BFF Open House Link Party #147

Happy March everyone and at least it's the month where we welcome Spring ( even if the weather doesn't consult a calendar) . Another great party last week with lots of fabulous ideas so here are some highlights!

I've been seeing gorgeous dipped baskets in stores and catalogs but I have not liked the less than gorgeous prices. Heather from Woods of Bell Trees  has a stunning DIY for less. You may even have some baskets on hand that could use a makeover. 

I think that basket would look great next to this flea market to fabulous stool makeover by Doreen at Altered Artworks: 

Whether you're just being a good tenant or you want to be extra careful with your walls, It's Always Ruetten has a great way to achieve a plate wall without risking your security deposit. 

OK ready for this week's chocolate feature? 

As if the Whipped Mocha Mousse Tart wasn't decadent enough, Karyn from Dieter's Downfall also has a soft caramel sauce to accompany it. I have no doubt it tastes as amazing as it looks. 

OK on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Fashionista Birthday Card : Pink Paislee Secret Crush

I made this birthday card for a very stylish friend. Who can’t use a pair of fabulous high heels even if they’re made of paper?

For this card I used:

• Bordered A-7 card ( Pop Tone)
• Pink Paislee “Secret Crush” papers
• Black and White Cardstock
• Cricut Wall Décor and More cartridge
• Cricut Expression
• Ribbon
• Rhinestones and Liquid Pearls

Start with a pre-scored A-7 card.  I used a white bordered invitation by Pop Tone. Layer with a panel of paper from the Pink Paislee “Secret Crush” collection.

The shoes were cut from black cardstock using the Wall Décor and More cartridge by Cricut and my Cricut Expression.

I glammed these up with self adhesive rhinestones on the toes and the heels, dots of pink Liquid Pearls and organza ribbon bows.

Finished the card  with a scrap of pink washi tape, wrapping white organza ribbon around the top of the card  and adding a sentiment sticker.

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BFF Open House Link Party #146

Happy Friday Eve all! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your creativity here at The Answer Is Chocolate once again. I cannot believe that Saturday is March 1st. How can that be? It seems like it was just Valentine's Day if we blink St. Patrick's Day will be here. 

Here are just a few ideas from last week's party to inspire you. 

Spring is the perfect time for a new look. Visit Jenna at 24 Cottonwood Lane to get the details on this chalk paint table makeover. 

This Shamrock Wreath is festive and easy to make. Pop over to 3 Little Greenwoods for the how-to. 

Looking for a new recipe for a light meal or appetizer? I am definitely going to try this Roasted Garlic Chicken Tart from This Silly Girl's Life. 

Wouldn't these mint filled  brownies be perfect for a St. Patrick's Day dessert? Visit I Dig Pinterest for the recipe. 

Let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Celtic Inspired Multi-Strand Necklace

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up , I thought make something I could wear to celebrate but that would also fit in my wardrobe overall. I’ve always love Celtic jewelry  so the combination of a filigree multi-strand clasp, antique gold and silver chains and moss and cream flat backed beads is my attempt at capturing the feel. All supplies in this project are from Blue Moon Beads. You will need:

• Multi strand clasps
• Gold and Silver chain
• Flat back pearlescent acrylic beads
• Jump rings

I joined the flat backed beads back to back with jump rings. I wanted a bolder bead and this way if they flip around there’s no bad side. I added short lengths of chain in between alternating cream and green beads with jump rings. Cut lengths of chain equal to the beaded pieces . Join all to two of the clasps.

I added a couple more of my back to back bead sets to the ends of the clasps and then equal lengths of chain to complete the necklace.

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BFF Open House #145

Happy Friday Eve ! I am so so so ready for the weekend how about you?  Thanks for all the fun ideas shared at last week's party. Since it was Valentine's Day , there were lots of great Valentine's projects linked up. Several can easily  be adapted to projects you can do year round.  Here are just a few of them: 

Just because Valentine's Day has come and gone , it doesn't mean you can't still give special notes to those you love. See how Rachel from Holy Craft used vintage glassine envelopes she picked up for $1 to show her love. Reminds me of lost love letters found tucked away in an attic somewhere.

Another Valentine's Day idea that can be used for so many other events comes from the ever creative Jenn at Rook No.17. Mini meringue treasure cones. Wouldn't these be fun for a birthday party or a shower? 

This project has so many possibilities. Daniela from Put A Bird On It used homemade fabric paint and her Silhouette to embellish a simple cardigan. How fun to literally wear your heart on your sleeves? I'm thinking of a few shirts I love that have spots that could be covered up using this technique. 

Needless to say , chocolate is an all year round reality in my life so we have quite a few chocolate desserts. I am definitely going to have to try this recipe for Chocolate Mocha Mousse with Strawberries from Culinary Flavors. YUM! 

Now time for this week's fun. Let's see what everyone's been up to this week!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Resin Bead Statement Necklace and Bracelet

I'm excited to continue as a member of the Blue Moon Beads design team in 2014. Even before I became part of the DT last year, I loved their products because the are affordable, easy to work with, and you can't beat the variety. 

I fell in love with these flat back resin beads. They look like sparkling crystals but are very light weight. I used a combination of the resin beads, stone beads and silver chain to make the necklace and bracelet and got focused on what I was doing and neglected to take step by step photos. 

Basically string a stone bead a resin bead and another stone bead on wire and made wrapped loops on either end. After making a series of these, I joined them together with jump rings, and then joined the focal piece to chain on either end. 

I used lengths of different chain to complete the necklace, adding chain on the top and bottom of the resin focal piece. 

I used leftover beads and chain to make a coordinating bracelet. Wire wrapped the big beads , linked with jump rings and then strung stone beads on head pins and attached those to the joining links. 

I'm excited to see that bold jewelry is still the trend and that Blue Moon is right on top of it. Blue Moon Beads are available at JoAnns and other craft stores. 

Disclosure: As a member of the Blue Moon Beads design team, I was provided with supplies used in this project. All designs and opinions are my own. 

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Mod Podge Rocks Stencil Podged Box

My readers know that I love Mod Podge. I've joked before that if it stands still long enough I'll probably Mod Podge it.  I didn't think I could love MP more and then along came self adhesive stencils you can use with Mod Podge  and glitter! 

For this project you will need: 

Surface to decorate

Mod Podge ( I used my go to Matte)

Paper

Glitter

Mod Podge Rocks Stencil (I used Starlite)

The stencils come in 6 designs and are available at Michaels: 

I used a little wood box in my stash for this project and  covered two sides and the top with black and white polka dot paper and left the other two sides bare wood. To stencil, peel the stencil from the backer and adhere to your surface. The adhesive on the stencil lasts for 20 uses. 

The easiest way to use Mod Podge with the stencils is to use a sponge spouncer. Dip lightly and then spounce your Mod Podge on.  For glitter projects,  the instructions say to peel the stencil away at this point but I decided to just plop my glitter on first. I thought I might get cleaner images this way and was happy with the result. 

When the stencil was peeled off, perfectly symmetrical glitter diamond shapes were left behind! The stencil (glitter and all) cleaned up nicely with soap and water so I could finish the other side of my box. 

While I used a flat surface, I love that the stencils are flexible and can bend to rounded surfaces like jars, bottles, vases etc. Possibilities are endless! 

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