finding inspiration: Cake Stands

I am obsessed with finding perfectly adorable vessels and props for my dessert tables, especially cake stands. They have to be the cutest and easiest way to pretty up a simple cake display and they are extremely versatile. Don't agree with me that they are the best thing to happen to cakes since... well, cakes? Try typing in 'cake stands' into Google Images and see if you don't change your mind. Better yet, type in any colour before 'cake stands' [eg. green cake stands] and you will see that the possibilities are endless.

Today I bought this beauty from Write Impressions in Waterloo [my old stomping grounds in my Uni days] after a wedding consultation. I am such a sucker for this store, they stock the most beautiful things, and their set-ups are just as beautiful as the products themselves. I can't wait to use this in my dessert tables! It will go perfectly with the Sugar and Spice table I have coming up, and I may even try to make it work for my ultra-glam totally girly table as well.

Do you use cake stands to display your wares? What other props or vessels do you use?

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Giveaway: Free Candy Buffet!

If you have ever been to an event planned by my company jessica laine celebrations, you will know that candy buffets and dessert tables are always a main feature and are in high demand! A candy buffet will certainly get your guests talking and will keep your party at the top of their mind for months. So to celebrate our first anniversary this February [the month of celebrations! Groundhog day, Olympics, Valentine's Day, Family Day, Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, Black History Month, Ash Wednesday, President's Day, Chinese New Year, etc.] I will be giving away 2 custom candy buffet/dessert tables to 2 lucky winners! Please post a comment below with your name and email address and the city your party is in by Sunday February 14th to be entered.

Good Luck!

Rules


Winners must live within the Greater Toronto Area or be hosting their event within the GTA. The event must be taking place in 2010. The event will have no more than 50 guests and the candy buffet/dessert table will offer no more than 8 different items. jessica laine celebrations is under no obligation to provide any other services besides providing buffet items, linens, table decor for candy table only, candy containers, and set up and tear down. Winners will be selected at random after 11:59 pm ET on Sunday February 14 2010.

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Etsy Monday: CozzyCottage Placemats

I found this sweet cupcake placemat set by CozzyCottage on Etsy today and it immediately set my mind to work thinking of all the awesome party ideas that could go along with these little beauties.

Photo Credit: CozzyCottage

A little girl's baking party with a placemat acting as a work station for each girl as they decorate their cupcakes. CozzyCottage also makes beautiful aprons, one design that even matches these placemats and would be a good match for such a baking party! They would also be perfect as decor for a fun Valentine's Day bash! Or, try them out for a mis-matched pajama party.

Photo Credit: CozzyCottage

Of course, they would also just be great as placemats that you bring out for annual birthday celebrations!
What do you think of these adorable designs? Do you have any handmade placemats or placemats you like to use as multi-holiday decor?

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Navigating the Tablescape: Super Bowl for Kids

The NFL's Super Bowl XLIV [Sunday February 7 @ 6:30pm ET on CBS] is a huge day for parties in North America. It is reportedly the second-largest U.S. food consumption day, after Thanksgiving! But the fun shouldn't just be for adults, kids should get in on the football, party and food action as well!

I put together a kidcentric, healthy treat version of a Super Bowl party tablescape that you can try out for your kids and their friends on Super Bowl Sunday. Here are my tips for making it happen! [Click on the images for a larger view]

Lay down an orange table cloth [plastic of course - this IS a kids party!]. Orange is one of Super Bowl XLIV's colours. As a mock table runner, use some football-textured loose paper that you can pick up at Michael's or a specialty stationery shop. Add some football-themed toys to your tabletop, like the Finger Football goalposts I used here. Put down some coloured Hefty plates or other disposable tableware at each place.

You can get foam footballs at any craft store, or you can use brown construction paper and chalk to make the placecards. Use a black pen or Sharpie marker to write the names of each child on the football and place it on the plate.

 
For the snack containers, use several clear glass containers or colourful, unusually shaped servingware. Arrange the snack containers along the table and fill them with yummy snacks that kids will enjoy eating. Try boxed raisins, crunchy baby carrot sticks, Babybel cheese and Skinny Sticks garden veggie flavour, all of which I have used here. Go for a good balance of colour and texture and packaged single serve items and kids will load up their plates. Put a football sticker or construction paper cutout shape on the front of each glass container. Remove the labels from some bottles of water, flavoured water or juice and replace them with a football sticker. Suddenly drinking a bottle of water is fun and cool because it fits with the theme!

Give the kids some sort of themed takeaway, like these football whistles, and arrange it on the table as well. Other things you could try are temporary tattoos, pencils, lanyards or shoelaces. Embellish your tablescape with any other unobtrusive items that relate to your football theme. I used some colourful pom-poms.

What will you be doing for Super Bowl Sunday?

