Happy 2013! {How To Ring It In With Some Bling!}

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL and Christmas!   It really went by too fast – I feel like the decorations just went up and I will truly be sad to take them down this year.  Traditionally we do that around January 2nd.  Maybe I can milk it for a few extra days since Saturday is the 5th!   What’s the rush, anyway?

{speaking of rushing things… I was in JoAnn Fabrics a couple of days ago and their Valentine, St. Patrick’s AND Easter items were already displayed… kill me now}.  Here are some New Years craft ideas to help soften the blow.

I don’t know about you but I have certainly been enjoying a little R&R between Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Maybe a little too much – I meant to get this post up yesterday – yikes!  Honestly, the Husband and I are not really big “New Year’s Eve” party-goers.  It gets a little crazy out there on the roads on 12/31 and, well, let’s face it.  I’m old.  With three boys, we are all “stocked up on crazy” around here already.  Why add to that??

But if you happen to be hosting guests this New Year’s Eve or just popping over to visit friends or family with some goodies, here are some fun and easy ideas to help you all “ring in the New Year” in style.

A Sparkly (and easy!) “New Year’s Eve” Tablescape

Since most of you probably still have your Christmas decorations out, it’s pretty easy to create a quick New Years Eve food table.  You know I love to save $$$.  When I was in the aforementioned “Garden of Love” (AKA Joann), I was able to snag some snazzy, sparkly decorations that were 70% off because they were labeled as “Christmas”.   Listen… those sparkles can be used for New Year’s Eve (and can then be re-purposed again next Christmas too – bonus)!

 

All ready for New Year’s Eve appetizers or a punch bowl, etc!

“2013″ Silver Garland Banner

This was an idea I saw on Martha Stewert’s website a couple of years ago.   Soooo easy.  Her template is for 2011 so I just made my own number “3″ (in pencil, not on the computer so you might have to wing that one like I did).  Print out the numbers on card stock or trace onto cardboard if you have some (tip: you could always use holiday shirt boxes that have seen better days!).

Punch some holes for threading the ribbon in the top of each number, and then wrap with cheap garland!

Bling!  I found the garland for .50 cents apiece at Walgreens in their post-Christmas sale.  I used a hot glue gun to secure the garland onto the numbers, then strung it up with some white ribbon.  I actually ended up threading the ribbon through the garland on the back and tacking it with hot glue instead of using the holes  - faster – but the holes were already punched and in the picture and I wasn’t starting over.

This would also look great over an entry way or hung vertically on the front door!

 

Easy Candle Holder “Glam”

I have at least 12 or so of these glass candle holders from an event years ago.

I snagged some 50% off silver glitter tape recently and thought it would help add some sparkle.

Talk about a quick transformation by wrapping a piece around the glass (kind of stupid easy, right??)

Then I  added some blue and silver glass pebbles that I had in my stash and some of the sparkly accents that I scored after Christmas.

You could also fill one with festive noisemakers or silver wrapped candies.  Mmm. Hershey’s Kisses.

 

Champagne Cupcakes

These bubbly, Champagne infused cupcakes are decked out with sparkly edible “bubbles” (pearls by Wilton) to add pizazz to any New Year’s Eve spread. They actually make silver pearls too but JoAnn was out at the time and… I wasn’t driving anywhere else.  Moist vanilla cake filled with Champagne pastry cream and topped with a delicious Champagne buttercream frosting…  Yum!  Click HERE for the recipe.

I hope that you all have a VERY safe and happy New Year’s Eve!  All the best in 2013 – I cannot wait to share so much more with you all next year!

xoxo,

Claire

 

 

 

Tagged as: 2013 Decorations, Champagne Cupcakes, New Years Desserts, New Years Party Ideas