DIY - Frog Prince Cake

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{Image Via My Cake School}

Ever enviously watch one of the cake shop shows on TV and wish you could do that? Well now it's your turn to be the Cake Boss with this crazy cute Frog cake design by My Cake School. This fabulous blog offers all sorts of DIY cake designs and projects with simple, clear instructions including this frog cake which would be perfect for your next baby shower or birthday.

New To The Shop - Something Blue Collection

{Images Via Grace Printables}

According to the Victorian saying, "Something old, Something new, Something Borrowed, Something Blue..." every bride should include blue in their wedding day for good luck. Well we have a modern twist on this old classic, The Something Blue Bridal Shower Collection.  This delicate blue, so often used in baby showers is a perfectly elegant choice for a party honoring the bride to be. After all it is the color of the the famous Tiffany box.

DIY - Something Blue Cocktails

A few delicious blue cocktails perfect for a Something Blue Shower or just an evening with the girls. Enjoy!

Ice Blue Martini

1-oz Hpnotiq Liquor
1/2-oz vodka
2-oz lemonade
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
Shake & strain into martini glass
Garnish with lemon twist

Blue Thai Mojito 

Ingredients
1/4 ounce blue Curaçao
1 1/2 ounces Bacardi Limon rum or Bacardi white rum
1 1/2 ounces Coco-Mint Syrup (recipe follows)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces chilled soda water

For garnishing
Fresh mint and/or cilantro sprigs
Shaved coconut (optional)

Preparation
Fill a tall glass with ice. Measure in the Curaçao, rum, syrup, lime juice, and soda water. Stir with a bar spoon. Garnish with fresh mint and/or cilantro and a sprinkling of shaved coconut, if using.

Coco-Mint Syrup

 

Ingredients
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 bunch fresh mint, torn
12 large sprigs fresh cilantro
2 cups sugar

Preparation
Combine the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour. Strain, pressing out as much liquid as possible, then discard the solids. Let cool to room temperature. If not using immediately, cover and refrigerate, for up to 1 month, until needed. Remix before using.

Makes: Makes 3 cups, enough for about 16 drinks

Something Blue Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Hpnotiq
• 2 oz white wine
• 1 oz ginger ale

Preparation:

1. Build the ingredients in a Champagne flute.
2. Serve and toast to a long and happy marriage.

Inspiration - Something Blue

A modern twist on an old classic, the Something Blue bridal shower. I recently was contacted by a customer to design some printables and an invitation for sister's blue shower. Here's a collection of my favorite beautiful blue finds that were the perfect inspiration.

• Flowers, cocktail and pom poms - Martha Stewart Weddings
• Gift box - Tiffany & Co. 
• Shoes - Christian Louboutin
• Cupcake - Grin and Bake It 
• Peacock Feather Fascinator - Bridal Couture 

Enjoy and watch for the Something Blue Bridal Shower Collection arriving in the soon!

New To The Shop - The Little Outlaw Collection

{Images Via Grace Printables}

Calling all cowboys! We are rounding y'all up for a birthday showdown with our new collection "Little Outlaw" that has just recently been added to the shop. We had so much fun creating this new set of printables and were overwhelmed with all the great ideas and projects we found for a western party. The boy's set is already listed in the store, a vintage themed girl's set is coming soon!

DIY - Cowgirl Cookie Jars

{Image Via Bakerella}

What a delicious take home idea from Bakerella! Cowgirl cookie jars contain all the ingredients and directions for your guests to bake up some delightful treats at home. These are also easily converted to cowboy cookie jars. A complete tutorial and a cute label download is available from Bakerella here.

DIY - Wild West Gold Rush

{Image Via Restless Risa} 

What kind of outlaw party would it be without the gold? When I stumbled across the tutorial on Restless Risa's blog for making your own gold panning station, I couldn't believe what a simple and unique idea it was! Certainly a fun activity for any western themed party.

DIY - Sheriff Badge Rice Crispies

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{Image Via The Celebration Shoppe}

What a great idea! Kim at The Celebration Shoppe created these sheriff badge rice crispie treats for one of the take home goodies at her son's birthday. Easily personalized and super yummy they would be a great addition to any take home treat buffet. You can get all the details on how to make your own with Kim's detailed tutorial.

Inspiration - Vintage Western Parties

{Images Via Hostess With The Mostess}

When I was browsing through some of my favorite blogs the other day I found this vintage western themed baby shower on Hostess With The Mostess and fell in love. It inspired me to sit down and start designing some vintage western themed invitations and coordinating printables. I love the use of the soft color palette and more sophisticated vintage imagery versus the cartoon style cowboy images you always see. I can't wait to play around with this idea a little more. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of the Little Outlaw collection as well as some fabulous western themed DIY projects I found.

Etsy Find - Little Retreats

{Images Via Little Retreats}

Don't have the time or feel like making your own photo booth props? Little Retreats has some fabulous collections available in the shop that they will gladly customize to the colors of your choice. 

DIY - Photo Booth

Photo booths have become a popular way to capture those special memories and your guests unique personalities at everything from weddings to birthdays. While professional photo booths can be costly, creating your own can be an easy and fun project that is sure to provide you with an album of amusing and memorable photos.

