Confetti Birthday Party | Favors

I hope you've enjoyed all the "3 Cheers for Caitlin" party details this week!  Did I mention how much fun it was to put together?  These favor bags were meant for the kids, but there were a few items that went over pretty well with the grownups too.  I'll leave it to you to guess which.  I filled kraft paper treat bags with playdoh, bouncy balls, mardi gras beads, bubbles, poppers and a 'party animal' blower... and of course, I threw in some extra confetti for a surprise (ie: mess) at home.  I labeled them with phrases like "woo-hoo", "hip hip hooray", "party on"and "3 cheers for fun".  Done and done!

photos © sherry heck

Well that about wraps it up. A great big thank you to everyone who contributed and a special shout out to my friends at Shop Sweet Lulu for being the source for all things party pretty!

But wait, there's more... have you seen the rest of this party yet?  Click here: Invitation + Decorations \\ Food + Drinks \\ Activities 

Photography: Sherry Heck
Styling, Invite + Graphics: Merry Happy by CAKE.

Cake + Cupcakes: Cakewalk Baking

Favor Bags, Animal Blowers: Shop Sweet Lulu

Paper Confetti, Balls, Bubbles, Beads, Poppers: Party City

These images are for personal use only. If sharing them on your site, please link directly to this post.

Simply Styled. | Biscuits + Brights

via southern weddings

You Rock.

Ladies and gentlemen, the boombox is back. In a tinier, letterpressed, much quieter package that is. Mark this one under too cool not to share...

via frolic!

Simply Styled.

via oh darling photography.

DiY Paper Clothespin Decoupage

Loving this DiY project from Amber of Giver's Log... decoupaged clothespins.  A darling way to embellish gift wrap + party favors, and just perfect for holding your cards along a length of ribbon.

 photos © the giver's log

Simply Styled.

via One Lovely Day.

ONE TO GROW ON: Favors

I couldn't help but incorporate a little word play into the ONE to Grow on party favors... kraft envelopes labeled “Grow Away” held California poppy seeds for planting, and glasssine bags of chocolate covered sunflower seeds were labeled “Seed Ya” for munching. For the little ones, colorful pinwheels were a perfect addition for the breezy day. The favors were set in galvanized metal boxes of moss in accordance with the rustic garden setting.

Want to see the rest of this party?  Click here:  Cake + Desserts \\ Invitations \\ Details \\ Cake Smash 

photos © sherry heck

Printables: designed by CAKE. {available for purchase}
Pinwheels: Twirly Whirlies
Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds: Superior Nut Co.
Kraft + Glassine Envelopes: Paper + Pinafore

the giving tree: a DiY creation

Hello again from Ana of Live & Enliven.  After doing a lot of thinking about what I was going to post next here - I came to the decision of making up something in my head that I thought was lovely - and putting together all the things I’m loving lately. I stumbled upon the idea of making a giving tree. The entire concept came together once I realized I wanted to make something beautiful, affordable and fun - and what's more fun than a DIY? I know… nothing.

So here is what you need to make this giving tree:

1. Dry branches that you can find on your neighbor's lawn (that's where I got mine from)
2. A nice vase (or a glass carafe in this case)
3. The cone template that you can download here
4. Regular white glue
5. Scissors
6. Cover stock or scrapbooking paper
7. Crepe paper
8. Ribbon
9. Cupcake liners
10. A brush

+ Don't forget the goodies you will put into the cones which I forgot to add to this photo.

Now, the instructions for the cone come with the template's printout above… so let's see what you will need to do next:

1. Print and cut out the template
2. Glue the cones along the “seams”
3. Cut crepe paper into quarters
4. Push with a pencil or brush in the center to form flowers
5. Fold cupcake liners
6. You need to loosely double them up 3 times
7. Make little flowers to glue to the tree
8. Punch holes in the cones
9. You can do that with a puncher or scissor
10. Push a ribbon through the holes
11. Cut the ribbons at different sizes so that they hang at different heights
12. Place the goodies inside and top it with the flowers
+ Hang them on the tree branches and decorate everything with the colors and shapes you like the best.

Thank you for reading us again and to Becca for inviting us...if you decide to make this at home, please do email us so we can see it!

Warm Regards,
Ana

summer fun: sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk is as much a part of my summer memories as bare feet and ice cream.  Remember the days of hopscotch, cakewalks and tic tac toe? Now check out these clever & crafty ways to chalk up your celebrations...

Wrap It Up: Mighty Girl simply wrapped these colorful sticks of chalk in wax paper, twisted the ends to seal and offered them as favors for her son's birthday.

{image via mighty girl}

Stencil your sidewalk:  Fiskars suggests using stencils to create chalk art designs, leading guests up to your front door.

{image via fiskars}

DiY:  Paperbox Press offers 2 ways to make your own sidewalk chalk.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint:
In a large bowl, I mixed cornstarch + powdered tempera paint.  You can add as much or as little tempera as you like, but note that the color will darken quite a bit when water is added and it's actually ready to use!  I used small containers and put 3 (1 of each color) into each favor box.  I tied a paint brush to the top, tied it up with some ribbon, and added a cute label!  These are great summer party favors.

 Molded Sidewalk Chalk:
Mix together 1 cup of Plaster of Paris with 1 cup of water. Add color to your mixture using powdered tempera paint. Blend well and let stand for a few minutes. Pour your mixture into the silicone molds. Set aside and let dry completely. Once dry you can remove your chalk from the mold. Set it aside to dry for approximately 24 hours more.  I purchased the silicone molds from Sillycone and they have a variety of shapes to choose from.

