DIY Picnic Basket

With picnics being our passion we are always on the look out for some fabulous DIY ideas. We came across this DIY disposable picnic basket by Oh Happy Day (ohhappyday.com). This is so easy to make and perfect for the kiddies picnics or corporate outing.

Materials Needed:
Free Printable Template (by ohhappyday.com)
45 x 65cm poster board for each bucket
cutter (or scissors if you aren’t worried about straight lines.)

Step 1: Print out free printable template and cut it out.

Step 2: You trace the template four times onto the 45 x 65cm poster board. Starting in one corner trace the template with the handle at the top and facing inward. Flip it like a mirror image and trace again. Flip it from the bottom and trace again. Trace it to the side one last time. (See photos for reference.)
Step 3: Once it is traced cut it out.
Step 4: Take the two sides with the slits and slip them over the corresponding handle to create a sweet little picnic basket.
Step 5: Fill with goodies and serve to your guests.

 

Credits: Oh Happy Day (www.ohhappyday.com)

Fish Party Theme

There are so many themes one can choose from for your little boys next birthday party so we decided to write about a fish party theme. There is so much one can do within this theme, you can really let your creativity flow. You can name the theme 'Gone Fishing', 'Under the Sea', etc.

First you have to set the scene:

For a fish themed party you can make most of the decor yourself. You can drape strips of crepe paper with paper fish suspended from gut to create and under the sea feel. Take variety of blue paper lanterns and hang strips of streamers from them to make them look like jelly fish.  Go to the beach and collect shells and use them in your table decor and center pieces.

Snacks and Treats:

This is such a fun theme for snacks. One can make shark / aquarium jelly by putting gummy fish sweets in the jelly. We love the 'bait' bucket cupcake holders topped with gummy worms or sour worms. If you can find a fish shape cookie press you can cut fish shapes out of fruit or sandwiches.

Cake and Cupcakes:

The cake forms part of the center piece of the party, the high light. Below are some fish cake ideas. We love the cup cake ideas especially the ones with the mini fishing rod and fish. You can use smarties for the fish cupcakes in the middle. They looks so colourful.

Party Favours and Gifts:

The party favours does not have to cost you the world. You can use beach buckets, fish nets or even make the little fish bags yourself. You can fill these with sweets, fish crafts, pics to colour in with crayons. We love the personalised fish bowl tags on the fish bags, so original.

Party Game:

This is such an old game but we never get tired of this. This is so easy to make with paper, paperclips, string and a magnet. For each little fish that gets caught there is a prize. Children loves the challenge and the surprise element of this game.

None of the above ideas require advance baking or decorating skills. For a little bit of effort and some creativity you can really put together an unforgettable Fish themed party.

Photo Credits: Pinterest, Cometogetherkids.com, Pocket full of dreams

Cheese Tower Wedding Cakes

WHAT IS A CHEESE TOWER WEDDING CAKE?

It’s not a cheesecake. It consists of several cheese rounds arranged one above the other in the same way that the tiers of a traditional wedding cake are arranged. To make it look like a traditional cake, round cheeses of varying diameters are used.

WHY CHEESE?

First of all its delicious, and also brings something different to your wedding. Some people simply do not like traditional fruit cakes, marzipan, chocolate, icing, or any of the ingredients of a traditional cake.

These cheese towers are suitable for anyone who would prefer a savoury cake or who would like a cheese course at their wedding in addition to the usual type of cake.

HOW MUCH CHEESE?

Normally 100g of cheese per person which means in theory that if you have 100 guests you will need a 10kg cake and so on!

Some guests will not eat any cheese, but other guests will eat much more than 100g. So it's best to add in crackers, fruit preserves and fresh fruit, chutneys and pickles, or even cold meats for the mom cheese eaters.

BUILDING THE CHEESE TOWER

Simply stack on each other although it may be an idea to put a circle of greaseproof or cardboard between each. You can separate the cheeses with stands, boards, pillars, etc

Three or more cheese rounds that different size diameters work best and look better than several cheeses which have the same

ACCESSORIES

A base to put the cheese on, like a cake stand.

You will need at least one, perhaps two, very sharp, strong knives to cut the cake;

Smaller knives are really useful to spread out amongst the cheeseboard.

DECORATING THE CAKE THE CHEESE TOWER

Foliage, cherry tomatoes, grapes, Figs, flowers, and even some figurines all seem to work well.

Credits: www.theprettyblog.com, www.pinterest.com, www.dialapicnic.co.za