Here are some super easy fall napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags that you can easily make the night before your Thanksgiving feast. And these Thanksgiving napkin rings double as place cards....Thanksgiving napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags... »

Looking around our house it's clear that "stickers" was the perfect theme for Elise's second birthday party. Last year it was monkeys and bananas but like many kids her age Elise is a sticker...“Stickers” Birthday Party Theme Idea for kids {with free custom sticker templates}... »

Thanksgiving is around the corner so I thought I'd round up some of my favorite Thanksgiving free craft project tutorials. First: Some easy ways to dress up your turkey table this Thanksgiving with napkin...Free Thanksgiving craft project tutorials: The DIY Round Up... »

I made these yellow and pink bubble labels to coordinate with Elise's 1st birthday party theme - Pink Monkey and Bananas. Elise just loves bubbles - she has a little menagerie of "bubba" blowers...Printable free bubble labels for party favors... »

I made this pink monkey birthday hat for Elise to wear on her 1st birthday. She was a good sport about it and I think she looked adorable especially when she dug into her...Pink monkey printable birthday party hat for kids... »

I made this "Happy 1st Birthday Elise" pink and yellow hanging birthday banner for Elise's pink monkey and bananas birthday party. I hung it over our living room curtains using three kinds of ribbon...Happy 1st Birthday Banner Free Printable Hanging Sign – customizable... »

I was totally stumped trying to think of birthday party theme ideas for Elise's 1st birthday. And then Shane suggested having a Pink Monkey and Bananas 1st birthday party theme and it just felt...Pink Monkey and Bananas Kid’s 1st Birthday Party Idea and Free Printable Templates... »

It's well-documented that I'm a pack rat when it comes to items I think could have another life. When Elise transitioned from breast milk to formula, I was amazed at how we flew through...Halloween luminaries from recycled baby formula cans... »

This original Fourth of July craft was created for Daily Candy Kids. Welcome, Daily Candy readers! I mourn sparklers. The City of Chicago banned sparklers in 2007 joining most other ousted fireworks. � Yes,...Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland... »

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...Thanksgiving Retro Embossed Label Maker Placecards... »

Happy Fall! I love this time of year ...changing leaves, football, pumpkins, cider, late-afternoon sunshine, scarves. And fun fall crafting, of course. This paper wreath took me all of about 15 minutes to make...Paper and Fabric Leaf Fall Wreath... »

These no-sew felt napkin rings really brightened up Shane's Fourth of July Birthday BBQ. And yep, I realize I'm a bit on napkin rings kick ...first the felt leaf napkin rings for Thanksgiving, then...Fourth of July Felt and Button Star Napkin Rings... »

Last year I made a personalized birthday rhubarb berry pie for Shane's annual 4th of July birthday barbecue. So this year I wanted to make something equally festive ...but keep the baking to a...Beeswax cookie cutter personalized birthday candles... »

I made this fabric napkin rings recycled craft from an empty Saran Wrap tube. A few months ago I was getting ready to throw away an empty Saran Wrap box and happened to notice...Recycled Fabric Napkin Rings from Saran Wrap Tubes... »

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...Vodka Infusion Party and Hangover Cure Favor... »

I'm posting the free tutorial for how to make sewn fabric teabags for loose tea by request. Jessica Mullen wrote: "I saw your beautiful photos from the tea party and I have a quick...Handsewn fabric tea bags for loose tea favors... »

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...Shrinky Dink Rabbit’s Foot Napkin Ring Keychain Favor... »

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...Upper Crust Social Club Ladies’ Late-Night Tea Party... »

This is our fifth year hosting Thanksgiving in Chicago for the twelve members of our joint families. Each year we try to do something slightly different for food and table decor. I constrained myself...Felt leaf napkin rings and placecards for Thanksgiving... »

My friend Heather Crosby and I have creative chemistry. Whenever we get together we build on each other's ideas until it becomes something totally original. Heather came over for dinner last week toting stacks...Urban wreath for fall using Polaroids... »

More decor for our upcoming Fourth of July - slash - Shane's birthday BBQ. I took Martha's Fourth of July parasols and turned them into a neat matching Fourth of July waterproof coasters. Supplies:...Fourth of July Waterproof Coasters... »

Shane's birthday is the Fourth of July so today I started to make some fun decorations for him. Martha Stewart has a super cute Fourth of July paper napkin ring template on her website....Fourth of July Paper Napkin Rings... »

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...High School Themed Engagement Party... »

I love the combination of turquoise and orange that Anne-Marie Rosser and Adam Whipple used for their intimate outdoor wedding reception on a Chicago terrace. Anne-Marie started with turquoise tablecloths and crisp white linen...Friday Inspiration: Turquoise and orange... »

Our wedding photographers, Kiri and Brett of PenCarlson Photography, hosted a bright and cheery open house on Sunday for their new Chicago photography studio. Height is always good with buffets but I've never seen...Entertaining ideas from PenCarlson... »

One of the biggest challenges of getting married in a "non-traditional" space is that the backdrop might look a too plain or stark during your ceremony. We got married in a Chicago loft space...Whimisical wedding “altar” from strung flowers... »

As part of my Rooftop Outdoor Movie Night Birthday Party I created a gourmet popcorn bar. It was a big hit! Supplies: 8.5"x11" red and yellow paper Admit One tickets (at Party City) Paper...Gourmet Popcorn Bar... »

Here's a simple placecard design that's equally at home at weddings and showers or the Thanksgiving dinner table. Fabric edges are intentionally left raw to enhance the Holly Hobbie, handmade vibe. Supplies: Kathy's free...Placecards / escort cards / seating cards... »

If you're like me table numbers are probably one of the last details that you're thinking about. But they can be a key way to dress up and personalize your tables. I sewed the...Table numbers sewn with poppy flowers and leaves... »

This is the detail that got the most comments from my wedding guests. My friends said it was 'typical Kathy' to personalize even the bathroom towels. But this crafty activity is something you can...Guest towels for bathrooms... »