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DIY Unique Christmas Ornaments

Posted by Milena Kukurekovic ·

This is the season for gathering around the tree! Buying your Christmas decorations might be convenient, but when it comes to decorating the most festive Christmas tree for your home, everyone knows that homemade Christmas ornaments are the best way to ensure a tree full of holiday cheer. Getting crafty by creating homemade Christmas ornaments is a fun project that the whole family can do together - even little kids can be included in the project. And don't be afraid to put your own spin on these handmade Christmas ornaments, the more personalized they are, the better. Soon enough, they will become some of your family's favorite pieces to put on the tree each year.
  

Styrofoam Ball Cupcakes

These beautiful Styrofoam Ball Cupcakes also make thoughtful DIY Christmas gifts if you require a few. Plus, you don’t need to be a pastry chef to whip up a batch of these tempting treats for the eyes. The best part? They are 100% calorie-free, so you can indulge to your heart’s content.

Things you need:

  • 2 1/2″ Styrofoam Balls
  • Heavy-duty foil cupcake liners
  • Iridescent White Soft Snowflakes
  • Berry Spray (color of your choice)
  • Craft Glue
  • Paint Brush or Foam Sponge Brush
  • Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon or decorative string for hanging
  • Skewers or Dowel Rods

Things to do:

Step 1: Press a dowel rod into each Styrofoam ball, and coat a little more than half of the top of the ball with a generous layer of craft glue.

Step 2: Roll the glue-coated Styrofoam ball in a shallow pan filled with artificial snowflakes, then use your fingers to press the flakes securely to the surface. Tap gently to remove excess flakes, and prop in a coffee can or mug to dry. Try to wait patiently because if you try to glue liners on before the styrofoam balls dry, the sides won’t stick. If you are having little hands help you with this project… they will LOVE this step!

Step 3: After glue sets and dries, add a generous dollop of hot glue to the bottom and the top inside of each foil cupcake liner and press the Styrofoam ball in firmly. Be sure to carefully press the sides of the foil - so the liner is tightly glued on. Also, keep in mind that you may not want to push the styrofoam ball down too far, or the bottom will curve, and your cupcake will not sit flat (not a big deal if you are planning on hanging them though). If you are having little hands help you with this project… be sure to only have big-kids or adults handle the hot glue step.

Step 4: Snip the berries from the branch, leaving about an inch of stem, and cut lengths of ribbon or decorative thread for hanging. Add a dollop of hot glue to the top of each Styrofoam ball, pressing the tails of the ribbon (if you are wanting to hang your cup and berry into the Styrofoam. You can also flip your cherry around with the step showing upwards to make it look like a cherry stem! Allow drying thoroughly before displaying.

 

These Styrofoam Ball Cupcakes are also perfect for adding a unique, super adorable, and sweet decorative touch to the wedding reception, birthday party, baby shower, or bridal bash. You can create a mouth-watering centerpiece by dangling these sweet decorations from a tabletop ornament tree, or make a sweet bouquet by inserting dowel rods into the bottom and displaying them in a festive vase. While you are at it, be sure to make an extra baker’s dozen to share with family and friends.

Aren’t these DIY Christmas Ornaments fun!? Do they get you in a festive mood? I hope you love making them!
 
 

Spring Brunch Events

Posted by Uros Krstic ·

Why not toast to guest of honor by serving Kir Royals!? These are made with champagne and a splash of Chambord, a raspberry liquor, with a small lemon peel in a champagne flute. A fruit punch* could be the main drink which guests could serve themselves throughout the event. Smarty champagne glasses that match the punch bowl and cups that could all be displayed together on their own serving cart or table where guests will be gathered for most of the event. To make your guests feel even more pampered, how about adding a coffee and tea buffet, complete with several flavors of teas and coffees; complement them with brown sugar, white sugar cubes, honey, sugar substitute, chocolate shavings, cream, vanilla, lemon wedges - displayed in their own miniature bowls and miniature spoons along with a couple of bottles of Bailey’s Irish Crème and Kahlua on the side. Finish the meal with petit fours and/or cupcakes. Place this buffet in an out of the way area so that people can progress to it later. There are so many ways that you could decorate this party. I was at a wedding recently and they matched the flowers and aspects of the bridal party to the beautiful stained glass in the church. Since then, I have become a big fan of using purple and green together with touches of bright pink. I think these color combinations would look good at springtime brunch events too. On the tables, as well as buffets, you could use Smarty’s beautiful tablecloths and chair covers with the 3-ply napkins. A bouquet of purple and/or pink hydrangeas, lilacs, or even Gerber daisies with a little green foliage in the center of each table would be gorgeous! For the buffet tables, use the same color linens but make the centerpieces about 3 times the size as those on the dining tables. Remember you want the buffet centerpieces to include flowers or plants that contain a “thriller” (tall and showy), a “filler” (such as ferns, baby’s breath, small flowers), and a “spiller” (ivy or other hanging greenery). Some of your favorite soft jazz tunes or piano music playing in the background will complete the event. *A tried and true fruit punch recipe consists of a 2 liter bottle of ginger ale, a liter bottle of cranberry juice cocktail, one frozen concentrated sleeve of limeade and one frozen sleeve of lemonade (both without adding the water). Mix together and serve cold.

DIY Candy Dispensers

Posted by Uros Krstic ·

Quite a useful DIY project. You can use these as party favors, a sweet gift to your loved one or even a centerpiece! Enjoy the craftwork :)

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