Bath Goodies Dessert Bar

Some time ago, I came up with what I thought was the ingenious idea of having a dessert bar filled with bath goodies, rather than edible treats. Since I'd like for people to hire me to design spa events for them there are some ideas which I put on the "not to blog about just yet" list. BUT, I just came across a great article written in the online magazine Nonpareil, where they give tips, recipes and templates that allow you to create a DIY spa dessert bar, and I had to share it.

                                                                    Photo: Nonpareil Magazine

Since the cat is out of the bag, I might as well chime in with some great picks for a spa themed dessert bar

1. Hand Candies
2. Milk & Cookeez
3. FrenchMacaron Soaps & Solid Sugar Scrub Cubes tutorial by Naiad Soap Arts
4. Mini Towel Cake favors
5. Ice Cream Sandwich Pumice Stone
6. Soap Cakes



Your Resident Spashionista

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K.I.S.S- Dresses & Bows

I thought I'd kick the week off with a quick K.I.S.S. Here are two Springy DIY projects

Learn how to make these cute napkin dresses via How Does She

 and learn how to make these cute ribbon pomanders via Ruffled


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K.I.S.S- Grab Your Napkins & Get Craftin'

One of my "signature features" on this blog is K.I.S.S which stands for Keep It Simple Soiree. It's the segment where I get to take a step back from the spa portion of parties and just present simple, usually D.I.Y ways to step up your party game and present guests with those little details that make your party stand out. A few posts back, I mentioned how impressed I was with some of the things that paper crafters manage to come up with. Anybody planning a party would do well to take a gander at Splitcoast Stampers website because these ladies can do wonders with a piece of cardstock/scrapbooking paper.
Today I came across another tutorial which is just perfect for the party planner novice or professional... Felted Cardstock. This technique uses plastic wrap to fuse a dinner napkin to a piece of plain cardstock. You can use your new cardstock for a variety of party projects including cupcake wrappers, toppers, confetti, gift boxes, signage, etc.  Signs created with this technique would be great for labeling items on your buffet, drink area or candy/dessert bar, where the coordinating napkins are presented of course. In the tutorial she uses white cardstock, but a colored cardstock could also be used if the backside will also be visible.  The image below is an example of how she used the technique to create the base for a thank you card, the card is durable but retains the texture of the napkin.

Image: Splitcoast Stampers, Lydia Fiedler

We always have the 12 7/8 in x 15 5/8 in guest towels available in our bathroom when hosting guests, which of course is a perfect tie-in if your having a spa party.

Check out the  video tutorial  or written tutorial created by Lydia Fiedler. Have fun trying this one yourself... signing off now to go a-hunting for some napkins around the house.

Update: I've actually gotten a chance to try this technique and it works pretty well. The initial step of separating the printed part of the napkin from the back it the most tedious part, and you do have to be careful not to tear the napkin. That being said, using a coordinating cardstock instead of white can help to mask those little tears that do occur. Here are my results... in the first photo I showed the full piece of coverd cardstock along with the cardstock I used for the backing and the original napkins. The second pic shows some cutouts I did to experiment, a square piece, a cupcake wrapper, and some circles that could be used for various things (the 2 in circles are perfect for cupcake toppers). These are napkins we had laying around that my mom picked out, I'd love to try the technique with more modern/hip napkins with stripes or geometric shapes rather than a floral print. Overall, it came out nice though, I was concerned that when I cut it for projects the 2 layers would begin to separate but that didn't happen. Next I may try making a box of some sort to see how it holds up to scoring and folding.

If you try this and post it on your blog be sure to leave me a link I'd love to see the results.


Happy Crafting :)

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K.I.S.S.: Spice Up Your Wine Glasses

If you thought the coffee stencils were cool, your going to LOVE this! Today The Creative Party Place featured a "Roast & Toast" housewarming party and I just had to share these

wine glasses temporarily etched with cinnamon. I'm sure they'd look beautiful with paprika,cumin or turmeric as well, though you'd have to be careful that the scent of the spices doesn't overpower or conflict with the beverage(s) your serving.

