Family Photo Fashions

As Christmas card season approaches us that means family photography sessions are in full swing.  I know ours is next weekend and I've yet to figure out what we are wearing!  I'm usually way more ahead of the game, but this year I've put it off until last minute.  Which if your a plus size girl, is not the best idea since it's harder to find decent priced clothing in the styles you want.  Grrrr.  Today I thought I would share some great fashion looks for the whole family to help give you some ideas.  

Some helpful tips when looking for fashion for the whole family: 

1.  Never, I repeat NEVER wear the same color shirts.  That includes black, white, or whatever color you think will look cool...cause it won't!  

2.  If you need help coordinating what colors would look great together an old stand by is to look at a color wheel.  Picking colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel is the easiest way to pick two colors to focus on as your accent colors.  Then just add simple pieces with those bright and bold colors.

3.  Be comfortable!  If you wouldn't normally wear it, don't buy it!  For example...I don't normally wear dresses or skirts, I'm just not comfortable in them.  So I usually wear jeans and try to dress it up with a cute top.  I'm not typically a very "dressed" up kind of person, so my look usually consists of cardigans, etc...  The family photograph reflects you, and you should look like you!

4.  If you are a picky person you may want to consider coordinating your fashion around the color scheme of your home.  They pictures will hang proudly through out your house, so they will stand out if you have crazy colors and your house is a muted color palette.  Just a thought.

{Almost all the fashion in the top 4 fashion pictures can be found at Old Navy & Target, with the exception of the first women's choice in the first picture.  The last 3 fashion pictures are choices from my collections last year and are just to give you an idea of colors.  To find where all this fashion is from you can go to my Polyvore page and click on the set for details HERE.}

Wrapped Chain Bracelets

I know you have all seen this style of bracelet by now, they are everywhere!  Guess what?!  You can make these little pretties at a fraction of the cost, and have a great selection of any color you want!  Today I'm sharing with you how to make these very simple, but extremely fun Wrapped Chain Bracelets.  

If you have a 99 Cent Only store or a dollar store that carries jewelry...I suggest you go there and stock up on some metal bangle bracelets.  My local 99 Cent Only store had bundles of 6 bracelets for...you guessed it - A BUCK!  So I grabbed a few.  I originally didn't know what I was going to do with them, but for the price I knew I would do something fun.  Then I remembered all the bracelets I've seen in stores lately and in all the Arm Parties on Pinterest.  So I headed over to Hobby Lobby and went straight to the ribbon and trim section.  I found some plastic beaded chain trim, you can also use metal beaded chain if you happen to have some lying around from a past project or maybe a ceiling fan pull chain?!  The plastic beaded chain trim was inexpensive, $1.99 for 24ft.  And I'm pretty sure it was half off that day!  Then I grabbed some embroidery floss in the colors I wanted.

{P.S. Walmart has a great selection of bracelets for PLUS SIZE for less money than Torrid, or Lane Bryant!}

Supply List:

-  Cheap Metal Bangle Bracelets 

{up-cycle some of your own if you have them}

-  Beaded Chain Trim 

{you choose the color, gold is awesome right now}

-  Embroidery Floss 

{a variety of colors}

-  Hot Glue Gun

Start by placing a small bead of hot glue on your bracelet, quickly place your bead chain trim on to the bracelet {the glue dries quickly because of the metal bracelet, so work fast}.  Once you have gotten it started just keep gluing as you go all the way around the bracelet.  When you get to the end you started at just cut your trim and glue the last bead down.  Now cut a length of embroidery floss about 40" long.  Start by placing a small bead of hot glue to the inside of the bracelet {try to start where your beaded chain ends met} place the end of your embroidery floss in the glue and smooth carefully in to the glue {I have callused fingers so it doesn't hurt me, you can use a toothpick}.  Now begin wrapping the floss around each section of beaded chain, I went around the bracelet 3 times.  When you have done it 3 times you should end in the same spot you started, place another small bead of hot glue on the inside of the bracelet and place the end of floss in it.  Again smoothing it out so you don't have a big chunk of hot glue.  You can either put another small dot of glue and smooth it again {no one will see the inside} or place a dot of clear nail polish to hold that end in place.  

That's it!  You now have an assortment of cute bracelets that you can mix and match with other pieces of jewelry, creating your own Arm Party.  Don't forget to make some for gifts, your friends will love these!

