Friday, December 28, 2012

Do You See What I See?

 
Can you identify all the holiday show/movie references?
(Click photos to enlarge)


 
 
Happy Holidays from Silly Bee's Chickadees!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Trendy Tree, Yippee!

So.  I was looking for a particular glittery curly spray that I used in my homecoming centerpiece to show you where you could find it online, if not at Hobby Lobby andddd I found it!  But even more awesome is where I found it...the cutest Christmas decorating online store evah-- Trendy Tree




Trendy Tree has a bunch of unique thingamajigs and doodadswhatchamacallits and doohickies, thingamabobs and whatsits to decorate your home for the holidays and I love it all.  They have everything from fun, bright funky stuff to very elegant traditional pieces.




The most awesome part is that their designers have created beautiful trees with their products and listed the different pieces-- and quantities used-- so you can buy them all at once and make their tree your own!  How cool is that?  Once you have the pieces you can use their photo as a guide to put it all together and brag to the neighbors.  Presto! You are now the envy of the block. 

Now THAT's and awesome find.  You're welcome.

Oh, and about the centerpiece, stay tuned...

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Dollar Store DIY- Chalkboard Tray!


Gather your Materials


  • Silver metal tray from the Dollar Store (it looks like the real thing!)
  • Chalkboard paint (or spray paint)
  • Ribbon
  • Flat, wide paint brush
  • E6000 (or hot glue)
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Chalk!

Let's Get Crafting!

Prime the tray by wiping it down with some Windex or rubbing alcohol.  Let the tray dry.  Now, pull out your chalkboard paint and shake, shake, shake!  The stuff tends to separate, so shake it good!



Tape around the inner edge of the platter making sure to press the tape down firmly on the edge where the paint will meet so none seeps under.

Use a flat wide brush and in long even strokes, gently drag the brush across the tray in one direction. Don't go back and forth over it, even if there are bald spots, or you will mess up the smooth finish.  Wash your brush and let the tray dry for at least one hour before adding a second coat. 

Once you're ready for another coat, shake the bottle again and paint another layer across the tray perpendicular to your last coat.  Remove the tape carefully and let the tray dry for at least 24 hours before you touch it.


While the tray is drying, make your bow.  I used wire satin ribbon, but any ribbon will look nice.  Don't worry if it isn't perfect at first.  Just tug at it a bit until the loops look the same size and trim the tails to even them up.  For a finishing touch, I always put Fray Check on the cut ends of ribbon.


You can glue the bow on with hot glue, but I'm pretty much an E6000 girl.  So, I added a bit on the back of the bow and attached it to the tray holding it together with a binder clip. 


When the board is ready, you'll need to "season" it.  Take a piece of chalk and gently rub the side of it on the entire black surface.  Then, use a tissue to wipe it clean. 


Ta daa!  Your board is ready for a dozen different uses.  Use it as a message board, menu board, inspiration board, or maybe to leave a message to Santa.  Plus, it's magnetic!  I'm using mine as a menu board for our tailgating tent on The Boulevard.  More on that to come. 


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Beauty, Brains and Benefit! Part I

This year I hosted my first House Party and it was a blast! The party was for one of my favorite beauty brands, Benefit Cosmetics.  I've been using the stuff since I first discovered Benetint about 15 years ago.  I still love their quirky packaging and product names.  They're too cute. 

THE SWAG


When I got the Party Pack from House Party I was blown away! Look at all the beauteous goodness! Unbelievable. And totally free. 9 full-size Hello Flawless, brightening foundation
  • 1 full-size Benetint, lip & cheek stain
  • 1 full-size Big Beautiful Eyes, eye contour kit
  • 1 full-size Hervana, blush powder box
  • 1 full-size PoreFessional, pore minimizing balm
  • 1 full-size Speed Brow, quick set brow gel
  • 1 Raising Eyebrows book
  • 1 limited edition cosmetic bag
  • 14 vials, cards and labels for Hello Flawless samples
  • 14 deluxe-size PoreFessional samples
  • 14 gift bags
  • 14 magnet picture frames
  • 14 coupon sheets

THE DECORATIONS
I started working on these as soon as I found out I was selected as a hostess.  Which was like a month before the party date.  hee hee.  I couldn't help it.  I was excited! 



Miss Betty:
Miss Betty greeted guests on the porch so they knew they were in the right place, and later joined us inside for photos ops. Along with a tulle skirt that was once a bridesmaid outfit, I dressed her up with frosted tissue paper roses, organza ribbon, a Benefit sign (which I downloaded from House Party) and some blingy yumminess.



Streamer Curtain:
I wanted to create a pretty photo backdrop that incorporated the various shades of pink and yellow from Benefit's logo while covering up the yucky backyard. The streamer curtain completely transformed the room. Guests could see it as soon as they walked in the "salon" and it totally set the fun and frilly tone for the rest of the afternoon.


