Congratulations, Graduate!

A few weeks ago, my nephew graduated from sixth grade.  How did he grow up so quickly?!?  I picked up some balloons on my way to the celebration and Charlotte refused to give them up to the graduate.  Here she is pulling them around the playround.

That weekend, we had a graduation celebration of epic proportions for my nephew.  The food was overflowing and the guests had a great time just running around the park and celebrating.  With some help from Charlotte and my nephews, I made 150 cupcakes!!  Two flavors to choose from.  First up, Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting.

Then some Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

After Charlotte's first birthday party, I learned that some things are better done semi-homemade.  Check out this short cut gourmet cupcake recipe I used from Heather Bailey.  Seriously love it.  And since I always make homemade frosting, I never feel guilty about using a box of cake mix.  :)

I designed the treat bag favor tags for the kids' goodie bags.  Super simple but cute with that graduation owl in the center.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Recollections); Digital Files (Lettering Delights); Photoshop CS5; Silhouette Cameo.

And finally, to go along with our gift for the graduate, here is the card I made.  This is called a "hybrid" project which means using digital scrapbooking supplies (like the ones you can purchase from JessicaSprague.com) and using them on physical cards or layouts.  It is a great way to make stuff if you don't have the perfect paper on hand!

Supplies:  Dani by Design (School Spirit Add a Grad); Silhouette Cameo; Cardstock (American Crafts); Xyron Mega Runner.

As always, thanks for stopping by!  And all those celebrating graduations this year, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

{Hoppy} Birthday Party Themes - Easter/ Bunny

I am constantly amazed by the creativity and hard work that parents (moms, especially) are able and willing to put into throwing their kids the most amazing, fun, and beautiful birthday party celebrations.  It's even better when I get asked to help make some of the amazing paper products that tie the party together. 

Yesterday, my dear friend Laura hosted this super cute Hoppy Birthday Party for her two kids.  I don't think I've ever seen Charlotte so excited at a birthday party before!  There were bunny tails, bubbles, Easter eggs...everything was beyond adorable and kid friendly.  Here are all the details...

Banner.  Laura hung this bright and spring-y "Hoppy Birthday" banner right at the entrance of the community center to welcome the guests.  I cut the banner pennants to look like eggs to echo the Easter theme. 

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Ribbon (American Crafts); Cricut (Create a Critter); Font (Elephants in Cherry Trees).

Laura also made this adorable photo banner that strung across the counter with the "adult" favors. 

Table Decorations.  Laura put together these vases filled with jelly beans, peeps and marshmallows to decorate the tables throughout the community center. 

She also printed and framed this Easter subway art print from eighteen25.

Food.  Sugar galore!  There was bunny themed food everywhere and it was delicious!  Charlotte especially loved the bunny bait (which kept her so quiet I got a bit worried for just a second).  I also made the food labels by hand stamping and coloring these adorable bunny stamps on white cardstock and mounting them on patterned paper.

Supplies for Food Labels:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Cardstock (American Crafts); Stamps (a muse, Lawn Fawn); Other (We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Copic Markers).

This cake was delicious - a classic chocolate and vanilla cake from Katrina's Bakery in downtown Newport, RI.

Laura made these cute utensil rolls.  Just brilliant!!

Favors.  There were favors for both the adults and children.  Adults got bottles of local Delaware beer adorned with some favor tags I made using Photoshop and my trusty Silhouette Cameo.  The kids got bags filled with pinwheels, sunglasses and other goodies that they also used to fill with Easter eggs later during the party.  

Supplies for Favor Tags:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Digital Files (Bunny Silhouette - Lettering Delights, Font - Bosshole).

I also made these bunny ear props that the kids played with while running around outside.  SO CUTE!!!

 

 

Supplies for Bunny Ears:  Cardstock (American Crafts, Core'd'nations, Martha Stewart); Digital Files (Lettering Delights).

Laura also created these adorable carrot party hats and bunny tails.  I nearly died watching all the kids run around while wagging those cotton tails!

Activities.  The kids were busy the entire party blowing bubbles, searching for Easter eggs, beating up all the dads...

Birthday Boy and Girl.  And to end this post, here's a photo of the perfect birthday girl and boy. 

Laura, thank you so much for letting me be a part of this special celebration!!!  And to everyone else, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Project 100 Update:  92 down (I'm counting all the projects I made for the party as 12), 8 to go.

Birthday Party Themes - Blueberries for Sal

I love parties.  I love birthday parties.  And I especially love birthday parties that are centered around a book.  I've shared these creations on the blog before but wanted to show you how my super creative and talented friend, Jenni, put it all together for her daughter's "Blueberries for Sal" themed birthday party.

Invitations.  I created this invite that Jenni was able to just print at any online photo store (i.e. shutterfly, snapfish, costco) on matte photo paper.  There are also online companies that can print these digital files on cardstock for a pretty reasonable price (i.e. overnight prints, shutterfly). 

Banner.  Blue gingham, tin pails and yellow "2"s became recurring themes throughout the party and this banner set the tone nicely.

 

Food.  I think that everything and anything with blueberries was served at this adorable birthday party.  I'm talking homemade blueberry pie, muffins, scones, cake, blueberry lemonade spiked with vodka...YUM!!  Jenni made the food labels using blue gingham patterned paper, white cardstock, and little bucket images that I made to match the other party decor.

The bakery was able to match the bucket image.  How adorable is this?!  And may I say that the cake was also delicious!

Jenni's created this sweet food labels.  And the table spread was so gorgeous - especially with accents like this galvanized metal tiered stand.

Blueberries galore!

Charlotte certainly had her fill of blueberries.  :)

Games.  There were games and activities planned throughout the party just perfect for all the little toddlers - a stamping/ art station, story time, a present unwrapping game, and this super cute activity where each child got to "pick" their own special blueberry.  Cuteness overload.

Birthday Favors.  Each guest left with a jar of local Maine blueberry jam (!!!) and the kids got a tin pail filled with some of the birthday girl's favorite goodies - stamps, bubbles, stickers.  I just love how the favors looked with the tags I made.

Birthday Girl.  Jenni ordered the birthday girl this adorable shirt.  Makes me wish I had an embroidering machine and could actually sew.  Charlotte was clearly envious.  :)

If you want to read more about this Blueberry Birthday Party, please visit Jenni's blog.  

As always, thanks for stopping by!