DIY Golden Peep Piñata

One of the most fun things about DIY blogging is making an unnecessarily large deal out of every holiday. I mean, I usually completely forget about St. Patrick’s Day (and get ruthlessly pinched by my sister), but this year I made wallpapers AND mocktails. And now that St. Patrick’s Day is passed, we are on to a little bit of Easter celebration before next weekend rolls around! I probably should’ve been doing these things about a month ago, but whatever, I’ve never been one to purchase my Christmas decorations at Halloween anyway!

Now on to the DIY. I love seeing all the fun piñatas people make for various holiday parties, throwback adventures, and the like. Even though they're a little time consuming, these piñatas are super easy and add a pretty lovely dose of whimsical fun! (I also had to make it gold, because I kind of have a thing with shiny stuff!) And yes, I will be hanging these in the kitchen or living room. That’s holiday décor at its finest I think!

You will need:

Corrugated cardboard

Box cutter (or craft knife)

Masking tape

Scissors

Gold tissue paper

Mod Podge (or a mixture of white glue and water if you prefer)

Pompoms

Step 1

Cut out 2 bunny shapes from cardboard. I did this by printing an online clip art image, tracing one bunny, then cutting it out and using it to trace the other so that they end up the same, simply because some curves are easier than others for a box cutter to handle. Make sure to use a lot of pressure when cutting, and if it doesn’t go all the way through, you can always cut a little from the back.

Also, for a size reference, the small bunny was as large as I could print on one piece of paper, and the larger bunny was as large as I could split the design on 3 pages. This was my source for the image! Thank you search engines. Seriously, what would we crafty people do without them?

Step 2

Cut strips of cardboard perpendicular to the corrugation, so that it will be able to bend and fold around curves. I used a 1 1/4" wide strip for the tiny bunny, and a 2” wide strip for the larger.

Step 3

Use masking tape to attach the strip around the edge of one of the bunny cut-outs. Make sure to use a lot of it at any corners to really tack those folds in the cardboard strip in place.

Step 4

Now secure the second bunny shape on top of the cardboard border. It may not be exactly the same size as the first bunny and border itself, so use multiple strips of masking tape next to one another to make the edge smooth.

Step 5

Cover the edges of the piñata with strips of gold tissue paper, using the Mod Podge to stick it down. I did this by pasting the tissue paper to the upright edge of the piñata with half of it hanging over, cutting slits in the unattached portion, then folding that down and pasting it in place on the front of the pinata. Repeat with a second strip, folding this one over to the "back" of the piñata, and add a strip down the center so that everything is covered.

Step 6

Now cut fringed strips to decorate the piñata with. Mine were typically about 1 1/2" wide, and I layered several strips and folded them so that cutting the fringe would be faster. (If I get serious about making holiday piñatas though, I would probably invest in fringe scissors!)

Step 7

Begin by gluing a wide, solid strip of gold paper to the front of the piñata, using Mod Podge. Then, work your way up, attaching fringed pieces of tissue paper in rows. You will want to make the strips slightly longer than the width of the piñata so that they can better fit its shape later. Also, don’t be afraid to finish one strip and start another in the same row. The tops of each strip will be covered so you can’t see the transition.

Step 8

Finish with narrow, solid strips of tissue paper at the tops of the ears to make it look clean and finished.

Step 9

Trim the excess tissues paper hanging off the edges of the piñata, and fold any extraneous paper over the edges if necessary. You can tack it down with Mod Podge to make everything a little cleaner.

If areas with steep curves, such as between the ears, you can glue the fringe in place before trimming, in case the top of the strip is cut off during trimming.

Step 10

Repeat steps 6-9 on the other side of the piñata.

Step 11
Add mini pompoms to make the eyes and nose on the Peep! I tried both brown and black, and ended up liking the dark brown better. You can also add a large white pompom to the "back" side of the piñata to make a fluffy bunny tail (which I regrettably forgot to snap a picture of)!

To hang the piñata:
Use awl or sharp object to punch two holes between the ears of the Peep piñata. Then, cut a piece of thick string or thin rope to the appropriate length (I eyeballed this), and wrap a piece of Scotch tape around each end of it. Insert a dot of hot gule into one of the holes, and push end taped end of the string through until you cannot see the tape. Between the hot glue and the snug fit of the string, this should hold your piñata hanger in place. Repeat with the other end of the string.

