FREE Printable: Hello Owl Labels

Say hello to my little friend.  At first I designed this simple owl for a trick or treat bag to coordinate with my daughter's Halloween costume.  Then I decided to turn it into a safety label including her name and number.  Not that there was any real chance of her getting lost, but better safe than sorry (and let's be honest... it gave me a chance to play with my new design and some fun typography too). These labels are meant to be universal... they'd also make great name tags for a party or school event.  The link to the free printable is below.  Enjoy!

And of course, here are a few shots of miss Caitlin... tricking and treating.

photos + design © cake. 2011

Download Printable Owl Tags HERE (print on letter sized sticker paper).

Note: If you would like this owl customized for other occasions or party items, feel free to contact me. 

Feathers, Owls + Cocktails by the Fire

Cozy up around the fireplace and enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir... here are a few simple ideas to add ambiance to a fall dinner or cocktail party at home.

These soft and delicate feather garlands were easily created using a needle and thread to string quail and pheasant feathers in varying patterns (not to worry... no birds were harmed in the making of these garlands).

The owls were purchased at a discount store in an unattractive silver color.  A few coats of flat white spray paint immediately modernized them and gave them the appearence of porcelain.  It was such a simple fix that I've been resisting a strong urge to spray paint all of my household objects.

A mantle is always a natural home to display seasonal objects like these, but add a few bottles of wine and some cocktails to the mix and you have yourself a cozy party by the fire! 

 

photos + styling © cake. 2011

Owl Love: A Rustic Handmade Wedding

This is the first ever wedding to be shared on Cake. and it’s going to set the bar high.  Bride Kerri Gilpin is a talented artist and designed by hand many of the beautiful details seen below.  This unique wedding took place on a ranch and has a comfortable rustic feel... including owls, antiques and even some archery.  Read on for details and sources from Kerri, including a tutorial for her gorgeous bouquet of vintage brooches.

photos © jordan weiland

From Kerri: Our wedding took place on a cattle ranch in Florida.  We chose to have a different arrangement of objects on each table. For the base, a square of fabric, cut with pinking shears (for the zig-zag effect). Each table had a mason jar (some vintage, some new) with an arrangement of fresh flowers, with glass in the bottom. There was one vintage camera (all from my own collection), a bird or owl, and either a bird house or bird cage.  For our head table, I hand painted the wooden owl masks I got from Joann Fabrics.  The turquoise yarn bird I purchased at Target in their Christmas Closeout.  Each table setting had a tin of BBQ Rub, a CD of some great love songs I compiled, and a Wedding Mad Libs.  For my wedding cake, I wanted something whimsical, hand made looking, and different than anything out there. I feel like it was a success!  I wanted it to look like stitches sewn into the wedding cake. :) The cream colored cake stand was loaned, the bunting was made by my friend Brooke Ernst, I got the Birdhouses from Joann Fabrics and painted them turquoise.  The quilt hanging in the backdrop of the photo booth was handmade by my late grandmother, and the frame was spray painted by me.  We even had wedding Archery and Cornhole!  We own the bow and arrows and the owner of the ranch had the cornhole boards.

Signs, Owl Masks, Program Fans: Kerri Gilpin
Photography: Jordan Weiland
Cake: It's a Piece of Cake by Maggi
Cake Owls: Claylicious
Biscuits and gravy sign: YeeHaw Industries 


You can find Kerri’s tutorial for her vintage floral brooch bouquet here.

real parties: a pink owl party

Remember this pink owl birthday inspiration board I created? Well here at last are pictures of the big event from Amy. It turned out absolutely adorable... I mean, just look at that cake! And the owl on the bloomers... simply priceless. See Amy's blog for lots more pictures and details.

{images via emme claire}

real parties: my 'tweet' office baby shower

Is it Sunday night already? It's been a busy weekend, but I had a wonderful time celebrating both my mom and baby to be. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next weekend to see yesterday's lovely tea shower, but here are the highlights of the owl themed shower my co-workers threw me late last week...

Knowing my passion for details, they pulled out all the stops including congratulations bunting, little 'tweet' favor pouches, a personalized diaper cake and a poster signed by all that matched the owl theme of the invitations. Each guest brought a onsie to hang for the onsie game, and my daughter will now officially be dressed to the nines. I didn't take many pictures of the food, but it was beyond belief... even a chocolate fountain with a variety of goodies to dip. I'm still overwhelmed by the effort and generosity that went into making this shower happen. Work has been particularly stressful lately and there couldn't have been a better time to feel so well loved and appreciated.

{images copyright bg2010}

custom inspiration board: give a hoot for pink owls

This Pink Owl party was requested by Amy who wanted a girly pink owl party for her daughters first birthday. She's hosting the party at a winery and has hired a caterer and photographer so it's sure to be a fabulous affair. Can't wait to see all the pretty pictures!

Theme: Pink Owl 1st Birthday

Party Ideas
Colors: pink with green & purple accents
Setting: appetizers and desserts for kids and adults at a winery tasting room
Decorations: For table centerpieces use lush pink flowers in a variety of heights and shades. Scatter pink feathers around the tables like confetti. On the food, gift and dessert tables use tall skinny vases with manzinita branches and hang felt or fabric owls from the branches. Pink, green and purple bunting can be draped around the bottom of these special tables as well. For balloons, extra large round helium balloons can be tied behind each chair or in clusters to add height to the space.
Food: passed appetizers and a selection of desserts including a candy buffet, cake and owl shaped sugar cookies
Favors: Stuffed owls in a variety of styles and sizes would be cute additions to each table and each guest could choose one to take home at the end of the party. Also make sure to have bags and labels so guests can take home extra candy.
Other: If you need an activity, there are a number of tutorials online to create owl bean bags and other owl crafts (ie: http://www.petitelefant.com/2008/01/diy-owl-bean-bag.html)

Photo Credits
Row 1: flowers via snippet & ink; owl prints via hwtm; bunting via twig and thistle
Row 2: tags via etsy; felt owls via not just a mommy; owl ornaments via etsy
Row 3: candy jars via scissors paper cake; thank you tags via the celebration shoppe; stitch kit via etsy
Row 4: plush owls via the celebration shoppe; tables with balloons via martha stewart; feather via rebecca thuss; cupcake via hello naomi

paper monday: hoot hoot! owl party supplies

Okay, so I know it’s not Monday anymore, but I totally forgot to post this yesterday. Is anyone else feeling off schedule after the long weekend?

I’m going to be working on a pink owl custom inspiration board this week and remembered that The Celebration Shoppe has these adorable new owl baby shower party supplies... so perfect! I have to admit I have a personal love for this theme because I’m considering doing an owl theme in my future daughter’s nursery. We painted the walls a pale tiffany blue this weekend and now I’m beside myself with decorating potential... so many choices!

{images via the celebration shoppe}

bird's nest cupcakes: nesting shower, part 3

Birds nest cupcakes... the ideal dessert for a nesting shower.  I used chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, toasted coconut & chocolate covered almond ‘eggs’.  Just one word of caution... I made the almonds the night before and some of the blue powdered sugar sunk into the chocolate overnight.  If time allows, it would be best to serve them the same day, but c'est la vie... they were still yummy.

{image ©bg 2009}

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
8 oz (227g) cold cream cheese1 stick (113 g) unsalted butter, firm but not cold
1/8 tsp salt
3 3/4 cups (375 g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat batter, beat the cream cheese, butter and salt on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until incorporated.
3. Add the vanilla and beat just until incorporated. D

o not overmix or the frosting will incorporate too much air; it should be creamy and dense, like ice cream.
4. Add milk, 1 tsp at a time, if frosting does not have a spreadable consistency.

Toasted Coconut
(makes 1.5 cups)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350.  Spread coconut on a baking sheet, bake until light brown 8-10 minutes rotating pan once. Set aside to cool.

Chocolate Almond Robin’s Eggs
Makes about 2 pounds

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups (13 ounces) un-blanched whole almonds
1 pound chocolate chips
1/2 cup blue dusting powder

Directions:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast almonds for 15 minutes on a baking sheet. Line baking pan with parchment paper; set aside.
- Place chocolate in a medium bowl; place bowl over simmering water until melted.   
Drop in the Almonds and stir until coated.
- Transfer nuts onto prepared baking pan and separate nuts so none stick together.  
- Refrigerate until chocolate has set, about 20 minutes.
- Place powder into bowl. Toss the nuts in powder and gently tap off any excess powder.
- Store separately in airtight containers for up to 1 month.

party animals at night owl paper goods

I absolutely adore this new line from the folksy-folks at night owl.  All their little critters are priceless, and talk about organic paper!  The cards are actually printed on the source itself, thin slices of birch wood from sustainable forests.  The cards are blank on the back and apparently any pen or pencil will work just fine for writing your birthday sentiments.  Check out their website for even more designs.

{images via night owl paper goods}