Fantastic Milk & Cookies Birthday Party

I couldn't wait to share this Milk & Cookies birthday party with you all! This was one of the finalists in the Most Adorable Kid's Party at Creative Hostess. Designed and hosted by Anne Powers of A Party Style in Connecticut, this party is over-flowing with adorable and unique details. Anne is obviously a fabulous baker and cake designer, as she made all the cookies, as well as the amazing birthday cake (those are mini cakes on top, made to look like cookies). Although this is for a 1-year-old's birthday, the ideas here would work equally well for a shower, engagement, or even a wedding.

Some of the wonderful details Anne incorporated are:

• Cup tags made with a picture of the birthday girl (in a sepia tone) and attached using brown and white baker's twine. Guests wrote their name on the back side to help identify their drink.
• Repurposed Frappucino bottles used to hold milk with a bag of cookies attached. These were the favors and cleverly incorporated the number "1" in the labeling (1% milk/1-year old).
• Also attached to the favor bottles were the to-die-for animal print straws!! These were a random find in the clearance bin of JoAnn's fabric store. That's what I call sweet serendipity!
• Flip-top bottles were used to serve milk in, as well as an old family jug from the attic! Flip-top bottles can be found at some home stores, IKEA, or do what I do: I bought Lorina sparkling lemonade from World Market, TJMaxx, Trader Joes, etc.; after drinking it, wash and re-use the bottle to serve any beverage at another event!
• This final trick is sheer GENIUS! Anne has stocked up on plain white plates and stamps them for each event to give them a personalized look. Here's how - Using a new, un-inked stamp pad (making sure it has never had ink on it), she soaks it with gel food coloring (use a knife to spread it all over the pad). Then use a rubber stamp which coordinates with your theme (again, one that has never touched ink) and stamp it into the gel pad and onto the plate as usual. The key is to go straight down and back up so as not to smudge the image. If it does smudge it is easy to wipe off and start again. These are food safe and you will never have to buy a themed paper plate again!

Thank you so much Anne, for letting me share this party and all the great ideas. Keep an eye out for her online bake shop, A. Cakery, which is in the works.

Valentine's Table For Two

Just a few ideas for you to consider when setting up that special dinner (or even breakfast) on Valentine's Day.

Top: This elegant table from Colin Cowie is modern and romantic with its Pucci-style print table cloth, and black vases with red flowers. Next, this table is set simply with black, red, and white touches. The white ribbon ties are used repeatedly, and some whimsy is added with the heart-shaped cookie cutters.

Middle: An understated but sophisticated setting all in pink, but with a pop of yellow! This table from BHG adds extra interest with the small cones of chocolates, inserted into champagne flutes. Get a little crafty with paper hearts, and painted "love letters" for this table.

Bottom: More tables that would work for breakfast or serving the kids a special meal come from 24/7 Moms, and Top Party Ideas. Cut-out hearts hang around the neck of a tall vase, and a napkin rolled on the diagonal and wrapped into the shape of a heart are special touches that everyone will love. Or use heart doileys to a dress up plates, goodie bags, as coasters, wrap around cylandar vases, etc.

It doesn't take much to dress up your table for Valentine's day. There's so much out in the stores to help you on your way. So show someone you love them this weekend with a festive tabletop!

Valentine Treats

Looking for some cute ideas for presenting Valentine treats? All You has some good ones. Here is another example of the match box treats (see another here); Or wrap up some lollipop flowers and stick them into a flower pot; Finally, you can decorate a plain white favor bag and tuck in some heart-shaped cookies. You can make the cookies extra fun by dipping the edges into frosting, and then coating with sprinkles. You can even do this with store bought cookies if you like!

Most Adorable Party Winners!

Big Congratulations to the winners of Creative Hostess' Most Adorable Kid's Party contest!!

Click on Photos to Enlarge. First Place goes to Zuesette of Marizette Paperie for her Vintage Carnival 1st Birthday party. You can easily see all the beautiful details pulled together. I loved the more subdued color scheme and vintage-inspired graphics for this adorable one year old! The centerpieces were sophisticated but theme-appropriate, and the prize board with hanging stuffed animal prizes reminisant of the fairway was genius. More 'Adorable' details of this party were a caricature artist, a photo area, and of course carnival games and food.

Our 2nd Place winner is Jess of Pen & Paper Flowers, with her daughter's Mini French Bakery Birthday party. This party was so original and full of gorgeous designs! The back drop, the colors, and the display all made you feel as though you really were in a French Boulangerie.

