Ribbon Scrap Candles~Super quick, easy and cute tute!

Simple + cute tute I whipped up that was just featured on I'm With Cupcake.


Got a hot mess of ribbon scraps? Here is a super cute, quick and easy idea to use the scraps for packaging presentation. This is perfect if you are short on time to wrap a gift and would also make for an adorable favor presentation.

The quantity of candles you create can be used to reflect the recipient's age, or you can just fill the entire area with colorful candles. Another cute variation would be to glue the ribbon on in the shape of a letter or number.

Junk you need:
Ribbon scraps of any shape, size color
Double stick tape (or purple glue gun if you prefer)
Gold or yellow glitter (you could yellow felt or tissue paper if you prefer not to glitz)
Glue
Any bag, box or wrapped gift you have ready to dazzle (I used a small kraft favor box and a straight up brown paper lunch bag)

Exhibit A:

 hot mess of scrap craft ribbon we all seem to have 

gather up ribbon, bags, boxes, tape, glue and glitta

choose your ribbon scraps for project

lay them out before you adhere to make sure they will fit

I prefer to use all the same widths of ribbon for each project, I  just vary the candle heights

cut candles straight across bottom and then angle cut up top 

for this sample, I chose a plain old brown paper lunch bag

adhere candles to bag or box

free style glue "flames," then glitter

if you do not have glitter or hate it, you can glue a felt or tissue paper flame instead

 if you have fancy scalloped scissors-put them to use and create a jazzy top

the brown paper lunch bag-elevated 

thinner ribbon on a cute little box 

and..there you go:)

make a wish

Hope you can find a little "flame" of inspiration in this tute. Come on, funny:)

On my radar: Behold the Power of Party Gold

Hey-O!

Welcome to the Renaissance of the wicked cool series on my blog called "On my Radar." I ditched the series for awhile, but 2013 is the year of The Blog and I am ecstatic to bring it back:)

In a glittery nutshell~as I cruise around the party playground I look for awesomeness and trends before they are trends and feature said awesomeness. I love to discover the devastatingly hip + happening and I adore to share the dazzle with you, my very fine readers...

Up today, is the golden ticket..The shiny power of gold...Silver has ruled the scene for quite some time and I believe glitzy gold bars are going to be knocking the galvanized off the dessert table;)

matte gold monkey napkin drama

gold glittered + painted gorgeousness

golden crates + bananas:)

boho. buccaneer. beautiful.

flair fabulosity

handcrafted gold scalloped backdrop + adorbs cake

geronimo balloon drama

shimmering table runner=astounding impact

pink + gold fabulous favor packaging

golden balloons

pink + gold crown cuteness

via shawna brockmeier styled events, via maddycakes muse, via awesomeness

dazzling drink stirrers

gold. gorgeous. glam.

If you have any golden dazzle that you have dished out, just link in the comments:) 

xo

The Dirty Dazzle Design Challenge

Happy 2013 Lovas:)

button designing broad

In the interest of awesomeness and avoiding housework for the entire year, I am running a little challenge/experiment/contest for 2013. You, the fine reader, will use one very ordinary party item (that I will choose because I am controlling and it is my idea;) and work it into your party/playdate/holiday/craft/DIY sometime this year. Will collect links/posts throughout the year and at the end of 2013, we can see who used the items in the most dazzling + interesting fashion. The winners will be world famous, heralded in all social media circles and will cause jelly rages everywhere. All are welcome to enter~party lovas, bloggers, business chicks, dudes, crafters, painters, candy makers, designers, event planners, fondant chicks, tutu makers, graphics girls and party lovas all over the world. You down?

I dig the challenge of taking ordinary + under appreciated junk and turning it into something unexpected and beautiful. I am choosing an item that is cheap, readily available, old school, often ignored and snubbed by most of us. The staple of my party packaging youth, the ancient way to make things cute that has been kicked to the party supply curb by baker's twine, washi tape, tulle, jute, and every ribbon in the aisle of every craft store.  A lonely little item that does not get asked to the dance much. And she certainly does not get much dessert table action.

I'm talking curling ribbon. I shudder. I wince. I need a Diet Dr. Pepper. And a jelly donut. It took me years to perfect the "curl with scissors" technique, only to be tossed aside like last month's InStyle mag.

Can you make curling ribbon cute, cool and clever? Totes. Glam? Without a doubt.
Take the dirty discards and turn it into dazzle.

Your Iron Craft challenge is to use curling ribbon-any kind or color-in a beautiful, exciting, glam, dazzling way for any event, craft, party, play date, business venture, classroom, DIY, food stuff or anything else you do this year. Then send me a picture.

I'm bringing curly back. In?

UPDATED: There will be QUARTERLY results posted and quarterly winners. At the end of the year there will be the GRAND DIRTY DAZZLE crowning:)

Submit your entries whenever you are you ready. You can enter as many times as you like:)

26 Random Acts of Kindness for the Angels of Newtown...

We are all crying with Connecticut. This tragedy is simply beyond comprehension. We are heartbroken as a human race.

Everyone wants to do something-anything to help-but no one seems to know what. I feel helpless and am trying to think of anything that we can do, to band together to bring a tiny bit of joy in such a sorrowful time. I would like to pay off 26 random Christmas layaway accounts for families in Connecticut. One in honor of each of the extraordinary + heroic angels that have left this world way too soon.

26 random acts of kindness for 26 random families of Connecticut. In honor and awe of 26 beautiful, perfect angels.

