WHOSE leftovers?

I realize that if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, the relative cuteness of the leftovers you send home with your guests is literally the last thing you care about.  Who can even think about leftovers when you’re worried about your turkey getting fully defrosted?  But consider this: spending a little bit of extra time right now to bump up your leftover game is not only more visually appealing than sending someone home with a gallon size ziploc bag full of turkey, it gives your kids something fun to do while you’re otherwise occupied!  Set them down with some markers, paper, yarn, and some takeout containers and let them have at it.  After the big dinner is over, you’ll be amazed at how a few simple craft supplies will have your guests wondering aloud whether they just feasted at Martha’s house. Thanks to Rachel for the inspiration for this bit of craftiness!

What you need:
construction paper or brown paper bag
kitchen string or yarn
markers or crayons
hole punch
takeout containers (the Chinese restaurant-style may be the easiest to find; I found 32 oz. paper tubs at a nearby restaurant supply store)

Before you start: You can basically make use of anything you have on hand and just use what I show here as a guideline.  If you don’t have the time or the resources to get takeout containers, decorate paper bags to use as doggie bags!  The age of any kids helping out also makes a difference.  Older kids can cut out leaf shapes to use as tags and write funny things on them; younger ones can practice their spelling or draw their very best turkey right on the container.

simple prep work!

Cut out any shapes you want to use, punch holes, and cut string lengths for your containers. Decorate the tags and tie onto your containers … if you know for sure you’ll have a ton of stuffing or turkey to send home, you can make specific tags, otherwise keep them general and just use your guests’ names.

a whole thing of sweet potatoes, just for meeee!

It should be noted I don't have kids

Kids can decorate right on the containers, but if the surface is shiny (as mine was) you may need to use permanent markers (under strict observation, of course!) … or, have them color on a piece of paper and tape it on the top or front!

who you calling a turkey

When people head home, your kids can help deliver the containers of pie and sweet potatoes to their respective owners … I didn’t think it was possible to make Thanksgiving leftovers more exciting, but I think we just did?

ready for midnight snacking

It goes without saying, your guests will just be thrilled to have delicious leftovers no matter what you hand them over in … so enjoy your thankful feast and the blessings that you and your family have!

ready for a fall feast

Fall is in the air! Well, to be honest, it’s not really in the air here in Los Angeles.  The leaves haven’t fallen and the temperature is still a little too hot to pull out the sweaters and boots just yet (sorry, Midwesterners!).  But I refuse to let that stop me from jumping into the comforting, crock pot-laden arms of fall crafting.  I found a pack of neutral cloth napkins on clearance at TJ Maxx for $3, and got inspired to deck them out with some painted autumn leaves.  Instead of stenciling, I used an easy (and cheap!) block printing technique.  The end result is a set of lovely napkins I can use when I invite people over for chili or meatloaf before playing games in front of a crackling fire. I like my fall times to be idyllic, guys!  And these leafy stamps are step one.

What you need:
adhesive-backed foam sheet
scissors
xacto knife
acrylic block or glass from a small picture frame
fabric paint in various fall colors (or acrylic paint + textile medium)
paintbrushes
fabric napkins, placemats or anything else you want to stamp

Before you begin: I own one acrylic block and it was too small for the stamps I cut, so I came up with the idea to use the glass from small cheap photo frames.  Obviously these require a little more care than plastic … but you can still reuse them if you’d like to keep your stamps! If you want to keep them, just wipe them off with a damp sponge when you’re done.

leaf it to me

1. Trace your pattern onto the foam sheet.  I actually just traced around some fake leaves I purchased at Michael’s … you can print out this template I made here, OR just go grab the real thing from your backyard to use as a template! After tracing,  cut them out as neatly as possible.

cut it out!

