Hostess Gifts from Fred Flare!

Hostess gifts are something I want to start bringing to the get-togethers that I attend. Just a nice way to say thank you. Thank you for cleaning your home just for me, thank you for slaving over a delicious meal, thank you for the handmade origami crane decorations...I noticed all of that....and it meant a a lot! Plus searching out adorable hostess gifts is just another excuse to shop and purchase! Or you could always make a sweet little something wether it be in the kitchen or in your craft room!....and that's just another excuse to create!

1. ice cream kitchen timer. Everyone needs a kitchen timer for eggs or tea, why not have one that looks like icecream?

2. 5 minute candle pack. Handy for the all the time party maker to have in her purse. A birthday candle match book....perfect!

3. Yes, these adorable ladies are indeed umbrellas! You may not need umbrellas while you are entertaining in your home but those flowers are not going to pick themselves up from the florist rain or shine just in time for the big event!

Find these and other perfect hostess gifts at Fred Flare!

My Funny Valentines

I'm not typically a Valentine giver, but this year I decided to make some !

I came up with two different ideas, one for boys and one for girls. Both are super affordable too!

(as they are made out of felt)

For girls: I thought a cute heart headband would be cute!

Plus bonus........it can also be worn as an eyepatch!

For boys: mustache on a stick! What silly boy wouldn't like a temporary handlebar mustache?

These crafties can be used as Valentines, party favors, or just keep them handy for when a friend is having a bad day! For more on how to make these lovelies check out The Lovely Lemon!

Happy Valentines Day!

Design Mom creative Valentines

Look at these adorable Valentines that Design Mom created for her kids! These Valentines are unique and super affordable too!

Check out the cuteness!

She and her daughter made friendship bracelets and tied them to card stock with cute Valentines Day phrases printed on them.

A Valentine you can wear all year!

For her son , she wrapped up mad libs with cute scrapbook paper and tied it up with bright colored string. The best part is what is written on the tag!

"You have Mad Skillz"

Hope you like the fun ideas! What are you planning to to for Valentines?

Gingerbread Mug Perches

Check out these simply lovely mug perches found at Not Martha. How much do you want to make a million of these??? What a festive addition to your holiday traditions! These would make amazing garnishes for a Christmas party, and the PERFECT hostess gift for the times when you are the Christmas guest! I need to get into the kitchen and make these immediately!

You can find full instructions and helpful hints here.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Dreaming of a white Christmas but don't live in a snowy state?

You can give your loved ones that white Christmas that you have both dreamed of with this clever idea! A girl that I work with came up with this and I think it's just too adorable not to share with you! This works best as a Christmas Eve project, it creates the most magic that way.

All you need to do is decorate your home with paper snowflakes , cotton ball strings, and paper chain ( anyone seen the movie Elf?)and turn down your thermostat to make is extra "snowy". I just love this idea! Imagine being a child awaken to your mother telling you "It's snowing! It's snowing!" when you live in Florida!

Further imagine the excitement you would experience when you get out of bed, put on a sweater, and rush through your house which has been transformed into a winter wonderland!! Magical!

DIY bib necklace

I have seen a lot of these bib necklaces lately, and i got to thinking that I could probably make that myself ! So I gave it a try!

Here are some renditions of the bib necklace that I found pleasing.

And here's what I made. Not bad for a first try, and I have worn it about ten times now!

For this project I used stiff felt, and some fabric scraps I had lying around to make the flowers and I braided some of the same fabric to make the rope.

I'd like to make some sparkly versions too!

They will be PERFECT for holiday parties, and gifts!

Homemade Thanksgiving Hair-Wear

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I decided to sit down and create some festive hair accessories! This is what I came up with.....

I made leaves out of felt and used thread to create the details.

Buttons found at a thrift store looked fantastic grouped together and attached to a headband.

I attached lots of small feathers to a piece of felt (isn't felt the best?)

and sewed on a button at the bottom to finish it off.

Now go forth and create you own festive Thanksgiving hair-wear!! Have fun and Happy Thanksgiving!

Pom pom love!

