Thursday, July 31, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #169

The Answer Is Chocolate

Hi all! Hope you've had a wonderful week and thanks for joining the party once again and sharing your latest creations. Some highlights from last week's party. 


I am drawn to book crafts and also love flower crafts. This project from Some of This and That combines both in this gorgeous book flower.  Super simple to make and what a great accent piece. 


In keeping with a book theme, how about these fun Bohemian Bookmarks from the blog Designs by Miss Mandee? She has a FREE download for you! 


I must have paper on my mind this week because this gorgeous paper wreath by Jen at My Scrappy Chic. Beautiful!

As for this week's chocolate feature, well it speaks for itself!


Oreo Cookies Torte ( to die for) from Culinary Flavors. Oh My!

Now, on to this week's party!

   
   


Monday, July 28, 2014

DIY Upscale Men's Leather Bracelets

Men's Leather Bracelets

I’ve mentioned before how happy I am to have guys in my life who don't complain about trips to bead stores and even ask me to make jewelry for them! OK maybe not those times when  they pick out stuff more expensive than I was thinking but overall…yep…still happy!

Mr. Chocolate and I were having a daycation one weekend and we were near a store I’ve long wanted to go to in Seattle : Fusion Beads. DANGER!! This place is amazing, especially if you are looking for something extra special.

I’ve seen some really nice leather and metal bracelets in stores but ca-ching. Out of my price range. Fortunately, Fusion Beads carries some gorgeous leathers and best of all the big bold findings that go with the leather. We had fun picking out the components for each and I'm really happy with the  results.

Men's Peace Bracelet

Mr. C and I decided we liked this aged brown Regaliz 10MM flat leather for both him and College Boy. Priced at $.37 per inch, the total per bracelet for the leather was $2.96.

Leather Slider Bracelet

The closures are magnetic and you simply glue each end to the end of the leather after adding whatever slider beads you want.  The beads range in price from $1 up and the clasps were about $6. Total cost to make each bracelet was about $12. A far FAR cry from this one below by David Yurman  (whose designs I love but... ) @ $595.
Modern Cable ID Bracelet


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Thursday, July 24, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #168

The Answer Is Chocolate

Happy Friday Eve everyone. Welcome to another party. Hope wherever you are you are staying cool ! This week's features all have a bit of a modern twist. Let's see shall we? 


I am in love with these DIY concrete tea light holders from Jenise at DIY Fun Ideas. Can you guess what she used for the molds? 


Jenise's candlesticks go perfectly with this mid-century modern DIY house number sign by DIY Mother. So many possibilities using letters, special numbers ( birth dates, anniversary dates etc. ). 


Both of these would fit right in with this modern but budget friendly glam dining room makeover from Megan at She Said

This week's chocolate feature also incorporates a modern twist. How about a triple chocolate cinnamon roll?  Thank you (I think!)  to Some of This and That for sharing!


Now on to this week's party!

   
   


Monday, July 21, 2014

Copper and Blue Tassel Necklace and Teardrop Earrings

Blue Moon Copper and Blue

I’ve been on a blue kick lately. Sharing this birthday present I made using copper chain and shades of blue beads. All supplies are from Blue Moon Beads for which I am a design team member. Design is my own.

Copper and Blue Necklace

The necklace is a single woven chain in hues of copper with a little silver so I used silver jump rings and silver rimmed blue beads throughout along with copper and light blue tinted pearl embellished charms.

Blue and Copper Pendant

The pendant is a combination of the copper and pear charms, the blue beads, and extra chain.

Blue Moon Blue and Copper Earrings

For the earrings, I used the same light blue beads from the necklace along with teardrop glass beads in variegated shades of blue.

BMB Copper and Blue



Thursday, July 17, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #167

The Answer Is Chocolate

Happy Friday Eve all. Hope you're having a great week. Another fun party last week and here are a few  highlights!


Who doesn't love an Anthropologie knockoff? Love these tassel key chains that Kim from Made In A Day shared. They could also be adapted to make a fun pendant or earrings. 


Artsy VaVa shared another fabulous furniture transformation. Love this chippy milk  paint finish she did to highlight the needlepoint seat. 


Transformations aren't just for furniture. Mich in LA is back with another great jewelry makeover you need to check out!

This week's chocolate feature is a classic combination of chocolate and peanut  butter. Some of you  of a certain age may recall the "you got chocolate in my peanut butter / you got peanut butter in my chocolate" commercials. Who cares who got what in what. Eat these Reeses Cupcakes from Sarah at Saralynnssweets


Now, on to this week's party!

   
   








Sunday, July 13, 2014

No Bake Layered Cheesecake Parfaits

Cheesecake Parfait Text

Like cheesecake? Hate to bake? Then this is a recipe you might like.  I made these recently and sent a pic to College Boy and I received a special request for them while we’re together .

Ingredients:
  • 2 Pkg Cream Cheese
  • 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Graham Crackers (I used Honey Maid and used one sleeve from the box)
  • Strawberries
  • Dark Chocolate (I used 3 regular sized Hershey’s dark chocolate bars)
  • Whipping Cream

To make the cheesecake filling. ( It is so easy I didn’t even take pictures mostly because I forgot but still….)
Mix 2 packages of cream cheese with one can of sweetened condensed milk. I just beat with my hand mixer until well blended. Chill at least an hour but this is a great make ahead so you can make a day or more in advance. This will make enough filling for about 4 6 oz servings.

While your filling is chilling, make your graham cracker crumbs and the dark chocolate ganache.

For the crumb layer, crush graham crackers in food processor or you can break up and put in a large plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Mix with a little melted butter.

Chocolate Ganache

For the ganache, heat 1/3 C whipping cream in microwave until hot but not boiling. Break dark chocolate bars into bowl, pour whipping cream over, stir to blend and let cool.