{Images via Wedding Bee & Swanky Tables}

• Choose a backdrop for your booth. Simple options include a sheet, tablecloth or curtain hung on a clothesline with clips. Another option is constructing a more elaborate free standing backdrop. 
• Use your own digital camera or rent one from a service like Camera Renter. Make sure to set the camera up on a tripod and test it to make sure it is centered. To make it easier for guests, set the camera up with a remote cord so no one gets left out.

 {Images via Our Labor Of Love & Ruffled}

•  Get creative and have fun! Be sure to include a variety of amusing accessories to allow guests to express themselves. Ask your friends and family to go through their closets to find suitable props (ie. boas, funny hats, costume jewelry, etc.) A white board or chalk board is a great way to allow guests to add a personalized message and individualize their photos.
• As a thank you to guests, print off and send them their pictures after the wedding so they can share the memories of the big day!

 Here are some great tutorials I found for more inspiration. Enjoy!

 DIY Photo Booth Wall via Ruffled

DIY Photo Booth Prop Templates via Miss Fancy Pants 

New To The Shop - The Stache Bash

{Images Courtesy of Grace Printables}

Lip fuzz, soup strainer, flavor saver, lady magnet, what ever you want to call them moustaches are making a come back and becoming a popular party trend. Once a sign of distinction, these furry accessories have become a modern humorous fashion statement. Last year May was declared Moustache Month in the US and was celebrated across the country by men everywhere proudly owning their facial hair. Now Stache Bashes are cropping up everywhere and to celebrate everything from bachelor parties and birthdays to announcing the birth of a baby boy. Inspired by this new craze, I created and added new printables, including a DIY kit with score card, to the shop for your own Stache Bash. Whether your guests are sporting real or fake moustaches, a Stache Bash is guaranteed to be a unique party and a good laugh.

Inspiration - Mustache Mania

{Image via Cake Spy}

{Image via Cake Love}

{Image via Sprinkle Bakes}

Here is a little sample of the delicious eye candy I found for inspiration for the new Stache Bash collection. The last is from a recipe for Moustache Topped Chocolate Cupcakes (can you say yummy!!) I found on Sprinkle Bakes blog. What a deliciously fun project perfect for any Stache Bash!

Bangerang Bake Shop

 

{Images courtesy of Bangerang Bake Shop}

Caution the following images may cause uncontrollable drooling ... and for good reason. Bangerang Bake Shop (formerly Fat Daddy Bake Shop) whips up some of the most delectable and delicious creations and then delivers them directly to your door. With a menu that includes selections like "Plain jane in a party dress" to "The big salty caramella fella" there is something for everyone. Curing that cupcake craving just got a whole lot easier!

 

Growing from their humble beginnings on Etsy, Bangerang Bake Shop has been most recently featured in O magazine and on The Today Show.  The entrepreneurial Mom behind these treats, Nicole Mahler, has always had a certain knack for baking cupcakes and when searching for a way to safely ship these sweet creations, cupcakes in a jar was born. Arriving with a few days of ordering, all of Bangerang's cupcakes are made with the finest freshest ingredients. Preservative free these delights can be eaten within 7 days or frozen for up to 10 weeks, so you can have one now and save one for later ... if you can resist!

These certainly have my vote for a truly unique and delicious favor at any party or wedding, I mean who doesn't love cupcakes?

DIY - Perfect Party Pom Poms

{image courtesy of Good Things Wedding Favors}

Pom poms are one of the hottest trends right now in party decorating and it's easy to see why. There is just something so delightfully delicious in the sweet simplicity of their shape and the way they magically seem to float in the air.  An easy way to add a festive touch to any occasion and so fun to make. As with all good things here are some fast and easy instructions courtesy of my friend, Martha.

Materials Needed 

• Tissue paper in desired colors (8 sheets per pom-pom)
• 24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire
• Scissors
• Monofilament

Step 1)

Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

Step 2) 

Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

Step 3)

Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time. Fluff and shape as desired

Etsy Find - Pacific Lotus

{art prints via Pacific Lotus}

When I was looking for an image to feature in my first blog post, I stumbled across Pacific Lotus's shop and fell in love with her prints. They are bright and fun while offering positive inspiration. They are definitely going on the wish list for my studio. Who could be in a bad mood surrounded by these?

Live Your Passion

{art print via Pacific Lotus}

When I saw this print this in Pacific Lotus's shop, I knew this was how I wanted to start my blog. I have always loved to create and anything crafty. I started designing invitations, stationary and printables 8 months ago when I began planning my wedding. In my quest to have every element in my wedding uniquely ours while on a budget (also commonly known as my bridezilla transition), I designed and made everything. The invitations, monograms, programs, favor tags, table numbers, etc. Each element was a labor of love and as I shared my creations I began to get requests from friends and family to design printables for them. Finally someone said "Why don't you sell them?" and I thought "Why don't I?" So I opened an Etsy shop, started this adventure and have never been happier. 

The paths that life leads you down are wild and wonderful. I love planning celebrations and look forward to sharing unique ideas and crafty projects to make your event shine!

Keep Smiling!

Holly