Want a sweeter twist, Fine colored sugar* would probably work well with dessert drinks, or on apothecary/candy shoppe jars at a candy buffet.

this fun Mom & party planner also experimented with the same technique on sippy cups

images from The City Cradle 

 * speaking of sugar... I think this is an ingenious way to label food favors like cocoa, flavored salts, or  vanilla sugars

Photo: c(oi)n:purse

The sugar favors pictured above were given as part of a Sugar & Spice themed shower which had loads of amazing details, described in a series of posts well worth checking out.

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K.I.S.S- Coffee Stencils

I came across these coffee stencils today via Everyday Celebrating. Though the majority of the stencils offered on Coffeestencil.com are of a romantic nature, I think there are quite a few designs that would be good for entertaining. Bring out your inner barista by offering guests a hot cup of cofee or cocoa either upon arrival or after dinner.  

DO  you have suggestions for more super simple ways to perk up your party? Send me a K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Soiree ) and your tip be featured here.

Your Resident Spashionista!

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K.I.S.S- 5 DIY Favor Boxes

Since starting this blog I have a newfound respect for papercrafters. When planning an event take a page from their book (pun intended), and try whipping up your own favor boxes. The selection of scrapbooking paper is dizzying and your sure to find a pattern ( or 100) that fits in with the rest of your party decor and theme. In fact grab a pad of scrapbooking paper which is grouped with complementary colors/themes and go to town making your own boxes, cupcake wrappers*, etc.

So with out further or do here are a few ways to present your favors using paper...

1.  Favor box with Belly Band tutorial from Kiyomi Krafts, which I used for the gift boxes for my Best Foot Forward party.

2. Chinese take Out Container tutorial from My {Creative} Place

3. Pillow Box Template from Skip to My Lou

4. Lip Balm Pockets tutorial from Style Me Pretty also featured in August 's Spa Party of the Month theme.

5. Small box with top opening from My {Creative} Place


* if you are creating your own custom design (like a monogram) or are using digital scrapbooking paper Skip to My Lou also has a digital version of their cupcake wrapper template



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K.I.S.S.: Drink Area Inspirations

I'm super behind on blogging this month, but when my cousin mentioned that she was looking for a Save the Date for her upcoming nuptials, I just couldn't resist searching the archives of some of my favorite wedding blogs . Though I quickly found exactly what I was looking for, I couldn't help digging through the DIY archives and luckily I turned up a few jewels.

I LOVE the DIY Coaster favors that I found on my visit to Style Me Pretty, and thought that instead of wrapping them up as favors, why not use them to add a little flavor to your soiree. Pair them with matching DIY stirrer tags (Project Wedding), and you've got a drink area that  reflects the style of your party. Some hardcore DIYers (read BRIDES) have even taken to printing their own custom cocktail napkins via Gocco machines.

Want a bit more WOW! try a Dabney Lee ice bucket made to order.

Image: Dabney Lee at Home

 Yes they are super cute BUT if you can't swallow paying $60 for an ice bucket... no worries. Grab a cheap ice bucket, like the jumbo one pictured below from The Container Store, and use contact paper to create your own custom sticker for your bucket.

Image:The Container Store

Now all you need is your signature drink... CHEERS!

Your Resident Spashionista!

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K.I.S.S.: Pretzels & Oreos

I may be super late with these, but yesterday as I was browsing the candy aisle of the craft store and I came across Wilton molds for Pretzels and Oreo cookies.

Perfect for making treats for your Dessert Bar.

Your Resident Spashionista!

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K.I.S.S: Delegate to Celebrate

Photo:Service Is Us, Inc. 

I personally love to cook for other people. I often get asked how I made this; can I supply the recipe for that; or If  I could bring some of these to a potluck. However, my reputation for being a good cook often lands me squarely in the kitchen when company comes 'round.


I recently learned about party staff for hire that will come to your home and take the "work" out of entertaining so you can get out of the kitchen and spend time with your guests. These companies service small and large events and perform a whole host of services including:

• serving food & passing appetizers,
• heating food & replenishing trays, 
• bartending,
• grilling & carving, 
• pre-party set up & food presentation,
• and emptying trash throughout the event.

