Monster Mash Blocks–Guest Post

Today we have Mariah from Giggles Galore guest blogging and showing off her Monster Mash Blocks! Aren’t these some of the cutest darn things you have ever seen?! If I had to pick a favorite it would be … well I can’t pick! I love the Witch’s hat, Frankenstein's hair, and the Vampire’s bloody teeth. These are such affordable decorations and read on to see how to make your own.

 

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I adore Halloween, it is one of my favorite holidays!  It's just around the corner and time to start thinking about the millions of Halloween crafts I can't wait to make.  I have been busy making some pumpkins to sell (which you can see here or here) and while I was cutting 2x4's I had a brilliant idea to make some fun monsters.  I have seen a variety of ideas on the web and this is what I came up with.

Since I already had a huge stack of 2x4's already cut all I had to do was sweet talk my hubby into cutting out the extras to complete the look.

With a jigsaw we cut out Frankenstein's hair, the witches hat & nose, the collar & hair for the vampire and a coffin.

I tore strips of white fabric and added an aged look with paint for the mummy. I painted everything and attached the pieces with glue.  Done! 

Meet my four friendly ghouls ready for the MoNsTeR MaSh

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Go see some of Mariah’s other GREAT Halloween crafts such as

• Jingle Bell Spiders
• Halloween Banner
• or Ghost Candy Jars

Thanks Mariah!

Enjoy,

Centerpieces in 60 seconds

Centerpieces are probably the easiest part of party planning, since you can make them as simple or as lavish as you'd like. We here at the 15-Minute Party Planner are, of course, fans of simplicity. Here are a dozen centerpieces you can create in just a minute.

Candles
Head to your local dollar store or simply root through your cupboards to find some candles. Then, try one of these simple centerpiece ideas.

• Three is a magic number; anything in a set of three is easily arranged and easy to make look good. Set three identical pillar candles on a tray or piece of wood for a simple centerpiece. You can decorate the tray (if you wish) with items that coordinate with your theme, such as polished rocks, seashells, buttons... even walnuts (in their shells) or fresh cranberries.
  
  
• Arrange a dozen or so candles of varying heights (in a single color scheme) on a round platter or tray for a cozy centerpiece.
  
  
• Set tea lights afloat in a glass bowl for a shimmery centerpiece. (Be sure to use tea lights that are meant for water; regular tea lights won't work.)
  

Flowers
Whether you're using fresh flowers or good-quality faux flowers, decorating with blooms brightens up any table.

• One simple standby? A dozen or more flowers artfully arranged in a beautiful vase. (If you don't feel like you can arrange them yourself, simply order a bouquet from a local florist — problem solved!)
  
  
• Mimic the floating tea light centerpiece (above) with the heads of flowers floating in shallow bowls and vessels. Wide, sturdy flowers work best in this case.
  
  
• Buy large-blossom, long-stem flowers (like gerbera daisies) and set a single stem in each of several long-necked vases; then, place the vases in a line down the center of your table.
  

Food
Mother nature is a whiz in the color department; fruit and vegetables showcase vibrant colors to make a table pop.

• Fill a large glass bowl with bright citrus fruits (lemons, limes, or oranges) or colorful peppers (the shinier the better).
  
  
• Candy adds a beautiful pop of color to any table. Use jellybeans in place of pebbles on a tray of candles or fill glass containers with bright gumballs, candy sticks, or gumdrops for a sweet dash of color.
  
  
• Make dessert do double-duty. Arrange cupcakes, pastries, or other treats on a multi-tiered dessert stand for a centerpiece good enough to eat.
  

The Party Chick -{Chickabug}

Heather from the ETSY store Chickabug is fabulous! I purchased her ‘Official Letters to Santa’ before Christmas, and I was SO impressed. She is super sweet and her shop is filled with awesome personalized paper goods and DIY printables!

Check out these pirate ‘thank you’ pintables.

Zebra water bottle labels. What girl doesn’t love zebra stripes and pink?

DIY Printable treat bag tags. Aren’t these awesome? They fit over a ziploc bag. I know just the boy who would be head over heels for this design! My son is obsessed with anything train!

If you need invitations, address labels, water bottle labels, or anything party related – I’m sure Heather has something to go with your theme! If you aren’t a DIY-er then in most cases you can always purchase the pre-printed version and let Heather do the work for you!

Check out Heather’s blog and/or follow her on facebook! She is filled with tons of tips, tricks, and party inspirations!