 
Place Settings:
Next were the makeup stations. The table was covered with a yellow tablecloth, a length of funky floral fabric and little votives with frosted tissue paper roses running down the center of the table. At each place setting, I set out all the Benefit goodies including little pink mirrors from Party City and drinking glasses--Starbucks Frapuccino bottles--with the cutest paper straws from Cakes and Kids Too


THE MENU
The menu was a mix of savory and sweet tea party bites.  All in shades of pink and yellow, of course!


We munched on cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, artichoke mascarpone sandwiches, rice krispie treats drizzled with white chocolate dyed pink, shortbread cookies with lemon icing, lemon Jello marzipan and scones with lemon curd and strawberry butter. Our party beverage was strawberry lemonade. I HIGHLY recommend the strawberry butter recipe. I could eat scones with strawberry butter forevahhh!
Check out my Pinterest board for more little details.

So, that's the set up.  Watch out for Part II of Beauty, Brains and Benefit!


Friday, September 7, 2012

I Like You Too, Alan Arkin


I heard this song today on Sirius 40s on 4 and thought it was pure gold. What it was doing on my big band, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald station, I haven't a clue. It's from a 1966 tv movie called The Love Song of Barney Kempinski, for which Alan Arkin was nominated an Emmy Award (Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama). Have a listen...

I Like You

I like you -cuz u don't make me nervous.
I met someone like you before but only once or twice.
Once or twice, and not very recently.

You'll do; my blood pressure's normal!
I haven't lost no sleep at all -not since Francine.
And it's possible for me to concentrate on my work.

I'm glad I'm not walking on air.
And no trumpets go off in my ear.
I don't say to myself, "Get ahold of myself!"
And I don't get a rash when you're near.

You're trustworthy.
I wouldn't worry if I hadda go away for a few weeks.
You don't nag me for money all the time.
And one thing I forgot.
You're a very good cook.
And I certainly love to eat.


Chickadees, I like you.  Have a great weekend.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Pearl River? Yes Please!

I have no idea how I found an image of this nylon shopping bag, but while doing an image search, there it was! I was drawn to the rich colors, patriotic bunting and circus-like quality.  Isn't it fun?

I did a little investigating and found the bag at this super cute online shop called Pearl River. They have loads of fun stuff! Beautiful papers for paper crafting, gorgeous silk fabrics, embroidered lipstick cases, kitchy decorations, dozens of different butterfly garlands (hello, fairy birthday parties), tons I tell you!  You've just gotta check it out.

So, this is my awesome find of the day, or month or whenever I find another awesome thing. You're welcome.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Nail Wraps Now on Etsy!


Chickadees!  It's time for a shameless plug.  My nail wraps are now available on etsy!  There is a limited quantity and when they are gone, they're gone.  So, head on over to Silly Bee's Chickadees and check them out.  These are the designs in store:

Friday, June 22, 2012

Silly Bee's Frankies- Iona's Beehive



 
It's Silly Bee's Frankies time! This time, I have created a frankenpolish in honor of my absolute favorite movie of my Jr. High career, Pretty in Pink, and more specifically Annie Pott's character, Iona (who really steals the show)!



I made this one solely with Sally Girl minis which you can get at Sally Beauty Supply so it should be super easy for you to replicate. First, I started with about 4 parts 812005, a clear polish with pink glitter called In Love, and 4 parts 812021, a sheer pink. Then, I added 1 part 812112, a rose/raspberry holographic polish, to add a little shimmery magic.





I love this polish.  It’s feminine, it’s dainty, and it’s inspired by the beauteous polka dot prom dress that Molly Ringwald massacres into what I can only describe as a bogus shame. Without further ado...

Presenting Iona’s Beehive




Iona's Beehive Formula


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Frosted Tissue Paper Roses





Ingredients:
  1. Tissue paper flower-- try this one.
  2. Spray adhesive
  3. Clear glitter

Directions:
  1. Spray flower with the adhesive.
  2. Sprinkle on glitter.
  3. Shake off excess glitter.
  4. Done.
  5. Simply gorgeous.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I've been so loopy I forgot to add a title! <-- How's that?




Chickadees!  It's been a while, but I tell you what-- it has been a three ring circus around here!  First, there was the hubster's surprise birthday party on the same day as the Benefit House Party.  Now, it's the fundraising event I am chairing for the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans--AAMA (pronounced ah-mah.)

Anyhoo, I've been juggling nonstop and I won't stop until Cinco de Mayo!  That's when the event takes place.  It's going to be really spectacular, but as I told some friends on facebook, I'm the entertainment chair, the ticket sales chair, the marketing chair, the decorations chair, the raffle chair, the refreshments chair and the everything else chair.  I might as well be a dining set!

