Halloween DIY treat bag ideas

Halloween is just around the corner - just a few days away. Here are some last minute , easy to make DIY ideas with free printable and a tutorial as well. Halloween treat bags are a must. Instead of just handing out the candies or cookies , lets personalize them, make it extra special for the little ones- something different ..something unique..something thoughtful !!! My son is invited to a Halloween party and we are super excited. I really want to make a treat bag which they will remember and say" That lady is so amazingly  creative"..Hahhaaa.
Avaneesh's mom is so cool..LoL

So lets look at the round up of ideas.. 

This is a  Halloween party invitation but I think it will look good as a treat box. You can see the tutorial and download the printable from do-it-yourselves invitations. Instead of "You're invited ", print BOO or happy Halloween label.

Another cute Halloween treat bag idea !! These are mummy, pumpkin, Frankenstein and vampire free printable. Just print on paper and have to roll into cones. So simple and so adorable!! Free printable and tutorial can be found on like a pretty putinia.

Something homemade creative to fill the treat bag ..... If you have time on hand and if you find these cute little knifes, give bleeding red velvet truffles a try. Get the recipe from Cookies and cups.

My son loves gingerbread man. This ginger bread skeleton is a new twist to the traditional story. Make the gingerbread man cookie and make the skeleton on it with royal icing !! 

This is from Martha Stewart. 

Some last minute decorations for your front door. These Lanterns are super easy to make with paper cups and led lights. See Australian baby blog for the tutorial.

If you want to make a family dinner Halloween menu, this is tomato and mascarpone soup with witches broom dippers are perfect starter. I found it in a local grocery shop - Spinneys.  

You can get the recipe here.

This one is also from the same store's website. The orange is scooped out and carved. It is then filled with orange and hazelnut salad. You find the easy and quick recipe here. 

Some fun games for toddlers. This 'I spy' print is too cute!! I am thinking of putting it with the Halloween treat bags. These free printable can be downloaded from pleasantest thing.

You can see the Halloween ideas I have shared earlier here. 

So what I am planning to make.. well the plan is to carve a watermelon, cutify some healthy treats like raisin - boxes which are so popular among toddlers, coconut and chocolate truffles, customized to the theme treat bags and some more. 

Wish me luck..:)

Watermelon themed breakfast table

Weekends are meant for enjoying and relaxing. To make them even more interesting and extra special, I have come up with an idea to have a special themed (healthy)breakfast. Last three weekends I have managed to do so and am hoping to make it a tradition. 

So last weekend we had a watermelon themed breakfast. The summer sun is finally on its way out- and before it is still warm I thought of doing a watermelon themed 'party'. It was on my mind all the summer and it finally materialized. Watermelon is a perfect fruit to cool of on a hot summer day and it is good to cleanse the body as well. It is said to be a good for diet and to detox the body. With all these good things about it - I thought its perfect for a healthy breakfast:)

I started the preparation a few days before with my 2 year old. We made the banner and other party accessories. The watermelon bunting is very easy to make. All you need is colored paper,pen, glue, scissor and string. I cut the shapes from the colored paper and with my son glued it together. I drew the seeds with a pen. We glued the string at the back. 

We made 3 semi circle watermelon slices - big, medium, small- for Daddy, Mommy and baby toddler.. its hard to believe he is not a baby anymore. 

Sunny boy pretended to eat the slices with lots of oohs and aahs!!

The same way we made smaller triangles and circle shaped watermelon slices. I glued these to picks to make little flags.

I cut the watermelon half and scooped it all out. Luckily I had a bowl which fitted perfectly inside the watermelon. It was filled with watermelon juice. I decorated the border with melon scoops with toothpicks. The other food included watermelon on ice cream sticks, melon balls, Oatmeal with strawberry and melon pieces. I wish I had cupcakes as well.

 The breakfast turned into brunch- too much finish so much watermelon in one meal:)

Joining the party at BNOP, Artsy corner, Show and Tell, Home sweet home, Party bunch, Beautiful !

Festive floral arrangements

I looking for some inspiration for a floral design I am working on. As usual I went to Pinterest and guess what I found some of my own floral arrangements pinned by others as floral arrangement ideas and inspiration!! So I thought I should share with you all some of the many festive flower decoration for festive occasion or a party!! I like these the best!!These  are the ones which I would like recreate !! 

This was done in the beginning of summer in Zurich. I used recycled mason jars in a row 

and tied to thick ribbon around all of them together. I got these from a 

Farmers Market on Tuesday and Friday at Bürkliplatz. There are many farmers markets around Zurich, Switzerland but this one was closest to my house and work. We could find fresh vegetables, cheese, fish and baked goods as well.

