Pure Joy Events

Cute Tape Giveaway Entry

2012-02-02T00:07:00.003-05:00

When Glenda of Cute Tape announced that she was hosting a $100 giveaway to celebrate 1,000 Facebook fans, I knew I had to get my entry in before tonight's deadline. With a huge assortment of Japanese washi tape, cutetape.com is the place to shop for the "real stuff". There's even a gallery to showcase your creations or to get inspired.

By looking at my blog, it's quite obvious that I'm just a little obsessed with washi tape. I've used it for a variety of craft projects from egg decorating to gift wrapping. For the holidays, I even styled a photo shoot that was entirely inspired by washi tape.

Being a perfectionist, I love how washi tape can be applied and reapplied until it's just right. And because it's so easy to use, my kids are always getting into my washi tape stash. Ooh, how fabulous would it be to win the $100 shopping spree at cutetape.com! Of course, washi tape would be on top of my wish list, but I also have my eye on the flat glassine gift treat bags and the deep red Japanese wax paper hang tags, just to name a few. They'd be perfect for making goody bags to pass out at school for Valentine's Day.

Giveaway Winner: Cute Tape Sweetheart Package

2012-01-27T10:29:00.003-05:00

There was a record number of entries for the Cute Tape Sweetheart package giveaway. Everyone must love washi tape, paper straws and pretty packaging as much as I do! Thanks so much for entering. The lucky winner is Michele of Cakewalk Baking. Congratulations, Michele.

Remember the Matchbox Love Note that I made using washi tape from the giveaway? I'm sharing the how-to on Bird's Party today. Before you head over, there's another opportunity to win some fabulous prizes. The fourth Party Tutorial Contest is currently underway. Go here for the complete details on how to enter.

Linking up to: A Glimpse Inside

LEGO Star Wars Birthday Party

2012-01-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago in a galaxy far, far away, 15 Rebel troopers joined forces to celebrate Jedi Camden's 5th birthday.

Everything from the cake to the decorations, was inspired by the comic strip invitation booklet that was brilliantly designed by my friend, Melanie of ewe hooo!. The sunburst motif, and gray and orange colors from the invitation were carried over to the dessert table and photo booth.

A simple dessert table backdrop was created by re-using the navy blue and gray pomettes from my parents' anniversary party and suspending a LEGO snow speeder from the ceiling. The Jedi pilot cake from PhoebeCakes stood on top of a cake stand built entirely out of LEGOs.

We also had a mini birthday celebration for Uncle Frank and baby Haven with cupcakes from Cupcakes Actually and Happy Eatery, and fondant toppers made by the incredibly talented, Lynlee of Lynlee's Petite Cakes.

Doughbabies baked by Dough a Deer were placed on top of oatmeal boxes covered with wrapping paper to resemble LEGO bricks. Mom's Killer Cakes killed it with the Storm Trooper, Darth Vader and Death Star cake pops.

The comic strip style photo booth constructed from black tri-fold foam board and equipped with LEGO Star Wars props was another big hit with the guests. It was Melanie's idea to blow up the image of the sunburst for the background.

Of course the LEGOs were the highlight of the party. Brixalot, a local company here in the Dulles area, hooked us up with 30,000+ LEGOs -- more than enough bricks to rebuild the Rebel fleet.

It wouldn't be a party at our place without a creation from my husband, the "Cardboard Master". Every year, he puts his Mechanical Engineering degree to good use and makes the most incredible things out of cardboard (check out what he made for the Transformers party). Can you believe that he built this snow speeder in just one week? Paper Star Wars snowflakes, which hung above the snow speeder, were another last minute DIY project (you can download the snowflake templates here).

At the conclusion of Camden's 5th birthday saga, guests took home these mini LEGO Star Wars ship sets. A galactic good time was had by all!

Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography / Invitation and Other Printables: ewe hooo! / LEGOs: Brixalot / Cake: PhoebeCakes / Cupcake Toppers: Lynlee's Petite Cakes / Cupcakes: Cupcakes Actually and Happy Eatery / Mini Doughnuts: Dough a Deer / Cake Pops: Mom's Killer Cakes / Pomettes: Pom Flair / Printing: Brickwall Printing and Graphics

Party Tutorial Contest #4

2012-01-23T08:35:00.004-05:00

I go all out for my kids' birthday parties, but when it comes to my birthday, I usually keep it pretty low key. Not this year! I'm turning the big 40 (yup, that's right, 40) today, and celebrating with a Party Tutorial Contest. Simply link up your DIY party project for a chance to win some fabulous prizes from Lynlee's Petite Cakes, Piggy Bank Parties and 6 Bittersweets.

The 1st place winner will receive a dozen flat cupcake toppers* from the oh-so-talented Lynlee of Lynlee's Petite Cakes.

* Winner must provide at least 4 weeks of advance notice when redeeming.

Do of Piggy Bank Parties, a fellow do-it-yourselfer, is hooking up the 2nd place winner with a $40 gift certificate to her party printables shop.

And Xioalu of 6 Bittersweets is sending the 3rd place winner a batch of her decadent Oreo brownies, browned butter pecan chocolate chip cookies, or cranberry lemon polenta cookies.

Our lovely sponsors from the last contest, Louisa over at FLIPAWOO, Nikki from Nikki, In Stitches and Kristen of Decorate This! will be selecting the top three tutorials this time around. Remember, they'll be looking for original and creative party tutorials that are easy to follow. Then, you'll vote to determine who takes first, second and third!

To enter your DIY party project(s), you must:
1. Be a blog follower or Facebook fan of Pure Joy Events.
2. Mention the contest on your blog, Facebook page, or Twitter.

Contest is open to US residents only and ends Friday, February 3rd at 11:59 PM EST. Previous entries cannot be linked up again.

Giveaway: Cute Tape Sweetheart Package

2012-01-20T10:00:00.004-05:00

Yay! It's giveaway time. I'm super excited to be hosting our first giveaway of the year today. Up for grabs, a Sweetheart package from Glenda of Cute Tape. It includes all of these lovelies to help get you in the mood for Valentine's Day:

* 3 rolls of red solid, red stripe and red dot dash washi tape
* 20 small red chevron kraft paper bags (2.75" x 4")
* 50 small red gift tags (2-3/4" x 1-3/8")
* 25 sweet red hearts paper straws

Just take a look at what you can do with some cute tape. Catch my Matchbox Love Note tutorial coming soon to Bird's Party.

To enter:
1. Like Cute Tape on Facebook.
2. Like Pure Joy Events on Facebook.
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page, blog or Twitter.

Must be a US resident to enter. Please leave a comment here after each entry. Giveaway ends on Thursday, January 26th at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be selected at random and announced the following day. Good luck!

DIY Chandeliers

2012-01-17T10:28:00.009-05:00

DIY chandeliers can add a touch of elegance or whimsy to your next celebration. Hang them over a dessert table or dining table for visual impact. Want to see more eye candy? Come check out my Pinterest board.

Yarn Chandelier by Libby Lane Press via Hostess with the Mostess

Doily Chandelier via Martha Stewart Weddings / Bubble Chandelier via 100 Layer Cake

Paint Swatch Chandelier via Hey Gorgeous

Rock Candy Chandelier via Once Wed / Beaded Chandelier via Dollar Store Crafts

DC Blogger Mix and Mingle

2012-01-14T17:59:00.001-05:00

I had such an incredible time meeting some of the local area bloggers and party peeps at the DC Blogger Mix and Mingle, hosted by Katie of Petite Social and Lindi from Love the Day. I think everyone immediately connected because we're all trying to juggle work/business and family on very little sleep : ) I can definitely relate to that! It was interesting to learn how everyone got started and their goals for 2012. I'm already looking forward to our next event.

Brittany SweetBee Photography / Emily Frosting & Ink / Nicolle Libby Lane Press / Katie Petite Social / Lindi Love the Day / Wilmara Madly Stylish Events / Michelle Sweet Mady / Aaliyah The Sweetest Affair / Christine Pure Joy Events / Brenda Sugar High / Anne Marie Little Choux

Valentine Cupid Kit

2012-01-13T09:45:00.004-05:00

This handmade cupid kit from Casey at PAPER + TWINE is such a sweet way to say "I love you" this Valentine's Day. The kits come with a drawstring muslin bag, 5 love memos, and 2 linen hearts. Quantities are limited, so get yours today.

Photos via PAPER + TWINE

Recipe: Tangerine Orange Mousse

2012-01-12T10:03:00.002-05:00

Oranges and tangerines, the symbols of wealth, good fortune, and happiness, were the inspiration for the Lunar New Year dessert table featured on Bird's Party magazine. Blog contributor, Xiaolu of 6 Bittersweets, is back here today to share the recipe for her tangerine orange mousse.

Photo By Rebecca Watkins Photography

Tangerine Orange Mousse [Printable Recipe]
Slightly adapted from the New York Times
Serves about 6 to 8

XIAOLU'S NOTES: If you don't have orange-flavored liqueur on hand or want to keep this non-alcoholic, you may substitute 2 tablespoons of orange juice concentrate (undiluted) in place of the liqueur.

Zest of 2 tangerines, to garnish
2/3 cup tangerine juice (from about 3 to 4 tangerines)
1 package (1/4-ounce) unflavored gelatin (such as Knox brand)
3 Tbsp lukewarm water
2 Tbsp Cointreau, Grand Marnier, OR other orange-flavored liqueur
5 large eggs, separated
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream, cold

Wash and dry 2 tangerines, then zest them (being careful to stop before you reach the bitter white pith underneath). Store zest in a covered container and set aside for garnish. Slice 3 tangerines (including the 2 zested ones) in half and squeeze their juice into a bowl. Strain the juice to remove pulp and seeds, then transfer into a measuring cup. If there is less than 2/3 cup, then juice a 4th orange until you have 2/3 cup tangerine juice in total. Set juice aside. In a separate small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in 3 tablespoons of lukewarm water and add the orange liqueur (or orange juice concentrate); set aside.

Place the egg yolks in a heavy saucepan and add the sugar, lemon juice and tangerine juice. Mix well, using a wire whisk. Place the saucepan over very low heat (you may also use a double boiler) and whisk gently until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon (like in this photo). Be careful not to overcook the egg mixture. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and let cool completely.

Transfer the cream into a chilled, medium-sized bowl. Whip with an electric mixer until the cream holds stiff peaks. In a separate bowl (must be completely free of oil or fat), whip the egg whites until barely stiff (should be just past soft peaks and not yet too dry). Fold whipped cream into the cooled egg-tangerine mixture. Gently fold in the egg whites until just barely blended.

Place the mousse in individual bowls or glasses or in a serving bowl. Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.

Xiaolu - Contributing Writer from 6 Bittersweets

Xiaolu loves baking, cooking, and pretty much any food-related DIY project. Since starting her blog, 6 Bittersweets, in late 2009, she has discovered a strong passion for food and still life photography.

Lunar New Year Gifts

2012-01-10T21:00:00.009-05:00

Founded by illustrator, Joyce Wan, Wanart offers some of the cutest gifts for Lunar New Year (2012 is the year of the dragon), birthdays, weddings, and other sweet occasions. There's so much kawaii goodness, including canvas giclées, magnets, note cards, and even children's books.

Photos via Wanart

Lego Star Wars Birthday Party: Invitations

2012-01-05T10:07:00.009-05:00

I met Melanie of ewe hooo! right around the time I started blogging, and we've kept in touch ever since. As you may remember, she designed the invitations for Caitlyn's Mad Science birthday party, which continues to be one of the most popular posts on the blog. For Camden's Lego Star Wars themed invitation, Melanie came up with this brilliant comic strip booklet. The birthday boy absolutely loved it!

The story opens at the end of Episode IV and ends with an invitation to "rebuild the Rebel fleet with young Jedi, Camden".

Seriously, how cool is this invitation? My favorite part is when Darth Vader tries to recruit some new members to his army -- so hilarious!

Planning a Lego Star Wars party for your little Jedi? The invitation booklet is now available in ewe hooo's Etsy shop. For more inspirations, come back later this month when I share the details from Camden's 5th birthday party.

Inspiring Party Tutorials of 2011

2012-01-03T08:44:00.007-05:00

Some of my favorite party tutorials from 2011 were the ones that I actually followed, or at least wanted to try. I love that they are so versatile -- perfect for all kinds of occasions.

Ruffled Garland by Hank + Hunt via The Sweetest Occasion

Pomander Flower Ball by Frog Prince Paperie via Pizzazzerie

Tissue Tassel Garland via Visual Vocabulary

Inflatable Birthday Invitation via Funkytime

Ruffle-icing Cake via Mini The Happy Home

Zig Zag Accordion Streamers via Oh Happy Day

Dixie Cup Garland via Hey Gorgeous

45th Wedding Anniversary

2012-01-02T10:08:00.012-05:00

My parents tied the knot exactly 45 years ago today. The bride looked beautiful in her lace Vietnamese dress (ao dai), and groom was quite handsome in his dark suit -- kinda reminds me of a young JFK.

5 children and 9 grandchildren later, they still hold hands when they stroll down the beach. To celebrate this momentous occasion, 130 close friends and family were invited to an anniversary party in their honor.

Lindi from Love the Day custom designed the sophisticated invitation, table number cards, food tents, patterned papers, and thank you card in sapphire (the 45th wedding anniversary gemstone) and gray. Large tissue paper pommettes by Carmen of Pom Flair, along with dozens of handcrafted pommettes adorned the backdrop of the photo area.

Guests enjoyed a dinner buffet, followed by live music and dancing. One of the highlights of the night was when my dad serenaded her with a couple of love songs. Wishing you many more years of wedded bliss, Mom and Dad!

New Year, New Blog Design

2012-01-01T09:28:00.010-05:00

Happy New Year, friends! PJE is stepping into 2012 with a fresh, new look designed by the talented Carolyn of Carolyn V. Blog Design. Chances are, you've seen her work before. She has redesigned blogs for Paiges of Style, Loralee Lewis, A Blissful Nest and P is for Party, while living half way around the world in Graz, Austria.

For those of you who have followed this blog when it was still called "Following Phubie", you know it's been tweaked quite a bit over the past year and a half. This one is a keeper for sure. I love the combination of cursive and block fonts in the logo, and how washi tape (you know how I obsessed I am with that stuff) was incorporated in the menu bar and sidebar titles. Carolyn really captured my style and was such a pleasure to work with. Don't be shy, go ahead and grab our gorgeous new button.

I'm looking forward to seeing what 2012 will bring. Hope you'll join us for another year of party inspirations and DIY tutorials.

Lullaby Baby Shower: Feature on Hostess with the Mostess

2011-12-28T10:34:00.005-05:00

I can't think of a better way to end 2011 than with my first feature on Hostess with the Mostess. What an incredible year it's been! I feel so grateful for all of the wonderful press and overwhelming support.

