Related: How to Build a Champagne Tower, French 75, Dirty Martini, French Martini.

To celebrate this year, I thought that I’d make some disco ball cupcakes because what goes more perfectly with NYE than shiny, glittery disco balls?!

You might think these are cupcakes topped with fondant tiles at first glance, but NOPE, no fondant on here! Believe it or not, there isn’t anything on top of these aside from buttercream frosting and a little edible glitter.

I’ve covered all the details below; follow along so that you too can start the new year off on the sweetest, sparkliest note.

Disco Ball Cupcakes, makes 12 cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
1 box chocolate cake mix
silver cupcake liners

For the buttercream frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
black gel food coloring
edible silver luster dust 

Mix your box cake with the ingredients listed on the package. Line cupcake pans with silver cupcake liners. Even though the recipe says you’ll be making 12 cupcakes, each disco ball is actually two cupcakes (bonus!), so fill all 24 liners. Bake cupcakes at 325°F for 25 minutes.

Once baked, divide the cupcakes by the shape of their tops. Set the 12 most level cupcakes together to serve as the bases for each disco ball, and the 12 larger (more dome-shaped) cupcakes together. Allow the cupcakes to cool to room temperature.

While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare your buttercream. In a large bowl or bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter on low speed for 1 minute.

Gradually add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add in one small drop of black gel food coloring. Mix until the color is combined. If the gray is too light, add a little more until you’ve achieved the most similar shade to silver.

In a bowl, add one of your large (domed) cupcakes and break it down with your hands until you have a bowl of crumbs. Add one large dollop of frosting into the bowl, mix together with your hands (just as you would if you were making a cake pop), and roll the mixture into a ball shape.

Lightly frost the top of one of your smaller (more level) cupcakes, and then position the cake ball on top. Use your palm to gently shape the cake ball to a dome shape.

Frost with a thin layer of gray buttercream, smooth with a spatula (or your finger), and then place the cupcake in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to allow the frosting to set. Repeat the process with your other cupcakes as well, pairing each of the smaller cupcakes with a larger cupcake for the topper.

You’ll notice that once the frosting sets in the freezer it becomes MUCH easier to work with—any uneven spots can easily be smoothed with your fingers once the frosting has firmed.

Take a couple of your cupcakes out of the freezer and allow them to slightly come to room temperature. As they do, make your indentations into the frosting.

Use a trussing needle, toothpick, or any flat edge (ruler, spatula, etc.) to make horizontal and vertical lines across the cupcake, roughly 1/2-inch apart.

If you notice your frosting is cracking as you make the indentations, the frosting is too cold. Allow it to sit untouched for a little longer if you’re having that issue.

Once your lines have been made, use your fingertip to add the silver luster dust onto the surface of each cupcake. Make sure the frosting is still cold while you’re doing this.

If it’s warmed too much while you were adding the lines, place the cupcake back into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes until the frosting is firm to the touch.

And voilà, a disco ball cupcake! Repeat the indenting and glittering steps with your other domed cupcakes until you have a dozen disco balls ready to party!These cupcakes do take some time with all the in-and-out of the freezer business, but they’re totally worth it. If you’re attending or hosting a New Year’s party, they are the perfect treat to ring in the new year with! xo. Alana

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Disco Ball Cupcakes

Course Dessert

Keyword cupcakes

Servings 12

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• silver cupcake liners

For the buttercream frosting:

• 2 cups unsalted butter softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• gel food coloring black
• edible silver luster dust

