Sugar & Cloth

As much as I DIY, I don’t exactly have the time to make things from scratch all for every occasion, room, or gift. So, I’m introducing you to my little secret of custom, but not always handmade things, like this Mother’s Day gift set for the baker.

Making a gift set like this is still one of a kind just like a DIY version, but doesn’t require all of the time.

• To make your own you can include these things:
• Recipe cards
• Matching apron and oven mit (this set is from Ikea)
• Striped straws
• Fresh cupcakes
• Specialty sugars and sprinkles
• Cute measuring spoons
• Matching cupcake liners

What baker wouldn’t love this much colorful goodness in one box?!

I’ve always been a big fan of making handmade Mother’s Day gifts. Granted I did used to make them out of sheer necessity in school because I had no money (sorry for the hand-painted rocks, Mom!), but now I like to add a handmade touch to pair with my store bought gifts just to show that I took the time and care.

This DIY bath sachet gift set and is quick and simple enough to add to any gift, or could be easily transitioned into party or wedding favors. Who couldn’t use a fresh chamomile or mint infused bath every now and then?

Materials:

• Card stock
• Scissors
• Rectangular coffee filters
• Freshly ground lavender, mint, chamomile or other herbal scents
• Martha Stewart craft glue (c/o)
• Martha Stewart flourish frame layered craft punch (c/o)
• Martha Stewart scoring board (c/o)
• Pencil

First, we’ll make the sachets. Lay a rectangular coffee filter flat, and place your scents of choice in the midway on the right side. Then fold the filter like a hot dog, and folding the top and bottom flaps inward.

Then fold the sides inward about a half an inch, and staple down.

Next, cut 1 inch thick strips of card stock just long enough to make a band around your sachets.

Use the Martha Stewart craft glue to adhere the band to itself. This way the band slips off before using the sachets in water.

Use the Martha Stewart layering hole punch to make labels by cutting a solid color backing, and then switching to the border setting and cutting a patterned card stock.

Glue the two pieces together, label your sachet with each scent, and then glue the tag to the band around your sachet.

Using the Martha Stewart scoring board, make a matching card to fit with the gift set and personalize it with a monogram!

Now your gift is ready for your favorite lady of any age.

In case you’re the lucky lady hosting the Easter meal this year, these super fast DIY color blocked egg place cards are the perfect addition for your table (just don’t try and say their name really fast five times). Also, when I say “perfect”, I’m really just assuming that you procrastinate as much as I do and need something cute that only require about ten minutes of effort.

Materials:

• Martha Stewart all-purpose craft paints
• Martha Stewart twine
• Card stock flags (or card stock to cut your own)
• Hole punch
• Pen/pencil

To color the eggs, pour various colors in their own cups, then dip the eggs in one side and let dry.

Once they’re dry, write each name on a flag, hole punch, and then tie around the egg. It seems harmless enough, but tying twine around an egg is no small feat, so do this just before placing them at each setting.

To get you started, here is a thirty percent off your entire purchase coupon for Martha Stewart Crafts at Michael’s!

I really, really wanted to name this post EGGcellent, but I resisted the urge. What I can’t resist, though, is a good excuse to decorate real life polka dots with pastels and pretty designs. So I put together six simple and colorful Easter egg DIY’s for this year…

clockwise left to right – sweet nothing eggs by Sugar & Cloth //  decorated egg cups by Paper & Stitch // painted pastel eggs by Paper & Sitch // ombre eggs by Sugar & Charm // watercolor letter eggs by Oh Happy Day // calligraphed eggs by Oh Happy Day // 

Most of the time I claim that green is my favorite color, when clearly I’m just in denial of being a pink kind of girl. Regardless, I love St. Patrick’s Day mostly for being given good reason to make everything green.

To make sure you’re the one pinching and not being pinched, I’ve put together a simple DIY paper backdrop and sweet recipe to incorporate into your holiday (or if you just like the green, I don’t blame you).

Materials:

• Martha Stewart decorative circle punch
• card stock
• tape

First, insert your circle punch of choice onto the track. Select how many inches you’d like the circle to be (6-12 inches), both on the slider on the side, and the bottom plate.

Place the cardstock center over the magnetic circles, and let the magnetic knob and main punch into place over top of their specific magnets.

Press the punch down, then rotate the knob one time, and press the punch again.  Repeat until the circle is fully cut-out.Once you have as many circles as you’d like, use a piece of looped tape to tape them into place for your backdrop.

Ingredients for the Irish peppermint shake (1 serving)

• 6 ice cubes
• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
• 1 drop or 1 of peppermint extract
• green food coloring
• whipped cream for topping
• spalsh of Irish cream or liquor

Blend all of the ingredients together, and then top with whipped cream. Add a striped straw, and they’re ready to serve!