Think About It Thursday: Bright-Kite Delight

Think About It Thursdays are an opportunity to learn something fabulous every week; a fresh perspective on an old stand by, a lesson learned or a tip to share – take a minute and just Think About It…

If you read yesterday’s post you learned how to create a custom kite. For some it’s a fun craft project but if you Think About It it’s a fun detail that can be incorporated into your baby shower decor and then transferred into your baby’s nursery. This fun DIY is a great way to incorporate some meaning behind your details and make a memory that will follow your baby into childhood.

Below you will see how we incorporated our DIY kite idea into a kite-themed baby shower:

For the mother and father to be, this design process was a particularly rewarding experience; the couple were able to select fabrics that matched with their nursery decor as well as choose patterns that reflected their personalities and style.

Invitations are a fun and creative way to tie in your DIY project with your theme. We incorporated the kite and kite fabric into all the centerpieces and paper details. We were able to play with color, texture, fabric and patterns with this kite inspired baby shower.

1. The Mommy and Daddy to be both chose pictures of themselves as children with their parents to use as table cards – note the kite accent detail.

2. You can never go wrong with a kite inspired cupcake and a candy licorice tail. Note: Ribbons to accent the clear cupcake package were selected to compliment the kite’s fabric.

3. These hand cut mini-kite place cards helped set the tone for the celebration. All mini-kites had matching fabric with the larger kites that soared above.

If you Think About It, this DIY project is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s not only a a fun project that you can do with family and friends, but a talking point for your shower and colorful detail piece for your nursery. After hearing back from this mother reflecting on her shower, she said the greatest gift was watching her daughter enjoy this kite and having a sentimental keepsake to always remember the special day.

D.I.Y. – Custom Kiddy Kite

With today being the Summer Solstice, we wanted to celebrate the start of Summer with a fun DIY that is perfect for any child’s birthday, baby shower, nursery or just to have in your child’s craft area.

The idea behind this DIY is it’s simple to do yet has a large impact with multiple possibilities. It’s easy, fun and can be used again and again.

Step 1: Gather your supplies – you will need two 3 ft. flat wooden craft sticks, 4 yards of your favorite fabrics, ribbon, 1-2 yards of tool, embellishments (e.g. pompom balls, flat crystals, butterflies), glue gun, scissors

Step 2: With the hot glue gun, glue the craft sticks together at the center.

Step 3: Measure out the necessary fabric per triangle (4 triangles per side) – feel free to play around and mix and match the fabrics.

Step 4: Roll in the edge of the fabric to give a clean line, then hot glue the folded seams to your wood stick base. Repeat for each triangle.

Step 5: Embellish your kite – get inspired and play with your details, we chose to use pom pom balls and flat crystal beads in varying sizes. We also added a fun ribbon across the seams of our kite.

Step 6: For your kite tail, the texture is important. Tool is great as it gives a soft and flowing look, but ribbon, yarn and twine help give it dimension. Tip: Think about where this tail is going – is it going across a room or down a wall? This dictates the fabric choice. Don’t forget to add some embellishments, we love our butterfly details.

Wishing you all a happy start to your Summer – stay tuned for part II of our Kiddy Kite DIY to see how this fun project has been incorporated into into a baby shower celebration.

D.I.Y. Hen and Chicks: Our Brown Thumb Solution

If you have a brown thumb like us, we have found the perfect plant for you. Hen and Chicks are everywhere this season in bridal magazines, bouquets, and home decor. It’s the plant that keeps on giving. Once you have one hen, you will have chicks for years on end.

Working with Hen and Chicks is as easy as one, two, three:

1. Find a Hen at your local garden shop or ask a friend to share.

2. Gather an assortment of rocks in your garden and any type of soil – you don’t need much.

3. Find your favorite container. We tried combining teacups with other items just laying around the house!

Feel free to play around and get creative. There’s no wrong way to create a centerpiece, favor, or home decoration. Check out a couple of our fun ideas below:

Feel free to share how you have gotten creative with Hen and Chicks this season!

D.I.Y. Asparagus Bruschetta

When we came across this delicious D.I.Y. we knew we had to share it. Nothing is more tasty, not to mention economical, than to incorporate fresh Farmers Market vegetables into your meals. Check out this easy-to-follow recipe from our dear friends over at Event Trender, they always keep us on top of the food trend. This Farmer’s Market inspired Asparagus Bruschetta is a perfect (and in season) patio appetizer that is sure to become a household favorite.

