Easy Valentine's gift

I was thinking this year for Valentine's gifts I would give out a DIY S'more kit. Of course, I hit the net in search of any packaging ideas...as it turns out I found this lovely example.
This S'more love kit (get it-some more love) is actually a DIY wedding favor from Elizabeth Ann Designs. S'more buffets are hitting the party scene in a big way as well. I have smores stations in my camping theme party and it is always a huge hit with the kiddos. I love how they packaged the kit. Of course using Garnish!

If you don't know about Garnish....you should! Check out this site. The best thing about their products are you can customize/personalize them yourself, prices are good, and no minimum order! You can by one straw if you want! Then I found this free printable!! I'm a lucky girl! Viola! Easy, inexpensive, and might I add--very cute gift!! Printable courtesy of Tricia-Rennea. Here is printable.

Pepper Design Blog Feature

I am so excited that I am the guest blog interview on Pepper Design blog today (Friday)! Yippee!! I absolutely love this blog and have been following it for quite some time. Morgan has guest blog interviews every Friday and I am so honored to be among her esteemed previous guest blog interviews! Okay my peeps, please go to her site here, check it out and leave a comment. Show some love!!!

Winner & Dollar Tree Find

Guess Who Challenge? The first picture is Steve Kemble!! I just adore him! He was so sweet and genuinely nice! 2nd picture is of Darcy Miller here with The Ms. Martha! Darcy is the editorial director of Weddings at Martha Stewart.

The winner is........April you WON!!! Plus Christi, you got half right so....

April you win a $40 gift card of your choice and Christi you win a $20 gift card of your choice! Please email me your address and gift card choice! Happy early Valentine's day!!

My husband is having his work peeps over again for another dinner-24 peeps actually. This time I wanted to have a theme but didn't want to go crazy. Should I say my hubby didn't want me to go crazy...what does he expect from having a party planning wife????

Anyway, I was inspired by my recent New Orleans trip. I picked a Mardi Gras theme. No, I'm not into that sort of thing...well, I have been to a couple....when I was much younger. My trip was during the Saints playoffs! I am from Pittsburgh and we have the most loyal, over the top fans (I'm one of them). However, I was very touched by the people of New Orleans. Everyone, I mean everyone was really into the game! When they won, the locals where hugging and many of them were crying! They have been through so much!! I can't even imagine!! So I am routing for the Saints and the city of New Orleans this year! Mardi Gras is New Orleans!!

So not going over board with the decor...but you know I got to do something, right???I found these flower garland at $ Tree. They came in a lot of colors and I think they are really cute. Plus they are 9 ft long!!! Boy, this saves me a lot of time making them! So I got a bunch in purple, green and yellow - hence Mardi Gras colors. I'm such a lucky girl! Here is a sneak peek. The party...oops I meant dinner is Tuesday!

I hung them 6 inches apart using double sided tape and put foil jesters on top.

Guess Who?

For a little change of pace..I have 2 pics of me and 2 famous event industry fabulous people!!! If you can correctly name who is in the pics with me then you will win something FAB!! You know I give away great stuff!! So the first one is ????
Hint .... he is on a TV show. This isn't the best pic...it was dark and I used my IPhone. This one is much easier....who is the person in the middle??? No, Casara from Majestic Pink you cannot enter this contest since you were at TSE and know who both are???!!!!

You can't win if you don't try!!! I will announce the winner or winners on the next post. (If you need more hints just let me know in your comments!)

Bling Bling!

Here is another gorgeous table display from TSE! I'm loving the rosettes around the table. These are actually easy to do with fabric. If anyone is interested let me know. Loving the vibrant greens!To know me is to know that I'm so going to do this gorgeous W backdrop but on a budget!!! This is a definite easy DIY project that is absolutely gorgeous! Wouldn't this be gorgeous behind your dessert or food buffet display?? I am going to recreate this for a Pinkalicious party I am throwing for my niece's birthday....no she is not a little girl in case you know of the book! I just think the title is kind of hot actually!! Her fav color is PINK- (she is turning 30)

Put batting and fabric over plywood and staple in back....boy watching HGTV does pay off....then hot glue some rhinestones to desired shape or initial!! Viola~ instant wow factor!