Linked up at the following parties:

Cherished Bliss, Skip to my Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Craft-O-Maniac, DIY Showoff , Mad in Crafts, Brassy Apple, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Vintage Wanna Be Blog, Home Stories A to Z, The Winthrop Chronicles, The DIY Dreamer, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Snap the Conference, Gingersnap Crafts, Sugar and Dots, House of Hepworths, The 36th Avenue, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Live, Laugh, Rowe, Shabby Nest, Naptime Crafters, Whipperberry, Little Inspiration, Thirty Handmade Days, Just us Four, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, It's Overflowing, Too Much Time, Classy Clutter

Gold Skull Candies {Dollar Store Craft}

A couple days ago while looking in my pantry I found this awesome little ice cube tray I picked up at my local Dollar Tree store a little over a month or so ago.  

I totally forgot I bought it.  These trays aren't quite as hard as a normal ice cube tray, they have a little flexibility to them.  Perfect for candy making!  The other day I shared my Mummy Pretzels with you HERE.  I had some left over white vanilla melting bark from that project, so I figured I would use that.  I also thought who just wants plain old vanilla candy, not me...I love the salty sweet treats!  So I decided to add pretzels to this little sugary skulls.  And I had bought some gold food spray several months ago for a project I never did, so I figured why not make my skulls gold and all glammed up!

Here's what I used:

-  Dollar Tree Halloween Ice Cube Tray
-  Vanilla Melting Bark from Walmart
-  Gold Food Spray found in the baking section at Michaels or Walmart
-  Pretzels Pieces

Start by melting your vanilla bark according to the package, if your doing a smaller portion of the vanilla bark start with heating it in 30 second intervals so it doesn't burn.  Now spoon a small amount of vanilla bark in to each of the skulls on the tray so it fills them almost half way.  Next add some small pieces of broken pretzels, not too many cause you don't want the front of the skull's face to have jagged pretzels sticking out of it!  Now add the remaining vanilla bark and fill each skull so it's full.  Let them dry completely in the fridge for about 20 - 30 minutes.  Once dry, pop them out and place them on a piece of wax paper or paper towels.  

Next using your gold food spray (food spray paint) give them a light spray, and just spray light coats until you cover them completely and are satisfied.  I was a little disappointed with how brassy this gold spray was, but none the less it left my sugary skull treats with a great shimmery gold effect.  Let the candies dry.  Once dry you can package them up for a sweet treat for someone, or put them in a pretty bowl for your Halloween get together.

Linked up at the following parties:

Cherished Bliss, Skip to my Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Craft-O-Maniac, DIY Showoff , Mad in Crafts, Brassy Apple, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Vintage Wanna Be Blog, Home Stories A to Z, The Winthrop Chronicles, The DIY Dreamer, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Snap the Conference, Gingersnap Crafts, Sugar and Dots, House of Hepworths, The 36th Avenue, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Live, Laugh, Rowe, Shabby Nest, Naptime Crafters, Whipperberry, Little Inspiration, Thirty Handmade Days, Just us Four, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, It's Overflowing, Too Much Time, Classy Clutter

22 Great Candy Corn Treats

With just about a week left until Halloween there is still plenty of Candy Corn to go around!  Anyone sick of it yet?!  I'm not a huge fan of the colorful candy, but I will eat a handful of these little triangles of sugary goodness every year.  I just found out that Mr. Lopez loves them, he waited 10 years to tell me!  Ha Ha.  I thought today I would share some amazing Candy Corn treat recipes.  Perfect for those Halloween parties, or just as special treats for the kiddo's.

Candy Corn Cream Cups at Chickabug

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies at Our Best Bites

Candy Corn Meringues at Make.Bake.Celebrate

Candy Corn Popcorn at Lizzie Jane Baby

Candy Corn Marshmallows at The Partiologist

Candy Corn Pretzel Rods at Your Home Based Mom

Candy Corn Cake at Bird on a Cake

Candy Corn Macarons at Annie's eats

Halloween Mummy Pretzels {Class Treat}

I usually try and do something creative for all of my mini-me's class treats when it comes to holidays.  Last year for Halloween we did fangs with a cute note that said "I hope you have a Fangtastic Halloween!"  So this year I decided to do something with Mummies.  I like for them to still get a treat, but for it not to just be plain old candy...they'll get enough of that come Halloween night if they trick or treat.  So I decided to do Mummy Pretzels.  I figured the salty sweet snack was sure to please.

