DIY Candy Dish {Made for Just $2}

I love throwing parties and entertaining family and friends, and today I'm sharing with you a great way I came up with to serve candy (or anything else) in a pretty pedestal bowl with a stand that can be customized in any color! 

Want to know the best part?  Each candy bowl on a stand can be made for only $2!  Cool, right?  These little dishes are the perfect holders for serving candy at parties, entertaining, decoration, or just for snacking on at home!  You can fill it with anything, too, it doesn't have to be just candy…. there's endless possibilities!  My friends at Krylon sent me a big box of free paint to play with, so I have been doing lots of painting this week, and can't wait to share more fun crafts with you!

Here are the easy directions!  These dishes do come with a warning- "Highly Addictive," because once you make one, you're going to want to keep going and making more!  You have been warned.

Supplies: 

• Small- medium-glass bowl (Check your local dollar store- my bowl was only $1)
• Candlestick (Also from the dollar store for just $1)
• Spray paint in your preferred color (I used Krylon's Blue Ocean Breeze, one of my favorite Krylon colors!)
• E6000 adhesive, or another strong adhesive or glue

1.  Spray paint the top, bottom, and sides of the candlestick.  Be sure to spray in multiple thin coats, which will allow for better coverage.  

2.  Once the paint is dry, use some E600 to trace a thin ring of adhesive around the top of the candlestick.  Don't use too much glue- you don't want it oozing out from the candlestick.

Let dry according to the directions on the glue that you use, and voila, a beautiful little glass candy dish that matches your home or party decor!  And for only $2?  As Martha would say, "It's a good thing." ;)

Happy crafting!

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

Easy Football-Themed Frozen Balloon Drink Cooler + $100 Gift Card Giveaway

Thank you Dollar Tree for sponsoring this Football-Themed Frozen Balloon Drink Cooler.  As always, all opinions are 100% mine.

Practically all of San Diego was tuned in to the Chargers game a couple weeks ago, when our home town football team here in San Diego was seeking their first playoff win since 2008.  This was a big deal for our city, and we used it as a great excuse to eat some great food and cold drinks while watching the game!

I wanted a unique way to serve some retro style glass bottle sodas that I had been saving up for the game, so I used a fun idea from the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club that I just love!

Although ice and coolers are very effective at keeping drinks cool, they can also make a huge mess, so their solution was just perfect for my football game get together.  

You can find the directions for the Dollar Tree Frozen Balloon Drink Cooler HERE, on Dollar Tree's website.  While you're checking out the directions, be sure to sign up for the club! 

The Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club is a club full of crafts, recipes, decor, tips, contests, insider information, frugal fun ideas, and more!  Membership is totally free, and the ideas and tips change every month, so there are always fresh new ideas for you to discover.  Project sheets that are found online can be saved or printed, and are perfect for taking with you to the store as your shopping list.

Supplies I used:

• Balloons (from Dollar Tree- I picked out the blue and yellow colored balloons) 
• Large metal tub
• San Diego Chargers Sticker (or your favorite football team's sticker- make sure it's repositionable if you don't want it there permanently)
• Mini footballs (from Dollar Tree)

I used frozen balloons, as suggested in the directions, but chose to pick out and use the light blue, dark blue, and yellow balloons to go with my San Diego Chargers team colors.  Instead of using a large bowl, I used a large drink tub that I already had that was perfect for holding our drinks and ice!

After adding the Charger bolt to the front of the basket, and some frozen mini footballs to the inside of my tub cooler, we were all set to cheer on our team in style!  Much more festive than plain ice, don't you think?

Would you like to make your own?  Great, because I'm giving away a $100  Dollar Tree gift card to one of my readers!!  Exciting, right?  $100 goes a long way at Dollar Tree... that's 100 awesome items!  And the entry couldn't be any easier!  

Here's how to enter to win a $100 Dollar Tree gift card:

1.  Sign up for the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club (it's FREE).

2.  Leave a comment on this blog post, and make sure to include the email address you used when you signed up (to validate your entry).  I'd love to hear which project you'd like to try first!

The contest will end on Sunday, January 26th, 2014 at 11:59 pm, and I'll pick a random winner on Monday, January 27th.  Winner will be contacted by email.  Good luck!

If you'd like to see more great ideas from the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club, you can click on any of the photos below to see what other bloggers are creating.  Don't forget to join the club, and then leave a comment on this post with your email address.

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

You can also check out more Dollar Tree projects from other bloggers below…

Under the Sea Ocean Birthday Party Details

I'm very excited to share this Under the Sea party with you that I put together for my daughter's birthday.  Her party was at the very end of summer, and for the first half of the party we ate and chatted, and the last half we swam.  There are so many fun details that I'd love to share with you!

