Create – DIY Chalkboard Clothespins

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

One of the things that I’ve learned as I’ve gained more party planning experience is to recycle whenever possible. This is my solution for the celebration supplies and decor I’m left with after a party is over. A good example of this is the glitter clothespins I made for previous celebrations and holiday gifts. The leftovers were stashed away in a drawer just waiting to be transformed. My youngest daughter’s Spring in Paris celebration seemed like the perfect time to give them a makeover.

You also may remember these DIY Chalkboard Trays I made a few posts back. Well this DIY is even simpler. No painters tape necessary and a very short supply list! Plus they take just minutes to make.

DIY Chalkboard Clothespins

Since I was reusing existing glitter clothespins, I simply flipped them around and painted the glitter free side. I guess I can call them my multi-use clothespins. One side glitter, one side chalk.

Supplies

Leftover clothespins

Small paintbrush

Chalkboard Paint

Chalk

Decorative adhesives (optional)

Instructions

Apply two even coats of chalkboard paint to wood clothespins. Set aside to dry completely.

Once dry, condition by rubbing the edge of chalk across the surface of the chalkboard clothespins.

Label or tag, by adding the words/names of your choice with chalk.

Add decorative pearls or adhesives for a finishing touch.

It’s that simple!

As you can see, they added an extra bit of fun to the favor bags from my daughter’s party.

You can also use them for decorative display, or for food and beverage labeling.

Enjoy this simple and trendy DIY and remember to check back in soon for more Posh!

Paris Party Essentials

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

Greetings. I hope everyone had a wonderful Cinco de Mayo! Mine was full of celebrations, but now that Monday is here the party is over (at least until next weekend) and I’m focusing all of my attention towards my baby girl’s 1st birthday. Time has flown!! I seriously can’t believe my sweet M will be 1 years old in just six days. As a result, I won’t have a lot of spare time on my hands, but I’ll do my best to keep you updated this week by sharing party planning snippets via Instagram.

Up first, are some of the party essentials for her Paris themed celebration. Paper prints, and cake bunting designed by Posh. An Eiffel Tower figural, mint paper straws to tie in our color scheme, some fun and festive hand-made props, my favorite baking cups, and some adorable DIY chalkboard clothespins (check in soon for that simple tutorial.)

As you can see, I’m working on many special details to make her 1st birthday memorable. I hope you check back in soon to see how it all comes together.

In the meantime, let’s be friends on Instagram.

Have a fabulous day!

DIY Chalkboard Trays

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

DIYs are a major party of the parties that I plan, because they allow me to add signature touches and posh flair to special celebrations without breaking the bank. My latest project is one that I’m working on for my daughter’s upcoming Paris birthday party. A simple DIY chalkboard….I know!! I’m sure this isn’t the first DIY chalkboard you’ve seen…and probably won’t be the last, but the finished product turned out much better than I anticipated, so I thought it would be a good one to share with all of you, since it’ super simple and affordable to make!

I could easily go and purchase some pre-made chalkboards for my daughter’s birthday online, but I’d end up spending anywhere from $15-30 each. Instead, I found some silver trays with detailed edges at the dollar store that transformed perfectly. Aside from my not-so-great printing…I’m really pleased with how they turned out!

DIY Chalkboard Trays

Supplies

Silver or gold trays from the Dollar Store

1 Container of Chalkboard Paint

Small paint brush

Painters tape

Chalk.

Instructions

Tape off the interior edges of your tray using painters tape, leaving the detailed frame exposed.

(Make sure to press down on the lines of the tape with your finger, to create a good seal around the edge.)

Paint the interior part of the tray with one good layer of chalkboard paint.

Set aside and allow to dry one hour.

Once dry, add an additional thick coat of chalkboard paint to the tray and allow to set overnight.

Rub chalk across the entire surface of the chalkboard tray to condition the surface. Allow a little extra time to set.

They are ready for use!

And there you have it. A simple DIY that looks like it’s worth a pretty penny when really it will only cost you a few! Not only will these be a fabulous addition to the upcoming Paris celebration, but for future parties as well.

The easel stands holding the trays came from Jo-Anne’s for $1 apiece.

Thanks for reading! I’ll have more Paris party related posts on the blog soon, but I’m thinking it’s time to switch gears a bit. Cinco de Mayo is coming up in a week and I have a yummy treat to share to celebrate the holiday.

