When Shane told me that he wanted to host our sixth annual Thanksgiving dinner I didn’t quite know what to say. Baby Elise was born on October 20th and I was crazy sore and beat.

Flash forward a month and we’re all starting to get the hang of things as a family. So what better way to celebrate than to have everyone together for Elise’s first Thanksgiving? Ah, once again Shane was right…

I saw this Dymo retro embossing label maker this summer and I just had to have it, not quite sure at the time what I’d do with it. It was just like the one I used to play with when I was a kid :)

Being none too mobile right now with the new baby I made these placecards out of materials I already had in the house — the embossing label maker, pre-cut placecards left over from our wedding, and pearlized copper shimmery paper that I got as a gift years ago.

Supplies:

• Kathy’s free leaf template (PDF)
• Retro embossing label maker
• Rubber cement or glue stick
• Pearlized copper shimmery (or other metallic) paper
• Thick black paper
• Pre-cut placecards
• Paper cutter

Start by spelling your guests’ names using your label maker. I used black label maker tape but it does come in several colors.

Using your paper cutter, slice squares of the bronze pearlized paper that are smaller than the pre-cut placecards. Don’t worry about making them the same size; it adds to the handmade feel.

Put a little rubber cement on the back of the pearlized paper and affix it to flush left on the placecard. There should be some orange on the bottom and the right side like in the above photo.

Use my free leaf template to cut leaves out of your black paper. There are two leaf shapes so you can either choose one or make a mix like I did. Be sure to put the trace lines face down on your final placecards.

Peel the backing off of the name stickers. You’ll be placing the names on the seam of the pearlized paper with a little overhang on the right like in the photo above.

Now before you stick the name down, slip a bit of the bottom of the black leaf under the sticker. Now you can stick it down. Notice that the rest of the leaf is loose; this is intentional and adds to the feel.

Happy first Thanksgiving, sweet baby Elise, from your family!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern template for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Every day I fight being a packrat. A few months ago I was getting ready to throw away an empty Saran Wrap box and happened to notice how the cardboard tube inside was oh so strong and sturdy. What useful thing could I make with such a pretty?? It’s round. Not easily crushed. Ah! I could cut it, cover it in fabric, and make napkin rings!

And that is how a cardboard tube ended up in my craft closet for three months. So this rainy-sunny-rainy weekend I sat down, fiddled a bit, and here we go! Cheery fabric napkin rings just in time to brighten up your summertime picnics.

Supplies (for 8 rings):

• 1/4 yard of fabric (you’ll use less but this is the minimum at most places)
• 1/4 yard of n0-sew interfacing (again, you’ll use less)
• 1 yard grosgrain ribbon
• Good fabric scissors
• Zigzag pinking shears
• Invisible tape (optional)
• Fabric glue (or two-sided adhesive)
• Rotary fabric rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and self-healing mat (Buy a cutter and mat! You’ll use it all the time. Mine is well-loved, as you’ll see in the photos below)

One typical cardboard tube of Saran Wrap will make 8 napkin rings that are 1-1/2″ inches wide and 1-3/8″ diameter. Or you can make wider rings if you only need 6. These rings are best for premium square paper napkins and plastic silverware, but you can squeeze fabric napkins inside with no silverware if you roll them very tightly.

Cut napkin rings from Saran Wrap cardboard tube.

Using your measuring tape, measure 1-3/8″ and mark with a pencil around the circumference of the cardboard tube.

Carefully cut your pencil lines using an Xacto knife. Repeat for up to 8 rings.

Hide cardboard tube markings (optional). I did this step because the striped fabric I used was sort of thin and I wanted to be sure to totally cover up the dark spots of adhesive remnants on the tubes.

Cut 8 strips of no-sew interfacing 1-3/8″ wide x 5-3/4″ tall.

Tape one end of the interfacing to the ring (or use your adhesive). Roll the interfacing around the ring and secure with a second piece of tape.

Wrap napkin ring with fabric.

Cut your fabric in 3-1/2″ wide by 5-3/4″ tall strip (my fabric is shown face down in the photo but it doesn’t matter).

Place the napkin ring in the center of the fabric. Secure one end with invisible tape (or glue it if you’d rather), making sure the tape covers only a tiny edge of the fabric or else you’ll see it in your final product.

Roll the fabric tightly around the ring and secure using a dab of fabric glue, being sure to put some on the raw edge to prevent fraying (alternatively, you could turn a bit of the fabric under to hide raw edges or use pinking shears to make a zigzag edge).

Put a bit of glue on one fabric end, fold inside the ring and glue to the inside of the cardboard ring. Repeat on the other side. Raw edges will meet in the middle of the inside.

Hide raw edges using ribbon.

Using your pinking shears, cut one 4-1/2″ piece of ribbon for each napkin ring.

Spread fabric glue on one side of the ribbon. Curl it up a bit, slip it inside the ring and glue the ribbon on top of the raw fabric edges to cover them up.

