BFF Open House Link Party #169

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!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

DIY Upscale 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.

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.

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.

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BFF Open House Link Party #168

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!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Copper and Blue Tassel Necklace and Teardrop Earrings

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.

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.

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

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

BFF Open House Link Party #167

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!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

No Bake Layered Cheesecake Parfaits

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.

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.

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.

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

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BFF Open House Link Party #166

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! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up