2. Use an xacto knife to cut out details from the middle of your leaves and clean up any stray bits from the edges.

yes, I did get a new cutting mat, thanks for asking

3. Peel off the sticky backing of the foam and carefully stick it to the acrylic or glass you’re using as a base.

brush off

4. Pour a small amount of paint into a paper plate or cup, and brush lightly onto the stamp.  You want it to evenly cover the foam without any excess blobs anywhere — it’s better to err on the side of it being too light than saturating your fabric.  I’d recommend testing the stamp on a piece of paper before committing to the fabric.

stamped out

5. Press evenly onto your fabric and remove.  If there are any little blobs of paint you can quickly dab those away with a paper towel.  Sometimes the stamp will be too light on one side — if that happens, just paint again and carefully restamp!  If you want to do multiple leaves in the same color across all of your napkins/placemats/whatever, then keep working in that color.

a touch o' gold

6. You can play with layering colors … I brushed some streaks of gold and did another layer for some of my leaves, or did a layer of brown, stamped it, then did a layer of yellow over top.  Just like in nature, no two leaves have to look the same!

drying time

7. Follow the instructions on your paint regarding drying time — mine specified drying flat for 24 hours.  Follow the care instructions as well when it comes to washing.  Time to bust out that crock pot and invite some people over!

let's eat

potluck, anyone?

Honey-do

My crafting philosophy often leads me to purchase things with plenty of potential but no specific purpose.  Yes, this means I have a ton of odds and ends waiting to be used in some unknown future project … like these adhesive chalkboard squares I found in the clearance bin of an art store a few weeks ago.  Thankfully, inspiration struck and I created these adorable, insanely simple framed chalkboards you could use for anything!

Sharp eyes will recognize the spray-painted dollar store frames I did a few months back–they were perfectly suited for making little chalkboards and brought the total cost of this project to a whopping $2 a piece.  Not bad for a stylish message or menu board!  Plus, with the scraps left over from cutting the stickers, you can make removable drink name tags, or even place cards.  A little chalk dust can add a classy little touch to your next grill-out!

What you need:
frames
chalkboard stickers
exacto knife

Before we get started: Keep in mind that since these are stickers and not actual chalkboard, a little more care should be used when writing on them.  I scratched mine up a little bit by pressing too hard with a sharp chalk edge, so write gently!

the cutting edge

1. Remove the glass from your frame and wipe it down to remove and dust or dirt.  Place the glass down on the chalkboard sticker and carefully trace around it with the exacto knife.

Lay it down

3. Peel off the paper backing and carefully apply to the glass, working from one end to the other and slowly pressing out any air bubbles.

Ready for writin'

4. Once you’re satisfied that the sticker is well-attached, place the glass into your frame and replace the backing.  If it’s loose, just stick a couple of pieces of paper (…or a photo you don’t like?) behind the glass.  And you’ve got yourself a chalkboard!

ready for dinner!

claim your wine

party-ready

For some reason, I’ve always held onto wine corks.  Maybe because it’s more practical than saving the empty bottle of a vintage you loved—just a tiny little thing, printed with the winery name and dyed a purple-red on one end from the wine it held.  But really, one of the reasons I’ve kept them is that I’ve been waiting for the day I could make something cool out of them.  And behold, these wine charms!  Make a custom set for your next dinner party, or leave them blank so guests can initial or draw on them themselves when they arrive.

Be forewarned, these are kind of addictive once you start making them.  Also, if you haven’t been hoarding corks for years like I have, this craft actually requires you to drink!

What you’ll need:
wine corks
bread knife you don’t care about or small saw (like a coping saw)
wire hoops or long eye pins (both found in the jewelry-making section of any craft store)
sharpie
small letter stencils
a nail
hammer
burnishing stylus (optional)

A note before we start: If you have some regular old wire in your house, you can use it in lieu of what I’m showing here!  Also, I found some corks that were printed on the ends … they ended up making great-looking charms, so if you spot any of those make sure to use them!

or you can eyeball it ...