And if you would like to add candy, you can cut a hole at the top of the bunny, probably atop one of the ears, fill the piñata, and tissue paper the gap closed.

I am actually really happy that I made a small Peep first, then decided to go bigger,so that I have a little Peep family. If they don’t end up hanging in that living room, a centerpiece or spot on the fireplace mantle might be an amazing way to display these cuties-they actually stand on their own believe it or not! (Flatten out the bottom of your template if you are unsure your template will make that happen!)

Now while this is by far the easiest piñata-making method (papier-mâché is always such a huge mess for me), I have seen a lot of other techniques that may be fun for otter piñata shapes!

What’s your opinion on novelty, holiday piñatas? Want me to make more? (All gold, of course :P)

Stay lovely,

FREE Printable Valentine's Bingo!

Happy Galentine's Day! Thanks to Leslie Knope, today has totally caught on as a day of "ladies celebrating ladies," whether it be for brunch, movie night, or whatever else sounds fun! Regardless of your plans today though, I thought I'd jump into the game with a little gift for my readers--free printable bingo filled with conversation heart phrases and pastel colors! (And I guess the guys can use it too, if they feel so inclined.)

It's 16 cards to play on, along with cards to draw from at the end of the file. And for markers, I definitely recommend conversation hearts. I hope you love all the colors as much as I do!

CUPID'S BINGO! <3

I wish you a wonderful Galentine's Day today and lovely Valentine's Day tomorrow! It just makes me so happy to celebrate love in all forms. Okay, and treat myself a little. That seems to be one of the main points of this anyway right?!

Now if you'll excuse me,  have a farmer's market to attend, and some Tangled to watch!

Stay lovely,

DIY Valentine's Paper Straw Banner

Do you ever see something completely intended to be functional, but really only understand it as pretty? For me, watches are a big one. I know they obviously tell time (like duh Corin), but they make such beautiful accessories that that purpose seems totally secondary to me. Another thing that fell in that category for a long time was paper straws. Why would they need to be anything other than adorable, right? Well last weekend I published a cute little tutorial for sweet and sour variations on Shirley Temples, and in the background of those pics was a fun little straw banner made just for Valentine’s Day as well. This thing was so easy and inexpensive to make that I decided to do a tutorial for it too, so that those paper straws can shine in all their adorableness!

You will need:

Paper straws (I used 15, bought in the Target dollar section)

Ruler

String

Needle (larger is better)

Scissors

Step 1

Measure one straws and cut each into 3 pieces. You can cut the first one, then use one of those pieces as a reference for all the others to make things less fussy!

Step 2

With the string attached to the spool (cuz it’s hard to know exactly how much you need), thread the needle and string 3 straw pieces on. The weight of the needle will just make it easier for everything to thread through. Then feed the string back through the first straw piece in the same direction as before. This will create a triangle shape. Also, we are going to now call that double-strung piece the base!

Step 3

Slide the triangle down the string toward the spool by grasping the base and gently pulling—if you grip somewhere else, your triangle might not seem inclined to slide! Repeat again and again and again and… (I didn’t think it was necessary to say “again” 14 more times…)

Step 4

Unthread the needle and loop that end of the string around the corner of the last triangle and tie a knot as seen above. Cut off the string from the spool side, and slide the triangles toward the tied end until taut. Tie off the remaining end in the same fashion.

Step 5

Add a length of string to each end if necessary, for hanging purposes. Since I strung them together with green so you could follow, I added white to the ends to it would hang up discreetly.

Step 6

If you would like, bend each base in the center to create a nod to a little heart shape!

I know that is a lot of words for something “super easy” but hopefully you got this! (If you don’t, please ask!) Because about $4 and 20 minutes later you have a really cute banner! You can even make fancy drinks to match it, as well as the plethora of other cute V-Day crafts found in every nook and cranny of Pinterest.

All the fun little backdrop additions were crafted with glittered scrapbook paper (found at Hobby Lobby) and paper doilies left over from my Thanksgiving Table Runner! I kind of had to rapidly style this up during a lunch break, but I think it beautifully does the job.

Are you up to any Valentine’s Day crafting or busy admiring any sneakily functional cuteness?

Stay lovely,

DIY Thanksgiving Table Runner

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow! It’s crazy for me because my break started today and when I return I only have a week and a half of class and then finals! The holidays seem more exciting than ever because it means going home to my family and successfully surviving my first semester of college.

