Everyday Celebrating

Go Green with your gifts!

I read about this idea and thought it was so simple and brilliant!
You know many many people are using the reusable grocery bags lately.
Why not use them as gift bags?   Slip your present inside a reusable
grocery bag instead of a paper gift bag.  Most of the ones you can pick up at grocery stores, Target, etc
are inexpensive at only $1 plus, your gift recipient probably uses them and would love another one.
If you want to step it up a notch, buy a set of colored bags.  The ones above come in a 5 pack for $9.55 on Amazon. Keep a set of bags at home so you'll be ready for quick gift giving.

Special Occasion Skirt

So, you've made this great cake.  Took painstaking efforts to decorate it, make it smooth, create perfectly piped edges.  And now?  You have the move the thing to it's final stand for presentation.
EEK!

Enter the cake skirt!

Most decorators work on a stand that spins and even sometimes tilts.  Why not put some double sided tape around the edge and pop on one of these skirts when you're finished?   Ensures you don't have the risk moving the cake AND it adds another pop of color and decoration to the table.

At $12 a piece, you can afford to buy several colors.  Buy them here
Would make a great gift for a cake decorating friend.

Vintage Martha

Everyone loves sweet treats!  Use small glassine bags filled with different shades of
of the same hue.  Add your wedding date or other personal detail to the front. I love
these rhinestone monogram stickers.
Close the bags with patterned stickers to offset the solid colored treats.

How about these cuties done in Amy Butler fabrics?

Go Creative AND Green!

Recently, I read about Little Star Creative Parties.  One woman started this as a way of promoting and selling eco-friendly party supplies.  One thing I happened upon that I loved is the Tablecloth Party Kit.
The tablecloth party kit comes with one white FAIR TRADE tablecloth as well as 15 colorful fabric crayons.  Enough crayons where several children can enjoy the fun at once. Use it to celebrate a birthday or graduation or  other special occassion.    If you want to keep the artwork, apply heat to set in the fabric crayon.  Want to use the tablecloth again, just wash it.  The crayon comes right out! 
Eco-friendly, fun and definitely worth $19.50.  Get one here.

Mint, anyone?

Goodbye pastel dessert mints, hello beautiful and clever!
These are "matchbook mints".  One individually wrapped mint enclosed in a matchbook cover.
Great for baby showers, weddings, parties, graduations, etc. 

These are in a gorgeous damask design, but the creator will work with you on a custom design
to match your theme/decor.  Display them on a silver tray as seen here or inside a large hurricane vase.

$4 for 25 matchbooks make these an inexpensive way to add a unique detail to your event.
Get them here on etsy.

Salad on Ice!

While channel surfing, I happened upon this fabulous serving bowl on QVC.
From their website:
Keep food crisp, fresh, and cool during picnics, parties, and everyday meals with this stylish and functional bowl. To use, fill the bottom section with ice and place the removable grate on top--it separates food from the ice below, keeping it chilled, not soggy. Employ the included four-section divider to serve a combination of fruit, veggies, dip, and more.

Very cute!  Plus, they showed where you could fill the bottom section with a liquid and freeze to a solid.  Then use the bowl for punch and you have built in cooling.

I love how the divider has an area in the center meant for dips!  Great for a crudite'.   

It comes in several colors and is only $24.98.  Great gift for the entertainer! Get it here on QVC.

Bling!

I love the simplicity of this announcement.
The rich brown ribbon against the light blue.
And the depth and of course, SPARKLE
of the bling. 

Too cute! 
$3.75 each.
Comes with your choice of Tiffany blue mailer box or pvc pillow box.  Either would make a great impression for your family and friends to receive.

Get it from Social Circles Design.

When life gives you lemons....

  Isn't this adorable???? 
The wooden lemonade stand on wheels by Kazoo Toys is surprisingly affordable at $99.  It's solid wood!

From their website:
"This colorful portable Wood Lemonade Stand on Wheels is easy to assemble and is perfect for the young entrepreneur.  The stand is constructed of hardwood panels, 2 colorful oversized wheels, chalkboard front panel, dry erase counter top and a colorful fabric awning!"

Of course, the event planner in me sees an unbelievably cute prop for a child's birthday party (carnival theme, etc.)  Maybe later, take it to your child's fall festival at school for a fun setup.  And at $99, you could afford to debut it at the party and keep it for many uses after.

Fun!

That's a wrap!

A spectacular way to spice up a everyday votive.   Vellum is printed through a printer and wrapped around each votive.  Very easy and very cheap.  Vellum can be found at any craft store such as Michael's, etc.

If you do choose to make your own, here's a tip.  Printed vellum takes quite a bit longer to dry than paper.  Make sure you have a flat area to lay the printed vellum and plenty of time to let it completely dry.  Printer ink can create horrible smudges.

Or, if you don't feel you're creative enough to design your own, contact DamaskDiva.  She sells a sheet of 12 votive wraps for $5.   A steal!  And, she'll even work with you on a custom design.

Truly everyday celebrating!

Happened upon this ad in a parenting magazine and I just thought it was
a super cute, easy idea to make a child smile.  Without your child knowing,
you can purchase a small helium tank that inflates maybe 20 balloons.  You can buy
these at Target, Walmart, etc.  After they go to sleep, blow up a few balloons and in the morning,
before they wake, set a few out in their bedroom.

What a great way to celebrate the first day of school, a big race or competition, birthday,
etc.  Easy and inexpensive and a great memory!  For more good ideas on using balloons in
your celebrations, visit BalloonTime.