Non-Food item "dessert buffet"

I've been seeing a trend recently for dessert buffets that don't feature sweets like this school supply display or this all-soap display. I love the idea as so many people are watching what they eat and this is a guilt free option!

Here's a couple of other non-food "dessert" buffet ideas:

A Book Club:

books

assorted bookmarks

little book lights

book labels

tea bags

literary inspired magnets or other trinkets

A Casino Party:

poker chips (chocolate or real)

decks of cards

colored dice

arm garters

translucent green visors

dollar sign rings and bracelets

dollar print pencils and notebooks

Spa Party or Sleepover:

eye masks

nail polishes

toe dividers for painting nails

nail files

cotton towels, or wash cloths

mini lotions and other beauty products

manicure kits

cucumber slices for eyes

pairs or moisturizing gloves or socks (they have them at DT)

foot pumice stones or files

flip flops or slippers

New Year's Eve Party:

assorted party blowers

assorted noisemakers

party hats and tiaras

beaded necklaces

plastic champagne flutes

mini aspirin and Pepto Bismol

flavored chap sticks

streamers and confetti

party poppers

The possibilities are endless!

Try a Christmas cookie recipe exchange party or a DIY sushi party. How about a scrapbook party? A tea and coffee item buffet works for mother's day or a birthday. Or try gardening supplies, seed and bulbs for a gardening or lawn care party.

And here's some tips for putting it all together:

* Place small items in apothecary jars or in fish/candy bowls with scoops

* small items can also be wrapped in squares of wax paper like a candy and piled on a dish

* line flat items in rows, overlapping some, on square trays or dishes. I bought white rectangular sushi plates at the Dollar Tree.

* highlight stand-up items by attaching a flag or tag to it.

* present items on their own mini cake stand. You can make them from Dollar Tree candlestick holders and small plates, cardboard circles or stove burner covers. Spray paint to match color scheme

* display round or rolled up items in a cupcake holder

* stand tall items in rows. Use the foam lined tray technique and then cover the foam with filler like paperclips, shredded paper, glass rocks, river stones, etc.

* fill pretty glasses like martini, wine and sundae glasses with items.

* use the popcorn cone technique to display light-weight items

* bag like items and sets of items and top with a decorative bag topper

* put items on a stick and display upright in a foam lined tray or upside down on a plate with sticks in the air.

* use chinese or bent spoons to highlight small but special items. Line them up on a tray.

* and for the creative types, disguise your items as food items like cakes, maki sushi rolls, cupcakes, sundaes, candies, lollipops, etc.

Remember, You don't need a lot of everything! Try 4-8 of each item. Guests can chose one of each or make their own treat bag from items offered.

Have fun and please post a comment

if you try something similar!!

Dollar Store Clowing

As many a wise Clown already know, the dollar store can be a great location for cheap clowning and gag props. Put together a play box for the kids, entertain at a community event or birthday party, visit a sick friend in the hospital, or make an entertaining Clown costume for Halloween. Here's some great Clown things I found at the dollar store today:

COSTUMING:

This jumbo tie had a matching felt top hat at one time

Snazz up any shoe with these glitter shoelaces. Converse work particularly well on Clowns.

I also got a pair of nerd glasses with a sponge clown nose in the toy section. I use the glasses and nose to make kids "funnier" right before a photo. I also pull out the glasses to 'examine' things like face painting or cool t-shirts or to find invisible things.

Stick the nose in an empty baby food jar or similar and you've got yourself an Emergency Clown Nose

Note: The sponge nose does not stay on kids tiny noses but worked great on me!

JUMBO PROPS:

Everything's funnier when it's jumbo or mini

NOISE MAKERS:

Grab a variety of noise makers such as these razzer whistles. Also look in the party favor section for kazoos, siren whistles, and regular whistles. The toy section has recorder flutes if you think you can learn a song or two. And dismantle a squeaking pet toy for the little squeaker inside. these are awesome 'cause they are kinda hidden in your hand and you can squeak you nose or a kids nose.