{images via paperbox press}

FREE printables: in flight airplane favors

If you've ever been on a cross country flight with a wiggling, kicking, screaming baby... you're going to love me for this one.  As many of you know, I have a daughter who is turning one on Saturday {which is another story that involves a fab birthday party and the better part of my schedule this week}.  But the reason I bring it up is because last week we took her on vacation to the Carolinas to visit family and friends at the beach.  My husband and I were petrified of how she was going to handle the 5+ hour flight, and that sparked a brilliant idea.  Why not give the passengers around us a little something to... dare I say bribe them into submission?  So we bagged up some candy and I designed personalized labels and tied them into a sweet favor.  Oh my were they a hit.  Everyone loved receiving them, and in return were incredibly gracious and helpful throughout the flight.  Consequently, Caitlin was charming as could be. Go figure, right?

I'm sure there are other parents who want in on this, so I modified the labels into a printable with both 'he' and 'she' versions.  You can download them HERE and check out the finished favors below.  Peaceful travels to one and all. 

*** Update: I've added a 'they' version upon request.  Click HERE to download. ***

{images © birthday girl 2011}

Download 'he/she' versions HERE.
Download 'they' version HERE.

sweet treat: cake batter birthday bark

Happened upon this recipe from How Sweet it Is and it’s my new most favorite idea ever.  Ever!  Just a spoonful of cake batter and a rainbow of sprinkles turns this holiday staple into a fantastic birthday treat.  Perfect to give away as a party favor or packaged in a tin as a cheerful gift...

{image and recipe via how sweet it is}

Cake Batter Chocolate Bark

Ingredients
6 ounces high quality dark chocolate
12 ounces high quality white chocolate
3 teaspoons yellow cake mix
sprinkles of your choice (at least 3 tablespoons worth or more)

Directions
Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave or a double boiler. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour chocolate on. You can smooth it with a spatula to the thickness you desire. Stick in the freeze for 20 minutes.
Melt while chocolate. Whisk in cake mix slowly, stirring well until no lumps remain. Let it set for 3 full minutes (or at least until it slightly thickens). Remove baking sheet with chocolate from the freezer and immediately pour white chocolate on top. Sprinkle on sprinkles. Freeze for 20 minutes.
Once set, break into chunks. Keep refrigerated.

DiY tutorial & FREE printables: rosemary & sea salt roasted almonds

Each holiday season I create a small homemade gift that can be given to friends, neighbors and houseguests. Last year I baked a variety of cookies, but when delivering the boxes I discovered that most people were already up to their ears in holiday sweets. So this year I vowed to go with a savory treat instead. I absolutely love Marcona almonds (but they can be a little pricey) so I decided to create my own homemade version: olive oil roasted almonds with rosemary & sea salt. Below is the recipe, along with a tutorial for how to create the jars. I’ve also provided a free printable for the gift tags, so you can try this project out yourself. (Note: the wreath in the design was actually obtained from another free download provided by the fabulous Nonpareil magazine). Hope it gets you in the holiday spirit!

PS: Look for these almonds featured as favors at the holiday gift wrap party I'll be posting later this week.

To make the Almonds:
-5 lbs blanched almonds
-Olive oil
-6-8 sprigs fresh rosemary {stems discarded}
-Coarse sea salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350F
2. In a large bowl, toss almonds in olive oil until well coated.
3. Sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary
4. Spread evenly on baking pans, and bake for about 10 minutes, or until light golden brown in color.
tip: allow almonds to cool completely before filling jars.

For the Jars:
-24 small glad jars with lids {I ordered mine from specialty bottle}
-Fabric to cover lids
-Ribbon
-24 rubberbands
-Gift tags

1. Cut out fabric into squares and cut lengths of ribbon. {Tip: create a sample to find the measurements you like and use that to measure out the rest}.
2. Print and cut out tags using scissors or a circle cutter. Punch hole in top center.
3. Pull rubberband through tag hole and loop through to hold in place.
4. Fasten fabric to jar lids with tagged rubberband.
5. Tie ribbon around rubberband and center with a bow.

Download gift tags HERE

{all images copyright birthday girl 2010}

spotted: robot cupcake molds

Too cute not to post! The perfect favor for a robot inspired birthday party...

{image via perpetual kid}

DiY: hot chocolate spoons

I just love, love LOVE these hotchocspoons. It’s one of those brilliant ‘how could I not have thought of this myself?’ concepts.

Actually... even though it might be sacrilege to suggest such a thing, why not make them yourself? All you need is a silicone ice cube tray, disposable wooden spoons and a variety of chocolates and mix-ins for melting and experimenting with. (consider it a modern take on those dixie cup popsicles we used to make as kids). Such a perfect treat for this cold winter weather, and you could easily package them up and give them out as hostess gifts or party favors too. Yes, it’s settled. I’m definitely on board with this project... who’s with me?

{images via chocolate company}

real parties: happy holiday birthdays

To make this last day of 2009 extra special, I’ve decided share with you not one, but two holiday themed birthday parties...

The first is by Christi of P is for Party for her son Conrad’s first birthday. The theme was ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, one of my very favorite holiday movies. The theme comes together with an elegant vintage look of gold, copper and ivory and some beautiful touches like ornament favors in apothecary jars and bell shaped centerpieces on the buffet table.

{images via p is for party}

The second is a fun and festive dessert party from Tanya of Save the Date for Cupcakes. She used a traditional color palette of red, green and silver and had lots of treats & cupcakes for the kids. Favors were packs of hot chocolate mix with Ghirardelli mint chocolate squares, and candy canes to garnish.

{images via save the date for cupcakes}

Have a safe & Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for your constant support and inspiration... I’m looking forward many big changes and good things to come in 2010.