Hi! Thought I'd just pop-in and share the invites for Mini-mini-me's upcoming "Ice Cream Social" birthday party...
Aren't they adorable! I was thinking of making some myself, but when I saw these from Meri Meri, I couldn't resist! I just love the tiny "sprinkle" beads and buttons and the pretty mint-colored envelopes!
More party details in the weeks to come!
:-)
Jessica
Hello All! Just wanted to let you know that I added a bunch of items to my Valentine's Day Pop-up Shop. You'll find lots of pretty things for Valentine's Day crafts, such as vintage millinery flowers,
I have some beautiful, high-quality heart-shaped boxes in both metallic gold and velvet that are just waiting for you to embellish with pretty trims...
There are also lots of paper doilies, vintage sequins, rhinestones, beads and ribbons!
You'll find those fun heart-shaped sprinkles and pretty paper scrap, too.
For you collectors out there, you'll find some beautiful vintage candy boxes (so hard to part with!)...
...and vintage millinery covered hats!
And if your looking for a gift, I have some lovely new cameo necklaces...
and pretty pink glass vases for all your romantic arrangements!
So head on over and take a looky...
Jessica
Here's an easy and pretty way to dress up some simple candies for Valentine's Day. All you need is some colorful tissue or crepe paper, pretty ribbon in narrows widths, double-sided tape, and some round wrapped candies (I used Lindt chocolates).
Cut a rectangle of tissue that will completely encompass your chocolate when you wrap it (it should be slightly wider than your candy). Roll the candy (keeping it in the wrapper) in the paper, secure with a small piece of tape, and gently twist the ends. Secure each end with a small ribbon bow.
These are so simple, but look sooooo fancy!
Present them in a pretty dish or a small heart-shaped box with a millinery flower on top...
And these would make equally lovely favors for a wedding or party - just change out the colors to match your theme!
I am planning to do a Valentine shop update this weekend, so I'll let you know when it's ready to go!
XOXO
Jessica
I am so delighted and thrilled to be a part of Mollie Makes Magazine this month! It's issue No.Ten and it's the Valentine's Day issue. There is a piece on my collection of vintage valentine candy boxes! If you are not familiar with Mollie Makes, it is an absolutely gorgeous design, collecting, and craft magazine based in the UK. I was an instant fan when I read their first issue last year, so you can imagine how honored I felt when I found out I would be included on one of their pretty pages.
Here I am...
Thank you so much, Mollie Makes!
* This issue goes on sale in shops in the UK tomorrow (12/19), but you can also find copies at bookstores here in the U.S. (I usually find mine at Barnes & Noble). You can also subscribe or download an ipad version!
**And you can read more about my collection of vintage valentine candy boxes here, here, and here! And buy some here! I'll be adding more to the shop over the next few weeks...
:-)
Jessica
Thank you so much to everyone who entered the give-a-way! I truly wish I could send each and every one of you a package of pretty things, but alas, there can only be one winner. So, I assigned each comment entry a number (in the order in which they were received) and enlisted the help of a random number generator. And the winner is.......Jill Lang! Congratulations, Jill!
Now, on to some fun party stuff! I can't believe it's already time to start planning the girls' birthday parties. "Mini-mini-me's" is first and she desperately wants a slumber party this year. I can't say that I am completely overjoyed by this fact. I tend to prefer kids parties that end after about two hours and leave my sanity intact. But...Mini-mini really wants a slumber party and her older sister has already had several, so I guess I am doomed. ;-) I've decided that to make it more fun (for me!), we should at least do a theme that we (I) haven't done before. But what??? I feel I've done just about everything after all these years. I was really having a hard time coming up with something and then I just happened to see these by the check-out line at grocery store the other day...
Cotton Candy Ice Cream Cups! The minute I saw them, I was instantly inspired to do something that involves ice cream. Really pretty ice cream! So, after much discussion, Mini-mini and I have decided on an "Ice Cream Social Slumber Party"! I'll be sharing projects and recipes as I plan over the next month, so stay tuned...
Jessica
To kick off a fabulous new year, I thought it was time for a little 2012 give-a-way. The winner will receive a box filled with lots and lots of pretty things.
You'll find vintage French velvet ribbon, a pretty cameo necklace, a candy necklace, vintage millinery flowers, vintage velvet leaves, vintage mercury glass balls, rose cabs, an aqua cameo, satin ribbon in five pastel colors, yummy and colorful sprinkles, pretty cupcake cases, vintage sequins...
and (of course!) lots of forget-me-nots!
Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner at random next Monday, January 16th. :-)
XOXO
Jessica
With New Year's Eve right around the corner, I have been on the hunt for some pretty and festive decorations. As is often the case, I've had a hard time finding anything in my pastel color palette. So, I took matters into my own hands and made these...
Glittery Pastel Party Horns! Here's what you'll need to make some, too:
- Basic solid-colored party horns (I got my silver glitter ones at Party City)
- Tissue paper in your choice of colors (The Dollar Tree Store often stocks packs of pretty pastels)
- Mylar sheets (available at art and craft stores)
- Glitter (I used Martha Stewart's Tinsel Glitter in Sterling)
- Clear glue (I used good, old Elmer's)
- Paint brush
- Trim or narrow ribbon in coordinating color
- Scissors (a Fringe Scissors is also great if you want to avoid Carpal Tunnel!).
- Glue gun or tape
Directions: To begin, lay a rectangular sheet of tissue paper out on your work surface and smooth it down flat. Paint a narrow stripe of glue along one straight edge. Sprinkle on your glitter and tap off excess. It should look something like this...
Repeat the process with your remaining sheets of tissue and allow to dry completely. Once dry, use your scissors to cut your fringe (in narrow strips, stopping about half an inch short of the top of the tissue paper).
Next, cut your sheets of mylar in the same fashion. How much fringe you'll need in total will depend on how fluffy you want your party horns to be and how many of them you are making. I cut a ton because I wanted mine super fluffy!
Using a glue gun or tape, neatly attach your fringe layers to the outside edge of the horn opening, layering and alternating your tissue colors and mylar as you go. As a final touch, glue some glittery trim over your glued/taped fringe edge to neaten it up. I also added a bit of extra trim around the mouthpiece. Now, fluff up your fringe and you are ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!!
:-)
Jessica
It's no secret that I like a little bling now and then - especially during the holidays. And glitter nail polishes seem to be all the rage right now.
When I saw this fabulous polish by Deborah Lippmann, I just couldn't resist.
It's called "Happy Birthday" and it's filled with tons of multi-colored, multi-shaped glitter.
So fun! It looks very cool on it's own - or layered over a solid color for a more subtle look. I also love these lower-priced versions that I found at my local CVS (pictured on the left and middle: Wet n' Wild #238C and Milani "Gems")...
Have a Happy and Glittery Day!
XOXO
Jessica
These millinery flower ornaments are really fun and easy to make. All you need are some mercury glass ball ornaments (such as Shiny Brite), some millinery flower heads, and some rhinestones. I used all vintage supplies for mine, but you can easily replicate these using new materials from the craft store.
Simply affix your millinery flower heads to the balls with a little bit of hot glue and hold in place until dry. Then, add a small flat-back rhinestone (or pearl, bead, sequin, etc...) to the center of each flower. I also added some extra rhinestones in between the flowers for a little extra bling.
These are obviously perfect for adorning your tree, but they also make a lovely gift for someone special!
Happy Holidays! :-)
XOXO
Jessica