GET AN ASSISTANT:

The toy section has these little bears in different colors and a whole slew of outfits and props (mostly profession like fire fighter or cop).

I thought this bear would make a great Nurse Bearnadette. She's a great assistant for a Caring Clown (A clown that does hospital and nursing home visits).

You don't need to pick a bear though. Try another stuffed animal or a baby doll or use the outfits or props on a toy of your own or a puppet. Puppets also make great assistants for doing clown magic.

FOAM LETTERS:

These a ton of gags you can do with some foam letters and I was thrilled when I saw this pack of craft foam at dollar store! The foam sheets are really thin and easy to cut.

Print out the letters E, I, X, and B in a large thick font on your computer and use it as a stencil. You'll get Free Bs (Freebies) to hand out. Pink Es (pinkies) that you can ask a child to hold on to extending your pinky and then passing them one of these instead. Cut a full sheet into a J and you have a baby Blue J (bluejay). And for the Caring Clown (or during cold season) you've got Pink Is (Pink Eyes) to diagnose and Clean Xs (Kleenex) to pass out for sniffles. Don't forget to dust off those Clean Xs with a feather duster before passing them out.

GAG PROPS:

Equipe your clown pockets with a variety of little gag and pun props such as these:

This mini butterfly net from a bug catching kit can be great for hunting for germs or fleas for your circus. Or for chasing wind up teeth and "running" noses.

These rubber sea creatures (or another pack of little fishies) can be used for a couple of food jokes. Pop one in a small ziplock bag with a handfull of poker chips and you've got Fish and Chips. Or glue one to the end of a popsicle stick. Put three of these in a small box and you've got yourself a Fish Stick Dinner to go.

Grab a small cheese grater from the kitchen section and you can pull it out for lines like "If you think that was great, THIS is a little grater!"

(Photo from Clown Antics)

Or make clown presents like this Jack-in-the-Box. Give as gifts or carry it around to show off as your favorite toy.

(Photo from Clown Antics)

If you find these mini rubber duckies string them together between two pieces of clear packing tape (or better yet, just glue the bases to 2 pieces of duct tape that have beed stuck together. That's more durable and less likely to stick to other things in your bag.) Use the Duck Tape to fix things or to get all your ducks in a row.

(Photo from Clown Antics)

BONUS:

And finally you need a tote to carry it all around in. I like the pockets on this little garden tote. The back side does not have pockets so you can add your clown logo, name or turn it into a Caring Clown bag by adding a red cross.

Get creative! Walk around and look at things. Think of puns and jokes that you could use with that item or google jokes on the net. Soon your clown bag will be full of little surprises!

Have Fun!

Kitchen Angel Craft

One of my family members received this Kitchen Angel in our gift exchange this year and I loved the idea so much that I wanted to archive it for future use: house warming gift, college-bound-student gift, etc.

Need:

1 washcloth

1 dish towel

1 donut shaped pot scrubby

1 potholder

some thin ribbon

1. Fold the dish towel in thirds along the long edges and then in half bringing the two short ends together. This is the body of the angel. Tie a ribbon a few inches down to form a head. Tie in back.

2. pinch a potholder together in the middle to form a bow tie shape. With the ends of the neck ribbon, secure the wings to the back of the angel. These are the wings.

3. Roll a washcloth into a tube. This is the arms of the angel. slip it between the folded dishtowel and tie "wrists" in front

4. Slip a length of ribbon through the sides of the head and through the donut hole of the pot scrubby. tie a large bow to hold scrubby on. If needed, stick the ribbon into a smaller hole in the scubby if the center hole is too large. This is the angel's halo.

5. Print Poem and attach to hands of angel.

Variation: slip a wooden spoon, or a set of measuring cups in the arms and attach a recipe card with the angel poem on the back.

Pot Scrubbies come in a variety of colors like red, silver and gold.

