Mother's Day afternoon tea kit

While they say good times spent with loved ones is the best gift of all, I know many busy mothers and grandmothers who would relish a relaxing afternoon just to themselves. While no one can make time stand still, you can provide them with some thoughtful trappings for a restful and restorative tea time.

This kit can be easily put together and tailored to your recipients tastes.

Just a few ideas 
A Pretty decorative Box

New or vintage tea cup

Selection of individual teas or container of a favorite

Silver (or silver tone) spoon

Pretty napkin or two 

Boxed Cookies, savories or sweets 

Local honey

packaged sugar cubes

A favorite photo

Stationary and a pen

A book, magazine or journal

Cd of favorite music

silk flowers or real if delivering in person

I bought this sturdy cardboard storage box in the decor section of my local craft store. They can be found in a variety of lovely patterns and designs

 A pretty bow secures individual tea bags and a vintage spoon 

 an assortment of tea treats and little luxuries

I created this simple label with image from the Graphics Fairy

 secure with ribbon and a silk flower

This box flips open and can be used as an impromptu writing desk

    A gift Card to tea room for a future afternoon tea with friends or relatives is a fun addition 

Wishing Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers and 

"just like Mothers" Much Happiness on their Day!

We're delighted to have our Mothers Day Flower Pot Pens

featured on Joanns Crafts

This is a fun project to make with kids

And they're off: Kentucky Derby DIY

While the actual derby race itself might last only a fleeting two minutes, this time honored event (the first Derby was held in 1875) is celebrated by fans for weeks both before and after, with fabulous events, parties, trays of mint juleps, and of course the ubiquitous glamorous hats. Sadly unable to attend the race in person (it's on my bucket list), I thought I'd pay homage to this festive event with some fun Derby inspired DIY's here at home.
   

Mint Julep Granita

While I found countless interpretations of the classic julep online, as well as many unique recipes featuring this fun flavor (mint julep cupcakes anyone?) I thought I'd try this refreshing version of an icy granita from 

Good Housekeeping

 The recipe uses fresh mint, sugar, limeade, lime juice and bourbon 

Blame it on being a northern girl, but even to this date I don't own a proper set of silver mint julep cups (although I've been scouring flea markets for them) so I served my juleps up in some dollar store champagne flutes. 

Simply moisten the glass rims with cut side of lime and dip in a saucer of sugar. Garnish with mint and serve with long ice tea spoons.

   

Derby Hats

A proper topper is de rigeur for a derby fete and this is one place where fashion can really go over the top. 

A glue gun and craft staples from your dollar or party store make extreme millinery lots of fun. 

My mother created this "run for the roses" chapeau featuring a plastic thoroughbred, faux betting money and flower accents.
     

Derby Decor 

Dollar store items before their makeovers

Painted plastic horses add to your table when spritzed with gold and festooned with ribbons and flower. I hot glued the horses to a thin cardboard tube (cut in two) from a dry clean hanger painted gold, but a dowel would work as well.

Press horses and some faux roses into flower foam and perch in silver spray painted plastic pots 

A spritz of clear satin varnish give faux flowers a more lifle-like look

I bought a few feet of faux grass at my home improvement store and have used it so many times! (as a track for my easter bunny races or table runner for secret garden tea and other parties) Here I cut out a round to line my tray of julep granitas. 

And they're off.....

Love all things equestrian? Visit our Polo Picnic post for more horsey ideas.

The First of May: Cupcake May Baskets

 Since ancient times, cultures and religions around the globe have welcomed the arrival of Spring with gleeful and sometimes raucous celebrations of all kinds. Garlands of flowers, music, dancing, and often a May Pole played a key part in ushering in warmer weather as new plants and animals sprang to life. After an especially grueling and seemingly endless winter this year (and having not relocated to the tropics as was seriously considered) I decided some celebration of Spring, however small, was a must.

Though the tradition of delivering tiny surprise baskets of flowers and treats to family and neighbors has waned in recent times, I thought I'd pay homage to this most charming idea with a sweet whimsical and edible cupcake version to enjoy with friends at home.

May Day Basket Cupcakes

These can be made with any favorite flavor of homemade or store bought cupcakes and icing.

You'll Need

Wafer cookies 

Favorite flavor Cupcakes 

Icing  

Berries

Mint

Licorice (trimmed to size)

Trim overhanging cake from cupcake top to make sides level

Ice sides and carefully adhere wafer cookies around cakes

(These can be trimmed to size with a serrated knife if needed)

Decorate Tops with icing

Cut licorice to size and insert as handle

(shorter pieces stand up straighter) 

add berries and mint

Display on a platter. 

A chalkboard sign marks the day and pretty tea cups continue the flower theme

Serve for a Spring tea

Please note: these may need to be disassembled to eat and are best enjoyed on a plate with a fork

Mini Maypole

A mini May Pole is easily fashioned from a chopstick, pastel ribbons, hot glue and flower topper. Simply pop into some Spring grass

or into a leftover Easter centerpiece

For a larger party or basket on a larger scale you can adapt this summer berry version from our

  Summer Berry Basket Cake

Simply add flowers and Spring hued ribbons

&

For More May Day Ideas

Including a May Day Fairy Garden

Syllabub dessert and Flower cones

visit our previous post

May Day Tea

Thanks for Visiting!

