Hand Crafted Valentine's Ideas

Only a few more days until Valentine's Day. Are you ready? I thought that we were all finished with our Valentine's cards and projects until ..... my daughter and I went to a Valentine's playdate/party the other day and I fell in love with the craft that the hostess (and fellow party lover) had waiting for us. I almost immediately came home and googled my way to its original source, Fiskars, and was delighted to find the craft instructions as well as a few other fun ideas.


{Image: Fiskars}

Charlotte and I made the "I'm bananas for you!" craft together at our Valentine's playdate and we both had fun doing it. It wasn't one of those crafts where the child has to basically sit back and watch while the adult does all of the work. It was age appropiate (she is 3 years old) and the final result was so cute. My friend had all of the shapes for making the monkey pre-cut and ready to assemble before we got there. She also provided banana chips in place of the candy bananas which I thought was a wonderful idea, especially when you are dealing with a group of 3 year olds that already have more energy than they know what to do with. Thanks Nicole! You can find the DIY instructions over at Fiskars, here.

{Image: Fiskars}

Check out this "You're Grrrrrreat!" Lion Lollipop cover from Fiskars. I mean, really! These would be so cute for a younger group of children, like a preschool class or playgroup.

{Image: Fiskars}

And what about this "You Rock" Valentine's idea? I know that my oldest son (8) would LOVE getting a package of Pop Rocks to try out and I feel like the presentation of this Valentine's craft isn't as juvenile looking, perfect for your grade-schoolers.

{Image: Fiskars}

For all of these craft ideas and more, visit Fiskars, here. Have fun!

{Crafty Ideas} A Colorful Pencil Necklace

I came across this fun, colorful craft project a few weeks ago and thought that this would be a perfect time to share it with the start of school and the need for a little sunshine in our neck of the woods. It has been raining almost non-stop for an entire week here! We need some rainbows and bright skies!

Kate of Mini-eco created this fun pencil necklace using a junior hacksaw, tiny drill bit, sandpaper and some string. Each pencil-bead is 0.6mm in length.

To create, hold pencil firmly and cut a .6mm length section using a junior hacksaw. Once pieces are cut, lightly sand each end of each piece smooth. Drill a small hole through each pencil piece and string with your thread/string. While you will have to do the "heavy" crafting work, little ones will enjoy helping you create the pattern and stringing them as you go.

These would be a cute craft or favor for a rainbow or art themed party, don't you think? I hope that you enjoy!

And, just as I am wrapping this post up, sunny skies are trying to peak through. Hooray!

{Party Ideas} A Japanese Tea Party

Looking for a classic "girly" birthday party idea with a unique twist? Why not host a Japanese Tea Party! The May 2011 issue of Parents offers some great party tips, ideas, and inspiration to help you pull it off.

Dress the Part: Let the birthday girl celebrate her special day in the proper attire. Upcycle a sheet to create the perfect party kimono. You can find step-by-step directions on how to do this, here.



Sweet Sushi: This faux fish dessert is a must for your Asian-inspired shindig and is easier to make than you might think! For fun, supply each guest with a set of chopsticks. Click here for the Sweet Sushi recipe.



Decorate: Colorful paper lanterns, floor pillows, and paper fans will add color and help set the scene of your Japanese Tea Party. You can also create Cherry Blossom arrangements from gathered branches and tissue paper to add to the party table and surrouding areas. So easy and super inexpensive! Find directions, here.



Activities: Entertain guests by teaching some easy origami techniques (origami-fun.com) and helping them make their own pair of Japanese Paper Slippers to wear at the party and take home afterwards.



Wrap it Up: Wrap the birthday girl's presents (and even the party favors) in a piece of fabric using furoshiki, the Japanese art of gift wrap. Click here to learn about different ways to wrap using the Japanese style.



You can find more party ideas and inspiration over at the Parents site.

Photo Credit: All images in this post are from the Parents online site.

Celebrate Spring!

Spring is officially here. Hooray! Here are some fun ideas to help celebrate the new season and spread a little sunshine around.