Instructions

• Mix your box cake with the ingredients listed on the package. Line cupcake pans with silver cupcake liners. Even though the recipe says you’ll be making 12 cupcakes, each disco ball is actually two cupcakes (bonus!) so fill all 24 liners. Bake cupcakes at 325°F for 25 minutes. Once baked, divide the cupcakes by the shape of their tops. Set the 12 most level cupcakes together to serve as the bases for each disco ball, and the 12 larger (more dome-shaped) cupcakes together. Allow the cupcakes to cool to room temperature.
• While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare your buttercream. In a large bowl or bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter on low speed for 1 minute. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add in one small drop of black gel food coloring. Mix until the color is combined. If the gray is too light, add a little more until you’ve achieved the most similar shade to silver.
• In a bowl, add one of your large (domed) cupcakes and break it down with your hands until you have a bowl of crumbs. Add one large dollop of frosting into the bowl, mix together with your hands (just as you would if you were making a cake pop), and roll the mixture into a ball shape.
• Lightly frost the top of one of your smaller (more level) cupcakes, and then position the cake ball on top. Use your palm to gently shape the cake ball to a dome shape. Frost with a thin layer of gray buttercream, smooth with a spatula (or your finger), and then place the cupcake in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to allow the frosting to set. Repeat the process with your other cupcakes as well, pairing each of the smaller cupcakes with a larger cupcake for the topper. You’ll notice that once the frosting sets in the freezer it becomes MUCH easier to work with—any uneven spots can easily be smoothed with your fingers once the frosting has firmed.
• Take a couple of your cupcakes out of the freezer and allow them to slightly come to room temperature. As they do, make your indentations into the frosting. Use a trussing needle, toothpick, or any flat edge (ruler, spatula, etc.) to make horizontal and vertical lines across the cupcake, roughly 1/2-inch apart. If you notice your frosting is cracking as you make the indentations, the frosting is too cold. Allow it to sit untouched for a little longer if you’re having that issue.
  
• Once your lines have been made, use your fingertip to add the silver luster dust onto the surface of each cupcake. Make sure the frosting is still cold while you’re doing this. If it’s warmed too much while you were adding the lines, place the cupcake back into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes until the frosting is firm to the touch. And voilà, a disco ball cupcake! Repeat the indenting and glittering steps with your other domed cupcakes until you have a dozen disco balls ready to party!

The slightly bitter taste of cranberry and Aperol go perfectly with champagne or Prosecco bubbles. And cocktails with bubbles always feel right for a holiday get together or New Year’s Eve. Cheers!

Related: Cape Cod Cocktail, Sea Breeze, French 75, 40 Fun Cocktails to Make at Home, Sex On The Beach, Kir Royale, Dirty Shirley

Cranberry Spritz Ingredients:

• Champagne or Prosecco
• Aperol
• Cranberry Juice
• Orange Slices
• Fresh Cranberries
• Cranberry Ice Cubes (optional, but so fun!)

How to Make a Cranberry Spritz:

Combine the champagne or Prosecco, Aperol, and cranberry juice over ice in a wine glass. Garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices and serve chilled.

If you want your drink to feel extra festive, you can freeze some fresh cranberries in an ice cube tray beforehand to add a really pretty presentation element.

This drink is pretty simple to make—just one or two servings (use a mini bottle of champagne if that’s all you need) or you can open a few regular-sized bottles if you’re having a party!

This is seriously such an easy and delicious cocktail to throw together—I’m totally obsessed with it this season! xo. Emma

P.S. Love cranberry cocktails? Check out …

• Easy Orange Cranberry Margarita
• Spiced Cranberry Punch
• Prosecco and Cranberry Mimosa
• Cranberry Jello Shots

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Cranberry Spritz

an easy cranberry cocktail for any holiday or gathering

Course Drinks

Keyword cocktails, cranberry, spritz

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 person

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

• 3 parts champagne or Prosecco
• 1 part Aperol
• 1 part cranberry juice
• cranberry ice cubes and orange slices optional

Instructions

• Combine the champagne or Prosecco, Aperol, and cranberry juice over ice in a wine glass.
• Garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices and serve chilled.

Notes

If you want your drink to feel extra festive, you can freeze some fresh cranberries in an ice cube tray beforehand to add a really pretty presentation element.

A literal tower of champagne with what looks like the cast of Downton Abbey pouring the champagne into the top glass.

The funny thing about the champagne tower feat is that is has such a mysterious and fancy air about it, but you can do it for any party that you have—no British butler required!

How to Make a Champagne Tower:

Step one: The first step is to figure out how many tiers tall you want your tower to be. You have 1 glass on the top (1×1=1) and then 4 on the next tier below it (2×2=4).

Then 9 on the next tier (3×3=9), 16 on the tier below that (4×4=16), and then 25 on the tier below that (5×5=25).