Looking ahead, 2012 will kick off with the launch of a new blog design (which I'm so excited to reveal), as well as, pictures from my parents' 45th anniversary party. I'll also share my tutorial for paper globes on Bird's Party, details from Camden's 5th birthday party, and host the 4th Party Tutorial Contest to celebrate my 40th birthday (yikes!) in January. Lots of new posts lined up, so be sure to visit us again soon. Wishing you a joyous New Year!

Vintage Sewing Birthday Party: Feature on Tiny & Little Magazine

2011-12-07T09:58:00.003-05:00

Hands down, one of this year's highlights would have to be the lovely photo spread on tiny & little, an online publication based in Melbourne, Australia, geared towards parents-to-be and families with young children. Such an honor to have the Vintage Sewing Party featured as one of the editor's favorite parties of 2011, along with parties from design and styling superstars like Thetis of Little Sooti and Sharnel Dollar.

Vintage Sewing Party by Pure Joy Events

Vintage Hot Air Balloon Party by Little Sooti

Vintage Plane Party by Mini Mocha

William's Wild West Showdown by Sharnel Dollar Design

Rainbow Party by Invite Me

And with Christmas just weeks away, be sure to check out the editor's twelve must-have gifts.

Styling Inspirations: Anthropologie Window Displays

2011-12-01T10:03:00.005-05:00

Whenever I come across an Anthropologie window display, I just can't help admiring all of the gorgeous details. Their displays are so chic and over the top, they really draw you into the store. Check out some of my favorite pins on Pinterest and get inspired this holiday season.

Via Rita Hurley

Repinned from crafts by Tracy Wagner

Repinned from Calzatura by Elizabeth Schmidt | window displays by Donna Ferren

Via Rita Hurley

Washi Tape Holiday Photo Shoot

2011-11-29T08:11:00.024-05:00

Back in October, Natalie of The Knock-Knock Factory posed this question on her Facebook page -- "What's on your party bucket list?" I left a comment saying that I've been meaning to have a party inspired by Japanese washi tape. Next thing I knew, we were talking about having a washi tape holiday photo shoot. Within days, Paula of Frog Prince Paperie, Glenda from Cute Tape, Xiaolu of 6 Bittersweets, and Frances, the owner of The Pear Tree Cottage, were all on board.

We're so ecstatic to have the details and photos featured on The Sweetest Occasion today. The post includes free downloadable gift tags from Frog Prince Paperie, plus a fabulous giveaway from Cute Tape. Thanks to all of the talented contributors, I can officially cross off "washi tape party" from my list.

Photography: 6 Bittersweets

As seen on: The Sweetest Occasion / Whipperberry

Pumpkin Pie in a Jar

2011-11-16T10:10:00.005-05:00

One of the things I look forward to most on Thanksgiving day is pumpkin pie! Homemade pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream just melts in your mouth. I could have it all year round. This holiday season, show your thanks by giving pumpkin pie in a jar. My "go to" recipe can be found on the back of Libby's Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix. Just add eggs and evaporated milk to the mix, then pop in the oven. Easy as pie. Here are some other super simple recipes you can try:

Pumpkin Pecan Dessert in a Jar via Glorious Treats / Icebox Pumpkin Pie in a Jar via Whipperberry

Layered Pumpkin Pie in a Jar via A FarmGirl's Dabbles / Glass Jar Spiced Pumpkin Pie via The Scootabaker

Lunar New Year Photo Shoot on Bird's Party Magazine

2011-11-13T22:29:00.006-05:00

Looking for stylish inspirations for your holiday entertaining? Bird's Party Magazine, Holiday 2011 issue, has got you covered. It's filled with over 130 pages of recipes, DIY tutorials, party inspirations, holiday gift ideas, and so much more.

When Bird asked me if I was interested in doing a photo shoot to showcase her Lunar New Year printable collection, I jumped at the chance. There's definitely a lack of Lunar New Year printables available out there, so I was delighted that she created a collection complete with invitations, thank you cards, cupcake toppers, buffet cards, favor boxes, and patterned paper.

I wanted to create a modern Asian vibe and displayed the desserts on my dark bamboo entertainment center, which made the vibrant colors from the collection really pop! I couldn't have done it without help from Rebecca of Rebecca Wakins Photography, who did an amazing job capturing all of the angles. Brittany of Edible Details sculpted the most incredible 3D dragon figure and other fondant toppers for the moon cakes; and Xiaolu of 6 Bittersweets whipped up some fragrant orange passionfruit curd poppyseed mini tarts and tangerine mousse. You can catch the complete spread on pages 46 through 53 of the magazine.

Tutorial: Angry Birds Fondant Toppers

2011-11-11T08:38:00.024-05:00

The stunning cakes that you see at just about all of my events are made by my friend, Loan of PhoebeCakes. She's a pharmacist who picked up cake decorating just a few years ago. For someone who never played with Play Doh growing up, her fondant creations always get lots of "oohs and aahs" from our guests. I'm sure you remember the cakes that she made for the Lullaby Baby Shower, Vintage Sewing Birthday Party, and Transformers Birthday Party.

Well it turns out that Loan lives just down the road from Xiaolu, our newest blog contributor from 6 Bittersweets, so we all got together a few weeks ago to shoot this tutorial for Angry Birds fondant toppers.

Here are the supplies you'll need:
* red, white, yellow, black and green fondant
* tylose or water for the "glue"
* rice krispies treats
* fondant roller
* black edible marker
* round piping tips
* round cutters
* small brush
* exacto knife
* dresden tool (optional)

First, roll the rice krispies treats into a ball the size of a gumball. Then knead the red fondant until it becomes soft and pliable. Roll out the fondant and cut out with a 2" round cutter.

Wrap the rice krispies treats ball completely with the fondant, then roll between your hands to remove the seams.

Roll out the white fondant. Cut out with a 1" round cutter and roll into an oval. Brush with a small amount of tylose or water and adhere to the red ball.

Shape the yellow fondant into a small cone, glue on the beak and score with an exacto knife.

For the eyes, cut out 2 white circles with a small piping tip and glue above the beak. Draw in the pupils with the black edible marker. For the eye brows, make elongated tear drops from the black fondant and glue above the eyes.

Now for the finishing touches. Form a red tear drop, score to create the head feathers, then glue to the top. For the tail feathers, form a black tear drop, score twice, then glue to the back.

On to the green pig! Follow the steps above to make the head. Form an oval for the snout, glue onto the head, then use the dresden tool to create the nostrils. For the eyes, cut out 2 white circles with a small piping tip and glue above the sides of the snout. Draw in the pupils and eye brows with the black edible marker.

Lastly, form 2 tear drops for the ears, press down the center with the dresden tool, and glue to the top of the head.

Thanks, Loan for sharing the tutorial. Visit PhoebeCakes to see more of her incredible fondant creations, including a whole Angry Birds cake. And if you missed our red bird and black bomber bird Halloween costumes, go here.

Photography: 6 Bittersweets

Angry Birds Costumes

2011-11-02T18:36:00.026-04:00

With my sister's baby shower, my husband's 40th birthday celebration, and two photo shoots all within weeks of each other, there was no way I could make the kids' Halloween costumes this year. I've always been a big fan of handmade costumes, so when the whole family decided to dress up as characters from the Angry Birds game, I searched on Etsy and found these adorable crocheted hats from Staci at Ruffled Edges. I actually ended up sewing sling shots from felt remnants (a very easy and inexpensive project) to complete the look.

Staci's hats were so well crafted that I didn't mind paying a bit extra. And it was an added bonus that they could still be worn after Halloween was over. Swing by Ruffled Edges to see more of her beautiful work. Wouldn't this owl hat would look great paired with our DIY owl costume?

Tutorial: Spooky Graveyard Cupcakes

2011-10-23T10:06:00.018-04:00

I'm beyond thrilled to officially announce that my talented friend, Xiaolu of 6 Bittersweets will be a regular contributor on the blog. She's an avid photographer, foodie, blogger, and the perfect addition to the PJE team. Who can forget the spool of thread cake pops that she created for the Vintage Sewing Party? Since then, we've collaborated on several projects, including the breast cancer awareness photo shoot featuring printables from Heather of Chickabug. I can hardly wait to share more of what we've been working on. For now, please welcome Xiaolu and enjoy reading her first post as contributing writer.

I love tutorials, don’t you? They have that great ability to take you from the initial reaction of being in awe of the final product to thinking, “You know what…I can do that!” As I was remarking to Christine just yesterday, it’s unbelievable how much photo and video tutorials have helped me with my website, my photography, and my baking business. From this wealth of information on the internet, I’ve learned methods of baking and decorating that people used to have to take classes to learn! So when Christine asked me to become a regular contributor on Pure Joy Events -- when she offered me a chance to teach and empower other food and craft-lovers as I’d been taught and empowered -- I immediately sent back an emphatic “Yes!”

Especially exciting to me at that moment was the fact that Halloween (my favorite holiday) was coming up! And what is Halloween if not a DIY-lover’s dream? I mean, sure, you could easily find pre-made mass-produced costumes, decorations, and treats in stores. But what is the FUN in that? This is a day made for remembering just how amazing and fruitful our own 2 hands are, for rediscovering creativity. For looking at a trash bag and imagining spiderwebs, looking at cheesecloth and envisioning a ghost, and so much more! But now I’ve gotten carried away. The real reason I’m here today is to share a tutorial for a creepy, fun, and ultra-nommable Halloween project for you to make for and with family and friends. After going through my step-by-step photos and downloading the FREE printable toppers that Heather of Chickabug is generously sharing, I certainly hope you’ll be saying to yourself, “I can do this!” Have a safe and spooky Halloween, my friends!

Spooky Graveyard Vanilla Cookies N' Cream Cupcakes
Cake adapted from Beantown Baker; fondant toppers adapted from The Red Deer
Makes 12 cupcakes

XIAOLU'S NOTES: As I've mentioned before, I prefer marshmallow fondant because the taste is much much better than storebought. That being said, storebought fondant will work just fine here as well. You should make the fondant toppers at least 1 day before you plan to use them so that they have a chance to dry. I chose ganache mostly to provide a level surface for the toppers. If you'd prefer a different frosting, you can crumble the 12 leftover cookie halves (the ones without frosting) and sprinkle the crumbs on top of OR mix them into whatever frosting you decide to use.

Make the skull and bones fondant toppers:
About 5 oz. Marshmallow Fondant (Recipe here)
Yellow and brown gel or paste food coloring
Wooden skewer
Vodka
Narrow food-safe paintbrush

Cover a clean flat surface with powdered sugar. Color the fondant a light yellowish brown by squeezing 1 drop of yellow coloring onto the surface and kneading it in until the color is evenly distributed (no streaks). Keep some trans fat-free shortening on hand as you work; if the fondant gets too dry, you can knead some shortening in to make it more pliable.

Then squeeze a small drop of brown food coloring onto the fondant and knead it in as well. (I actually made my marshmallow fondant a little too dry as you can see in the photo above. It would be too dry and crack if we tried to cover a cake with it, but fortunately these toppers are fairly small so a little dryness is okay.)

To make a bone topper, first roll a small ball of fondant about 1/2-inch wide between your palms. Make sure to keep the remaining fondant in an airtight container while you work on small pieces; otherwise, it'll quickly dry up and become useless! Roll fondant ball into a log (about 1 1/2 inches long) that's thicker at the ends by putting pressure on the middle as you roll using your index finger.

Use the end of a wooden skewer or toothpick to push into each end of the "bone" to divide them into 2 sections (like real bones have). Then use your fingertips to further separate the sections and smooth them out. Continue using your thumb and index fingertips to lengthen the middle part of the bone and make it more uniform in width.

Use the pointed end of your wooden skewer or toothpick to draw some cracks, and you're now done shaping your first bone! Repeat the same process to make 11 more (one for each cupcake).

Once you've finished shaping all 12 bones, go back to paint the first one (which should have hardened a little by now and be easier to handle). I painted them with a narrow, food-safe brush using brown gel food coloring diluted with a little vodka (don't use water!). As you can see from the dirty paper towel in the photo, I blotted frequently (after every dip into the food coloring!). Don't forget to do this or your bones will get way too dark! Just a few strokes here and there (mostly on the sides) to make them look more aged and dirty. Paint all the bones, then leave to dry for at least 8 hours and up to 1 week (do NOT cover; just leave them open to the air in a safe and dry place).

To make a skull topper, first roll a small ball of fondant about 3/4-inch wide between your palms.

Use your index finger to widen the ball and roll one end so that it's a little less thick than the other (the shape should be vaguely similar to a lightbulb). Use the wider end of a wooden skewer or something else with a round end to make "eye sockets." After first inserting the tip, you'll probably have to move it around slightly in a circle motion to widen the depression until it looks to be about the right size.

Now switch back to the pointy end of the wooden skewer or toothpick to draw holes for "nostrils" as well as a "mouth" (I stuck with the sewn/shrunken-looking mouth by drawing a horizontal line plus 3 to 4 short vertical lines crossing it). Use your thumb and index fingers to slightly press in the lower sides of the "skull" thus making the cheekbones more prominent.

Use the pointed end of your wooden skewer or toothpick to draw some cracks, and you're now done shaping your first skull! Repeat the same process to make 11 more (one for each cupcake). Once you've finished shaping all 12 skulls, go back to paint the first one (which should have hardened a little by now and be easier to handle). I painted with the same brown gel food coloring as before (diluted with just a little vodka (don't use water!)). Again I blotted frequently (after every dip into the food coloring!). Don't forget to do this or your bones will get way too dark! I used this more concentrated color to paint the eye sockets, nostrils, and mouth. I also added a few strokes here and there to make the skulls look more aged.

Finally I dipped the brush in pure vodka and painted it as a "wash" over the previous color. The effect should be to make the skull look old and dirty overall, with the darker brown falling into the depressions in the eye sockets, nostrils, mouth, and crackers! Paint all the skulls, then leave to dry for at least 8 hours and up to 1 week (do NOT cover; just leave them open to the air in a safe and dry place) together with the bone toppers.

Assemble paper tombstone toppers:
Tombstone Toppers Printed on Card Stock (FREE printable available from Chickabug)
Scissors
Tape
12 4-inch lollipop sticks

Cut tombstone toppers out of card stock. Use a small piece of scotch tape (about 1 inch long) to tape a lollipop stick to the back of each tombstone. Cut the end of each lollipop stick so that there's only about 1 1/2 inches of the stick extending beyond the paper tombstones.

Make cupcakes:
18 (about 1/2 package) Oreo, Newman-O, or other chocolate cream-filled cookies
1 Tbsp all purpose flour (for Oreo chunks)
1 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
Slightly rounded 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cream OR half and half
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the top of a standard 12-cup muffin pan (in case you get some “muffin top” action). Line pan with 12 baking liners. Twist apart 12 Oreos. Place a half with filling on it (filling side up) in the bottom of each paper liner. Reserve the remaining 12 halves without filling AND 19 whole Oreos for topping the cupcakes later.

