Banana-Nutella Cream Dessert

I grabbed some Nutella from the store a few days ago and I rediscovered my love for it! I was playing around in the kitchen and came up with the most amazing layered dessert. It only took about 15 minutes to put together. They turned out so great! Hope you like them as much as my family did!

Ingredients:
Honey Graham Crackers
Mascarpone Cheese - 8 oz
Nutella - 2 tablespoons
Cream - 1/4 cup
Banana
Whipped Cream
Chopped Hazelnuts - for garnish
Chocolate Shavings - for garnish







Crush graham crackers in plastic bag. Spoon graham cracker crumbs into bottom of dessert dish.

















In a mixing bowl combine mascarpone, nutella, and cream. Mix thoroughly. Spoon mixture into dish on top of graham crackers.




Slice banana. Layer sliced bananas on top of nutella cream.










Cover in whipped cream and garnish with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate shavings.

Vintage Veil

I found a 1940's era white hat at a vintage store years ago. I have a tendency to buy items that I am drawn to. I didn't have a specific purpose for it, but as my fiance and I started planning our wedding, it dawned on me that with french netting it would be the perfect veil for our vintage-romantic wedding. I purchased my french netting from BirdcageSupply on etsy.com. I gathered the netting and sewed it to the top if the hat to create a veil. I think it turned out to be a great headpiece and I only spent about $25 total. Are you planning a vintage themed wedding? What does your veil look like?

Embroidered Magnets

 Items Needed

Fabric (I used linen)
Embroidery Hoop
Embroidery Floss
Needle
Button Maker (1 inch)
Hot Glue Gun
Magnets (3/4 inch)

Use the button maker stencil to draw circles on the fabric.

In the center of each lightly draw your image or word.

Put the fabric in the embroidery hoop and embroider over the word/image, so no ink shows through.

Cut out each circle and center it over the button maker and press the button back to make the button cover.

Put hot glue on the back of the button and place the magnet on.

Here are your button magnets. Get creative with colors, fabrics, words and image! I know I am!

DIY Save the Dates

Materials Needed:

-Text Paper
-Heavy Cover Paper
-Paper Cutter
-Rounded Corner Punch
-Scrapbook Glue
-Envelopes
-Printer

I designed my own Save the Date. I used Adobe Illustrator, you can download a trial if you don't have it or you can find a printable design on Etsy. Be sure to include your names, the date, where you'll be getting married, and "formal invitation to follow." Get creative with the style of your save the date. I modeled mine off our reception site and our decoration ideas. I printed the design on text weight paper I got from Paper Source which has a variety of colors to suit your theme. Cut the design into a 4x6 and cut the cover weight paper into 5x7 cards. I punched the corners on both the text and cover paper to give them the rounded shape. Center the text paper on the cover paper and use the scrapbook glue to attach the two. I purchased A7 envelopes which fit the 5x7 Save the Date. I am also including our engagement photo in the envelope.

Vintage finds and treasures

I have a slight love affair with all things antique and vintage. Every time I walk into a vintage or antique shop I fall for every little piece and the millions of stories that could be attached to the item. Through my search, I only invite really special pieces to come into my home. Some pieces I’ve found in vintage shops in near the homes I’ve lived in or they have been handed down to me from family members.

The Marie Antionette style Champagne glasses were handed down to me when my great- grandmother passed. I have wonderful memories of New Year's Eve at her house and all the adults drinking champagne out of these glasses. Something about their shape makes me feel like I'm straight out of Great Gatsby or Marie Antionette. When paired with a silver tray like shown, sets up the perfect atmosphere for a party.

The glass salt cellars to left I found at a vintage shop in Metamora, Indiana. They are so small and I think they add so much to a place setting. When ever I visit a vintage or antique shop I look for their salt cellars. They come in so many different varieties and are so fun. I haven't done it yet, but I often wonder if I added a wick and some wax if they would make the most amazingly elegant tealight.

Spoonflower

 One of my favorite websites is Spoonflower. It is  great place for crafters to create their own or check out artists and their designs. You can create your own for yourself or use the site to sell your designs to others. I love being able to make custom fabrics and use them for personalized projects. Here are a few of my designs.
My Spoonflower Shop

Engagement Announcement

Every couple announces their engagement differently. Anymore you know when anyone is engaged because of facebook. Then the question is poised for the bride to be... To post a photo of the ring or not? After a few months of thinking this over I decided to post a photo of my engagement ring on facebook. Here is what I posted. The love earring is from Anthropologie. I am going to be wearing the earrings at our wedding. I love how this photo turned out.