I can't even tell you how many times a week I bring cookies, fruit, snacks, you name it - somewhere. T-Ball practice, a game, a friends house, to the park - it seems never ending. Leaving platters places makes me crazy.
So I came up with a solution. And not just your average 'grab-a-paper-plate' solution. A real-live-looks-cute-in-public solution. With a little help from Chinet, I created colorful serving tiers. I even tested them at a real life party and they did not tip over or break. They held together perfectly - and washed up nicely if you're interested in trying to reuse them.
You'll need
Chinet Cut Crystal Dessert Plates
Chinet Cut Crystal Dinner Plates
Chinet Cut Crystal 9 ounce cups
Acrylic Paint in bright colors
Craft Epoxy {like E6000}
A Q-tip or small sponge
Step 1 :: Pour a small amount of paint on the inside of each glass. Swirl it around to coat the entire inside and pour extra back into the paint can. Let dry upside down, but check often that they are not sticking to the newspaper
Step 2 :: Spread a small amount of E6000 on the rim of one of the glasses using the q-tip and press it onto the center of a dinner plate.
Step 3 :: Spread a small amount of glue on the bottom of the glass that's glued to the plate and line up a second glass base on top of it. Press firmly.
Step 4 :: Spread a small amount of glue on the rim of the top glass using the q-tip and press a dessert plate on top. Let dry. Repeat with all of the glasses and plates until you have enough tiers.
Also, I discovered that two cupcake wrappers - one upside down and one right side up - fit perfectly into a 9 ounce cup! The perfect way to serve cupcakes!
Want to win an entire Chinet Party Pack yourself? That's a bunch of plates, cups, and silverware for your summer entertaining. Leave a comment below and we'll choose a winner on April 18th! Don't think you need a Chinet Party Pack? That's where you're wrong my friend. It's really handy to have plastic or paper plates and cups on hand.
UPDATE :: Comgratulations to Erin Smith! Happy Entertaining!
Entries must be posted by
Thursday, April 17th at 9pm PST
, and one winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be sent one Chinet Party Pack. Good luck!
{Limited to US residents only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes.
Winner will be contacted by email once comments close, posted on Facebook and announced on the bottom of this post soon after.}
Chinet Party Pack and Chinet Product used in this post courtesy of Chinet.
I love a birthday. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Occasionally, I have found that a birthday sneaks up on you right when you were least expecting it and you are stuck trying to pull off something that seems planned when it really was maybe not *that* planned. Here are my suggestions for pulling off a fabulously fabulous birthday party in minutes.
Happy Birthday!
Photography by Brooke Clark
I love making valentine's with my kids. I love not buying the store-bought Valentines that are lumped up on the shelves and look entirely un-thoughtful. Sometimes it's hard to come up with exactly what that fabulously fabulous Valentine is going to be. Which is why I was so thankful for my friend
post last month featuring her
! Finally I knew what to do with that giant tub of Plaster of Paris I bought before Christmas! Finally, an adorable Valentine that both boys and girls will dig! Finally, something my children can EASILY help with! Hooray!
Pearl and I made tiny hearts using Plaster of Paris and heart ice molds from Ikea. After the hearts dried, I set them loose with red and white paint and a lot of red glitter.
I may or may not have purchased an entire case of playing cards a few years ago because - well, you never know. So we mounted all of the little hearts on "hearts." That's right, I picked through all of the playing cards to find only the hearts for this project. After my children wrote their names on the back, I loaded them into clear bags and closed them with a sticker.
Happy Valentine's Day!
How are you spending Valentine's Day? Check out the video to see how my family celebrates how much we love each other.
Happy Valentine's Day!
:: Go Shopping ::
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Gorgonzola Apricots Recipe on Alexandra Hedin's Website
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{also available at Metropolitan Market} ::
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Chocolate Meringues from Martha Stewart
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1.
West Elm Enamelware Serving Bowl
:: 2.
Crate and Barrel Pop Acrylic Drink Glasses
:: 3.
:: 4.
:: 5.
photography by Brooke Clark
Studio B Photography
If I had to pick a favorite food, it would be seafood. Living in the Northwest certainly enables my love of seafood. The perfect way to serve seafood for a crowd is with a clambake - mostly because it takes almost no time to cook and the whole thing is done in ONE pan! A swanky one pot dinner.
Enjoy the last days of summer. I know I am!
photography by Brooke Clark
Studio B Photography
Read the magazine article in
. Available on newsstands in Western Washington and on your iPad.
I LOVE an ice cream social - it's the perfect way to eat ice cream any time of the day, but it's also a super simple way to celebrate any night of the week.
Have a birthday? Ice Cream Social
Promotion at work? Ice Cream Social
Passed the swim test? Ice Cream Social
Better yet, I made a video to show you just how simple this really is.
All week I'll share more fabulous ice cream ideas! I can't wait!
The secrets to this method are ::
1. A giant punch bowl + giant flowers. Scale is critical.
2. Floral foam holds the flowers in place. The heavy heads of the hydrangea would droop otherwise.
3. Add more water to the floral foam each day so it doesn't dry out.
4. Smash the ends of the stems to allow water absorption. Woody stems require "opening" up.
Why is this a good arrangement? It makes the table fabby in just minutes. Look at how grand it can be. Summer dinner party? Check.