Talk Crafty To Me » Holidays

Patriotic Parties – Part 7: Cocktails & Drinks

kelly — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:30:53 +0000

Last up in our series on how to host a patriotic party is the post on cocktails! Because no party is complete without a couple of refreshing beverages, we’ve put together a list of festive cocktails, to help you celebrate in style.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 7: Cocktails & Drinks

Patriotic Parties – Part 6: Sweet Treats

kelly — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Nature is full of vibrant reds and blues perfect for making your dessert table bright and festive. In addition to your standard cupcake and cookie fare try using fresh fruits combined with whipped cream, yogurt, or white chocolate, to bring a patriotic look to your desserts.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 6: Sweet Treats

Patriotic Parties – Part 5: Good Grillin’

kelly — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:40:55 +0000

Lets face it your patriotic party just isn’t complete without the good stuff…. Food!

And nothing says summer like a good old barbeque. This holiday, fire up your grill and check out these ideas and tips to keep your grillin’ good and your guests happy.

Burger Bar

Setting up a burger bar is a great way to make something for everyone with limited effort. Pick a couple of meat options and set out a buffet of different toppings and let your guest build their own.

Try these twists on a good old classic:
- Bacon Swiss Burgers with Tomato and Avocado
- Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers with Beet, Red Onion, and Orange Salsa
- Grilled Turkey Burgers with Cheddar and Smoky Aioli

And don’t forget your vegetarian friends:
- Portobello Burgers with Pesto, Provolone, and Roasted Peppers

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade barbecue sauces are a great way to add a delicious kick to your grilling favorites. Fruit based sauces like this Peachy Barbecue Sauce, work great on meats like pork and chicken. Try a this Sweet Mustard Barbecue Sauce for a nice change from your traditional sauce. And for those of you who think grilling just wouldn’t be grilling without adding beer to at least one dish, try this Guinness® BBQ Sauce.

Other Grillin’ Favs

Looking for something a little more traditional for your Canada Day celebration? Try this Cedar Plank Salmon with Citrus & Dill, using some fresh BC Salmon.
Feeding a crowd… Double this recipe for Grilled Chicken & Ribs and you’ll have enough for a cookout of 20.
When you think of grilling veggies, lettuce probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but these grilled romaine salads have a delicious smoky grilled taste that’s subtle but yummy. Grilled Romaine and Asparagus Salad with Pine Nut Dressing | Grilled Romaine Salad with Spicy Caesar Dressing.

Grillin’ Tips

1. Keep It Hot.
You should preheat your grill before your start, otherwise food will stick. To gage the temperature, hold your hand five inches above the grate if you can leave it for for two seconds if the fire is “hot” and three to four seconds if the fire is “medium-hot.” Another way to prevent food from sticking is to grease your grates before cooking. This will also make it easier to clean up later.

2. Get good Meat.
You can’t hide bad meet with good sauce! Quality meat doesn’t have to be expensive, and you’ll be thanking yourself later if you get the best you can afford.

3. Cook with Duel Heat.
If possible on your grill it’s a good idea to have two heat zones. One side hot for searing meat first and the other side set to low to finish off the cooking.

4. Sauce Later.
Many BBQ sauces have a high sugar content so it’s best to apply these later in the cooking process. If you sauce too soon, there’s a good chance they’ll just burn.

5. Grill Veggies Without the Lid.
Grilling with the lid down traps in moister and can make your veggies go soft. With the exception of larger veg like potatoes, which benefit from the steam, when grilling veggies keep the lid up.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 5: Good Grillin’

Patriotic Parties – Part 4: Party Supplies

kelly — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:57:54 +0000

Ok so it’s probably a little too late to order things online, I really must get better about planning my party posts further in advance. For now here’s a few things to keep in mind when searching for supplies. A lot of these products can be found at you local craft, or party supply store.

Maple Leaf Craft Punch – Craft punches come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and have lots of uses. Use them to create themed confetti, invitations, garlands, labels, tags, cupcake toppers, and much, much more. Check your local craft store to see what kind of selection they have.

Chinese Lanterns – If you’ve got a China Town in your city there’s no better place to look for inexpensive paper lanterns. They come in a kinds of shapes, sizes and colors and work great as decorations, or add them to a string of mini lights for an evening party.

