Everyday Celebrating

Everyday Events: Teacher themed baby shower

  

When your best friend is a teacher, why not throw a teacher themed baby shower?

Katie of Bower Power put together this beautiful shower for her friend featuring an all-american red, white and blue palette and super cute details.

I love how she named the menu after school details.

 

Beautiful cucumber sandwiches with bits of the peel pushed through toothpicks

and the beautiful apple cupcakes!

 

Usually I don't like shower games, but this shower had some really great games.  Like each guest writing the mommy a note so she'd have encouraging notes every month for the first year.

 
Cute snack bags for the guests to take home included juice boxes and a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

 

A truly simple and beautiful shower that was truly fitting of an amazing teacher.

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: Pleated picture frame for shower decor

Lovely Paper Blog features an easy tutorial on creating a pleated photo frame.  These make a great piece of decor for an engagement party or shower.  

Slide in momentos of the couple, photos and the invitation to create interest and depth to your decor. Send it home with the couple at the end of the night as a gift. 

 

Everyday Events: Milk and Cookie Birthday

I'm thrilled to show you another Milk and Cookies themed birthday.  Why?  Well, my friend Dianne of Colorblind Productions threw the first Milk and Cookies themed birthday a few years ago and since then, the theme has REALLY taken off.  She and I both smile every time we see another party featuring the theme.  And this one is super adorable!

This party added a twist.  This was a milk and cookies and BEDTIME STORIES theme!  Check out the cute invitation from Tiny Prints.

 
of course.. there was a cookie buffet

Strawberry, chocolate and white milk...

rainbow swirl cookies

  

The children were asked to wear their jammies.  The parents cleared out their playroom and set up a mini theatre complete with movie snacks:



And finally... LOOK at this CAKE!  The chocolate chip cookie cake! Yep, it's a CAKE!
 


Visit Heather's blog for more photos of favors and other details!  

Still time to: create cute bbq invitations

Having a few people over for a BBQ? 

Create these easy invitations from All You magazine.   Here's how:

Use checked scrapbook paper to cover heavy cardstock.

Cut back pockets from old pairs of jeans or shorts. (Tip:  No old jeans?  Pick some up from Goodwill or yard sales!  Depending on the size of your invitation, you may be able to use children's jeans (which are less expensive.)

Glue the pocket onto the cardstock.

Slide in your invitation!

Sidenote:  a cute addition would be to print your invitation on bandanas! Fold the bandanas and stick them in the pocket.

Everyday Events: A reader's version of the damask shower

One of the most rewarding aspects of this blog is receiving emails from readers who have taken an idea they saw here and ran with it.  I received a great email last week from Jill saying the following:

 Hi there.
I found your website on google a few months ago while searching for centerpiece ideas for my sister's engagement party, themed black damask and green apples. I used your ideas and love following your blog for other creative ideas from birthday parties to baby showers. I wanted to share some pictures with you from the event and say thank you for the wonderful ideas that helped inspire the most beautiful and memorable event. I have shared you blog with other friends and we all just love it up in Virginia! Can't wait to keep following your ideas! 

Thanks again. 
Jill 

Jill took her inspiration from my black/white damask shower and I'm thrilled to share some of the fabulous details from Jill's damask and apple green shower!

Beautiful table featuring a photo montage of the couple attached to a wonderful damask type piece of ironwork

Jill cored apples to hold tea lights and used the flourish scrapbook stickers from Target.  She also used decorative initials to the cake plate and as background.

Her table before the food was added.  I love the greenery around the white platters.  She also used sliced green apples in the vase and damask wrapping paper.



I love this.  A simple continuation of the theme and color


A great chocolate fountain!  Love the use of height and she made the candy initials!  More use of greenery and wrapping paper to add more damask.

     
Thanks to Jill for sharing an Everyday Celebrating inspired gathering!

Need invitations, favors, cones, etc in the damask theme?  Hop over to my etsy shop to make things easy! 

Need damask paper products?  Visit my blog sponsor, Plates and Napkins!  

Everyday Events: Under the Sea Children's Party.. on a BOAT!