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail : Off to the races

While we all know of a certain fabled rabbit who famously lost his race against his rival the tortoise, we thought this holiday we'd give bunnies their due and host a race all their own. 

With a fleet of wind-ups at the ready (on sale for 88 cents), you can cheer on your favorite furry friend as they cross the finish line. If tiny tikes will be part of your spring festivities this easy DIY activity makes a fun addition to the ubiquitous egg hunts and sugar binges. For adults, add springtime cocktails and friendly wagers.

I used

Wind-up Bunnies 
(my dollar store and supermarket had lots of these)

Printable with names and finish line banner copied to desired size
skinny ribbon
tiny party favor trophies 

Egg topped floral picks or wooden skewers 

Flower foam ring (cut in two- a serrated bread knife works well)

a stretch of faux grass (by the foot at home improvement stores)
or green paper or felt taped together

Faux flowers, eggs or other spring accents

 Bunnies are easily identified when sporting their names

Simply cut out name icons and tape to strip of ribbon. Wrap around bunnies'  tummies and tape to fit securely on other side. 

The paper names can be trimmed to size to make sure they don't interfere with the winding mechanism or bunnies' movement.

Attach paper Finish Line banner to ribbon and tie or tape to wooden skewers or floral picks.Decorate foam with flowers.

Roll out faux grass or roll of green paper and set up finish line

Set Bunnies at the starting gate 

And Hoppy wins by a tail

   

 The closing ceremonies

 Mini jelly bean filled trophies for the champs

Please note, with aims of their own these little ones can hop off track, make a simple rule that when they run out steam they can be rewound and gently redirected.

Wind up bunnies: center: tin bunny from Liveauctioneer.com left and right Bunny with rider and carriage, both German c1910, ebay 

Before iPads and x boxes these were the tech toys of the day

Not just for Easter: for other times of the year or for those who don't celebrate the holiday, simply change the decor and wind up characters to suit your theme. This would be fun for a child's barnyard themed birthday as well.

A Happy Easter
and
Delightful Spring!

Irish liqueur Potato Candy: a childhood treat grows up

While I admit I'm someone who indulges my sweet tooth year round, there are some treats which sadly only make a fleeting appearance on holidays (jelly beans, candy canes and conversation hearts all have their hay days) and comes St Patrick's Day my go-to confection has always been Irish potato candy

Ironically neither authentically Irish nor a potato (although some recipes call for them), this century old, rather humble looking spud-shaped candy originated not in the Emerald Isle but in my home city of Philadelphia, Pa. In the rush of "green everything" which appears March 17th, this brown quirky confection is a delightful blend of coconut, sugar and cream cheese, sprinkled with cinnamon to resemble Ireland's famous crops. This year I thought I'd revisit this classic childhood delight, trying a more a "grown up" version with a splash of liqueur, hint of coffee and dusting of dark cocoa. While there are many of these "spiked" versions online, some incorporating nuts, whiskey or mascarpone cheese (yum), I opted for this adaptation, tweaking it for a more adult palate. 

You'll Need

1/4 cup butter (softened)
7 oz. shredded coconut
(you can use sweetened or unsweetened according to taste)

4 oz.cream cheese (softened)

2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

4 teaspoons Irish liqueur
(Bailey's, Irish whiskey or other liqueur)

1/2- 1 teaspoon instant coffee2
 1tbsp Cocoa powder and 1 tbsp cinnamon (mixed)

Add instant coffee to liqueur and stir or warm in microwave ten seconds to dissolve and set aside.*the addition of coffee yields a slighter darker color 
than "normal" potato candy and can be omitted if desired
 Beat butter and cream cheese until blended
Add vanilla and liqueur mixture and then blend in sugar a bit at a time
stir in coconut
Chill 1 hour or more

Once chilled, mixture can be molded into potato shapes (this gets messy)
roll in cocoa mixture brushing off extra coating and chill again (about 1/2 hour)

For a fun way to serve or give, you can make your own tiny bushel baskets from clear plastic cups and Popsicle sticks.

If desired brush sticks with a quick wash of paint for a rustic look and trim with scissors to size. Hot glue around cup and let dry. Wrap a band of paper or ribbon around basket gluing in place. 

I created labels using images from olddesignshop.com

             Line with wax paper and fill with potatoes. Pop in a toothpick with label 

      Display on a moss lined tray and add Irish accents

Serve with Irish Coffee or an after dinner drink

Greens and an Irish flag add spirit

       Yeat's Country, card from gift shop at  drumcliffe tea house, 

      Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Interior Kilronan Castle Hotel

Photos CPaul2011
celtic knots from Graphics Fairy 

For more St. Patrick's day ideas visit our past posts

Bailey's and berry Pavlova

a-taste-of-ireland-berry-and-baileys
or

Ireland in a Jar terrariums

the-emerald-isle


Slainte!