Thanksgiving idea: Place cards

Over the years, my kids have used the traditional method for making place cards: computer + printer. But how fun are these fall fruit place card holders? They're easy to make and will undoubtedly ensure the perfect seat assignments.

On a separate (but also holiday-related) note, I recently discovered Doozy Cards, a small, family owned and operated animation studio and ecard company. A father and daughter team founded Doozy Cards with the intention of uplifting each person who views their cards. They've been creating original ecards since 2003, including popular funny Thanksgiving ecards, and have a huge selection of charming and humorous musical greeting cards for practically every holiday or special occasion.

Weekly links

This is a photo of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the Academy Awards in 1956! Will you be watching the Oscars tomorrow night? (If I'm feeling adventurous, I may go to catch a glimpse of red carpet activity--perks of living in L.A.) Hope you're having a fabulous weekend. The links...

make a bed out of pipes at Instructables via Curbly

make gluten free zucchini ricotta cheesecake at 101 Cookbooks

make a tin can star curtain at Sol y Sombra via Curbly

make a rope necklace at ...love Maegan

make a tied tissue box cover at Curbly

make a string tree wall mural at Re-Nest

prep your bathroom for company at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Do you recall my lack of inspiration to blog? Truth be told, it's due in part to lack of time. I've been so busy lately looking for (dare I say?) a real job. In addition, I've also got husband, three kids and running a little online shop. Since I am a little out of practice, do any of you have tips for job hunting? To my readers in Los Angeles, what would your suggestions be for a part-time gig in a (preferably) creative environment? Please shoot me an email (Jackie AT VanillaSpoons DOT COM) with any detailed info/leads/contacts. Muchas gracias. Warm weekend wishes, and here are your links...

knock out a farmhouse table for $50 at Knock-Off Wood via Curbly

make a gluten free lemony sweet and sour tender veggie salad at Food Network

make Australian stylist Tim Neve's driftwood lamp at Tim Neve via Apartment Therapy

deck out an old record cabinet at Apartment Therapy

make a clock out of junk mail at Apartment Therapy

learn how to embroider a French knot at Kootoyoo via WhipUp (A video tute.)

make a cold weather picnic pack at Design Sponge

(Photo via weheartit via Ffffound!)

DIY Marc Jacobs Necklace With Coffee Stirrers From Dunkin' Donuts

Due to the recent lack of posting weekly links, I thought some of you might enjoy a random Tuesday DIY from P.S.-I Made This that I discovered on Pipeline Refinery 29.

Weekly links

Depending on how you look at it, these links are either really late or really early...

give your chairs a makeover with chalkboard paint at Pretty Ditty via WhipUp

make two gluten free meals from one hunk of pork at Sorry, I Can't Eat That

add some flair to your Valentine's Day dinner candles at Curbly

discover 12 new uses for aluminum foil at Curbly

learn how to dry out (and hopefully save) wet electronics at Unplggd

make a Valentine's Day nightie out of a pillowcase at Craftzine (This one's a video tute.)

make a coffee can lamp at ReadyMade via Apartment Therapy

**BONUS**

make this cute little blow-a-kiss flipbook at Color Me Katie via Craftzine

...and have a wonderful week!

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links (Late Edition)

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Links...

learn how to use Craigslist to find the perfect apartment at Apartment Therapy

make gluten free and vegan Three Sisters Posole at Gluten A Go Go

make cherry blossom garlands from disposable tablecloths at Creative Jewish Mom via Craftzine

make a flowery pom-pom pendant lamp at Craftynest via Curbly

use old jigsaw puzzle pieces to create a heart pin or recycle crayon pieces into swirly, usable Valentines at Family Fun (Twenty-three more Valentine's Day crafts here.)

create your own rub-on letters at Can't Stop Making Things via Craftzine

learn 4 new indoor ways to grow a little green at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via People)

Weekly links

It's still January...one more New Year greeting won't hurt. (Couldn't resist the tamale balls.) What's on your agenda this weekend? Perhaps you'll try one or more of these...

make chalkboard hangers at Craftzine via WhipUp

make gluten free peanut butter and jelly chocolate sandwich cookies at Grandma's Gluten-Free Baking N Cooking

make junk look good at Apartment Therapy

discover tips for camouflaging thermostats, radiators and air conditioners at Apartment Therapy

make olive penguins at Serious Eats and Cut Out + Keep via Curbly

build a kitchen banquette with storage at 5 Minute Videos via Curbly

learn how to keep technology quiet at night at Unplggd

(Photography by Keith Davis Young)

