About Amber Ray, blogger at Rays of Bliss Life + Designs

DIY Country Wedding Decorations & Ideas

This final post for the DIY Country Wedding Series includes the remaining DIY decorations from my little sister little Country Wedding. As well as, ideas for the cake, favors, and entrance table.

Picture frames were purchased from the dollar tree for a dollar and then spray painted with pink paint..

The flowers purchased at garden ridge in bundles for 2.99.

The letter “O” was bought from hobby lobby. Then painted and scrapbook flowers were added with hot glue gun.

We hung ours in a arch provided by the reception hall.

The cake was made by a local friend. It had a Country/ Rustic Theme, flowers that matched wedding colors and the bride and grooms initials.

If you are in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area and looking for a great cake for your next event then check out my friend, Amanda’s, Little Blessing Cakes!

For Wedding Favors for the guest my sister gave out big cookies wrapped and labeled with cute DIY labels.

The entrance table was decorated simple with gift card box, framed picture for guest to sign, a little basket holding pens, and a picture of the couple in a cute frame.

Check out the other post from the DIY Country Wedding Series:

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DIY Ring Bearer Pillow ~ Cheap & Easy

Blog, DIY, Party Ideas

Next DIY Project Featured from my sister’s little Country Wedding is the Ring Bearer Pillow. This was made very easily and for about $5 by my sister’s best friend, Sharon!

Supplies:
Desired color fabric
Burlap ribbon with wire
Color craft ribbon
Hot glue gun
Cotton Stuffing
Sewing machine
Flowers and/or ribbon bow

Directions:
1. Cut out 2 squares to the desired size you would like your pillow to be.
2. Sew all edges shut except a small opening so you can turn ride side out.
3.Fill with cotton stuffing through small opening.
4. Sew the small hole shut.
5.Hot glue the burlap ribbon down I used the one with wire so it would help the pillow keep it’s shape.
6. Center and hot glue colored ribbon on top of burlap ribbon.
7. Hot glue on flowers and/or bows on top.
*I got my burlap flower and scrap book flower from hobby lobby because this was a last minute DIY wedding project.
You can u tube how to make burlap flowers/Rosettes instead of buying them.

Check out the other post from the DIY Country Wedding Series:

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Gluten-Free Sausage Balls

Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

Sausage Balls are a signature snack for most my families parties. My mom makes them every Christmas morning and we have them at all our Showers (bridal or baby). Not wanting my husband to miss out on all the wonderfulness of the Sausage Balls (because he cannot have gluten) I always make him his own batch. Yes, I know…I’m an awesome wife!

Important Note: Be careful when purchasing your sausage if you do have a gluten intolerance. Some sausages use gluten or high MSG which can bother those with a gluten intolerance. I used Jimmy Dean All Natural Sausage. It says Gluten Free and No MSG added on the label.

Gluten-Free Sausage Balls

Easy to make and so yummy to eat! Perfect finger food for any party or get together!

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Ingredients

1 pound of Gluten-Free Sausage
2 cups of Gluten-Free Baking Mix GF Bisquick or Pamela’s work good.
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined
Scoop with tablespoon and roll into a ball and place on a greased baking sheet.
Cook for 25 minutes or until brown

Notes

*The GF Bisquick is a lot finer then regular Bisquick so mixing may take longer then expected. I find using both hands to mix works best. You may even have little baking mix left at the bottom of the bowl that just won’t mix in. That is ok!

DIY Colored Mason Jars ~ Country Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Blog, DIY, Party Ideas

This is the second DIY Project featured from my sister’s little Country Themed Wedding! These DIY Colored Mason Jars made perfect centerpieces for her wedding reception tables! We are actually reusing these jars for my other sister’s baby shower next week!

Supplies you will need:

Empty glass mason jars
Paper towels
Paper plate or newspaper
Foil
Mod Podge- Gloss Finish (there is only two kinds)
Liquid food coloring, we used neon colors
Baking sheet pan
Oven preheated to 200°- 225° degrees or “Warm”

*my sister’s oven got super hot and burned the glasses at 225° but Sharon’s didn’t so it depends on how hot your oven gets. We suggest starting at 200° and do not exceed 225°

Directions:

Step 1: Line baking sheet with foil paper or wax paper. Make sure to cover the whole pan because mod podge is glue so it’s hard to to get off baking sheet. We suggest using an old baking sheet not used much.

Step 2: Add recommended drops of food coloring to mod podge bottle *It’s important not to add too much food coloring or the mixture will be too thin and result in streaking.

Step 3: Mix colored Mod Podge until color is mixed in and then pour into your glass jar.

Step 4: Swirl the Mod Podge around until the entire inside of your jar is covered. Drain excess by placing jars upside down onto paper plate or newspaper. Wait 5 min or until most is drained and jar is covered (this will help get the rim which is hard to get while swirling)

Step 5: Carefully wipe the rim of your jar with a towel making sure none of the Mod Podge is on the outer lip. (We did 2 test jars first to make sure they came out good)

Step 6: After draining, carefully lift jars, re-wipe the rims and place upside down on lined baking sheet.

Step 7: Place in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes or until most extra paint has drained out (it may be a lot still) then flip jar over and bake for another 20 min. You can repeat until Mod Podge is completely dry and glass jars are transparent. Make sure to flip while baking because it will bubble up.

Step 8: Remove baking sheet from oven and allow hot jars to cool completely before handling. If they do not come out right just soak in water for a few hours and the glue will peel away.

*We added lace with a hot glue gun to give a little more character.

Check out the other post from the DIY Country Wedding Series:

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Peanut Butter Cake Bars Recipe ~ Gluten Free

Blog, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

I have been meaning to give a cake bar recipe a try. Since I love peanut butter and chocolate chips this recipe was a perfect choice! It turned out so yummy! As always this recipe is Gluten Free, but can be made regular by using standard all purpose flour.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cake Bars

Seriously yummy cake bars made with peanut butter and chocolate chips!

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Ingredients

1 cup softened butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 medium size eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups Gluten Free all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven at 350°.
Grease baking pan.
Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl.
Beat in eggs, then beat in vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture.
Stir in chocolate chips and mix well.
Spread batter into greased baking pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool then cut into bars.

DIY Just Married Celebration Banner

Blog, DIY, Party Ideas

My sister recently had herself a little Country Themed Wedding! Her and her best friend, Sharon (crafty lady), made several DIY decorations. I will be doing a series on all the decorations they made. 1-2 a week for the next 4 weeks!

First decoration featured is the Just Married banner!

Supplies you will need:
Desired colors of:
1 yard of burlap
1 yard of tulle fabric (tutu like material, we used blue)
1 yard of tan fabric
Ruler
Scissors
Hot glue gun and sticks
Some twine strand or yarn
Paint

Directions:
Step 1: Cut twine strand out to desired length. Cut 10 inch (or desired measurement) strips of fabric to tie around twine.
Step 2: Cut squares or desired shape (rectangles, triangles) of burlap for letters. You will hot glue onto twine after painted and dried.
Step 3: Paint letters onto burlap. She free handed this one but you can use stencils.
Step 4: Attach tan and tulle fabric to twine strand with a simple tie. Hot glue burlap squares with letters onto twine strand.

So easy to have your very own homemade banner! You can use this idea for any celebration: Happy Birthday, Baby Shower, Congratulations….