Happy Handmade Halloween

Today was a great Halloween!  I stayed up a little late the night before making this Halloween Trick or Treat Party Banner, Candy Corn Popcorn Balls, and Candy Corn Cookie Bark.  I couldn't help but get carried away in last-minute holiday preparations. I broke out all of my Halloween stamps and had a blast crafting and cooking the night away.

I thought these hand-stamped skeletons were the perfect addition to the banner, which also featured hand-stamped spiderwebs.  They looked so good colored in with a white colored pencil!

These Candy Corn Popcorn Balls are so easy to make! Plus, they're absolutely adorable and because the recipe comes from Cooking Light magazine, they're not too bad on the waistline either!!  This Halloween, I made a half batch using a 100-Calorie bag of microwave popcorn, which made about 12 balls. Just right!

I absolutely love making this Candy Corn Cookie Bark by Your Homebased Mom! It's the perfect combination of salty and sweet.  It looks perfect in my candy corn bowl that I got at Target a few years ago.

I couldn't resist making something with this cute vintage card stamp!  I turned her into a little sign to put in the Candy Corn Cookie Bark.

We had a pretty good turn out for trick-or-treating at our house, too, and are only left with two small handfuls of candy.  I'd say that's a pretty good night!  My favorite costumes this year were Poseidon, a member of the Monster High crew, and a very enthusiastic Iron Man.  I wish you could have seen him flex his muscles!!

Featured Handmade Items by Belly Feathers
Trick or Treat Pennant Party Banner
Halloween Party Favor Tags
Hand-stamped Halloween Sign

Carnival Party Ideas: Caden's 2nd Birthday Party Carnival

Seeing these Carnival Party photos from Caden's 2nd birthday party in Opp, AL, has been such a treat!  Caden's grandma Lisha (you may remember her Ladies High Tea Party) purchased my Circus Party Planning Guide to help plan this carnival party, as many of the circus party ideas and highlighted products in the guide work well for a carnival parties, too.  I heard Caden's mommy Morgan kept it with her at all times!

Caden is the little clown in the center.  Isn't this a fun photo!

I just love this Carnival Ticket Booth, which was made by painting a cardboard box.  A simple project with a huge impact!

If you are looking for Carnival Birthday Cake ideas, it doesn't get any cuter than this!  The Carnival Cupcakes look like little containers of popcorn, which perfectly coordinate with the popcorn box on top of the big Carnival Cake.

Little Caden can't wait to get a taste of his Carnival Birthday Cake!

What would a birthday party carnival be without Carnival Party Games?!  Check out all of the fun games in these photos, including a ring toss, buried treasure hunt, duck pond, carnival pinata, and face painting to name a few.

There was even a Carnival Candy Buffet full of sweet treats.

Nothing will grab your guests attention more than the smell of freshly popped popcorn and get them in the mood for fun.  That's why I think a popcorn machine is always worth a splurge for parties like this. Lisha and Morgan went all out with popcorn balls and caramel apples, too.  YUM!!

No detail was over looked at Caden's Carnival Birthday Party.  Even the favor boxes were a perfect fit!

In addition to providing the Party Planning Guide, I also designed this Carnival Party Banner for Caden's big day. It says, "The Caden Carnival".

This last picture is just too cute to leave out!

Lisha and Morgan thank you so much for letting me help with Caden's Carnival Birthday Party and being able to share these festive pictures. It looked like everyone had such a blast! You both have creativity beyond bounds, and I love that you were able to take ideas from my Circus Party Planning Guide and run with them.  You've given me so many wonderful ideas!

Featured Handmade Items by Belly Feathers
Pennant Party Banner
Circus Party Planning Guide 

UPDATE: I have a new line of Circus/Carnival party products!

You might also like these posts:
Big-Top Circus Birthday Party for Marley & Kelsey (Party Photos)
Handmade Circus Birthday Party: Let Your Birthday Boy Be the Ringleader (Party Ideas)
Circus Party Theme: Joshua's Two Ring Circus Birthday Party (Party Photos)

Show and Tell: Lenox Butler's Pantry 3-Part Divided Server

Today is the last day of Show and Tell Week for entertaining and serving pieces.  I've had so much fun sharing my personal favorites with you all week, and I've saved my absolute favorite for last: Lenox Butler's Pantry 3-Part Divided Server.

Don't miss your chance to win a Belly Feathers surprise! Be sure to join in by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook by midnight Central Time tonight (10/22)! See bottom of post for details.

Photos just don't do this beauty justice!  I waited almost a year to get her on back order from Belk, which is probably why I lover her so much.  Maybe it was a case of "absence makes the heart grow fonder"!  My heart just melts when I pull this out of my China cabinet. I love the darker cream on cream detailing, which all of the items in the Butler's Pantry line from Lenox have. 