This one done in Singapore during Diwali. I was pregnant then and felt most creative ever. I carved a watermelon and put a candle in it. The Festive floral centerpiece had candles, diyas, flowers floating as well in a vase along with watermelon. Singapore has lovely flowers market on Upper Thompson Road. This flower market consists of many shops selling huge selection of cut flowers from all over the world. Plants and potted trees, vases and garden decoration accessories. 

This is how the watermelon looked at night. Earlier I had carved a watermelon in a peacock and ship. I have not carved a watermelon after this one .. Maybe time to do it again!!

This one I did in Singapore as well when I was carrying my sunny boy. I went to the flower market almost every weekend and bought so many flowers. There was a shop in the flower market in Singapore which exclusively sold foliage..beautiful,big ,small, wide, narrow leaves.. never seen and heard of such a shop ever... I loved going there to pick up leaves and to just look at extraordinary variety of leaves !! 

This one also while I was in Singapore. I did a course in floral arrangement while I was there. This one I had made in the class. When I was doing this course , our house had floral arrangement in almost all rooms:)

This was a festive Indian decoration done in Hong Kong. Hongkong has a large flower market- Mongkok Flower Market on the Kawloon island.  It has a long road with stalls and shops brimming with fresh cut flowers and exotic plants. The fragrance and color of the blooms was truly a treat to the senses. It was far away from my place- on another island - but I would drag my husband we would go there almost every next weekend!! 

 These are India themed floral decorations - festive flower arrangements done in a copper vessel and individual ones in clay diyas. These flowers look just like soft pompoms or cotton balls ..don't they:)

The above one is done this year in Dubai. Dubai being a desert does not have any flower market..Sigh:( It has one big garden shop which sells a variety of plants. In Dubai one can buy a limited variety of cut flowers at grocery shops at a reasonable price. 

I miss all the flower markets I have mentioned above especially on a festive occasion. 

I will share with you what come up with the lilies and gerberas I got just now!!

Joining Tablescape Thusday, Inspire me tuesday!!

Beach themed table arrangement

Its peak of summer with temperatures soaring high...Its perfect time for a beach party..!!! I am so excited .. this theme was on my mind for so long.. I wanted to capture and bring indoors, the beauty of summer, sand and fun !!

So I started looking for stuff to decorate the table according to the theme..Most of the times we have all the things required to create a theme ..its just the matter of finding them and a little creativity..

I found some beautiful pebbles which I had collected from our walks.. sea shells , candles and these very pretty balls are made from wood chips..

These candles are strawberry scented ... very mild and yummy scent....

Once again I used my never used cotton dupatta (scarf), starched , folded , ironed  and  it became a perfect runner.. This one has beautiful golden border and design on the both sides..

The centerpiece is a beautiful boat I picked up recently.. I made origami boats to place on the soup dishes and marzipan flip-flops...

I must say making origami boats was so much fun.. I felt like a kid..:) After the guest are gone I will float them in water ..hehehe

Oh then I remembered that yesterday after dinner when my creative senses were on a high , I had carved a watermelon into a ship... 

Took this picture yesterday evening(actually night).. I couldn't control my excitement and had to take a picture then and there..

So now this becomes the centerpiece and the appetizer/starter too..

I had carved a peacock last time..




Its  lot of fun and its easy to carve.. . I will post a tutorial some time..

Floral Centerpieces

Hello beautiful people!!! Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend with friends and family. I had a exciting long weekend..Long walks and strolls on the beach, botanical  garden, Sentosa Boardwalk.. Rest of the time we spend at movies, shopping, chit chatting...The weather was pleasant as well .. I have been very inspired by the beautiful flower decor on some lovely blogs and sites.. So I created a floral centerpieces on almost all the tables in the house!!

 I am loving the beautiful array of flowers in the flower market. There is so many variety that it becomes so tempting and confusing as to which ones to buy.. I think we are simply spoiled of choices.This is the one of the side table. A seasonal decor for Easter with my glass Rooster from Villeroy and boch and the Moscow kremlin.

I bought a set of 6-8 of these leaves and mix-matched them with various arrangements. This one is on my dining table. I used Prego's pasta sauce bottle. The clear glass bottle makes a perfect vase. The thought of painting it or tying a ribbon around it crossed my mind but I just loved the look of the criss crossed stems in the water in the bottle!! Simple yet pretty!!

I also bought some 16 white roses, 16 pink roses, Orchids as well..

I will share with you all those pictures in a different post..So look out for the next part!!

I always love to have flowers around the house..It makes everything so cheerful..

To see some of the earlier flower centerpieces click on the links below..