Cut 6 whole Oreo cookies into large chunks with a sharp knife. Toss with 1 tablespoon of flour and set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup PLUS 2 tablespoons of flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Using a stand or handheld electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light, about 2 to 4 minutes. Add the 1/4 cup cream and continue beating just until incorporated. Add 1/2 the flour mixture to butter mixture and mix until combined. Add the milk and vanilla, then mix just until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until combined. Add egg whites to the batter, and mix on medium speed for about 1 1/2 minutes. Finally, stir in the quartered Oreo cookies.

Distribute batter evenly among baking cups, filling each about 3/4 full. When finished, slam the pan evenly and firmly downward from 2 inches above the counter to force out any large bubbles. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out mostly clean. Remove from oven right away, let cool for 2 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Make ganache and decorate cupcakes:
15 whole Oreo, Newman-O, or other chocolate cream-filled cookies
12 Oreo halves without frosting [leftover from making cupcake batter]
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chips or finely chopped bar)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tsp unsalted butter

Crush up the Oreos (whole and halves) using either a food processor or rolling pin. Be sure to stop breaking the Oreos down when there are still some small chunks left. Since we'll be using these crumbs to great a "dirt" effect, chunks are actually preferable! Be especially careful if you're using a food processor, since processing too finely could turn the mixture into a paste instead of crumbs (due to the moisture of the cream filling!). Transfer crumbs to a wide, shallow bowl, plate, or pan; set aside.

Place chocolate in a small to medium bowl. Bring heavy cream and butter just to a boil. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate and let sit for about 5 minutes. Begin stirring mixture and continue stirring until the mixture is uniform and smooth (may take about 2 minutes of stirring).

Immediately dip each (COOLED) cupcake upside-down into the ganache up to the liner, lift cake out of chocolate, and let excess ganache drip off. Next, turn cupcake right-side up and move so that you're holding it over the bowl of Oreo crumbs. Scoop up some crumbs with your free hand and press crumbs to the top of the cupcake until all of the ganache is covered. Place cupcake on wire rack to allow topping to set. Repeat dipping and coating process with remaining cupcakes. If ganache begins to harden before all of the cupcakes are dipped you may heat for 5-second intervals in a microwave until chocolate can be stirred smooth again.

Now stick a tombstone paper topper into each cupcake, near the edge and with the text facing the center of the cupcake. Finally, set a fondant skull and bone on top of each cupcake near the center. Enjoy your spooky yummy treat!

Xiaolu - Contributing Writer from 6 Bittersweets

Lullaby Baby Shower: Activities, Food & Party Favors

2011-10-12T10:06:00.010-04:00

Today I'm sharing part two of the Lullaby Baby Shower -- the games/activities, food and party favors. If you missed the first post that featured a crib dessert table, you can catch it here.

My sister, Vanessa (pictured on the left), was gracious enough to host Linda and Frank's baby shower in her beautiful home, and was also in charge of organizing the games/activities. There was a bib decorating contest, an adult drinking game (I can't go into details, but it involved baby bottles), and a guessing game. Guests were also divided into two teams for a friendly game of Taboo.

When both grandmothers are responsible for coming up with the menu, you know the spread is going to be fantastic! Just get a load of the buffet table. It included traditional Cuban and Vietnamese food like chicken and ham croquetas, pastica on potato roll (grandma's recipe of deviled ham, cream cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise paste), vegetable empanadas, stir fried egg noddles, eggrolls, and more.

For the party favors, Renee of Bee's Knees Creative decorated sugar cookies of white clouds, monogrammed stars, yellow moons with night caps, and lambs.

Everything came together beautifully, and most importantly, everyone had a great time! We're all looking forward the arrival of Linda and Frank's precious baby girl in November.

Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography / Food Labels: Blue Lotus Company / Decorated Sugar Cookies: Bee's Knees Creative

As Seen On: Hostess with the Mostess / The Party Wagon / Bump Smitten

Tutorial Tuesday: Halloween Party Favors

2011-10-11T09:49:00.004-04:00

Hi there! I'm Heather from Did Someone Say Party. I'm thrilled to be here today to show you a fun and easy idea for a Halloween party favor for little ones!

My three year old LOVES to dress up in costumes year round! When I found some cute wooden masks on sticks at JoAnn's for $1.50, I picked them up right away. We had fun coloring them together and still play with them all the time. So on my last trip to the store I was so excited to see a variety of these wooden masks in Halloween themed characters, just waiting to be decorated (and conveniently on sale for 30% off!). I knew they would make a perfect treat for my son's preschool classmates at Halloween. Of course they would also make adorable Halloween party favors!

The masks are so adorable on their own, but I decided to add a special touch with some creative supplies for the kiddos to use in decorating their masks. Of course you could pick up a box of crayons or paints and be done, but I wanted to get a little crafty. I made some simple shaped crayons instead! It is so easy to make your own shaped crayons! I always pick up a dozen or so boxes of crayons on clearance after the back to school sales to have on hand for such a reason!

Thanks again to JoAnn's holiday options, I found a silicone candy mold in pumpkin shapes that was perfect for Halloween shaped crayons. I've made shaped crayons before in plastic candy molds, which is also cute. That involves melting the crayons in advance then placing them in the plastic molds to harden. But I was excited about using this silicone mold instead. It's a lot less mess and faster with such a large mold.

Shaped Crayons

Supplies:
Silicone Baking Mold (Mine was pumpkin shaped)
Used or New Crayons

I found each pumpkin took only about 2 crayons to fill. I'd decided to give each child three to go with their mask, so I calculated out the number of crayons I needed. Then get to work peeling them. TIP: I find the larger and triangular crayons peel MUCH easier!

Then preheat your oven to 275 degrees.

Break the crayons and place in your molds. When making crayons with silicone molds, you can get creative with combining colors and get beautiful swirled crayons. I wanted my crayons to be pretty easy for the little ones to use in decorating their masks, so I kept it simple. Most of the molds I filled with one color, but a did make quite a few with two similar colors to get some pretty swirled ones. Be careful to keep the crayon pieces in their cavity - you don't want to overfill.

Place your silicone mold on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the wax has completely melted. Trust me, you need to use the cookie sheet - the silicone mold does not have enough structure to remove after the wax is melted (yep, made that mistake myself the first time!). Remove the cookie sheet carefully so as not to spill and let cool in the mold for at least 90 minutes. Once they are cool they just pop right out!

Then I took some simple plastic Halloween treat bags and filled them with three different color pumpkin crayons. With color coordinated yarn I tied them shut and attached them to the mask. It was such an easy craft and makes for a fun treat for the little ones - and bonus that it does not involve more candy!!

To hand them out to his classmates, I'll display them in some mason jars and let the little ones choose their favorite.

Hope you've enjoyed this simple Halloween favor! JoAnn's seems to carry different masks for different seasons, so this would also work for a birthday party favor with different shaped crayons too!

Thanks to Christine for inviting me to share this idea with you today!

Costumes From Halloween Past

2011-10-06T09:50:00.004-04:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so I'm pretty bummed that I won't be throwing a party or making the kids' costumes this year. In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I'd share a parade of homemade costumes from years past.

1. Hatching Duckling
2. Cute as a Cupcake
3. Pink Owl
4. Virginia Tech Hokie Bird
5. Lego With Legs
6. Bumblebee Transformer

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Halloween Party Invitation

2011-10-04T09:39:00.006-04:00

Hi! I'm Lindsay, a girl with a passion for invitation design and the girl behind Easy Made Invitations. I'm a mom of 3, a wife and I truly love a beautiful handmade invitation.

Nothing is better than receiving a fantastic invitation for a fantastic upcoming event! My designs always have a sophisticated, simple style accented with beautiful colors or perhaps a ribbon. I've created EasyMadeInvitations.com to show other moms, grandmas, sisters and anyone who is interested how to create the simple, unique designs that I create. I also offer custom orders for those who would love a handmade invitation for their event, but may not have the time to make them. Be sure to stop by my blog, www.easymadeinvitations.com often to see what's new. I add new designs almost daily.

Today, I've been asked by Christine to give a tutorial on a fun homemade Halloween party invitation. I was so excited to make another Halloween invitation and to write the post for this fabulous site. So here it is...

Homemade Halloween Costume Party Invitation

Supply List...

8-1/2"x 11" black cardstock
8-1/2"x 11" purple cardstock
8-1/2"x 11" lime green cardstock
8-1/2"x 11" colorful polka-dot paper (I found this at Hobby Lobby)
5/8" black satin ribbon
mounting squares
size A9 enevelopes

As soon as I saw this cute colorful polka-dot paper at Hobby Lobby, I knew I just had to make a Halloween invitation with it. The best part about this invitation is that it's really simple to make!

To begin, using a paper cutter (I prefer my Exacto Paper Trimmer that I've used for years) cut the black cardstock in half to a size of 5-1/2"x 8-1/2". You'll find that using a paper cutter will cut (no pun intended :) ) your time in half! Next, cut the purple cardstock to a size of 5-1/4"x 8-1/4". Now cut the polka-dot paper to size of 4-3/4"x 3" long.

Next, you will need to design a text layout for the invitation. I like to use my Printshop program or my Word program. I used a landscape (horizontal) layout and created two columns. You will need to adjust the margins to fit your invitation layout. Use different font styles and sizes to create an interesting text layout. I also used a fun wording to begin this invitation...

"Calling all Ghosts, Goblins

and Creatures of the night!

Creep, float or crawl over to our

Halloween Costume Party!"

Finish by including the rest of the party information. I also added a cute saying at the end..."You'd be Ghoulish to miss this party!" Copy and paste the finished text to the 2nd column on the page. This will give you two text sheets per one sheet of cardstock. Print on standard printer paper to determine if the layout will work. Once it is correct, print the final text on the lime green cardstock.

Next, cut the green cardstock to a size of 4-3/4"x 5-3/4" long.

Using a length of the black ribbon, tie a single knot in the center. After you attach the green cardstock to the polka-dot paper, wrap the ribbon around the two at the seam. The green cardstock will overlap the polka-dot paper. Attach the ribbon in the center under the knot and on the backside using scrapbook mounting squares. (I included some googly eyes in the 'supplies' picture because originally I thought I would use them, but ended up not.) Next, attach the top layer to the purple cardstock and those layers to the black cardstock.

That's it! I just love this fun design and especially the fact that it is so easy to make. You'll definitely want to try this invitation for the monster mash you're planning. Visit my website, Easy Made Invitations, for even more homemade Halloween party invitation ideas!

~Lindsay

Pirate Birthday Party

2011-09-30T09:25:00.014-04:00

When my sister-is-law, Thuy, throws a party, you know it's going to be the talk of the neighborhood. This pirate theme birthday party that she put together for her two kiddies, Phoenix and Indie, was loaded with fun activities and creative details. What little matey doesn't love making sand art, digging for lost treasure, racing ships on the high seas (a.k.a. the creek), and hearing perilous tales from a real live pirate? If this list wasn't impressive enough, Thuy also designed all of the printables, made the table cloths/runners, decorated the cupcake stand, and constructed the giant skullbones mast herself! Erin Scott Photography was there to capture all of the swashbucklin' action.

Arrrgh...I wish I could take credit for this party, but my major contribution was introducing Thuy to the talented Lynlee's Petite Cakes and getting her hooked on Etsy.

Photography: Erin Scott Photography / Pirate entertainer: Kid's Parties, INC. / Cupcake and Cake Toppers: Lynlee's Petite Cakes / Cupcakes: Georgetown Cupcakes / Booty Bags and Eyepatches: Pint Size Plunder / Baby Pirate Outfit: Little Bunny Tutus, Tutu Adorable LLC and Kara Sigua /
Arts, Crafts and Pinatas: Oriental Trading and Shindiz

Party Tutorial Contest #3: Winners Announced

2011-09-28T22:52:00.003-04:00

Voting for the Party Tutorial Contest ended Sunday night and boy, was it close! Only one vote separated the first prize winner from the runner ups, and there was a tie for second place. I'm excited to announce that the Hello Kitty french macarons tutorial by Marina of Yummy Mummy is the winner of the FLIPAWOO $50 gift certificate. Lyzz of Brown Accents is taking home the $25 gift certificate to Nikki, In Stitches for her DIY hot air balloon mobile. And Queenbee Cakery is awarding Crissy from Crissy's Craft with a cupcake kit for her TP roll party favor tutorial. Just for voting and leaving a comment, Deanna of 5-9 Events was randomly selected to receive 3 months of sidebar ad space on PJE. Congratulations, ladies!

So that wraps up Party Tutorial Contest #3. Much thanks to our judges, Bird of Bird's Party, Lindi over at Love the Day, and Ana from Love Party Printables, as well as our oh so fabulous sponsors.

Lullaby Baby Shower: Dessert Table and Advice Display

2011-09-26T16:59:00.064-04:00

The whole family was overjoyed when my sister, Linda, and brother-in-law, Frank, announced that they were expecting their first baby in November. Inspired by a vintage lamb planter that Frank's dad had given to his mom the day Frank was born, and this Cuban lullaby that his mom sang to him as a baby, we came up with the idea of having a lullaby theme for the baby shower.

duermase mi niño, duermase mi amor, duermase pedazo de mi corazon, este niño lindo que se va a dormir y el picaro sueño no quiere venir

To carry out the theme, a sleigh crib with a coordinating crib skirt was used as the dessert table. White canopy netting, pom pom clouds, and two dozen sky blue balloons created a dreamy effect. Handcrafted by Gifts Define, a counting sheep mobile was suspended above the 3-tier banana and caramel cake from PhoebeCakes.

Desserts included Cuban favorites like, coquitos and flan, as well as moon pies dusted with powdered sugar. Pistachio macaron pops with chocolate ganache made by 6 Bittersweets, were displayed in parfait glasses filled with colorful origami stars from Trinkets by Dana. The dessert tents, invitation, and other custom printables were beautifully designed by my long time friends, Darin and Riya of Blue Lotus Company.

Paper stars were also sprinkled on the dining tables and used to decorate the gift table in the front entryway. For the centerpieces, yellow chrysanthemums and tulips, and white hydrangeas from Costco and Wegman's were arranged in vintage blue mason jars.

Guests were asked to give the parents-to-be tricks and tips on how to get the baby to fall asleep and how to get some zzz's with a newborn. A hanging display was created to hold the advice cards, using long strands of ribbon and an embroidery hoop.

Once again, Rebecca Watkins Photography was on hand to photograph details of the event. I'll be covering the fun activities/games, and the delicious spread of Cuban and Vietnamese food later this week, so be sure to stop back.

Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography / Custom Invitations and Printables: Blue Lotus Company / Cake: PhoebeCakes / Macaron Pops: 6 Bittersweets / Counting Sheep Mobile: Gifts Define / Origami Stars: Trinkets by Dana / Printing: Brickwall Printing and Graphics

As Seen On: Hostess with the Mostess / The Party Wagon / Bump Smitten / Baby Lifestyles

Lullaby Baby Shower: Sketches

2011-09-25T22:03:00.009-04:00

I've always been a highly visual person, so when I'm planning an event I often find it helpful to sketch my ideas onto paper. Here is what I had in mind for my sister's Lullaby Baby Shower.

