did a little reversible magic. I just stuck two designs together in the middle like this:

and now I have coordinating designs and on the back and front of my forks!

The cupcake/ice cream toppers are from Hey Yo Yo. They're a new purchase and an instant hit in my house.

Tape & Ice Cream Cup Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:32:00 +0000

I have much love for Todd Oldham's book Kid Made Modern. The book came out a few years ago and I picked up a copy. It is full of bright, well designed projects and toys for kids. If you look far enough back in this blog you can see some faces I painted on kitchen spoons after reading about it in Kid Made Modern. I was totally over-the-moon excited when I heard there would be a kid made modern line of crafts for Target. They do not disappoint! Run over and see 'em for yourself! I love love love this amazing set of paper tape, which was only $7. The kids and I had such a great time decorating ice cream cups for an after dinner treat. Look how cute!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:03:00 +0000

Apropos of nothing, this cracks me up. And, yes, this is a craft blog. Sort of. Even so, have to share this amazing knife set that I would LOVE to get my husband for Father's day.

Look, Ma!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:14:00 +0000

I'm a cartoon! I love the new me! Made by the fabulous Lilly Lui.

I DID IT!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 May 2012 01:21:00 +0000

No matter what anyone tells you, it is HARD work to be an Etsy seller. There are A LOT of talented people out there and it is not easy to get noticed! I am amazed how far this little idea of mine has gone, and I just hope I can take it further and keep making things other people want to use to make their parties beautiful!

Crawfish Boil 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:55:00 +0000

A funny thing happens when you enjoy yourself at your own party... it's a strange way to start blogging about a party, I know. But, this year, for our 8th annual crawfish boil, we had to the party: lots of crawfish, lots of friends, and lots of babysitters. Instead of running around with the camera and taking pictures of all of my decorations (which, of course, were meticulously planned and looked pretty cool), and friends, I just chilled. I actually ate some crawfish. Thankfully, I did remember to take the one traditional photo... Here's what they looked like in one piece! I had a great time, but I do miss looking through the pictures. So, next year, in addition to the friends, crawfish and babysitters, I think I'll hire a photographer too!

NOW I am famous.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 02:21:00 +0000

I am on Tori Spelling's blog!! Well, not ME, but my hands. And also, some of my craftiness. YEEHAWW! Look here if you don't believe me. How did this happen? It actually comes from being friends with a celeb... Stef Pollack who writes the amazing blog Cupcake Project came over one morning to do some baking while I was working. It was fun! We listened to polka music because there was nothing else on. She needed pictures of her creations, so I got to be her hand model. Here is my hand: Really, it's my hand! Also, her super delish cupcakes were baked in eggshells, and to pretty them up just a little more I made some little flags she stuck in the top. I guess Tori thought they were pretty cute! 410 people repinned that little picture of Stef's adorable cupcakes and my little flags. That makes me happy.

Sniff sniff, goodbye Picnik

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:51:00 +0000

What am I going to do without Picnik??

Birthday Brookies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:19:00 +0000

My baby boy is 5! He loves cool cars and Star Wars, and wearing short sleeve shirts over long sleeve shirts. He is so sweet and so... BIG! I did not do too much planning for his karate birthday party, but threw in a few Star Wars things, including this hit: BROOKIES! I love them. Not just because they are named after me. They are simple to make! Ready? Here's how: make some brownie mix and pour some in the bottom of cupcake tins. Refrigerate until cold, then in the center add a pre-made (Oh the shame!! But it makes it sooo easy!) chocolate chip cookie round, the kind that come in the tray next to the roll of cookie dough, and poke it down a little. Bake. Done! These little brookies are amazing when they're a little warm, topped with ice cream. xo

Magic Books

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Nash is into magic tricks lately and he's been asking me what kind of magic I can teach him. I am so happy I remembered seeing there instructions for making a magic wallet! I've got a pretty awesome library with books on quilting designs, sewing patterns, paper crafts, invitation making, star wars crafts, 2,000 binding stitches, applique, recycled crafts... you get the point. The book with these instructions is by Esther K. Smith and it's called Paper Crafts and Magic Books. Lots of fun old fashioned "tricks". So you put your business card in the middle of the wallet. Close it. When you reopen it, it looks like... this! And if you close it and reopen it again, then it looks like... this! TA-DA!! It was good enough for my little magician.

How D' Ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:16:00 +0000

Blogging today about someone else's project which makes me grin. My friend Lucy lives in England and I met her the strangest way; Lucy's husband was flat mates with my friend's sister. Isn't it just amazing how people come into your life! She and I keep up with projects on Pinterest, and we watch the same TV shows, and we talk about kids and crafts and she gives me advice. She. is. so. cool.

I sent her a package while back with some spoons in it, and look what she's done!

The song asks, "How d'ya like your eggs in the morning?" Boiled, fried, over easy... with a kiss. Here it is on You Tube... so cute.

Her brother got some chickens awhile back, and so received many chicken-related Christmas gifts this year :) I wasn't familiar with the song, but it's from the 1951 movie "Rich, Young And Pretty" and is sung by Dean Martin. Great job, Lucy! Hope your brother liked them as much as I do!

{If you like this post, please leave a little comment below... and don't forget to sign up to follow me!}

Party Bunting - Lots Of Shapes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

It can't be work work work all the time, can it? I was sad to realize it's been at least a month since I've used my sewing machine. An idea came to me last night and I thought I could make it quickly... so here is it!

I know, I know, you're all tired of party bunting- these banners are everywhere! But I wondered if anyone has done a combined shapes party banner? I looked around and didn't see one. So just in case you were wondering, here's what it would look like!

I am not at all precise when I make things like this. I do use a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, but there are no templates and no measuring involved. I took a few basic shapes I've seen made into banners, and made some of each. I kinda like it... what do you think??

While I'm talking about trying new things, I may as well include a picture of these super cool chopsticks I just added to my Etsy store
Now I need to have a sushi party. You're all invited.

**update!**It's funny to find things when you're not looking for them! Just happen to come across this DIY boho bunting.

Beautiful!

Wooden Ice Cream Spoons - Birthday Candles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:29:00 +0000

I rarely post new designs for wooden spoons on this blog, but am so very excited for these "candle" spoons! Aren't they sweet? I hope you'll run over to my Etsy store and take a look around!

It's Just About Time For Presents!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:49:00 +0000

And this year I am shopping at Crate and Barrel. Perhaps exclusively.

Sweater vase!

Fish hotel! Forget the Ritz or the W, this is the coolest hotel I've seen.

I would use these candy stripe bowls year-round. They are so much fun! And I love the way red looks with my aqua walls.

While I'm busy shopping at C&B, I'll take two of these. What about you?