So because I am practically bursting at the seams with holiday joy, I wanted to honor tomorrow’s special day the way crafty bloggers do—with a DIY! And also because I am seriously in love with this little idea Sammy and I came up with last night when we surely should have been sleeping. (Teehee)

You will need:

A roll of Kraft paper

Scissors

Tape measure

Ruler or yardstick

Pencil and eraser

Chisel tip Sharpie or Marks-a-lot

6” paper doilies

Tape

Step 1

Measure the length of the table for your feast, in both length and width. Add 2 feet to the table’s length, measure this length of Kraft paper and cut from the roll. You can also cut the strip skinnier to suit your table. (I had a 30” wide roll and cut it in half.)

Step 2

Using the yardstick, mark horizontal lines down the length of the kraft paper every 6” or so. This will keep you horizontal as you write, and can even be used as a spacing guide for the items.

Step 3

Make a long list of all the things you are thankful for! I also added boxes with checkmarks, because I am a very blessed girl :)

Step 4

Cut the paper doilies in half, and tape to the back of the runner so they stick out as shown!

Step 5

Add a vase full of autumn blooms, festive pumpkins, some metallic confetti perhaps, and the million and one dishes you plan on serving up, and you have a lovely Thanksgiving place setting!

And there ya go—a table runner in 30 minutes! I think even the craziest of cooks might be able to squeeze that in, right? I hope your Thanksgiving is full of loved ones, God’s blessings, and amazing food! I for one will be either cooking the day away or in a blissful food coma all of tomorrow!

Stay lovely,

Tips for Hanging String Lights

One décor trend that I’ve been pretty hooked on for a while is string lights! I love how soft and romantic they look lit up, and how they can either fill up a whole wall as the focus of interest or act as a detail to frame other art and décor. I had a strand hung in my bedroom throughout high school, and now, here in my new college home, I have been going a little crazy using them to accent décor everywhere. That also means that I’ve had a good deal of practice hanging them, and I gotta tell you, it’s way easier than you probably think!

I thought it might be handy to share a few of my tips and methods for hanging these babies. Because let’s face it, twinkling lights obviously make the season more magical.

Safety First, Babe

Sorry that I gotta mom you right off the bat, but before you make a purchase make sure that if your lights will be hung outdoors, you buy them for outdoors. Also, if you’re your lights will be near anything flammable, or resting on a wall while lit for long periods of time unattended, go for LED. No matter how pretty your new string lights are, if they start a fire or short circuit your power, you won’t be enjoying them much.

DIY Lighted Floral Garland here

Get the Right Lights for the Space

Also consider the colors you’re going for, and whether white or green wire will better fade into the background, assuming you prefer that look. Look at your space and see if you want a small accent or a big statement. The color of the light—warm white, slightly-blue LED, or even colored bulbs--can totally change to the look of a space.

And in case all that freaked you out, a warm white LED on white wire is neutral enough for just about anywhere. But oh my goodness, fairy lights are so darling too! (Just a little pricier… yay college.)

 Map It Out

Having a good idea of what you want your lights to look like when hung up is a great place to start with design. For a full wall, first decide if you want scallops, a big swag, or a straight upper border, etc, and how evenly-spaced you want the lights to be. For example, in my current room, I have 2 kinds of lights—one in even scallops and the other in a big swag. However, the same lights in my room before were in a row of scallops decreasing in size to give a completely different effect as I worked around a cabinet hung on the wall.

A great way to get a picture of this is to use a piece of yarn the same length as your light strand and tape to map out the spacing and placement of your lights, especially when using a continuous strand of small lights. When working with large bulbs, you can also be a nerd do this mathematically (like third grade math though) by dividing up the number of bulbs into scallops in your head. The strand on the pink wall above has 24 bulbs, so every sixth bulb was hung on a hook to make it even the easy way.

Mini Cinderella Pumpkins and DIY Metallic Ombre Wall Art

Work with What You Have (AKA embrace the lazy)

A while ago, my sister had loft bed, so she hung lights underneath it in her study space by weaving the strands through the rungs on the underside of the bed. Here in C-Stat, there were already 2 hooks attached under the fireplace when we moved in, so we simply draped a strand of lights over those.

