Dollar Junction Inspiration - 4th of July

I LOVE walking through Dollar Junction for inexpensive things to spark my creativity!!  If I spend a couple of dollars and an idea doesn't work, I'm not out too much money.  If the idea does work, I either have a very inexpensive new idea, or a base for a project that works, and I can confidently spend a little more to make it just right.

This time through, the red, white, & blue was catching my eye.

Okay, I admit it, I am usually drawn to the candy aisle.  The wrappers have done most of the decorating for me already!!  Just plopping these in a bowl on a table looks plenty festive, but I did think of a couple of different possibilities.

Tying the curling ribbons around the Tootsie Pops, I was trying to make the streamers look like bursting fireworks.  It seemed to look better when I didn't curl them, but cut them plenty long.  I used red hots in the bowl to hold the sticks up.  You could even hold the stick between your palms and twist back and forth to make the ribbons "fly."

This red pot with the star border fits right in with a "star-spangled" theme.  It was too deep for the sucker sticks, so I placed a shorter bowl on top of old ribbon spools to make it sit higher. 

These tootsie rolls look great in this star dish (also found at Dollar Junction!!)  If you place them under the upside down dish, you can put a candle or other decoration on top.  Looks good, but the guests can't really get to the candy.  Hey, perfect for saving a few for yourself after the celebration!!

Above is just another option combining both kinds of candies.  Below, I was attempting to make a tootsie roll star, but it could also easily be decorated as a "4th of July guy."  You know, a couple of googly eyes in just the right spot.  

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Some of you may have noticed that I didn't use the fudge-filled candy stars in any of the photos.  Well, I re-learned an old lesson with those.  If you are shopping on a warm day, DO NOT leave any type of chocolate in your hot car.  I ended up with a red, white, & blue lump!!  Still tasty, but not very pretty.  The bright side is that it was only $1 lost, and I've got enough time to get back to the store before July.  The stars would be great sprinkled on cupcakes or used to decorate sugar cookies.

I really hope some of these ideas sparked a little of your own creativity.  What holiday things have you found lately to inspire you?

I'll plan, so you can party!!

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Animal Print Baby Shower

A fashionable baby girl deserves a very chic animal print shower!!  This particular baby shower was a co-ed celebration.  We picked a sports bar/restaurant with an upstairs party room so that the ladies could do the "girly" stuff, and the guys could play pool, video games, and poker, all while watching the ball game.  Everybody's happy!!

The gift table was covered with a zebra-print rug.  Glittery pink letters spelled out baby's name.  There was a huge mug for "Big Dad Cory" and a pretty tiara for Mommy Connie.

The guys' tables were set up with baby girl playing cards from Oriental Trading Company and pink cash and coins from Dollar Junction for poker playing.  Bubble gum or chocolate cigars make great favors for the fellas.

Upstairs the tables had floating safari duckies.  One table had a fountain in the center, which was a perfect place for these little guys to swim!!  The children at the party got to pick a "duckie" to take home with them.

I made these adorable baby bracelet wine glass charms for the ladies.  Here is a link to my tutorial blog:

http://eventsdee-signed.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-shower-wine-glass-charms.html

The girls had their own games while the boys played downstairs.  Each received a book with a few baby games to fill out while we ate.  The pencils were personalized with baby Josie's full name and birth year. These cute animal print bags were filled with prizes for the game winners.  More "active" games were also played.  This super-cute corsage was one of the prizes.

After about an hour, we joined the boys downstairs to play onesie basketball, guys vs. gals.  

It got very loud and competitive, and sooooooo much fun!!  

                         

Cake was served while Mom and Dad opened gifts.  Personalized candy bars and little bags of animal crackers were passed out as favors.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration Ideas

This is a great holiday for me to research right now, because I am currently working on a reunion for my fellow Tres Hombres employees.  I had the pleasure of working with some very special people when I worked there.

The first thing Cinco de Mayo makes me think of is MARGARITAS!!  These are very simple to mix.  The main ingredients are:

1 shot of tequila

1/2 shot of triple sec

fill with sweet & sour

Personally, I add a splash of Sprite.  Some people prefer a splash of orange juice.  Shake the ingredients up and pour over ice.  The most important thing is finding a sweet & sour or margarita mix you really love the taste of.  For a virgin mocktail, leave out the alcohol and add orange juice to taste.

For a Peach Margarita (my personal FAVORITE!!) substitute Peach Schnaaps for the triple sec, and add a splash of grenadine (mostly for color.)  This one tastes especially good with sugar around the rim instead of salt.

A taco bar is great because you just have to set out all of the toppings, and your guests can help themselves.  Having a variety of salsas and hot sauces gives everyone a chance to try something new.

I found a really great (and simple) mini-pinata favor on Family Fun's website.

  

I can't imagine a party without some type of special cupcake or cake.  This one is super easy, but super festive.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you have fun!!  And always take lots and lots of pictures!!

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words...

Wordless Wednesday !!

A picture's worth a thousand words!!

Wordless Wednesday !!

Fun Use For Plastic Easter Eggs

     
     I used this idea to invite my neighbors to an Open House.  It was close to Easter, and I wanted something to peak their interest.  Everyone loves a candy surprise!!  (Plus, I feel my creativity is terribly stifled if I have to use an invite that I didn't make!!)


     After you decide exactly what you want to say, and how you are going to say it, print up your invitation, and place it inside a colorful plastic egg along with some type of small, wrapped candy.  Remember, it has to fit inside a small egg, so short and sweet.  

     Next, take a piece of ribbon, and tie the ends into a knot.  This is to help it not slide out of the egg.  Place the knot between the 2 halves of the egg and close it.

     Since I was only leaving these around my immediate neighborhood, I walked around the block and used the loop to hang my eggs on the front door of each house.  If you really feel like being artistic, use markers, stickers, or whatever else you have lying around your craft room to decorate the plastic eggs.

                                                   


     These adorable Spring hangers also work great for making an Easter Treat Tree.  They are perfect for hanging on a branch as a centerpiece on a table.  Go another step further, and number the eggs for a countdown, like a Christmas Advent Calendar.


                                                     

Garden Week

According to holidayinsights.com, this week is GARDEN WEEK.  Above is a photo of some garden cupcakes I made for a friend with instructions from one of my very favorite cupcake books, "Hello Cupcake."  You can read more about them at hellocupcakebook.com  I highly suggest picking up one of their books.  The ideas are brilliant, yet the instructions make it seem so simple.  The vegetables in the picture above are all CANDY!!  I also used their tips to make this rose cupcakes from Starbursts and sugar...

If you are lucky, the weather this week is beautiful in your area, and maybe you can actually get out and do some gardening.  At least take a walk and enjoy the beauty of Spring.  If it's rainy or chilly out, maybe you can whip up a batch of these cupcakes to keep you in the GARDEN WEEK mood!!