Birthdays: Cakes and Decorations

  • Origami Fruit

    Origami Fruit

      i’m so excited to share with you a super cute and super simple way to make a quick centerpiece, a fun place marker or a sweet mobile: origami fruit! Yes indeed, the same origami balloon shape that can be used to make origami string light covers can also be used to make adorable origami…

  • Origami String Light Covers

    Origami String Light Covers

    Origami balloons or origami cubes folded from your favorite colored and patterned paper are a perfect way to dress up string lights for a special occasion or just because. I remember making these origami balloons in grade school to play with in the classroom on a winter day, so I was so happy to revisit…

  • DIY Cupcake Pedestal From A Recycled Can

    DIY Cupcake Pedestal From A Recycled Can

    There is no better way to display cupcakes than on a pedestal, and now you can whip one up yourself like this quick DIY Cupcake pedestal. I made this cupcake pedestal for the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat coming up on Sunday night, (and using my printable fruit slices crafting pages) though I’m quite sure…

  • Tu B’Shevat Centerpiece From Recycled Cans And Sticks

    Tu B’Shevat Centerpiece From Recycled Cans And Sticks

    Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year for the trees is coming this Sunday night, so lets fill our homes with fruity decorations and crafts to honor this special day. For starters, how about this simple recycled can vase filled with bare branches? You can decorate it in so many ways, namely with little pink or…

  • Succulent Party Favor Using Miniature Plastic Trophies

    Succulent Party Favor Using Miniature Plastic Trophies

    I love the look of antique silver trophies filled with fresh cut flowers from the garden, though no such trophies have appeared in my life, so for the time being I am having fun making little succulent party favors or succulent place holders using small plastic trophies and succulent cuttings from my container garden. It…

  • DIY Super Simple Cupcake Stand

    DIY Super Simple Cupcake Stand

    When you find plastic bowls and plates in retro modern colors at IKEA that are totally cheap and can be used to make the most adorable little cupcake stands, well who can resist? Certainly not me! And the only reason that these bowls and plates remained way up high in my kitchen cabinet for a…

  • Chinese Style DIY Paper Lanterns Make Perfect Party Decorations

    Chinese Style DIY Paper Lanterns Make Perfect Party Decorations

    Festive paper lanterns using the simplest of supplies, colored paper, are so simple to make, and with gorgeous results, especially if you choose the right paper and colors that really pop! I made around forty or so Chinese-style paper lanterns for a community event, and I really didn’t know exactly where they would hang or…

  • Paper Lanterns: A Peek Behind The Scenes

    Paper Lanterns: A Peek Behind The Scenes

    Behind the scenes photos aren’t always so great looking, but in this case, the vision of a bunch of Chinese-style paper lanterns filling up the floor in my living room was so gorgeous I just had to share it with you! I was asked to make decorations for a Chinese Auction themed evening for the…

  • Another Handpainted Poster, This Time All By Himself!

    Another Handpainted Poster, This Time All By Himself!

    This large sign that my son painted says “Yom Huledet Sameach” meaning happy birthday, and I am sharing his sweet wishes for a family birthday to make a point, which is that sometimes when parents do a project together with a child, like the Hanukkah poster we painted together, it gives the child enough confidence…

  • Patchwork Fleece Gift Pouch

    Patchwork Fleece Gift Pouch

    Patchwork gift pouches sewn from scraps are the perfect little handmade touch, and turn even the simplest little gift into something special. And when they’re made from fleece, they’re cozy too, which might not seem important for a gift pouch, but the results are really so much fun and perfect for winter-Patchwork gift pouches sewn…

  • Mini Doughnuts Using A Combo Mini Doughnuts Machine!

    Mini Doughnuts Using A Combo Mini Doughnuts Machine!

    Doughnuts are a traditional Hanukkah treat, though I’ve always wanted to bake some rather than serve my family the oil laden traditional fried ones. And this year, ta da, we made a whole bunch of mini baked doughnuts thanks to a Bat Mitzvah gift certificate that my daughter finally redeemed (a year plus later) at…

  • Geometric String Star Holiday Napkin Rings

    Geometric String Star Holiday Napkin Rings

    Wishing for a fun craft for all ages that can also make your holiday table look amazing? Look no further, these string stars are so much fun to make and work really well as medallions for DIY napkin rings! So cut out some cardboard circles from cereal box cardboard, grab some metallic crochet thread and…