Princess Party

The big day had finally arrived! The princess party at the park. 

I was skeptical about how to style the space. 

Let's be honest, parks are usually dirty, sandy and grungy to say the least. 

But this location was beautiful. 

The park had a huge, architecturally designed gazebo. 

From afar it actually looked like a castle. 

It had large pillars and open beams, 

which made for artfully hung and draped crepe paper.

I designed a banner that hung above the entrance, inviting everyone in.

Princess party under the gazebo with banner

Each table had a vase of freshly cut tissue paper flowers, 

hand made from pink, purple and white tissue paper. 

We decorated the tables with jewels, 

that the kids used to decorate their crowns. 

Princess party centerpiece with jewels

Tissue paper flowers

We also had a princess makeover station, 

where the girls got their nails painted and their make-up done. 

What park party is complete without a pinata? 

On the flip side, it is a little cynical to whack the heck out of a princess pinata so 

we decided to have a dragon pinata made instead. 

The kids, especially the lil' knights, enjoyed slaying the dragon! 

Dragon Pinata

The kids also enjoyed searching for the stolen princess treasure. 

I designed a treasure map, and we buried a treasure box filled with chocolate coins. We placed a paper red X that marked the spot.

Princess Treasure Map

Besides the birthday princess, the dessert table stole the show. 

The table was draped in tulle and flowers with ribbons that draped the edges. 

Dessert Table

A silver castle settled in the middle was the eye catching centerpiece, 

complete with a horse drawn carriage and flower trees.

Silver Castle centerpiece

Princess horse drawn carriage

Every detail made for an impressive backdrop for the strawberry cupcakes. 

They were baked by Angelica Acosta and did not disappoint. 

Princess Cupcakes

I found the cutest lil' tiara cupcake toppers to decorate them. 

The top of the cupcake stand was adorned with 

a figurine of the birthday girl herself, as a princess character. 

The pennant banner above simply stated "Taylor."

Princess tiara cupcake toppers

Birthday Princess with name banner

In the end, the party was a big success. 

Lil' cheeks were blushed, cupcakes were devoured, 

the dragon was slayed and the birthday princess was celebrated. 

All in all, it was a party to be remembered!

Castle Center Piece

 

 

 

 

 

Princess Party Silver Castle Centerpiece

 

I'm getting ready for the Princess Party this weekend. I wanted to create something really special for the main center piece of the dessert table. I found a toy castle and sprayed painted it silver. It turned out so cute. I also made lil' rose trees to go on either side of the castle.  I'll post pictures of the event soon!

 

 

 

 

Mommy To Bee Babyshower

This baby shower was so much fun to style.  A fellow teacher friend is having her first baby and the staff decided to throw her a lil’baby shower in the staff lounge. Let me be honest when I say this lounge lent no help in the cuteness area…I had my work cut out for me to style the space.  

 

 She's having a baby boy but I decided to stay away from the blue palette. She herself decorates her classroom boards with black paper and yellow boarders so I wanted to incorporate that color scheme. Who showcases these colors the best…why bees do of course! And with that, the theme...  "Mommy to Bee” was born. Beside the lack luster staff lounge my other challenge was the budget…it was literally non-existent. Everything was created from things found in my art closet! Needless to say, the shower was lovely and mommy to bee felt celebrated! I extremely enjoyed this styling process…

 

Mommy to bee baby shower banner

Paper garland and tissue paper pom poms were hung

Paper Daisy Centerpieces with flying Bumble Bees

Mommy to Bee Flag

Paper Bumble bee attached to daisy

Bumble Bee Cupcake Toppers

Mad Tea Party 21st Birthday

We threw a huge raving 21st birthday party that went into the wee hours of the night. Over 100 people were invited and we made sure to have great finger food and tons of booze on hand! Once we decided on a Mad Tea party theme we stylized it with a modern twist. 

One long table occupied the space. We hung paper lanterns and lights.

 Decor::: Everything was done in black and white with huge trees that had playing cards hung from them. A full bar was set up with signature drinks for the night.

Tea cups hung on trees as the centerpieces

All finger foods were set up on the table banquet style.

Large trees were attached to the patio posts. Playing cards were hanging from the trees and ceiling.

A photo area was designed with hanging picture frames to snap pictures of the guests in there black and white attire.

Carnival Party

I had so much fun designing this carnival birthday party…especially because it was celebrating my baby boy! I’ve always wanted to do a carnival theme, knowing that there are endlessly possibilities for fun. I decided on this theme for his 1st birthday party the moment I pushed him…I know I’m crazy! Since then I’ve been eye spying, every store I shopped at for carnival or circus themed things! You would be surprised how easy it is to style a party exquisitely when you give yourself enough time…and I’ll admit a lil’ design sense is needed as well.

Carnival Party Invite

Carnival treats

The menu was simple:::Chili dogs, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy, caramel & apples and lemonade. Desserts included cupcakes, chocolate mustaches, cake pops and a candy bar!

Dessert Table

Cupcakes were made by Angelica Acosta and we topped them with clown cupcake toppers.

 

I made tiny balloons and attached them to animal figurines!

Clown cake pops by Lollie Cakes

Chocolate Mustaches

Photo Booth::: Refrigerator box painted red. And no booth is complete without KJ PHOTOGRAPHY shootin’ and clickin’ away!

I cut out funny dress up props for guests to use in the photo booth.

Carnival games:: ping pong blast, peg a clown, bottle toss, bowling and fish a duck to name a few. Some games were bought but most were home-made.

Clown faces were cut from felt and glued to cardboard. They were attached to red baskets.

Kids won raffle tickets at every game booth. They redeemed their tickets at the prize table.

Candy Bar

Birthday boy decked out in stripes and red suspenders.

The overall party was awesome. Friends and family enjoyed themselves and my baby boy was celebrated carnival style!! 

Lady Bug 1st Birthday

Starting in utero I began calling my baby girl my love bug! So it was only fitting to throw a ladybug theme for her first birthday! I had the event in my parent’s backyard which was perfect for the theme and it was able to house the 75 guests we invited! After throwing this party I realized then I have a passion for styling events.

Handmade Ladybug invites

I’ve realized the key to a fabulous party is the invite. A well designed one sets the whole tone of the party! I hand cut out each ladybug on card stock which was tedious but I enjoyed every minute of it…

nothing but the best for my love bug!

 

Handmade paper vines with die-cut Ladybugs

Centerpieces

Decor:::Our colors were red, lime green and white. Table clothes were red with white runners to off set the red bucket centerpieces. I bought real grass and filled the buckets and inserted a single white Gerber daisy. I attached a wooden ladybug to one of the petals. Buckets were tied off with white rick rack trim. I made paper vines out of green butcher paper and hung them from the patio, along with paper die cute ladybugs. I also had white lights hung since the party was going to be during the evening.

Birthday girl's ladybug cake

Ladybug cake with sweet and sour candy vines

Cake::: We bought a huge cake, since we had to feed 75 guest and we made cupcakes and iced them like ladybugs to decorate the top of the cake. We bought sweet and sour green candy strips that we cut and designed into vines and leaves and put them around the edge of the cake. We made a mini cake solely for the birthday girl to devour! 

Ladybug filled goodie bags

Ladybug filled birthday bags

Birthday girl with her guests!

Birthday girl’s outfit::: To make the birthday girl stand out I bought a polka dotted ladybug dress that I found on eBay. I completed her outfit with a love bug antenna head band! Her looked pulled the whole theme together!

Real ladybugs

One last thing…no ladybug party isn’t complete without real ladybugs! I bought them at a garden store and we had the kids release them into the garden!