All donations will go towards paying off random layaway accounts in the area of Newtown. I would love to be able to pay off 26, but even if we can pay off one, it will still make an impact on one special family and the world. Christmas is in a few days, and this needs to be completed very soon. Please give anything you can and please spread the word.

Wishing you all peace and love in your hearts.



12/22/12 UPDATE. I am no longer accepting donations-the stores need to finalize everything in time for Christmas Eve. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Wishing you all peace, love and happiness. Always.


12/24/12 UPDATE: With the generous of strangers around the world, we raised $4800 and were able to secretly pay off 31 layaway accounts in full and put down chunks of additional money on 4 others in time for Christmas. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your selfless generosity and kindness. Being able to give a tiny bit of happiness to others is simply beautiful and soul touching. I am honored to have been a small part. xo

Visions of Sugar Plums~Pin It to Win It!

HO HO HO! 'Tis the season to be jolly and to make cute Pinterest boards:)

When my Lova Across the Pond graciously asked me to participate in her sparkling Pin It to Win it Christmas Extravaganza Giveaway~I could not refuse due to the pure awesomeness of the event.

A dazzling group of stylists + bloggers whipped up themed Pinterest Boards to share ideas and inspiration with the world and to give you all the chance to win one seriously fabulous Christmas Stocking filled with over $1200 worth of shiny swag.

You can enter to win the GINORMOUS SWAGGER STOCKING below or on Bird's blog! The prizes for one lucky winner are simply astounding.

You can pin my board and the brill boards in the days that follow to gain 3 BONUS ENTRIES! Just pin with the hash tag #PinParty.

My board is was dubbed "Visions of Sugar Plums." Color palette I needed to use as my inspiration was pink, turquoise and fuchsia. Not sure what a sugar plum really is, but it sounds good and sugar smacked, so I am all in.

Good luck! So thankful for you~Lovas. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a peaceful, beautiful new year.





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http://pinterest.com/thepurplepug/visions-of-sugar-plums/

The Glittery Gift Guide Day 6 {Chickabug}

Day 6 of the Glittery Gift guide and we are getting personal with a whole lotta awesome, personalized _ custom picks from the Chick behind Chickabug~Heather:)

Chickabug dishes out hip +  high-quality paper goods and easy-to-use, fully personalized DIY printables for parties. Girlfriend can design and dazzle.

shop

etsy

fb

pin

Fa la la la la. La la la la. Top picks from hot stuff Heather:

Christmas t-shirt designs by Society Shirts - the listing is for a printable design, but you can also buy a pre-made shirt - all of the money goes to charity

Custom Sock Monkey

Personalized coin purse - good for grown-ups but also so sweet for a little girl

Personalized, eco-friendly helicopter toy

Personalized superhero cape

The Snow Bro Tute {Pet Snowballs}

The No Sew Sock Snow Bro Tutorial~ Pet Snowballs for Little Hipsters

Nothing more adorbs than a Pet Rock. Except maybe a Pet Snowball. I whipped up these little cuties as a super quick, easy, el cheapo, no sew snowy day craft for my Wild Chimps~the bros.

Devastatingly hip for home, school crafts, parties, gifts and holidays.

Adorableness made from socks~simply rocks.

For additional awesomeness~see Exhibit A~The Sock Snow Dudes



Snow Bros

Stuff you need:

• Kid size ankle or no show socks to form the snowballs (you could use larger ones if you want larger Snow BIG Bros)
• Adult long socks in crazy patterns. These will form the hat. Was able to get four hats out of one pair of socks
• Poly stuffing
• Dried beans
• Purple hot glue gun
• Tiny rubber bands
• Googly eyes, buttons, felt or gems for eyes
• Pom Poms, felt or anything else for nose
• Cording, yarn or anything else for the mouth
• Ribbon, yarn, trim for tying off hat

Gather up all supplies. Anything you can reuse or recycle from your craft room ~all the better

Step 1: Put about 1/4 of a cup of dried beans into the bottom of the ankle socks. This will weight the sock down and keep him upright. If you would rather have lighter snowballs for an indoor snowball fight-omit the beans~no one wants to get pegged in the head with a sock filled with legumes;)

Step 2: Stuff the ankle sock with the poly. Pack it in tightly and shape the snowball into a round shape as you are working it in. Leave a little space at the top because you will need to close that part up.

Step 3: Secure the top of the ankle sock with a tiny rubber band, yarn or if you are an overachiever, you can sew the sock shut.

Repeat with remaining socks then take a break, watch some tv, text a little, check Facebook and return to your cute little snowballs of love.

Step 4: Time to cut up the long socks. I was able to cut the long sock into two sections with the bottom part of the sock left over. The bottom part could be used as well. If not, save for another craft!

Hats all cut up and ready to go. Take another break~get a snack, go roll around on Pinterest, come back to craft.

Step 5: Put the hats on the Snow Bros' heads. There is no "right or wrong" end to use. Banded or the loose end is fine. They are supposed to look quirky and handmade! Make sure you leave enough room for the "face." Affix the hat  all around the inside with a few dabs of hot glue. This will keep the hat on securely and prevent an embarrassing craft fail.

Step 6: Tie off sock hats with ribbon, yarn or anything else you can find.

 Step 7:  Using purple hot glue gun, make a cute face on your Snow Bro. If kids are doing the craft, they can certainly use regular craft glue, but make sure you allow enough drying time before handling. *If you do wish to use these for an indoor snowball fight, you may wish to use felt for the eyes and face. 

 Step 8: Admire the cuteness, take a pic and send it to me. Cannot wait to see what you whip up!