The good news is there will be plenty of pictures to share and some tutorials from the event that you are going to love.  So, stay tuned!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Silly Bees on Pinterest!

If you have a blog, you know how crazy it is to find your stuff on Pinterest! I for one, had no idea what it was all about until I did a search online for some of my tutorials. I do that from time to time to see where my stuff has traveled and to follow a cool blog who has featured my tutorial and linked back to me.

Anyhoooo, while doing one of these searches a few months ago, I found that my tissue paper flower corsages had been "pinned"! Wha?!  People really are reading! How totally cool.

So I joined Pinterest (this is me) because I am a blog-reading fool and am always bookmarking tutorials or copying and pasting links into an email addressed to myself.  I know.  Winning.

On another blog, I found out how to see who has pinned your stuff. If you wanna try it, the url is http://pinterest.com/source/your blog url here/  (Don't forget the last slash.) and that's it!






So, I though from time to time, I would do a Silly Bees Pinterest audit and see which blog posts are the most popular. Right now, it is my Old School Bunny Cake with 391 pins.  What the what?  I am totally shocked.  Thanks for the pin love, chickadees!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Faux Milk Glass Hobnail Votive



Everyone is painting the inside of glass bottles.  DIY tutorials abound!  This is my little version.

I love hobnail milk glass.  It's loverly.  It's delicate.  It reminds me of Grandma.  It's perfect for bridal parties, high tea and all things girly and frou frou-y.  It's also pricey.  Unless you fake it.


Ingredients:
  1. Hobnail glass votive candle holder (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Dollar Store, thrift store)
  2. Acrylic or enamel paint in a pale color.  (My votives will hold tissue paper flowers and don't need water.  So acrylic paint is just fine.  Plus, I plan to reuse them, so the paint needs to be removable.)
  3. Paint brush and plastic plate




    Method:
    1. Wash the inside of votive and make sure there's no wax inside (especially along the sides). I suggest wiping it down with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Let dry.
    2. Use a paint brush to paint the inside of the glass. Air dry completely before applying a second coat. You can also pour the paint into the glass and swirl it around to cover the inside, but I found that method wasted too much paint.
    3. After a couple coats, you should be done. Voila!
    Now, drop a silk flower in your new (faux) milk glass and show off your heirloom treasure!
      Enjoy!

      Friday, March 30, 2012

      House Party at Mel's!

      Last weekend I threw my first House Party and it was a blast!!!



      I'm not talking about a glamorous in-home sales party.  You don't have to buy a thing.  No burping lids or spinning lettuce. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)  I'm talking about the awesome, fantastic, too cool for school company called House Party


      House Party makes it possible for brands like Kraft, XBox, and Martha Stewart, to introduce new products to a large group of potential customers.  They give HP a bunch of samples and swag (enough for thousands), and HP passes it along to consumers while encouraging hosts to spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.  The only requirements to participate are that you have a party on a predetermined date, take plenty of photos and fill out a brief survey afterward.  Brilliant.  Sign me up!

      It's so easy to participate and it's totally free.  You fill out a profile including your likes and interests, and you're ready to go!  You choose which parties to apply for and cross your fingers that you get chosen.  If you are accepted, you'll be able to set up a party page, invite guests and download printable party favors to help make your party a huge success.  Plus, there is a forum where you can swap ideas with other hosts as you are planning your party.  Brilliant, I tell you!


      Last year, I applied for a couple parties and wasn't chosen.  So, imagine my excitement last month when I finally got an email telling me I was selected to host a House Party for one of my fave brands-- Benefit Cosmetics!  I'm working on a blog post all about the party, meanwhile, check out houseparty.com to learn more and sign up. Right now, they are offering parties for Blue Bunny and the nonprofit, Because I am a Girl.

      Wednesday, March 14, 2012

      Silly Bee's Nail Wraps!


      Great news!  My own line of nail wraps is now available on inquenails.com!  Here is the lineup (the rounded end goes toward the cuticle):







      Inque Nails are made of vinyl and adhere to nails with heat.  They are very easy to apply, last two or three days and peel off for easy removal.  I love that they are super shiny.  They are $15 each, Buy 2 Get 1 Free, or 6 for $35 which comes out to $5.84 a set.  With free shipping for orders over $30.  Not too shabby!

      To check out my designs...
      2. Click on Pick Out Some Nails
      3. Click on Designer Collection
      4. Click on Melissa Garza-Allen

      To order a set...
      1. Click on Get Em
      2. Select a length
      3. Click Add to Cart



      Inque Nails also offers custom fit nails.  Just click on Size My Nails.  There, you will find directions on taking photos of your nails and uploading them so they can be measured for a perfect fit.  Once you do that, they will keep your size on file for future orders.  Inque charges $35 to size nails, but it comes with 6 sets of wraps, so you end up not paying for the fitting.

