Friday, July 17, 2009

Blueberry Mint Cupcakes


Mmmm...this blueberry mint cupcake recipe looked so delectable that I had to try it.



But mine didn't turn out so wonderful as the recipe sounded, just mediocre. I couldn't taste the mint because my mint plant is really limpy and pathetic. And I couldn't taste the vanilla in the frosting because I didn't use a real vanilla bean and do not know where I could buy one. So they just taste like the usual blueberry cupcake, which isn't at all too bad I suppose.






At least my husband likes 'em.


Wedding Calendar

If you're figuring out an alternative to the usual guestbook at weddings, try this idea! I wanted something that I would keep using and looking at even after the wedding. So I made a one year calendar starting with our first month of marriage. I tried corresponding pictures chronologically along with the months that they were took.

I made sure to leave plenty of space free for wedding guests to write their well wishes and blessings.






The calendar ends with May, allowing us to celebrate our first year of marriage together. Since we really liked this idea, we are going to make it a tradition to save pictures to put in a calendar for the following year.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Flickr Button Ideas

I've been searching on Flickr for ideas to be inspired so I could figure out what I'm going to do with all those buttons I bought from the antique mall!


these ones are magnets.









Saturday, June 27, 2009

Toilet Paper Holder


The fun part of moving is decorating your new place! I wanted to add color to our yellow bathroom by hanging a shower curtain with more neutral shades and making these button pillows and toilet paper holder. Ahhh, much better.

Making the toilet paper holder is easy schmeasy.
1. Draw a rectangle on cardboard using the measurements of the diagram below. Mark all the lines. This will be your stencil.


2. Cut out your cardboard stencil and trace it on your cloth with all the lines. Cut out leaving a little room for sewing. Make two pieces.

3. Pin pieces together and sew along the lines indicated by red in the diagram below.


4. Sew on ribbons to the one inch margin so you can hang it up.
5. Stick TP rolls in the pockets you've just made. And voila!!

Now you'll never run out of TP during those important occasions. Feel free to add lace, buttons, and other embellishments.



Antique Malls

Going to antique malls is my new favorite funtivity!! My husband and I went to a couple of them yesterday to see what we could find. I ended up getting wonderful things for crafting!


bag of buttons for only $8.00!! my brain is going crazy with ideas of what I could do with these!


pack of vintage greeting cards. perfect for sending to friends far away.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Beer Goggles

I have a lot of bottles...No, I'm not an alcoholic! I just have a lot of glass bottles lying around the place for some reason, and I don't know what to do with them. Pittsburgh said they would recycle them if I put them in a blue bag, but I am skeptical.

I will continue my search of glass bottle ideas, but for now here is a pair of spiffy beer goggles this guy made.


I would totally wear them out and enjoy a yellow tinted world :)



Refreshing Mint Lime Water

Today was HOT! HOT! HOT! And I found out how much I stink at tennis...*lowers head in shame* So it was nice to come back to my apartment and cheer up by drinking a glass of refreshing water! Not just any kind of water, mind you, but with a hint of lime and mint!



1. Add a few slices of lime and sprigs of mint to a cold pitcher of water
2. Let sit for 30 min. in the fridge or until you can taste the lime and mint in the water

It is so much more delightful than drinking plain water, and it's fun to look at. You can also use other fruits such as lemon, strawberries, rasberries, and even cucumber. Here are links to other variations you can try...

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Wedding Tree Centerpieces

Just because you add the word "wedding" in front of a word does not mean it should automatically double or triple in price (for example, wedding invitations, wedding dress, wedding cake). And just because you are having a wedding does not mean you should spend way over your budget hiring other people instead of using your own hands and creativity. Make it yourself = more money in your pocket.

So for my wedding we dropped the whole wedding flowers idea and made our own table centerpieces.



We saved branches from a tree my mom pruned in the front yard, let them sit out to dry for a couple days, painted them white, and glued blue cardstock and vellum leaves. The result-unique and crafty centerpieces that made my piggy bank happy. We stuck the branches in candle votives we found at a thrift store. Since there was already wax in the votives we just melted it enough that we could stand the branches upright and let the wax harden around it.




And unlike real flowers, I can enjoys these still today and use them for entertaining.