In addition to the services they provide during the event, many companies will also wash the dishes, mop the floor and leave your kitchen and dining areas spotless.  Some services even promise to store all of your food in Ziploc bags and put it away for you.

These types of services are especially useful if you are hosting a spa party. When you delegate to celebrate, there's no need to ruin your newly applied polish while emptying an overfilled wastebasket or wonder if the cheese and crackers are running low mid massage.


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K.I.S.S.: Stone Soup Party

Photo: Stovepipe Illustration

While looking up some fall soup recipes to feature in the second installment of October's Spa Party of the Month, I stumbled upon the idea of a Stone Soup Party. If you are new to my K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Soiree) feature, it is where I highlight simple and usually inexpensive/DIY tips to make your party stand out from the pack. Though I usually feature crafty things, I really liked the idea of stone soup and feel it fits in perfectly with the Keep It Simple mantra.

A stone soup party is appropriate for adults and children alike and like most potluck type functions it can be pulled off on a shoestring budget. You can either follow a particular soup recipe and assign ingredients, or ask people to bring whatever they like and see what the results are. If you are going with a more freestyle fête it is a good idea to at least tell your guests what type of stock you plan on using (fish, veggie, chicken, beef).  If recipes are more your style, you don't have to stick with a stone soup recipe, in fact a Stone Soup Party is a great way to create a pot of gumbo, cioppino or other seafood rich soups which are generally more expensive to make.

You can use a smooth clean decorating stone(s) from a craft store, and use it as a means to distribute door prize, whoever get the stone in their bowl gets a gift.

In addition to soup, it is a good idea to also have bread, lots of bread, beverages, dessert and a salad, which can be provided by the host or done as a potluck as well. If lettuce is provided, a impromptu salad bar can be made from the leftover veggies that didn't make it into the soup pot.

Pull out some board games, cards, or Dinnertime Games and make a night of it. Make sure you have a copy of the book on hand to read while the soup is simmering.



Your Resident Spashionista!

P.S. Speaking of stones... check out the Hippie Luxe Spa Party for tips on hosting a party with hot stone massages.

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K.I.S.S.: Personalized Hand Soap Favors

Photo: Giver's Log

This handmade gift is just perfect for my K.I.S.S. feature. If your new to this blog K.I.S.S stands for Keep It Simple Soiree, and it is where I present easy and usually inexpensive ideas that will wow your guests and give your party that extra ummph. You can customize the hand soap that you'll have in the bathroom throughout the party or make this as favors for guests, they make a nice addition to Welcome baskets for out of town guests. To find all the how click on over to The Giver's Log.

( I found this project via iDiY which is a great blog to check out!)

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K.I.S.S.: Bath Sundae Favor

Photo: SugarDoodle.net

Last month I wrote a blog post on Ice cream inspired spa party ideas care of ME! Bath and their line of Bath Ice Cream and Shower Sherbet. Today I just wanted to share an easy and cute favor that'd be perfect for ice cream themed parties, Bath Sundaes...

How To:

1. Whip up some milk bath salts by combining milk powder, epsom salt, baking soda, finely powdered oatmeal, and corn starch. Add your favorite essential or fragrance oil, and color your salts with a bit of food coloring (you can also add in some fresh herbs like dried lavender or cocoa powder for a chocolate milk bath). If you want to skip the part where you make your own bath salts, try ordering them from bulksalts.com , they make each batch fresh and allow you to choose from 150 scents and 20 colors, better still a 1 lb bag only costs $2.49 (prior to shipping).

Photo: Cotton's Beauty

2. Fill a sundae glass or plastic carryout drink container with a dome lid approximately 3/4 of the way full with the bath salts. The carryout containers may be tricky to get your hands on, however your local coffee/ice cream place may let you have some if you promise to include coupons to encourage your friends to purchase something there.