You can also use the end of your pencil to roll the ribbon flat inside. Let your napkin rings dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Wrap plastic utensils in a premium paper napkin (folded into quarters) and slip on the ring to secure. Fire up the grill!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Za Vas! Heather Crosby and I continued the Upper Crust Social Club event series by co-hosting a Russian-inspired vodka infusion party.

Guests brought their own homemade vodka infusions …such a range of tasty concoctions from Watermelon Rosewater Vodka Infusion to Skittles Vodka to Cucumber Mint Vodka Infusion to Bacon Maple Vodka Infusion to Apple Cinnamon Vodka Infusion and more. (You should make your own. It’s easy.)

Each guest received a vodka tasting packet and voting tokens to reward their favorite creation. The winners, Matt and KC MacQueen, got bragging rights and a very fancy Vodka Infusion Champion trophy for their popular Habenero/Orange Peel/Peppercorn vodka infusion.

For decor, we kept things white and red with Russian accents …white tablecloths, white & red flowers, assorted Russian books and jewelry from Alex (our favorite Russian), cutey-pie Russian matryoshka nesting dolls…

…dolly handmade signs reminding guests to “fill your belly,” “cleanse your palette” and “clean your glass”…

…signs of tot-holding old school Russian-esque lasses…

…and super fun individual tasting booklets with enclosed voting tokens.

Now take note: This is a vodka *infusion* tasting party theme which means mixers like 7up are definite no-nos. Because guests sipped straight vodka after vodka we supplied ample pitchers of water, dumping buckets for extras, a crunchy tater tot bar with five dipping sauces to help soak it up, orange slices for palette cleansers …and our special top secret “Morning-After Hangover Cure” party favor (free template and instructions below).

The vodka infusion theme would be perfect for bachelorette parties and birthdays. And a collection of vodka infusions in nice glass jars would be a great gift. Our excuse was to gather our friends and festively warm everyone up from the inside. It worked.

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Free printable party templates: (thanks, Heather!)

• Free Russian nesting dolly signs template (PDF)
• Free tater tots Russian girls sign (PDF)
• Free voting token template (PDF)
• Coming soon: I’ll post the super cool tasting booklet along with a video on how to properly fold it

Hangover Cure Favor Supplies:

• Heather’s free template for the hangover cure label (PDF)
• White printer paper
• 1/2 inch Black Electrical Tape
• Test tubes (we used the 18×150 glass ones but you could go smaller or get plastic)
• Test tube corks (we used size 6; be sure to match your test tube size)
• Emergen-C packets (one for each guest, choose your flavor)
• Pop Rocks (1 packet = 3/4 guests)
• Scissors
• Xacto basic knife set, Ruler and Self-healing cutting mat (strongly recommended for straight cuts …otherwise, use scissors)
• Computer and printer (or send to FedEx Office)
• White paper bags (optional, one per guest)
• Pretty stickers OR 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets of sticker paper from an office supply store to make your own custom stickers on the computer like we did (optional)
• Red tissue paper (optional)

Carefully pour one packet of Emergen-C into the test tube. Poor about 1/3 packet of Pop Rocks on top in a contrasting color. Top with one cork; avoid pushing too hard which might crack the test tube.

Print the free template and cut into strips using your Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing mat. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Fold the strip over the cork, making one end longer than the other (see the picture). Cut a short piece of electrical tape and wrap it around the label and test tube to seal.

Try not to shake the test tubes; they look nice layered.

Place a test tube into a white shopping bag with red tissue paper. Place a sticker on the front. Na zdarOv’ye!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this theme and templates for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

This is one of those craft projects that I just love. A little throwback, a little whimsical …and totally original.

The idea for Shrinky Dink rabbit’s foot napkin rings that double as keychain favors sprung from a creative volley between me and Heather Crosby. I was hell bent on wanting to use Shrinky Dinks for our ladies’ late night tea party. Heather had created a kick-ass invitation of a tea-stained coaster with a rabbit’s foot. I suggested shrinky rabbit’s feet for keychain favors. Heather loved it and quickly turned out an assortment of different colored feet graphics for me to make and bake.

And voila! A decorative and practical party detail that would be equally at home at a “good luck” wedding/engagement shower or goodbye party as it was at our Alice-inspired affair.

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies:

• Free template for Shrinky Dink Rabbit’s Foot Napkin Ring Keychain Favor (PDF)
• Shrinky film ink-jet sheets at Amazon.com or ShrinkyDinks.com
• Good scissors
• Keychain chain and connectors (local hardware store)
• Computer and inkjet printer (can’t use laser printers)
• Dremel tool (highly recommend) or hole punch (if you use the hole punch, do it before baking; the Dremel avoids weird hole shapes)
• Baking sheet
• Brown paper bag or kraft paper
• Stack of magazines
• Oven
• Hot pad
• White cloth napkins (optional)

This time rather than step-by-step photos, I decided to take my new Mac for a spin and make a little “how to” movie. Let me know what you think.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use the template so I can smile when I see that it’s being used.