1) Instead of using a regular table, I decided to use a crib for the dessert table. White canopy netting would be draped along the headboard and footboard, and a counting sheep mobile would be suspended in the center. To complete the dreamy look, I pictured hanging white pom poms to resemble clouds and covering the ceiling with blue balloons for the sky.

2) I needed to create something to display advice for the parents-to-be, and came up with the idea of stringing long strands of ribbon around a hoop. My initial plan was to have the guests write their advice on star-shaped post-it notes and stick it onto the ribbon when they were done.

3) I thought that paper origami stars would be perfect for adding color and interest to the neutral color palette. They could be used as dessert toppers or glued onto souffle cups and paper drinking cups.

4) For the chocolate covered moon pies, I wanted to stencil a picture of a cloud or star with sprinkled powered sugar.

5) After seeing these macaron pops on Tartelette, I thought they would be really cute for the shower, especially tied with ribbon.

Stop back later this week to see how everything came together. In the meanwhile, check out some of the pictures on my Facebook page.

Party Tutorial Contest #3: Voting Begins

2011-09-21T23:56:00.012-04:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our latest Party Tutorial Contest. From what the judges tell me, it was quite difficult picking a favorite from among the 25 entries.

Here are the top 3 tutorials as chosen by Bird of Bird's Party, Lindi over at Love the Day, and Ana from Love Party Printables.

Hot Air Balloon by Brown Accents
~ Because it's a very simple yet effective way to decorate any party, and I LOVE the dreamy look!
~ I don't know if it's because I'm totally in love with the hot air balloon trend, but I LOVE those cute mobiles.

Hello Kitty French Macarons by Yummy Mummy

~ Macarons are notoriously difficult to make, but to make them in shape of HK?!! Now that's impressive! I can sense the new bakerella of macarons emerging!
~ The Hello Kitty French Macaroons are so adorable and girly and I have to admit I love them myself and would definitely want to try them.

TP Roll Party Favors by Crissy's Craft
~ LOVED this easy and simple to follow tutorial!

Now it's your turn to vote! Help decide who gets to take home the $50 gift certificate from FLIPAWOO, the $25 gift certificate to Nikki, In Stitches, and a cupcake decorating kit from Queenbee Cakery.

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY School Theme Baby Shower

2011-09-13T10:36:00.005-04:00

It's no surprise that Heather of Did Someone Say Party? was one of the winners from the last Party Tutorial Contest. The school theme baby shower that she threw in honor of her sister-in-law was loaded with DIY party projects. From the library book card invitation to the banner displaying photos from love ones from out-of-town, this party was pure genius! I can't get over how creative the invitations, decorations, games, and favors were.

Visit Did Someone Say Party? for the full scoop:
Shower Invitations
Monogram Wreath
Shower Menu
Photo Banner
Shower Décor
Shower Activities and Game
Shower Favors and Corsage

Party Tutorial Contest #3

2011-09-12T10:03:00.006-04:00

PJE reached over 1,000 Facebook fans this weekend, so as promised, I'm celebrating with another Party Tutorial Contest. Here's your chance to showcase your DIY party project, plus win some fabulous prizes from FLIPAWOO, Nikki, In Stitches, and Queen Bee Cakery.

The 1st place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to FLIPAWOO, good towards any printable listing in her shop or custom printable designs.

Nikki, In Stitches is awarding the 2nd place winner with a $25 gift certificate to her shop, which specializes in fabric rosette headbands and hair clips.

And Queen Bee Cakery is hooking up the 3rd place winner with a cupcake decorating kit that includes:
* 1 dozen handmade pinwheel cupcake wrappers
* 1 dozen handmade flower cupcake wrappers
* 4 extra large piping tips
* 1 heavy duty 16" piping bag
* 1 cupcake dummy for practicing
* A variety of sprinkles and sugars for decorating!

Our lovely sponsors from the last contest, Lindi over at Love the Day, Bird from Bird's Party and Ana of Love Party Printables, will be on hand to select the top three tutorials. Remember, they'll be looking for original and creative party tutorials that are easy to follow. Then, you'll vote to determine who takes first, second and third!

To enter your DIY party project(s), you must:
1. Be a blog follower or Facebook fan of Pure Joy Events.
2. Mention the contest on your blog, Facebook page, or Twitter.

Our New Look

2011-09-07T12:21:00.008-04:00

When I was looking for a stylish new logo, I turned to Derek Tan, the brilliant illustrator and web designer who re-designed this blog almost a year ago. Again, I was blown away by his original, hand drawn doodles. I hope you love our new look as much as I do! While you're here, please grab our new button.

Lullaby Baby Shower: Invitations

2011-08-30T09:59:00.008-04:00

I enlisted the creative talents of my friends, Darin and Riya of Blue Lotus Company to design the custom printables for my sister's Lullaby Baby Shower. Here is a sneak peek at the darling invitation.

They did an incredible job translating my ideas onto paper. The aged paper effect and muted color tones give it a vintage feel. And I love how the lyrics of the lullaby float across the night sky. To see more original designs from Blue Lotus Company, visit their website, Facebook page, blog, and shop.

Wondering what else I have in mind for the shower? Simply follow my Lullaby Baby Shower board on Pinterest. Before I go, I just wanted to remind everyone to please vote for the Vintage Sewing Birthday Party for August Party of the Month on Project Nursery. Thanks so much for your support.

August Party Finalist on Project Nursery

2011-08-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

My events are true labors of love. I really put a lot of thought into every detail, so it's always gratifying when my work is recognized, and more importantly, inspiring others.

Recently, the Vintage Sewing Birthday Party was selected as one of the August Party Finalists on Project Nursery, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Please take a moment to cast your vote for me by going here and spread the word. The race is so close, every vote counts. You may only vote once in a 24-hour period. Voting ends August 31st at 11:55 PM PST. Thank you so much for your support!

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Cake Boss Party

2011-08-16T09:45:00.005-04:00

Jen of Passion for Parties knows how to throw a party. Her Cake Boss birthday party was packed with so many creative ideas and DIY projects, she had to share the pictures and details in five separate posts. To help readers recreate elements from the party, she shows you how to make a cake stand from dollar store items, design a personalized baking hat, and turn a plain white apron into an adorable ruffled apron.

Thanks, Jen, for letting me feature your cute tutes. Do you have a DIY party tutorial that you would like to share? Send your submissions to christine@purejoyeventsblog.com.

Cake. Party Inspiration Challenge

2011-08-09T10:25:00.001-04:00

I love a good party challenge, and when the prizes are party pretties from suppliers like My Little Jedi and Shop Sweet Lulu, that's just icing on the cake. The challenge: come up with a unique party theme incorporating at least 4 of the items shown (visit challenge post for complete details).

When I first heard about the Cake. Party Inspiration Challenge, I started to secretly brainstorm ideas in my office cubicle. With my 40th birthday just months away (yep, that's right, the big 4-0), I incorporated all of the items to design a "Pushing 40" celebration (hope my husband is reading this...hint...hint).

To create the dessert table backdrop, I would cover the wall with chevron envelopes (1). A banner made by spelling out "PUSHING FORTY" with the alphabet cups (2) would be draped across the front of the table. On the birthday cake, I would hang mini chevron bunting across two summer paper straws (3). Tiny push up pop containers (4) filled with my favorite dessert, would be labeled with "Pushing 40" printable ribbons (5). For the photo booth, I would hang gold glitter garlands (6) from Steph Loves Ben vertically from the ceiling and use the chalkboard speech bubbles (7) from Playing Grown Up as props. Iomoi pencils (8) could be used as handles for additional photo props, or given as party favors.

So that's my entry. Are you up for the challenge?

Reopening of Pure Joy Events Shop

2011-08-08T10:13:00.003-04:00

Oh joy! I'm so pleased to announce that the Pure Joy Events shop has reopened with new goodies from the Vintage Sewing Party, including the hand-embroidered hoop and button cards. And you can still find items from the Transformers Party, as well as the Owl Costume Kit. For a limited time, receive 15% off your entire purchase by entering the coupon code SUMMER2011. Happy shopping!

Styling Inspirations: Store Displays

2011-08-04T08:48:00.005-04:00

When I was in the San Fransisco Bay area last week, I came across a lovely shop called Gigi + Rose in Ghirardelli Square. There was so much eye candy and inspiration, I could have spent the entire afternoon there. How beautiful would it be to hang parasols above a dessert table, or to drape sparkling beads from pink branches? To see more inspiring store displays, come check out my newest board on Pinterest. Oh, and by the way, you can find my embroidery hoop decor tutorial on Celebrations At Home today!

Tutorial Tuesday: Spools of Thread Cake Pops

2011-07-26T12:02:00.010-04:00

Wow, what an incredible honor to be featured twice in one week on Amy Atlas! Hope you caught my exclusive DIY hoop tutorial that was posted on her blog yesterday. It's such a pleasure to have Xiaolu of 6 Bittersweets here to share another how-to from the Vintage Sewing Party -- spools of thread cakes pops.

When I began blogging, I would never have guessed the impact it would have on my life. Just through my little food site, I’ve been introduced to hundreds of people around the world who consistently blow me away with their talent, whether in the area of cooking, baking, crafting, writing, photographing, or styling. When I’m really lucky, one of these incredible people, like Christine, turns out to be right in my neck of the woods!

Even though we discovered each others’ sites fairly recently, I wasted no time pouring over all the fun party photos and creative ideas on Christine’s site. Her passion and skill for styling and crafting was so immediately evident that I couldn’t wait to collaborate with her. Opportunity eventually came calling in the form of a sweet vintage sewing party she was planning for her daughter’s birthday and for which she asked me to prepare some treats.

To be honest, when Christine first asked me to make sewing-themed cake pops I was a bit nervous. Though cake pops are one of my most popular treats – second only to cupcakes – I’d actually never attempted non-spherical pops before. But with an adventurous attitude and some creative thinking, I turned out these spool cake pops that I hear were quite convincing to the young partiers =). Now I’m delighted to be sharing a detailed tutorial sew you can recreate these for your own themed party. Thanks, Christine, for inspiring me with your lovely party ideas and working with me to create such a unique treat!

Spools of Thread Cake Pops
Makes about 20 to 23 lollipops

XIAOLU'S NOTES: I strongly recommend making your own cake and frosting from scratch as it allows you to control the sweetness of the pops much more. You may even want to reduce the amount of sugar from your usual cake since the candy coating will be quite sweet. Please don't be intimidated by my recipe. Its long length is mostly due to the inclusion of detailed notes/tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Store-bought fondant can be substituted for the marshmallow fondant, but marshmallow fondant tastes much much better (pretty much like what you'd imagine from its ingredients).

Marshmallow Fondant (Recipe below)
Powdered sugar, for rolling fondant
Round cookie cutter (1 1/2-inches wide)
8 or 9-inch cake layer [in a flavor of your choosing]
1/4 to 3/4 cups frosting [in a flavor of your choosing]
1 lb. 2 oz. candy melts OR white chocolate chips/bark
1 1/2 Tbsp trans fat-free shortening [such as Spectrum or Earth Balance]
Canola or vegetable oil, as needed to thin candy coating
About 21 to 24 paper lollipop sticks (I use 4-inch/10-cm sticks)
Oil-based candy coloring or powder food coloring, optional

Generously dust a large flat surface with powdered sugar. Roll out marshmallow fondant to a thickness of about 1/10-inch. Dust top of fondant and rolling pin lightly with powdered sugar as needed to prevent sticking. Dip cookie cutter in powdered sugar and cut out as many 1 1/2-inch wide fondant circles as possible. Rub circles lightly with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Repeat with additional fondant until you have twice as many fondant circles as cake pops. Make holes in the middle of half the fondant circles using a lollipop stick. First press the stick firmly into the middle of a fondant circle, then slide the circle up the stick while rotating the stick to slightly enlarge the circle. Leave all fondant circles out to air dry while preparing the cake pops.

Line 2 large baking pans with non-stick silicone mats or parchment paper. Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl, removing any overcooked/crusty pieces. Add in 1/4 cup of frosting and mix into the cake crumbs thoroughly using clean fingers. Test the mixture by attempting to press and roll into a 1 1/2-inch diameter ball. If the mixture crumbles instead of holding together as a ball, add more frosting 2 tablespoons at a time -- mixing thoroughly and testing for consistency after each addition -- just until mixture is moist enough to hold its shape.

Now roll/press the cake cookie mixture into balls 1 1/2-inches wide. Repeat until the cake mixture has been used up (you should have between 20 and 23 balls), and set the balls at least 1-inch apart from each other on a lined pan. Place cake balls in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove cake balls from freezer and use both hands to press and shape into cylinders roughly 1 1/2-inches tall and 1-inch wide. I do this by first rolling the ball between both palms of my hands to elongate it slightly. Then I place the cake ball in the middle of my left palm and bring my fingers together around it as if making a fist WHILE at the same time flattening the ends of the cake cylinder by pressing the open ends using the fingers of my right hand. Finally, I pinch the edges of both ends to create a more defined cylinder shape. Return pan of cake cylinders to freezer for 10 minutes.

Place candy melts and 1 1/2 tablespoons of shortening into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 1 minute on medium heat. Stir well, then continue microwaving at 30-second intervals on medium heat, stirring between each, until the mixture is mostly melted and smooth. Continue stirring (but without beating -- to avoid air bubbles in your coating) until the mixture becomes completely smooth. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into a little melted coating and insert halfway (not more!) into the middle of each cake cylinder. Place in the fridge [NOT the freezer] for 15 to 20 minutes to firm up so the cake won't fall off the stick when coated.

Meanwhile, color your coating with oil-based or powdered food coloring (NOT liquid or gel) in whatever shade you want your "thread" to be. (You can see from the photos that I didn't color the coating until after the base coat, which was okay but resulted in me piping on extra "thread" to cover up the white base. If you color your base coat, you won't have to worry about that!) Now pour your melted coating into a clean and dry cup that’s about 2 1/2 inches wide until the cup very close to full.

Remove cake pops from the fridge and let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature (dipping the pops while cold will result in cracking of the coating because the cake will expand as it warms up). Dip an entire pop straight down into the melted candy coating until it is completely covered, and immediately remove it in one straight upward motion. (If you stir it around, the cake will fall off and it'll be very hard to salvage!) Once you lift the cake pop out of the coating, immediately turn the pop so that its stick is almost vertical with the cake pop pointing upwards. Make sure the coating meets at the base of the lollipop stick. This helps secure the cake ball to the stick when the coating sets.

There will be extra coating still on the cake pop that you can remove. Hold the pop in one hand and use the other hand to gently tap the first wrist. Rotate the pop to allow the excess coating to drip evenly back into the cup of coating, but never let the stick tilt too far down or the cake may fall off. If too much coating collects at the base of the lollipop stick, you can wipe the excess off with a finger while rotating the stick. And if the coating seems too thick, stir in vegetable oil 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.