3. Next comes the whipped cream (aka a shower pouf).

4. Top the pouf with a red bath oil bead, these can be found at Urbane Zen or American Soap Company .

5. For the finishing touch you can insert a straw, a little wooden spoon for scooping, or even a mini wooden foot file.

6. You can create custom favor tags thanking your guests for attending and include this poem by Shirley Thomas at http://www.craftsayings.com/

This very special sundae,

will leave you feeling great.

It's chock full of good things,

even though it can't be ate.

Take it in the bath with you.

Of course don't take a sip,

cause it may look delicious,

but it's made to take a dip.

The crafter who made the sundae below, made it look edible by drizzling melt and pour soap over the top to simulate syrup. The "syrup" also serves the purpose of anchoring the pouf to the without having to use a glue gun or tape.

Photo: GoPlanetEarth

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K.I.S.S.: Minty Fresh

For a small project that your guest are sure to remember, hop on over to the Hip Hostess' Blog for a quick tutorial on how to dress up your dinner mints. The inset picture is from Martha Stewart who used the same method and added a touch of lace.

This actually would be the perfect way to package homemade Peppermint Body Candy

Photo: CraftBits.com

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Rach's Repurposed Centerpieces

I've clearly been slacking on my scheduled blog activities, as I am overdue for the second installment of this month's Spa Party of the Month feature. In the meantime, I'll throw another K.I.S.S. your way and this time it's centerpieces that were featured in Rachel Ray Magazine. I love Rachel's creativity in the kitchen and think her magazine is great. Here are a few centerpieces that use things you may already have around the house ...


1. Topsy Turvy Goblets
2. Sock Planters
3. Ribbon Towers
4. Jello Shots
5. Yarn Spools
6. Can Can

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K.I.S.S. - Strawberry Topiary

Lately, I've been working on a big list post which I think you'll LOVE. In the midst of scouring the web for things to make it on the list, I've come across so many new creative blogs and projects that I also want to share. So for today's K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Soiree), here is a tutorial for making these easy yet beautiful strawberry topiaries. If you are worried about the strawberries being too tart or would like a little extra sheen to them apply a fruit glaze with a pastry brush. A popular glaze for red fruits is made by simply heating a 1/2 c of red currant jelly with a tablespoon of water or kirsh, and straining it through a sieve apply a very thin coat, and it will make the fruit shiny and help keep it from drying out.

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K.I.S.S.- 12 DIY Lighting Projects For Your Special Event

As usual for my Keep It Simple Soiree (K.I.S.S) feature I'd like to present relatively simple ways to jazz up your event. Today's focus is on simple lighting projects you can do yourself without breaking the bank. There are links to all the tutorials.

Luminarias

1 & 2









These are two variations on the lace theme, both by Martha Stewart, one using paper bags, and the second made with vellum.

3.
These ice luminaries are perfect for lighting up a walkway in the wintertime.




4.
These beautiful little luminaries are made my dipping a water balloon into wax, from candletech.com.


5.


Use any color thread to create these easy covers for LED tea lights from weddingbee.

















Bonus: The ETSY shop MadeforYouJustByMe, offers customized table number luminaries, they are available ready to use or you can assemble yourself for a little less $.



















Repurposed/ Upcycled

6.










A set of wine glasses and a little creativity provide simple table lighting, you can use ribbon, or wine glass charms to adorn the stems. Charms are easy to make using glass beads and earring hoops from the craft store.

7.














These tea tins make for an eclectic looking table setting after they are transformed into candles.

8.
Shop around at yard sales for tea cups to transform into candles for a vintage feeling table setting, don't forget to set a doily underneath.






9.
These photo frame centerpieces, by Martha Stewart would be lovely at a variety of events, and give guests an excuse to visit other tables to see more photos of the guest(s) of honor.










10.
Give frosted glass candle holders a hint of personality by putting your own stamp on them.


Paper Accents

11.
Wall paper is a great little tool for decorating you can frame some up to use as wall hangings, to mat photos or as lighting fixture.















12.
We've all seen how beautiful paper lanterns can be when used in party decor, but Martha has a way of using them a little differently for a nice effect.

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