Check back soon for that recipe and more!

xoxo

Chocolate Easter Bunnies – DIY

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

Happy almost Friday!! Do you have big plans for the upcoming holiday weekend? Mine will be filled with celebrations, starting with a baby shower in Vancouver BC on Saturday and a quiet Easter gathering with my family on Sunday. The weather is shaping up to be warm too so if we’re lucky we’ll be able to move the Easter egg hunt we have planned for our girls outdoors.

Speaking of Easter, what is your favorite memory from the holiday? (If you celebrate it.) Mine has to be the hollow chocolate bunny that I remember receiving in my basket each year as a child. As much as I loved them growing up, it would be nearly impossible to locate a soy and dairy free chocolate bunny in the grocery store these days…story of my life, but since I have a goal of carrying the tradition forward for my children, I’ve made a version my own. My motto these days: Can’t find it?! Make it! So here I present to you a modern rendition of the classic chocolate bunny, using a trio of chocolates; white, milk and dark (vegan optional) for my entire family to enjoy, and yours too!

This darling trio of sweet bunnies is made with very simple steps (perfect for last-minute gifting) and since they’re bite size, they’re a little (or a lot) less guilty. Ah!! My kind of Easter treat!

Chocolate Easter Bunnies – DIY

If you are looking to make these vegan, you can just use the dark chocolate, but be sure to read the ingredients as many dark chocolates out there still include dairy. The dairy free dark that I use comes from Trader Joes.

Ingredients/Supplies

1 pan sized sheet of parchment paper

6 to 8 oz of quality milk, white and dark chocolate

miniature bunny cookie cutter

small cellophane bags

edible Easter grass (Target) snipped into bite-size pieces

decorative sugar pearls (for posh)

ribbon or bakers twine

Instructions

Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Place chocolates into 3 separate heat-proof bowls and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted.

Pour each kind of chocolate separately onto parchment paper.

Smooth out any lines or bubbles in the chocolate using a rubber spatula.

Place in the fridge to chill for 3-5 minutes. You want the chocolate to be partially chilled but soft enough to cut and hold the shape of the cookie cutter, but not fully chilled, otherwise you won’t be able to cut it.

Cut multiple bunny shapes into each of the 3 chocolates.

Place back into fridge to fully chill. I give it an hour.

Keep chilled until ready to serve/gift.

Treat Bag Assembly

Fill bottom of cellophane bag with snipped edible grass.

Free pour about a teaspoon of sugar beads.

Add chocolate bunny.

Finish them with a pretty bow and you have a posh little treat/gift to give for the holiday.

Place them in your child’s Easter basket, or put them out to enjoy on Sunday.

Wishing you all a fabulous holiday weekend!

Please check back in soon for your next dose of posh.

xoxo

Edible Easter Baskets – DIY

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

We’ve finally been experiencing some warmer weather here at home but over the weekend I chose to stay indoors. For some reason I was in a total mood for baking so I spent most of my Saturday and Sunday creating in the kitchen and coming up with concepts for next weekend’s Easter celebration. I love when my schedule allows spare time for this and I also love that my hubby was nice enough to take my daughters out for the afternoon so I could create in peace and quiet.

Easter for us is all about our little girls and so this time around I’m sharing a festive DIY suitable for children and inspired by my little ones. If you have kids too, they will LOVE to help you create these.

A fun alternative to the basic Easter basket with customized ingredients for little ones with allergies.

Sweet to look at and even sweeter to eat.

Mini Edible Easter Baskets

Sugar Cookie Cups

I made the “baskets” by using a mini muffin pan and my favorite sugar cookie recipe. Since I cannot eat dairy, I substituted the butter in the recipe for vegan buttery sticks.

Preheat oven to 375

Using your favorite sugar cookie recipe (you can even use store-bought,) roll prepped dough onto floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut dough into circle shapes using a round cookie cutter or drinking glass.

Mold the circles of dough into each muffin tin cup, sealing the edges, while also being certain that the dough has no tears.

Gently puncture the center of each cookie dough cup with a fork to stop it from rising.

Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes.

Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Remove cookie cups from muffin tin by gently loosening the seal with a butter knife.

Below is an image of the finished cookie.

DON’t worry if they aren’t perfectly shaped. Once you put them in the muffin tins, you won’t even be able to notice.

Filling/Supplies

Feel free to customize the ingredients based on what your children enjoy the most.

Edible Easter Grass (this stuff tastes like cardboard, but it went along with the edible theme so I got it anyway. I found mine at Target.) Snip it into bite size pieces using kitchen shears.