Looking for a party location that's not the same ole same ole?  What about on a BOAT?   My friend Kelly from Eventology Weddings in Houston, recently threw this unique "Under the Sea" party for her daughter.   Enjoy the photos as Kelly tells us about the party details.   And for those that live in the Houston area, you're in for a treat as Kelly shares all of her vendor details.  All photos by Erin Woltz.

Kendall's 4th birthday was held on a Sunday afternoon on a party boat provided by Houston  Party Boats.
The invitations were delivered as messages in a bottle.

As seen below, little chinese lanterns in bright turquoise blue and teal green were strung along the perimeter of the boat. Kid sized tables & chairs were rented and a royal table was set up in the middle of the boat for the kids. Bright green iridescent linens were provided by Over the Top Linens.

 I used color coordinating decorative rocks to add a little color to the table
 


I also made cookie bouquets for centerpieces using darling custom cookies I purchased off of etsy. These doubled as party favors for the adults at the conclusion of the event.



Up close


 The kids feasted on pizza & Juicy Juice (in color coordinating cans) and the parents on a huge 6 ft. long "submarine" sandwich, in going along with the nautical theme!

The paper goods were dressed up with special custom stickers I had made by my graphic designer (http://www.scarlettdesigns.biz/) and printed at zazzle.com. These gave them that personalized touch without breaking the bank.



My daughter had her heart set on a mermaid cake...and Cakes by Gina did not disappoint with this adorable masterpiece!


  
 

As an added treat, I ordered delicious french macarons to color coordinate with the party colors.



Events at the party included a make-your-own sand art picture frame, a caricature artist drawing the kids' likenesses with an under the sea theme, "Pin-the-fin-on-the-shark" (purchased at Michael's craft store), and limbo. I made a special nautical iTunes playlist which included the following songs: All Aboard, Under the Sea, Jamaican Farewell, Jammin', At the Bottom of the Sea, Day O, Sea Cruise, and Catch a Wave, which was played through the boat's speaker system throughout the party.





At the end of the party, guests departed with a special bait bucket full of "ocean" themed party favors including a package of swedish fish, a "fish-kabob", mermaid stickers, and a bag of glazed popcorn made by the birthday girl's daughter. Hand-crafted tags purchased off of etsy adored the bucket & bags of popcorn.



For thank you notes, I took the caricature drawn of the birthday girl, scanned it in, and had custom postcards printed at zazzle.

Kelly really does amazing work, right?  If you're in the Houston area and are looking for a wedding planner, she's your gal.  I've known her for years and she leaves no detail undone.  

 

Frisbee invitations

School's out... summer is here... invite your guests over for summer fun by attaching your invitation to a frisbee!

And yes, they are mailable.  These mini frisbees from Oriental Trading costs 64 cents to mail.

photo credit:  Graceful Creative  

Special pick me up

One of my good friends recently got a divorce.  And while the divorce was amicable and the process moved fairly quickly, and while my friend was relieved to close that chapter, she was still, understandably, going through the stages of grief.

She moved into her own place and tried to keep her mind off things by decorating and filling up her social life, etc.  

One day, several of her friends (me included) received an email from her requesting we send inspirational cards and messages for a bulletin board that would go in her bedroom.  This would serve as a visual pick me up that she could read in the times when the divorce seemed to be crushing down on her.

So we did.  Below is what I sent.  Just putting it here as an idea for someone that may be looking for an easy and fun idea to cheer up someone you care for.

I pulled out a spool of white satin ribbon, a set of Martha Stewart stamp pads and a set of mini alphabet stamps.

With each letter in a different color, I stamped this quote, letter by letter, onto the ribbon:

"Love is the time and space where I give myself the right to be extraordinary." 

After the ink dried, I rolled it back up onto the spool so that she could read the message as it unrolled.

I glued on a little note so she'd know this was my contribution for her board.
 

 
Wrapped it up in a box... and shipped it off using the printable  "please take me to" envelope wrap.


  
To my dear friend, you are extraordinary.  Every day.  In every way.   Your bravery in being true to yourself and creating the life you want is an inspiration to us all.

i heart envelope wraps

I love envelope wraps.  Easy to use and they really stand out in a pile of mail.

This one is in my etsy store.  Stay tuned... I'll soon be adding a chic chandelier wrap. 

Need something special for your next occasion or have an idea for a wrap to use every day?  email me!