Custom Inspiration Board: Lion First Birthday

Hello to one and all! After a much-needed 2 week vacation with family, I'm back and ready to jump back into inspiration!

This inspiration board was created earlier this summer for a lion-themed first birthday.

Sources: lion costume, paper poms, lion invitation, paw cookies, lion coloring page, birthday shirt, lion paper plates, jungle gym, lion cake

Some ideas for this party:

- Sign saying "King of the Jungle" near a swing set or Jungle Gym (for young guests).
- Tissue paper fringe around signs, banners, even plates or other decorations to resemble a lion's mane.
- Paper poms in reds, oranges, and browns.
- Paw print cookies, party mix labeled "lion chow", or, for some playful humor , deli meats for sandwiches with a "lion food" label.
- Play music from The Lion King soundtrack
- Crafts for young guests: lion coloring pages, lion mask-making with paper plates, craft eyes, and felt. (Masks could double as favors as well).

I can't wait to share more fun ideas and parties in the next few days!

{REAL PARTY} Pink Lemonade Birthday Party

This party is an absolutely adorable 1st birthday featured on Eat Drink Pretty that I just had to share! As if the birthday girl weren't precious enough, these details are amazing, and I just love how it's a fun twist on a girly pink party!

The invitations. Pam used the paper lemon slice as labels throughout the party.

This homemade fabric party hat is amazing! Thankfully, she only had to make one.

Yes! She made this cake herself, fondant lemons and all!

The lemonade station with fresh fruit add-ins.

Yes! Pam made and hand-painted this lemonade stand too!

What a memorable way to celebrate a memorable birthday!

Check out Pam's blog for more details by the host and party designer herself!

Summer Sunflowers

I love sunflowers and even considered using them in my own late-summer wedding! I love the rustic feel and warmth they add, but it can be tricky to use as a theme because one can easily get carried away with "sunflower everything". For an elegant twist, I love the combination of sunflowers with black and white in different prints, but as always sunflowers are also beautiful when used in casual, country feel. Today I'm focusing on formal designs with sunflowers.

Check out this gorgeous sunflower and damask table decor from Project Wedding!

Or this elegant inspiration with sunflowers and black and white stripes by WH Hostess at The Party Dress

I love what Chrissy at The Perfect Palette created using yellow sunflowers and navy as an accent color!

And for real warmth, check out this Under the Tuscan Bridal Shower featured on Hostess with the Mostess, and originally designed by A Stunning Affair. So elegant - not to mention another film-themed event. :)

Stay tuned for real rustic sunflower inspiration!

Casual Beach Wedding

This time of year, as the hot summer days grow shorter, I always get to thinking of the beach. To honor that, I've created inspiration for a classic, casual beach wedding. For this inspiration board, I wanted to work with the natural colors of the beach by using white and different shades of blue as well as shells, sand, and nautical lanterns.

{click to enlarge}

Sources: seashell votives, beach, flower pin, nautical lanterns, bride, sandcastle candles, couple at sunset, shell bouquet, ceremony, sand heart, bridesmaids and parasols, wedding cake

How amazing are some of these details? Like this cake with chocolate shells, mini sections of picket fence and Adirondack chair toppers:

Absolutely incredible!

Or this beautiful bouquet of ribbon and sea shells:

I can't wait to be on vacation at the beach in just a few weeks; I just can't get it out of my head! I'm sure I will have more beach-inspired creations in the coming days!

{REAL PARTY} Pink and Gray Dessert Table

This real party is a stunningly elegant and beautiful dessert table designed by Jenna at Eat Drink Pretty for its one year "blogiversary"- Amazing! The images say it all!

She matched the party to her blog's design using the colors gray and pink and the chandelier from her logo.

Obviously, a real chandelier was necessary.

I love the simplicity of the pink flowers resting in glass jars.

The colors and design were used all the way down to the individual desserts and labels!



Gorgeous cupcakes. She even included recipes for her desserts in her original post!

Now to start planning my one year blogiversary...

Custom Inspiration Board: Aqua and Cherry First Birthday!

Anna Rose of The How-to Gal contacted me a few weeks ago to help her with inspiration for her daughter's first birthday party. She liked the colors red and aqua, but was looking for a theme to tie it together. I submitted this inspiration board! Aqua and Cherry! Check out her feature on this inspiration here!

Sources: cherry print, cherry cupcakes, flowers arrangement, candy buffet, red paper lantern, cherry favors, mini cherry pies, invitations, hanging circles

Ever so talented, she went out and made the hanging circles! Don't they look great?

Other ideas:

• This theme sort of lends itself to being shabby-chic. It could also easily go vintage.
  
• I love the idea of using fresh cherries as cupcake toppers or favors, but these cupcake toppers are also really cute.
  
• Bakerella has a great post on adorable mini cherry pies. Follow the link from her site to the tutorial.
• I found these adorable napkins and matching tableware here
  

• Cherry party tags fond here.

Check off another fruit-themed celebration! I just love summer!

Bastille Day Inspiration

Sadly, it occurred to me too late that July 14th was Bastille Day - the national holiday of France, but, even fashionably late, I just have to feature some great French inspiration anyway!

Bastille Day Wedding courtesy of Snippet and Ink. Quelle magnifique!

A little off the beaten path, I found this absolutely stunning French Baby Shower!

The parasols! The lavender! The Eiffel Tower-embroidered onesie! The hanging flower rope letters! What an elegant entrance into the world for a baby girl! To see how this theme could be adapted for a wedding or adult party, see my Lovely Lavender post.

Do you like Egypt? Then get ready for my weekend post...

P.S. I've been featured! The talented Anna Rose of The How-To Gal featured my custom inspiration board for her daughter's birthday (which I'll give details on soon) and even demonstrated how to make one of the decor elements I included. Check out the post here! You'll love her blog!