I chose to use turquoise and white for the colors of the whole party to give it a nice soft natural look.  I wanted the tables to have an ocean feel to them, so I covered them in layers of tulle and net. 

I scattered sea shells, starfish, and those little round glass marbles (they reminded me of bubbles) all over the tables to add to the under the sea theme.  

I also had some tiny little metal crab name card holders that I bought a few years ago from Pottery Barn that I used to hold the names of the food that fit perfectly.  I created the printable signs and all of the food signs with waves on them so they all coordinated and matched.  

There are so many sweet treats that you can serve at an ocean party!  

One of my very favorite things that I made was this edible ocean sea glass.  It is a hard candy that you can suck on (I made them mint flavored), but looks EXACTLY like pieces of sea glass that have been battered around by the ocean waves.  For the directions and recipe, just click here!

I even made them look frosty, like real sea glass!  I'll include a tutorial for those soon, because they're very easy to make, but are very impressive to serve.  Everyone loved them!

They looked great with the chocolate sea shells that I made.  These too were very easy, but looked great on the table.  I also used graham cracker crumbs mixed with brown sugar underneath some of the food to make it look like sand, to add the the ocean feel.

I made these fun oyster cookies with a "pearl" in the middle, and they were a hit!  I'll write a tutorial for these soon.  

I made some homemade salt water suckers in two different shapes (no salt water inside, I just like the name) using this tutorial I shared with you last year.

Seaweed popcorn was such a pretty color, and was easy to make using this recipe.

You'll never guess what the secret ingredient is that gives the popcorn its' color!  

I made this sign, and placed it in front of the candy and treats, along with these cute little cups from Wholeport that matched perfectly.  The kiddos all loved filling up their cups with candy themselves!

 The kids all devoured these gummy sharks!

What under the sea party would be complete without salt water taffy?  I bought the turquoise, blue, and white colored taffy to go with my party colors.

Now for the dinner… yes, I did start with the treats first! ;) I served a build your own taco bar, with tons of different options and toppings for everyone.

The tacos were absolutely delicious, and it was easy to put together since I did all of the prep work ahead of time.  Plus, everyone could make their own the way that they like it!

Then came the cake.  I just love how it turned out!  I made a lovely four layer hombre cake, with each layer a different color of turquoise and blue.  

I added more graham cracker and brown sugar "sand" to the top, along with some chocolate shells.  Please excuse the darkness of this picture.  I had to get all the kids out of the pool to sing happy birthday and cut the cake, and it was dark outside by then.

I also whipped up a handful of these hanging jellyfish that really added to the party theme.  I love the way the long tendrils would slightly flutter in the breeze.  I could watch real jellyfish for hours at the aquarium, and these were the closest I was going to get to having jellyfish at the party! ;)  I'll write up a tutorial for these, too, because I really had a lot of fun making them.

And now for my sweet birthday girl.  I made her a starfish barrette with just a starfish, some tulle, a clip, and some hot glue.  I also made her a freezer paper stenciled shirt with a dolphin and her name on it using the tutorial I shared with you here.  She wore a blue tutu as well that her sister wore for her Minnie Mouse party.  I always try to make some kind of shirt or outfit for the birthday boy or girl to make them feel extra special!  

I didn't plan any games for the party since all the kids swam for hours after we ate.  The party was a huge success, and I honestly had so much time planning it!  Thanks for letting me share with you!  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask below!

For more creative party ideas, check out my son's Jungle Safari party!  From free printable safari passes to a homemade base camp where the kids get outfitted, this party is tons of fun!

Throwing a party doesn't have to cost an arm and a let!  See how I decorated inexpensively with Duck tape for my daughter's Minnie Mouse zebra print birthday party.

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

Sharing here:  Show and Tell

Free Printable DIY Toy Plane Valentines

Let's face it.  Most valentines that your kids bring home from school are pretty…. well, boring.  I am trying to add a little originality to my kids' Valentine's Day cards this year, so I decided to make some myself!

I spotted some cute little plane toys at the 99 Cent Store that were PERFECT for making some free printable valentines for you (and me) to print, add a toy plane, and pass out to friends!

Your kids will be the coolest, you won't be giving out more candy (just what kids need these days, right?), and they will be original valentines that no one else in the class will be passing out.  It's a win win!  Oh, and the package of toy planes only cost $1 for five planes, so 20 cents per valentine is totally reasonable.  $5 for a class set for my kindergartner.

Here's the easy directions!

