Thursday, July 31, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve and last day of July. Yikes! It was a busy month at Casa Chocolate so I'm not rurprised by how fast it went by. Mr. Chocolate continues to heal ahead of schedule. 

Be on the lookout for holiday workshops from Halloween to Christmas! 

Paper Glitter Glue has a wonderful Halloween Spooktacular I've signed up for. Twenty days of fun projects! 


Even though it's been a minute for me, I still love seeing all the back to school supplies which have become a great craft stock up! As a kid, I loved being able to get brand new notebooks, pens, etc. for the school year. Now, I stock up on glue, glue sticks, and still...PENS! 

Let's take a look at some of the fun ideas shared at last week's party, including some fun BTS ideas!


Sonata Home Design has a great way to use a map to make up a Travel Journal (pick up a composition book at a back-to-school sale!). Yes I know we mostly use GPS in our cars or phones but visitors centers sill carry maps, or in this case, a bucket list trip to England!


Press Print Party has a perfect idea for Back to School with these Grade Based Back to School Signs. All grades! 


Hunny I'm Home DIY has a great back-to-school project teachers will appreciate with this Clorox Wipes Teacher Gift


Finally, how about a batch of these Chocolate Orange Shortbread Cookies in a back-to-school lunch? From Fat Dad Foodie

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 







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Thursday, July 24, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Greetings and Happy Friday Eve, Creative Peeps! 

First, let me thank you for all your kind well wishes for Mr. Chocolate .🥰😍🥰
His surgery went even better than we could have hoped, which is to say, it went GREAT! There was a slight chance of him having to stay overnight which he didn't, and his recovery has been ahead of schedule with NONE of the things they say "could" happen initially. He's regaining his energy and my biggest challenge now is him not doing too much too soon. I'll take that problem! There's always duct tape. 

Let me give a special shout out to nurses, who are amazing! We had nothing but kind, caring, and funny nurses who helped keep a nervous patient calm and reassured him he wasn't a burden. 🙏🏽

You all were busy as usual, so features are an eclectic mix of Summer and seasons to come. 


It's peak Gardening season which means extra TLC for hands, and Ann's Entitled Life has you covered with this DIY Gardener Hand Scrub


Hunny I'm Home DIY shared this Dollar Tree Frame Centerpiece (this one for graduation) that can be adapted to any occasion. 



If you're getting a head start on Christmas (like we all should be) Master Pieces of My Life has you covered with a roundup of great Christmas in July projects! 


Finally, how about this ooey-gooey yummy looking Glazed Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Toffee Coffee Cake (say THAT three times fast) from Cindy's Online Recipe Box

Thank you so much for all of the support and can't wait to see what you've got to share this week!









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Thursday, July 10, 2025

BFF Open House Two Week Party!

 


Happy Friday Eve once again, Creative Peeps! I hope everyone had a safe and peaceful Fourth with limited furbaby panic not to mention our Vets. It was very quiet here. It's been a light monsoon season so far, but every year I'm reminded how intolerant of humidity of any kind I've become. Then I talk to my son in Chicago and bestie who had to move to Austin for work and I shut up. 

I'm putting this party up as a two-week party. Mr. Chocolate's procedure is Tuesday, but short story long, it's being done up North because he kept his provider from when we lived up there. When this all started, it made sense to stick with them, and we had no idea we'd end up with surgery. So, we're combining it into a little getaway since he'll have to be seen the next day and in case of any issues. Plus, Summer rates at resorts here are great. Trying to work smarter not harder. Seems the easiest thing to do. 

OK let's take a look at some of the ideas from last week's party and then we'll have double features week after next. 



Steph Creates shared this DIY Fabric Bowls, which, let's face it, can't we always use more storage? Why not make it pretty! 



How much fun are these DIY Tooth Fairy Pillows from Creatively Beth?! 


Master Pieces of My Life shared a wonderful way to DIY Vintage Toleware.


Finally, a great way to beat the heat is with a refreshing Agua Fresca which literally translated means "Fresh Water", but are really fruit infused waters. VERY popular here in the Southwest and true to our Mexican origins. Cindy's Online Recipe Box shared this refreshing Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca recipe! 

Thank you for the supportive comments and understanding of my CLUMP (Crafting Slump). See y'all two weeks from now. Be safe. Be good. Be creative! 