Divine Twine – This fun twine in super versatile and comes in a variety of colors. So far I’ve only seen this brand online, but you might be able to find similar twine or colored string at your local craft store.

LED Balloons – Yes that’s right… balloons with LED lights in them. (SaveOnCrafts has lots of other great products as well.)

SparklersOnline – You guessed it… where to buy bulk sparklers.

Bambu – This eco-friendly brand of bamboo dinnerwear can be found at stores like Whole Foods and Crate & Barrel. Check they’re online store finder here.

Social Couture – Another great resource for online party supplies, with products to suit any theme.

Maple Leaf Candy Mold – Make your own maple leaf candies and chocolates. Stay tuned this week for some fun cupcakes to make using this mold.

Bulk Candy – You can buy bulk candy online and choose the colors you want to suit your party theme.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 4: Party Supplies

Patriotic Parties – Part 3: Fun & Games

kelly — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:38:03 +0000

There are lots of ways to make your party fun and entertaining whether there will be children there or not. A few handmade games and other decorative elements like sparklers and crackers are easy to make, and can be fun for all ages.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 3: Fun & Games

Patriotic Parties – Part 2: Table Settings

kelly — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:53:09 +0000

When it comes to setting a patriotic table there are endless options. Think about buying plastic plates in white that you can reuse for other parties and use napkins and place markers to add in the color. If you must use disposable plates check out the great options from Bambu. Not only are they biodegradable, and 100% organic, but they also look great!

Maybe you’re looking for something a little more casual, or perhaps you have too many guests to fit around table. Pre-wrapped sandwiches and snacks make it easy for guests to grab-and-go-and-mingle.

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 2: Table Settings

Patriotic Parties – Part 1: Decorations

kelly — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:13:47 +0000

It’s that time of year, when thoughts turn to back yard barbecues, picnics, and outdoor parties. With both Canada Day and Independence Day just around the corner, rather than do separate posts for each holiday, I decided to do a couple of posts full of great ideas to help you throw a fabulous patriotic party, no matter where you’re celebrating.

First up lets talk decorations… Use your country colors to tie everything together and create festive mood. From streamers and balloons, to bunting and paper lanterns, whatever you decide to create, be consistent with your color scheme, and you’ll be sure to pull off a great looking party.

Click on the links to learn more about each project:

Read the original post here: Patriotic Parties – Part 1: Decorations

Sweet Treats for Dad

kelly — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:17:08 +0000

Sweeten up this Sunday with cupcakes and cookies ideas just for Dad.

1. Fast Food Fun – from Bakerella
2. Burger Cake Pops- Also from Bakerella
3. Tee-Time Cupcakes – From Martha Stewart
4. Tie Cupcakes – From LayersOfLove
5. Sports Cookies – from Polka-dot Zebra
6. BBQ Cookies – from Cookie Crazie

Read the original post here: Sweet Treats for Dad

Crafty Father’s Day Ideas

kelly — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:57:03 +0000

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and if you haven’t found the perfect gift yet here are a few DIY ideas to get you inspired.

1. Superhero Gift-box for Dad – Download the labels and make your own gift-box for the superhero dad in your life.

2. Mustache Mug – A silly gift for dad. Use porcelaine gel to paint a fun mustache on a mug.

3. Folded Shirt Cards – use origami to make your father’s day card a little more unique.

4. Dad’s Notepad – Decorate a basic note pad for dad’s office, and he’ll be reminded of you everyday.

5. King of the Grill Apron – Make Dad his own apron just in time for BBQ season.

Read the original post here: Crafty Father’s Day Ideas

Flet Egg Book Tutorial

kelly — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:57:28 +0000

A cute spring idea for your little ones. Holly from Chez Beeper Bebe, has an adorable tutorial for this felt egg book, that lets your kids decorate eggs over and over. Cut out all sorts of shapes and let their imaginations run wild, and when you’re not decorating you can store all the little pieces in the handy pocket at the back. Such a great idea, and beautifully crafted.

– Download the tutorial
– Purchase one of Holly’s from her Etsy Shop

Read the original post here: Flet Egg Book Tutorial