Backyard BBQ Inspiration {Part 2} - Build-Your-Own Shortcakes + FREE Printables

Are you ready for part 2 of my backyard bbq inspiration shoot?  Don't miss part 1 featuring the seated table & food buffet.  

This post includes the dessert table and welcome table - a great beginning and ending to your party!

I thought it would be fun to do a build-your-own-shortcake station and include fresh summer berries and those little sponge cakes that make them so easy to put together.  Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are all delicious and your guests can pick whichever they like.  I love finding unique items and re-purposing them for food service.  Just remember to line them with a napkin, parchment paper, or fabric to insure food safety.  This 3-tiered storage container was found at Hobby Lobby and I love that the chalk board labels are built right in.  

A can of whipped cream is wrapped in the same paper that I used for the snack cones (below), which also coordinates with the fabric patterns I used.  In order to tie in all the different areas, I used the same fabric over and over in different ways: a rag swag used on the buffet table (2-tiered server), napkin pockets on the tabletop, a fabric flower attached to the box on the dessert table, and another rag swag at the welcome table.    

I bought the retro-style cracker jack boxes from Cracker Barrel!  I knew I wanted to use them but couldn't find them anywhere!  Luckily I discovered an article by someone (thanks Google) who found them at Cracker Barrel.  Funny thing is they make only a minor appearance here, but I was Obsessed with finding them!  They make great takeaway favors for your guests.

I believe in having a "welcome" table at a party, especially when you're outside and have wide open space.  Bring an indoor table outside and set up a sign and snack cones filled with chips.  Pre-made cones make it much easier to have a snack than looking around for a centrally located bowl.  I used an old soda crate to display the cones and tied a mini fabric swag across the front.

Use some outdoor game paraphernalia as part of the decor.  Here I just placed a couple of crocket balls in a wire basket. 

Speaking of games, our favorite thing to do is play bocce ball or corn hole.  You don't need a lot of space for these, nor will you exert yourself too much while playing.

Well, that's my summertime bbq inspiration!  I hope you'll get some ideas to try at your next cookout, and don't forget to download your FREE printables here, courtesy of Paper & Pigtails.  They will get you started on a stylish bash!

As part of Backyard BBQ week, visit these other experts for more summer entertaining ideas.

Housewife Bliss

Second City Soiree

Reluctant Entertainer

Intoxicologist

The Daily Basics

Party Blueprints

Swing Into Spring Sweets Table

Get ready to SWING into Spring with this pretty dessert table sent to me by Natasha of Fete Fanatic.  Natasha designed this table for her event studio space (The Flair Factor) in order to celebrate Spring being in full "Swing."  The addition of the "swing" display makes me giddy with joy!

I love that all the sweets shown here can be homemade or store bought.  Great for budget-friendly parties as well as last minute gatherings.  This is what Natasha has to say about the tablescape:

"I'm not a graphic designer, so I selected a festive fabric and used it throughout my design... As you can see the theme is Spring's in Full "Swing"! I accented the sweets table with a vibrant fabric as my starting point. To reflect my theme, I used a serving tray as a "swing", and hung it using jute twine so it will be elevated above the table. Sitting on the swing were can cakes wrapped with the same fabric used on the table and twine. Fresh rose petals were sprinkled on the swing for a fresh spring feel and to tie in with the centerpiece from the tablescape.

Sweets included assorted gumballs, ribbon candy to compliment the vibrant color palette, strawberry tootsie rolls, lemon heads, lemon tarts, strawberry and vanilla cupcakes, assorted meringues. I embellished the vanilla cupcakes with an edible DIY swirlpop cupcake topper made from marshmallow straws! Last but not least, Lemon flavored water was a must to balance all the sweets on the table! Lemon yellow drinking straws were embellished fabric flags. Of course... the same fabric!"

Thank you so much for sharing your table with us, Natasha.  I'm sure everyone will love it as much as I do!  And for a coordinating Spring tablescape design visit here.

Take Away Tips:

• Use a vibrant fabric fabric to infuse interest and personality to the decor.
• Hanging paper rosettes are the new "poms".
• Serve simple food in interesting ways to make it even more special.
• Hang a "swing" display for an unexpected focal point.

An Ocean Themed 1st Birthday

Just in time for summer, Gwynn of Gwynn Wasson Designs sent me these photos of a fun-filled first birthday party.  The colors of the ocean, whales, fishnet, and a sassy play on words makes this an inspiration piece you'll want to create yourself.  Read on for all the deatails from Gwynn herself...

