Karen Smallbone

With the economy not being so great, more and more brides are trying to cut costs while still having a fabulous wedding. One way to achieve this is by making things yourself.

My husband sent me a link to this awesome blog full of wonderful ideas for a Do it Yourself Wedding. iDiY has tons of free downloads for place cards, patterns you can use on labels and invites, vintage clip art and lots of fantastic ideas. You must check it out!

After spending some time on iDiY, I want to have a party or something just to have a reason to create something beautiful.

Looking for some great ways to use kraft paper bags? Click on the photo to go to the original article.

I had a family get-together this weekend and I volunteered to bring the dessert. There were lots of kids there so I thought I would make something fun. I’ve always wanted to make these Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes so this was the perfect opportunity. They are dead easy to make and the kids loved them.

I used a Betty Crocker cake mix. You just fill up the flat bottom ice cream cones with the mix and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 – 25 minutes. Yes you bake the cake right in the cones and no the cones don’t burn. You should only fill the cones up to about 2/3 of the way full. I put too much in and it spilled over the top.

Here is the finished cupcake. It looked just like ice cream. I piped buttercream icing into the ice cream shape and used a red gumball for the cherry.

Thanks to my helper Ronan for making sure all the spoons and bowl were licked clean.

When ever I’m having a bad day and need a giggle, I head over to www.icanhascheezburger.com. I always manage to find a few pictures to make me laugh. If you like dogs, there is also a site with lol dogs. Have a look.

Valentine’s day is fast approaching! Because not everyone wants hugely overpriced roses on Valentine’s day, I thought today I would feature a few ideas that would make lovely gifts for your sweetheart. I would love any of these, hint, hint. 

I thought I would share this fun site with you called Someecards. Their motto is “When you care enough to hit send” and the cards range from merely funny to hilariously inappropriate. Many of the cards include language and topics that are not safe for work/children, but if you want to surprise someone with a card that’s out-of-the-ordinary, you’ll definitely find something here.

If I were getting married again, I think I might wear my pink Converse sneakers underneath my wedding dress. Did you or will you have something funky on your feet for your wedding? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a sweet way to thank your guests for attending your event? A candy buffet is a great idea! Not only will it look fantastic, it tastes sweet too! It’s also a sweet idea for a favour. Provide your guests with a box or bag to fill up from the buffet. Seal the container with a label and voila, a favour that your guest will love and you didn’t have to stay up late to assemble!

If you are planning a candy buffet, keep in mind that most people will fill the container you provide right to the top. If you are trying to keep costs under control, be sure to provide a bag or box that isn’t too big.

KarenSmallbone.com has a large selection of boxes and bags that would be perfect for your buffet. We can custom design labels to seal the container. We also carry Jelly Belly beans in bulk, and have access to old fashioned Lollipops and ribbon candy! (If you are interested in the Lollipops, just send us an email and we can send you pricing.)

1.Old Fashioned Buffet from Once Wed by Chutes and Ladders

2.Pink Candy Bar from Once Wed by katie535h

3. Pink Candy Buffet by lisarunolfson

4.Pink,Orange and Green by kmjdepalma

5. Green and Brown by Rebecca Thuss

Brianna from Well Spun Wedding Films sent me an e-mail the other day to let me know about their fabulous vintage-style wedding films. When I saw their work I instantly fell in love. I wish I had something like this to remember my wedding day.

They’re in Philadelphia, PA and also offer their services in DC, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and LA.

I’ve included some images from their work in this post, but be sure to check out the gallery on their site to get a real sense of how fun and funky their films are.

Recently I was in a store in London (Ontario) called Over Her Shoulder. It’s a whole store dedicated to one of my favourite things… Handbags! I could spend hours in there just looking at all of the different handbags. I saw some bags from Harveys and thought I would share. Very cool, handbags made from seatbelts. I’m sure they would last forever! If you are ever in London or Port Perry, be sure to stop in to Over Her Shoulder.

I don’t know if you’ve discovered Etsy yet. It’s an awesome site where anyone can sell their handmade items. I have to admit, I’m a bit addicted. My husband has bought me gifts from sellers on Etsy the last 2 Christmases and I loved them. I thought I would share some fun finds with you from various sellers on Etsy. Today I looked up Monkeys just to see what I would find.

1. Super Cute Knitted Monkey Cup Cozy from MonkeyTravelClub
2. Mini Monkey Wallet from baffinbags
3. Sock Monkey Invitations from paperheartpress
4. Sock Monkey Purse/tote from Midnightcreations
5. Sock Monkey Pendant from thegildedlily