DIY projects

Super Long Taper Candles DIY

by Chiara Alberetti Milott

I love the look of those super long taper candles, but can never find them in my neighborhood. I thought it couldn’t be so hard to make them myself, and did it in three really easy steps. I like the way they look color-blocked, and love the charm and – dare I say it – the “pizzazz” it gives to an ordinary white cake.

Materials needed: birthday candles, knife, an old cutting board, lighter.

Step 1: Align two different colored candles together, making sure the wick of one candle is lined up next to the bottom of the other candle.  Hold them next to each other and cut a diagonal slice through both of them.

Step 2: Light the lighter and melt the cut end of one candle.

Step 3: Gently press the two diagonal ends together, hold it for a few seconds, then rest it gently down on a flat surface and let it set. The candles will be pretty fragile, so handle with care.  Some candles were more temperamental and didn’t want to stick together, so I just set those aside for another day.

Step 4: Light them up and make a wish!

DIY Drink Umbrellas

by Jenny Batt

Another adventure in sprucing up a few party supplies you probably already have, or do you? When I was grabbing some paper lanterns the other day I found these gigantic paper drink umbrellas. I’ve never been a fan of the patterned papers on the umbrellas, am I the only one who ever wonders why can’t they just make something plain for once, so I figured fringe would cover them up nicely. You see fringe has been on my mind a lot lately and I just can’t quit. I made some tiny bits of fringe to fix up these boring umbrellas and make them spunky again. Who wouldn’t smile when you hand them a drink with one of these in it?

You will need:

large drink umbrellas
scissors
tissue paper
double stick tape

Keep your tissue paper folded and cut 1/2 to 3/4 inch strips off the end. Cut tiny fringe off one side of the strips. Open your umbrella and cover each rib with double stick tape that covers the length. At each edge, add extra strips of tape as needed. Starting at the bottom, wrap fringe around edge spiraling towards the center of the umbrella. Add new strips of fringe as needed. Once you have covered the entire top of the umbrella, fluff the fringe with your finger.

Pop this in a iced beverage and enjoy.  These are huge and that is a big part of what makes them so fun.  You can always make mini versions of these for traditional sized umbrellas, too.  Now think hard, when was the last time you had a drink that had an umbrella in it? Isn’t it about time you did again?

Mini Ice Cream Cones + Acrylic Stand DIY

This post is sponsored by Dreyer’s/Edy’s® Slow Churned Light Ice Cream: all the taste of regular ice cream, but with half the fat and 1/3 fewer calories. Now that’s a reason to smile. Give a smile here: http://on.fb.me/L3wSQf

Today Alexis Birkmeyer made these wonderful acrylic mini ice cream stands. This project is so so simple. Sometimes power tools or unfamiliar materials can intimidate people to not try a project but this one is so easy! The acrylic stands can be used over and over. They are great not just for ice cream cones but any sort of food served in a cone. If you have a creme brulee torch at home the only things you would need to pick up are the pieces of acrylic and the special drill bit. The heat gun is preferable but if you only have a kitchen torch it will work just fine. I would love these for a kids party or even a bridal or baby shower. The mini ice cream cones can be prepped in advance and you can put the stand and prepped cones in the freezer right before the party starts. When it is time to eat you just pull them out and serve. Find all the directions and more photos below!

Continue reading after the jump.

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DIY S’Mores Kit

This post is sponsored by Bing. It’s the Summer of Doing!

This week I’m partnering with Bing for their Summer of Doing campaign. Here is a little interview they did with me. Each day there is a different theme and today is bonfiring. So I asked Alexis Birkmeyer to put together this DIY for me. A few years ago we stayed at a hotel down the coast and they gave away big s’mores kits for the families staying there. We could go out to the firepits and make s’mores to our hearts content. This kit would make an awesome gift for a party or a hostess gift. We created a free downloadable printable and Alexis even put together instructions to make your own wire marshmallow toasting forks that attach to the end of sticks. So all you have to do is fill up the kit.

Download the free printable label right here.

Complete instructions are after the jump.

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4th of July Fiesta Garland DIY

by Chiara Alberetti Milott

Fiesta! Forever! for Fourth of July! Perfect for an outdoor barbecue to celebrate our country’s birthday – a fiesta-inspired red, white, and blue paper garland. They look so pretty with the sun shining through the tissue paper and the fringe waving in the wind. Get ready to party all night long!

Materials needed: tissue paper in reds, pinks, whites and blues, string, glue and scissors.

Step 1: Begin by separating the tissue paper into two sheets. Then cut out rectangles approx. 18 inches x 8 inches, so when it’s folded in half, you have a four-layer rectangle approx. 9 inches x 8 inches. This is by no means an exact science, so any size would work, really.

Step 2: Repeat step 1 until you have used all your colors and have a nice little pile of light blue, dark blue, red, dark red, pink, and white pieces.  I made about 6 or 7 rectangles of each color I had.

Step 3: Unfold your rectangle, and draw a line of glue across the center. Lay your string across the glue, fold the tissue paper over it, and press down with your fingers to seal the fold. Don’t run your glue line to and from the very edge of the tissue paper, rather, leave a little space so when you press your fold over, no glue squirts out the sides.

Step 4: Move your glued piece to the side and continue glueing and folding until you have the length you want.

Step 5. Let dry. This shouldn’t take too long – maybe a few hours, or overnight.

Step 6: Stack a few rectangles on top of each other, grasp firmly in your hand, and cut fringe.

Step 7: Unfurl, hang and enjoy!

Happy 4th, everybody!