When most of the extra coating has fallen off and no longer drips, turn the cake pop over again so that the cake is down and the stick is up and place onto the second lined pan, making sure to set it down so that the stick points as straight up as possible. Repeat with the remaining cake pops. If the coating in the cup gets so low that you cannot easily submerge the whole cake pop, add more coating to the cup. Let all cake pops set (harden) completely at room temperature or in the freezer (about 8 minutes).

Spoon about 2/3 cup of the leftover melted candy coating into a small zipper sandwich bag. Push as much air out of the bag as possible and seal the top. Cut a very small opening (about 1/10-inch wide) in one corner of the bag. Hold one cake pop near the base of its stick and over top of the empty baking pan (the one used to hold the uncoated cake balls earlier). Make sure to hold the cake pop sideways so that all parts are the same distance from the pan under it. Pick up the bag with candy coating using your other hand. Squeeze the bag steadily while moving the opening back and forth quickly across the cake pop to create lines of "thread." Pipe the coating very wide so that it goes beyond the sides of the cake pop. This will result in a lot of the coating falling onto the pan underneath but will create more realistic looking "thread." Set the pop back down where it came from with the stick pointing up. Repeat with remaining cake pops. If the coating in the bag hardens, place bag on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 20 seconds on medium power. If the coating in the bag runs out, spoon more leftover coating into the bag or reheat/reuse coating that's dripped onto the pan if necessary. Let all cake pops set (harden) completely at room temperature or in the freezer (about 8 minutes).

Again using the sandwich bag with melted coating, pipe a small dollop of coating on the bottom of a fondant circle (without hole). Spread the coating slightly with a small spoon, then immediately center a cake pop above the circle and press down lightly. Repeat with the remaining cake pops.

Spread the coating slightly with a small spoon, then immediately center a cake pop above the circle and press down lightly. Repeat with the remaining cake pops.

Now pipe a ring of candy coating around the outer edge at the top of each cake pop and let set (harden) completely at room temperature or in the freezer (about 5 minutes). The purpose of this is to create a more level top surface for the remaining fondant circles to stick to.

Next, pipe a small amount of coating on the bottom of a fondant circle (with hole).

Carefully turn the circle upside-down while holding it by the edges, then slide the circle down the cake pop stick. Gently press down on the fondant with your fingers to make sure it sticks to the cake pop. Finally, lift the edges of the upper fondant circle slightly so that the it is as flat as possible to resemble a spool. Repeat with remaining cake pops. Let cake pops set completely then enjoy!

Marshmallow Fondant
Adapted from Allrecipes
Makes about 1 lb. 2 oz.

XIAOLU'S NOTES: You will only need about 1/3 to 1/2 of this recipe for the spools of thread cake pops, but this fondant keeps well in an airtight container and can be used just as other fondant is used.

2 Tbsp trans fat-free shortening
8 oz. miniature marshmallows
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 lb. powdered sugar, divided

Place the shortening in a shallow bowl that’s easy to reach your hand into; set aside.

Place the marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high power for 30 seconds to 1 minute to start melting the marshmallows. Carefully stir the water and vanilla extract into the hot marshmallows until the mixture is smooth. If not yet smooth, continue microwaving at 20-second intervals and stirring thoroughly in between until smooth. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, a cup at a time, until you have a sticky dough. Reserve 2 cups of powdered sugar for kneading.

Rub your hands thoroughly with shortening, and begin kneading the sticky dough. As you knead, the dough will become workable and pliable. Turn the dough out onto a working surface well-dusted with powdered sugar and continue kneading until the fondant is smooth and no longer sticky to the touch, 5 to 10 minutes.

Form the fondant into a ball, rub a light film of shortening over the outside, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. To use, allow the fondant to come to room temperature, and roll it out on a flat surface dusted with powdered sugar. To make fondant more pliable, rub your fingers with more shortening and knead into the fondant.

Vintage Sewing Birthday Party

2011-07-18T10:19:00.663-04:00

Caitlyn became hooked on sewing after receiving a sewing kit and toy sewing machine from Santa. It wasn’t long before she asked to have a sewing party for her 7th birthday. The fresh colors and prints from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane fabric collection became the inspiration for the party. I also drew inspiration from her gorgeous studio and the oh-so-creative parties that were pinned on my Vintage Sewing Party board.

The custom designed spool of thread invitations by FLIPAWOO were hand-delivered to each of the guests weeks in advance.

By the day of the party, the children’s playroom was transformed into a sewing room, complete with a rotary sewing machine dating back to 1915, vintage spools of thread and hand-made pin cushions. I created a simple backdrop by stretching fabric on embroidery hoops of varying sizes and hanging them on a giant cork board that was already in the room. For the center hoop, I embroidered the words “Sew Seven” by hand (find the tutorial on Celebrations At Home). Vintage blue mason jars holding fresh flowers from the local grocery store were placed on each of the tables, and my DIY ruffled fabric garlands were draped across the chair backs.

A vintage sewing table acquired from Stylish Patina served as the perfect dessert and beverage table. The baked desserts were artfully made by some of the most incredibly talented women from the Washington DC area. The detailing on the sewing basket cake by PhoebeCakes was exquisite. One of the funniest moments was when our son, Camden, ran off with the little kitty paws right before we were about to cut the cake. Dusted with edible glitter, the decorated sugar cookies from JP Creatibles looked too pretty to eat. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. Sew darn cute!

The cookies n' cream cake pops by 6 Bittersweets, which resembled spools of thread (get the tutorial here), were adorned with washi tape flags. Pink airmail washi tape from Le Box Boutique was also used to adhere spoons to parfait glasses layered with fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Wooden spools tied with pink sorbet baker’s twine from The Twinery held up button lollipops made with vanilla flavored candy melts. A glass jar was filled with raspberry curd French macarons – another sweet creation from 6 Bittersweets.

Pink raspberry lemonade was served in glass bottles with hot pink striped paper straws from Sweet Estelle. Floral beverage coasters from Heather Bailey’s coordinating party collection added a touch of nostalgia.

While guests were arriving, the girls guessed the number of buttons in a jar (the answer was 157) and played a few rounds of “hoop toss”.

For the first sewing craft, they used embroidery thread to stitch their first initial and a flower onto eco-felt that was stretched over a hoop (see the tutorial on Amy Atlas Events). Although most of the girls had never sewn before, they all did an amazing job and proudly showcased their finished projects on the cork board.

Then we used a kit from Paper and String to make adorable felt cupcakes sprinkled with mini brads and topped with buttons.

Beautifully sewn pencil pouches by Bagel Creations and hand-crafted button cards were given to the guests as they were leaving the party.

After months of planning, it was such a joy to see everything come together. A big thank you to all of the vendors and suppliers who helped me pull off this party:

Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography and Pure Joy Events / Invitations, Food/Beverage Labels & Personalized Tags: FLIPAWOO / Cake: PhoebeCakes / Sugar Cookies: JP Creatibles / French Macarons & Cake Pops: 6 Bittersweets / Printing: Brickwall Printing and Graphics / Cupcake Kit: Paper and String / Pencil Pouches: Bagel Creations / Pin Cushions: Details by Des / Vintage Sewing Machine: Stylish Patina / Blue Mason Jars: JAKRB / Beverage Coasters, Epoxy Button Stickers & Stamp Ink Pads: Heather Bailey Store / Button Boutique Stamps & Buttons: Papertrey Ink / Paper Straws: Sweet Estelle / Baker's Twine: The Twinery / Washi Tape & Glassine Bags: Le Box Boutique / Nicey Jane Fabrics: Redbrick Quilting and Crafts, Skye Reve Fabrics

As Seen On: Amy Atlas Events / Ucreate Parties / Kara's Party Ideas / Living Locurto / Catch My Party / The Party Wagon / Maddycakes Muse / Project Nursery / The White Library / A Few of My Favorite Things / Tiny and Little Magazine

Linking Up To:

Vintage Sewing Birthday Party: Invitations

2011-07-07T11:05:00.019-04:00

I came across Louisa of FLIPAWOO last December when I was looking for holiday photo cards, and was completely drawn to her classic vintage style. So when it came time to look for custom designs for the Vintage Sewing Party, I knew that she would be perfect for the job. I asked her to design an invitation that could wrap around a wooden spool with coordinating round stickers for the top, using Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane fabrics as the inspiration. I couldn't be happier with what she came up with. Louisa used a subtle green damask print with a vintage sewing machine for the background, cross stitch fonts, and an image of a small bouquet of roses, which was repeated throughout the entire collection. It was also her idea to have them printed on textured linen paper. No joking, they're much nicer than my wedding invitations!

The invitation spools were tied with pink sorbet baker's twine from The Twinery, enclosed in glassine bags purchased from Le Box Boutique, and then hand delivered to each of the guests.

Vintage Sewing Birthday Party: Button Cards

2011-07-03T11:58:00.026-04:00

It's two weeks before the party and I'm making steady progress on my DIY To Do list:

~~Assemble and send out invitations~~
~~Embroider "Sew Seven" on hoop~~
~~Sew ruffled garland~~
~~Make vintage button cards~~
Cut felt and fabric for sewing activities
Make button lollipops

I was able to cross off the vintage button cards from the list late last night. These button cards were inspired by the ones I saw on Mish Mash and Fancy Flours (thanks, Kristen for the link). My initial thought was to use candy buttons, but I couldn't figure out how to adhere them to the cards. Luckily, I found these epoxy button stickers by Heather Bailey, which were designed from her collection of vintage buttons. They were perfect! I purchased the coordinating ink pads from her online store and the Button Boutique stamps from Papertrey Ink. I have to say that I'm really happy with how everything is coming together. To see more inspirations and ideas, check out my Vintage Sewing Party board on Pinterest.

Vintage Sewing Birthday Party: Ruffled Garland

2011-06-30T16:53:00.029-04:00

Oh, how I dread breaking out the sewing machine. I inherited a vintage sewing machine (dating back to the seventies I think) from my mother-in-law that has a mind of it's own sometimes. It's been known to tangle the thread in the bobbin and cause all sorts of mischief. But last night, when I was sewing this ruffled garland for Caitlyn's upcoming vintage sewing party, the sewing machine actually cooperated and I was done lickety split. I'm thrilled with how the garland turned out. What I love about this DIY project is that it's doable for someone with limited sewing skills. Plus, the ruffles help to cover up any flaws. And when the party's over, they'll be draped across Caitlyn's bedroom window. Bonus! Visit The Sweetest Occasion for the ruffled garland tutorial from Hank + Hunt. Has your sewing machine been acting up too? No worries, Hank + Hunt will reopen for business mid-summer.

Decorate This: Summer S'mores

2011-06-27T08:25:00.008-04:00

Nothing says summer to me quite like s'mores. The gooey, melted chocolate, slightly cripsy and totally melted marshmallows, crunchy graham crackers...total summer heaven.

So, what do you do if you don't have a campfire? Make these amazing s'mores pops and chocolate peanut butter crunch s'mores bars, of course! Both are absolutely delicious and portable - no open flame required. Not to mention that only the s'mores bars require oven time - under 10 minutes - perfect for those super hot summer days when the very last thing you feel like doing is turning on the oven.

S'mores Pops

Lollipop sticks (I like using 6" sticks for these, as they are closer to the length of a real stick)
Large marshmallows
Coarse graham cracker crumbs
Chocolate for dipping (I like Chocoley Bada Bing Bada Boom Dipping and Enrobing Formula)

Press a lollipop stick about half-way into each marshmallow.

Melt chocolate according to package directions. Once melted, dip the marshmallow into the chocolate, coating to your desire (I like to coat mine almost entirely in chocolate, but you can use as much or as little chocolate as you like). Remove from chocolate.

Once removed from the chocolate, excess coating will start dripping off of the marshmallow. Hold the marshmallow in one hand, and gently tap your hand to help remove excess coating, turning the marshmallow as you go so the excess will come off evenly.

Let chocolate harden for a moment, and then roll in coarse graham cracker crumbs, again using as much or as little as you like. Place upright in a styrofoam block (or other stand) to dry completely.

Peanut Butter Crunch S'mores Bars

Serves about 12, depending on how large you cut your bars

Approximately 7 whole graham crackers (or enough to completely cover the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch pan)
2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (or a little bit more; I like to completely cover the graham cracker layer with marshmallows)
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2/3 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper (I prefer using parchment paper - it makes removing the bars much easier!). Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in dish, cutting or breaking crackers as needed to fit.

Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over crackers. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until marshmallows are puffy and slightly golden. Cool completely.

In a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl (or in a medium saucepan over medium low heat), combine chocolate chips, corn syrup, and butter. Microwave on high about 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is melted, stirring every 30 seconds. If melting in a saucepan, stir constantly until melted, then remove from heat.

Stir in peanut butter, then stir in Rice Krispies until combined. Spread evenly over marshmallows.

Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm. Cut as desired and store in an airtight container.

Source: Rice Krispies

Kristen - Contributing Writer from Decorate This!

Kristen is a software engineer who dreams about starting her own creative business (a cakery actually). She has always loved to bake and create, and gets great satisfaction from making beautiful things.

Party Tutorial Contest #2: Third Place

2011-06-22T09:56:00.003-04:00

What a way to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary! I had so much fun hosting this contest and checking out everyone's party tutorials. Much thanks to our fabulous sponsors, Bird of Bird's Party, Ana over at Love Party Printables, and Lindi from Love the Day, who by the way, will be the judges for the next contest (date to be determined).

Speaking of prizes, the $50 gift certificate to Love the Day goes to Nicole from Tradewind Tiaras for her Fabric Party Hats tutorial.

The judges had these wonderful things to say about her tutorial:

~ Delightful photos that show the finished product beautifully. Lovely choice of colors for the tutorial making it easier to see and follow photo-to-photo. Good "short cut" of using the pre-pleated ribbon. Certainly a multi-step project, from the creation of the hat to the trim to the tulle pom on top, showing how artistic and skilled she is (even pleating her own ribbon!). Nice to provide a template link in the tutorial to help readers. Also fun to see the finished product on a child.

~ How often is there a party with party hats and they end up destroyed but these are beautiful and the fabric would make them sturdy enough to withstand the liveliest of parties.

For me, a beautifully styled party is even more attractive when there are DIY elements. This was definitely the case with Nicole's Butterfly Party. Not only does she share all of the details and sources from the party, Nicole also shows you how to make the fabric party hats, ruffled pinata and homemade candy buttons, step-by-step.

Congratulations again, to all of the winners -- Julie from So This is Julie, Heather of Did Someone Say Party, and Nicole of Tradewind Tiaras. And thanks to everyone who joined the party and linked up!

Party Tutorial Contest #2: Second Place

2011-06-21T00:04:00.004-04:00

Our judges had these flattering words to say about the crafter and tutorial that took second place in the Party Tutorial Contest:

~ A true "crafter" here, very apparent by her knowledge of scrapbooking supplies. Loved her honesty and candid nature about not refilling/threading her bobbin, and the fact that she showed the finished product with treats inside was terrific--full follow-through beginning to end. I enjoyed how she used a common household item (brown paper bag) and created her own stamp with a very current trend of "subway art". The stitching added a wonderful artistic handmade feel to it, showing the thoughtfulness of her treat bags. Also, she writes from the heart, a very fun blog to read, a genuine style many people can relate to.

