I'm Back!

Hello everyone I know it's been months since I've been on here, but I'm back! I have been super busy creating new items and working with suppliers for some neat new products! I hope you keep checking back to see whats new with Bella Tu! <3

Summer Colors!

I am addicted to making Treasury lists on Etsy! Recently I've started doing Summer Colors and Themes and thought it would be neat to share them with y'all!..

Colors: (click on the links below to see Treasury List)

 *When Life Hands You Lemons....
*Let Freedom Ring

Themes: (click on the links below to see Treasury List)

*Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses

ETSY Birthdays

Everyone knows of an amazing site called ETSY where you can find handmade items from crafters from all over! It's that time of year when Birthday Parties and Backyard Cookouts are the norm, and with ETSY....it just got easier for you! I have put together some party ideas in a few ETSY treasury lists. Click on the links below to be taken to the treasury for that Birthday/Party Theme!



 Watermelon Crawl
 Wild about Birthdays
 Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me
 Lego Birthday Bash
 Classic Barbie
A Mad Tea Party
Thru The Looking Glass
She Loves to ROCK!
Candy Coated Day Dream


More To Come!

Pinwheel Fun!

Here are EASY instructions to create your own unique Pinwheels!! Perfect for Birthdays, Weddings, or any Gathering!!!!

What You'll Need:
*Several Sheets of 12"x12" Double sided scrapbook paper (Not too stiff)
(If you can't find patterns or colors you like you can always take 2 of the thinner scrapbook paper and glue(use scrapbook glue stick)backsides together so images show on both sides)
*Round-headed Pins or Small Nails with a head on them(so you can glue an embellishment)
*12" wooden Dowels (you can find dowels either at a harware store and cut to size, or use dowels for stacking cakes)
*Hot glue gun and glue sticks
*A thumb tack
*Optional(Flower shaped craft punch) or (scrapbook flowers)
*A pair of scissors
*A ruler
*Pencil
*Embelishments (Buttons, Rhinestones, Beads, etc.)

Instructions:
1. (for Smaller pinwheels) Measure and cut several 6" squares out of your paper
* For larger pinwheels use whole 12" sheet
2. Find the center of your square adn mark lightly with pencil
3. Use ruler to to draw and "X" lightly with your pencil  diagonally from each corner of the paper making sure your center mark lines up!
4. Measure from center of "X" 1" on all four lines and put a "tick" mark
5. Cut along diagonal lines from all four corners stopping at your 1" tick mark
6.Use your thumb tack to punch a hole in the center of the "X"
7. Use thumb tack to make a hole in the right hand corner of each side of the square, just left of your cut and set paper aside.
8. Make a pilot hole with your thumb tack  about 1/2" down from the end of the dowel.
9. using your nail or round headed pin,stick your flower cut out or petals if desired in the center. One by one bring each of the four pin-holed corners to the center and pin through each of the four holes.
10. Put the pin through the center of the square
11. Add a drop of hot glue if using a round-headed pin and put a dab in the hole in the dowel and quickly insert the pin that runs through the pinwheel center. (Do Not Let The Pinwheel Paper Touch The Hot Glue)
12. If using a nail, find your pilot hole on your dowel and carefully hammer the nail into the dowel until it is secure (size of dowel depends on how deep you can go) Make sure Pinwheel can spin freely!
13. If used a nail with a head on it, you can add your embelishments with a small amount of hot glue to the tip of the nail!

These pinwheels are easy and fun to make!

You can also Paint Dowel or Wrap Dowel in Ribbon(starting just below pilot hole) before you attatch Pinwheel!

 Small 6" Pinwheel (The large pinwheel I used 2 thin pieces of paper and glued together)

 Large 12" Pinwheel

Enjoy!

Remembering Brittany

Brittany Shepard Pugh (24) and her loving son Shep Allen Pugh (15 months) passed into the arms of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and gained their wings on March 7, 2011, a day that will never be forgotten especially for those who had the opportunity to meet Brittany and that sweet baby.

On March 7, 2011 they were in a tragic accident just north of Brundidge, Alabama.

Brittany was a mother, wife, daughter, daughter-in law, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, teacher, leader, provider, and best friend…. Whenever Brittany entered a room she just lit up the room with her beauty and smile. Always living by her motto: “JOY” Jesus first, others second and yourself last. If you ever needed her to do anything, she was right there for you to stand by your side. Brittany’s faith was so strong and that is why she will continue to make a difference in this world every day.