Layered Cheesecake Parfait

I chilled my glasses but you don’t have to. Starting with the crumbs, spoon into glasses  followed by a layer of the ganache and then the cream cheese filling.

Cheesecake Parfait

Repeat and top with sliced strawberries. This is also fun to do in shot glasses for a dessert buffet.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #166

The Answer Is Chocolate

Happy Friday Eve everyone. Hope you've had a wonderful week. Getting excited to see College Boy for a couple of weeks since he's been doing a Summer Research Project at school and hasn't been home. Maybe because I'm thinking up things to make for him, this week's features are all chocolate! 


Let's start with these tasty little morsels from LouLouGirls. Oreo Balls! Oreos with more chocolate? Yes please! Perfect for a party or to have on hand when you just need a bite of chocolate. 


Then there are these gorgeous Black and White Chocolate Cups from Culinary Flavors



Too hot to bake? Life With The Crust Cut Off has you covered with these no bake Mint Chocolate Bars. 


I couldn't resist featuring another creation from Parrish at Life With The Crust Cut Off and I dare you to resist these no bake S'Mores Cheesecakes

   
   


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Gold and Blue Enameled Chain Statement Necklace

Blue Moon Blue and Gold

Sharing a birthday present I made for my trendy Aunt who loves color. The inspiration for this necklace came from the blue enameled gold chain .  I combined it with chunky gold chain and fun  blue and antique gold glass beads. 

All supplies for this post are from Blue Moon Beads. I received products to play with as part of my role on the Blue Moon Bead design team. You can find Blue Moon Beads supplies at your local JoAnns!

Blue Moon Beads Blue and Gold

I used the enameled chain in the length it came, and added lengths of the chunky gold chain to each side and added a gold toggle clasp. I wire wrapped each end of the blue and gold beads and joined together with gold jump rings to match the length of the enameled chain.

Blue Moon Enamel

I decided my Auntie also needed a pair of earrings to go along with her necklace so I made a pair that are trendy and super easy.

Blue Moon Beads Gold Earrings

The earrings are simply two links of the chunky gold chain used in the necklace, joined together by one jump ring with three jump rings added to the bottom link. Add to ear wires with another jump ring, and done!

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Monday, July 7, 2014

Mod Podge Collage Clay : Embellish EVERYTHING But I Did A Vase

Collage Clay Black and White Vase

If you are a reader of my blog, you know how much I love Mod Podge. Well the folks at Plaid just keep adding to the line of already fabulous Mod Podge products and I was so excited to have the opportunity to play with some of the newest. You may have seen these already at Michaels. Mod Podge Collage Clay, Mod Molds and Mod Melts.

Disclaimer: Plaid provided the products for this post at no cost to me. Project idea and opinions are my own.

Here are the goodies I got to play with:

Mod Podge Decoden Supplies

The Collage Clay comes in a tube that looks like frosting, including the tips you use to pipe on the clay so  Collage Clay is not recommended for children ages 12 and under, and the product is not edible. Small parts are a choking hazard for children.” If you choose to show children involved in using the product, please make sure they are over 12 years old since the product is not recommended for children younger than this.
The clay can be painted after it's dry .

Collage Clay Decorating Tip

All of these products are great for a current trend called “Decoden” which is the art of decorating anything with trinkets, and "the more the merrier" is the name of the game in designing an over the top look in this 3D collage technique. Use Collage Clay with Mod Melts, trinkets, buttons, rhinestones, and anything else you can think of!

I decided to try my hand a decorating a vase. For this project you will need:
  • Plain glass vase
  • Vanilla Mod Podge Collage Clay
  • Mod Podge Melts Texture Mold
  • Mod Podge Melts ( gold)
  • Washi Tape
  • Rhinestones
  • Ribbon
I marked off a border using washi tape so I’d have a guide to apply my Collage Clay:

Collage Clay Vase

Using the tip shown above, I went around the vase making “dots” . It’s so much like cake decorating I’m sure you cake masters would love this!

Collage Clay Application


The iinstructions say you should let the clay dry anywhere from 1-5 days. I let mine dry for about 24 hours because I didn’t want it to be fully set when I applied some rhinestones . I also applied the Collage Clay to the bottom of the vase. Once dry, I removed the tape.

Mod Melt Mold Button

While my clay was drying I made the “buttons” using a gold Mod Melt stick ( you can run them through a high temp mini glue gun and filled the mold with the melted well, melt. It takes about 10 min to set and then pops right out of the silicone mold. Any little oops drips come right off of the silicone.

I dry brushed my buttons with white acrylic paint so the detail of the mold would really stand out.
Using some leftover ribbon I wrapped the vase and tied off as shown, then glued my “buttons” on.  The Collage Clay was set but not hardened so I was able to lightly press black rhinestones around the top.

Mod Podge Collage Clay Vase Top

You could make sets of these for centerpieces or just one standalone for fun. I had a lot of fun playing with the Collage Clay and the melts and can’t wait to do some more!

Mod Podge Clay Vase

Now who doesn’t love a chance to win something?




The folks at Plaid are giving you a chance to win your own set of these fun crafting goodies. Details are at their site here. You can also learn more about these and other fun Plaid  products here:

  • Check out The Plaid Palette blog: http://www.plaidonline.com/blog
  • Sign up for Plaid's newsletter: https://www.plaidonline.com/craft-newsletter-signup.aspx


  • Follow Plaid on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/plaidcrafts
  • Like Plaid on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredByPlaid
  • Follow Plaid on Instagram: http://instagram.com/plaidcrafts

  • Follow Plaid on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/plaidcrafts
  • Watch Plaid on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/plaidcrafts
  • Follow Plaid on Google+: http://plus.google.com/+PlaidOnline


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