Floral Cones: Paper cones can be great for popcorn and candy, but what about flowers! Make a stunning display at your next soiree by tucking assorted colors of your favorite springtime flowers (Cymbidium orchids are shown here by Martha Stewart) into handmade paper cones, then affix by ribbon to a board covered in pink linen to create a garden of floral favors. Each blossom is anchored in a tiny vial of water.



Daffodil Candy Cups: I love this idea from Martha Stewart. These would be great for an Easter celebration or spring-themed birthday party. And, they are really easy to make. Simply print the provided daffodil template, trace onto decorative paper, and cut out. next, fill baking cups with candy and place onto flowers. If desired, join cups to flowers with tape.


A Lavender & Lemon Cake: Bake and serve a slice of this Lavender & Lemon Cake by Rosie of Sweetapolita (one of my new favorite blogs to follow!) to your guests and warmer weather is sure to be on their minds.

A Surprising Fruit Centerpiece: Real Simple offers this fun and unexpected idea to turn fruit into a festive centerpiece! So spring-like, don't you think? Click here for the details.



A Garden To Go: A cluster of potted flowers can do double-duty at your next shindig. Grouped together, they make a gorgeous centerpiece for your table. When the party is over, let your guest pick one to take home as a favor and plant in their garden for the upcoming season.

A Cupcake Shooters Container Giveaway!

A few weekends ago I had the privelege of getting together with a group of amazingly talented women that are local to the Northern VA, DC, MD area. It was a lunch date filled with inspiration, motivation, and information, not to mention GREAT company! One of these fabulous women was Kate of CupKate's Event Design. I liked Kate from the beginning, but I LOVED Kate after she introduced me to a fabulous new cupcake concept: Cupcake Shooters! I am not sure where I was when these popped up, but I am so glad that I know about them now. Thanks Kate!


Aren't these a brillant idea! What a fun twist on the traditional cupcake for your next Shindig. They could be the main dessert attraction or stand on the sidelines as a fabulous party favor. My own kids tried them out and gave rave reviews. They loved the "fun" factor and I loved the fact that they eliminated the usual crumbly, icing- covered mess that a "normal" cupcake leaves in our house. Major bonus! In addition to offering amazing full party design, custom dessert tables and online event consultation, CupKate's Event Design is now selling push-pop containers over at Etsy. Now you can make your own Cupcake Shooters for your next Shindig!


CupKate's Event Design is this week's Giveaway sponsor and will be awarding one lucky follower with 2 dozen push-pop containers! Here's how you can ENTER TO WIN:

Become a follower of Sheek Shindigs (if you aren't already) and ...

1. Become a follower of the CupKate's Event Design blog, here, and leave a comment that you did so.
2. "Like" Sheek Shindigs on Facebook and leave a comment that you did so.
3. "Like" CupKate's Event Design on Facebook and leave a comment that you did so.
4. Post a link to this Giveaway on your Facebook page and leave a comment that you did so.

This giveaway will be open to entries from now (March 16th ) until Wednesday, March 23rd at 11:59 pm. You must be a Sheek Shindigs follower (or become one) to be elegible to win. Each person may enter up to 4 seperate times. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Thursday, March 24th. So...go check out these fun push-pop containers at the CupKate's Event Design Etsy shop and enter to win!

Good Luck!

Not Your Average Ring Pop!

I recenlty saw a Facebook post from one of my fellow party girls (thanks Christi of P is for Party!) that I knew I had to share with all of you. Need a fun way to accessorize your next Shindig? How about adding some couture candy jewerly from Artesanal Sweets! These definitely are not your average "ring pops"!


Chef Natascha de los Angeles of Artesanal Sweets is a New york City native born into a family of chefs and artists. With 10 years of French fine dining experience and a life time of exposure to haute cuisine and fine arts, Natascha and Artesanal Sweets "offers couture cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and candy jewerly that are not only visually exciting, but unbelievably fresh and delicious".




Let's be honest. Would you really even care how these beauties tasted if you got the chance to host one on your finger for the night? Not me. "Delicious" would just be a bonus! You can visit Artesanal Sweets and see more of their amazing offerings, here.

(Etsy Shop} New Meri Meri Party Products Now Available!

I am excited to announce that the Sheek Shindigs Etsy Shop is carrying Meri Meri party products! We are stocking some of their most popular party products, including invitations, cupcake kits, napkins, plates, and other fun party accessories. We will even create a custom Party Package for you! New items will be added soon as well. Please stop by the Sheek Shindigs Etsy Shop and check it out.