My husband and I registered for lots of Butler's Pantry pieces when we got married, as it was the only pattern of plates (China or everyday use) we could agree on.  All of the pieces are a little different, as if a butler had collected cream-colored items through the years to fill his cabinets. There are a few different patterns of plates and bowls that you can mix and match to create an ensemble you love. I really like it because the pieces are pretty and still functional for everyday use.  However, this server is huge and just too big to have an occasion to use very often.

I received it shortly before Christmas last year. Since we were doing a really small Christmas Eve dinner for just my husband, father-in-law, and me, it was a perfect size for serving turkey in the center and stuffing on either side.  With so few of us, I didn't want to put the leaf in my dining room table, which left us little room to put the entire turkey on the table, so this 3-part divided server was perfect.  Of course, I was so thrilled to use it, too!

 Here's a shot of our humble yet delicious Christmas Eve feast.

We're doing a larger Thanksgiving this year, so I'll be using one of my large Butler's Pantry platters to put the entire bird on, and I think I'll use this divided server for stuffing on either side with mashed potatoes in the center.  Mmmm!  All this talk about food is making me hungry for the holidays!


Don't forget: Today is the last day of Show and Tell Week, so don't forget to share your favorite entertaining and serving pieces by midnight Central Time!

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win
Join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday at midnight Central Time.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com

Show and Tell Week: Cake Stand with Ribbon Holes

Next up in Show and Tell Week for entertaining and serving pieces is probably the very first pretty serving piece I ever got: my Ribbon Loop Cake Stand.  This was a gift from my mom that has been so useful through the years.

(Be sure to join in by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook! See bottom of post for details.)

As I started to look for photos of my cake pedestal in action, I realized that it's probably never been used for a cake!  I've used it to display party favors, add height to a buffet, and for other desserts. The closest thing to a cake was this berry shortcake. It didn't look anything like the gorgeous picture on the cover of Martha Stewart Living, but it was so yummy on the 4th of July!

More often, I've used the cake stand for cupcakes.  Here's a picture with these awesome Chunky Cherry Cupcakes.  Part of why I love this cake stand is that it looks great as is, or you can decorate it up with ribbon and a tag or other embellishments to match your party decor.

I also use the cake stand at Thanksgiving and Christmas to give my pies a lift, especially whichever pie ends up in an boring Pyrex pie plate.  Cake stands make great additions to any buffet no matter what kind of food you serve on them because the extra height adds visual interest.

I wish I had a picture of these cute candle party favors I made for a Stampin' Up party a few years ago because they looked so cute on this stand, but I couldn't find one. So, here are some party favors on a different cake stand.  Putting small favors on a cake stand makes them stand out and scream, "Don't forget to take me home!"

There's only one more day of Show and Tell Week, so don't forget to share your favorite entertaining and serving pieces!

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win
Join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday at midnight Central Time.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com

Show and Tell Week: Cupcake Stand Tower

Show and Tell Week for entertaining and serving pieces continues with another versatile piece from my entertaining arsenal: my Cupcake Stand. 

(Be sure to join in by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook! See bottom of post for details.)

I love this cupcake stand because it has four different toppers that you can change out for the different seasons.  My favorite is the twirly one. The stand unscrews and can stack flat for storage, too, but I enjoy just leaving it out and assembled all year round with the twirly topper.

I've used the star topper for a Blast-Off Rocket Baby Shower for my friend Brandi.  One thing you might not have considered about cupcake stands is that they're great for serving other foods. At the baby shower, we served mini sandwiches in cupcake liners. 

For a little photo shoot before the event, I filled liners with pretzels and candy, which would be great at party, too.

TIP: I love using silver Reynolds foil baking cups like those in the pink cupcake pictures below because they're pretty but also because you can just bake them on a cookie sheet instead of a muffin pan.  In between each of the silver tins is a white paper liner, which the package says aren't safe for baking.  I save these for occasions like serving sandwiches at the baby shower above or for snacks.  They're great for serving crumbly desserts, too.  The white liners are always coming in handy for projects.

Here are some pictures from a birthday party.  I love how the pink cupcake frosting really pops against the dark background of the cupcake stand. 

My stand is part of the Better Homes and Gardens product line from Home Interiors and Gifts.  I hate that HI&G went out of business because I have so many wonderful pieces from the Better Homes and Gardens collection. I still look around on eBay for pieces from time to time, which is how I got this stand.

Only two more days left of Show and Tell Week, so be sure to check back in for more of my favorite entertaining and serving pieces!

