DIY Tuesday: Cake Pop Favors

These personalized, DIY cake pops make great thank-you

favors for guests of a child's birthday party or bridal shower.

Follow this simple recipe for making cake pops:

1) Select a boxed cake mix and bake according to directions on the box.

2) Allow to cool completely, then crumble into tiny crumbs in a large bowl.

3) Mix 3/4 of a container of store-bought frosting with the crumbs. Choose any flavor that goes with your cake.

4) Roll into small pops, about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. Place a lollipop stick (available in the cake decorating section of craft stores) in the center of each pop.

5) Refrigerate in a cake pan lined with waxed paper for several hours.

4) Melt 2 bags of chocolate chips (white, milk or dark) and a few teaspoons of vegetable oil in a double boiler. Stir continuously for smooth dipping chocolate.

5) Dip each pop in the melted chocolate and place back in pan. Freeze for several hours before serving.

Follow these easy steps for making bags:

Supplies needed-

-Cardstock

-Ruler

-Pencil

-Scissors

-Hole punch

-Paper flowers (available in the scrapbooking section of craft stores)

-Small tipped punch (you could even use an Exacto knife)

-Cutting mat (or scrap of cardboard)

-Metal scrapbooking brads

(available in the scrapbooking section of craft stores)

-Fine tip marker

-Clear treat bags

-Thin Grosgrain ribbon

Step 1:

Measure and cut rectangles from your cardstock to desired size for bag tags (we suggest tags about 2 x 3.5"). Using a hole punch, punch a single hole in the top left or right corner of your rectangle, depending on which direction you'd like your tag to hang on the bag.

Step 2:

Center a paper flower on the edge of your tag. Using your small-tipped punch, gently poke a hole through the tag, through the center of your flower (the flowers come with holes in the center). Make sure you have a cutting mat or piece of cardboard under your tag so you don't cut the surface underneath it.

Step 3:

Place a metal brad through the center of the flower and fold its tabs over on the back side of the tag.

Step 4:

You can add a message next to the flower, like "Thank You," "Happy Birthday" or even the couple's initials if it's for a bridal shower.

Step 5:

Place a few cake pops in each clear treat bag. Thread a ribbon through each tag and tie onto each bag, then just pass them out as your guests leave.

Calligraphy isn't just for invitations anymore

We've seen tons of gorgeous invitations created with calligraphy by hand. The traditional use of calligraphy for wedding invitations has apparently been around since the Middle Ages and is still a very popular way to announce your wedding or formal event.

But besides its use in invitations, calligraphy is popping up in other wedding items that even the less formal, more modern bride can love.

Favors and gifts are a particularly great place to incorporate calligraphy. What guest wouldn't love the highly-personalized touch of a favor displaying their name? These macaroon favors are not only edible, but would add a nice pop of color to a place setting and could also serve as a seating marker.

Kathryn Murray Calligraphy

Handmade favors are becoming more and more popular, especially culinary-inspired favors. Using calligraphic labels takes the handmade, rustic feel of these flavored vinegar favors to the next level.

Kathryn Murray Calligraphy

These adorable map envelope seals from the KisforCalligraphy Etsy shop could be used on favors handed out at the event or even on thank you notes you send out later. Using background papers that fit your color or pattern palette for these would be just another way to create a more unified look and tie together your design elements, all the way down to the favors.

Calligraphy tags add a great finishing touch to bridal party gifts. The look of hand-done calligraphy, used on a gift, makes the recipient feel even more important and thanked. These tags from BellesLettresDesigns add a touch of class to these cigar groomsmen gifts.

And don't be afraid to think out of the box with calligraphy styles. Professional calligraphers can create items using a variety of fonts, not just the more traditional script look. This style from Kathryn Murray Calligraphy is much more whimsical and relaxed.