Annie’s Organic Gummy Fruit Bunnies

Edible Sugar Pearls

Jelly Beans

Mini muffin tin liners

Silver twist ties (they usually accompany cellophane bags)

Cupcake wrappers (optional)

Instructions

Steps 1 & 2

Pour edible Easter grass into cup, filling most of the way full.

Top with edible sugar pearls for the always necessary touch of posh.

Steps 3 & 4

Add 2 Jelly Beans to each mini basket.

(I also made a few vegan chocolate hearts from another project I’ll be sharing later this week. So I added one of these to the basket as well.)

Add 1 gummy bunny.

Steps 5 & 6

Place filled cookie basket into muffin tin.

Place muffin tin wrapped basket into cupcake wrapper (optional.)

Steps 7 & 8

Bend twist tie into “U” shape.

Insert each side of U-shaped twist tie in-between cookie and muffin tin.

Please Note: The twist tie is easily removable. If you’re looking for something more secure you can always attach the twist tie to the muffin tin with a few small pieces of tape.

And there you have it!

Edible Easter baskets and instant fun for the your little ones!

I hope you enjoy making and eating these as much as we did!

But wait, there’s more!! Another edible Easter DIY is on the way so be sure to check back later this week.

Hand Painted Easter Eggs – DIY

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

Today is the first day of Spring but apparently mother nature did not get the memo here in Washington. She served up a full dose of stormy sideways rain and blustery wind to welcome the new season. This is pretty typical in our area, which means I’ll just have to continue daydreaming about sunny days, floral blooms and vacation too. That’s ok though because as usual I have loads of things to complete before Spring kicks into full gear. One of which is a collection of Easter blogs posts, since the holiday falls at the end of March this year. First up is a fun little DIY perfect for today’s arrival of Spring and inspired by some of the things that I’m currently loving.

swoon list

Watercolors (I’m obsessed)

Floral print trend (seen in fashions for Spring and Summer 2013)

Hand written script (so chic)

Sounds like the perfect recipe for beautified Easter eggs to me, and also a great indoor activity for the stormy weather outside.

My 3-year-old daughter and I had so much fun making these.

Supplies

1 Carton of Large or Extra Large Eggs (12)

1 small paint brush

Non-toxic watercolor set (any kind will do – don’t laugh…I actually used my 3-year-old daughter’s princess paint kit)

1 paper towel

1 shallow dish of water

Instructions

Boil eggs in large pot for 12 minutes.

Remove from heat and run under cool water for 3 minutes.

Pull eggs from water and dry on paper towels removing all moisture.

Dip your paint brush in water and then brush over the paint color of your choice. (you can blot your brush on the paper towel to remove some of the excess paint for a lighter finish.)

Create a 2 inch floral shape or (squiggly circle) in center of an egg.

Paint a small circle in the center of your floral shape using a darker color of paint for contrast. It should start to resemble a flower at this point.

Add a green stem.

Repeat these steps creating additional flowers in different shapes and sizes for variety and range.

Place back in carton to dry.

These are a great conversation starter so be sure to display your works of art on Easter Sunday!

Since my baby girl is about to turn 1, and her 1st birthday will be inspired by Spring in Paris, I used the leftover eggs to test out my artistry skills or (lack thereof,) for her upcoming celebration. I seriously have terrible hand-writing and I’m certainly no expert, but overall was pleased with how these Paris inspired eggs came out.

Think of how many different notes or words you could hand paint on your Easter eggs. Your children’s names, etc.

Get creative and have fun!

Hoping this springy post brightens your week!

I have more Easter ideas on the way, as well as some Paris party inspiration coming up.

Check back again soon for more.

DIY: Ring Pop Valentine

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

Today’s DIY brought me on a trip back to my childhood. Maybe because I was born in the 80s and remember sporting sweet jewel-shaped bling on my fingers. Perhaps you do too? Oh the memories!! Well if you loved Ring Pops as a child, you will certainly love making this craft at home for Valentine’s Day.

This post is inspired by my Ring Pop Party Favors. Do you remember those? Well this DIY will surely bring out the child in the one you love.

Put your heart on display.

A two-part feature with DIY instructions on the hand-made card and heart-shaped Ring Pop valentine.

Handmade Hearts Card

Supplies

Pink Cardstock

Paper cutter or scissors

Hole punch

Heart-shaped stickers

Bakers twine or ribbon

Instructions

Using paper-cutter or scissors, cut pre-designed card stock in half.

