Teabag party favors

It's been a long time hasn't it?? I am sorry for the lack of posts. I have been making and crafting things all this time but have failed to document it.

My latest project was a collaboration with Pauline Bakes. She was making tea bag cookies for a tea party bridal shower and wanted a cute way to package it. I have seen some great ideas on pinterest that packaged the cookies in the shape of a tea bag but wasn't quite what I had wanted. So, I set about to make my own template and created my own little favor packaging for this tea party theme bridal shower.

Here is a step by step tutorial!

The supplies! A scoring board is very useful for creating precise lines for folding. It allows for a clean straight line making your final product look much cleaner. 

1) Cut a pattern paper of your choice in the size of 4" by 8.5"

2) Score along the dashed lines at the size indicated

3) Cut as indicated by the white lines on the picture. The angle of the top of the tea bag is your choice. I chose to angle it by 0.5" from the end.

4) This is what your template should look like before you start putting it together.

5) Overlap the sides and glue. It should stand on its own like this

6) Using the small hole puncher, punch a hole on top of the teabag and thread your twine through. (Before tying off the string, put your cookie or treat of choice at this time before closing it off) 

7) On a small square piece of paper, stamp any cute image. I chose this little tea cup to stamp.

8) Tie to the twine to finish your teabag look.

Choose any fun pattern paper to match the theme or color of the party. You can add it to a tea cup as a party favor gift for a touch of fun!

DIY birthday party for H + Crafty song!

Our recent 25th birthday celebration was chock full of DIYs and crafty skills maximized to good use. With the help of my chef sister G and my baking friend Pauline Bakes combined with the rose making skills of my friend P & H, we ended up with a birthday we'd remember for years to come!

The crepe paper rose tutorials we've been seeing online gave me a great idea for a party decoration. Rather than gluing them onto paper lanterns and using them as lighting!

Here is the finished glued product. My dog Olive is in the shot because she thinks this is one giant ball for her to play with. I had to hang it off the window to get it out of her way.

These are the lanterns in effect! I made them in white, dark pink and white pink. Tip: Crepe paper was cheapest from Walmart at $1.25 for 160 feet for crepe paper.  The white lanterns look like roasted marshmallows yummy :)

One thing I definitely wanted to have was a dessert bar and with the amazing help of PaulineBakes, I was able to have a variety of delicious goodiness!!

The center two cake stands are a DIY project made from two candle stick holders and plates that were thrifted. The candlesticks are also thrifted as well. The bouquet of flowers are just IKEA vases for $2.00 with black satin ribbon tied on with an arrangement of flowers from ACMoore that were on sale for 40% off!

Chocolate covered pretzel sticks in assorted pink and white sprinkles to match our party theme of black white and pink!

Mini carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Moist and delicious!

The pom poms on the side are from Martha Stewart tutorial. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of time to give it the round poufy effect but still came out looking like giant peonies so it added a great effect.

This is the dessert bar before it was attacked!

Chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting and an Eiffel Tower chocolate mold :)

French macarons with nutella filling!

And a birthday party isn't complete without a cake! Carrot cake :)

This is a close up of the centerpieces. I used foam from walmart to help get the flowers in place.

Damask paper napkins from party city added a nice touch and tied it into the theme.

Tip: IKEA has great resources for plates/dishes. I was able to buy a set of 2 dishes and a bowl for $2 per person. Greatest deal I've found. The water goblets are from Walmart and cost $5 for 4 cups for $1.25 a person!

G's stuffed flank steak stuffed with spinach, feta cheese and assorted veggies.

Sorry about the half eaten food. In our excitement, I forgot to take the pictures pre eating! String bean salad. G's specialty! so yummmms.

So this is our party! In the following days, I will post up the cake stand tutorial as well as how we went about making the paper lanterns covered in crepe paper roses. 

Food Photography

One crafty hobby I never got into was baking. I've dabbled in the past but unfortunately sweets is not my thing. Therefore, I've nixed it out. But, my talented friend P.C. is excellent with baking delectable sweet goods! She's petitioned me to take some photographs for her blog. I wanted to showcase some of her goods. See her blog for more yummy goodness :)

Carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting

Cranberry granola cookie

Chocolate cupcake

Double decker carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting

Chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips

This is my first attempt at food photography and PC and I spent some fun times trying out different plates! Let me know what you guys think :)