Who loves pom poms?? Oh! I do! I do!! This Christmas season as I think about how to decorate my tree, and adorn my gifts one thought keeps springing to my mind....pom poms!I want to put them on everything! I would love to add them gifts as embellishments, wear them in my hair, add them to the bottom of my scarves....I want pom poms EVERYWHERE! So, you know what to expect to see form me in the future......yes indeed I have found a new muse ;)

How cute would it be to give someone a pom pom bouquet for their birthday?

I just love the oversized pom poms against the plain brown paper!

Go forth and craft!

Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff cookie sandwiches!

These days I find myself short on spending money, so what should I do when a friends birthday comes up ? Well, I never tire of baking and cooking for loved ones. I really enjoy finding or created recipes that are suited just to their taste! For my friend Amber, I decided on peanut butter and marshamallow fluff sandwich cookies! I used the recipe on Modern Marie for "babysitter cookies" ....and they were so quick and delicious! I made them mini  and just added marshmallow fluff in beteween!

The cute final birthday package!

I fit 9 cookies into a white square box I had in my gift wrapping stash.

..and a sweet note makes the gift complete!

Bling it On!

Have you ever been to Z Gallerie? Because if you haven't been, you really should go as soon as possible! There is somthing in that store to fit into every design style. What caught my eye this particular time were all the sparkly things that I saw! Diamonds are a girl's best friend afterall! Jeweled candle-holders, coasters, and place card holders, all fabulous and lovely. All would be perfect for a Breakfast at Tiffany's party, Glamourous afternoon luncheon, or Awards party!

"You Can Wear it Again" ....but please don't

I have found the best darn book to include with bridesmaid's gifts! It's a book by Meg Mateo Ilasco called "You Can Wear it Again". It's a celebration of bridesmaid's dresses (and the loyal friends who have worn them). Page after page of embarassing fashion trends from over the decades. Your bridesmaids will be singing your praises when they look through this book for not making them wear some of the glitter drenched, poofy, seafoam, or gold lamay dresses spread out before them.Anyone else getting glimpses from the movie 27 dresses? Anyhow.....cute book!!

Andy Warhol Plates

I fell in love with these Andy Warhol appetizer plates from CB2 when I first saw them! Especially the "I think everybody should like everybody" quote. After all isn't that the whole reason to have a party? To introduce friends and family with similar interests, and great stories. A party is kind of a way to show off your friends, as well as celebrate with them! Celebrate your friends with a pop-art design inspired by Mr. Warhol himself!

Orla Kiely for Target.....fruity and cute!

I nearly gasped when I walked by the display at Target of the new fruity collection of dinnerware designed by Orla Kiely. Much to my surprise and delight I found more of her lovely designs when I went into the housewares department. I am love love loving this collection! I find myself wanting it ALL. Flowers or apples? Apples or pears? APPLES OR PEARS?! I cant' decide. I hope you have better luck than me. Happy shopping and happy Friday!

TOM'S SHOES

"Be The Change" is a new category that I am glad to introduce. I want to highlight some of the wonderful ways that people on our planet are choosing to help and support each other. Blake Mycoskie is the founder of Toms shoes, a company that is commited to being the change to children around the world. This company has a powerful missions statement: "For each item you purchase, Toms will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for one. Toms has already given away over 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need, and the numbers are still climbing. Toms shoes are argentine style shoes that come in a variety of colors and fabrics. When you purchase a pair of Toms, you are not just providing for your own need but also for the need of another. I love this cause! Changing a life begins with a single step. Toms....shoes for tomorrow.

The 80's is calling.....hot lips for Valentines Day!

Give the gift of "time travel" with a little tid-bit straight out of the 80's. You can find the hot lips phone at Urban Outfitters for $20. Deviate from the predictable flowers and candy and give her something that she can actually use!

Passions Pops

What's more fun than a chocolate dipped cookie on a stick?.....I can't think of anything!! Parents.com has got the recipe and directions for these adorable v-day creations! You could bunch a few together and give as a "bouquet" or wrap them individually in small cellophane bags tied with a pretty bow to show loved ones how much you care...for a little extra somthing you could even attach a small card with a handwritten message! Happy dipping!

Retro Valentines from fredflare.com!

Valentines day is right around the corner, and it's time to choose special cards for "special some-ones" . This year try these retro valentines cards from fredflare.com! At $10.00 for 8 different cards, lots of special someones in your life can receive a kitchy Valentines day greeting!