1. Choose your corks and then find a good cutting surface.  I was originally going to use a coping saw to slice up mine, but when I couldn’t find it I pulled out an old bread knife and a cutting board – these are not much tougher than an extra crusty baguette, but you probably wouldn’t want to use an expensive knife on them!  If you’d like the charms to be exactly even in size, you can mark the cork with a pen.

sliced

2. Start slicing – I cut mine about a quarter inch thick.  Be careful!  I found that some corks cut a bit easier than others.  And don’t be a hero—if the remaining cork is getting too small to hang onto, drop it and start using another.

nailed it!

3. Once you’ve got all your slices made, take them to a surface you can hammer on.  A phone book will do in a pinch!  You can use any size nail that you have on hand, and hammer it through the cork towards the top of one side.

holed up

4. Push the nail all the way through and wiggle it around a bit—cork has a way of self-healing, and you want to make sure you can find the hole later, so it helps to widen it as much as you can with the nail.

stencil time

5. After you’ve put holes in all of the rounds, you can customize them.  I used an alphabet stencil I got at the dollar store.  You can also freehand letters or numbers or even use tiny stamps if you have them.

you don't have to do this

letterpress-ish

6. This part is optional—I used a stylus to slightly indent the letters and numbers that I stenciled on the cork.  I did this because I’m a teensy bit obsessed with the look of letterpress, but you don’t have to do it!

oh so charming

7. Thread your wire or hoop through and that is it, my friends.  You never have to hear, “Wait, which glass was mine?” in your house EVER AGAIN!!

cup o' charms

all in a row

Glassware

Word on the street (and when I say street, I mean some mythical “blogging street”) is that readers really love a good top 10 list. If this is the case readers, let me start by apologizing for not getting you some of these sooner!

We’ll start with this one, which any good host should take to heart… The Top Ten Things Every Bar Should Have. If you have this stuff already, good on you. If you don’t then this is something to aspire to.

The Bar List:

1. 6 Red Wine Glasses when it comes to red wine, the bigger the balloon the better.

2. 6 White Wine Glasses find something to compliment the red wine glasses

3. 6 Champagne Flutes flutes are usually for a special occasion, so I splurged and bought some gorgeous crystal pieces.

4. 6 Martini Glasses this is a great one to look for at flea markets. There are so many great options from the 50’s and 60’s

5. 10 Low Ball Glasses These will work for everything else: liquor, margarita, martini. I use mine for everything!

6. Martini Shaker necessary for martinis, but also such a fun item to collect and add flavor to your bar

7. 10 Cocktail Cloth Napkins Mine are all mixed and matched because I usually find two or three fun options in the clearance rack. Try pairing something unique like hand stitched cocktail napkins with a vibrant fun cocktail plate.

8. Straws It seems obvious to me but apparently not, because whenever I serve a drink with a straw people are always shocked… You have straws here?? Yes, I have straws, this isn’t the dark ages!

Ready for Company

9. A Well Stocked Bar Vodka, Rum, Gin, Whiskey, Tonic, Soda Water, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, a Great Bottle of Red, and a Great Bottle of White… Oh, and while we’re at it, a proper wine opener! Also, for regular guests I always make sure and stock their brand of liquor. For instance, my father in law loves Crown Royal and I always have it on hand so he can have his favorite drink when he visits. A good hostess remembers little details like that.

10. A Proper Wine Opener – the question has been raised so let me answer it. A Sommelier Wine Opener is the best you can use and poses the lowest risk of breaking your cork. If you want to use something else, just make sure it’s a true cork screw (looks like a pigs tail) instead of the cheapy version that look more like a drill bit.

Tantalizing Takeout

I made these little appetizer salads when our book club read Memoirs of a Geisha (we always theme our menu to the book) but it’s the perfect appetizer for a summer party. Guests always flip out when they see the miniature takeout containers and the recipe is so easy even the most harried hostess can pull it off!

