Showing posts with label Gift Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gift Ideas. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

DIY Goes Glam for the Holidays

I am in LOVE with anything rose gold these days!  It's sophisticated, sexy and lends itself perfectly to any type of event or Holiday decor.  I am also in love with not having to spend a ton of money to achieve this look!  So I rolled up my sleeves and searched for some good tutorials for recreating a Mercury Glass effect with rose gold.  I made a few adjustments along the way and pictured below is just some of my finished product!




What You'll Need:
  • Clean Glass Vases (various sizes and type work best)
  • 1-2 Cans of Rose Gold Metallic Spray Paint (Krylon or Rustoleum work best)
  • Spray Bottle with a 50/50 Mixture of Water and White Vinegar
  • Newspaper (A lot of it!)
  • Paper Towels (Just as much as the newspaper!)
  • Gloves
  • A Helper! I found that this process works best with 2 people



Let's Get Started!


  1. Find a clean dry place to lay down your newspaper.  You will be using spray paint so choose a place that you won't mind getting a little dirty!
  2. Take your clean glass vase and place right-side up on the newspaper
  3. Tear off 2-3 sheets of paper towel and set off to the side
  4. This is where teamwork comes into play! While one person takes the spray bottle, the other person has the spray paint and paper towel ready.
  5. Person A makes sure to spray the water and vinegar mixture all around the OUTSIDE of the vase.  Some tutorials will tell you to do the inside....trust me, save the hassle and headache and just do the outside!
  6. Let the water/vinegar mixture sit for about 10-15 seconds, then have Person B begin spray painting all around the vase
  7. Let the spray paint sit for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, and then begin lightly dabbing all around the vase to remove the water beads, but help seal the spray paint. This is where putting the vase right-side up helps so you can easily pick up the vase to blot.
  8. Once that's complete and you've blotted to your liking, set the vase aside to dry.  For a very antique look-don't be afraid to do the technique a few times!




I had about 25 vases total that I needed to do, and it surprisingly only took me and my Mom about 45 minutes to complete everything!  There you go- a brand new collection for you to use as table decor at Thanksgiving, Christmas or really any type of get together!  Have you ever tried this technique before or have you been dying to try it out?  Email your photos to christina@mattyscatering.com and let's start sharing!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Foodie Lovers Wishlist

Everyone has that one or two hard to by for person in your life, and the Holidays can really test your patience....and sanity when shopping for them!  One thing that seems to be universal though is everyone's love of food.  I've put together a list of fun and affordable gifting options for even the pickiest person on your list.

DIY Butter Kit


Nibble Coaster


Can substitute any glass you'd like!
So simple and sleek in the design-this is sure to be a crowd pleaser! Free up one hand and combine your drink and food all into one. Incredibly affordable at just under $13, you can afford to buy a few and make it a set.  The Nibble Coaster is available through loads of websites, but we found this particular style on Amazon.



Banana Slicer


http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/chefn-banana-slicer/
In my searching, the William Sonoma brand of Banana Slicer seemed to be the most user friendly and not messy at all.  Great gift for parents with little ones or anyone that regularly makes smoothies. Amazing find too at only $9.95!



Herb Keeper


http://www.crateandbarrel.com/glass-herb-keeper/s519219
A must in the kitchens of bakers or avid grilling afficionados, and it's gorgeous to look at!  A great deal at only $19.95 from Crate & Barrel, it helps prolong freshness for 2 weeks.  It also advertises that it's a great option for asparagus as well.



Strawberry Huller


http://www.crateandbarrel.com/chefn-strawberry-huller/s607943
Alright-I'm hitting you with another Crate & Barrel find BUT I can say from personal experience, this little magic device makes enjoying fresh strawberries a lot quicker!  At the low price of only $7.95, it also leaves your wallet a little fuller to buy more gifts.



Himalayan Salt Board


http://www.kitchenandcompany.com


So versatile in the ways you can use it and adds so much flavor to your food!  This salt board can be used cold to flavor veggies or fish.  It also just as easily can be thrown onto the grill with your favorite steak or chicken.  Very affordable for only $24.99 and makes for a beautiful presentation.



Lemon Squeezer


http://www.modernfurnituredecor.com
Genius! This is what I literally yelled out loud when I found this gem-and for only $14!  Beautiful in design, but so smart in the function that it helps take out most of the mess associated with fresh squeezed juices.



Corkcicle


http://www.wineenthusiast.com
This invention should be in every wine lovers arsenal-and at only $15.99 a piece, you can afford to get a few!  Wonderful to have on hand when unexpected guests stop by and no wine is already chilled, there is a version for beer too call the Chillsner Beer Chiller!


I hope you discovered a few new favorites and wish you luck as the Holiday shopping season kicks off!  What are some of your favorite food related gifts that you've given or received?  I'd love to hear all about it, so email me at christina@mattyscatering.com