Monday is the last day to enter the giveaway for a set of paper products from the Kendall Collection at Carolina Pad. Go to this post and enter. Good luck!
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Today I have loads of cute pictures from a rubber duckie baby shower thrown by my friend Kelly of Eventology Weddings in Houston. Lots of fun details! Enjoy!
Debbie recently wrote in with beautiful photos from her son's baptism party. I love the soothing colors and how clean and simple it is.
Don't you love how there's a trend in weddings to go back to the homemade and vintage?
These custom paper chains could be used as decoration for many celebrations surrounding a wedding (bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner, reception, shower, etc.)
This paper chain is printed with 1Corinthians 13 verses 4-7 & 13
And there are two custom places to print the names of the bride and groom and the date upon which they are married.
here at ormolu
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Don't forget to enter the Carolina Pad giveaway! A cute set of Kendall Collection paper products!
Enter now! Here!
Sarah wrote in to share a recent Sip and See she threw for a good friend. For those unfamiliar, a Sip and See is a gathering held after a baby is born. It's a way to celebrate their birth and for family and friends to get their first glimpse at the new addition. Also, it's a wonderful way to shower the Mom (or parents) with some love, get them out of the house a bit and of course, let them show off as proud parents.
Sarah took her theme inspiration from my friend Kim at TomKat Studios. While Sarah made her own invitations using digital scrapbook kits, Kim was the originator of the design and actually sells the invitations as well as a whole party kit in her store.
Reminder: make sure you click on the pictures to see the detail.
Here are Sarah's invitations.
When I saw Sarah's entry, I laughed. I can't tell you how many of those bubble wands I've purchased!
Inside the pots? Those are bubble wands from the Dollar Store and my son loves them! I love how they really add to a theme and come in bright colors. Sarah inserted them into colorful pots found at the Dollar General.
Sarah found these great drink jars at Walmart for $5.96 each! Added some great labels and colorful drinks!
Cupcakes! The cupcake stand was found at Michaels (don't forget your 50% off coupon!)
And the cupcake toppers again were inspired by TomKat Studio.
If you look closely, Sarah cut paper to fit each level of the cupcake stand. Brought in a bit more color and whimsy to a plain, white stand.
For favors, Sarah created the traditional candy bar except ... guests were asked to fill up a sippy cup to take home! Sippy cups were found at the Dollar Store at the fabulous price of 5 for $1!
Candy was easy to find inexpensively at Walmart.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah! And welcome to the world, Jasper! With Sarah in your life, you're sure to be showered in fun times!
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Don't forget to enter the Carolina Pad giveaway! A cute set of Kendall Collection paper products!
Enter now! Here!
Jennifer wrote in asking about this simple centerpiece I put together for a wedding shower. Her wedding is in a month and she's finalizing details of her centerpieces and wondered how to put these together.
This centerpiece is created in a short, square vase found at places like Walmart. You can do one of three things to achieve this:
1. Place the flowers in FIRST, then slide the lemon slices in and arrange. Plan on using one or more lemons per vase. You want to fill the space up with slices, eliminating wiggle room.
2. Find a smaller vase to sit INSIDE the larger vase. Put the flower stems in the smaller vase and slide the lemons in between the smaller vase and the larger one to create a boundary. Be careful in not filling the vase too full or the water will overflow. Go with less water in the beginning. You can always add more.
3. A new technique to achieve this look is using jello as vase filler. Use a clear jello (white grape). Let it firm up quite a bit, then slide in the slices. Jello is a great way to add an additional color to the vase as well.
Hope this helps! Jennifer, we'd love to see photos of your beautiful wedding!
________________________________________________________________________________
Don't forget to enter the Carolina Pad giveaway! A cute set of Kendall Collection paper products!
Enter now! Here!
An easy way to label your drinks! Martha Stewart provides lots of free downloads and templates for these types of details. It's categorized as an escort card template, but.... print it out, cut them up and add them to cardstock to label items for your guests.
Labels seem obvious? Think about things like sweet versus unsweet tea. Do you have diabetic guests?
Or that lemonade up there? Could easily be a limeade. Who knows?
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Don't forget to enter the Carolina Pad giveaway! A cute set of Kendall Collection paper products!
Enter now! Here!
Another easy way to add the famous 3 colors to your holiday display!
Layer candy in mini bottles or vases!
Get cheap mini glasses, bottles and vases at Goodwill or the Dollar Store!
credit: Better Homes and Gardens
Only a couple more days until the big celebration weekend! There's still plenty of time to crank these out for your gathering.
You'll need:
1. Begin the tin can luminaries by filling the cans up to the top with water, then place them in the freezer until the water is frozen solid. This will allow you to hammer a nail into the side of the can without the can denting.
2. Next, think about some designs you want to punch into the sides of the can.
3. Continue making the tin can luminaries by using a nail and hammer to punch out the design. Start at one end of the pattern and place the nail along the line. Gently pound the nail in with a hammer. The nail will go through the can into the ice. Continue working around the pattern until the design is punched out.