Sesame Salad

Pre-made Slaw Mix I like the carrot, broccoli and red cabbage mix, but you can also use fresh cabbage and fresh veggies if you have time to chop

Red Bell Pepper julian cut

Mandarin Oranges

Won Ton Strips – I used Garlic Ginger Flavored from Fresh Gourmet

Sesame Salad Dressing

Slivered Almonds

Black Sesame Seeds

Full of Crunch

Toss all ingredients together in a large salad bowl, then place individual portions in the take-out containers. Garnish with extra sesame seeds and serve with chopsticks. Also, you can add grilled chicken for a heartier salad!

First Impressions

I found KnockKnocking on Etsy this morning and I’m so obsessed wtih artist Agnes Blum’s work.

During almost every holiday season you will find the door of my home (and sometimes my office) decked with a wreath. I love the warmth it ads to greet guests and the statement it gives to passersby THIS HOUSE CELEBRATES HOLIDAYS WITH GUSTO, BE FOREWARNED!

I have feather wreaths and sparkly wreaths, egg wreaths and wreaths of twigs, I even have specialty tupperware containers to store the wreaths and keep them looking perfect between their yearly stint on my door. But it wasn’t until today though that I’d ever seen a yarn wreath or considered using a wreath during the “off season”. Agnes’ work is so precious and whimsical, it seems like the perfect way to deck your door and keep the holiday spirit up year round!

Dahlias are one of my favorite flowers to design with. They come in a million colors and sizes and are really hearty. You’ll see them popping up in my decor over and over again.

Pretty Pastels

Here are some pretty pastels at a wedding. This is a design anyone can create: dahlias mixed with herbs and greenery in various mason jars… so pretty!

Deep and Brooding

These deep maroon beauties were perfect for a birthday party bar piece… the use of deep reds and purples lent it’s self to our whimsical and feminine design.

Hot Pink Lady

This hot pink dahlia with white tips added the perfect bit of texture to our vibrant summery centerpiece at a beach wedding.

These flowers are so easy to use, you have to try them out!! You can place a bunch in a vase, or cut off the blooms and float them in a low dish for an instant centerpiece!!

Summer Salad

We did this set up a couple of years ago for an outdoor wedding, but I continue to use it time and time again whenever I want to serve a light lunch.

We set an 8 ft table and draped it with a vibrant silk table cloth. Two different kinds of salads (spinach and mixed greens) were pre plated for each guest. The end of the table was filled with bowls overflowing with salad toppings: various cheeses, olives, grilled vegetables, beans etc as well as artisanal breads and butters.

It was a beautiful buffet, it was efficient (guests had their salad course in a matter of minutes) and most importantly it was customizable to each guests taste.

This would be so easy for you to pull off at your next baby shower, ladies luncheon or potluck.

Playful Patterns

You may find it funny then, that I LOVE aprons! I know that might seem odd, since many fems still think the apron represents oppression… but you know what I think?? I think it’s just another fabulous accessory in my entertaining arsenal!

And so I began collecting them years ago… the sweet blue one that’s paper thin from the years my Grandma Neeley loved it in the kitchen. The vintage Portuguese apron I found at a little shop years ago. The gingham print Auntie Di made me when I got married. All of them have a story, all of them are precious and colorful and make me happy.

When you put an apron on you’re saying “I belong here. I’m doing the cooking. I’m so devoted to this meal that I plan to make an absolute mess in order to bring you something delicious and I need this apron to protect myself from the food shrapnel” It’s fully committing to your role in the kitchen and I love that!

So many burgeoning cooks I know are so afraid of “messing up” they wont even try for fear of a broken sauce or an overly salted entree. I’m here to tell you that they only way you’ll ever get better is to keep at it, keep experimenting and tasting and trying new ingredients. The only way you’ll ever get better is to make a mess in your kitchen! Just be sure and strap on your apron first, because at least then you’ll look good while your serving that wilted soufflé.

Need to start or add to your apron collection? Whether you want something for yourself or your little one, the Chic Boutique has a ton of adorable options!!