You'll Need:

• Free printable airplane valentines
• Toy planes (5 for $1 at the 99 Cent Store)
• Glue gun (or glue dots)
• Scissor of paper cutter

1.  Print and cut the free printable plane valentines.

2.  Use a small dot of hot glue on each wheels and under the front of the plane to attach the airplanes to each card.  Have your child sign his name on each one, and they're ready to go!!

I printed out two versions of the cards for you to choose from.  One that has the word "From" on it in the bottom right corner, and one that doesn't say "From" on it, the bottom is just blank.  There are four different sayings on each of the four cards that you can print.

Now I just have to hide these valentines so my kids don't start playing with the planes before they can pass them out!  Oh, and if you're worried about using hot glue to stick the planes on, don't worry!  If you use just a small dot of glue in each spot, the plane comes off if you pull it just a little bit.  The glue will definitely hold it in place for your kids to pass them out.

Here's another one of my favorites- free printable pirate valentines!  Just add a couple chocolate coins (dollar store carries these too!) for a unique and adorable boy valentine!

Here's a great Valentine's Day idea for the husband… an easy way to open up store-bought fortune cookies, remove the old boring fortune, and add your own own fun steamy fortunes (or use the free printable fortunes I include in the post)!!  Unique, easy, and oh so fun!

And while you're getting your craft on, these easy heart pillows will make your house look lovely!

Enjoy!

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

DIY Party Serving Dishes

Ever throw a party, only to realize you don't have enough serving dishes, and don't want to spend mega bucks buying all new dishes just for one party?

Last year I planned an awesome surprise ice cream sundae birthday party for my husband, using the colors turquoise and red.  I wanted to have tons of cute serving bowls for the ice cream sundae bar, with a different topping inside each bowl.  I wanted the bowls to be turquoise with a little height, and look kind of old fashioned.

However, I didn't have 18 dishes (for the 18 ice cream toppings) even close to looking like this, so I had to get creative!

I bought some of those cheap plastic bowls at the Dollar Tree that come in a pack of four (so 25 cents each), along with some cheap plastic champagne and margarita cups that came in a pack of six (so about 17 cents each).

Armed with my cheapo plastic ware and some spray paint and adhesive that I already had, I made some pretty cute turquoise party bowls, perfect for serving ice cream toppings at the party!

The most satisfying part is that during the party everyone was complementing me on the cute dishes, asking me where I found them ;)  They couldn't believe they were made out of dollar store plastic goods, and that I had made them myself...

Supplies:

• Plastic bowls (Dollar Tree)
• Plastic champagne and/or margarita cups (Dollar Tree)
• Spray paint (any color)
• E6000 adhesive (or other comparable strong glue)

Directions:

1.  The cups will come in two separate pieces- the top and the base.  Push the tops into the bases.  Turn a plastic bowl upside down, and place a plastic cup down on top of the bowl, upside down.  Apply some glue to the rim of the cup, and place firmly on the bowl.  Let dry according to the directions on the glue.

2.  Once the glue has dried, spray paint the piece upside down in multiple, light coats. Do not spray on thick coats, or the paint will drip and it won't look good.  Multiple light coats are much better!  Because you are spraying the bowls upside down, there will not be any spray paint inside of your dishes, and your dishes will be food safe.  

Once the paint is completely dry, flip the serving dish right side up, and marvel at how pretty and easy your new serving bowls are!  

I love that these can be customized to any colors so they match your party, and that they cost practically nothing to make!  I spent around $8 to make 18 of these pretty dishes! They end up costing about 42 cents each (before the paint and glue, which I already had), which is a total steal.

And just for fun, here are a couple of pictures from the party last year.  FYI., the photos are horrible!  It was dark, this was before my blog was born, and I was running around like a mad woman trying to run the party, so the photos are not the greatest- but, I wanted you to see my little serving bowls in action, filled with delectable ice cream toppings.

So what do you think?!  Do you like these dishes?  Would you ever try making these? What colors would you like to try?

Another inexpensive way to serve dessert is by baking cake inside of baby food jars for individual party servings.

One of my favorite ways to decorate inexpensively for a party is with Duck Tape!  Check out the zebra print Minnie Mouse birthday party I planned for my daughter, and how I incorporated zebra Duck Tape into the theme of the party!

You could also make this easy DIY cake pop and sucker stand for your next party!

xo, Laura

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

Linking Up Here: Tidy Mom, Craft-O-Maniac, Skip To My Lou, C.R.A.F.T., Lil' Luna, Ginger Snap Crafts, Whipperberry, 30 Days, Tatertots & Jello, The 36th Avenue, Lolly Jane, Sugar Bee Crafts