~ Simple, unique and eco-friendly! I love it and will be making some soon!!!

I am so happy to announce that Heather of Did Someone Say Party is the winner of the custom designed party pack from Love Party Printables. Her Subway Art Treat Bags tutorial was one of my favorites too. Heather's creativity and originality is undeniable. Just check out some of her other tutorials and recipes on Did Someone Say Party, a blog that she shares with fellow crafter, Gretchen.

I'll be back tomorrow with the final contest post. See who's getting a $50 shopping spree at Love the Day.

Party Tutorial Contest #2: First Place

2011-06-20T08:53:00.004-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce that the winners of the second Party Tutorial Contest have been selected! What an honor it was to have Kate of Kate Landers Events, Lacey from Le Box Boutique, Paula of Frog Prince Paperie, and Candace of Candy and Cake as our guest judges. Thank you so much ladies for being a part of my one year blogging celebration. The entries were judged on creativity and how easy they were to follow. And the top prize goes to...

Julie over at So This is Julie for her Crepe Paper Flowers tutorial!

Here is what some of the judges had to say about her tutorial and why it chosen as the winner.

~ Vibrant colors were EXCELLENT for the tutorial. She immediately drew me in with the two-tone fringed crepe paper flowers. I also appreciated all the images of the supplies, and being honest about how it can be tricky at first. She shared inside-tips on making it easier by not using the frige scissors, as well as where to cut top-to-bottom to decrease chances of there being rips (shows for a good teacher). She also showed that you can hang on a garland, or put on bamboo skewers (more than one use for the finished product) which can then tie the theme across many decorative elements--this stood out to me the most in terms of creativity. All required supplies were inexpensive or likely something you had at home already, making it more accessible to a wider group. And how great that this decoration/project can be used for parties (not limited to birthdays) and celebrations of all sorts, and even used as home decorations after an event.

~ I like the simplicity of the materials and how do-able this tutorial is for the average person; that and the impact it makes in a party's decor make it a winner!

Julie wins a $50 gift certificate to Bird's Party, plus 3 months of sidebar ad space on her blog. Congratulations! Be sure to check back tomorrow to find out who won the custom designed party pack from Love Party Printables valued at $80. Ohhh...the suspense.

Tutorial Tuesday: Circus Party Hat

2011-06-14T11:01:00.008-04:00

Happy Tuesday! We're switching it up today. While I'm over at Bird's Party sharing part 2 of my pie in a jar for Dad tutorial, we've got Mae of Mae Armstrong Designs in the house. When Mae sent me details of her aqua and blue circus theme birthday party for her twins and husband, I was totally blown away by all of the DIY elements. I'm ecstatic that she is sharing her party hat tutorial with us, complete with a free download.

I am so happy to be a part of Pure Joy Events Tutorial Tuesday series. I would like to share the party hat I created for my boys. This project was designed using Illustrator. I have saved a copy of the PDF file for those who needed a Acrobat file instead of an Illustrator file. If you wish to use a .AI file please feel free to email me and I can share the file with you.

Materials:
Printable Party Hat (PDF File can be downloaded here)
Cutting Mat
X-acto Knife
Yarn (pick a color that matches your theme)
Card Stock (3.5x5)
Colorful Thick Elastic Cord
Scissors
Small Hole Puncher
Clear Tape
Glue Gun

Print the PDF file. I like using the maximum amount of space for this project so I chose "borderless printing for 8.5x11" print option.

Colorful Thick Elastic Cord can be purchased at any craft supply stores. I did some research and these are the best party hat stretchy cord you can find. It's also very inexpensive. You can use it for other crafts, but when I spotted them at Michael's, I knew they will be perfect for my party hats.

Preparing the Pom-pom Embellishment

I started creating the pom-pom embellishment first. It's really simple. I suggest doing a bunch then attach your pretty pom-poms at the end of your assembly line. Pull out your yarn, card stock and glue gun.

Wrap the yarn around a scrap piece of card stock. When you're making pom-poms volume is key. Remove the wrapped yarn from the card stock and prepare a 12-13" yarn and tie it around. Knot twice to secure the yarn. You don't want it too loose.

Trim all the loops carefully. Set aside and start the hat assembly.

Preparing the Paper Hat

Cut along the lines. Use your X-acto knife to slice the slits. Shape the hat like a cone and insert the tab through the slit. Secure with tape.

Using the tip of your scissors. Carefully slide the tail of your pom-pom inside the hat. Pull down and secure with tape. I like to secure the pom-pom with silicone glue. Keeps your embellishment in place.

Punch holes using your small paper puncher and trim 13-14" of elastic cord. Knot on each sides and enjoy!

Ta-da! Your hat is ready. Looks like there's a bunch of steps but it's really simple and easy to do. If you have handy helpers around the house ask them to trim the hats and snip the loops for the pom-poms. Delegating helps. Hope you enjoy this tutorial. :)

Tutorial: Pie in a Jar for Dad

2011-06-12T16:33:00.030-04:00

My husband is a pie guy. For his birthday, he would rather have pie than cake. Pie in a jar seems to be popping up everywhere, and with Father's Day next Sunday, I thought it would make the perfect treat.

This recipe is as simple as pie. All you'll need is ready-made pie crusts (I used the one from Trader Joe's), pre-made pie filling or follow your favorite recipe (I used Trader Joe's dark morello cherries with a bit of sugar and tapioca), and a little butter and sugar.

Line a small glass jar (I used an empty salsa jar) with the pie crust.
Fill the jar with the pie filling.
For the the pie top, use the the jar lid to cut out a circle. Make slits on the top, or cut out a small design.
Place the circle over the top of the jar and press against the sides with a fork. Brush the top with some butter and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

See my tutorial on how to "dress up" your pie in a jar for Father's Day on Bird's Party. For more tips on how to make single-serving pies in a jar, visit Our Best Bites.

There are just a few more days to link up your DIY project to our Party Tutorial Contest. Be sure to enter for a chance to win some amazing digital prizes, like 3 months of sidebar ad space on Bird's Party.

As seen on:

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Piggies Party

2011-06-07T23:28:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to share this Springtime Piggies Party that Steph threw for her twins, who were born in the Year of the Pig (like moi). You know how I love a good party tutorial, and Steph shares a few of them on her blog -- a graphic pig using Picnik, a super creative and fun party blower wreath, and colorful crayon favors. Visit The Silly Pearl to get the complete "how-to's". While you're there, be sure to check out her We Love Dada Week Round Up for DIY gift ideas.

And you don't want to miss our Party Tutorial Contest! Link up your DIY projects for a chance to win some fabulous prizes totaling over $200 from Bird's Party, Love Party Printables, and Love the Day.

Party Tutorial Contest #2

2011-06-01T00:20:00.015-04:00

A year ago, I had an aha moment. I realized that I had spent most of my thirties focusing on the kids and being a mom. I think Dawn of Not Just A Mommy sums it up perfectly when she says, "it can't be just about the kids". That same week, I signed up for a photography class, hit the gym for the first time in ten years, and started this blog.

My official one year blogging anniversary isn't until June 13th, but I couldn't resist the urge to start the celebration a little early. What a better way to get the party started than with another Party Tutorial Contest.

Lacey, Paula, and Candace were the sponsors from the first contest, but I wanted to keep the name of the fourth judge under wraps until now...

Kate - Kate Landers Events

It's such an honor to have Kate as our special guest judge. She was the very first person to feature my parties on her blog, and has continued to be a true inspiration to me and so many others.

Lacey - Le Box Boutique

Lacey admits that she has an obsession with kraft boxes/bags, washi tape, and baker's twine. Her shop, Le Box Boutique, provides eco-friendly gift packaging, gift consulting, graphic design, and photography services.

Paula - Frog Prince Paperie

Paula is a brilliant invitations designer and party stylist, and a pro when it comes to DIY projects. As one of my first blog followers, I'm thrilled that she's on board to help me celebrate this milestone.

Candace - Candy and Cake

Serving the Saskatoon area, Candy and Cake offers cakes and confections baked from scratch. Candace's blog is dedicated to creative cakes and party planning. As she puts it, "what is a party without a cake anyway?"

Again, the judges will be looking for party tutorials that are creative and easy to follow.

Since the contest will be opened to everyone this time, our sponspors are offering digital prizes totaling over $200.

1st Place

Bird is giving the lucky winner a $50 gift certificate to her shop, plus 3 months of sidebar ad space -- a total value of $80. Have your 125px x 125px button seen by 50,000 unique visitors each month!

2nd Place

Get this -- the runner-up will receive a custom designed party pack from Love Party Printables worth $80. The pack includes party circles, invitations, tented cards, banner, napkin rings, straw flags, labels, favor tags and water bottle labels.

3rd Place

Shop for custom party printables with a $50 gift certificate from Lindi of Love the Day. Sweet!

To enter your DIY party project(s), you must:
1. Be a blog follower or Facebook fan of Pure Joy Events.
2. Mention the contest on your blog, Facebook page, or Twitter.

Tutorial Tuesday: No-Sew Table Runner

2011-05-31T09:50:00.008-04:00

I'm so excited to have Adriana from And Baby Makes Three as our guest blogger today. If you're like me and hate breaking out the sewing machine, be sure to check out her easy no-sew project.

Thank you Christine for sharing my No-Sew Table Runner tutorial. For my son’s recent Robots & Rockets 2nd birthday party I wanted to make a table runner to add to the party décor, unfortunately sewing is not a skill I posses, so I cheated a little. I made a no-sew table runner, it was super easy to make and actually turned out a lot nicer than thought it would; even my friends who sew were impressed! Here are the steps to make your very own no-sew table runner.

Materials Needed:

Fabric
Stitch Witchery (fusible bonding web)
Grosgrain Ribbon
Scissors
Iron
Ironing Board

1. Cut your piece of fabric to your desired table runner length and width, then iron out any wrinkles.

2. Starting on one side, place you fusible bonding web along the edge of your fabric leaving a small edge of fabric free.

3. Place your ribbon over the fusible bonding web and the fabric and iron them together. I suggest doing this in 12 inch sections to avoid an uneven attachment.

4. Repeat this step on all three sides of the fabric overlapping the ribbon on each corner.

In less than an hour you will have your very own DIY table runner, no sewing machine required!

Thanks, Adriana. Visit And Baby Makes Three to see all of the incredible details from her party. Do you have a DIY project that you'd like to submit? Be our guest (blogger, that is)! And stop back tomorrow for the full scoop on the next Party Tutorial Contest.

Children's Alopecia Project Hair Drive and Fundraiser

2011-05-29T16:58:00.003-04:00

The Virginia/Maryland Chapter of the Children’s Alopecia Project (CAP) teamed up with Alexandre de Paris Salon last Saturday for a hair drive to support Children with Hairloss (CWHL). It was a huge success and a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about alopecia, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. We would love to do it again every year.

Yup, that's me in the center, minus eight inches of hair. A big shout out to Alexandre and his incredible team for sponsoring the hair drive and fundraiser, and family and friends who came out to show their support. The generous donations will help send CAP kids to Alopeciapalooza for free and support CWHL's mission of "covering young heads to heal young hearts". Much thanks to Rebecca Watkins Photography for capturing the event, and Kristen of Decorate This! for donating the CAP sugar cookies.

Featured Vendor: Sugar Cookie Creations

2011-05-27T15:00:00.016-04:00

Michelle of Sugar Cookie Creations is my "go-to" person for decorated sugar cookies. Not only are her cookies gorgeous, they're so tasty they'll make you forget all about counting calories. Show her a design and she'll replicate it. I love her attention to detail, and it's great that she's local. If you're looking for sugar cookies with that "wow-factor", be sure to check out her cookie gallery.

1. Trick-or-Treat Halloween Party
2. DinoFOUR Birthday Party
3. Mini Chef Birthday Party
4. Lego Star Wars Birthday Party
5. Gingham Easter Party

Featured Vendor: Rebecca Watkins Photography

2011-05-26T10:06:00.006-04:00

For me, having a photographer that you can count on to capture the details of an event is key. On the day of the party, there's just no time to take pictures when you're greeting and entertaining guests, setting up the food and beverage area, and putting the finishing touches on the dessert table. Ever since Rebecca Watkins photographed my nephew's DinoFOUR birthday party, I've been able to focus on what I love best -- hosting joyful parties for children. Having Rebecca there means I can relax and grab a piece of birthday cake without missing a picture-perfect moment.

1. Children's Alopecia Project Thanksgiving Potluck
2. DinoFOUR Birthday Party
3. TransFOURmers Birthday Party
4. Gingham Easter Party

This past weekend, Rebecca was gracious enough to donate her time to the Children's Alopecia Project (CAP) hair drive and fundraiser. I'll be sharing those pictures soon. Thanks, Rebecca!

Featured Vendor: Monkey Moo Moo

2011-05-25T13:40:00.008-04:00

With my one year blogging anniversary just around the corner, I wanted to feature some of the amazing designers, bakers, photographers, and other vendors that I've had the absolute pleasure of working with over the past twelve months.

First on the list is Donna of Monkey Moo Moo. Both my Halloween and Easter parties were inspired by Monkey Moo Moo's designs, so when Donna launched her blog last week, I became one of her first followers. Did you catch her Rootin Tootin Western Party on Kara's Party Ideas? I always knew Donna was an incredible designer, but I was really blown away by her talent for styling parties. Visit her Etsy shop and new blog, and see why I've been such a big fan of her work.

Mini Chef Birthday Party

2011-05-20T09:01:00.009-04:00

My nephew, Anderson, had his heart set on celebrating his 4th birthday at Cookology. I'm all about hosting parties at home, but the folks at Cookology made it so much fun and entertaining for the kids, even I would recommend it. And the best thing is, they took care of the messy clean up afterwards. Again, Rebecca Watkins was there to capture the details.

While the guests trickled in, the kids decorated their chef hats. Then it was time to get cookin'. After pounding and stretching the dough, they the slathered on the tomato sauce and piled on the cheese.

Fruit skewers dipped in melted chocolate -- what a great way to get the kids to get their daily serving of fruit. Check out the chocolate mustache!

The mini chef collection from Creative Little Stars was so stinkin' cute. The complete collection comes with invitations, envelopes, thank you notes, banners, place cards, and more. Sugar Cookie Creations did another amazing job with the decorated sugar cookies.

We hope your birthday wish came true, little buddy!

Shout outs:
Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography
Favors: Sugar Cookie Creations
Printables: Creative Little Stars

Tutorial Tuesday: Glittery Prom Girl

2011-05-17T00:12:00.007-04:00

Melissa from Buckets of Grace is in the house! She's here to share a DIY project from her daughter's Enchanted Prom Birthday Party.