Weekly links

Have a wonderful weekend! Here are your links...

make a stylish superhero headband at Curly Pops via WhipUp

make gluten free butternut polenta lasagna at Gluten Free Gidget

discover 5 places to use a rubber stamp in the bedroom at Apartment Therapy

make a very simple loop window shade at Two Straight Lines via Curbly

make a "Team Conan" t-shirt at Vickie Howell via Craftzine

learn how to keep your neighbors sane during renovations at Apartment Therapy

learn how to stencil with freezer paper at How About Orange via Not Martha

**BONUS GLUTEN FREE RECIPE
make chestnut flour crepes with ricotta and honey at Martha

(Photo via Ffffound!)

Weekly links

Last night my husband and I watched Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Both of us really liked it. A little trivia about the movie: With the exception of the famous actors, every person we see fired in the film is not an actor but a real life recently laid off person. The filmmakers put out ads in St. Louis and Detroit posing as a documentary crew looking to document the effect of the recession. When people showed up, they were instructed to treat the camera like the person who fired them and respond as they did or use the opportunity to say what they wished they had. What do you think of that?

This weekend we're planning to visit Babycakes' new digs in L.A.--I can't wait for my son to have this bakery experience alas! Here's to a delicious weekend, and here are your links...

though New Year's has passed, you still can learn 20 ways to pump up your next party at Delish via Curbly

make gluten free orange fennel salad at Food Network via Cupcakes and Cashmere

make a vintage-inspired 70's style string lampshade at Instructables via Craftzine

make a modern statement ring at The Swell Life via Curbly

make a chocolate iPhone using the iPhone packaging at Craftzine

discover 5 new uses for old t-shirts at Apartment Therapy

dust and dust mite proof your bedroom at Apartment Therapy (Beware of photo as you click through.)

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Tonight we have plans to see Nine which opens in Los Angeles and New York today. Believe it or not, I saw the original Broadway musical in 1982! (Watch the whole YouTube video when you get a chance.) Have a wonderful weekend! Here are your links...

make star lights out of manila envelopes at B.Light Design via Curbly via Dudecraft

make chocolate chai sherbet and curried lamb-and-lentil stew at MyRecipes (Both gluten free of course.)

make mini LP record gift tags at Dudecraft via WhipUp

make chalk cloth gift tags at Oilcloth Addict and Little Birdie Secrets via Apartment Therapy

make a printed burlap chair at Design Sponge

make your dishwasher run better at The Kitchn

take steps to relieve holiday stress at San Gabriel Valley Tribune

(Photo via ObsessionMIA)

Weekly links

Nutcracker anyone? These fabulous photos taken by photographer Rachel Papo are of costumes from the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker (2006). If you have never seen this fairy tale-ballet (or if it's been a while), I suggest getting thee to a performance near you. Have a great weekend and happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate! Here are the links...

learn the ground rules of regifting at Apartment Therapy

make gluten free sweet potato latkes with ruby applesauce at Karina's Kitchen

learn how to remove smelly odors left behind as a result of potato pancake preparation at Apartment Therapy

learn 9 ways to shag at Apartment Therapy

make a super simple coffee sleeve wreath at Magpie and Cake via Craftzine

make fleece pom pom Hanukkah garland at Design Sponge

make a ruffly felt rosette wreath at Domestifluff via WhipUp

Weekly links

How was your Thanksgiving? I forgot to make the mashed potatoes, and somehow I managed to feel quite full without eating any turkey. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend! Links...

turn tablecloths into curtains at Apartment Therapy

make gluten free chocolate snow eggs at La Tartine Gourmande

order a gluten free gift basket at Vanilla Spoons

build a stowable upholstery workbench at Curbly

use decorative pillows to make a headboard at Apartment Therapy

make lots of cards from just two punches at Crafty Pod via Craftzine

sew a ruffled messenger bag at Between The Lines via WhipUp

(Photo via Apartment Therapy)

Weekly links

Have a fab weekend! Here are your links...

live like stylish vampire Edward Cullen of The Twilight Saga: New Moon at Apartment Therapy (The house is for sale and movie opens today!)

make gluten free Thanksgiving cranberry cobbler at Ginger Lemon Girl

crochet flower fridgies at Salihan Crafts via WhipUp

learn the art of giving good directions at Apartment Therapy (Useful if you will be entertaining during the holidays.)

