PRETTIE..SIMPLE DECORATIONS

One of my favorite things to collect is vintage wooden thread spools. They come in all shapes and sizes. I love the paper labels that usually remain on the top and bottom of the spool that are usually worn and have the most lovely hues....My mum and I guard our collections from each other obsessively!!

I love to dress up and display the spools on shelves and in vintage jam jars around the house, but, with the holidays coming up I just quickly decorated them with simple items I had on hand - vintage paper lace seam binding, bakers twine, glitter, paper music remnants and pipe cleaners. How do you display and decorate with some of your collections?!?!

Linking with : Laurianna's Vintage Home, Whipperberry, The French Country Cottage, Common Ground, Stuff & Nonsense

PRETTIE...BOO-TIFUL TREAT CUPS

This year is moving at a furious pace and I am feeling a little overwelmed with the approaching holidays. I found these fantastic wooden treat tasting spoons and thought they would go well with my Halloween tasting menu - now that our kids are too cool to "spook" we like to open our house to other Halloween "lonely" parents to help us distribute 400 + pieces of candy - which leaves no time to sit down and eat!!

These plain white drinking cups are the perfect size for chilli, soup, dips, apple cider, melon balls and ice-cream!

If all goes well I will do the same for our Christmas open house - substituting 'boo' for 'joy'.....Really restaurant supply stores are some of my most favorite places to shop! If you are looking for some cute treat tags click here for the download!

PRETTIE...VINTAGE PAPER FLOWER WREATH

My love of Vintage imagery is not just relegated to children's books, wrapping paper and gift cards from the late 1940's - early 1960's.....Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to find quite a few Vintage Sewing Patterns at my local Thrift stores.

Once I have scanned and cleaned up my favorite images....

I am left with quite a stash of often unused very pretty pattern paper.....which until recently I was unsure what to do with other than wrap a few choice goodies for friends with.

After making a few hundred paper flowers for my best friends wedding a year ago, (using this tutorial) and reams of purchased tissue paper - I had my "light bulb" moment. One thing let to another and my stash was quickly put to good use....I absolutely LOVE the random-ness of the printed directions and pattern pieces integrating with the kraft|brown.


One of my favorite crafting projects is to make one of a kind seasonal or celebratory wreaths which usually involve alot of tulle and/or tarnished glass christmas ornaments. For this wreath I decided to use a few (approx 120 - yikes!) of my Vintage pattern flowers and some Ivory tulle cut into 1 inch "ribbons" to make my now favorite and year round wreath.....


Basically I used about 40 of each flowers in 3, 3 1/2 and 4" sizes and tightly "packed" and hot glued them onto a 20" wire wreath frame in 3 layers. In between every 2 or 3 flowers I tied my tulle strips as a lite accent which also helped to "break" up the tone and texture of the pattern tissue paper.

The backside looks pretty messy and busy and I should have spray painted the wire frame a neutral ivory color but....hanging on the front of a decorative wall piece over my entryway mantle - no one can tell!

This entire project involved a significant time investment and the finished wreath is a substantial 24" in diameter ..... but it is a permanent fixture that has and will give me great pleasure and satisfaction for years to come. It is also used and loaned out (to worthy and carefully screened friends!) on occasion as a decorative accent for special events and celebrations. How lovely would a wreath similar to this look at your birthday party or wedding!?! Linking this project to: Tea Rose Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Whipperberry, Thirty Hand Made Days, The Shabby Nest, Common Ground, Farmhouse Friday, French Country Cottage

PRETTIE...DOILIES

A few weeks ago I was happy to send Melissa a few of my hand dyed doilies and ruffled seam binding as well as a few other vintage bits and pieces I had for a vintage inspired wedding photo shoot she was both styling and photographing. All I can say is wow! You can view more of her gorgeous and oh so chic photographs here! Not only am I thrilled to see how my doilies are eventually used but Melissa makes them look so good!

PRETTIE...VINTAGE WRAPPING PAPER

I spend alot of time here drooling over Vintage Wrapping Paper. My own collection is small but...growing! These are just a few of my favorite birthday paper images.

PRETTIE...VALENTINE INSPIRATION

Colors: Bold Red and White
Style: Sophisticated dinner party
Decor: Make the dining room glow with groupings of pillar candles, low profile table centerpieces of fresh red blooms, tie bows of red tulle on backs of chairs, scatter glittered red hearts and red table confetti, use bold red paper lanterns hanging from ceiling, have jazz playing in the background
Tableware: Best table settings (china, crystal and silver) white tablecloth with a shimmering red table runner with matching fabric napkins. Use votive candle place cards, print menu's and place on each plate setting
Food: Salad starter, Beef bourguignonne, Potato gratin, Roasted vegetables, berry torte with vanilla ice-cream, sparkling water and pomegranate juice, red wine, champagne and decaf coffee
Activities: Wine tasting or meal pairings
Favors: Iced red heart shaped cookies in cellophane bags tied with red satin ribbon