Keep adding tiers that are one number bigger (multiplied by itself) until you get to the final number of glasses you need or the tier height that you were envisioning.

Step two: Once you know how many tiers you want and have done the math on how many glasses you need, you’ll most likely want to rent real glasses in that amount. Or, you can also buy these to use if you don’t want to rent real ones.

Just make sure that you get the “coupe” style of champagne glasses, the shorter wider glasses, rather than the “flutes” which are tall skinny glasses and can’t be stacked.

I have actually made a successful tower out of both rented glass and plastic glasses, but I did find that the rented glasses we had were actually 3-4 various heights that were slightly different.

That’s not a big deal at all if you’re using them on tables for a dinner party, but we had to carefully sift through the glasses to try and find ones that were similar heights for each tier, and that was super annoying.

It seems like maybe that rental company had glasses from a few different brands mixed together, so maybe ask when you rent real glasses if all the coupes are exactly the same from the same brand, and you won’t have that problem.

With the plastic glasses, you just need to be very careful attaching the cup part of the glass to the stem and make sure that you are attaching them as level as possible. Otherwise, you’ll have a similar problem where all the glasses are crooked and you won’t have a very sturdy tower.

Step three: To make your tower, start by arranging your bottom tier on a sturdy table (not one that’s wiggly or in a spot that would be bumped easily!) in a square with each glass touching all the glasses that surround it.

Then, start your next layer by placing the base of your second tier glasses directly in the center of where 4 of your bottom glasses come together. You should be able to look down at the base of your second tier glass and see a diamond shape (created by the 4 bottom tier cup edges) centered in the base.

Step four: Build your smaller layer on top of the larger layer below, trying to see that diamond shape in the base of each glass. Try to get the second tier to be as close to each other as possible, with the sides touching if you can.

Once you are done with your second layer, keep building up and up until you have just one glass on top!

How to Pour the Champagne:

You can either leave all the glasses empty and pour the champagne into the top glass so that it eventually overflows and spills all the way down the tower (filling the glasses as it goes down) or you can build the tower with the glasses mostly full already.

Leave the top one empty so that you’ll still get to fill the top glass and see it overflow all the way down the tiers, but it will all happen a lot faster.

If you’ve ever seen a large tower being filled from the top that started out with empty glasses, it can take a pretty long time to fill them all, so you may start to lose guests’ attention by the time you are pouring in the third or fourth bottle.

How Much Champagne Will You Need?

Add up how many glasses you have multiplied by how many ounces the glasses hold, and that will tell you how many ounces of champagne you’ll need.

Be sure to check the ounces on the bottles that you’re wanting to get to make sure you have enough.

Now that you have your tower and enough champagne, pick the moment you want to debut your tower skills. Maybe after a short welcome speech or a toast in honor of the party occasion? And then, fill that tower from the top!

You may need a chair to stand on while pouring if you’re a shortie like me, or just ask your 6’3″ friend to do the honors …

It’s always a party highlight when a champagne tower is present, so if you’re looking for extra fun at your next event, this may be the perfect thing! xo. Laura

Speaking of champagne, check out these recipes!

• Rosé Champagne Mini Cupcakes
• Champagne Berries
• Strawberries and Champagne Galette with a Chocolate Crust

Champagne berries are the classy cousin of vodka soaked gummy bears. Ha!

Simply soak your berries in champagne for at least one hour (up to overnight) covered in the refrigerator.

Drain and toss in sugar. Then freeze until you are ready to serve. I used raspberries, but strawberries would be great here—very Pretty Woman.

You’ll likely want to serve these with small toothpicks, tiny forks, or crackers that guests can use to scoop up the berries. But there are lots of options here, so you do you. You could also do a champagne tower and have these at the bottom of it!

Champagne berries feel oh so appropriate for a New Year’s Eve party, but any special occasion could be fun as well. Enjoy! xo. Emma

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Champagne Berries

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword berries, champagne, new years evve

Ingredients

• 1 bottle champagne
• 3-4 cups berries any variety
• ¼ cup white sugar granulated

Instructions

• Soak the berries in the champagne, covered, in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to overnight. Drain, then toss in the sugar. Freeze until you are ready to serve.