I didn't really like the style of this one. (Country kitchen is not really my style) But Target has all these same items in a rainbow of colors that would look really flashy and fun.

Play around with color combos and patterns of the fabric elements:

-Try all white with a gold halo for Christmas with a metal cookie cutter and recipe card in the hands.

-Do each element a different color and attach a recipe for rainbow cake, a bunch or colorful suckers or a small mylar balloon for a Birthday.

-Use brown, cream and whites and slip a couple packets of hot cocoa mix and a pretty spoon in its arms for a winter gift or party favor.

-Do it all in pink and sell them for a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser. You can pin a pink ribbon pin between its hands

-Use Christmas themed items and slip a candy cane in its hands

-Use floral print elements and slip a fake or real flower in it's arms for a gardener or spring time gift.

-Use red, white and green elements and tie on a small bag of gourmet pasta. Or try another ethnic recipe or element with colors of that countries flag.

Whatever the event, you can customize this craft to fit any almost occasion.

What are your ideas?

No Measure Cookies

I found this awesome recipe on Busy Bee Kids Crafts.com and thought I just had to try that with dollar store items!

Here's what you'll need...

•Cake mix (any will work)

•½ cup butter (1 stick)

•1 egg

Here's how to make them...

1. In a large bowl mix all ingredients.

2. Roll into balls (about a tsp full) and place on a greased (or parchment lined) baking sheet.

3. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes. Yields 2-21/2 dozen

Tips:

-Let cookies cool on the pan before moving them to a cooling rack, they are fragile

-It's easiest to mix the batter and form the balls with your hands

-Space out the cookies a bit on your cookie sheets or they will fuse together

-Wash hand between mixing the batter and forming the balls or the dough will stick to your fingers

-When mixed properly, the dough will be like crumbled brownie

This recipe reminds me of the Yogurt Cake Recipe that my hubby taught me. What's great about both recipes is that you don't have to have any measuring cups or spoons. Very handy if you're traveling, especially out of the country where the measurements are different. Also great for kids and college students. Both recipes are extremely adaptable. Try these variations below:

Cookie Variations:

-Yellow cake mix balls rolled in sugar

-Yellow cake mix and liquid or paste food coloring to make pink or green cookies

-Chocolate cake mix and chocolate or butterscotch chips

-Chocolate cake mix balls with white chocolate chip topped with crushed pepper mint candies

-Rainbow chip cake mix makes pretty cookies

-Lemon cake mix with poppy seeds

-Spice cake balls rolled in sugar

Cake Variations:

-Line pan with pineapple slices add cake mix, turn upside down after baking and drizzle with caramel

-Chocolate drink powder mix in with Nutella frosting

-Lemon juice and grated rind mix in with powder sugar and water glaze

-Chocolate chip or M&M mix ins

-Grated carrot and chopped walnut mix in with cream cheese and sugar frosting

-Use brown sugar instead of white and add all spice with a powder sugar and water glaze

-Shredded coconut and pineapple mix in with white frosting sprinkled with more coconut

Can you think of any other combinations?

Frames Frames Frames!

I have a new found love for dollar store and thrift store frames. After moving to Uptown Minneapolis and living in these beautiful old homes, I decided that regular art work wouldn't do and that the wall need to be covered in collections of unique frames that compliment the style of the home.

I've always been intrigued by 'Cabinets of Curiosities' and thought I'd put together one of my own using sentimental items that I had stored up, and that were traveling back and forth with me from the US to France, but who never left their box because I didn't know what to do with them!

I'm always telling my mother-in-law (a bit of a pack rat) that "if it's worth having, then it's worth displaying". So in trying to live up to my own advice, I got out all my old buttons, work name tags and cards (I have had many small jobs), keychains from various vacations and events, foreign stamps and money I collected, and jewelry and displayed them as best I could. Here's what I came up with:

I flanked either side of a window with a collection of frames. (Lost the photo of the other side, sorry.)