4. Allow the ice in the can to melt, and dry the can completely.
5. Next, spray the bottom portion of the cans blue with the blue spray paint. Protect your work surface with newspapers and use good ventilation
6. When the cans are completely dry, cut a piece of scrap paper to wrap around the can. Make it 1/3 the height of the can. The cans I used were 4.5 inches high, so I made my first strip of paper 1.5 inches. Wrap the paper around the bottom part of the can, covering the blue painted area, and tape it closed.
7. Now take the cans outside again and this time give them a good spray of the white spray paint, and allow the cans to dry well. When they are dry you can remove the paper strip.
8. Next, make another paper strip 2/3 the height of the can. Secure around the blue and white portions of the can, leaving only the top portion exposed, and secure with tape. Take the cans outside again and this time spray the top section with the red spray paint, and allow to dry. Remove the paper strip and you will see the pretty red, white, and blue stripes.
9. If you want to further decorate the tin can luminaries, this is the time to do it. If you would like the designs you punched to show up better you can paint them a different color, such as black. When you are ready to illuminate, add a little sand to weigh down the cans and add a tea light candle.
credit: crafts-for-all-seasons.com
The carnival themed birthday is colorful and kidlike and is just one of those classic themes. And it's one that's always worth revisiting.
Brittany sent in her son's first birthday party and I'm happy to feature it as as one that really shows how you can truly customize an event with labels and signage.
She made these great ticket style signs out of posterboard for the floor entry. The numbers are his birthdate.
Lots of custom labels for carnival type foods.
I love the striped tray with these apples.
Brittany turned this beverage tub upside down and painted it for a cute circus stand/cake stand!
Brittany found cute carnival signage and other pieces at places like Hobby Lobby and Oriental Trading. Some were from the Pottery Barn Kids line that is discontinued now, but may still be floating around ebay.
I love this kissing booth she made with a blown up photo of her son!
Everyone knows I like a wrapped set of utensils. Love how she wrapped them in tickets!
Guests left with the ultimate carnival favor... a goldfish!
Lots and lots more photos of her fabulous carnival party! Including photos of all the fun carnival games and decorations! Stop by Brittany's blog and compliment her on her hard work!
Shayna, from Dallas, wrote in asking for some inspiration in planning her baby girl's MONKEY themed first birthday. Here are some fun ideas and if anyone out there has additional ideas for Shayna, leave a comment! Let's help Shayna celebrate her "little monkey" in a fabulous way!
Monkey themes have gone more modern lately, which thrills me. I love the bold, but modern lines of the sock monkey type image.
In realizing that everyone is either not crafty or just doesn't have the time to be crafty, there are plenty of great "store bought" monkey supplies that you can pick and choose from these days.
This set from Paper and Napkins:
This one from 1st Wishes:
My friend Jennifer of Nounces Design, makes a great invitation that fits with the above set or she can create something specific to your color scheme or any theme... not just monkey.
Parties by Hardie has full kits you can purchase that are handmade. Still "store bought" but without the look of the store. Love the napkin rings and treat bags!
The key to any theme like this is finding a main element and working around it. Take those yellow plates above and those cupcakes, and add on something creative like these banana sugar cookies made from half of a circle cookie cutter.
Notice the plate that they sit on. Details like these plates that tie in with the theme are what make a party come together. It's one of those things that someone may not notice right off the bat, but makes a person oooh and ahhh.
And what about these cute handmade monkey pinatas? Even if your child and their guests aren't old enough for the game, they really make a decorative statement and are great space filler! Look at how LARGE these are. I could really see putting a piece of painted circular wood on top and making toddler tables out of them!
Love this banner by LePoppy Design:
Pull in some greenery for easy themed decor. Order banana leaves. They make great filler and tie in perfectly. Make a large arrangement and stick in a couple bananas. To make the bananas stand up, spray paint dowel rods green and stick into the bananas.
If you're using the sock monkey theme, buy a small monkey and include him in the centerpiece or leaning up against the vase. Burlap or netting would make a nice tablecloth for the main table.
Get a roll of thick twine and hang monkeys from it.
Food can tie in with this party as well. Of course, the cake! Love the mini donut ears!
Want to do cupcakes? Of course, cupcake toppers are everywhere, but I'm loving this different take on them. Felt! Better than your average flat printed ones. Get them here.
that you can now buy pre-made hand painted fondant cupcake toppers. Beautiful! These are from Clineffs Confections.
And look at these! wow! From Raspberry Pink
Most children like chocolate covered frozen bananas on a stick.
Or, if you're having a cookout, try the BBQ'd chocolate bananas! Not the best LOOKING thing in the world, but they are heaven. Slice a banana lengthwise, leave it in the peel and fill with pieces of chocolate and marshmellow. Heat it up on the grill!
This party is a great excuse to incorporate healthy foods like fruit skewers, etc.
Of course, I've been known to tie in my son's attire to his party theme. Some people think it's corny, but oh well. I've only got a little bit longer to dress him before he says no. hehe
Shirts by Jill Alvarez.
Just a few ideas to get the creativity flowing. Like I said, if you've thrown a monkey themed party or have ideas, please feel free to leave a comment.
Hopefully Shayna will take lots of pictures to share with us!!!