Notes

It’s best to freeze in a thin layer if possible, so you don’t end up with a giant frozen ball of berries. I will freeze the berries on a baking sheet for an hour or two and then condense to a bowl or reusable bag. That way they don’t all freeze together.

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

Supplies:
–white tray
–gold foil liquid paint
-paintbrush
–gold peel and stick vinyl
-painter’s tape
-clear gloss spray
–10 point star template

Tape off the perimeter of your tray (the part that you don’t want to be painted) with painter’s tape.

Place your tray outside on a large piece of newspaper or cardboard. Dip your brush into your gold foil paint and, in a swinging motion, fling your paint onto your tray surface. You may want to wear thin gloves to protect your hands as well. Keep redipping and flinging the paint at different angles and distances from your tray until you have the desired pattern you want. Allow the paint to dry.

Peel off your painter’s tape. Spray your pattern with a clear gloss to seal.

Tape off the sides of your handles and paint the middle with your gold foil paint. Allow to dry, peel off tape, and seal with your clear gloss.

Print your 10 point star pattern and cut your star out with scissors. Use as a template and trace your star on the back of your gold vinyl.

Cut out your star, peel the backing, and place your star onto either the center or side of your tray. Add champagne and snacks and your tray is complete!

Since the paints used on the tray aren’t food safe, make sure to serve your food items on another food safe plate on top of the tray (those two rouge crackers above are just on it for the photo). But you can serve drinks on it and they should be fine. New Year’s parties are some of my fondest memories with friends, and having little touches like new glassware or a pretty tray can make even simple celebrations feel more special. Of course, this is a tray you can use at any party all year long, so don’t feel like its use is over after NYE. I’ve been using mine on top of a dresser with candles and photos on it—so pretty! Cheers to the new year! xo. Laura

Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

In this post, we are working with ALDI. All of the wines and chocolates you see in this post are from ALDI and they are soooooo good. Quite a few of the wines I picked up are award winners (plus they are still really affordable in case you are stocking up for a party; I got all of my wines in this post for under $50!), and I cannot get over how many great little chocolate treats they have in stores. The chocolate truffles are adorable! Makes getting ready for a party too easy.

In case you want to know what I specifically stocked my wine bar with, here it is: Belletti Prosecco, Coastal Cove Sauvignon Blanc, Dancing Flame Red Blend, William Wright Reserve Pinot Noir; plus a few special edition William Wright Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, and Chardonnay (those last three are the ones that have the cute black and white graphic design look on the labels), created in partnership with designer Timothy Goodman and available in select ALDI stores this December!

For red wines, they don’t need to be served chilled, and they are super easy to have on hand for a party. Just open an hour or so before the party so they can breathe and you’re basically good to go. But I’ve always thought wines that require refrigeration (so they can be served chilled) are a bit tricky at a party. Mainly, if they are tucked away in your refrigerator, sometimes it’s hard to remind guests that’s where they are. After all, sometimes people feel a bit odd just going through your refrigerator. Plus there’s the whole “out of sight, out of mind” issue, so it’s possibly guests may not know you have chilled wines and then it becomes your job all night to remind them. Which I don’t know about you, but I’m not a good enough hostess to remember to do that once a party gets underway.

Wouldn’t it be better if the chilled wines could somehow sit out on a table or a wine bar while looking cute but still staying cold? Good news, I’ve got two methods to recommend to you—both super cute and effective, but one is much easier than the other. Plus, who doesn’t like options?

First, I wanted to see about the whole solid ice bucket thing. I’ve seen these in magazines before, but I was curious how easy they were to make and how long they might last once they were sitting out (like they would be for a party). So here’s how I made one along with tips and thoughts for you.

What you need in order to create a solid ice bucket is two containers, weights (or rocks), and whatever you want to use in the water to make the bucket look pretty. For my larger container, I used a (new, cleaned) plastic trash bin. And for the smaller container, I used a plastic cleaning wipes container (I cleaned it out and removed the paper label from the front). You want to make sure that your larger container will fit easily in your freezer, and also make sure that your smaller container is still large enough that the wine you plan to serve fits inside.

