Everyday Celebrating

Amazing! Calligraphy by Jennifer

Calligraphy is one of those things that I truly swoon over.  It's so classic and ornate and awe inspiring to me that someone has that amazing talent!  And more so, the patience to do it! 

Calligraphy is also one of those things that I say I'm going to learn... someday.  LOL

Well, I should have taken the time to learn it in my 20s.  Because now, in my almost 40s, with all the stuff I have going on plus a child, I'm not sure learning is ever going to make it to the top of my list.

And why should it?   Because I know Jennifer, of Calligraphy by Jennifer, and she has learned it amazingly well!

Jennifer, based in Louisville, KY (and I feel I should throw that out there because I'm a KY born girl myself), creates a breathtaking first impression to any invitation.  Let me show you...

 

I love this invitation!

Of course, she also can do place cards and even doilies!

Her prices are amazing and she can do many many different styles of calligraphy.

Don't think she just does invitations. She also handles thank you notes, poems, table numbers, etc.
Will you be having a more formal occasion in the coming months that could use the elegance of calligraphy?  Think: Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, New Year's Eve, a special bridal shower,  your parent's 50th anniversary, etc.  How about something for your children?  Sweet 16, sorority event, etc?

Better get on the books now! 

DIY: Mini ice cream sandwich sticks

Amy at Living Locurto made these easy and cute ice cream sandwiches on a stick.  

Couldn't get much easier that this.

Take full size ice cream sandwiches straight out of the box.

Cut them in half, add a stick and dip them into sprinkles!

Use red, white and blue for July 4th or Labor Day.. or use whatever color combination matches your event! These would be especially cute at a tailgate.  Cover them in sprinkles of your school's colors, keep them in a cooler until time to serve!

 

Whiffle ball bouquet

What do you do with this?

add some spray paint.... and get.....

  

Whiffle ball bouquet!  I love it because it's a bit thicker and more ruffle edged than a pom.  Whiffle balls and coffee filters found at the dollar store! 
  
Find the full tutorial on the whiffle ball bouquet at Me Making Do

DIY: Colored numbered rice crispy dessert

photo credit:  Inspired Ideas 

Turn an average rice crispy treat into something fun and colorful!   Use the normal rice crispy treat recipe and throw in food coloring of your choice.  Cover your hands in greased sandwich bags and shape the dessert into numbers.

This would also be a great idea for monograms or create an easy dessert in your team colors for tailgating!

  
 

Still time to: Welcome your guests with streamers

Even though July 4th is Sunday, there is plenty of time to create an easy way to welcome your guests.

These streamers create gentle movement in the breeze and are made from items found at the Dollar Tree.

The poles are actually bamboo stakes normally used in gardening.  These are  green 5 ft stakes and are $1 for a package of 6 or so.   Spray paint those the color of your choice.  I used white.

Right now, most Dollar Tree stores have rolls of satin ribbon in stock.  I chose red, white and blue.  $1 per roll.  Cut long pieces of each color and hot glue one end to the top of the stake.

These can be placed anywhere... line your driveway, place them at the corners of your patio, stand them up in sand filled pots on your porch, etc.  Use any colors you want for any occasion.  These would be great for a bridal shower, graduation in school colors or child's birthday in primary colors!

DIY: Baking cup flowers

A beautiful embellishment for a gift made by using baking cups and pipe cleaners!   Let Melanie of Pretties and Posies show you how.  VERY easy!

For an added touch, she dips some in glitter.  Sparkly!

 

 

Cake talent and edible jewels!

One of the things that blows me away is people who have amazing cake talent.  Some people just have it. They can turn a cake into something amazing.  

Like my friend Lenneke of Cedar City Cakes.  If you're in the Nashville area, you need to know Lenneke.
Click here to "like" her business on Facebook.  Look at this amazing hawaiian shirt cake.  Click on it to see it larger!

or this one.. tinkerbell's house

  
 and many many more you can see on Facebook.  I'm thrilled to have met Lenneke.  She will be making a rather LARGE cake for a university gala I'm working on for next year.  I can't wait!

Anyway, something I love just as much as cake art are cake JEWELS.  Edible cake jewels.  

See these?  EDIBLE!  


Edible jewels to glam up your treats!   Fancy Flours has them in all different colors and sizes.  Perfect for a fancy sweet sixteen or princess party.  Sex and the City cupcakes, etc.  Diamond jewels for New Year's Eve! Endless possibilities!  Check out all the beauties at Fancy Flours.

  

Spotted drinks!

The easy how to on creating a polka dot drink over at my party file! 

Pizza Bouquet

How cute is this gift idea?   These are homemade pizza roll ups presented on sticks.  

Great for a sleepover, study snack, showers, super bowl parties.. you name it.  Would be great for tailgating!  Christy gave them as a graduation gift.

For full tutorial on how she made the pizzas, visit Christy's blog From Glitter to Gumdrops 

Get'em while you can!

Some Dollar Tree stores are featuring small aluminum bottles for $1.  Trendy and colorful, these make great giveaways or favors.  Having an outdoor gathering?  These are a perfect gift for guests. Having a Memorial Day BBQ?  Serve your beverages in these! 

Have a Cricut machine?  These are prime items to personalize! Think ahead for gifts you may need in the future.