from DIAPERS to COCKTAILS... what????

Every Host or Hostess knows that an essential item in your home is a delegated beverage center. Why not make yours moveable? Guests can help themselves while they mingle and you put finishing touches on last minute appetizers.

I just HAD to share this idea because I'm all about DIY and repurposing items and giving them new life with a totally different use. I found this on BHG.com . Save that baby changing table or dig it out from your attic and give it a paint job and a new purpose.

Oggi Pro Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cocktail Shaker and Bar Tool Set

This end result photo shows a rather modern version, but use your imagination and get as creative as you want. A simple coat of black or white paint and you can keep it modern or distress it for a country cottage look. Line the shelves with a unique paper (protect with clear Contact paper) or a beautiful linen bar cloth. Glasses assembled, an ice bucket, wedges of lemons and limes and martini olives.
The Ultimate Party Drink Book: Over 750 Recipes for Cocktails, Smoothies, Blender Drinks, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, and More

Complete with flowers or decor that compliment your theme. What a fantastic recycle idea. You'll get kudos from your guests for sure, and watch all the baby changing tables disappear from yard sales in your neighborhood.

Happy Hosting!!

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva on Facebook
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

The BIG MAC cake!!

Here is a super cute idea for your next birthday or just-for-fun cake:

The BIG MAC !!
click THIS LINK for recipe and directions

You may also like my blog the Hot Dog Cake with Fries! "Would you like Fries with that.."


making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva on Facebook
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

Firm your Jiggles....

your CAKE jiggles, that is.

If you're tired of flipping a baked cake out of a theme shaped cake pan, only to have it crumble or crack, or the cupcakes are just a little TOO soft and crumble when you ice them...

HERE is a super easy tip for what to add to a boxed cake mix for a slightly firmer cake that holds up well for layers and shaped designs. Personally, I use the Wilton brand cake pans. In my opinion they are the best, especially for the shaped and theme characters. Find them here on Amazon. (see the link below)(aff).

Wilton Performance Pans Round Pan Set, 3 Inches Deep

To one boxed cake mix (any brand) add 1/4 cup all purpose flour, mix in with dry. Then one
EXTRA egg. Yup, that's it. Yields a slightly firmer, very moist cake every time!

For larger cake layers and 3-D cake characters (stand upright ) I highly recommend this trick and also to wrap the COOLED, baked unfrosted cake well, (plastic wrap) and chill or slightly freeze. Much easier to manage without breakage.

Happy Baking !!

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

Seashell Bra and green fins on your cake?

Have you got a birthday party coming up and need an idea for a fun cake? Why not go with an Under the Sea or Mermaid theme? Get the Coolest Mom Ever award by creating a super simple Mermaid cake.

If you have a "skirt" pan already, like the one Wilton makes ,great! But the same effect can be made with a deep bowl. An excellent one to use is the large handled glass mix bowl by Pampered Chef. Be SURE your bowl is oven proof!

Bake cake in pan or bowl as directed. Level the top to make it flat, then flip upside down to cool (narrow part is at top now) You can also find doll picks at Wilton.com. And possibly at your local craft store, like Michael's.

Once cake is completely cooled, mix a batch of vanilla butter cream icing. Home made is SO much better than the usual "tub-o-plastic". Click here for recipe.
Portion out the icing so a small amount will be tinted green, most will be tinted light blue and a tiny portion will be tinted white. Using photo as a guide, freehand the mermaid's lower body and fin and fill in with green, and of course, the "shell" bra! (you could even do tiny real shells and secure with icing "glue".)The rest of the cake becomes ocean when you do swipes and dollups with a rounded spatula or back of a spoon. Pipe the bottom with a large scroll tip or just the back of a spoon if you are a newbie to decorating bags and tips. This photo shows tiny sea creatures borrowed from a Kelly doll set, but use your imagination. If nothing else, some tiny fish crackers will do. (oooh, they come in rainbow colors!)

If you need more cake for a larger crowd, add a batch of cupcakes also and ice them blue. Sprinkle or dip half of the top with crushed graham crackers for "sand",and place a fish cracker in the blue. FUN!!

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva on Facebook
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

Stress Free Kids Party gift opening idea

Stress Free Kids Party gift opening idea

Here is an idea for a less-stress gift opening at your child's next birthday party:

When it comes time to open the gifts at a typical birthday party it is often a made chaos and overwhelming for both givers and receiver. It is usually frustrating for the birthday child to be pressured into opening all the gifts at once, with the givers usually crowding in close and sometimes even “helping”. 

Super Mario Bros. Standard Party Pack (8 pk)

I know they can't help it, but ugh that's annoying! Not to mention they're "in the way" when you want to take a picture.

To avoid this stress and to give each gift and giver it’s own special moment, here's a solution. As guests come to the party and bring a gift, put a sticker on the gift and give it a number, starting with 1, 2, 3 and so on for each gift.

Cupcake Couture Cupcake Desert Lipgloss Party Favors. 12 pc Assortment.

Then at various slower points throughout the party, announce “it’s time for a gift” and the birthday boy/girl picks a number from a bowl and opens THAT gift. i.e. #3. The giver has the enjoyment of personally handing the package to their friend and watching them open it with full attention. 

You can choose to do another at that time or wait, depending on the number of gifts and attention span of guests. When you spread it out, it’s not chaotic and there seems to be a higher sense of satisfaction for both parties. 

This works well for any age, by the way.

For cake ideas check out my Facebook and Pinterest (see below)

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz

The Party Hostess Diva on Facebook

Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:

http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

Cupcakes and Canapes

Hi there,

I'm back in cyberspace and cant wait to share some ideas on my favorite subject: planning and hosting parties.

I'm considered a very creative person and have over the years (quite a few) gotten the reputation for having great party ideas. Using things we already have for table decor and serving are often high on the list. Its' all about the fun of entertaining, not trying to impress your guests or running up your credit card on decorations and serving ware. Now, that being said, I've got quite a collection to pick from. Hello yard sales, (hint, go to the "nicer neighborhoods") and family hand me downs or hand me overs.

I hope to inspire in YOU some creativity and think outside the boring box when it comes to planning and hosting your next soire. Maybe even just some fun ideas to spice up your family meal time.

I'd love to hear about your fun ideas and I especially welcome you to pick my brain for ideas for a particular function. Kids birthday party? Girlfriends Get Together? Summer BBQ? Bring it on. Kind of like a party coach..ya, that's it a Party Coach!

Can't wait to get started. FINALLY a venue for all these ideas running around in my brain! I'll be posting pics and ideas on Pinterest as well, so check that out.

http://pinterest.com/lizcorbett/cakes-i-ve-made-and-cakes-i-admire/

Thanks for reading and see you soon!