Third Place goes to Jessica at Juicy Bits for her son's Construction Birthday party. Her son loves Bob the Builder, and I was so happy to see that she went with a more neutral 'Construction' theme over a pre-fabricated cartoon theme. Jessica thought of everything for this party- A sandbox to play in with lots of construction trucks, a barricade at the entrance made from an old sawhorse, snacks served in toy dump trucks, and 'road sign' party signage. The cute details of this party never seem to end!

I am so honored to have been a judge for this contest along with Jenn, Kelly, Kim, and Jenin. The submissions were nothing short of amazing. I will be highlighting some of the finalists in the days/weeks to come.

A big thank you to the prize sponsors goes to Inkspot Workshop, Seven Cupcakes, Gigglesapu, and Parties by Hardie.

Great New Party Service

I know what you're thinking: You love to send out "real" invitations in the mail, but you love the ease of on-line invitations and response. Well apparently Casey Burk Bunn also knows what you're thinking and set out to bridge the gap between more formal event invitations (showers, engagements, birthdays, even weddings) that are sent via US mail, and on-line invitation services. Hence, RSVPhere.com was born!

Casey is a fellow Richmonder and the developer of RSVPhere.com. And just to be sure the service worked well, she used it for her own wedding! Here's how it works. You sign up for the FREE service on RSVPhere, and recieve a code for your event. You send your beautifully designed hard copy invitation through the mail and include this code (along with the web info). Your guests can then go to the site, log on, rsvp, and read about any other party details (including directions, pictures, etc.). You no longer need to include extra paper work inside the envelope (or an extra reply stamp), such as reply cards or maps. All the information can be transfered via RSVPhere. For any other questions you may have, check out the FAQ page.

I think this is truly a unique and brilliant service. I hope you will give it a try for your next event!

"Football" Food

Continuing our Super Bowl theme, I've gathered together some fun food ideas. It's easy to make these dishes look like a football or football field. Just mold the shape with a knife (or hands), and add 'football stitching' with thinly sliced cheese, or chives. Or, in the case of the guacamole football field & cheese ball, just pipe on the 'yard lines' with a decorator bag and sour cream, and add cherry tomatoes for the 'players.' {football eggs; football sub}

For dessert, carve out football brownies, or decorate team cupcakes (Colts, Saints). Football field cupcakes would be appropriate also. Again, all you need is a piping bag with very small tip. You can also use heavy duty plastic storage bags and snip off the corner (tiny snips!) if you don't have piping bags.

Choosing to do any of these doesn't take a lot of effort but the end result is so festive!

Gearing Up For Super Bowl

Are you ready for some football? We have Super Bowl Sunday in less than a week so I was inspired to put together a table representing the two teams, Colts vs. Saints.

• Simple to create, this design begins with a green sheet for the field and white ribbon for yard lines. The game is held in Miami this year so I used a tropical fabric (I had on hand), as the 'Miami backdrop.'
• Marshmallow pops were made using team colors, and displayed "stadium" style on stacked foam blocks wrapped in brown craft paper. Team penants made with toothpicks, felt pieces, and craft glue were inserted into mini cupcakes.
• A package of cake-topper football players (from the party store) is set on the 'field' and the goal posts are inserted into square vases with faux grass. A $1 wooden football (from Dollar Tree) takes the center spot, attached to a wire note clip.
• Water bottles are wrapped in black and white stripes(referees) and adorned with yellow straws & ribbon(penalty flags).

Finally, white dishes are filled with easy and filling football-friendly food. Add cold beer, soda, or a signature cocktail and you have yourself a party!

'Love & Luck' Valentine Card Giveaway!

Congratulations to Gracie of GracieFabulous (winner of set 1), and Sarah of Moske Monkey Business (winner of set 2)! You are going to love these fabulously stylish Valenine's cards!

I'm excited to share with you these new greeting cards from Love & Luck. This line of stationary (including invitations and greeting cards) is best described as "Cool." Designed by a young loving couple, each card incorporates a little whimsy, a little bling, and a lot of style! There are animal motifs, "rocker" motifs, and classic looks as well...classic with a modern touch that is. Each design also has a little gem stone attached somewhere on the graphic. You KNOW how I love a little gem stone! I recieved a sample collection to view and can attest to their cuteness factor...my kids couldn't get enough of them!

Now you have a chance to win a set of 3 Valentine's Day cards. I will pick 2 winners at random, and they will recieve either Set 1, or Set 2 below. Just leave a comment telling me what you think about this new line of stationary. This offer is good only for the continental US (sorry international readers) and will end Tuesday, February 2. Gook 'Love & Luck'!