stump your guests with turkey trivia place cards at Martha Stewart

make a beefy bolster pillow from old towels at Curbly

use drinking straws to make a contemporary pendant light at Addicted 2 Decorating via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Breaking a mirror, walking under a ladder, putting a hat on a bed, itchy palms and itchy noses. Are you superstitious? Have a great weekend--just don't let any milk boil over! Here are your links...

diamond tuft a wall at Better Homes and Gardens via Curbly

make gluten free roasted fish and chips at Simply Gluten Free

refashion a man's hoodie sweatshirt at Happy Together via Craftzine

learn ways to manage pets at the party at Apartment Therapy

makeover your rental kitchen (without paint) for eighty bucks at Re-Nest

make book page wreaths at Living With Lindsay via Apartment Therapy

cover plain floating bookshelves with wallpaper at Martha Stewart (Just imagine--Martha and I both had wallpaper on the brain. The same day.)

(Photo by Rodney Smith found here)

Weekly links on Monday

I wasn't able to post links last Friday. So let's start off the new week with them...

sew a remote control storage cushion at Julie-K via WhipUp

make gluten free broccoli cheddar soup with olive oil croutons at Dinners For A Year And Beyond

discover six tips to soften butter on the fly at Tipnut via Curbly

learn how to entertain on the fly at Apartment Therapy

make bath fizzies at Martha Stewart

transform two cloth napkins into armrest organizer for your sofa at Just Something I Made via Craftzine

sew a newspaper dress at Instructables via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

My husband's birthday is Halloween. Our kids love it. (He does, too--he actually thinks all the festivities, decorations, etc. which surround the holiday are in his honor.) Thus there promises to be an abundance of sweet indulgence this weekend. Have a fun and safe one. Here are your links...

make spooky silhouette candle holders at Design Sponge

serve up some creepy cocktails at Martha Stewart

make gluten free apple brown betty at Celiac Underground

carve a tin can pumpkin at Apartment Therapy

make shrunken apple heads at Floral Showers via Curbly

turn a metal ruler into a spice rack at Old Sweet Song via Curbly

make a ballerina costume for the pooch at Craftzine

(Photo via Apartment Therapy)

Weekly links

Finally. Weekly Links are back. (For this week anyway. Who knew moving a family of five cross country could take so much out of a girl?) Enjoy a beautiful fall weekend! Here are your links...

figure out how to decorate with the color orange at 2Modern Design Talk via Curbly

make gluten free Indian baked butternut squash at I am a Celiac (Cinnamon again.)

sew a Where The Wild Things Are hat and pattern at Instructables (The movie opens in theaters today!)

make a Tom Binns-inspired chunky necklace at ...love Maegan

transform an old raincoat into the Rainskirt at Craftzine

make your home earthquake safe at Apartment Therapy (Good idea now that I live in California.)

make a spiderweb tablecloth with eerie pom-pom spiders at Martha Stewart

And the answers to yesterday's Map That Outfit! are:
1. Paris
2. Milan
3. London
4. New York
5. Florence

(Photo via Copenhagen Cycle Chic)

Weekly links

Hope your weekend is going along swimmingly! Here are the links...

turn plastic colanders into hanging spheres at The Sampler via Curbly

make gluten free diver scallops grilled on rosemary at MyRecipes

learn how to apply dewy make-up at Cupcakes and Cashmere

hang a frame without leaving a mark at Apartment Therapy

make a recycled wine bottle torch at Gerardot & Co. via Craftzine

learn 10 ways to customize a rental at Apartment Therapy

turn Saran Wrap tubes into napkin rings at Merriment Design via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Hope you're having a lovely weekend. Here are the late links...

turn old Frisbees into new bird feeder at Make-Stuff via Curbly

make gluten free watermelon gazpacho at Karina's Kitchen

discover 40 ways to carve a watermelon at Watermelon Lovers via Curbly

make your own chandelier style earrings at Kotori

turn cardboard tubes into a chandelier at Instructables via Craftzine

turn crap into a craft station at Craftynest via Curbly

spruce up a picnic table at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via weheartit)

Weekly links

Have a great weekend. Stuff you may wish to try...

learn how to clean a paintbrush at Do It Yourself via Apartment Therapy

make gluten free apricot chipotle chicken at Simply Gluten Free

reupholster a chair with ribbons at Home Workshop via Craftzine

turn coat hangers and chicken wire into fantastic bubble wands at Martha Stewart

use a bunch of old zippers to craft a lamp at Instructables via Curbly

make your own Moroccan pouf at Examiner via Apartment Therapy

rid shirts of underarm stains at Men's Flair via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)