Thank you to Christine for featuring a tutorial on Grace's Glittery Prom Girl. The Prom Girl was the belle of the ball! Not only was she adorable, but she was inexpensive and easy to make. This technique can be used for any sort of decoration - a large monogram, a dinosaur, the possibilities are endless!

Here are the materials you will need:
* Transparency
* Photo copier
* Overhead projector
* Exacto knife
* Matte board
* School glue
* 1 or 2 bottles of glitter
* Spray lacquer
* Large frame (optional)
* Fabric (optional)
* Satin ribbon (optional)

Take the invitation and transfer the Prom Girl to a transparency using a photo copy machine.
Use an overhead projector to project the image. Then trace the image onto a piece of matte board (purchased from Hobby Lobby for 50% off).
Use an exacto knife to carefully cut out the image.
Put glue on one workable section at a time, then spread it with your finger. Working quickly, sprinkle the glitter over the glue. Repeat this until the entire object is covered in glitter.
Allow the glue and glitter to dry, then spray the Prom Girl with lacquer. Spray on a few coats, allowing it to dry between coats.
Staple fabric to the back side of the frame using a staple gun.
Once the Prom Girl is completely dry, staple her to the frame. If she fits in the frame, use hot glue or fabric glue to adhere her to the fabric.
Staple a piece of satin ribbon to the center of the frame to create an illusion that she is hanging from the ribbon. Finally, hang the frame from a nail on the wall.

Here is the final product!

I couldn't part with the Prom Girl after the party. She now proudly hangs in my craft room as a sparkly new addition!

Thank you Christine for letting me share our fun project on your fabulous site!

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Despicable Me Party

2011-05-10T23:19:00.001-04:00

OK, I've been slacking a bit on the posts lately. To be honest, after planning and hosting at least one party a month since last July, I'm all partied out! I've decided to take a little break to spend more time with the kids, catch up chores, and get some much needed zzzz's. When June rolls around, I'll be in party mode again planning Caitlyn's 7th birthday party.

Speaking of June, I'm hosting another Party Tutorial Contest to celebrate my first blogging birthday (wahoo!). I can't wait to announce who the special guest judge will be. Hint: She is a super talented designer and stylist, and the first person to feature my parties when I started blogging. Of course, there will be some fabulous prizes. Stay tuned for more details.

Now for today's tutorial. I've been meaning to share this Despicable Me Birthday Party from Emilie Handmade ever since I saw it on Ucreate Parties. She shows you how to make everything from the invitations to the Minion bowling pins and cupcakes, and even provides all of the printables for download. How despicably cool is that?

Bloggers Bake for Hope

2011-05-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

Started by Jen of Beantown Baker and Cara from Cara’s Cravings, Bloggers Bake for Hope is a virtual bake sale that helps support local Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliates. Bakers, like Kristen of Decorate This!, are putting brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and other goodies up for bid, so please show your support by participating. Bidding ends 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, May 6th.

Party of the Month on Children's Party Network

2011-05-04T11:43:00.002-04:00

Voting is underway for the April Party of the Month on the Children's Party Network. If you're a CPN member, please hop over there and cast your vote for my Gingham Easter Party. Much thanks!

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Olivia Party

2011-05-03T08:46:00.002-04:00

Olivia, written and illustrated by Ian Falconer, is still one of our favorite children's book. It's hard not to find her totally adorable. This little piggy is imaginative, spunky, and full of energy -- a lot like my daughter. So when I saw this Olivia birthday party on Dana Made It, I knew I had to share it. It's filled with easy DIY projects, plus creative party games and activities. Dana kept everything simple and focused on making it fun for the 3 to 5 year old guests. Learn know to make Olivia invitations, polka dotted skirts, cupcake flags, and more on her blog.

Decorate This: Lemon Tart Part 2

2011-05-01T10:16:00.007-04:00

Pâte Sucrée is a slightly sweet, buttery, flaky dough. The keys to success are to work quickly - you want the butter and dough to stay cold - and to not overmix - you want the butter to remain in pea-sized balls throughout the dough, and overprocessing can cause your dough to be tough.

This is a double recipe - it will make 2, 10" tart shells. Use one now, and freeze the other for later!

2 cups flour (280 grams)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sugar
14 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons ice water

Prepare tart dough:

Place flour, sugar and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until combined.
Add the cubed butter and pulse until the butter is in small pea-sized balls.
Add the water and pulse until the dough just comes together, being careful not to over-process (over-processing can make your tart shell tough).
Cut dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. You will only need 1/2 of this recipe to make a 10" tart; freeze the remaining portion to use at another time.

Prepare shell for baking:

Roll out dough on a floured surface into a 13" circle.
Place dough into a 10" tart pan and fold the overhang inward and press gently into the sides. Do not force or stretch the dough because a thin spot may cause the filling to leak. The dough edges should be a little bit higher than the side of the tart pan to help prevent shrinkage (it's ok if your shell does shrink; you'll just need to use a bit less filling).
Prick the bottom of the shell with a fork. Cover the entire shell with a large piece of foil, pressing into the edges and completely covering the shell. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Baking tart shell:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Fill the foil covered shell with pie weights or dried beans. Place the shell into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove shell from oven and remove beans and foil. Brush the inside of the shell with a beaten egg white to prevent leakage from small cracks. Return shell to the oven for about 10 minutes and bake until golden brown. Let cool on wire rack.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there - thank you so much for all that you do!

Kristen - Contributing Writer from Decorate This!

Decorate This: Lemon Tart Part 1

2011-04-28T08:38:00.008-04:00

My mom loves anything lemon - and this Mother's Day, I'll be making her this amazing lemon tart! This creamy, light tart is the perfect ending to a wonderful meal, and is fairly easy to put together. The tart requires only few ingredients, most of which you'll probably already have on hand.

The filling for this tart calls for Meyer lemon juice, but you can substitute regular lemon juice as well. Meyer lemons are thought to be a cross between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange, and are sweeter, milder, and less acidic than regular lemons. Due to their delicate nature, you may not be able to find these delightful citrus fruits in your regular grocery store; I'm lucky to have an amazing produce market close to my house that carries them. Feel free to substitute regular lemon juice if you like - the tart will be just as delicious, and a bit more tart!

Short on time? You can easily make a similar tart with store-bought materials. Instead of the pâte sucrée tart shell, use pre-made pie dough, and instead of the meyer lemon custard filling, use purchased lemon curd. Embellish as you like (some ideas below!)

Creamy Meyer Lemon Tart (Adapted from Tarte du Jour)
Serves 8-12

5 large eggs
2/3 cup Meyer lemon juice (may substitute regular lemon juice)
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon cream
1 pâte sucrée pre-baked (recipe coming soon)

Preheat oven to 325°F.
Crack eggs into a large bowl, and beat well with a whisk. Add the lemon juice, sugar and cream; whisk until completely smooth.
Pour mixture into a pre-baked 10" tart shell. Place the tart onto the center rack in your oven, being very careful not to spill the filling over the edge of the tart. You may find it easier to place the unfilled shell into the oven first, and then pour in the filling to avoid potential spillage; just take care not to burn yourself.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the filling is firm with a slight jiggle in the center. Pay close attention in the final minutes of baking; even slight overbaking can cause your tart to crack (if this happens, don't worry - see my decorating ideas below). It will continue to firm up after you take it out of the oven.
Let tart cool on a wire rack, and remove tart from pan.
Once cool, embellish your tart! After decorating, cover your tart with plastic wrap and chill before serving.

A few decorating ideas:

Simple: Just before serving, dust the top of your tart with confectioner's sugar.
Extra lemony: Thinly slice a lemon, and cut slices in half. Line the edge of the tart with the lemon halves, with the wide side facing the crust.
Berrylicious!: Cover the top of the tart with berries - any combination of raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc. I decorated mine with sliced kiwi, blueberries, and blackberries.

Kristen - Contributing Writer from Decorate This!

Easy Easter Baskets

2011-04-21T23:35:00.003-04:00

Let's face it, Easter is just a few days away, and there's not much time left to make a DIY Easter basket. For those last minute crafters out there, here are some baskets you can easily make using household items that you may already have on hand.

1. Easter Bag via Parents Magazine
2. Natural fiber planter basket via Anders Ruff Custom Designs
3. Monogram Bucket For Under $5 via Swanky::Chic::Fete

Guest Blogger on Bird's Party

2011-04-20T08:34:00.004-04:00

Oh joy! I'm absolutely flattered to be the newest contributor on Bird's Party. Bird has to be one of the sweetest and most creative party planner that I've meet, and I could hardly contain my excitement when she "popped the question".

If you have been waiting to see the lollipop flower tutorial from my Gingham Easter Party, be sure to check out my first guest post on Bird's Party.

Tutorial Tuesday: Edible Easter Basket

2011-04-19T09:26:00.005-04:00

Easter is just a hippity hop, skip, and jump away, so I can't think of a better time to feature the chocolate Easter basket tutorial from Wants and Wishes. The full "how to" can be found here. In Debbie's own words, "this would be beautiful at each place setting for your Easter dinner after your Easter Egg Hunt and games with the kids. Or give them as gifts as they walk out. Place in clear plastic boxes with some colored crate paper, topped with a bright bow and one of our Easter tags." Debbie also shares her tips for making an eye catching centerpiece here. And if you're looking for last minute Easter printables, Wants and Wishes' entire Easter collection is on sale now at 50% off.

Decorating Easter Eggs

2011-04-18T08:11:00.004-04:00

Like most people, I grew up decorating Easter eggs with the basic PAAS dying kit. Did you know that there are now 20 different types of PAAS kits, including tie dye and sparkling glitter?

If you've been following this blog recently, you know I'm a big fan of using washi tape to decorate eggs, but here are some other fun and creative techniques.

1. Silhouette Eggs via Stitch Craft Creations
2. Garden Party Decoupage Eggs via Family Circle
3. Speckled Eggs via Southern Living
4. Wrap Star Decoupage Eggs via Family Circle
5. Paper Punch Eggs via Nikki, In Stiches
6. Leaf Print Eggs via Disney Family Fun

Gingham Easter Party

2011-04-15T09:11:00.026-04:00

This past Sunday, we hosted an Easter Party at our home. I decided to go with a gingham theme and incorporate subtle Japanese influences. In the end, I was really happy with how everything came together.

My daughter's green gingham shower curtain from Pottery Barn Kids served as the perfect backdrop for the dessert table. For the banner, printable cards from Monkey Moo Moo were edged with gingham Japanese washi tape, sprinkled with glitter, then strung together with pink ribbon. The pair of topiaries which flanked the cherry blossom centerpiece (go here for the tutorial), were inspired by Frog Prince Paperie's pomander flower ball tutorial. Kristen of Decorate This! beautifully handcrafted the pinwheels using cherry blossom vellum paper.

The bunny and chick cake bites, lemon and raspberry French macarons, and coordinating sugar cookies were all made locally. Of course, I had to make some Peepshi (or Peeps sushi) for the party -- I just couldn't resist. They were a big hit! You can't go wrong with Peeps, Rice Krispie Treats, and Fruit By the Foot.

Wondering how I made the lollipop flower favors? I'll be sharing the tutorial soon. Loan's Easter cake was almost too stunning to eat!

While all 150+ Easter eggs were being hidden, the kids decorated their eggs and personalized baskets with little gems, washi tape, and stickers. You can see my guest post about decorating eggs with washi tape on Ucreate with Kids.

We wanted to have the egg hunt at a wooded park situated at the end of our court, so all week long, I was crossing my fingers for no rain. Fortunately, we had mild and sunny conditions that day. Whew! It just wouldn't have been the same having it indoors.

We also had egg tosses in our backyard. A big thanks to Rebecca Watkins Photography for capturing all of the party details. It's so rare to get a great photograph of the family at our parties, but she managed to do it. If you missed Rebecca's tips for photographing children's parties, go here.

Wishing you a happy Easter!

Photography: Rebecca Watkins Photography and Pure Joy Events / Printables: Monkey Moo Moo / Sugar Cookies: Sugar Cookie Creations / Macarons: Pastry Xpo / Cake Bites: Kerry Dangerfield / Pinwheels: Decorate This! / Printing: Brick Wall Printing and Graphics

As Seen On: Catch My Party / P is for Party / Spaceships and Laser Beams

Tutorial Tuesday: Apple Pencil Cake Pops

2011-04-12T18:37:00.004-04:00

Did you happen to catch Harper's Vintage Schoolhouse 1st Birthday Party featured on Kara's Party Ideas and Pizzazzerie? Audrey of Sweet Cheeks did such an incredible job with the details and styling, and even shares the tutorial for the darling apple pencil cake pops.

Decorate This: Macarons Part 2

2011-04-10T08:56:00.007-04:00

Hello again, Pure Joy Events readers! Kristen here from Decorate This!, with Part 2 of my macaron tutorial. (Click here for Part 1). In this post, you'll learn how to make a few delicious fillings for your macarons, and learn how to assemble and store your finished product.

Macaron Fillings

Now that your shells are done - it's time to make some filling! The possibilities really are endless - you can choose anything from sticky caramel, to rich chocolate ganache, to tart lemon curd.

Here are two of my favorites, lemon mascarpone and chocolate ganache:

Not So Humble Mascarpone Lemon Filling (adapted from Not So Humble Pie)
275 grams marscapone cheese (chilled)
150 grams lemon curd (feel free to use store bought or any recipe you like)
Zest of one medium lemon (optional. I've made this filling with and without, with delicious results either way!)

Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Fill a piping bag with the mixture and chill until firm (this step is important; otherwise the filling is a bit too runny and will make for messy macarons).

Chocolate Ganache
8 ounces good quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 stick unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream, sugar, and corn syrup to simmer over medium-low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved.
Remove pan from heat, and add chocolate. Whisk until chocolate is melted.
Add butter and vanilla, and whisk until shiny and smooth.
Let cool, stirring occasionally, until ganache is a good consistency for piping.

Assembling Macarons

Match up similarly sized shells
Pipe filling onto one half of the cookie, and gently press the halves together
Enjoy! Macarons are delicious when just baked, but are even better if they are allowed the mature in the refrigerator overnight. The flavors will meld together, and the humidity in the refrigerator will soften the macaron a bit. Try it - the wait is definitely worth it!

Once assembled, store your macarons in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. They can also be stored at cool room temperature, if your filling of choice does not require refrigeration.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kristen@queenbeecakery.com, or leave a comment on this post or on my blog, Decorate This!

Kristen - Contributing Writer from Decorate This!

Creative Guest on Ucreate with Kids

2011-04-08T08:20:00.002-04:00

Guess what? I'm the Creative Guest over at Ucreate with Kids today! Check out my decorating eggs with washi tape tutorial.