Take the cut half of card stock and fold in half to the right, making sure to line up the edges.

Place a heart-shaped sticker in the front center of the card.

Handwrite words of your choice on the inside of the card. Mine reads, “you have my heart, and my heart is yours, xoxo.”

Using your hole punch, punch one hole in the top right corner of your card.

Thread your bakers twine or ribbon through the hole and tie in a sweet little bow.

Ring Pop Valentine

Supplies

1 clear plastic container (these are available in my etsy shop)

15 inches of red or pink ribbon

1 Valentine Collection Ring Pop

Instructions

Remove Ring Pop from packaging.

Remove lid from plastic box.

Flip box upside down and insert Ring Pop into box on an angle, pushing until secure.

Seal with lid.

Add a festive bow and get ready to display your love.

A valentine that’s perfect for kids of all ages.

please note: you must flip the box upside down for the ring pop to fit securely and for easy removal. Make these only 24 hours before gifting and be certain that they are stored in a cool and dry place.

posh little tip:

Bridal season is almost upon us. Are you looking for a memorable Bridesmaid invite? Look no further! Other fun uses: Favors for parties of all kinds, especially wedding related celebrations such as engagements and bachelorette.

More inspiration is on the way! Until then, stay posh!

This DIY concept was seen first on Posh Little Designs. All images are photographed and owned property of Posh Little Designs.

Strawberry Nutella Dessert Panini

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

World Nutella Day was on Tuesday the 5th and although I wasn’t able to get this post up in time to celebrate (chasing two kids around is a full-time job,) the holiday was enough to inspire a little treat…even if it took a few extra days to make. Now before I go any further, let me announce that Nutella does include both dairy and soy ingredients so this is not a treat for me to enjoy but my husband and 3-year-old daughter certainly loved tasting these little ‘sweethearts” today. And with Valentine’s day just one week away, making something with a chocolate hazelnut spread and strawberries seemed appropriate because we all know how well chocolate and strawberries go together. Well this treat is certainly no exception. A modern twist on the classic chocolate strawberry that your “sweetheart” will truly adore.

Also featured is an incredibly simple DIY. See below for the easiest instructions ever!

Strawberry Nutella Dessert Panini

Supplies/Ingredients

Panini Press

4 slices of whole grain bread

Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread

4 Fresh strawberries rinsed and sliced into rounds

2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar (optional)

Heart shaped cookie cutters (optional)

1 paper towel.

Instructions

Slice strawberries into rounds and place on a paper towel to soak up excess juice.

Spread an even layer of nutella onto all slices of bread.

Cover two slices of the nutella bread with strawberry rounds, placing remaining two slices of nutella bread atop the strawberries, creating two sandwiches.

Place both nutella and strawberry sandwiches in Panini press and cook for 2-4 minutes until bread has grill marks and is perfectly golden brown.

Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2 minutes.

If you are Celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, you can cut your Panini into festive shapes using a heart cookie cutter (warning…this can get a little messy.) Check out my etsy shop to purchase one today. You still have time to receive it before Valentine’s Day!

Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

When I started photographing these sweetheart sandwiches they began to remind me of breakfast and french toast which got me thinking…how lovely would these be on a romantic brunch menu for two!?

Decadent. Divine. Delish.

DIY Heart Sticker Toppers

This DIY is almost simple enough to not need instructions. The toppers literally take seconds to make and add a dash of posh to any treat in mind.

Supplies

Decorative toothpicks

Glittery heart dimensional stickers

Tape

Instructions

Simply apply the stickers to the top of each toothpick.

Place a small piece of tape on the back to make sure they stay secure.

They are ready for use.

Dress up your cupcakes, cookies and any other dessert you can think of this Valentine’s Day!

More posh is on the way! Check back again soon.

Valentine’s DIY – U are my Rock

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Posh Little Designs

It’s officially February today and Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away. For those of you who are anti this holiday I do apologize for the consistent reminders appearing on the blog this month. Perhaps I can make it up to you by sharing a sweet little DIY that’s not just for those who are in love, but for everyone. A handmade and affordable gift featuring rock sugar swizzle sticks found at Trader Joes and a festive loose leaf tea. I’ve titled it “u are my rock,” so the ideal recipient would be a person in your life who has been your support system or source of inspiration. Someone you want to show gratitude to on Valentine’s Day, like your mother, sister, daughter, BFF or anyone else deserving of this sweet gift from the heart.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies/Materials

Rock sugar swizzle sticks (as many as you’ll be giving out).