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Etsy Monday: PaperFish Bunting

I LOVE reusable decor! If I can reuse something even once, I will, and dual purpose items are used in nearly every party and event I do! I trolled Etsy for some cute flags and bunting I was so excited to see these beautiful and whimsical pennants by PaperFish.

 This particular design, Frida/Carnival would be absolutely perfect for a mismatched, funky laid-back get-together such as a clothing swap or a little girl's pajama party.

 How adorable is the Bubblicious pattern!? This would be such a great addition to such festive events as an ice cream party, funky first birthday or garden tea party!

 The gorgeous Valentine Rose would be a sweet addition to a vintage valentine celebration, or a girly princess bash.

What do you think of PaperFish's reusable fabric flag bunting? Do you use fabric flags/bunting and other reusable or dual purpose items in your event decor?

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Etsy Monday: Vintage Christmas Lights

I know, I know. Old-fashioned Christmas lights are not only a possible fire hazard, they are a serious energy waster. But darn it if they aren't beautiful works of art! How can you resist something that brings back amazing childhood memories and makes your holiday decorating gorgeous and unique? I've rounded up some of the best Etsy has to offer in the way of vintage Christmas lights.

Photo Credit: Etsy Seller REdesignkc

Photo Credit: Etsy Seller TraceyAnns


Photo Credit: Etsy Seller 1951Model

Photo Credit: Etsy Seller glamourama

All of these are so fun and would look great mixed in with some more eco-friendly options like LED lights. Do you use any vintage strings of Christmas lights in your holiday decorating?

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Real Party: "celebrity"

Photo Credit: jessica laine celebrations [all photos]

On Saturday, my company Party Animals Party Planning did a celebrity themed party for a wonderful client just west of Toronto. 13 seven-year-old girls enjoyed an afternoon of dressing up, designing their own t-shirts, playing games and singing songs from Hannah Montana and Camp Rock. Here are some pictures from the party!

The loot bags were set up to imitate a "swag table" from a celebrity event. The girls chose their own bag and filled it with the various items on the table. They thought it was so cool to be able to pick their own loot and it made each prize more special for them instead of just getting a bag of random treats.

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Etsy Monday: Phrenology Skull Light

Photo Credit: shavingkitsupplies

If you ever study Communications, Psychology or Sociology you will most definitely learn about Phrenology. It is a 19th century neuro-scientific theory which hypothesises that personality traits can be attributed to the shape of the skull [to describe it quickly]. I always enjoyed contemplating Phrenology and linking it to more current theories regarding personality traits, so when I hopped onto Etsy today, I was delighted to see this adorable skull lamp with a "Phrenological-twist" made by shavingkitsupplies.

These would be amazing as Halloween party decorations, wouldn't they? Then, after the holiday is over, it would make for a conversation-starting decor piece at any time of year in your home.

What do you think of this unique piece?

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Etsy Monday: EnchantedDandelions Sushi Roll

EnchantedDandelions makes handcrafted items for babies and children, but I have another use for her adorable terry cloth sushi roll: party favours! Girls night gifts, bridal party gifts, or baby shower favours, these little babies do double duty as invaluable wash cloths as well as cute decor for your guests' bathroom, powder room or diaper bag. Wouldn't this look so sweet all packaged up at each place setting with your guests' names printed on the take-out container?

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Etsy Monday: HidenSeek Postcards

Oh. My. Gosh. I am literally DROOLING over these gorgeous little postcards from seller HidenSeek. Wouldn't these look amazing in many parts of your event decor? I wouldn't know where to begin. I would want to use them as place cards at every setting, menu cards with the menu affixed to the back, as a "guestbook" for guests to write a little note on each one or even strung up on string or wire and hung against the walls or accross a room.

These are perfect for a children's party, garden party or whimsical wedding!

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finding inspiration: Soda Crates

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

The other day I was at Zeller's and I saw some Coca-Cola and Coors Light galvanized metal tubs, wooden crates and awesome vintage-y glassware. The kind of thing that would be so amazingly cool at a backyard barbeque! So in typical "me" fashion, I decided to check out some websites and see what the internet has to offer me. The ones above are from Pottery Barn, but they are now sold out. Although, they found them from many different sources, so plenty of similar ones are definitely out there. These crates would be great if you flipped them over and maybe laid your desserts out on them [especially awesome if your desserts are fruit cups or cupcakes or tarts or something individual].

Photo Credit: AllCola.com

Here is a cute metal tub from AllCola.com. Kill two birds with one stone: it's not only a décor piece, but fill it with ice and keep your pop bottles cold. How practical and adorable!

Photo Credit: Tavern Trove LLC

Is it just me or is this 1939 Coors Light Beer case absolutely fabulous? I think it would look perfectly sweet perched on your buffet table with some plates and cutlery on it for your guests to grab. Try putting an old beer or pop bottle with a single stem flower in it on top of or beside the crate.

