{print}ables

Happy Labor Day!

wow, it has been a crazy week, and I cannot believe how long it has been since my last blog post. my day job required a lot out of me this past week, and all my brain power was dedicated to business things, instead of bloggy things :( I did manage to get a few projects accomplished on my wedding list including bridesmaid's jewelry, a personalized necklace and "love" letters for our engagement shots. as summer is coming to an end, i have been in "nesting" mode preparing for the fall that will surely be filled with many, many wedding tasks to accomplish.

 i'm hoping that I can make up for it this week with a few extra posts, but we will see! this week will be a busy one as we have friends coming into town, the first home Michigan game [go blue!], and our engagement pictures! a very exciting week ahead!

as I was browsing through some of my favorite blogs, I came across some really cute ideas that I have seen that should inspire you to use for your next homemade crafting project! the best part about all of these goods is that they are free! that is a price anyone can afford :)

even though summer is coming to an end, this can be stored away for next summer. consider it an opportunity to spend the next several months planning your awesome "summer sip" party!

as the weather cools, comfort food is sure to be flowing out of your kitchen. capture those tasty recipes on these adorable recipe cards. this PDF download comes with instructions and can be edited before printing.

these cute little tags would be perfect to accompany your next gift! simply download this file, and open the picture in a photo editing program (try ipiccy) and add in text. or, use your own handwriting for an even more personal touch!

this is a great money saving trick! all you need is a clear case, and the possibilities are endless! simply print out these templates and place then in the case, and voila! a new case! google for more templates and designs! here are a few more designs, as an added bonus!

i am a huge fan of baker's twine. i love how it adds some a great vintage touch to anything! these labels come in pink and blue. use these for any handmade project made with love.

this cute graphic can be added to just about anything for your wedding festivities. it could also just be printed on a wondering printed card stock and placed in a frame for lovely artwork!  click the picture or go here for the link to download the file.

this site has many cute printables for you and your family. check these out and i'm sure you will find something that will inspire you!

Hey Look has these great designs that you can use for your next gift! I love the patterns and colors and these could be used for a variety of things!

while this picture does not do it justice, Hand-Made Weddings has some absolutely fabulous downloads for you to check out! there is so much more than invitations, so please give it a look!

 

 

 

{flower} power

as i've been looking through websites for various things, I came across the most adorable idea for an edible decoration.... 
the cupcake bouquet.

this would make for the perfect centerpiece to any table for a baby shower, wedding shower, holiday party, or any social gathering. I know that if I went to a party and there was this marvelous creation adorning the middle of the table, I would immediately compliment the host for the their creativity!

i'm thinking of doing this for some event, but I'm just not sure of what yet. now, onto how to accomplish this lovely baking craft. for the novice baker, this looks pretty easy to me. I think the hardest part will be the icing technique to make the cupcakes look like roses, or a flower at all. if all fails, you could use other techniques (which i'll show picture of later in the post) to give the feel of a "flower".

THINGS YOU MAY NEED:

In many different tutorials, the shape of the Styrofoam may change. Use whatever you feel will work the best for the container you are putting the cupcakes into.


Below is a tutorial that might help you along in your quest for the perfect cupcake bouquet!



IF ATTEMPTING THE ROSE ICING TECHNIQUE IS NOT WORKING, TRY SOME OF THESE IDEAS:

here is a tutorial on how to make hydrangea cupcakes - quick & easy!!

 



a {kale}thy snack

i've heard so much about kale, and all the nutritional benefits that it has to offer. as with anything that is good for you, i'm a little skeptical. I really don't know anything about the vegetable, so I had no idea how to introduce myself to this great source of vitamins and minerals. I should also mention that on top of it's wonderful benefits, it is cheap!

while Facebooking one day, a page came up that caught my eye. Eat Yourself Skinny is a blog dedicated to eating healthy, and has recipes for healthy alternatives to your favorite foods. I tried a recipe for Funfetti Cake Dip, which was so amazing, and my fiance was even impressed with it's tastiness! so I decided to give another recipe a chance, and that's when I saw the recipe for Kale Chips.

I always love to find recipes that even I can tackle, as I am not a cook whatsoever. this recipe is incredibly easy, and takes about 25 minutes from prep to finish. once these chips were finished, I was still apprehensive about this magical veggie. once I put one of those crispy pieces in my mouth, I was in love!

ENJOY!

Things You Need:

• Kale
• Sea Salt 
• Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash & dry the kale bunch.

Remove spines from each piece.

Break the kale into 2 inch pieces.

Place the pieces in a bowl, and mix with one tablespoon of olive oil.

Place the pieces on a baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until crispy.

heirlooms in the making

one of my favorite places to go to get lost in beautiful things is Etsy. it always amazes me how I can find one thing I love, and an hour later, I've clicked my way through hundreds of handmade goodies. i've been a fan of Etsy for many years, but have never spent as much time on it as I have since I got engaged. I think it's great to find really talented people who make a fabulous product, and give them my business.
today I decided to see the featured items in the revamped Wedding section on Etsy. I was immediately drawn to this beautiful cake topper:

I wanted this. I needed this. how adorable would this be displayed at a wedding? then it would be such a great keepsake from the day, knowing that it was used during such a special time. it could be kept and passed down to your children and grandchildren. simply amazing. I wanted to share this with you, to give this stand the credit it deserves.

while the cake stand was just beautiful, it was sadly out of my price range (if I even have one for such things as cake stands). however, this set me on the quest to find some amazing cake stands that would fit into my {hypothetical} cake stand budget.

this beautiful glass cake stand would add a simple touch, with a great personal touch to any special event

my wedding has a bit of a rustic feel since I'm having a Michigan winter wedding. this stand below would fit in perfectly with some touches that I plan to have throughout the reception. I love the initials, which add a very personal touch

I am so excited to explore the possibilities for my wedding, and I hope these beautiful items have made you want to go out and bake a cake :)