"For Jack's first birthday, I was asked to put together something that didn't feel too old, or too typical but still had a nautical flavor. I chose to use various shades of blue and aqua and then give it all an unexpected modern twist by introducing bold shots of chartreuse. Given the fact that Jack, at the ripe old age of 1, was still a little guy, and sometimes was referred to as a Lil' Squirt, we decided to tie that nickname to the image of a whale and use that as the icon for the party. It was incorporated into all of the party items (available in my shop) from the invitation all the way to the favor tags.

For the older kids we created box lunches with jelly(fish) and cream cheese sandwiches cut to look like starfish, goldfish crackers, (sea) cucumbers, and carrots cut to look like sea anemones. The lunches were packed into take out boxes and labeled as "fish food".

The dessert table was created on a budget. Popcorn, cupcakes, cotton candy, meringues and cookies were all purchased from a local grocery store for under $40!

During the party, all of the kids were given a Lil' Squirt of there own to play with. (There seems be nothing kids like better than to drench things with squirt bottle. It truly keeps them occupied for wonderfully long periods of time!) And when the party was over, everyone left with a pail full of favors so that they would be fully equipped for their next "nautical" adventure!"

Thank you for the wonderful party Gwynn!  Find the "Little Squirt" printables set in her shop - just in time for pool parties!

Graduation Party Ideas - "A Bright Future"

Looking for the perfect theme for your graduation party?  How about focusing on "A Bright Future" and incorporate light bulbs into the decor!  Paula of Frog Prince Paperie designed this table and printables (also available in red & black) to give you some ideas for a graduation party.  Just look at all the cute details...

Paula found the light bulb candy containers at Hobby Lobby and added real light bulbs around the table.  A few symbols of graduation like pirouette cookies tied with fruit candy strips to look like diplomas, mortarboard "hats" to top the push pop containers, lollipops molded into "2011", and of course decorated cookies help convey the celebration of the day.  Great Tip: you don't have to use the cupcake push pops only for cupcakes.  Fill them with other candies for a cute presentation as well!

You can find all of the Graduation printables in the Frog Prince Paperie etsy shop.

Other Vendors:

 Cookies - Dandy Delights

Cupcake Push Pop Containers - CupKates Event Design

Paper Rosettes - Pom Flair

Lollipop Molds - Vintage Confections

Photography - John McLaughlin

  

Giveaway From Superior Nut Company!

I have a fun Giveaway to share today!  This comes from Superior Nut Company, which offers an array of candies and nut products perfect for party buffets, gift giving, or simply enjoying yourself.  I was nearly drooling as I put these photos together from the site...

Superior Nut Company has candies in all colors so you can color coordinate your sweets buffet to your party decor.  In the top photos you can see chocolate coated lentils, pearlized gumballs, espresso beans (a favorite of mine), and sixlets.

They also have coated nuts in all types of flavors like toffee, praline, chocolate, and yogurt, to name a few.  You can buy in bulk for larger events, or in 1 pound bags for gifts, or small celebrations.  They even have nut butters (if you've never tried almond butter - you need to), and nut paste for baking. 

To help introduce you to Superior Nut Company, they are offering a $25 Gift Code to their online store. 

The Rules: 

• You must live in the US to participate. 
• This doesn't include shipping but you can see their selection of "free shipping" items here.
• You must be following Celebrations At Home blog to enter.

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit the store and leave a comment letting us know what item you would most like to try.
2. Become a fan of Superior Nut's Facebook page and leave us another comment.
3. Tweet the following & leave us another comment: Enter to win $25 worth of goodies to @SuperiorNut at @CelebrateAtHome here http://su.pr/1LyXcc

This Giveaway is now Closed

Bonus points:

Post about this on your Facebook page.

Give us a "thumbs up" here.

Good Luck!

Enter through next Sunday, April 10.  Winner will be announced Monday morning.

This is a sponsored post

Milk & Cookies Bar

Debbie of Wants & Wishes sent in this sweet table that she designed for a recent baby shower.  Inspired by the popularity of Momofuku's Milk Bar, and the mom-to-be's love of cookies, Debbie created a beautiful Spring-like Cookies & Cream table. 

The white ruffled backdrop makes you think of milk, while the printed party set incorporates tiny "chocolate {heart} chips" which also remind me of the spots on a cow!  Several varieties of cookies were served: oatmeal craisin & white chocolate chip, blueberry & cream, classic chocolate chip, and cookies & cream frosted cupcakes.

Perhaps the cutest detail is the chocolate rimmed glasses of milk, dipped in nonpareils.  YUM!

The lovely printable set used here is in the Wants & Wishes shop, and available in 6 different color ways.  What a delicious treat!

Credits:

Desserts and Styling - Wants & Wishes Dessert Studio

Printables - Wants & Wishes Etsy shop

Backdrop - RuffleFabric

Don't forget - I'd love for you to join me on The Blog Frog Coffee Talk Community.  If you like to chat and share your thoughts and ideas, it's a great place to be!