To make the necklace holder, I removed the glass of a picture frame and wrapped it in green satin and then replaced it in the frame. Then I took the eye screws from a dollar store picture hanging kit and placed them all along the top of the frame and one on each side. Then I simply hung necklaces on each hook.

I used a thrift store frame and some scrapbook paper to mount this joke money that I probably bought at t,he dollar store around Christmas time.

I used butterfly images that I found on Flickr and printed them out. Then I glues the front images to the back images back to back, bent the wings back slightly and attached them to a dollar store mirror with a small roll of clear tape. Martha Stewart has some great butterfly clip art right now. If there are no butterfly images with the undersides, simply glue two fronts together back to back. Because the butterflies are on a mirror, the back side will show a little so you don't want to leave them blank.

These two shadow box frames, with the glass panes removed, house trinkets from my Grandma and Grandpa, now deceased. I used different papers for the backgrounds. For Grandma, the blue paper with french words on it that came with the frame, and for Grandpa, a part of one of his fishing maps. I used hot glue and tape to secure all the pieces in place, being careful so that I could remove items later if I wanted too.

This dollar store frame has simply a piece of brown grocery bag inside decorated with a symmetrical arrangement of stamps from around the world. You could do the same with all US stamps of different themes.

This is my somewhat shameful but mostly awesome collection of work and volunteer badges. Yes, I've done it all and I'm proud of it! I placed scrapbook paper behind the glass and then taped two lengths of ribbon horizontally across the front of the glass, taping it securely behind the glass. Then I simply hung or pinned the tags to the ribbons.

For this collection of buttons, I wrapped the glass of a picture frame with two layers of T-shirt material, taping the back, and replaced it in the frame. Then I pinned buttons to the fabric. A similar idea can be used for dangly earrings. Just remove the glass entirely and replace it with a piece of mesh screen or plastic needle point mesh. Glue in place with hot glue and hang earrings in the holes.

Another cool thrift store frame that had an alcohol ad inside. I replace it with scrapbook paper and scotch taped coins inside. The bills are attached with Ticky Tack.

For this hanging arrangement, I took a pack of dollar store cup hooks and, using a lot of elbow grease, screwed them inside a thrift store wooden tray. Then I attached a picture frame hanger on the back to be able to hang it vertically. I filled mine with keychains I had collected but you can use this set up for lots of things like rings or bracelets or any other trinkets that can be hung. Make sure you space your hooks to accommodate the length of the items you plan to hang.

Here's that same group of frames at our new apartment in another arrangement.

Here's another use of dollar store frames. This time it's for Halloween. I bought four antique photo frames with images inside that change from vintage to haunted as you move in front of them. The Dollar Tree had these but I saw them for more than a dollar at Target and other places too. They were light weight plastic frames so I took wide brown satin ribbon and taped then to the back of the ribbon. I topped the ribbons with a hand formed bows and then just taped the whole thing to the wall. One on each side of our entry mirror.

They looked so pretty that even though Halloween is over, I think I'll look for frames of the same size and reprint some old family photos to have them up all year long. I'll attach the frames to the walls more permanently this time because tape only holds for so long.

Above the TV, we made another cabinet of curiosities using vintage specimen prints, images from anatomy books and the butterflies from the first arrangement. All these frames came from the Dollar Tree. The large shell print is another Martha Stewart find.

The small butterfly was already framed at the Dollar Tree and I didn't modify it at all.

Finally, The frames above were both thrift store finds, the large print and the two long ones were the kind that have a mat inside to hold four different photos. The images came from a three part poster that one of my husband's Christmas gifts was wrapped in last year. The poster was so cool that we saved it in the back of the closet forever. We trimmed the images to fit the frames and hung them all together as on collection. Very proud of this one as I only used items that we already had sitting around the house!

I'm so pleased at how awesome our house looks, and at a fraction of the cost of buying ready made art would have been!

Have you done similar? I'd love to see your ideas!