An Easy & Inexpensive DIY St. Patrick's Day Party Table, Part 2

As promised, here are the super EASY and INEXPENSIVE DIY tutorials and ideas for the St. Patrick's Day Party Table that I shared yesterday.


I will start with the superstar of the party...the Rainbow Jell-O! I have to admit, I am not a Jell-O fan. But, I was dying to try to make this colorful concoction and my kids were beyond thrilled to try it out.

Here's what you need:

- A 3oz box of each color Jell-O: blue, yellow and red
- A box of knox gelatin
- Cups of your choice (I used Chinet "Cut Crystal" Cups in the 9oz size)

To create your Rainbow Jell-O cups, mix the blue jello with 1/2 an envelope of the knox gelatin. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water. Dissolve the gelatin. Add 1/2 cup of ice. Stir until thick. Remove any remaining ice cubes and any bubbles that may have formed. Pour into each cup, filling about 1/3 of the way. Let set in the refrigerator until firm. Repeat with the yellow jello and pour it over the set blue. Repeat with the red jello and pour it over the yellow. Easy peesy, right! These Jell-O cups are beautiful when the sunlight hits them. And the kiddos will love diving into them and seeing all of the "extra" colors that were created from the primary colors being stacked. Lots of fun!
** The amounts listed above made 4 9oz filled Jell-O cups **


Next up are the Chocolate-Covered Pretzels. I did another post on creating these around Valentine's Day BUT I came up with an even easier version. Here's what you need:


- 1 bag of Synder's Pretzel Dips (or a similar brand)
- Candy Melts in the colors of your choice
- 1 Squeeze Bottle (can be found at craft store in baking section)

This is SO EASY! In the past, I have dipped my own pretzels into chocolate. Then I stumbled across Pretzel Dips. Why didn't I think of using pre-dipped pretzels before?? Simply lay your dipped pretzels out on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Place candy melts in your squeeze bottle and microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Next, squeeze/drizzle the melted candy melts over your pretzels to create the look that you are going for (I happened to have green candy melts in my pantry, which was perfect for St. Patrick's Day. If I had planned ahead, I would have used a variety of colors to create Rainbow Chocolate-Covered Pretzels). Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until candy has hardened. Serve and enjoy!



To dress up your napkins, make these easy, DIY Rainbow Ribbon Napkin Rings. To create, I used a wide piece of red ribbon and hot glued smaller yellow, green, and blue ribbons to it (see pictures below. I apologize for the horrible picture quality...not really sure what happened). Once complete, simply wrap around your napkin, glue, and cut off any extra ribbon. I chose to embellish my rings with handmade shamrock toppers. Yours will look just as fun and colorful, either way!


And last but not least, you can create cute and inexpensive Favor Bags for your St. Patrick's Day Party by using small colored paper bags (found at your local craft store), some ribbon, and a little embellishment of your choice. Simply fold the top section of your bag down and punch a hole near the crease. Open your bag up, fill with goodies, and wrap a ribbon around the bag lenght-wise. Tie and embellish as you wish!



I hope that I have inspired you to create a fun little St. Patrick's Day Shindig of your own. It really is that easy!

{Local Talent} The Decorated Cookie

Once again, I'm completely amazed by, and really excited to introduce, another Northern VA/DC Metro local talent. Cookie lovers (and admirers), meet Washington, DC's Meaghan Mountford and the decorated cookie. Meaghan is a stay-at home mom AND a writer, cookie decorator, and designer of cookie kits. After working for almost a decade as head decorator for a cookie shop, Meaghan wrote her first book called Cookie Sensations and is currently working on her second. Her cookies have appeared in "The Washington Post," "Modern Bride," "The New York Times," and "Chocolatier Magazine." Meaghan also has an amazing blog called the decorated cookie. Man, and I thought that I was busy!

The decorated cookie is as informative as it is eye-pleasing, highlighting Meaghan's decorated cookies, painted marshmallows, and other crafty sweets. It includes fabulous pictures of Meaghan's work as well as step-by-step instructions, recipes, supply resources, and tips. Here is a sampling of her work (starting with my personal favorite!):



Pretty AMAZING, right? Stop by and visit the decorated cookie...you won't be disappointed!