Look at that blinged out vase!!

Coffee Filter Roses

UNBELIEVEABLE is all I can say about these coffee filter roses! If you follow my blog then you remember the post about paper flowers here. However, these coffee filter flowers are really blowing my mind away. Everytime I think I've seen so much~ someone so crafty and talented just makes you say gaaawlleey (that's my Gomer Powell impression- do any of you know who I'm talking about? or am I just showing my age again!!?) These looks like real roses. So for all of you crafty DIY wonders...go forth and make roses! These were made by the Crafeteria and tutorial is here! It looks time consuming but well worth it!

Unique Invitations Part II

When it comes to invitations....I really love to send the unexpected to hype up my events. I am known for sending the most unusual things in the mail! The greatest thing is the post office will mail it....they will give you funny looks....but still mail it. When I come in to mail things now, my post office personnel seem eager to see what I'm bringing. You don't need a box .... just mail. A couple of examples are:
~a black and yellow Nerf football with party details for Superbowl party
~a coconut for luau theme party
~a pamper for baby shower- "you're invited" on clear sticker paper-put party details inside...tape sides...postage on back and mail!
The next 2 ridiculous invites (ridiculous is my word for "over the top great" are from BK Designs.

Invitees received a personalized candy kaleidoscope packaged in a silver tube with a candy DOTS label. Peering through the kaleidoscope, invitees saw a photo of Jenna surrounded by gumdrops and jelly beans. The outside wrapper had the party details.

This invite is an actual glass plate with faux milk & cookies! Attached to the plate was a note to Santa letting him know the party details. The mailing label was a large 4 color gingerbread man with festive red and green stripes.

Betsey Johnson printed her invitations for her fashion show during NYC fashion week on an oven mitt.....mine must have gotten lost in the mail???This adorable circus invite was created by Enchanted Expectations!! This chick is super talented!! Also, she just posted the most adorable baby shower...check it out! The invite included a clown nose and lollipop!

A simple invite turned unique by adding raffia and cowboy boot!Pinwheels are all the rage in kids parties now! This cute invite is from cardshoppe on Etsy. This could also be a great DIY project! Just use the scrapbook paper to match your theme and add party info.

Cute way of announcing your fiesta!! So think outside the norm and be totally unique and I guarantee nobody will want to miss your event!

Unique Invitations (Part 1)

I was planning on doing a big blog on unique invitations tonight....but I have been in bed all day sick with the flu. So I'm cutting it short tonight but had to post a couple of my favs. I will share the rest tomorrow! These are "Chocolate Couture" invitations called "LolliBrides". These could be used as wedding favors but at $10.50 each unless your having either a platinum wedding or an intimate one..it's unlikely.

However, I think it would be terrific for a bridal shower or princess party! They stand 8 1/2" tall and weigh 2 ounces. They are available in white and milk chocolate. Since they are so tall they can do double duty as a centerpiece then hand out as favors. They have personalized labels for invitations to your bridal party "Will You Be My Maid of Honor", "Will You Be My Bridesmaid", etc...I love these!!! This Candy Land theme birthday party invite done by Paisley Quill is too cute! I know the kiddos loved getting the sucker and were looking forward to this party.

Lego Party

I just love the blog world. I can't believe that I didn't discover it until January 2009 and finally started a blog in August 2009! There are just so many amazingly talented individuals! I am in awe of their creativity. While searching for something totally different, I ran across this Lego theme party from Autumn of Design Dump. Autumn is an interior designer and also a fabulous party planner as well!! When I first saw this party, I immediately thought of one of my BFF blogging friend Latoya who mentioned this was one of her possible themes for her son Christian's birthday. This party is full of wonderful "muses". I have to admit when I think of Legos I think of primary colors. Autumn took such a sophisticated color palette...loving the black and white houndstooth!! Awesome favors!