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Thursday, July 3, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday and Fourth of July Eve! We live in "EXTREME" fire danger tinderbox country so I'm not a big fan of fireworks, I don't understand why they even sell them in these parts but...Our town is what's known as "dark sky" so we have minimal streetlights and other up-facing lights and the fireworks are contained to professional displays. 

THANK YOU for the kind and supportive words about Mr. Chocolate's upcoming surgery. We did the final pre-op tests and met with Anesthesiology this week to get the final sign-offs. Can't argue they're not being thorough! 

Since it's Fourth of July weekend, that's the theme of this week's features! 



Fresh Vintage by Lisa S is back with this Vintage Campfire Themed Vignette featuring faux marshmallows she shows how to make. PIN for next year! 



The way I loved sparklers as a kid! Our Tiny Nest has you covered with these festive Keep Calm and Sparkle sparkler holders. Download. Print. Use. 


Simple Everyday Mom shared this fun Statue of Liberty Connect the Dots Printable. This would be great to use as a pattern for string art too! 

Finally, these Fourth of July Fruit Skewers from Organized Island are an easy addition to your Fourth dessert table. 


Wishing everyone a SAFE Fourth and long weekend. 













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Thursday, June 26, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve all! Can you believe six months of the year have almost ended? And six months from yesterday...CHRISTMAS will be upon us. 

As I've said, I'm not much of a Summer crafter so I feel like I'm in a bit of a "CLUMP" aka a Crafting Slump. Emphasis on the LUMP part since that best describes me lately. But, I'm also learning to give myself grace. That doesn't come naturally to me. My dad's regular saying was "Give 110%, minimum" so I've had high expectations since childhood. Plus, I hit ALL the Virgo highlights of being hardest on myself. 

And it's been a hectic year. Mr. Chocolate, as I've shared, has had some health stuff which isn't something he's used to dealing with plus, "MAN". 🫢

There's light at the end of the tunnel when he'll have a surgical procedure next month we're hoping is the end of things. 

Anyhoo, thanks for reading if you've gotten this far! Now, let's take a look at some of the fun features from last week's party! 


Fresh Vintage by Lisa S shared how to Water Marble Buttons! I'm pretty sure as Creatives, we ALL have a button collection for various things. What a fun way to play with them with something many of us have on hand: Nail Polish! 


Sonata Home Design is back with an incredible thrifted upcycle. Decoupage medium and napkins combine to make this gorgeous Thrifted Box


If you lived through the 80s, you cannot have missed the Cabbage Patch Kid pop culture phenomenon. I was both too old (to want one) and too young (to have to go FIND one as a parent) but you couldn't miss it. Jennifer from Studio 27 immortalizes that period with this Pot Your Own Cabbage Patch Baby project! 


Finally, here's a take on Cookies and Cream I haven't seen before: Cookies and Cream MUFFINS! Visit Lou Lou Girls for the recipe! 


Thanks to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what's in store this week! 








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Thursday, June 19, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Blink. It's Friday Eve already again?! II'm not sure where the week went. It's been another lazy crafting week here. My primary and I have concluded that when I was sick a few weeks ago that it was likely the newsest COVID variant based on the symptoms at the time and the fact that I'm just draggy tired still. Took a test then and it was negative but I'm the QUEEN of inconclusive tests! Even when I took my first pregnancy test...it was supposed to be a + and only half of it appeared. Anyhoo, I'm fine...just low energy. 

So, let's take a look at what some of  YOU have been up to because your creativity is anything but lacking! 


Sonata Home Designs shared how to Decoupage Oyster Shells and Create Flower Wall Art. What a perfect project for Summer of year round beach dwellers. 


Birdz of a Feather shared one of the most genius ideas that serves double duty as A Bib Clip and a piece of Jewelry. As someone who's wished they had a bib a few times while dining, I'm including two pics of this. As jewelry, above and below:


Convert any napkin into a bib! Summer barbecues, clam bakes, lobster rolls, smashing crabs...


From Bay to Beach shared an awesome repurpose with this Summery Bar Cart from a Tea Cart


Finally, these Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes from Crystal and Co. are a festive and fun Summer treat! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up and wishing you all a creative weekend! 













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