Start by chopping some fresh asparagus, boil and drain in ice water.

Slice heirloom tomatoes in small quarters.

Prepare grated fresh lime…

Chop, mince and slice fresh garlic, basil and green onions…

Mix all ingredients listed below and add olive oil and balsamic.

Slice a french baquette and brush a small amount of olive oil on the bread.  Place in the oven for about five minutes (400 degrees) until lightly toasted.

Spoon asparagus mixture on each toasted baquette and sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese

Are you hungry yet?

Here is the official how to…

• 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 cups of water
• 2 cups of chopped heirloom tomatoes
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1/4 teaspoon sea-salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 12 slices French baguette, toasted
• 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the asparagus; cover and boil for 2-4 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.

In a bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, basil, onions, lime juice, oil, balsamic, garlic, lime peel, salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, spoon asparagus mixture onto toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese and enjoy!

Thank you e-trender for this tasty D.I.Y.

Bridal Make-Up: Do You D.I.Y. or D.I.F.Y.?

To some brides, hiring a make-up artist for their wedding day seems like an unnecessary luxury.  However, it’s important to weigh the benefits before making a final decision. To help answer the question of, “Do I need a make-up artist?” we asked Ana Buitrago, an established make-up artist who freelances for Mac and also owns her own company. Ana is always up on the current make-up trends and was kind enough to share a few tips for our readers. If you have an upcoming wedding and are conflicted about whether or not you want a make-up artist, here are a few tips from Ana to help you make your decision.

[Photo credit: Ana Buitrago, MAC]

Six reasons you should D.I.F.Y. (Do It For Yourself) and hire a make-up artist for your wedding day:

• A make-up artist uses application techniques and products to ensure that your makeup will look flawless all day long
• A make-up artist will make sure all blemishes are properly covered, and can add a little extra to your look, such as faux lashes to bring out your eyes
• Your wedding day is a day to be pampered, and getting your makeup done should be a relaxing (not stressful!) experience
• A make-up artist will help you choose colors that best suit your skin tone and a style that fits your needs for your big day
• A make-up artist will only use makeup that looks good in pictures and won’t make your skin look washed out or muddy
• You’ve got your dream dress and you’re getting your hair done, so why not make sure your face is picture perfect also!

Should you decide to forgo hiring a make-up artist, here are some great D.I.Y. tips on doing your own bridal make-up:

• Choose a long-wearing foundation with good coverage that also looks good in pictures
• Choose an eyeliner and mascara that are waterproof just in case of happy tears
• Stay away from trend makeup for your wedding. Instead choose neutral eye shadow colors like bronze and mauve tones that never go out of style
• Use a lip liner before applying your lip color to add definition and staying power
• Use primers before applying your foundation and eye shadow to keep your makeup flawless all day

Should you have any questions you’d like to ask Ana, feel free to let us know or contact her directly:

www.anabuitrago.com | ana@anabuitrago.com | Facebook | Twitter

D.I.Y. Vintage Chalkboard Decor

Add some personality to your next event! We know you’ve seen chalkboards used as signage for menus, directions and seating, now it’s time to try adding your own design to this fun detail piece in five easy steps:

Step 1: Finding cool vintage frames. They come in all different shapes and sizes as well as ornamentation. Try scoping out Craig’s List, nearby garage sales, vintage stores or your grandmother’s attic.

Step 2: Once you’ve found some frames you love, remove the centerpieces and measure the inside of the frame for the board insert that you will be adding.

Step 3: Go to Home Depot or any hardware store and buy particle board (they will custom cut any sizes you need). Make sure the thickness is ¾ inches in diameter.

Step 4: Paint the smooth side of the particle board with chalkboard paint (this can also be purchased from Home Depot).

Step 5: Adhere the dried chalkboard into your frame.

Voila! You have created a customized and unique detail for your event.

Check us out every Wednesday for more DIY ideas. If you’d like to share some of your own clever DIYs we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line at ideas@somethingfab.com

D.I.Y. Ribbon Rose

Love is in the details. Having Midori Ribbon as a vendor, we were excited when we came across this great “how to” and thought we would share. Create this ribbon rose for a favor box, place card, table card, or just to brighten your day : )