Fill the smaller container with your rocks/weights (so it will not float) and set this inside the larger container. You want some space in between the bottom of the smaller container and the larger one, so that your final frozen bucket will have an ice bottom as well. So I added a few plastic pearls under so the water would flow and freeze around the entire inside container. You could use a number of things here though; I was just using some plastic white pearls throughout, so this worked well for me.

Fill the container with water and the confetti or whatever you plan to use in the look of your ice bucket. Keep in mind that water expands as it freezes so you can leave some space at the top. Place in your freezer and freeze overnight.

I froze my container in two layers so I could get more confetti throughout the final look, but this partly depends on what you use inside the water and if they float or settle or not.

I also used very hot water (almost boiling) as I had hoped this would result in a more clear frozen ice bucket (as opposed to the cloudy ice look), but it didn’t seem to make a difference for me. So, up to you on that.

When you’re ready to serve, run some warm water around the outside of the large container to loosen the ice bucket so you can remove it. Then pour very warm water into the inner container (over the rocks) so it will warm and loosen so you can remove it as well. Place on a serving dish with a lip as well as some white or matching fabric napkins (to soak up moisture as the bucket melts). Add your chilled bottle and you’re party ready!

How long does it last? This was the part I was very curious about, so I tested it to see. My bucket was about 1 inch to 1.5 inches thick and it held up pretty well for a little over six hours. I did have to drain water from the serving dish once, so it wouldn’t overflow. But I was impressed how long it lasted!

Now my bucket did crack after about two hours; I guess as it began to melt, some part was weaker and this resulted in it cracking. It still held together, but just to ensure it didn’t melt and fall away, I wrapped some gold plastic ribbon around it (which still looked cute) and it actually froze back together over the next hour or more. So, if yours cracks, I’d recommend tying some ribbon around it and all will be well.

Another option is to freeze confetti or other cute objects in ice cubes and add them to a glass or acrylic ice bucket for a similar and super cute serving look. This option is even easier and a bit cleaner since the ice melts inside the container.

So there you go—two easy and fun options for serving chilled wine. Happy holidays, friends and wishing you tons of joy and happiness in the new year! xo. Emma

P.S. If you’re making something like this, please make sure not to ingest the confetti!

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman.

What if we just skipped the constricting pieces and had more practical fun? Let the makeup do the talking and the outfits swing us into another fantastic new year? Yes? Perfect.

See that’s the great thing about makeup, it can do it to any look. For New Year’s, I love focusing on my eyes, making them pop with bronze tones and deep settings. Leaving my lips with just a little color. You know, enough to be kissable when the clock strikes 12. Here’s how you can get New Year’s Eve eye-popping ready in just five minutes!

Makeup:

–Stila eye shadow + blush + mascara pack (This is the most cost effective way to get glammed up. I personally did the research, and two eye shadows roughly equal this pack. The great thing about this: The colors are not too much, leaving them appropriate for any other normal day.

–Gold eye shadow. I’ve used the same gold eye shadow for about six years. Mine is from Mac Cosmetics, and it’s the best for the inner corners of your eye and your brow bone.

–Stila Kitten eye Shadow. This is the only shadow that I specifically suggest for New Year’s. You need the extra sparkle for the festivities. This has the most bang for your buck while leaving you super sparkly!

-Red lip gloss. I chose lip gloss instead of a red lipstick because it gives a bit of shine, but also can be applied lightly without looking undone.

-Liquid eyeliner. Mine just so happens to be blue, but I suggest a black liner.

–Concealer. Concealer is so important for any bumpy shadow application. It hides the bags, leaving all the focus on your eyes.

-Blending brush

-A liquid foundation brush (I use it for blending larger concealer spots)

-A precision shader brush

-Eyeshadow primer

One. Start out with a basic face. I use a tiny bit of foundation on my problem areas. Normally, I love a more natural face with hints of makeup, so I always suggest applying makeup to your problem areas only, and then blend it with your finger. If you’d rather apply a full face of foundation, then do so. (Do not apply your concealer yet.)

Two. Apply your eyeshadow primer. Primer is great for keeping any type of eyeshadow on. But it’s especially important when you plan on sweating and dancing the night away.

