This Week's Tip-off: Upgrade a Store Bought Cake

I admit I have done this before, but with cupcakes.  Because I couldn't get that look of thick piped frosting, I purchased cupcakes, then embellished them with candy roses and those little edible pearls.  They looked great!

Here, Susan at Oh My! Creative started with a plain yellow 2-tiered store bought cake and turned it into a fun cake worthy of a party! Even if you buy the cake, it usually turns out to be less expensive decorating it yourself than ordering a full cake with the custom decor.

This is a great shortcut, or if you have a sudden emergency (i.e. cake falls off the counter-gasp!) this is a great solution.

Find the original post here.

Vintage-inspired 1st Birthday

Little Miss Ellerie Rose's mom and dad celebrated her 1st birthday with charm and style!  A classic, vintage themed birthday party included homemade pink lemonade served in mason jars, pink vanilla cotton candy (handspun by Ellerie's cousin), homemade banners, and a petting zoo! I love how all the fabric complements one another–even the birthday girl's dress!  Linens, chairs, cotton candy machine, flowers and more were all purchased from local California vendors. Make sure to check out the list after this showcase of all the details taken from Orange Blossom Photography.

 

 

Photographer: Orange Blossom Photography
Caterer (Cotton candy machine, linens and chairs): Gagnon's Catering and Rentals
Bakery: Cat's Cupcakery
Cake Designer: East Bay Chocolates
Petting Zoo: Tickle Me Pony Parties
Additional vendor info: Mason Jars purchased at O.S.H.;  Mason Jar Drink Dispenser from Pottery Barn; Straws from Etsy Shop, Catang; Paper design was by Etsy Shop, Pink Creative. Invites printed by Impact Printing in Hayward, Ca. 

Free Olympics Bingo Card

Are you all planning on watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony tonight??  I'll be tuning in with my two girls.  And because they're only 6, I printed out this Olympic-themed Bingo Card from Thirty Handmade Days, to make it more fun for them.  The Opening Ceremony is a great opportunity to introduce your little ones to some of the countries they may not have heard of yet. And an introduction to the many amazing athletes they'll see in some of their favorite sports.  True inspiration!

Download your free Olympic bingo card here.

DIY Rainbow Paper Lantern

I've seen paper lanterns decorated in so many fun ways: as bunnies, with flowers, streamers hanging off  of them, and now like this–with rainbow squared tissue paper. Paper lanterns are so inexpensive (you can often find them in the $1 stores) that they are such a smart way to save money on your decor.

Find the full tutorial for this rainbow lantern at The Swell Life.

Watermelon Inspired Treats

I saw the Rice Krispie watermelon treats... and then I saw the sherbert watermelon push-up pops and thought: "How can I choose which one to feature??"  They both look so yummy and are each so adorable.  So I'm sharing both!  Perfect for any summer party, each makes a nice surprise treat for guests and presentation for your table.

Watermelon Krispie Treats are from Glorious Treats.
Watermelon Sherbert Push-up Pops are from It's Overflowing.

Tu-tu Cute 4th Birthday Party

I was excited when I saw an email from Orange Blossom Photography in my inbox.  They were the ones that brought us the vibrant Sock Monkey Party I posted here.  This one's just as cute! This precious party is filled with crafty goodness--down to the fun names for the food treats! With pretty pastel tutus, crowns, face painting and more, this party could only be suited for a little princess. Of course the "knights" were not forgotten.  They got foam swords and shields to get in on the fun.

Enjoy these memories from Kaylee's 4th birthday party, taken and submitted by Orange Blossom Photography in San Ramon, California.

 

Treats included: Aurora's Fairy Godmother's Magic Fruit Wands, Snow White's Poison Apple Cake Pops, Jaq and Gus' Cheese & Crackers and Rapunzel's Kingdom Sun Cookies

  

Cake Designer: Kristie's Cake Creations
Venue: Sycamore Valley Park
Etsy Designers: Dillon's Girl and Bows and Bling

Make Your Ideas Pop With AstroBrights Paper

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper. All opinions are 100% mine.

