Out of the box

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This is so simple your going to say, "why didn't I think of that?" Having said that I can not take credit for the original idea, I saw Martha Stewart do one similar eons ago. 

So you get a box or two or three; craft store, dollar store or in your basement.

Find  jars, vases, cups, anything that will hold water and will fit in the box with the lid on. Nobody sees it, so it doesn't matter what it looks like.

Next cut holes in the top of the boxes or lids whichever you are using. 

Knives actually work better at this than scissors. 

                           

                    So now you're ready to be creative! In this first option we trimmed down the daisies in my garden which is really killing two birds with one stone at this time of year! Then we chopped the stems to fit the height of  the boxes. Good idea to use elastics to control the madness of this stage!

Tied binder twine to cover the elastics, and then forged through the garden for a "go green"look.

So if green is not your thing and pink is, here is option B.... tape ribbon around the box and lids to give the illusion of a wrapped present.

We added pink roses and dahlias and a few whimsical butterflies..... great for baby showers or little girls parties!

 So if pink and green aren't your thing here is option C! ........a fall look. So I normally use floral spray glue but as I am not sure how readily available that could be for someone wanting to try this we used Elmers spray adhesive that we had bought at Home Depot. Just trim off stems and spray the back, then stick them on your box.

We then added ribbons over the leaves. And filled the boxes with Dahlias.

You can use this leaf technique for vases too,  not just boxes. In this arrangement I used my favoruite -  ivy leaves, mostly to cover the glass vase because I knew I wouldn't like the look of the stems and twigs but I liked the vase.

            These pretty boxes were for Pam and Laurel the "Sugarplum Sisters" blog launch party.        
                                                        http://sugarplumsisters.com

You should check out their site, tons of great info about everything! 

This stack of boxes was for a 40th birthday. My friend Dionne 

wrapped empty boxes with regular wrapping paper, piled them up, then we added an arrangement in the top box. We placed several "present" piles about the venue for a birthday party atmosphere! The fuchsia twirls are actually a soft wire.

                                                                          That's a wrap!

                                 
                                                                                     ~Jan and Nan

The popcorn blouse

Pin It It will make no sense until the end of this post why I call it that! But let me show you how an inspiration can become a creation!

First pick some fabric, I know your thinking....ok that is not so inspiring! You have to really imagine!

Add elastic thread to your bobbin and start sewing!

And keep sewing............

And keep sewing.......




           And then find a really beautiful and talented Canadian country singer and voila' creation!!



                                                             Stacey McKitrick

                                                       

             Ok so the blouse doesn't have much to do with it..... Stacey could make anything look good!

(  Just thought I would share, and now you know why I called it the popcorn blouse!)

                                            thanks to Hevy D for promoting Canadian singers

                     

                                                       Check her out....she is amazing!

                                                       http://www.staceymckitrick.com/

                                                           

                 


                                          thanks Stace!
                                            
                                                                ~Janet

                                         

Summer Birthday Party

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My friend Dionne's husband asked if I would help him put together a party for his wife's 4o th birthday. The key here was and I quote "it doesn't matter what it costs "  Who says that?!!

I only have a few pics to share....enjoy!

We floated white hydrangeas and Ecuadorian roses in the pool. I made it in the shape of

a "40",  hard to tell at this angle!

Folded up  pockets with one layer of parchment to contain dip in the bottom. Easy, fun, and personalized for her!

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Bbq skewers (de-skewered!) in martini glasses made for easy mingling, easy eating. 

Lemon ice palette cleanser with more roses!

Bocconcini salad stuffed tomatoes on a  cucumber weave. 

  

There was so much more but I haven't mastered the ability to be a photographer while trying not to

have the kitchen go completely upside down in the midst of a party! 

Happy "B" Dionne

~ Janet

The Castle

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After sewing dozens of dance costumes for the year end show of a dance studio I work with, Nanako and I thought it would be fun to help with set design. The theme was Disney Princess and what better than a castle for the kids to dance in front of on stage! 

A mini prototype helped get the basic idea down...

Then some rather embarrassing trips to the dumpster to get cardboard, but who said being ecological is glamorous? The good thing was unwanted boxes are in abundance and made most of the castle.

Adding a little detail with cut up pool noodles actually worked nicely, as well as some styrofoam balls, basically anything you can think of that can be painted over! 

Then the painting began, we tested a painful variety of grey brick colours until we found a few we liked, Fifty Shades of Grey anyone?

We were lucky there was a string of beautiful sunny days so working outside made things easier

One side to go!

The final look, unfortunately the photos during the show were overexposed so we took a few in the park.

The little princesses looked very cute coming out of the doorway on stage at the final show made the effort worth it!

                                                     


                                                                    your Fairy Godmothers

                                                                                    ~Nan and Janet

                                         

Last Blueberry Pick of the Season!

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Though a little late for blueberry season, we managed to find a small u-pick farm with lots of very sweet, ripe blueberries. They were even organic!

We decided to make a sweet phylo blueberry dessert. It's quick and easy, starting with store bought phylo sheets we spread melted butter lightly across...

 then sprinkled sugar over it. (A shaker also makes things faster and spreads the sugar evenly)

Around four layers later... we cut out squares and popped them into the oven for a few minutes. Other shapes like triangles or something fancier like stars are nice too, it just depends on how much time you have...(or how badly you want to impress someone!)

Before we plated each stack we tried to mimic the branch design on the placemats with a simple blueberry sauce

Stacking each layer with whip cream and fresh blueberries was the fun part

We decided to get a little fancy, how do you like our phylo leaves?

Just a fun and easy dessert you can do with any berry you like

Goodbye blueberry season!

~ Jan & Nan