Holiday Treat Arrangement

You can taylor this to any theme....great for any holiday or party. I made this one (photo) for Easter.

Supplies: flower pot, styrofoam, wooden skewers, plastic bags, twist ties, Easter grass, wax paper, peeps, pound cake, pineapple, strawberries, and chocolate.

Put a tightly fitting piece of styrofoam in the flower pot. Cut the pound cake and pineapple into small pieces and and put wooden skewers into them. Do the same to the peeps. Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Dip the strawberries into the chocolate and let them dry on wax paper. Once dry, stick skewers into the strawberries. If you plan on using your arrangement a few hours after its made, or if you plan on traveling with it, put plastic bags over the tops of the fruit, candy, and cake to protect them. Place Easter grass over the styrofoam. Arrange all of the skewers in the flower pot by sticking them firmly into the styrofoam.

Tips: Michael's is a good place to purchase colored melting chocolate. Ikea has a large variety of cute, inexpensive flower pots.

The "Pamela" aka "Sabrina Sadie" Egg

Who says you need a store bought kit to decorate an (Easter) egg!

Supplies: Limitless...whatever you can imagine. On my egg I used yarn, paper, markers, rhinestones, colored pencils, and ribbon. I used props like a mini version of the car I drive, and a postcard from one of my favorite places, Santa Cruz for my display at work :)

*Flower Pen*

Supplies: Silk/plastic flower, pen (I like Papermates), floral tape, hot glue gun/glue stick, Superglue, scissors

Cut the stem of the flower off, as close to the base as possible (better yet, some stems will just pull right out of the flower). Put some Superglue in the hole that is left from cutting/pulling out the stem. I also put some glue at the base of some of the petals (just to make sure they stick together. Using the hot glue gun, put a good amount of glue in the middle, underside of the flower, and glue it to the base of the pen. Hold the pen in place for a few minutes. I put a small "ring" of Superglue around the base of the flower/pen, just to make sure it stays in place. Let dry. After its dry, wrap floral tape around the pen. I start at the top (where the flower is glued to the pen) trying to cover any messes the glue might have made, and work my way down. I usually put on two layers of floral tape...working top to bottom, and repeating the process.

Other ideas: You can tie a ribbon around the pen or glue crystals onto the flower for some sparkle!

**EARRINGS**

Supplies: beads, headpins, ear wires, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, and a cutter.

String beads onto headpin(s). Once you have arranged the beads to your liking, use your finger to bend the remaining wire at a right angle, directly above the top bead. Using the cutter, clip the headpin, leaving approx 1/4 inch of wire behind. Grasp the end of the headpin (the 1/4 inch section of wire) with the round nose pliers, and roll the wire towards you, forming a loop. Don't close the loop all the way. Take the ear wire(s) and hang them on the newly formed loop you made on your headpin (where the beads are attached). Close the loop using the flat nose pliers. You now have an adorable new pair of earrings...made by you!

**SUPER SIMPLE RINGS**

These rings are so cute, and so easy to make!

Supplies: 1/2 inch ring blank, 1/2 inch circle hole punch, glue, EasyCast Clear Casting Resin, small plastic cups (to mix the resin), "popsicle" sticks (to mix the resin), small paint brush with sponge tip, and clip art/picture

Using the hole punch, punch out the clip art/picture you'd like to affix to the ring. Glue the clip art/picture onto the ring blank. While the glue is drying, prepare the resin mixture according to the directions included in the box. Once the resin is prepared, dip the sponge tip brush into the resin. "Paint" the resin onto the clip art/photo on your ring. If you would like a "dome" look to the ring, saturate the brush with resin and let it "drip" onto the clip art/photo until you achieve the desired dome "height". Let the resin dry for at least 24 hours.

Other tips: Personalize the ring(s) by using photos of family/friends...you will have to use a computer to reduce the image to a 1/2 inch. Add glitter to the resin mixture for a fun look.

*VACATION MEMORIES*

This is a very easy, but fun project (my husband actually came up with this idea). Instead of storing your "memories" in a box or photo album, make a "picture" that you can look at everyday :)

Supplies: Photos, brochures, postcards, stickers...items that you remind you of your trip, glue, and a large frame.

Arrange all your items to your liking (youre basically making a large collage), on the back part of the frame (its usually cardboard-like). I use photos my hubby and I took, as well as photos from brochures (the photos from the Atlantis Resort brochure in the Bahamas are amazing!). I use menus from our fav restaurants, I have even used tissue paper from my fav store in LA (Tarina!). Glue everything to the back of the frame once youre happy with the way you arranged your "memories". Put the frame together and hang it on your wall!

Tip: Ikea is a great place to shop for frames of all sizes, colors, and prices

*CREATIVE ORGANIZING*

I have limited cabinet space in my bathroom, and I came up with a cute way to organize my toiletries using Shrinky Dinks Shrinkable Plastic.

Supplies: Shrinky Dinks Frosted Ruff N Ready Shrinkable Plastic, computer w/printer, Sharpie marker(s), small hole punch, scissors, ribbon, basket or container, and other decorative items i.e. flowers, charms (optional)

Print out the words you want to use for your labels, using a large font (72pt font works well). Be creative. I labeled the basket I keep toothpaste etc in "Tooth Fairy Supplies". Place your printed paper behind a piece of Shrinky Dinks plastic (rough side facing up). Using a Sharpie marker(s), trace the words you printed onto the plastic. Cut your newly traced "label" out of the plastic. Punch a hole in the top of the plastic. Follow the directions included with the Shrinky Dinks package and shrink them. Once you have taken them out of the oven and they are cool to the touch, string a ribbon through the hole and attach it to your basket/container. I used different color ribbons/Sharpie markers(s) to make my labels, and I attached flowers to them. These "labels" have so many uses! I made them for party bags I gave out at my birthday last year.

Other tips: You can find Shrinky Dinks at you local craft store. They are usually located near the decorative paper/stamp section.