Aunt Peaches

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More with Rubber Cement: Luminary Place Cards

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I wish I was the type of person who threw candlelit dinner parties every week. Alas, that ain’t going to happen any time soon. The closest I will get is a frozen pizza with a friend on the couch, watching The Real Housewives on Bravo (**ZOMG you guys, did you see the New Jersey premier last night? And her CRAZYTOWN fingernails?!?!?!?!?!?!**)

…ahem, so, about those elegant dinner parties…

On the rare occasions I do have people over for a sit down meal, I think it’s nice to fancy up with place cards and fingerbowls and oodles of candles….the whole nine yards. As a sidecar to yesterday’s post on resist “plaid painting” with rubber cement, I thought I would share some fun and funky place card luminaries. If you didn’t know, I’m crazy about luminaries. And wouldn’t it be fun to sit down to a seat with your name all lit up and glowing?

Tip: Don’t try to control the rubber cement too much. The more precise you try to make it, the sloppier it will appear. Just embrace the sloppy from the beginning. You’re writing with snot. Give your self some credit.

Tip: Get friends with short names. Good luck trying to print Manahethites on there.

PS: Rubber cement not your thing? Try some melted wax luminaries.


Stashbusting: Painted Party Favors

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Here is the thing: Usually, I am not big on party favors.

Usually, I said.

As a guest, I never know what to do with them. Do you leave them on the table? What do you do with the packaging? Is it rude to stuff it under your chair? Is it rude to leave it behind if it doesn’t fit in my purse? Is it rude to leave it behind because I don’t want to stuff a wet wine glass in my purse?

These are the things that keep me up at night. Can you tell?

As a host, I just don’t like a lot of crap on the table. Show me sturdy plates, solid cups and a spill-proof table cloth, and I’ll show you a good time. Show me cut crystal and tulle pom-poms, and I’ll show you a table full of uncomfortable guests who are wondering, Where the hell am I supposed to put this napkin ring?


Don’t get me wrong, a little foof can lend a lot of atmosphere, but if something takes up space on my table the table, I want it to be edible or disposable. I don’t want my guests to feel bad because they spill wine, or lose a napkin, or nudge a votive candle in the wrong direction and set the whole table on fire.

I speak from experience on that one. Don’t I, JOANNA?

None the less, sometimes it’s nice to leave a little something for your guests. It makes them feel special and appreciated. It also looks wicked cute on the plate! Just be sure they know it isn’t precious and for all you care, sit on it. Or for that matter, set it on fire. Right, JOANNA?

Enter: Painted Party Favors

This is another project born from the Box O’Fun, courtesy of Heather at Dollar Store Crafts and their April Stash busting project.

PS: Anyone interested in helping me unload my own stash, click here.


This project started with a pack of baby shower boxes from the dollar store. I have passed these at the dollar store and the party favor section a billion times and never picked them up. Until now!


Then I painted them and slapped on a little tissue. Nothing fancy. Just smoosh on some paint.


 After it dries, trim off the inner foldy bits. Technical term, foldy bits, that is.


Then punch some holes, stuff it and fold it up. Donzo!

And look! You can thread a feather through the holes and give them cute little hats.

Don’t your party favors deserve feathers in their cap?

A friend suggested they would also make excellent packaging for jewelry and baubles and such –good thinking. I’ll bet there are a lot of nifty things to be done with these little boxes. Ideas anyone? Chime in! I want to revisit these bad boys sometime soon.