Photo Credit: twotallgirls

Etsy has a bunch of amazing finds, as usual, using their "vintage" search feature. Being Canadian, I was kind of partial to the one above though. This would make a wonderful centrepiece filled with flowers! Or you could wrap up everyone's cutlery in a napkin or put it in their glass and put each one in a slot for them to take.

Photo Credit: Kathryn Speyer

You are probably familiar with my WeddingBee obsession, and I remember a few months back seeing Mrs. Cherry Pie posting about her country-chic wedding which included some fantastic vintage tubs and crates and her penchant for Mexican Coke. Above is a picture of what she did at her wedding with the tubs and crates. How cute!

If I can create some reason for a party, I will most likely be picking up some version of these crates and tubs. Have you ever used either for an event?

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two-four birthday pics

Hi y'all. I've been MIA for a few days, been really busy and actually I'm getting a lot of business lately so that's definitely a good thing. I thought I would share some of the details from the boy's birthday party as I had promised.

I'm not sure how it is around the rest of the world, but here in Canada we call a case of 24 beers a two-four. Since the boy turned 24, I made the theme of his party beer! I made a banner with red beer cups at either end and some rugged looking string/twine holding up card stock circles proclaiming 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN'. I cut the circles out of 5 different colours of card stock and glued on the letters that I had printed off my computer. I downloaded the font from 1001 Free Fonts. I put a little silver glitter embellishment on each letter.


I also crafted a smaller sign that was simply a square of card stock with the words 'two-four' in the same font and glitter embellishment with a red beer cup angled off the top of the page.


I had red and blue beer cups placed on the tables as well with favours and snacks in them. Since it was just a small party, I had four cups, two for snacks and two for favours/noisemakers. On the cups for snacks, I used some sticker letters with a similar font to the one on my sign and banner and spelled the word 'taste'. In one cup I put some red licorice and gourmet lollipops and in the other I put some pepperettes [pepperoni sticks] and pretzel sticks. I wanted to go with flavours that would compliment beer.


On the cups with the favours, I spelled out the word 'noise' with the sticker letters and put some blowouts with metallic streamers, hand-clappers and tin noisemakers. We were in a restaurant so I didn't get anything too loud.

On top of the tables, I sprinkled dozens of beer caps down the centre. They were from all different kinds of beer and really brought the theme together. I don't have any pictures of those, but I'm sure you can visualise what a table littered with tons of shiny beer caps looks like!

The dinner was a really fun time, you can't really go wrong with beer, pizza, friends and sports on 3 different TVs, especially if it's your birthday!! The boy said he had a great night and that's all that mattered to me.

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TV Theme Menus

Photo Credit: Romulo Yanes

I am all about theme parties. I love the careful planning and attention to detail required to tie everything in together and I eagerly look for creative ways to pull various party elements into my theme such as food, décor, music, drinks, dress.
Epicurious wrote a great feature about menus and party plans inspired by your favorite shows. Included are Mad Men, Lost, Gossip Girl, The Office and more. I'm excited to try some of these out!

Thank you YumSugar for pointing me to Epicurious.

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Navigating the Tablescape: Cinco de Mayo

Photo Credit: Mix Mingle Glow

Last week, Mix Mingle Glow visited an outdoor flea market in San Antonio and found these adorable mini Mexican blankets that she used as napkins in her place settings. This would be absolutely perfect for your Cinco de Mayo tablescaping!

Photo Credit: YogaAccessories.com

Yoga Accessories also has these long skinny traditional Mexican yoga blankets that would be great as table runners for your fiesta! You can find them all over the internet and in yoga specialty stores.

Will you be celebrating Cinco de Mayo? How will you decorate your table?

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Navigating the Tablescape: Earth Day

How amazing would this be for Earth Day? Or any other day for that matter? You could do something similar with carrots and it would also look really cute.

Thank you to CasaSugar for pointing me to Re-Nest

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finding inspiration: yellow white and black

I am planning my sister's 20th birthday party in September. It's her 'champagne birthday' [when you are turning the age matching the day of your birthday, ie she is turning 20 on the 20th] so she really wants to do it up. I put together a preliminary inspiration board from her vision of white and yellow.

Credits:
Rock Candy and Rock Candy
Background Picture
Cake
Favour Boxes
Yellow Martini
White Carnations
Envelope/Calligraphy
Yellow Carnation

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Navigating the Tablescape: Easter

Happy Easter everyone! Just a quick post about Easter brunch I had the other day and how we set up the table. I had very little notice to go on for this Easter brunch, so don't mind the wrinkled tablecloth!! I went with a dusty yellow and dusty pink colour palette and kind of a simple country aesthetic. So I started with a neutral table cloth and put brightly coloured plates down.