When crafting your decor or printing out signage for your parties, the quality and color of the paper you use can make a huge difference in the results.  Using paper like AstroBrights Paper can actually make all your DIY efforts easier, more efficient and look better.  

Easier: AstroBrights Paper comes in smooth, text finishes to easily get through your printer.  They even have matching envelopes if you're making invitations!

More Efficient: If you don't have the budget to make multiple color prints for all your cupcake toppers and or your color printer is not the greatest, use simple black graphics and print them out on AstroBrights color paper.  It'll save you the worry and stress of the printed colors coming out right.

Look Better: AstroBrights Paper comes in 23 vibrant colors. Make color the star in your party decor with a rainbow inspired paper garland!  Hang them long from a centered light fixture, or as a backdrop for your dessert table.

Not just for party decor, AstroBrights Paper is great for office, home and school projects, too.

Make sure to visit their website AstroBrights papers and look for these great programs:

Give a Brighter Year Sweepstakes:  Besides loving their product, I love that AstroBrights is giving us a chance to help our local school.  You can win a cash prize and school supplies valued at $30,000 for the school of your choice!

Make Something AstroBright: This family-friendly design challenge lets you use your creativity for a chance to win AstroBright Paper and other prizes. You can submit and share your ideas with pictures and video.  With back to school right around the corner, this is the perfect time to try to win! 

Get Inspired: Share ideas or find new ones on their Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter pages.

 

Free Olympics Printables

Here's a great way to get your kids involved with the Olympics.  This very generous set from Tinyme offers printable medals, flag activity, bingo cards, and more!  It's a fun way to learn about the different countries, and just a general overview of what the Olympics are all about.  And while you're on the website, check out all their great products.  I've purchased their labels for back to school and love them.

You can find the complete downloadable Olympics set here.

Winter-themed Birthday

Aubrey's parents gave her a winter "onederland" party for her first birthday.  A cool, yet feminine pallette was used throughout, as well as adorable penguin and snowflakes decor. Although this party was held in February, a winter-themed party would be a nice way to cool off during the summer! Submitted by heidi-o-photo who were able to capture all the pretty party details.

 

Participating Venfor: Winding Walk Community Center

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Giant Coffee Filter Flower

If you don't want to go crazy with a lot of table decor, printables, etc... sometimes having one major focal decor item does it all--like this oversized flower.  And can you believe this loveliness was made with coffee filters?!  You could make small stemmed coffee filter flowers to add to your table decor as a nice complement.

Find the full tutorial at Christina's Adventures here.

Charitable Mad Hatter Tea Party

It's always fun to have a big party.  It's even more fun when it's for a worthy cause!  Two hundred guests donned their best hat and garden party attire for Lund’s 3rd Annual Mad Hatter’s Tea & Bubbly in South Burlington, Vermont, where everyone helped support Lund’s work. Lund’s work focuses on strengthening families, reducing child abuse and neglect, and helping to create new families through adoption. Its mission is to help children thrive by serving families with children, pregnant or parenting teens and young adults, and adoptive families.
The event was an afternoon of mayhem and merriment filled with scones, berries, tea sandwiches, pastries, tea from around the world, champagne and more. Festivities included a treasure hunt, face painting, hat making and croquet. The most original hats won prizes. 
Enjoy this colorful showcase of all the event details, as captured by Cat Cutillo Photogaphy.

 

 

Event Designer: Liquid Studio
Bakery: Birchgrove Baking
Photography: Cat Cutillo Photography

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

This Week's Tip-off: Pool Noodle Stand

In a pinch on how to display your lovely cake pops??  Cut up a pool noodle as shown here by A Baker's House.  They're not just for the pool!  And I love the style of pool noodle she picked, since they look like cut-up flowers.  Find the full post here.

Hawaiian Luau Birthday Party!

The Odom family recently celebrated their little boy, Ryker's, first birthday. And boy do they know how to throw a party! Though they live in Oklahoma, they did a great job bringing Hawaii to their home with their DIY luau! There were so many photos I had such a hard time choosing!  There were colorful leis, tiki torches, totem poles and more--all captured by Photos by Keshia. 

 

 

 

 

Photography: Photos by Keshia 

Submitted via Two Bright Lights