Please Sir, Can I Have Some S'Mores??

Not quite the exact quote from Oliver, but that's what my girls sounded like when they asked for s'mores New Year's Eve. I was surprised by the request, since the last time we made s'mores was over the summer. But, I was certainly happy to oblige and just used my oven to make them. The girls also reminded me that s'mores are not just for summer and there are so many ways to enjoy them. Perfect for an indoor camping or winter-theme party, here are a few great options when you don't have an open fire available. And no matter what form they're in they always seem to put a smile on people's faces–no matter their age! I definitely had my fair share with the girls!

Left: Seems like everything was being put on a stick in 2010, and s'mores were no exception! Easy to make, they are still a cute treat! Find the how-to here.

Right: How adorable and fun are these? And still perfect for the season! Visit here to find out how to put them together.

Left: If you think that cupcake looks good on the outside, wait until you see the inside! To see what the surprise middle is, click here.

Right: A great way to eat s'mores anytime of the year! These bars are right up my alley! Click here for the recipe.

A Rad Mag Party

With so many people talking about their new year resolutions, I couldn't wait until "Merry Monday" to post this party. Seems like "spend less", "budget better", "be more green" are common goals, especially if you often play the hostess. Regularly hosting parties can become quite expensive and that's why it's important to re-use what you have or find creative ways to save money... enter this party!

This was a New Year's Eve party done by Sharon of Cupcakes & Cutlery and Lauren of A Fabulous Fete. Get this–the favors, party blowers and ALL the decorations were made using the pages of Real Simple magazine. And everything looks GREAT! Look at the amazing things they came up with!

Yes, cutting circles, etc for these projects will take you some time, but plan ahead, do it gradually in front of the TV, and the time will pass. The money you save will be totally worth it, and imagine what a great conversation maker just your decorations will be for your guests!

To see more photos from the party, visit Cupcakes & Cutlery here. To find the DIY, visit A Fabulous Fete here.

DIY Crackled Birdhouse

The crackled finish of the birdhouses in the Love Birds tablescape added a nice, rustic look to the overall design. It's a look that is so easy to achieve because the paint does all the work for you. So, this tutorial is more about what I used to get the crackled finish, than actually how to do it.

First you need a sealer and crackle paint. I used DecoArt Primer-Sealer and DecoArt Texture Crackle. Shown below. Both were purchased at Michael's.

With a small brush, cover the entire surface you plan to paint with the sealer. Let the birdhouse (or your project) dry overnight. Don't be skimpy with the primer. You really want it to seal the wood, so the wood won't absorb the paint later. The sealer will dry clear.

Next, with a spackle knife, apply the crackle paint. You don't want to apply it too thin. The thicker it is, the more "crackle" you will get. Let your project dry overnight. You'll notice the crackle start to appear as the paint hardens–it's pretty cool!

Finally, I cut triangles from scrapbook paper to size to cover the roof. I glued those on with a thin coat of Elmer's glue. And that's it! I perched them on top of candle holders that I trimmed with lace for the table.

I can see using the crackle paint on wooden boxes or frames to get a shabby chic look. Have fun with it!

DIY Doily Cupcake Wrappers

Did you notice the elegant cupcake wrappers on the Love Birds table yesterday? So pretty, you can make them for an engagement party, shower, winter-themed party or other special occasion. And they are so simple to make! All you need is:

• 10" paper doilies (silver doilies will give you a nice vintage look)
• scissors
• transparent tape (not magic tape)

All you do is cut along the inside circle of the doily. The circle gives you the natural shape to create the wrappers. My finished size was about 8.5" between the widest tips. I was able to get two wrappers from each doily. Then, just close the wrapper with a small piece of tape and plop in your cupcake!

Wrappers are an easy way to dress up a homemade cupcake, and a smart way to cover burned bottoms!

Participating in the following link parties

Tip Me Tuesday

Merry Monday: Love Birds Tablescape

Happy New Year! I am so excited for this upcoming year! As much as I don't like to formally make resolutions, I do look at the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start. And I certainly hope this is the start of great things to come for Home Confetti! You may have already noticed that the top of the blog looks a little different... I'm official–Home Confetti has a logo! Pretty snazzy, eh?? And the year is already off to a great start! In case you missed it, my Love Birds tablescape was featured on Pizzazzerie last week (see here). I was so super excited! Pizzazzerie is one of my top "go-to" sites when it comes to party inspiration, and the women behind Pizzazzerie–Courtney, Crista and Katie–are incredibly nice and supportive. Here are some of the photos of the tablescape.

Those who personally know me, know that I have been playing with the idea of turning Home Confetti into an actual business. It's just a matter of figuring out how to make it appealling for the area I live in, and really just how to execute it. WELL... this Love Birds tablescape is my first attempt into the party planning business. I started with this theme because it's pretty relevant to the season–so many engagements happen on Christmas and Valentine's Day. And birdies themselves are such a popular theme. The tablescape is perfect for an engagement party, bridal shower and even a girly baby shower (A little birdie told me...") It will be offered as a pre-designed tablescape, but it's flexible enough to customize and personalize with signage, cupcake toppers, and more.

I will be giving you the DIY on the cupcake wrappers and birdhouse in the next couple of days–so stay tuned!