Then i placed a neutral napkin on top of each place and put our shiny heavy silverware on top. I did a google search on Easter quotes, poems and sayings and found this one by Edna Dean Proctor that I thought was cute

I think of the garden after the rain;
And hope to my heart comes singing,
At morn the cherry-blooms will be white,
And the Easter bells be ringing!

I printed this out on white paper and accentuated a few words and cut it out into a thin strip. I wrapped a pink ribbon around the napkin and wrapped the paper around over top of the ribbon so only the top of the ribbon was showing. Then I secured it with a clothespin. In the middle of the table I put some yellow and pink flowers in a clear glass vase.


I put some cute little porcelain bunnies by the flower vase and they were really the only "Easter-y" things I put on the table. I served mimosas in flutes with sheer pink ribbon tied loosely around the stem.


Again, have a Happy Easter everyone!

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celebrate this: beer tasting party -- décor

Photo Credit: Shindigz

Depending on the theme of your tasting, you could come up with some interesting ideas for decoration. For example, if you are going with a domestic tasting, you could decorate with patriotic memorabilia, or if you are going for a beers from around the world theme, try setting up a station for each country/region with a little flag and a fact sheet about that country.

If your theme is simply 'beer drinking' [what better theme, really?] then there are a number of really cute decorations available like the beer mug lights pictured above available online at shindigz.com. Set up the tasting area/room so that everyone can sit at the same table as they sample the brews. The beer lights can be strung around the ceiling, or I like to have a string of lights down the centre of the table amongst snack bowls, other decorations and tasting information. Cover the table with a table cloth [try a paper one so you can toss it in the recycling when you are finished, as it will likely be covered in crumbs, beer and sauces!]. I like black or orange because that is the colours of the invitation.


They also have beer mug candles! These would be great set down the centre of your tasting table if you end up stringing the lights around the doorway, chairs or ceiling.

Photo Credit: PartyCheap.com

Tie a few of these beer balloons to the chairs around your table or make/buy a balloon bouquet with one of these balloons and some orange and black plain balloons.

Party Favours

To help your guests with their tasting, provide a little bag full of tasting notes and tips. Just a plain paper bag will do with their name on it and a picture printed from your computer [try the same one you used for your invitation]. Inside the bag, put a sharpened pencil or a pen, some beer score sheets [depending on how many beers you are serving. if you are serving 8, put 8 printed sheets together and punch a hole in the top left corner and tie a black or orange ribbon through it to keep it together] and a list of terms you can use to describe the taste of the beers.

Try this list:

• Amber: Describes medium intensity colored beers, ranging between pale and dark.
• Balance: As with wine, describes how a good beer should exhibit a perfect balance of ingredients, bouquet, texture and aroma. Neither the malty sweetness nor the hoppy bitterness should dominate.
• Bitterness: In beer comes from the hops. Generally the higher the hop content, the more bitter the beer.
• Big beer: Refers to the richness or fullness of flavor derived from the malt. Big beers often have a high alcohol content.
• Black: Describes non-transparent, deep, dark brown beers.
• Body: As with wine, refers to the "mouthfeel," the impact and texture of the beer on the palate.
• Bouquet: Another wine tasting term, describes the beer’s complex aromas.
• Caramel: Refers to a buttery, toffee-flavored aftertaste.
• Clean: Refers to pure, crisp, fresh tasting beer, free of sediment. The opposite of clean is cloying.
• Clove: Refers to the flavor of wheat beers that often resembles the taste of cloves.
• Crisp: Often associated with lagers and weiss beers, refers to a beer’s acidity and refreshing qualities.
• Depth: Denotes both the beer's richness and its complexity of flavors.
• Finish: Another wine tasting term, describes a beer’s aftertaste and your final impression of it.
• Flat: Refers to characterless, dull, insipid, often insufficiently carbonated beer.
• Flowery: Refers to the flowery aroma hops give beer.
• Fresh: Refers to a beer free from oxidation. .
• Full-bodied: Characterizes malty beers with complex flavors.
• Haze: Caused by yeast or protein suspension, refers to a cloudy appearance and slightly musty taste.
• The head: Is the frothy top layer that forms when beer is poured into a glass.
• Hoppy: Refers to a beer with a high hop content.
• Malty: Is the term for sweet, smoky, earthy flavored beers that have undertones of treacle, caramel or molasses.
• Oxidized: Like wine, refers to the liquid's exposure to oxygen.
• Smooth: Characterizes easy drinking beers with great mouthfeel.
• Spicy: Refers to a distinctly hoppy flavor or the aroma of herbs.
• Thin: Refers to a watery, one-dimensional beer that lacks body or character.
  

The next and final installation in this series will include some tips on what beer to serve to your guests and how to serve it to them!

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