Hang Em’ Right (here’s a few methods I’ve used)

Loops of String

Crown molding at my old home made it difficult to hang lights right near the wall, so I had to improvise a little. Simply tie a loop at each end of a very short piece of sting or fishing line. One loop will connect to your light strand, whether hooked on or tied around it, and the other can go over the point of a clear pushpin. Just stick the pin into the ceiling or wall, and your lights will hang down from that. This was perfect for the particular room it was in, and is also a safer option if you have non-LED lights that will be left on for a really long time—less heat transfer to the wall.

Command hooks

This is the only method of used here at the new house because it really is as simple and easy as following the directions on the package. That said, different strengths of hooks do play a big part in how your lights will hang (and not fall on you while you sleep. I recommend larger hooks, like these medium wire hooks, at the corners of your light strands or any place that will have a lot of weight on it. For small sections of lights and to position cords down the wall, decorating clips or mini hooks work well. Just remember to safe rather than sorry, especially when hanging large glass bulbs over hard floors. I also have found it’s easier to anchor the strand with the bigger hooks in the corners, then position the middle of the strand instead of trying to work horizontally across a wall. (I’m not sponsored, I just know that this is what worked for me!)

Cup hooks

This is ideal for spaces that will get more wear or be more permanent, such as anywhere outdoors. Make sure to size your hooks for the size lights you’re going to use, and plan them out well before hanging, because they will leave holes. Sometimes these guys are little finicky to get screwed in, but I’ve found the screwing in regular screw of about the same size a few turns before trying to put the cup hook makes the process a bit easier. This is definitely the most labor intensive and permanent option for hanging, but for outdoor spaces or discreet locations, it is the sturdiest.

Get Creative

Last but not least, have fun putting lights up in an unconventional area, or hang them in different ways! Vary the type of strands you use, and don’t let the seasonal trends confine you! (Kinda like clothes, am I right?)

This has to be the season for string lights, because outdoor summer lights like these are bound to be on sale soon, and more basic holiday ones are filling shelves! (I’m definitely stockpiling those at the moment.) Plus nothing says winter wonderland to me quite like chilly weather, big sweaters, and oodles of glowing lights!

I hope some of these tips were helpful as you add a little lighted fantasy to your life! I’m not sure if this counts as holiday decorating, but it’s sure reminiscent of the holidays if you ask me! How are you sneaking in your stash of holiday décor?

Oh, and comment with any questions you may have!

Stay lovely,

Speedy (and Glamorous) Halloween Decor and Treats

Hello friends! Happy Halloween! I’ve been offline for the past few days because my sister dearest and I were prepping for a cute little Halloween get together and well… we can get a little carried away with our decorating sometimes! (And then there’s the whole vacuuming and cleanliness nonsense that you have to attend to so your friends don’t think you’re gross!)

Anyway, of course I am here today to show you all the decorations and treats we put together! It’s basically a compilation of last minute projects and speedy sweets in case your party prep is a little behind schedule, as ours always is! Oh, and all the gold and shiny. *heart eyes emoji* (Cue the playlist.)

So food first? Obviously. (Yes, I just answered my own question. That is just how passionate I am about it.)

We used my cake mix cookies recipe in chocolate cake and white cake with mini chocolate chips! And to get fancy (we had to), food dye, gold sprinkles, and this super nifty food-safe Color Mist in gold!

Next up was pumpkin dip, which is basically light, fluffy pumpkin pie filling that is a) perfect for graham crackers and b) seriously addicting. We adapted this recipe by using ½ can (15 oz) pumpkin pie mix (instead of regular canned pumpkin and the spices), 16 oz cool whip, and 1 package vanilla pudding mix! Just mix it all together (and you know that it’s the best of both worlds… childhood.)

And then they were these yummy little cinnamon sugar bites resultant of my failures in the kitchen. I will be sharing the (insanely easy) recipe for those soon!

Last but not least, the amazing Elfin Cheesecake, which was sadly consumed before I could photograph it. Not to worry though, our cake decorating kind of failed anyway, so you aren’t at too much of a loss! (But seriously, make this.)

Okay, okay so now décor! Our key players were a bag of plastic bones spray-painted gold (this paint), my mini Cinderella pumpkins, cheap purple tablecloths, black lace and all manner of nonsensical glass bottles and pretty, creepy goblets. And then I threw flowers and confetti everywhere (basically my life), and Sam made the super cute Wi-Fi password signs! So here is a deluge of photos of all that:

I hope it’s not too late to for you to throw together some fun Halloween décor! Let me know how you have been or will be decorating this year!

Stay lovely,