Paper cutter & scissors or a craft knife.

Editable party flag template from Little Flamingo. This will be used to display the special verbiage on the swizzle sticks.

1 sheet of plain colored or patterned A4 paper.

Printer.

Double stick tape.

1 serving of your favorite loose tea or ground coffee.

Small clear cellophane bags.

Bakers twine or ribbon.

Instructions

(instructions for party flags adapted from Little Flamingo)

1. Simply click on the link above and fill in the template by typing the words “u are my rock” in the blanks (you could also add a little heart to one side of the party flag…see images below.) Once you’ve typed the verbiage into the desired number of columns, you will want to print the template onto the paper of your choice.

2. Using your paper-cutter, or craft knife, cut out the flags on the lines shown on the printed template. (You should end up with several rectangles.)

3. Take a piece of double stick tape that’s the length of one side of the party flag and cut it into two strips. Apply one of the two strips to the inside of the flag.

4. Take one swizzle stick and place it on the fold of the party flag. Wrap both sides of the flag around the wood and seal with your fingers, being certain to line up the ends.

5. If you so choose, you can cut a small triangle out of the end of each flag for a decorative finish.

Repeat these steps until you’ve attached flags to your desired number of swizzle sticks.

Gift Assembly

1. Spoon 1 serving of your favorite loose tea or coffee (or your recipients favorite) into a small cellophane bag.

2. Insert the flag decorated swizzle stick sugar side down into the center of each tea filled bag.

8. Seal the bag by tying a bow around it with bakers twine or ribbon and they are ready for gifting.

For an extra special gift, include a festive mug like the one seen above (found at Pier 1) or add in a heart-shaped tea strainer.

The tea that I chose to make these gifts came from The Spice Hut which is a local spice and tea house in my home town. Not only do I love their teas but I am a long time friend of the owner who is a continued inspiration to me. The tea that I’ve featured in this post is one of her special Valentine’s blends called “Love Struck.” It’s black tea with strawberries, coconut, rose petals and edible sugar hearts that melt in your cup while you sip. Both delicious and incredibly adorable! If you’re local, be sure to stop in and try their amazing blends. Their shop is truly a slice of tea heaven.

And as always, be sure to check back soon for your next dose of Valentine’s posh.

♥

A DIY concept seen first on Posh Little Designs

DIY: Glitter Clothespins – holiday edition

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Posh Little Designs

Im sure many of you know that I love glitter, but just to reiterate how much I love sparkle and shimmer I’m revisiting one of my favorite posts of the year. And this time I’m adding a festive color scheme to get you in the holiday crafting spirit.

Glitter Clothespins - Holiday

Here’s what you’ll need

Supplies

Clothespins

Scotch tape

Glitter glue (easier and quicker than the double stick tape used in the original post)

Red, silver and gold glitter

Plain sheet of paper

Glitter Clothespins Holiday Edition

Instructions

Add one piece of scotch tape to the very top of the clothespin, leaving enough hanging off the edge to pull later (this is for the portion that you will leave un-glittered, as seen above.)

Apply a thin, but even layer of craft glue to the untaped portion of the clothespin.

Place the clothespin on a piece of scrap paper (glue side up) and pour glitter over top, covering completely.

Once applied allow to dry for 1 hour, then shake off the excess.

Repeat these steps to make additional sparkly pins.

Use the sheet of paper to pour any leftover glitter back into the original containers.

Glitter Clothespins - Holiday

A simple, versatile and glamorous holiday craft.

Dress up your gift tags or use them to display Christmas Cards, holiday photos, garland or stockings in a posh and glitter way.

And as always be sure to check back soon for more!

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Tag Archives: DIY

Create – DIY Chalkboard Clothespins

DIY Chalkboard Clothespins

Paris Party Essentials

DIY Chalkboard Trays

Edible Easter Baskets – DIY

Mini Edible Easter Baskets

Hand Painted Easter Eggs – DIY

swoon list

Supplies

Instructions

DIY: Ring Pop Valentine

Handmade Hearts Card

Ring Pop Valentine

Valentine’s DIY – U are my Rock

Supplies/Materials

Instructions

Gift Assembly

DIY: Glitter Clothespins – holiday edition

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DIY Chalkboard Clothespins

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Chocolate Easter Bunnies – DIY

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Mini Edible Easter Baskets

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swoon list

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Handmade Hearts Card

Ring Pop Valentine

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Strawberry Nutella Dessert Panini

DIY Heart Sticker Toppers

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