      Thanks for checking them out!  Annnnnd, keep an eye out at the end of the month, there just may be a giveaway on the horizon!

      Sunday, March 11, 2012

      Tissue Paper Flowers-Think Daffodil



      There are a BUNCH of tissue paper flower tutorials out there.  Which is awesome, because they're sooo much fun to make.  But, most tutorials are missing one tiny detail that can make all the difference in the appearance of your flower...

      Tiny detail:  Think Daffodil.

      When you're separating the petals, pull them toward the center like a daffodil, especially the ends.  Otherwise you'll end up with a fan shape.  Now, the fan shape is still cute, but if you're going for the rosette, think daffodil.  No need to expand here, check out the photos and you'll get the idea.


      So, the next time you want to make tissue paper roses (and not fans), you know what to do.
      Think daffodil!

      Thursday, March 1, 2012

      Super Awesome Thing

      Have you ever...
      Seen something super awesome and thought, "I can make that"?  Duh! Of course you have!

      Have you ever...
      Planned a blog tutorial of said awesome thing, only to find out that someone's beat you to it?  Duh. Of course you haven't.




      Here's the scenario...
      Two years ago (I know because I saved it in an email), I saw this clever t-shirt ($65-holy cow!) on Artware Editions and thought it was so cute that I decided to make a diy tutorial.  Perfect!  I'll be the toast of Crafty Land!

      Here's the part where I am humbled...
      I was hanging around Pinterest today and guess what. I spied with my little eye the same shirt pinned to someone's board. So, I did a search and I'll be darned if it isn't all over the place! Plus, there are already diy tutorials! Plus, they use the same materials I was planning to use: masking tape and fabric paint. SMH.  I am NOT the toast of Crafty Land.

      Here's the part where I press on...
      There aren't any super awesome sheet music shirts, so I'm claiming the idea and the tutorial will be out VERY soon. Right after I finish the post on the tea party I threw a couple years ago. Right after I do the post about my 35th birthday party (I turn 40 in May).  So, the shirt tutorial will come out VERY soon. In leap years.

      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

      2012 Silly Bee's Calendar

      It's here! It's here!  And the first quarter of 2012 isn't even over!

      The 2012 Silly Bee's Chickadees Calendar is ready for download. You probably all have your calendars by now, but I hope you'll download this one as it has a bunch of fun holidays and celebrity birthdays that would be fun to create kids activities around!

      You can preview the entire calendar in the window below. Cool, eh? To get your very own official 2012 Silly Bee's Chickadees Calendar, click the "download" button. It's the one that looks like a little cloud with an arrow in it. If the calendar preview doesn't show, just click on the highlighted text above the box. Have a great 2012, silly chickadees!

      2012 Silly Bees Calendar

      P.S. I would love for you to share my calendar with your readers too, but please don't save the file as your own to distribute. Instead, include a link to this post. I greatly appreciate it!

      Don't you just love the cute fonts that I used on the calendar? Kevin and Amanda. Check them out!

      Wednesday, February 8, 2012

      TOMS does Ballet!



      Woo Hoo! TOMS ballet flats are here! Finally, a cuter alternative to their classic unisex flats. Yes, they are pricey for canvas shoes, but you gotta love their One for One business model.





      For every pair sold, TOMS gives a new pair to a child in need.  According to their website, the pair that they donate to children (called the Giving Pair) is most frequently the black above mentioned "alpargata".  They found these to be the best because they are generally approved for school uniforms, kids can walk and play in them while protecting their feetsies, plus they don't require shoe laces which can break easily and are difficult for many families to replace.



      It's an awesome company--one of the first to adopt a buy-one/donate-one philosophy for their entire product line and they have inspired many other companies to do the same.  Here's what else:  TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie, who attended SMU for two years before his entrepreneurial spirit whisked him away, won the 2011 Emerging Leader Award from my alma mater!  Pony up!


      So, that guy is Blake...but who's TOM?

      There is no TOM. We like to say that everyone is TOM, because what TOMS stands for, it's a derivative of the word 'tomorrow' and the idea that we have a better tomorrow.  When we started the project, it was called the Shoes for Tomorrow Project. Then it was just Shoes for Tomorrow. Then that didn't fit on the label, so I just named it TOMS.  You buy a pair today, we give a pair away tomorrow. And collectively, everyone who buys a pair, everyone who works here, everyone who's an intern, we all are TOMS. So that's who TOM is.  --Blake Mycoskie from an interview on Tree Hugger Radio.




      P.S. In case you are deciding what to get me for Valentine's Day, these Alessandra ballets would be awesome. Size 7 1/2, m-kay? Thanks.