Winter party ideas: cranberries

I hope you don't mind, I am still stuck on Winter this week! We just came up with a date for our "winter feast" for work so I have been asked to help with that - so much fun!

Today's inspiration is incorporating cranberries!

What a beautiful and delicious favor these Cranberry Lime Vodkas would be! This could be a fun hostess gift too!  Source and recipe

These cranberry "wreaths" would be the perfect Frosted touch to any bottle or serving container! You could even use them for napkin rings! Source

Turn even a store bought cake into something beautiful with adding cranberries! You can even sugar them first for a Frosted look! Source unknown :o(

If you are feeling a bit more ambitious.. use toothpicks or hot glue on styrofoam balls to create stunning cranberry centerpieces! Source

















 

Winter party ideas: pinecones

Today was even colder than yesterday! I am holding out hope that we don't get snow for at least another month or so! So to keep with the wintery shiver...here are some more touches for your winter parties!

Frosted touches with pinecones! So simple...and free if you pine trees near by!

I love these tea lights - beautiful pieces of pine with a few pinecones tied around the top.  So simple, yet so elegant and beautiful! Source















Carafes are dressed up pretty with a cut of burlap and tied mini pinecones! Source

Clip a few budding pine cones and tie onto your glasses for a special touch! Source

Gather up the leftover pine cones you collected and display in a glass dish, container or just under a cloche/lid! Source

Winter party ideas: Snow

The weather is getting chilly here!!! Definitely starting to feel like the holiday season! ...though we barely bought one gift this weekend lol... What kind of winter parties do you have in store? Just Christmas or other fun ones like birthdays, baby showers, cookie exchanges or wrapping party?

Here are some snow inspired touches that might help you put a little Frosted touch on your winter party!

How cute is this snowy setup?! I love the idea of an advent garland! Source

Cover cheap ornaments with pearls to make beautiful "snowballs"! Source

If you are looking for a faster and less expensive way to create "snowballs", try these epson salt dipped ones! Super pretty! Source and tutorial (link is no longer valid) ....basically glue and roll in epson salts!

I love signature drinks! How about serving up these snow martinis! Source and recipe















 

More Holiday Prep!

One more work day for me and I get a few days to enjoy the time of year! WOOT! Here's wishing for an early let out tomorrow ;o)

Rock candy trees! How fun are these?! And if you do in these snowy colors, you can justify leaving them out until Spring ;o)  Source and tutorial

"Glue" or tie candy canes together to make buffet cards or for a whimsical picture holder.  Source

Dress up your cakepops into reindeer! Source

...how clever! Melted candies into a serving platter! Think of the possibilities!!!  Source and tutorial

More Holiday Prep!

I don't know about you guys, but whew I am tired! Weekend flew by with holiday prep, baking and hosting friends!

Here are a few more ideas that might help you prepare for the holidays...

Use fresh herbs (or moss, tinsel, glitter, etc), craft letters and staple on some ribbon to create a fun way to fill wall space! Source

Add festive touches like ribbon, greens and pine cones to backs of chairs, railings and tables! Source

Turn leftover wine, beer and soda bottles into snowy centerpieces! Source and tutorial

For an inexpensive favor (and a great splash of color!) Tie together peppermint sticks with satin ribbon! Source

Christmas/Winter: Special touches

Hope everyone's holiday prep is going well! We are still getting our acts together! We have a few days, right?!

Here are a few special touches that might help inspire you for the holidays

How delicious is this biscotti wreath look?! YUM! Source unknown :o(

Serve up a twist on gingerbread... make cookies, then before all the way cooled, use a pastry cutter (here) or a butter knife to cut into strips! or as she did, just use your gingerbread house leftovers! Super fun! Source

For your cocoa bar, add a little felt, twine and cinnamon sticks Frost your mugs! Source

How simple are these?! Use craft wire (here) and a foam tree form (dollar store baby!) to create these modern trees! Source and tutorial

Christmas/Winter: Special touches

We are getting ready to string cranberries and popcorn! WOOT! Going old school people!!!

Here are some ways to add a little Frosting to your Christmas/Winter event...

Decorate up your candles with some water, fresh herbs and cranberries! Source

Use the same items and freeze create beautiful ways to keep drinks and food cold! Think of the possibilities! Source and tutorial

You know how I love moss! Use a wreath form and cover then wrap with cranberries! LOVE this look! I bet it would look great with herbs as well! Source and tutorial

You can never go wrong with serving olives and cheese... but kick it up a notch by serving on a "wreath" of rosemary! Source

Edge any serving piece with herbs (or cranberries, or colored sugar etc) to add a festive touch! Source

Christmas/Holiday ideas/inspiration: Christmas Trees!

We bought the cutest 2 foot live tree for our table this weekend! Hope you all are surviving the holiday season for whatever your beliefs - the traffic and crazy shoppers affect us all!!!

Here are some tree ideas...

MY kind of tree! Wine corks glued together - count me in! I'll start finishing off bottles ;o)  (you can cheat and get corks at the craft store too) Source and tutorial

Use chocolate drizzled strawberries and a foam tree form to create a (mostly!) healthy tree centerpiece! Source and tutorial

Super cute dipped high-hat cupcakes that are transformed into christmas trees! Perfect for any events! Source and tutorial

Cake pops taken to the next level! Double-sided!!! Think of the possibilities people! (can you tell I am excited? heehee) YUM! Source and tutorial

Glitter Nutcracker Tutorial

Wanted to share a tutorial I guest posted last holiday season... hope you enjoy!

 Glitter Nutcracker Guys

Materials:
Hideous Dollar Store Nutcracker guys
Spray Adhesive
Glitter
Box
Paper (anything large will do)
Wine (optional, but recommended)

Step 1:  Rip hair off of ugly nutcracker guy - recommended to do in private as to not scare the children

Step 2: Place in a box in a well ventilated area (a little stinky) and spray well with adhesive - leave weapons in place

Step 3:  Immediately come in from the cold garage holding him by as little touching as possible, stand him up and start shaking glitter.  Keep repeating steps 2 and 3 until fully covered - make sure to pour while he is right side up and upside down to help coat all spaces.

special note - crease your paper before doing the glitter, this will help when you pour the glitter back into the jar

extra special note - you WILL get glitter everywhere no matter how hard you try - I find wet paper towels to be the best cleanup and nail polish remover to help with any adhesive on your hands...and then assure everyone that sees glitter in your hair the next day that you have NOT been dancing on a pole all weekend ;o)  

Step 4:  You can add a clear final coat - but I found that it dulled the glitter shine a bit... so I just say stop here and enjoy! Simple and VERY inexpensive!