DIY: Sparkler Cards and Matchbook Wrappers

This is a great project for those who are using sparklers at your wedding!

Please visit Twig and Thistle for instructions!!

DIY Yummie: Vanilla Mousse Meringues with Fresh Berries

Ingredients

2 cups plain yogurt
1 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 egg whites
Rind of 1 orange, finely julienned and blanched
Meringues (recipe below)
1 1/2 cups mixed berries
Strawberry Coulis (recipe below)
Mint springs (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Line a large colander with several layers of cheesecloth. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix the yogurt with the sugar.

3. In a separate bowl, beat the cream and vanilla essence until stiff. Fold the cream into the yogurt.

4. In a large bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff but not dry. With a spatula, carefully fold in the yogurt mixture and the orange rind.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared colander and place over a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to drain for at least 4 hours.

6. When ready to serve, place one meringue on each of the 10 dessert plates. Top with some mousse and a few berries. Top each with a second meringue.

7. Drizzle some Strawberry Coulis around each meringue and garnish with a few berries and a sprig of mint.

Note: Mousse can be prepared 2 days ahead.

Meringues

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup superfine sugar
• 8 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

1. Preheat the over to 250 F.

2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or foil. On each, draw 10 4-inch circles.

3. Mix the sugars and set aside.

4. In a bowl or electric mixer, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt. Continue to beat, adding 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time and beating well after each addition. This will take about 10 minutes.

5. Add the vanilla and beat at high speed until stiff and glossy.

6. Using a pastry tube fitted with a large plain tip, pipe the meringue in coils starting at the center and continuing to the outside of each circle.

7. Bake about 1 hour, until cream colored and firm. Leave the meringues in the turned-off oven for several hours or overnight without opening oven door.

8. When ready to serve, carefully pee away the paper or foil.

Note: The meringues can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. Seal them in plastic bags and store in an airtight container.

Strawberry Coulis

• 1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium-heat. Transfer to a blender.

2. Puree until smooth, strain, and set aside. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Source: Colin Cowie

DIY Yummie: Key Lime Pie

Ingredients

1 14­-­ounce can sweetened condensed ­milk
3 large egg ­yolks
1/2 cup Nellie & Joe’s Famous Lime ­Juice
1 9­-­inch Pie Crust

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. Combine the condensed milk, egg yolks, and lime juice in a large bowl (see Note) and stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth.

3. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before refrigerating a minimum of 1 hour.

Note: You can combine the milk, egg yolks, and lime juice in a food processor, instead of a large bowl, if you prefer.

Source: Colin Cowie

Real Wedding: Lizzy & Scottie's Family & Friend affair

Photography: Anda Marie Photography

I'm in love with this wedding!! The setting, the details, the adorable bride & groom! Not to mention that the majority of the vendors were family or friends! A bride after my own heart!

Here' s the extensive vendor list:
Location: Lizzy's brother Dan Bertram and his girlfriend's Jacqui Fulcomer farm in Fredonia, WI...Willoway Organic Farm
Barn: Redone by Lizzy's Dad, Bill Bertram, brother Greg Bertram, brother Dan Bertram, Scottie's Dad Dave Brunner, Mother Jill Bertram, Aunt Lynn Tiegs & Scottie himself
Officiant: Andy Hill of Port Washington, WI...old friend of Lizzy's
Rentals: Tables, chairs, and linens from Celebrations Equipment Rental of West Bend, WI
Photographer: Anda Marie Photography of Madison, WI ;)
Flowers: Jacqui Fulcomer, provided by Willoway Farm & some from Scottie's aunt, mother, and sister and others
Food: Scottie's dad's friend for years...Mo & Fuzzy's Catering of Fredonia who do it on the side
Salad: Dan & Jacqui
Cake: Delicately Delicious of Cedarburg, WI
Cupcakes: Pick-n-save
Signs: Home-made by bride & groom...cut from old wood, spray-painted with chalkboard paint and handwritten by bride
Bride's dress: Bought on craigslist from Scottsdale, AZ and tailored from a size 12 to a 2 by Donna of Donna's Draperies in Fredonia
Groom's attire: J. Crew
Bridesmaids: J. Crew
DJ: James Knudson, the Nomad World Pub in Milwaukee
Band: Charlie Collins & friend, from the Nomad World Pub in Milwaukee
Bartenders: local bartenders
Late-night pizza: Provided by Tom Mole owner of Random Lake Pizzeria
Jewelry: Kohl's Department Store

Check out the gorgeous photos below captured by the amazing Anda Marie.

DIY: Cupcake Toppers

1.
You will need: tape, adhesive of your choice, sucker stick, ribbon, and any paper shapes that you want to use. I used a scalloped punch, a smaller circle punch, and a number "1" punch.

2. Using adhesive, I stuck the "1" onto the small circle and then I stuck those onto the scalloped circle.

3. With a small piece of tape I taped the sucker stick to the back of the scalloped circle.

4. Then I tied a ribbon on the bottom. Easy Peasy. Now go find a cupcake.

Source: One Charming Party

DIY: The Coffee Filter Rose

The Coffee Filter Rose Tutorial

Supplies:
Coffee Filters, preferable cone shaped filters. I couldn't find any so I used regular ones.
Floral Wire, I used 22 gauge.
Floral Tape
Scissors
Awl or Needle
Paintbrushes
Water Color Paint
Water for paint
Dowel or something to curl petals



Step 1:
Cut petal shapes in a range of sizes
Cut wire long enough for the stem of the rose
Cut strips of floral tape 1-2'' long until you are sick of cutting (you'll need quite a few of these)



Step 2:
Bend the tip of wire at approximately 1/2''



Step 3:
Roll one of your smallest petals. This will be the center of the flower



Step 4:
Pierce the rolled petal with your awl or needle



Step 5:
Push the wire through the hole in the first petal.



Bend the wire down so it is flat.



Step 6:
Wrap the petal and stem with a strip of floral tape.



Step 7:
Form into petal shape



Pinch the petal at the base to form a slightly convex shape.



You'll do this for all the petals of the rose.



Step 8:

Add more petals using strips of floral tape in a spiral with petal slightly overlapping.

If you are right-handed add in a clockwise fashion.
If you are left-handed add in a counter clockwise fashion.
Later on while shaping the petals with the dowel, this will make things easier.







Now you have an unpainted rose.



Step 9:
Begin painting the rose with water colors. The coffee filters tend to soak up the paint making painting the inside areas easy.

Paint the outside petals working inward towards the center of the rose.

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As you paint each petal, curl the tips of the petals with your dowel. I used a double pointed knitting needle that I made too short. The other side of your paintbrush can also work.

It is better to over-curl, since they uncurl a bit while drying.





Continue painting until you are done.
Congratulations! You made your very own coffee filter rose! Now make a gazillion more until you drive yourself insane!


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