Dear Hostesses,

Every Sunday, we venture out to different parts of Brooklyn and NYC to check out some of the new exciting neighborhoods.

Last week, we journeyed out to Smith Street in Downtown Brooklyn and the sweet sight of moms and dads wheeling strollers and Sunday morning coffee shops made me feel like I’d like to spend a little time discovering the area. Looking for some great shopping, I started to scout around. You might be thinking that great spending to me means Intermix, Scoop, Chanel, and Prada- (well, it doesn’t hurt to window shop!), but really fun shopping is when I can walk into a store like Paper Source, and feel like a kid again. Located at 102 Smith Street, it’s a crafter’s dream.   For anyone that’s really a kid at heart, Paper Source will allow you to create to your heart’s content. The friendly staff will help you choose from arrays of colored and patterned paper, glitter, stamps, and tons more. (They didn’t pay me for this post! REALLY!)

I decided then and there, that I would try to see if I could challenge myself to some DIY Purim cards. After browsing around in heaven for a couple of minutes, I realized that I had to speed it up seeing that my hubby and kids were getting a little fidgety. I quickly threw some coordinating card stock, a wine bottle stamp, gold ink, leaf patterned ribbon, raffia, a burlap ribbon, and a hole puncher into my basket. As the sales girl rang me up, I also grabbed some packaged glue dots which ended up being a key ingredient to my DIY cards.

That evening, I was so excited to rip open my Paper Source bags. I felt like I had just gotten home from the toy store. The best part of the whole night was that I put away my phone, my kids became a part of the process, and together we created a fantastic mess, plus the one of a kind cards below.

The secret to this scrapbooking style of card making is to layer, layer, and keep on layering. And if you make a mistake, then LAYER again!

For my mishloach manot this year, I am thinking of buying wine, grapes, and cheeses and mounding in a basket. The greens and purple and golds were a good choice for me.

Using the same colors and materials, we created several different designs featured below. Which one is your favorite? What colors would you choose for your own DIY Purim card?

Below are some inspiration boards by the pros at Paper Source. I snapped photos in the store so that I could grab some ideas later on.

A hole puncher is a great tool to help you weave cord through any shaped card like the heart shape below:

See how their layers create such a professional and handcrafted look?

Stamps like the “Thank You” below can really make it look like you did the calligraphy yourself.

I hope you enjoyed my DIY Purim card. Even though life gets so hectic, its all about the personal touches in life. Whether we make our own Purim cards, lovingly pinch hammentashen, or tuck our kids in at night, its all about the memories that our kids take with them as they grow, and g-d willing raise their own families. HAPPY PURIM!!! XOXO

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• Estee Stern’s Purim Mask DIY and Decadent Fudge Sampler Mishloach Manot
• A Kid’s Dream! An Edible Purim Candy Encrusted Maypole by Raquel Dabah
• Egg, Nut, and Dairy Free (Vegan) Hammentashen for Purim
• Have A Wild Purim Party With the Mamiyes!
• Which Purim Mishloach Manot Theme is Your Favorite?

What a stunning bridal shower! Thanks for sending in these photos, Nathalie! Im loving how your “mum” used the patten of the British flag to line the fabulous cupcakes, cake pops, and desserts! Love the umbrella invitation, and fish and chips too. The colors happen to be such a bright and gorgeous contrast. I’m sure it looked “smashing”!

Marlene

Hi Marlene,

My mum, Daniella Salem, made me the most amazing shower when I was getting married last year. The theme was British because I grew up there. The invitation was an umbrella because it always rains there. Everything was red, white and blue and she even made fish and chips to stick with the theme! But the most spectacular part was the dessert table which was covered completely in flowers with white desserts only. It was the most magnificent shower! She used the center flower strip for a gorgeous table later in the week. No one does it like my mum Best,

Nathalie (Salem) Galapo

Thank you Lauren Jemal for sharing this tasty roasted tomato, fennel, and bean salad. Looks SO good! Can’t wait to try it! Marlene

Olive Oil Roasted Tomatoes and Fennel with White Beans

• 2 large fennel bulbs with fronds attached
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
• 2 pints grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
• 4 large fresh oregano sprigs
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 15-ounce cans cannellini (white kidney beans), drained

Preheat oven to 425°F. Chop enough fennel fronds to measure 1/2 cup. Trim fennel bulbs and cut in half vertically. Cut each bulb in half  to 1/2-inch-wide wedges, leaving some ore attached to each wedge.
Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes. Add fennel wedges in single layer; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon coarse salt. Cook until fennel begins to brown and soften, turning occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. Add tomatoes, oregano, garlic, and crushed red pepper; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Fold together gently.
Transfer skillet to oven. Bake fennel and tomatoes until soft, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Mix in beans and 6 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds. Bake 5 minutes longer to heat through. Transfer mixture to large shallow bowl. Sprinkle with remaining chopped fronds. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe Via

Bon Appétit