Brittany loved her family dearly and cherished her loving husband Clint, whom is a survivor and shows so much strength. Brittany lived to make difference in the lives of others. She taught 3rd grade at Barbour County Intermediate School. Brittany reflected the goodness of God’s heart through all she did and she was one of those people that made your life better just having the opportunity to have met her.

One of Brittany’s favorite colors was yellow, which resembles her so well with her beautiful smile and warming heart. He favorite flowers were daisies. Through the grieving of the loss of Brittany and Shep those that loved them the most have found strength and comfort through images that God has given of yellow and daises… Like I said before, Brittany will continue to make a difference in this world touching each person that learns about her love.

Bella Tu Desing is making Bows, Headbands, and Tutus in rememberance of Brittany and Shep. 100% of the proceeds are donated to 1 of 3 charities set up in their name. Items are for sale on Etsy.

Remembering Brittany Bow

Spring Birthday Party Ideas

Hi everyone!  Spring is here and we're all ready for some fun after one of the worst winters ever!


Have a little one with a birthday this spring?  Why not have an Egg Hunt Party?  Don't just save the fun of a hunt for Easter...use this little trick for a child's birthday too!

Even the youngest toddlers can get together to hunt prizes.  Plastic eggs come in so many shapes and colors these days, so it's easy to plan a hunt around a themed party.  

Use plastic eggs with letters for older ones - and give the challenge of spelling a word like PARTY or FUN with the eggs that they find.  A special prize goes to the winner of course!

Get the kids involved and make a snake from the egg parts - which can also be a prize for a game!


Don't forget about the adults!  If you're having a spring BBQ or party, let the adults hunt too!  They'll feel like kids again and it's sure to get everyone laughing!

Yummy Cake Balls!

Okay...I had these for the first time in D.C visiting my sister, and they are AMAZING! These are great for Birthdays, Pool Parties, BBQs, and any other Occasion! You can make them as simple or elaborate as you want, you can even put them on a stick and make a Cake Pop! I will add one warning....EAT WITH CAUTION...these little popable bits can have you eating a whole cake in no time without even noticing! :)

What You'll Need:

• Your Favorite Cake Mix
• One can of frosting (will give ideas of combinations below)
• 1-2 packages of Wilton Baking Chips (Read Flavor on Bag!)
• Optional~ Wilton Squeeze Bottle (found in the candy making section)
• Optional~ For unique cake flavors( orange, raspberry, key lime) use your favorite (small) box of gelatin and mix with cake batter! 

Instructions:

1. Make cake according to box directions.
2. Cool Completely! ( I like to let cool in pan then cut the cake center out away from bottom and sides~I then break cake into large pieces and put into a bowl in the freezer to finish cooling)
3. Once completely cooled, take bowl out of freezer and crumble cake into very small pieces.
4. Mix in one can of frosting into the crumbled cake using a spoon or your hands (I use my hands) Messy, but fun!

5. Once mixed well, form quarter sized balls and place on wax paper lined cookie sheet.                                                                                            
6. Put the cake balls in the refrigerator for several hours until firm
7. Once cake balls are ready, Melt Candy Melts according to directions! I cannot stress this enough! I personally like to use the microwave method, however you can also melt them in a double boiler.
8. Once Melted, dip one cake ball at a time, using a fork to scoop it out and drain off excess chocolate. Place cake ball back onto waxed paper. Once all the cake balls are finished, place cookie sheet back in fridge for 15 min to set coating.
9. Optional~ If you would like to decorate with an alternate color of Candy Melt, this is when you would do it. Put melted candy melt in squeeze bottle and drizzle or create your own design over the cake balls.

Cake Mix and Frosting Combination Ideas!

• Red Velvet Cake/Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Frosting
• Key Lime/Cream Cheese Frosting
• Strawberry/Vanilla Frosting
• Raspberry/Chocolate Frosting
• Vanilla/Chocolate Frosting
• Lemon/Vanilla Frosting
• Chocolate/Cream Cheese Frosting
• Orange/Vanilla Frosting

Remember...You can customize these any way you want! Sprinkles, Glaze, Powdered Sugar...Play around with the recipe and create your own unique concoction!

Hello!

Hi Everyone, I'm Niki and I'm starting this blog for me and my friend/business partner, Pepper! We both own ICPartys, a Child's Party Planning Business in Kennesaw GA. We also, each have our own businesses on Etsy! We wanted to start a blog to help with ideas and instructions for everything from Hair Bows to Party Planning! We are each going to be logging on and creating posts, feel free to leave questions, comments, or ideas on our blog! We love feedback and will help put our creative minds together to help answer any questions y'all might have! Thank you so much for following us!