Share a Photo for Your Chance to Win
Join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com

Show and Tell Week: Ruffled Casserole Dishes

Everyday is worth celebrating! That's why today I'm featuring my Ruffled Casserole Baking Dishes for Show and Tell Week, which are perfect for everyday meals.    

Be sure to join in Show and Tell Week by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook by Friday for a chance to win a surprise! See bottom of post for details.

I initially purchased the large blue casserole dish at Tuesday Morning.  I thought it looked so pretty coming out of the oven with its ruffled edges, that I knew I had to go back and get the two smaller versions.  This picture shows one of our favorite dishes, a Denver omelet bake.

To be honest, I've never actually used the two smaller ones, but I love them just the same.  I think they'd be great for serving side dishes. Maybe the tiny one would be good for serving olives, nuts, or other appetizer-type foods. 

I think everyday meals and the hard work of cooking can be made a little more fun by having some prettty oven-to-table cookware like these casserole dishes. What do you think?


Stay tuned for more of my favorite entertaining and serving pieces everyday this week!

Participate and Win
Don't forget to join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com

Show and Tell Week: Homemade Hurricanes

My Homemade Hurricanes are the second items I'm featuring in my Show and Tell Week for entertaining and serving pieces.  (Be sure to join in by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook! See bottom of post for details.)

I saw a great tutorial on how to make these hurricanes on Decor Chick using glass vases and candlestick holders from Dollar Tree, and I'm so happy I tried making two for myself a few weeks ago.  At around $2 each, you can't beat how good they look!  I filled this one with dried pinto beans ($1 per bag) and a candle, and I think it looks great in my entryway.  These would make great party centerpieces, and you can switch out the type of dried beans for a different color and look.

I did something similar for my mantle by adding candy corn and a little pumpkin in the other hurricane for Halloween.

 
TIP:  To save on candy when filling large jars for parties, add some clear plastic cups upside down in your container to create a hollow area. It's a little hard to see the cup in the picture below, but that's what my hurricane looked like before I poured the candy corn in it.

 
If you were doing a candy buffet at a party, these hurricanes would be great.  For variety you could shop around for different sized containers to glue on top of the candlesticks.  My blog friend Staci at Lizard & Ladybug came up with some cute variations below.  I love how she tied ribbon around the base for added detail!

This project was the first time I'd used glass glue before, so one of my hurricanes looks a little messy on the bottom.  The glue was in the same kind of bottle as super glue, so I thought it would be a gel like that. Nope! It's a runny liquid, so I squirted out way too much on my first try. I knew what to expect on the second hurricane, and it turned out perfectly.

Stay tuned for more of my favorite entertaining and serving pieces all week!

Don't forget to join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com

Show and Tell Week: Trifle Bowl with Removeable Base

The first item I'm featuring in my Show and Tell Week for entertaining and serving pieces is a something I've been using a lot lately: my Trifle Bowl.  (Be sure to join in by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining piece on Facebook! See bottom of post for details.)

Even though I knew I could get one cheaper at TJMaxx or Marshal's, I splurged on this Pampered Chef Trifle Bowl last year at a friend's party.  It has a removable base, which was so worth the splurge because it takes less space to store the trifle dish since the base fits inside and you don't need as much room in the fridge to keep desserts cool before serving.  Plus, I've used the bowl without the base plenty of times.  It's super versatile!

On Friday, I made this yogurt, granola, and peach breakfast trifle to take to work as part of my donut day.  I got the idea from this month's issue of Martha Stewart Living.  It was super simple, as I just layered vanilla yogurt, granola from the cereal section, and two fresh peaches on top.  I was shocked at what a big hit this was!  Almost all of it was gone by the end of the day.

Last Christmas, the trifle dish made a quick and easy Christmas centerpiece.  I just put some extra clementines and cranberries I had laying around in it.  I think it added a really nice freshness to the room and was surprisingly elegant for something thrown together.

This trifle dish travels really well, too.  It's more stable sitting on the floor board of your car without the base.  Here's a picture of a yummy pineapple cheesecake trifle before I drove it to my mother-in-law's house.

Stay tuned for more of my favorite entertaining and serving pieces all week!

Don't forget to join in the fun on the Belly Feathers Facebook page by sharing a photo of your favorite entertaining or serving piece and a few lines about why you love it by Friday.  On Saturday, I'll draw the name of someone who shares a photo to win a special surprise.  Submit as many photos as you want for extra chances to win!

Show and Tell Week Details:
Sunday (10/17/2010) - Friday (10 /22/2010 midnight Central Time)
Share a picture and a few lines about your entertaining piece at facebook.com/BellyFeathers
If you don't use Facebook, email your photo and lines to Betsy@BellyFeathers.com