Decorate This: Macarons Part 1

2011-04-07T08:19:00.007-04:00

Hello Pure Joy Events readers! I'm Kristen from Decorate This!, and I am absolutely thrilled to be the resident baking and treat decorating guest blogger. I am a software engineer who dreams of opening a bakery (more specifically, a cakery!). I have always loved to bake and create. Whether it was baking or doing a wide variety of crafts with my mom, attending a cake decorating class with my favorite babysitter, or designing jewelry - I've always gotten great satisfaction from making beautiful things. Over the past several years, I've baked countless cakes, cupcakes, cookies, (and many other sweet things!) in search of perfect recipes - all while honing my presentation skills. I'm really looking forward to sharing some of my favorite recipes and decorating techniques with you all in the months to come!

With the popularity of French macarons rising, I thought I would share some macaron making tips and a few recipes for my first post. French macarons are delightful, delicious, pretty treats - that are notorious for being finicky and troublesome to make. Macarons can certainly be frustrating and annoying - but making great macarons is certainly not impossible. Without further ado - let's make some macarons.

Materials

Kitchen scale: carefully measured out ingredients are a key to success
Food processor: most almond flour isn't finely ground enough; you'll need to pulse it in a food processor in order to get super smooth shells. I like to buy whole blanched almonds and grind them myself. Note: make sure you grind the nuts with confectioners sugar, to avoid making nut butter!
Stand mixer/hand mixer: keep in mind that if you are using a hand mixer, mixing times may increase almost 2 fold
Good quality aluminum pans: you'll need at least 2-3
Silpats (or parchment paper): I like using silpats the best - but parchment will work as well
Oven thermometer: oven temperature is very important
Candy thermometer: for making sugar syrup
Piping bag
Large, round piping tip

Technique
Almond Macaron Shells - Italian Meringue Method (adapted from Not So Humble Pie)
150 grams almond meal or whole blanched almonds
150 grams confectioners sugar
120 grams egg whites (room temperature), divided
185 grams granulated sugar, divided
50 grams water
Gel or powdered food coloring - optional, but it's certainly fun to make rainbow colored macarons!

Preheat oven to 325°F (test with an oven thermometer and adjust accordingly), and prepare a piping bag with a large, round piping tip.
Pulse almond flour or almonds and confectioners sugar in food processor until finely ground. Sift mixture to remove larger pieces of almonds; continue whirling in your food processor until very fine. Place mixture into a large bowl.
Weigh out 60 grams of egg whites, and place in the bowl of your stand mixer.
Weigh out 150 grams granulated sugar, and place in a small saucepan along with the water. Put the remaining 35 grams of granulated sugar in a small bowl (you'll be adding this sugar to your egg whites later).
Place saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally to help dissolve the sugar. Test temperature often with your candy thermometer (you may need to tilt the saucepan in order to get an accurate reading). Once the syrup hits 180°F degrees, start beating the egg whites in your stand mixer on medium-low speed.
Beat egg whites until very foamy, and then slowly add the reserved granulated sugar. Increase speed to medium, and whip to soft peaks. While eggs are whipping, keep a close eye on your sugar syrup - you do not want it to exceed 230°F. If it is getting close to 230 before your egg whites are ready, remove it from the heat, and replace once your egg whites are closer to being done.
Once syrup hits 230°F, remove from heat. Increase your mixer speed to medium high, and slowly pour the sugar syrup into the egg whites. Be careful to pour down the side of the bowl - you want your sugar syrup to end up in your meringue, not splattered all over the bowl. Beat until cool, about 5-8 minutes.
While meringue is cooling, add the remaining 60 grams of egg whites to your almond/confectioner's sugar mixture. Mix with a spatula until well combined. This is the time to add gel or powdered food coloring - start slow, but make a darker color than your goal. The color will lighten considerably when the meringue is added to the mixture.
Once meringue is cool, quickly fold it into your egg white/almond/confectioner's sugar mix. Fold until mixture is just barely uniform, using as few strokes as possible. It is VERY important that you do not overmix - overmixed batter will not produce nice macarons. Your batter is ready when you lift your spatula and a thick ribbon of batter slowly flows back into the bowl. If your batter plops back into the bowl, fold a few more times and test again. If it flows quickly and is very thin - you've overmixed it, and you will need to start over.
Fill your piping bag, and pipe approximately 1" rounds, about an inch apart. Try to be as consistent as possible when piping - you want your macarons to bake evenly. Once piped, gently rap the baking sheet on the counter to pop any air bubbles. Let shells rest if you like - this is where some experimentation is necessary. I've had good results popping the shells right into the oven, as well as letting them rest for a few minutes. Keep in mind that the longer they rest, the thicker the shell they will develop.
Bake at 325°F for about 14 minutes. I like to bake for 10 minutes, turn my baking sheet, and then baking for an additional 4 minutes - but be careful not to disturb until at least 10 minutes are up. To test for doneness, gently touch the top of a macaron and wiggle your finger. Your macarons are done when the top moves just slightly with your finger. Sometimes to make extra sure they are done, I'll sacrifice a macaron and pull the top right off. If the insides look raw and very sticky, they still need more time. Put back in the oven for another 2 minutes, and test again.
Remove from oven, wait a minute or so, and then remove and cool on a cooling rack.

Troubleshooting
Now, what works for me *may* not work for you. Even the pros occasionally make a bad batch of macarons, and for someone just getting started, imperfect results can definitely deflate your confidence. But fear not - there are plenty of troubleshooting resources out there, including Syrup and Tang and Not So Humble Pie (start here to read about the Italian meringue method). If your macarons don't come out perfect the first (or second, or third) time - you are certainly not alone! With a little persistence and patience, amazing macarons are completely achievable.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kristen@queenbeecakery.com, or leave a comment on this post or on my blog, Decorate This!

I hope you enjoyed meeting Kristen and Part 1 of her macaron post. See Part 2 on macaron fillings, assembly and storage this Sunday.

Kristen - Contributing Writer from Decorate This!

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY LEGO Party

2011-04-05T09:03:00.004-04:00

While Melanie of ewe hooo! is having a ball in Spain, I'm here in my home office writing a post about the LEGO Builders Party that threw for her son, Jackson. Promise to take me along next time, okay?

Again, this party had "ewe hoo!" written all over it! It was ultra creative, original and fun. And the best part is, Melanie shares all of her DIY projects from the party. I can see why these LEGO picture frames were a hit with the kids. Find the simple tutorial here.

For the party food, she came up with clever, yet easy to prepare ideas (I'm all for that), like no-bake LEGO cakes, LEGO cheese n' crackers, and LEGO chocolates.

To see more of Jackson's LEGO Builders Party, go here. And while you're there, check out the rest of Melanie's blog. It's loaded with humor and inspiration.

Party Tutorial Contest Winners

2011-04-04T08:50:00.006-04:00

I was so impressed with all of the entries from our first Party Tutorial Contest. I'm sure it wasn't easy for the guest judges to pick their top three tutorials. The winning tutorial goes to...

Rainbow Slush entered by Wendy over at Ramblings from the Sunshine State. In her own words, "it's really easy and inexpensive, and the kids loved it". We love it too! Enjoy your Rainbow Party Packaging Kit (how fitting) from Le Box Boutique, which includes Japanese washi tape, baker's twine, kraft boxes, glassine bags, and other goodies.

Jaime from That's My Letter takes 2nd place with her DIY Treat Tower tutorial. Inspired by a cupcake stand by Martha, she designed and built a 4-tier round tower, complete with holes to hold cake pops! Jaime wins a $25 gift certificate to Frog Prince Paperie.

The winner of a dozen fondant covered cookies or custom chocolate covered Oreos from Candy and Cake is Paula of JC's Loft. She shows you how to make Faux Lamps out of dollar store candlesticks, floral foam and scrapbook paper for just $4 each.

Honorable mentions go to Twin Dragonfly Designs' Mad Hatter Party Toad Stool tutorial, and the Goldfish Soap tutorial by Cupcakes and Lemonade. Heather and Laura will receive 3 months of free ad space on Pure Joy Events.

Congratulations to these incredibly crafty and creative ladies! Thanks everyone for sharing your party tutorials. If you haven't had a chance to check out all of the entries, go here. Of course, a special shout out to the fabulous judges, Bird of Bird's Party, Jillian from Catch My Party, Becca over at Birthday Girl, and Paula of Frog Prince Paperie.

Spring Shindig: Peeps Party

2011-03-31T10:08:00.000-04:00

According to Holidays.net, "during the Easter season, Americans will enjoy an estimated 700 million Peeps". Why not throw a Spring shindig centered around everyone's favorite Easter treat? Get ready to be inspired by these DIY Peeps projects.

Decorate the party space with cheery Peeps bunting. Hop over to Dana Made It for the cute tute.

Did you know that it's Peeps week over at Love From the Oven? Wow your guests with Christi's cupcake push pops with Peeps, pretty Peep cupcakes, and Peeps Rice Krispies Treats.

Find out how to make Peepshi (or Peeps sushi), Peeps Fluffernutter, and other marshmallowy goodness over at Serious Eats.

These marshmallow bunny plushies would make the perfect Easter basket stuffer. Amanda of Dandelions and Lace has the complete tutorial.

Calling all crafty party peeps! Our Party Tutorial Contest ends tonight at 11:59pm EST, so be sure to link up your tutorials here.

Tutorial Tuesday: Paper Flower Wreaths

2011-03-29T08:15:00.004-04:00

Heather of Did Someone Say Party shows you how to create these gorgeous paper flower wreaths without getting FPHS (Flower Punch Hand Shake). Go here for the step-by-step tutorial. Starting this Friday, I'll be rounding up DIY projects for your Easter/Spring party, so be sure to check back all month long for more ideas and inspirations.

Tutorial: Cherry Blossoms

2011-03-26T18:21:00.020-04:00

Living in the Washington DC area, cherry blossoms signal the beginning of Spring. The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off this weekend with events and activities for the entire family. With approximately 3,750 cherry trees on the Tidal Basin, they are a must-see if you're visiting the nation's capital this time of year.

The beautiful, blush pink blossoms can last up to 14 days, but here's a simple way to create cherry blossoms that will last all year round. For this project, you'll need Brides table confetti in pink and green shimmer, tree branches, corsage pins, 7mm washi tape, and a glue stick.

1. Pierce the corsage pin through the center of the pink flower, then snip off the sharp end to make a 1/4" long stem. Be extra careful when cutting the pin so it doesn't go flying everywhere.

2. Tape the stem onto a branch using washi tape.

3. For the leaves, cut the green flower as shown, and glue it around the branch.

As seen on: Craft Gossip / Did Someone Say Party / One Pretty Thing

Tips for Photographing Children's Parties

2011-03-24T08:10:00.006-04:00

Rebecca is the person behind the camera lens at just about all of my parties. She's so talented and easy to work with, I plan my parties around her schedule! Rebecca is here today to share her top ten tips for photographing children's parties.

Hey everyone! My name is Rebecca Watkins, and I am a professional photographer serving the DC Metro area. I mostly focus on weddings, but I also take portraits and cover events and parties. I started photography in high school and was in love with it. It had to take a backseat during college, because I was focusing on psychology and playing lacrosse. Once I left college, I realized that I didn't want to have a typical 9-5 job. I took the jump, photographed my best friend's wedding, and started my photography business. To me being a photographer is the best job in the world. You can find me through my website, my blog, twitter, and facebook.

I always have a lot of fun photographing events, but kid's parties are a blast. I love all of the detail that is put into them, and I absolutely love kids. There is always so much going on and so photographing a party may seem daunting, but there are some easy tricks to take better photos.

Capture the details- There are a lot of details that are put into a party, and they're must have photos. Once everything is set up and before all of the kids are there, go around and take some quick photos. Especially get photos of the main/food table, shots of any work stations that are set up, banners, and the cake. Try getting different angles of the tables, and if there are small details (eg.: decorations on the cake) get in close.
Always have your camera ready- Kids are unpredictable. One minute they're perfectly fine just playing with their Star Wars action figure or Bratz doll and the next they're running over to play Rock Band. If you put your camera down even for a second, you may miss the chance to capture a smile or one of the kids running around with a Transformers mask on. It doesn't have to constantly have to be up to your face, but have it at hand.
Let the kids play- Most kids can't sit still long enough to take a posed photo (especially if it's almost their turn on the guitar) or they become really shy when they see a camera pointed in their direction. Capture lots of candid shots, and if they're having fun they won’t even realize the camera is around. If you want to have some posed photographs, take them in between activities. You will be able to hold their attention for a little bit longer.
Take a knee and get down to their level- Some of the best photos you can take of children are when you're at eye level with them.
Get creative with your angles and composition- If you're photographing an egg hunt take photos of their hands opening the eggs or looking directly over top of them when they reach down to pick one up.
Check your white balance- Have you ever noticed if you're inside and your photos look like they were stained with orange juice? All of that orange/yellow tint is from the lighting you have. Your brain automatically processes it so you see things as white. Your camera? Not quite that smart. This is also the same with cloudy/over cast days and shadows (which both tend to give a blue cast on images). Most cameras have an automatic white balance that is pretty advanced, but sometimes it does not compensate enough. Take a look at your camera's manual and find out how to adjust the white balance and the different settings.
Understand your lighting- Understand what your main light source is and in what direction its coming from. If you're out in a bright sunny day, toward the sun. Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows, and can blow out the highlights in your photos and if you turn your subject away from the sun then you avoid the extreme shadows and highlights. Another option is to take them into the shade of a tree or of a house. Using the shade will diffuse the sun and make soft shadows and highlights.
Don't be afraid of your flash- Indoors you don't have quite as much light as you would outside. To compensate for this, your camera will slow the shutter speed down and you may end up with blurry photos. With the flash on you're better able to capture the moments, without needing to worry about your hand shaking. If you have a DSLR and a speed light, USE IT! The best even lighting you can create is if your point the flash at the ceiling or a wall and have it bounce onto your subject. Just like with the sunlight, diffusing it will get rid of some of those ugly shadows.
Don't always center your subject- One of the most common mistakes is putting your subject directly in the center of every single photo. Mix it up a little. Split your frame up in thirds horizontal and vertical (think of tic-tac-toe) and put your subject in one of the thirds. This spices up your composition and can provide some great results.
Have fun- I think this is the most self-explanatory thing you could do. Enjoy the party (and a piece of cake).

I hope these tips help you out during your next party. Happy Shooting!

Tutorial Tuesday: Cupcake Decorating

2011-03-22T10:19:00.005-04:00

Hold on to your piping bags people -- you're about to learn how to make gorgeous swirls and artfully placed dollops of icing on cupcakes, and it's not as hard as you might think! Our new blog contributor, Kristen from Decorate This!, shares her cupcake decorating tutorial here. In April, be sure to catch Kristen's first guest post on how to make french macarons for your Easter or Spring party.

Tutorial: Lollipop Flower Favor

2011-03-20T14:20:00.014-04:00

My six year old daughter, Caitlyn, is becoming quite the little crafter. She took the mini tulip liners that came with the cake pops from Decorate This and made this cute lollipop flower. Just thread the lollipop through the center of the liner. Then cut a green petal and glue it onto the lollipop stick. I'm actually going to use them as favors for our upcoming Easter party.

Featured on:
Ucreate With Kids