How to spice up a boxed cake mix for a quick and easy dessert

The 15-minute party planners among us like to prep for parties without breaking a sweat. To make a simple boxed cake mix a little fancier, try these easy suggestions:

• Add a box of dry instant pudding mix to your cake batter. Try adding pistachio pudding mix to chocolate cake batter or instant lemon pudding to a white cake mix.
• Chop up candy bars or add chocolate chips for a more interesting cake.
• Blend fresh fruit like strawberries or applesauce into your cake batter in place of one of the liquid elements.
  
• Squeeze caramel or chocolate ice cream syrup into batter or frosting for an interesting twist.
  
• When pouring chocolate cake batter into a pan, use half the batter to cover the bottom of the pan, then add a layer of Peppermint Patties or Andes Mints. Cover the mints with the remaining cake batter.
• Add a dollop of peanut butter to a chocolate or vanilla cake mix for a nutty taste.
• Consider baking two small cakes. When you're ready to frost the cakes, spread a layer of jam or marmalade on top of the first cake, put the second cake on top and then frost both cakes as one.
  
• Top a frosted cake with sprinkles, chopped nuts, or M&Ms for easy decorating.
• Dust frosting with cocoa powder or confectioners sugar.
• Top a frosted cake with sliced fruit for a fresher take on boxed cake.
  
• Cupcakes are instantly-cute desserts and don't require much more time than making one large cake. Buy cute liners and add from-a-box cake batter to make instantly-adorable desserts.

8 instant Christmas centerpieces

Everyone wants a festive centerpiece for Christmas -- here are 12 ideas for centerpieces you can "create" in an instant.

1. A beautifully wrapped poinsettia says 'tis the season!
   
   
2. Grab a large clear-glass bowl from your cupboard. Add a variety of brightly-colored Christmas ornaments for a sparkly centerpiece.
   
   
3. Maybe you won't have chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but you can certainly display them on your table. Line the bottom of a bowl with chestnuts and add fresh cranberries on top for color.
   
   
4. Everything looks good in a group of three. Find a trio of favorite Christmas figurines (angels, snowmen, Santas, etc.) and place them in a group in the center of your table.
   
   
5. Were you baking up a storm this season? Decorate the table with a gingerbread house or a tower of Christmas cookies.
   
   
6. Candles make an easy centerpiece for any occasion. Grab a few pillars or tapers in holiday colors and arrange them on a festive tray.
   
   
7. Fill a hurricane vase with pine cones, holly berries, and other natural signs of the season.
   
   
8. Cover a tray or fill a bowl or hurricane vase with seasonal candies and foods. The color and shine of peppermints mixed with oranges and walnuts makes a good-enough-to-eat centerpiece that is worthy of any Christmas table.
   

Time for turkey: A Thanksgiving checklist

We're two weeks away from Thanksgiving Day and it's time to start some serious party preparations. We've created a day-by-day checklist that boils down your to-do list to 15 minutes per day.

Two weeks in advance

• Finalize the menu and make a shopping list.
  (Thursday, November 11 — 15 minutes)
  
  As you pin down your final menu, make a master shopping list. You can sort the list into two categories — non-perishable items you can pick up between now and Thanksgiving and perishable items you should pick up a day or two in advance.
  
  
• Make sure you have enough seating, serving bowls, utensils, etc.
  (Friday, November 12 — 15 minutes)
  
  While you're waiting for dinner to cook, scrounge around your cupboards. Do you have enough serving dishes to plate your Thanksgiving dinner? Are there ladles, tongs, and serving forks to match up with the foods you're serving?
  
  Make a list of any items you still need (including an extra card table or folding chairs!). You'll use the list tomorrow.
  
  
• Confirm your guest list.
  (Saturday, November 13 — 5 minutes)
  
  Send a quick e-mail this morning to confirm your guest list. You'll want to include four things in your e-mail: 1) remind folks when they should arrive on Thanksgiving day. 2) Include a list of "assignments" if people have volunteered to bring part of the meal with them. 3) Using the list you created yesterday (of items you need to borrow in order to serve dinner), ask your guests if anyone has the platters, chairs, or utensils you need. 4) Instruct your guests to RSVP and confirm whether they are still bringing the dish they were assigned. Also, ask guests to let you know if they can bring the serving items you still need.
  
  
• Confirm any outside orders.
  (Saturday, November 13 — 10 minutes)
  
  If you're ordering pastries, floral arrangements, or other goodies for your Thanksgiving dinner, spend 10 minutes calling the various vendors to make sure that you're order was received and will be ready to go in time for the holiday.
  