She got the bamboo forks online and stamped eat on them...so cute! She even added a 6 to the plates.

I LOVE this table!!!

She got the black and white houndstooth wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby and used her Cricut for all the personalization! I told you all before - if you don't have one- GET ONE!!! Don't you love the Lego cake...she painted dowels yellow then stuck in sheet cake!!

My favorite detail....she turned the juice box into a Lego! Love, Love, Love!!!!!!!!

Blog love!

I know Maddy's birthday is 4 months 3 weeks and 12 days away...I was wrecking my brain on finalizing what theme!! I must have the theme so I can start collecting ideas and items when I see them! So I finally decided on a Crayola Art theme birthday party.
At first I was going to add in Sesame Street characters but decided against it due to there are so many fabulous Sesame party ideas out in blogland...that it's clouding my head too much!! I would end up copying all of the wonderful ladies! So since Maddy loves art I feel that Crayola is a safe bet. Although she is still in the eating crayons phase! Anyhoo, in my research for Crayola ideas I ran across these wonderful Crayon pretzels....too cute, huh??? I will be copying these for Mad's party!! You can find not only the tutorial how to make it but all kinds of free templates for the wrappers here. So I ended up staying on this blog .... for at least an hour. Poor Maddy didn't have story time. I also spotted these gumball lollipops too!!

These gumball lollipops are adorable!! These and many more creative ideas can found on Gourment Mom on the Go. Wouldn't these be perfect for a candy buffet or red and pink gumballs for Valentine's Day???

Frugalista Valentine's Tablescape Thursday

I haven't participated in Susan's Tablescape Thursday from Between Naps on the Porch for quite a while. So if you haven't heard of it...do yourself a favor and stop by her blog and check out some very beautiful tablescapes. Here is a frugalista Valentine's table! I used stuff I already owned plus picked up a few things from the 99 cents store. I was going to do a dinner for two but decided to just make a special place for my husband. Now I plan on recreating this for Valentine's and making a very special meal.The red velvet striped candle holders I got last year around Valentine's day at Dollar Tree for a party I was planning then. Spread red hots around on the black feather table runner that I folded to make smaller. The centerpiece I made a while ago using $ Tree roses stuck in Styrofoam glued on top of a Big Lots vase- put it on a candy dish for height and added Red Hots.I just love these 99 cents red hearts...I bought many of them! I think they are ornaments so I used the hanging ribbon as my napkin ring. Put a love note and red rose petals in glass bottle. I layered the red charger with a damask plate I already owned. Found these cute red heart plates at 99 cents store and the chocolate candle favor as well. Just added a red & black pick I owned underneath heart plate for a little extra bling. The Love You tag is a cupcake printable from Paper & Cake. I just used it for a champagne glass tag. The printable set came with a wine tag but just wanted to change it up. I love printables...they are so versatile and inexpensive.Hope you enjoyed my 99 cent store finds and my frugalista Valentine's tablescape.

Candy Theme Tablescape

Another tablescape from the $1000 or less category at TSE. Sorry for no picture of whole tablescape. I was focusing on the details. There are some really great details and "muses" to be found!Here are more paper flowers and rock candy usage!! I don't know why but I don't like my candles to be taller than the glass....is something wrong with me???This chair tie is very clever. The designer used plastic lids from peanut cans. Painted it, cut hole (to make it look like a buckle) then hot glued candy around it.

Candy topiaries as table decor.

I'm feeling a tablescape coming on- so it's up to you~ what would you rather see...

Breakfast at Tiffany's or a Valentine's tablescape~PLEASE don't just think it in your head..leave a comment. I will check my responses during the day and work on it and post tomorrow!