The spring blooms in my house click here, 

Floating flowers & candles click here,

Diwali flowers click here,

Carved watermelon and lilies centerpiece click here,

Flower's in my other creations click here!!!!

Have a lovely week ahead!!!!

Year end wrap up!!!!

As the year comes to an end I would like to share with you some of the table settings I did this year which are my favorites and I enjoyed the doing them the most. 

All of the table setting and decorations I did using whatever I had available at home, from my travels and collections ,by quick DIY ,up cycling and restyling items...and didn't break my piggy bank just for a party(lol) 

Global cuisine

Swiss fondue table setting

My husband loves fondue and this fondue party was blue and white themed..

simple and pretty..

Chinese table setting

I enjoyed this one ..mainly the white decor.. It magically made us feel on a dull rainy day as if we are not at home but in a fine restaurant!!

 Indian themed party:

I totally enjoyed this one.. I think my pretty pink silk duppata/scarf dazzled the table .. It looked so gorgeous.. Click here to see more pics of the party!!

Doing this one was very therapeutic for me.. One of my best carved watermelon so far..It was a lantern.. Click here to see more pics of it how it glowed at night!!!

Lotus and marigold

I must have created almost 10 or so centerpieces for the festival of lights.. I used everything  I had that was related or matched the Indian theme... copper bowls, clay lights, marigolds, lotus!!!

This post was in continuity with the above post.. I did so many centerpieces that I had to divide and share the centerpieces in three different posts..  Click here to see more of this post!!

and some more Indian themed decorations in continuity with the two posts above.. If you need some inspiration for Indian themed party or decor ideas I think there is ample here:)

Now let's move on to some fall table decor I had done:

Spicy fall decor 

I did this one using spices like nutmeg,cinnamon sticks, pine cones and wooden coasters.. I used as much natural items as I could..

Pine cones centerpiece

Cherishing the fine memories of collecting pine cones in Zürich..

Fall fruits centerpiece

 I used the fruits available at home to create an instant and easy centerpiece..plus it encourages healthy eating habits..you know when you just want to snack..why not eat a fruit!!

Some of the summer themed table setting I did:

Beach themed table decor .. 

This is one I enjoyed the most..making marzipan slippers, origami boats, collecting stones ..It is always fun digging into my things to look for something matches the theme..

Ode to Summer table setting 

with alpine flowers and recycled tins.. the best part I enjoyed was tying the napkin with cord with flowers.. It looked very pretty!!

 Romantic table setting

I enjoyed doing this table decor with recycled glass bottles with doily necks .. one of those days when I didn't think any of the decor items at home matched the theme ..so  made it myself.. also enjoyed the cupcakes and the part which I never told anyone ..It was for my Birthday!!

Now for some tea:

Tea party decor 

I made this quick fix 3 three tiered cupcake stand .. I enjoyed this one ..it was simple and open..

Tour of my apartment in Zürich

I loved my apartment in Switzerland.. the best one we have lived in ever..I have lot of fond memories of that one ..It was on lake Zurich and we enjoyed living there!!

Next year I hope to have more parties, decorate and redecorate my house... hopefully my brain will come up with some more creative DIY ideas... and I want to make more friends in Bloggyland..hope to inspire and be inspired!!!

Here's wishing you all a very very happy, prosperous and successful new year!!!

Weekend Wrap

This weekend was festive and very happening one!! Lots of decorations, sweets, flowers, candles, lights, friends, festivities... In my home I did a  diwali themed decor with watermelon lantern ..then  some dazzling centerpieces with Chrysanthemums ...and some more festive centerpieces with candles which I shared with you on this blog .. Today I will share with you some more centerpieces I did on the weekend!!!

We went to the flower market and brought lots of roses, marigolds and lotus.. I floated some candles with rose petals .. filled my pumpkins with marigold!!!

This is on my living room's center table.. the yellow marigold, orange pumpkins and red rose petals and candles made such a striking centerpiece..created  festive mood for the evening...

I brought lotus first time in my life.. I have no idea how and when will these two bloom..I will definitely share the pictures if and when they bloom:) This is our dining table which you guys have seen in all my table decors..this weekend it was dazzling with floating candles in a copper vessel and some earthen diyas/ candles....

This is our puja table..In Zürich we didn't get marigold flowers or garland.. we were so happy that we could get a thick marigold and rose garland...sweets (boondi ladoo) and coconut as  offering ,  rangoli design on floors..lots of diyas, lights and candles..

In the balcony I lit a row of lights...

I took this picture today of the Diwali celebration and decorations in Singapore's Little India. The entire long road is dazzling with these decorations!!!!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!! Have a lovely week ahead!!!