  
• Gather decorations.
  (Sunday, November 14 through Wednesday, November 17 — Less than 15 minutes/day)
  
  Spend 15 minutes on Sunday gathering your tablecloths, holiday decor, and centerpieces. For each of the next few days spend a few minutes tossing linens in the wash, dusting off decorations, and prepping centerpieces.
  

One week in advance

• Arrange seating.
  (Thursday, November 18 — 15 minutes)
  
  If dinner at your place is a less-than-formal affair, you can skip this step (and tomorrow's step, too)! If you want to have a pre-planned a seating arrangement, however, spend 15 minutes today to figure that out.
  
  
• Create place cards.
  (Friday, November 19 — 15 minutes)
  
  If you're planning on a seating arrangement, spend 15 minutes today creating your place cards. For instant inspiration, check out 5 easy DIY place card ideas.
  
  
• Freeze food.
  (Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21 — 15 minutes/day)
  
  Breads, pie crusts, many casseroles, and even stuffing can be made in advance and frozen to save prep time on Thanksgiving day. While the baking and cooking of these items undoubtedly takes longer than 15 minutes, prepping them for the freezer does not. Spend a half hour this weekend filling up the freezer.
  
  
• Clean the living room.
  (Monday, November 22 — 15 minutes)
  
  Don't think you can clean the living room that quickly? Follow our instructions for a party-perfect living room in 15 minutes. Then, make sure the rest of your family members pick up after themselves until dinner is served on Thursday.
  
  
• Clean the bathroom.
  (Tuesday, November 23 — 15 minutes)
  
  You know the drill — get another room clean and keep it that way. Handy hints for 15 minutes worth of cleaning can be found here.
  
  
• Empty the refrigerator and restock.
  (Wednesday, November 24 — 10 minutes)
  
  Spend 10 minutes this morning clearing out the fridge to make room for Thanksgiving food. Then, refill the refrigerator with any drinks or condiments that need to be chilled when served tomorrow.
  
  
• Make a mental run-through.
  (Wednesday, November 24 — 5 minutes)
  
  After the fridge is clean, take five minutes to run through the list of things that still need to be done. At this point, your list should be mostly whittled down to cooking and setting the table!

Thanksgiving Day

• Last-minute shopping.
  (Thursday, November 25 — 15 minutes)
  
  With the list you prepared two weeks ago, pop into the grocery store (go as soon as they open, if you want to keep this trip under 15 minutes!) and grab the last of the perishables you need for today's dinner.
  
  
• Give thanks and enjoy!
  

Unless you order in, there's no way to reduce all that Thanksgiving cooking to 15 minutes, but hopefully our Thanksgiving checklist will help you get ready for the big day with little fuss over the details.

Happy Thanksgiving!

5 easy DIY place card ideas

When prepping for your next dinner party, know that you can make simple place cards in a matter of minutes. Here are five ideas for do-it-yourself cards that will keep everyone organized.

1. Write guests' names on small index cards and prop in front of a bright piece of fruit at each place setting.
   
   
2. If you're expecting leftovers or an abundance of dessert items, write each guest's name on a takeout container, tie a quick piece of ribbon around the container's handle, and set it in front of the place setting. Guests will know where to sit and have easy access to a doggie bag!
   
   
3. Buy pre-made diecuts (that match your party theme) from a local craft store (or Etsy). Then, simply write a guest's name on each one and place them appropriately.
   
   
4. Want your place cards to do double duty as party favors? Tie a simple tag with the guest's name to a jar of jam, a bag of cookies or candy, a small candle, or other easy favor. (For more ideas on DIY favors, check out 15 Party favors you can make in 15 minutes.)
   
   
5. Another place card/party favor idea? Find tiny potted plants, then stick labels in the dirt. On one side of the label, name the plant, on the other, the name of the guest.
   

A-tisket a-tasket: a well-planned bathroom basket

Whether you're hosting a party at home or in a banquet hall, try to anticipate the needs of your guests. Visitors may find themselves in need of supplies like band-aids, breath mints, and tissues, but might not have them on hand. You'll prove to be something of a clairvoyant hostess if you arrange to have the necessary items waiting in bathroom baskets.

Bathroom baskets provide your guests with thoughtful necessities. You'll find many of the necessary supplies at home and can pick up the rest at a dollar store. Simply find baskets large enough to hold your supplies (but not large enough to be in the way), and fill with them with incidentals your guests would appreciate. If you're hosting a party at home, one basket should do it; if you're out at a banquet hall, however, consider putting a basket in each bathroom and customizing baskets for the men's and women's rooms.