Colors: Shades of pastel pink and purple with red and white accents
Style: Dessert party
Decor: Pink or white tulle wreath centerpiece, pink and white blooms with vases lined with heart shaped sweet tarts, 3 or 5 large round pink or white balloons, hang a Valentines or Love garland in shades of pink and white, display paper cones in party colors filled with pink paper shred or candy samples
Tables: Buffett style - dessert bar, white table cloth with pink table runner, white plates, bundled pink linens/napkins wrapped with co-ordinating ribbon, quart sized milk bottle glasses, wine glasses, layered dessert plates, apothecary jars
Food: Cupcakes, color co-ordinated candy bar, savory and sweet finger sandwiches, strawberry shortcake, pink lemonade, strawberry milkshakes, champagne
Activities: Valentines bingo, Valentines trivia
Favors: Pink and white lollipops and candycanes - cello bags filled with cotton candy!

PRETTIE...BABY SHOWER FLASHCARDS

I was asked by a girlfriend to make up a Welcome Baby print and some vintage inspired flashcards to use as decorative accents and as little treats to give away to guests at her sisters gender neutral baby shower in a couple of weeks - It was a pleasure!

Download your copy here... Enjoy!

I am linking this project up with - WhipperBerry, TaterTots and Jello, Skip to My Lou - Made by you Mondays, Somewhat Simple

PRETTIE... VOTIVE CANDLES

I am trying to getting organized for the New Year and am taking stock of supplies that I have "on hand". I hate going to any get together empty handed and I thought these pretty votive candles simply embellished with color co-ordinated tape would make a "prettie original" hostess gift packaged in a cello or glassine bag topped with a hand dyed doily or just tied with a ribbon!.

The Japanese masking tape I purchased from here and the votive candles came in a bulk bag of 250 from Ikea...
I am linking this post to: Made by You Mondays, Making the World Cuter Mondays

PRETTIE...EMBELLISHMENTS #2

I have long been a fan of Julie Collings of The Adventures of Bluegirl xo. She is an extremely talented crafter and author who provides creative inspiration generously and in great detail. Her Etsy store is full of gorgeous vintage delights and eye candy - perfect for any of your packaging needs or party decor elements!

Please share any links that you have to some of your own favorite embellishments! xo

PRETTIE....INSPIRED #3 Golden Globes and Academy Awards

Now the holidays are officially over I am getting in gear for the "Awards Season" which is my not so secret guilty pleasure and a great opportunity to get together with the girls! These are 2 Inspiration Boards I put together and will use for planning each of the festivities!

For the Golden Globes (Jan 18th)

Colors Silver/White/Gold
Style Old Hollywood, Vintage Glamour - Elegant and Understated
Decor Balloons in theme colors, string lights, glittered garlands, flower bouquets, tinsel and glass ornaments, Hollywood inspired backdrop, framed pictures of Hollywood legends, paper lantern chandeliers
Tableware Set up as buffet style with movie inspired centerpieces (cut outs, vintage cameras/movie reels), linen table cloth or table runner, white cocktail plates, gold chargers for food presentation, shimmering gold or silver napkins, gold or silver utensils wrapped in tinsel or vintage white or ivory lace, vintage champagne glasses.
Food Finger-foods on served on white paper doilies or in silver cupcake liners, tiered plates of mini sandwiches, chicken skewers, mini quiches, fruit, petit fors, vanilla cupcakes, lemon bar bites, sparkling flavored water, white wine and champagne on ice.
Music Shuffled mix of old show tunes from movies and TV
Favors Rosettes, Movie Candy or caramel popcorn in glassine or cellophane bags embellished with tinsel and lace

For the Academy Awards (Feb 27)

Colors Black/Platinum/Red

Style Modern Movie Star - Simple and Sophisticated

Decor Balloons in theme colors, contemporary vases filled with fresh flowers in monochromatic colors, votive and perfumed candles, glass beaded garlands, sparkling ribbons and streamers

Tableware Set up buffet style with a movie inspired centerpiece or "oscar" replica, sleek fabric tablerunner, black and/or white cocktail plates, red chargers for food presentation, bundled black or red napkins, utensils wrapped together with satin or grossgrained ribbon, cocktail or martini glasses

Food Fingerfoods - filet of beef mini rolls, brushetta, antipasto plate, smoked salmon toasts, cheese plates, signature Hollywood cocktail mixes, sparkling red wine, red velvet cupcakes, rich chocolate cake bites or tarts and strawberries

Music Shuffled compilation of music from nominated movies

Activities Best Dressed, Oscar bingo and ballots

Favors Take home martini glasses with cocktail recipes, boxed chocolate truffles