Shopping List:

Mummy Pretzels

-  Pretzel Rods

-  White Vanilla Bark Coating

{I get mine at Walmart in the baking section}

-  Chocolate Bark Coating

-  Sprinkles

-  Clear Favor Bags

-  Ribbon

Royal Icing Eyes

-  Meringue Powder

-  Water 

-  Sugar

-  Light Corn Syrup

-  Clear Extract {optional}

To begin you will need to make your royal icing eyes, I used this recipe from Bake at 350 found HERE.  It is an awesome and easy recipe for royal icing.  {note:  I cut my recipe in half for this projects for the royal icing, and I had more than enough eyes with plenty to save for a later date}  You can see the original tutorial for the royal icing eyes HERE from How Does She, hers are much prettier than mine.  I'm thinking the squeeze bottles would have worked nicer than my piping bags.  Reserve a small amount in of white royal icing in an airtight container, you will need this to attach your eyes to the pretzel rod.

Next lay several sheets of wax paper on your surface.  I started with the chocolate dipped pretzels first.  Take your chocolate bark and melt it per the directions on the back of the package in a glass bowl.  You can begin with half the package if your not doing a large amount of pretzels.  When the chocolate is ready begin dipping two pretzels at a time and shaking excess chocolate off the rod {I use a spoon to help coat the pretzels}.  Lay the rod on the wax paper and add your sprinkles.  Continue coating the pretzels two at a time until you have enough of the chocolate covered pretzels.  Let dry.

Now on to the Mummy Pretzels.  Melt your vanilla bark according to the back of the package, again start with half the package if your doing smaller quantities.  You can always use the rest of the package if you need it.  Begin by placing two royal icing eyes on the rod towards the top, use your left over white royal icing and a toothpick to adhere them to the rod.  When your bark is ready use a small spoon to gently spoon the vanilla bark back and forth over the pretzel rod.  Careful to not cover the awesome eyes you made.  Place carefully on your sheet of wax paper to dry.  It usually seems that the vanilla bark takes longer to harden than the chocolate so I'd give it a good two hours to harden.  If you have broken pieces of pretzels left over break them in to 1" pieces and dip them in any remaining bark coating and keep them for yourself!

Once all the pretzels are done you can package them up and pass them out.  These would be great for a Halloween party too!  Hope you enjoy!

Linked up at the following parties:

Cherished Bliss, Skip to my Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Craft-O-Maniac, DIY Showoff , Mad in Crafts, Brassy Apple, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Vintage Wanna Be Blog, Home Stories A to Z, The Winthrop Chronicles, The DIY Dreamer, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Snap the Conference, Gingersnap Crafts, Sugar and Dots, House of Hepworths, The 36th Avenue, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Live, Laugh, Rowe, Shabby Nest, Naptime Crafters, Whipperberry, Little Inspiration, Thirty Handmade Days, Just us Four, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, It's Overflowing, Too Much Time, Classy Clutter

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas {Kids}

I don't know if your like me and a HUGE procrastinator, but if you are you...haven't even started your kids Halloween Costumes yet!  This year it took a while for my oldest to get in to the Halloween "mood" and decide on a costume idea.  I love doing a theme with my two boys and this year I was trying to sell Captain Hook & Peter Pan, but the oldest shot that idea down pretty quickly!  Ha Ha, I just he's getting too old for Captain Hook.  Some other ideas I was bouncing around was Nacho Libre & his sidekick, or Thor & Loki...but there were issues with hand making both costumes.  So he ended up deciding on Robin Hood & Little John.  Thank goodness!  Those are easy costume to hand make, although I'm pretty sure he just wants to be Robin Hood so he can have a bow & arrows!

Today I've gathered some great last minute costume ideas for you.

Where the Wild Things Are

Marathon Runner

DIY Shark

DIY Scuba Diver

Little Chick

Owl

Paper Doll

Giraffe

Bearded Gnome

Viking

Peacock 

Little Lamb

Raccoon

Octopus

DIY Bat

Jack & the Bean Stalk

Peacock

Pinocchio

Zebra

Pirate

Mouse & Cheese

Lumberjack

Knights

Spider

Bumble Bee

Nacho Libre