Set 1 includes: Kissing fish -front "valentine", inside "You take my breath away"

3 hearts - front "I'm sweet on you!", inside "Wishing you a sweet & sugary Valentine's day"
Bunny card - front "to my valentine", inside-blank

Set 2 includes: Kissing fish - front "valentine", inside "You take my breath away"

Squirrel & acorns - front "I'm nuts for you!", inside "Happy Valentine's day"

Flowers card - front "happy valentine's day!", inside- blank

Setting Up A Stylish Buffet

Source: Brides

Source: Hostess With The Mostess

Source: Art of Love

Source: Project Wedding

Source: Sprittibee

Source: Project Wedding

Source: Swanky Tables

Styling a party or event usually focuses strongly on centerpieces and place settings for the dining table. But some parties, such as cocktail parties or buffets, may not call for a grand table setting, but DO call for a grand buffet setting! Each of the buffets shown here, showcases the food in a very stylish way. Some of the examples are dessert displays, but the concept works equally well for savories.

Some of the concepts to follow:

• Get Architectural - Create levels and dimension by stacking and staggering glass blocks, acrylic risers, and boxes wrapped in coordinating paper. You can find glass blocks at craft stores, as well as home improvement stores. Here's another source for acrylic risers . Acrylic frames also work well for lower levels. Just take out the cardboard insert. You can use any cardboard or wooden box you may have, and wrap it in wrapping paper (or paint the wooden boxes to match the tablecloth).
• Use Pedestals and "Towers" - You can lift up your platters by simply placing on top of clear cylander vases, or solid colored ceramic vases. Dress it up by wrapping ribbon around the vase. Use sticky craft 'dots' to secure the platter to the vase.
• Think Outside the Tablecloth - Don't just rely on tablecloths to cover your buffet. Use interesting textures and ideas such as burlap, moss sheets, flower petals, rows of twig runners, chalk board runners, or mirrors. Use the tablecloth as a base for these decorative toppers.

Good luck setting up your next buffet table!

A Snowman Party!

I have to admit I had another post ready for today, but when I saw this amazing Snowman Party from Setting the Mood, I haaaaad to share it instead! This is just about the cutest thing ever!! From the tiny little pom pom "snow", to the life-size "melting snowman" centerpiece, to the little snowman milk bottles, everything here is perfection. Even the color scheme is fresh and new! Loving the Orange!

Head on over to check out all the great work by Setting the Mood.

Cupcake Doilie

Here is a fantastic tutorial from No Fuss Fabulous on how to make those cute little cupcake skirts. Check out their site to read all about it!

Enter The "Most Adorable Kid's Party" Contest

Okay all you party people out there...It is your time to show us what you've got! Creative Hostess is holding a wonderful contest for the Most Adorable Kid's Party of 2009. I know there is a loooot of creativity out there, and now is your opportunity to show the world.

You can find all the information you need by going here. I am happy to announce that I will be one of the judges along with a very esteemed panel: Jenn (Hostess with the Mostess), Kelly (the Party Dress), Kim (the TomKat Studio), and of course Jenin (Creative Hostess).

Here is a list of the prizes: First Place wins a $100 gift certificat to shop at Inkspot Workshop, plus a set of cute Mommy plates.
Second Place recieves a candy bar birthday banner from Seven Cupcakes, plus a set of 24 pinwheel cupcake toppers from Gigglesapu.
Third prize winner gets a personalized printable party set of your choice from Parties by Hardie.

Hurry and enter now through Sunday, January 31!

Get Ready For Superbowl Sunday!

Superbowl is right around the corner and I have the perfect tablescape to share. This buffet is from Color Sizzle and combines a few party store finds, with some fun creative touches.

Easy to recreate for your own football party!

Florals, Ribbon, & Bling, Oh My!

These inspiring images come from Botanica Floral Designs of Sacramento. I don't have a lot of dialogue to add, except the fact that I love the use of "bling" in her arrangements, and the use of ribbon and florals on the lanterns. Just beautiful inspiration for your next event.

Which is your favorite?

Be My Valentine!

Just a few more weeks until Valentine's Day! I found these adorable ideas that are so easy to do. I loooooove the project above using matchboxes, small treats, and pretty paper & ribbon. I found it on Inchmark, where you can get all the information. These are so great becouse 1) they look CUTE! 2)they are easy to do, & affordable 3)you can customize them for ANY occasion. Did I happen to mention that I looooooove this project?!

I found this next trio of ideas here. There were several Valentine ideas but these were my favorites. Flowers surrounded by red candies (insert smaller vase of flowers into larger vase & fill the space between with candies); Cupcake wrapper filled with candies (some wrappers don't have a bottom so you may have to insert a cupcake liner to hold the candies); and glass vases filled with candies and a photo of your true love. So easy to pull off!