Recommended supplies for bathroom baskets include:

• Antacid (such as Rolaids or Tums)
  
• Band-aids
• Breath mints
• Combs (you can get a dozen plastic combs for $1 at the Dollar Tree)
  
• Cough drops
• Dental floss
  
• Earring backs (especially helpful at formal parties)
• Eyeglasses repair kit
  
• Hairspray (and extra bobby pins or hair elastics)
• Lint brushes
• Lotion
  
• Nail files (and clear nail polish for stocking runs)
• Pain relievers (try to have a variety of options, so that people who can't take one kind of pain reliever can have other choices)
• Q-tips
  
• Sewing kit (or at the very least, safety pins)
• Spray deodorant
  
• Stain remover (such as Shout Wipes or Tide to Go Sticks)
• Static cling spray (or dryer sheets!)
• Tampons or pads
• Tissues
• Toothpicks

Feel free to customize your bathroom baskets based on the needs of your guests and type of event by leaving some items out and adding in others. Depending on the venue, you may want to add bug spray, for instance, or hand sanitizer. You could even throw in a few AA batteries for those whose cameras have died.

Can you get everything together in about 15 minutes? Chances are yes. Raid your closets for travel-size lotions, tissues, and hairspray. Check out the pantry for gum, breath mints, or toothpicks, and find dryer sheets and static cling spray in your laundry room. You can track down the other necessary items by hitting the travel and toiletry aisles at a local dollar store; by limiting yourself to two aisles, you're likely to get in and out of the store in mere minutes.

15 party favors you can make in 15 minutes

1. Chocolate-dipped spoons
   First, melt milk chocolate (chocolate chips work great). Then, remove the chocolate from heat; the chocolate should be melted, but thick and cool enough so that it doesn't melt the plastic spoons. Dip spoons into the melted chocolate just past the base of the spoon and add toppings if desired (crushed bits of toffee, candy cane, or sprinkles are good choices) before the chocolate on the spoons begins to chill. Then, lay the spoons on wax paper (wax paper on a cookie sheet is the easiest way to transport the spoons) and transfer to cool in the refrigerator. When finished, store spoons in Ziploc baggies, cellophane, plastic wrap, or the like. Tie bags with ribbon to decorate.
   
   
2. Organza gift bags full of candy
   
   
3. Sachets filled with potpourri
   Buy lacy handkerchiefs and loose potpourri. Spoon a bit of potpourri into the center of each handkerchief, draw up the ends, and tie closed with a bit of ribbon.
   
   
4. Take-out containers full of fortune cookies (or whatever you like)
   
   
5. Bath salts
   Mix combination of about a cup of Epsom salt with a 1/4 cup of sea salt and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Add a few drops of essential oils (try lavender or eucalyptus for a soothing spa-like scent). Stir until all ingredients are blended, then spoon the mixture into glass jars like these. Finish the glasses with pre-printed labels or write "Lavender Bath Salts" (or what-have-you) on the top of the jars with a skinny permanent marker. You can batches of bath salts that are as small or as large as they need to be to accommodate all of your party's guests.
   
   
6. Votive candles wrapped in organza circles
   
   
7. Personalized candy bar wrappers
   Buy candy bars that come enclosed in silver or gold foil, covered by paper wrappers. Remove the candy's original paper wrapper, and make your own, using patterned scrapbook paper or colored paper embellished with stickers or stamps. Then, simply fit the personalized paper over the candy bar and secure with a piece of double-sided tape.
   
   
8. Candy in paper cones
   
   
9. Embellished picture frames
   Buy simple flat-front picture frames and embellish them with 3-D alphabet stickers that spell out the names of your guests, the year of your event, or simple messages like "Hope" or "Faith".
   
   
10. Mixed CDs (with songs that match your party theme)
    
    
11. Recycled crayons
    If you're hosting a party for kids, you can make custom-shaped crayons as party favors. Preheat your oven to about 150°F. Sort old crayon stubs (paper removed) by color family. Then, line mini-muffin pans with foil baking cups (or use shaped pans like these) and add sorted crayons. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crayons have melted. Let cool.
    
    
12. Chocolate-dipped pretzels (or cookies or whatever)
    
    
13. Candy Cane Reindeer
    Getting ready for Christmas? Glue two googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose onto the curve of a candy cane. Then, shape a brown pipe cleaner into "antlers" and twist around the top of the candy cane.
    
    
14. Small vases (or bottles or cans or what-have-you) of wild flowers
    
    
15. Suncatcher
    Buy clear glass Christmas bulbs with removable tops. Remove the tops, fill with multicolor glass beads (or any tiny trinket that will catch the light). Replace tops and attach a brightly-colored ribbon or suction cup for hanging.