Three. The thing to note about applying eye shadow is this: You want to always have about three shades for one eye. It should go from light to dark, the shades should move gradually, but all be of the same family, respectively. So, for the first or “better part” of my eye, I applied a light shade of pink. Then for the second part of my eye, I applied a darker more bronze tone. I do each shade one by one on each eye, making sure the two colors transition easily into each other.

Four. Now you’re going to take your darkest (third) shade and apply it right under your brow bone with the skinny brush. This shade will help create a focus point for the eyes. Giving them a deeper look. (After I apply shadow, I use my index finger to blend it in a little more every time. I know I can use a brush, but my finger blend works so much better for me.)

Five. Now it’s time to apply some of your concealer. For this part, I apply it right on my eyebrow bone. Applying the concealer on the brow bone gives my eyebrows a more defined look, and again, makes them stand out a bit more.

Six. Using my gold eyeshadow, I apply it right on the brow bone under my eyebrow. You want to blend this with your finger to give it a more natural look. You also want to apply that same shade of gold in the crease of your eyes just a tad.

Seven. Now it’s time for the fun stuff! Using your index finger, you want to dig your finger lightly in your kitten eyeshadow (or any super sparkly eyeshadow you have). I recommend using your finger instead of your brush because this stuff is creamy, but also, weirdly flaky. I found that when I applied it with a brush, it didn’t apply evenly, and it also scattered all over my face. I had more control over the application using my finger. I also chose to stick with a rose gold sort of  shade because I wanted to bring out the bronze color that was on the second part of my lid. This helps keep the overall natural New Year’s look you desire.

Eight. Now it’s time to apply your eyeliner and concealer! Normally, I am against a cat eye and a bright lip, but since this lip has a more blended effect, it was fitting. Before you apply your black eyeliner on the bottom part of your eyelid, apply your concealer first. I only apply concealer halfway under the eye, then I blend it with what…my finger! Haha When you finally apply your black eyeliner (after you apply your concealer) you want to use a pencil or a paste or very carefully use a dark eyeshadow that won’t flake in your eye. For a smokier effect, you can also use a Q-tip to blend a black eyeshadow below your bottom lashes.

Nine. Now you can apply your blush. I use a pale pink that accents my cheekbones but doesn’t overshadow my eye. I suggest this technique for New Year’s Eve especially.

Ten. Apply your red lip gloss to the bottom half of your lip. I only choose the bottom because that is more than enough for the top. Just rub your lips together, fill in and let it go. We want the lips to have a punch without completely taking over.

Eleven. Blend! Blend! Blend! Literally everything. I am a cross your t’s and dot your i’s girl. I have been the victim of a camera flash non-blending makeup mishap a few times. It’s not fun. Take your blending brush or your finger and just blend whatever seems unnatural or just too much (like my concealer above).

And you are done!! Now it’s time to enjoy the festivities!

Are you feeling this overall natural New Year’s Eve look?

What I loved most about this particular makeup is that I didn’t feel heavy wearing it. There was a definite “umph” in the shine factor, but not a ton that would feel jarring. Because the sparkly shadow is more creamy, it stayed on smoothly and perfectly and wiped off easily with a bit of witch hazel.

Let me know if you plan on giving this look a try. Happy New Year to you all! LaTonya

Credits//Author: LaTonya Staubs. Photography: Nneka Salmon. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions. 

Playing hostess for the holidays is much more fun with the right accessories. A comfortable, chic party dress is a must, but so is a beautiful serving tray (or two, or three!). We cover the bar in our kitchen with snacks and treats for our party guests  to enjoy, and a few trays can be a great way to organize the food chaos. When it comes to serving drinks, I do the same thing. All of our mixers are stored on a tray on our dining room counter, and then we serve house cocktails on a tray for our friends to enjoy.

As you’ve probably surmised, I love using serving trays while playing hostess, and I love using them in decorating my home too. Always ready to add a new tray to my collection, I whipped up this new one using just a couple of bar pulls and a cutting board. And it only took me five minutes to create!

Creating this tray is as simple as attaching the bar pulls to the top of a nice cutting board, but if you need a little guidance, I’ve included steps below.

Supplies:
-cutting board (I used this one)
-long bar style drawer pulls (I used these, though this is a less expensive option.)