My ever-so-creative friend and frequent partner-in-crime Heather Crosby came up with a festive idea that encapsulates the two things we like best — making things and spending time with friends — by creating the tongue-in-cheek Upper Crust Social Club.

The UCSC is all about hosting a series of varied themed soirees that I’ll feature here to hopefully jump-start your own gatherings. First up: An Alice-inspired night-time tea party for some of our favorite Chicago ladies that kicked off the UCSC concept in style.

Today’s tea party post features the overall decor, whimsical details and creative ways to set your tables and food display. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share more posts with free templates and step-by-step how-to instructions to make all of our tea party goodies: Shrinky Dink rabbit’s foot napkin holders that convert into keychain favors, super fancy tea sandwiches, handsewn tea bags for loose teas, magical “Drink Me”colored champagne bottles, edible flower ice cubes, homemade cake/sandwich stands, and more.

An all-white base for tablecloths, napkins, flower and candles ensured that the colors really popped from mismatched tea cups, teapots, rabbits feet, “Drink Me” bottles — and of course the yummy food and “leaded” and “unleaded” teas.

Each guest’s placesetting had a handmade Shrinky Dink rabbit’s foot napkin ring that converted into a keychain favor. I’ll post the free DIY instructions and templates soon.

On the menu was a variety of proper tasty tea sandwiches (taken in the candlelight so sorry the photo is so dark): Fancy Almond Butter & Blueberry Jam, Carrot Ginger, Chicken Curry, Traditional Cucumber, Egg Salad, Pear & Stilton and Smoked Salmon & Wasabi. We cut them into triangles, squares, long rectangles, hearts and circles and lit up the evening buffet with dozens of tealight candles.

Using children’s alphabet cookies, we spelled Alice-inspired phrases on serving plates including Eat Me, Pretty, Hearts, Rabbit, and Sassy.

We created cheap and chic makeshift homemade risers on the fly for the sandwiches by spontaneously combining Heather’s own collection of vintage tins with her delicate bone china plates (again, taken in the candlelight so sorry the photos are so dark).

Every hostess needs to save time, so we “outsourced” our desserts to my neighborhood Alliance Bakery including bite-sized fresh fruit tarts, key lime tart, iced chocolate cookies, and hazelnut and pistachio thumbprint cookies.

We pooled all our “leaded” and “unleaded” loose and bagged teas and all types of sweeteners…

…and made handmade tea bags for loose tea from fabric remnants from my living room curtains and Heather’s handmade tea labels with the UCSC logo on the front. Follow the free teabag instructions to make your own for favors or gifts.

“Magical” Drink Me bottles filled with champagne, sugar cubes and food coloring in recycled bottles provided adult breaks from the teas.

And the dazzling Alex Pruner hosted a super fun tea party game we made up based on her vintage feminist-slash-manners book crossed with a household favorite board game, Wise and Otherwise. The winner received this soy tea cup candle made by local Chicago crafter Marcie at Something Beautiful.

Like this nighttime tea party theme? Check out the free DIY templates for Shrinky Dink rabbit’s foot napkin holders that convert into keychain favors and lovely handsewn tea bags for loose teas …instructions for fancy tea sandwiches, “Drink Me” bottles of brightly colored champagne and edible fresh flower ice cubes to come soon. In the meantime, see more party photos at Inspired by Everything’s post and Flickr album.

Hostess Heather Crosby had a blast from the past throwing a high school themed engagement party for her brother Chad and bride-to-be Shayda who met back in their teens. Starting with a handwritten ‘Secret Passed Note’ engagement party invitation, Heather included these adorable high school inspired details throughout the party:

Prom Flowers. Heather used every vessel in the house, from retro Fiestaware Pitchers to clear glass votive holders, grouping like flowers into short bursts of color spread both inside and out. Bubbles added to the fun.

Guest Interactivity. Inside, Heather created a “hallway of lockers” using posterboard. Guests were encouraged to add items into Chad and Shayda’s individual lockers, turning Chad’s into a Shayda Shrine that also contained early 90′s favorites Drakkar Noir and Big League Chew. Guests also nominated each other for Senior Superlatives (Best Dressed, Most Intellectual, Class Clown, Most Athletic, Friendliest, and more).

High School Touches. Chad and Shayda’s senior yearbook entertained guests while Heather served high school favs including crispy tater tots and extra gooey macaroni & cheese on white rectangular compartment trays reminiscent of the lunch line.

Friendship Pins. Hearts melted when guests received friendship pins as party favors. Heather, Renee and I had so much fun making these throwback treats that it’s our new mission to bring pins back for Chicago Summer ’08. Get your beads and join us!