The Pillow that Brought Tears to my Eyes... {Unique Gift Ideas}

Product was received in exchange for this post. Affiliate links are provided. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hi Friends! I hope your week is going well so far... 

I'm excited to share this sweet gift idea with you today from Finch and Cotter. We ordered this pillow for my parents' 50th anniversary, and personalized it with their wedding photo (from 1967!) and the lyrics from the song "What a Wonderful World." It also has their name and wedding date printed on it.

Unique Gift Ideas {Heirloom Embroidery Hoop}

Product was received in exchange for promotion. Affiliate links are provided. All opinions are 100% my own.

There's just something so special about this gift. 

The time, attention to detail, and artistry make this a labor of love and a cherished keepsake. 

It was a pleasure working with Kim, founder of TweetNStitchy. Her customer service was outstanding, and I could tell she truly wanted to make this a special gift for my parents' 50th anniversary...

Unique Gift Ideas {Custom Photo Pallets}

Hi Friends! I hope you are doing well. I missed you last week!

We landed back in Seattle at about 4:00 am after a beautiful week in sun-kissed, with coconut-pineapple breeze, Maui, celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary! My mom and dad are an amazing couple, and we wanted to celebrate them with some personalized gifts to help show them how much they mean to us. 

So this week, I thought it would be fun to share those gifts with you! 

If you need a wedding, anniversary, housewarming, or birthday gift idea, I hope something you see this week will inspire you. Part of the joy of finding these gifts was working with the talented people who create them.

I received product in exchange for this post. Affiliate links are provided. All opinions are 100% my own.

Farmhouse Fall Decorating {Part 1}

The last thing I want to do is rush sweet summer.

But, for those of us who love to nest, thinking about ideas for the coming season is just what we do! Today I'm sharing some fall images from our farmhouse last year...

Little Farmstead Keepsake Cakes

I'm excited to share with you my new line of handmade faux-tiered cakes!  

Each cake is one-of-a-kind and makes an ideal centerpiece for weddings, 

birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations.  

~A Beautiful Fall Wedding ~

This past weekend, we attended my cousin Claire's beautiful, nature-inspired wedding. She was a stunning bride... And her groom smiled at her all evening. 

(It was very sweet!)

The wedding decor was rustic and vintage-inspired. 

DIY: Decorative Cakes! {For Birthdays, Weddings, Baby Showers or Centerpieces}

I've made decorative/keepsake cakes for:

Birthday Gifts

Birthday Centerpieces

Baby Shower Centerpieces

Birthday Favors 

Wedding Centerpieces

Bridal Boutique Displays

Dining Room Centerpieces

Once you have a faux cake, you will find yourself using it time and time again! Nothing says, "Celebrate!" like a beautiful cake. These decorative cakes also look lovely as centerpieces on your dining table or displayed in a hutch.

I made these mini cakes and cake stands for favors at my sister's surprise birthday lunch. You can see pictures from the party here.

Here's what you need:

1. Paper mache boxes in varying sizes - I used round, but square would also work well.

2. White (or desired color) craft paint & paint brush. (Sponge brushes work well. The picture below shows the boxes after the first coat of paint. They'll need two or three coats, based on the look you like.)

3. Embellishments to decorate your cake and a hot glue gun to affix them. (For embellishments, I have used everything from french cut lace to handmade sheet music flowers. If you want to give lace or flowers a deeper or aged hue, don't be afraid to dip them in coffee or tea… just make sure to let them dry completely before attaching them to your cake! ;-)

Here's what you do:

Take the lids off the boxes and paint each box and lid separately (only the outsides). 

Once paint has dried, arrange the boxes and lids to form a cake (Begin with larger lid on bottom, face down, follow with larger box, face down. Then smaller lid, face down, follow with smaller box face down, etc.).

Use a small amount of hot glue along the narrow bottom ridge of each box and lid to hold the layers together. 

Now use hot glue to affix your embellishments and decorate your cake! 

(This is the fun part!) 

A tip: ribbon or cut fabric along the bottom of the layers makes for a realistic-looking cake and also hides any excess hot glue from gluing the layers together.

Voila!

I made my own cake stands by turning glass chandelier bulb holders upside down for the base. (I've also used candle holders or vases for the base.) I permanently affixed vintage glass dessert plates to the top. (I've also used china plates.) Use a permanent glue, such as liquid nails, marine glue, etc.

I used Jane Austen silhouettes on the cake above for my Mom's Jane Austen-themed birthday dinner.

Will you try making a decorative cake? For a special occasion or as a centerpiece? I'd love to hear!

xo