Twice-Dipped Chocolate Strawberries | Valentine's Day Ideas

Every year on Valentine's Day I make chocolate dipped strawberries for my kids and husband. They absolutely LOVE them and are so excited to receive and consume them. This year my 12 year old son decided he wanted to learn how to make them. So if he can make pretty strawberries, so can YOU!

Strawberries are not very good at the store until the week of Valentine's Day. You can find "great-big-huge-giant" ones! Last year at Sam's Club I even found them with the stem left on. This is especially nice when dipping.

Supplies Needed for the Project:

• Strawberries
• Dipping Chocolate- I prefer the Wilton brand.  You can buy it at Michaels, Joann, and Wal-Mart.  There are a few kinds at the grocery store.  Beware: do not buy almond bark!  It tastes like wax!  There is a brand in a small tub with chocolate chips that is good but pricey for quantity.  You can use chocolate chips but they don't dry very fast which makes it much more time consuming and difficult.
• Sprinkles (optional)
• Cupcake liners-(optional) mini or small / depending on size of strawberries. *If giving away you want to package them! See video for tip.

I would love to hear about what kinds of traditions you have for Valentine's Day.  What will you do this year for your loved one(s)? Please check us out on Facebook (Showmecute) and post photos of your Chocolate Covered Strawberries!  I would love to see!

Christmas Photo Booth Props! | Party Ideas

I have seen photo booth ideas all over lately.  People have been using them at parties of all kinds.  With four kids, I decided several years ago that I can't keep up or afford to have "friend" birthday parties every year.  So I told kids that we would do "friend" parties every other year and on the off year we would have family parties.

This year was my baby girl's "family" year and she wanted entertainment for her guests.  So I was straining my brain trying to think of something that would be fun for everyone and low stress for me.  The photo booth is what we decided on. She was so happy, and everyone had a great time playing with the different crazy photos they took.

Birthday was last month and this month I was in charge of our church Christmas party.  So I decided to make Christmas props and have a photo booth at the party.  You can make your props for all kinds of occasions and themes!  For more ideas you can google "photo booth props" and find all kinds of ideas for your party.

Items needed for this project:

• Cardstock (colors depend on your props )
• Sticks- I used wooden sticks found at craft store.  Mine were about 12"
• Scissors
• Glue gun, or tape

This link might help you get started: http://blitheavenue.blogspot.com/2011/05/and-again-coz-it-makes-me-happy.html
I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  This is an excellent idea for New Years Eve!

Easy Gift Wrap Idea! | Christmas Wrapping

I have two really talented sisters.  Last year I spent Christmas at my older sisters house.  She lives in Dallas so I don't get to see her too often but when I do, we have lots of fun together and we go crazy in the creating department.

Because we traveled for Christmas (with four kids) I had most packages mailed straight to her house.  But had to wrap everything when I got there. My sister took me to her supplies and I go t everything done in about an hour!  It was so great.  These boxes were definitely the key! I swore I would go home and get boxes like these for myself.

Items needed for this project:

• Printed (plain would work too) cardboard boxes ( I found mine at Hobby          Lobby @50% off.  I also saw them at Joann, Michaels, Target, and Wal Mart)
• Tule  ( I've seen it at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Wal Mart, and Joann )
• Tissue
• Scissors[gallery columns="4"]

I've already had several people comment on the youtube channel asking about a bow tutorial.  I will definitely add it to the list of things to come.  I hope this makes your gift wrapping easier and faster.  I love a pretty package! Please go to Facebook (ShowMeCute) and tell me what you did.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Pops

Oh my goodness these are so yummy! I have to admit I decided to make these on pure "cute" looking factor alone. Much to my amazement... they are as yummy as they are cute.

Confession #2- I am not a huge chocolate fan. Don't get me wrong, I like chocolate alot, I'm just not a chocoholic! I usually like tart or creamy desserts. Favorites include Lemon Bars, Cream Cheese things, Cupcakes, etc.
These taste totally different once the chocolate has hardened into the candy state rather than a fondue consistancy. I think that is what I like. The other thing I love about these is the range of usage! One could really get creative there.

Items needed for this project:

• Marshmallows: either Large or Jumbo
• Chocolate Candy Melts:  I prefer the Wilton brand.  Hobby Lobby carries another brand and I don't like the taste as well.  DON"T ever use the almond bard or baking crap you get at the grocery store.  Gag!  You might as well eat wax.  ( I hope I am not too harsh about that. :) )  You can find the wilton brand online, Michaels, WalMart, and Joann.
• Optional- If you want pops you will need candy sticks or something to use as a stick.  I used a cute striped straw.
• 

This is so easy and fun.  I'm pretty sure Chocolate makes everything taste better! Share with me your favorite chocolate dipping ideas here at Facebook (Show Me Cute).

Merry Christmas!

Burlap Placemat | Table Setting Ideas

This is a way cute idea for your Thanksgiving table! It was so easy!  If you like a more fancy look, this is a great option for a kid table.  You can also do this for everyday use with different words.  For this project you will need the following:

• Black Sharpie
• Burlap (yardage depends on qty of placemats) Can be purchased wherever you can buy fabric.  If unsure, google it! A standard placemat is roughly 14" tall.  Folded in half you would be able to get 6 placemats out of 1.25 yds.

To get started you need to go to your word processor on your computer.  I printed mine in the landscape format (which means the direction the paper is turned when you print).  The font that I used was called American Typewriter but of course you can use any font you wish.  The size I used was 125 pt.  I had to manually type that into the space it shows the size as the automatic options were to large or too small.  I was able to print 3 words per sheet of paper.

  

I love this kind of project that gives such a cute result with such little effort.  I am confident it will be just as fun and easy for you.  Cuz it is super cute!  I would love to see your projects. Go to showmecute on Facebook and post some of your projects. Please go to Facebook/ShowMeCute and post your pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving!