real parties: a bookish birthday brunch

Last weekend my bookclub got together for a birthday celebration since there were several of us with April birthdays.  We held a simple brunch and I offered to decorate so I could have an opportunity to test out my new Epic machine, sent to me from Lifestyle Crafts.  I set the table with a kelly green & white striped cloth, and created centerpieces by wrapping our club’s books in kraft paper and stacking them up between mason jars of simple flowers.

As place cards and favors, I designed bookmarks using the letterpress feature of the Epic and tied them with a navy satin ribbon.  The letterpress process was a bit tedious and didn’t give me the deep impression and even coverage of a professional letterpress print, but that aside I think they turned out pretty good.  Frankly, just being able to create my own letterpress products at home gives me insane joy.  For this project I used one of Lifestyle’s stock plates, but you can actually design and order your own custom plates too... next time I’ll definitely go that route so I can get exactly what I want.

In addition to the bookmarks, I used both the letterpress and the die cut feature to create little bunting flags for the cake.  The great thing about the die shape is that it cut little slits at the top of the flags so I could easily string them through a bit of baking twine and attach them with skewers to the cake...

Oh yes, the cake.  My friend Chris outdid himself with the baking... he actually made the Pop Rocks cake!!!  It was everything I hoped it could be too... delicious velvety chocolate with a surprise burst at the end of each bite.  Seriously, it may have been one of the most fun things I’ve ever eaten.

Hope you enjoy this simple brunch and stay tuned... on Monday I’m running a *GIVEAWAY* of an Epic machine combo kit!  Come back to enter and you could win one for your very own.  In addition, Lifestyle Crafts is offering a discount to Birthday Girl readers for 20% of all products on their site through the end of the month.  Just enter the code: BLOGBIRTHDAY at checkout.  

{images © birthday girl 2011}

spotted: DiY party tablecloths

Maybe I'm just stating the obvious here, but when designing a party I always opt for fabric tablecloths over their disposable counterparts.  In fact, I often find myself buying bolts of pretty fabric with no specific purpose, subscribing to the theory that 'if you buy it... the party will come'.  And it generally does.  I'll be sharing a party later this week incorporating one of my recent finds, but in the meantime I want to share a terrific tutorial for creating your own fabric tablecloth, courtesy of Simone at Beach Vintage.... visit her blog for a step by step guide.

{ps: last chance to vote!}

{image via beach vintage}