Side Note: I am so excited to announce that Meaghan has agreed to do a guest post feature for Sheek Shindigs this spring. Hooray! I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Stayed tuned ...

{Valentine's Day} I DIG You, Valentine!

How cute would these be for a preschool Valentine's Day party! With spring right around the corner (I hope!) these would be great for little ones to stash away for a warmer day after they are finished with their Valentine's treats.



Here are the instructions provided by Family Fun:

To make, you will need:

Small bag of candy
Twist tie
Ribbon
Toy sand shovel
Paint pen

Instructions:

Close a small bag of candy with a twist tie. With a ribbon, tie it to the handle of a toy sand shovel. Use a paint pen or permanent marker to write your message at the base of the shovel, just below the candy bag.

{DIY} Valentine's Gumball Necklaces

Here is an ADORABLE Valentine's gumball craft from One Charming Party. Not only would these be great to hand out at a Valentine's Day party, but they would be cute as party favors for a little girl's birthday as well.



Here are the instructions provided by One Charming Party:

1. Using a metal skewer, pierce one side of the gumball. Hold the top of the gumball steady as you guide the skewer (see photo). This will prevent the skewer from slipping off the slick surface of the gumball.

2. Flip the gumball over and pierce another hole directly opposite to the first hole. If you try to poke a hole straight through both sides at once, the gumball will crack.

3. The hardest part is stringing the ribbon. Use a large needle to thread the ribbon through the gumballs. Thinner ribbon is easier to string. Tie a knot between each gumball as you string it.

Tip: Look for bags of single colored gumballs at your local party supply store.



Click here to visit One Charming Party and see more of their fabulous ideas!

DIY Thanksgiving Treat Holders

If you are a Pottery Barn Kids lover like myself, you have probably seen their adorable Thanksgiving Collection.


I love the traditional Thanksgiving elements, including Pilgrim Hats and Turkey Headpieces, turkey-shaped placemats, and a Mayflower inspired centerpiece. When I first got the fall catalogue and saw this collection, my eyes immediatley went to their Sailboat Treat Holders.



These treat holders are super cute and can be used a place cards as well. Wouldn't you know they are sold out. No problem. You can make your own! That's what I did. Here are the SUPER EASY DIY instructions:

You will need:

1 Piece of Brown Felt
1 Piece of Cream Felt
1 Wooden Dowel Rod (mine was cute to measure 9")
1 Piece of 1"x1" floral foam
Scissors
Glue Gun
Small Hole Punch

Step One:


Cut two pieces of brown felt into the shape of a boat. Cut the cream felt to resemble a sail (mine measured roughly 3 3/4" x 3 1/2", with the top of the sailing being slightly less narrow).

Step Two:


Using a hot glue gun, glue the sides and bottom of your brown boat pieces together. Do not glue the top portion, as this needs to be open for treats!

Step Three:


Using a small hole punch, punch a hole in the top middle and bottom middle of your sail. Thread your wooden rod through the holes.

Step Four:


Stick the bottom end of your wooden rod into a 1 x 1 piece of floral foam.

Step Five:


Secure the floral foam to the bottom of your boat using the glue gun.

You are done! Fill your Sailboat Treat Holder with the goodies of your choice and enjoy!



** If using as a place card, you can either use a heavy cardstock with names printed or written on them for the sails or you can write directly on the felt sails.

Fab Find: Mrs. Prindables

As the holiday season approaches I am always on the hunt for great hostess, teacher, and holiday gifts. This week's Fab Find offers a unique option for your gift-ing needs. Mrs. Prindables offers gourmet caramel apples, confection gifts, and gift baskets to it's customers. These unique creations can be ordered, packaged, and delievered directly to you or your special someone. They also offer fabulous party favor packages. I LOVE their Petite Apple Favors!! Here is a sampling of what they offer:

Triple Chocolate Caramel Favors

Triple Chocolate Apple Favors

Tuxedo Apple Favors

Holiday Gift Baskets

They even offer Halloween Treats!

Stop by and check Mrs. Prindables out!