Tools:
-power drill with drill bit
-measuring tape
-pen or marker

Step One: Place the bar pull handle onto the cutting board close to the edge and make sure it is centered width-wise. Use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the edges of the cutting board to the point where you will be placing the screws that attach the handle. Write down this measurement.

Step Two: Remove the handle and mark the points you measured in the previous step. Before drilling, make sure you measure the distance between the two marks to verify that it matches the distance of the attachment points on your actual handle.

Step Three: After triple checking your measurements against the handle, drill into the cutting board with a drill bit that matches or slightly exceeds the size of screws for your handles.

Tip: Place a piece of scrap wood beneath the cutting board when drilling to avoid damaging your work surface.

Step Four: Use a screw driver or your power drill to attach the handle to the cutting board with the screws that came with your bar pull handles. If your cutting board doesn’t have bumpers on the bottom that raise it up slightly, you will want to either countersink your screws or cover them with little rubber pads.

How simple was that? You can completely customize the look and cost of your tray with different cutting boards or handle styles.

Such a great party tray, but this guy would also look great on an entry table to corral catch-all dishes or incoming mail. I love it! –Mandi

Credits // Author and Photography: Mandi Johnson. Photos edited with Stella of the Signature Collection.

When it comes to parties (especially with the holiday season and New Year’s Eve on the horizon), my go-to decor theme is usually always sparkly or metallic, and I give myself double points if the item is both. I loved the feeling I got when I saw this sequin ampersand project, and it occurred to me that sequin trim would be the perfect supply to make a glittery phrase garland for upcoming holiday parties. We’re teaming up with one of our favorite craft stores, JOANN for this easy project that will add quite a dose of glittery pizazz to your next event, and I bet you’ll keep the garland displayed long after the party is over.

 Supplies:
–stretch sequin gold trim (I used a little over a yard of this for each 9″ tall letter)
-scrap cardboard
–X-Acto knife
–hot glue gun
–metallic cord trim

First you’ll want to print each letter in your phrase so you can use them as a template to cut out your cardboard letter. Choose a simple bold font (I used Function Pro Bold) and a font size that makes the letters just under double the width of your trim. My trim is a little over 1″ wide so I made my letter font around 2″ wide so the trim would be sure to cover the cardboard. Tape each letter to some scrap cardboard and cut out the letter with an X-Acto knife. 

To make the ends of the trim look as neat as possible, you’ll want to fold and glue the ends under so the trim doesn’t unravel and drop sequins. So, at the end of the outside edge of your letter, use the hot glue gun to glue the trim end face down going away from your letter.

Fold the trim back the opposite way and continue to glue the trim all around the outside edge of the letter. When you reach the other end, cut the trim so it hangs a little past the end, fold the trim under and glue in place. Repeat steps with the inside edge of the letter. Make sure both lines of trim are going in the same direction so they will look more like one piece instead of two. 

If you have a letter with intersections, don’t worry about doing the folds on places where you can cover those ends with another row. So on the “H” I just cut and glued the middle horizontal lines, then covered those cut ends with the vertical lines that had folded ends.

Once you have all your letters completed, you can line up your phrase (backwards of course!) and glue your hanging cord to the back of the letters. Once the glue sets, you’re ready to hang your garland!

I really really love how this project turned out. It’s such a statement piece for a party, and you can customize it to fit your theme.  You could easily make it “MR & MRS” for a wedding, or “IT’S A BOY” for a shower, or “JOY” for Christmas, or whatever you like! You get the idea…What phrase would you make? xo. Laura

Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.

1. Spray the serving tray with the silver spray paint and let dry. Repeat with a second coat if needed.

2. Measure the inside of the serving tray and cut out a rectangle of glitter vinyl the same size.

3. Use the glue to attach the vinyl to the bottom of the serving tray and allow the glue to dry completely. (You can attach a few small felt pads on the bottom of the tray to protect any surfaces in your house if you would like).

The great thing about the vinyl (other than the fact that it’s sparkly-duh) is that if you spill any drinks you can wipe the vinyl clean with a cloth. Easy! I love how the tray looks with a few rows of pretty champagne cocktails lined up. It looks like I’m totally ready for our New Year’s Eve toast now! xo. Laura

Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman