July 4th ideas and inspiration

Sorry I have been away for a few days! Been a rough few days at home...on great news - baby Elias is 1 month old!



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We are still trying to decide what we are doing for the holiday weekend...if you are planning on a celebration, hopefully these ideas will inspire you! Don't forget about these older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a July 4th celebration here (link)

Here's a great idea anyone can do! Chocolate covered pretzels, then arrange in a flag shape! Source (pretzel dipping fork - link)

Make your rice crispies festive! A little icing and you can cut them into rectangles and make them flags! Source and tutorial












Still feel like it's too much craftiness needed? How about this idea! Arrange blueberries, bananas and strawberries into a flag! Source
















 

July 4th ideas and inspiration

Anyone planning a 4th of July celebration? Or are you just going to be a guest at one? It will probably just be us because Elias is still a bit too small for a lot of company, but I am starting to search out a date for the sip and see!

If you are planning a party, here are some ideas to inspire you! Don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a July 4th celebration here (link)

I am a sucker for anything mason jar! (we even drink out of them as our reg glasses - it reminds me of growing up).  This would even make a great hostess gift! Source and tutorial

Another fun (and super easy!) mason jar idea... serve up a blue drink with a watermelon star on a lolli stick (sold here - link).  Source and recipe

Another simple idea... red, white and blue fruit kabobs! Source

The kids will love these hotdog "rockets"! Source... cupcake wrappers (here)



















 

Icecream party ideas and inspiration

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Baby Elias has been pretty fussy the past few days :( so life hasn't existed much for me, but hopefully just a phase and I'll be more productive this week (wishful thinking!). I did have company this weekend so that was great to get some adult interaction!

If it's been as warm near you as here, you are probably cooling down with summer treats...which is inspiring today's post to hold an icecream party/social! Also, don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for an icecream theme here (link)

How fun are these icecream social invites?! They also would make great favor bags! Source

Use felt or fun fabrics to create an icecream scoop banner! Outline each scoop with glue/glitter.  Source

You could also use real cones and stryofoam balls wrapped in yarn to create fun icecream cones! These would make cute placesettings, too! Source and tutorial

What goes better with icecream than cake?! Form your cake balls into popsicle shapes! Source and tutorial













 

Happy Father's Day!

Hope everyone is having a great Father's Day!

Special thanks to my husband, Elias's daddy, for being such a great dad - he's super hands on, so kind and gentle, couldn't ask for more!

 

More Father's Day inspiration...

We are so lucky to have the sun today -it was supposed to be more heavy raining/flooding - so hoping Father's Day will be just as nice out! Anyone planning something fancy or just a special meal? I am most likely doing a small gift and a special dessert.

Here are some ideas to Frost your special day, but don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for Father's Day here (link) 

How handsome are these chalkboard inspired labels?! Super cute! A fun, free and fast way to add a little Frosting to your Father's Day! Source and free download

Giving Dad a tool or fishing box for Father's Day? Why not fill it with goodies?! You could do homemade, cheat and do store bought... for extra credit do cookies shaped like tools (like these - link) or fish (like these - link) Source - Mrs Fields, though I don't think they carry them any more

Is Dad a griller? Make some homemade BBQ sauce! Great for favors if you are having an event! Extra Frosting tip - stamp the brush with a name or saying! Source and recipe












 

Strawberry party ideas and inspiration

I love when strawberries are in season! Though I had to admit, the ones I picked up at Walmart went bad after just 3 days this week and I was not a happy camper! Here are some ideas to inspire you for a Strawberry picking theme or Strawberry Shortcake theme!  Don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for strawberries here (link) and here (link)

Create fun little baskets for placecards/favors that have a felt strawberry and coordinating ribbons! Source

Strawberry bites - super cute served up in a little basket! Source and tutorial

Form your cake pops into strawberries! Source

Use a strawberry cookie cutter (like this one - link) to create dipped strawberry cookies! Just do the red part first, let dry then apply white or brown icing after as the "dipped" part! Source












 

Fairy Party ideas and inspiration

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Baby Elias (almost 3 weeks old now!) is entering a growth spurt and has been up every 2 hours for feedings so our weekend was a bit of a tired blur ;o) but I can't complain because after 3 weeks, if that's the worst nights we've had, then so be it!

...now that I am back blogging, want to get back to all kinds of parties - so here is some more inspiration for a Fairy themed party.  Don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a Fairy party here (link) 

Fairy parties are so much fun because you can integrate so much of the outdoors to create a fun setup! Grab a basket and go out back and collect tons of (free) nature to integrate into your spread! Nestle in your treats for a beautiful setup.  Source

 Use tarps, drop cloths, dollar store shower curtains etc to cut out and decorate "mushrooms" to designate play areas.  Not only are they fun, but they help decorate the party space without much investment.  Source

Create a little jar of "fairy dust"! You can use any little vials (like this - link) and can add a chain for the guests to wear as necklaces! Source

For a great snack, make these apple and marshmallow "mushrooms"! Source and tutorial

















 

National Doughnut Day!

Happy National Doughnut Day! Today we will be having a special cheesecake for my hubby's bday - but I would have been perfectly fine with a box of doughnuts! Here are a few ways to serve them up at your next event!

Use styrofoam tree cones (you can wrap in plastic wrap to keep food safe) and toothpicks to great a fun and yummy donut hole tree! Source

Doughnuts are amazing on their own... but why not indulge your guests with a doughnut dunking station! Source

Create a dowel/board donut display! You could also use a paper towel holder if you worried to take on a DIY project.  Source

Serve up even store bought doughnut holes in pretty wrappings.  Not only will they look great, but they'll be super easy for your guests to grab and munch on! Source and recipe
















 

Ideas to Frost your Father's Day!

This will no doubt be a special Father's Day for us, even though it's not the first time my husband has become a dad, but it's been 11 years since his son (previous marriage) was born, so it feels all new again to him, I am sure!

...whether you do a little or a lot for the Fathers in your life, here are a few ideas to help inspire you!

Throw a dad themed breakfast (if you are my husband, this will start after noon lol).  Incorporate his favorite things or hobbies as decoration, a little will go a long way - don't over complicate it - you know our men don't realize how long it takes to craft anyway! Source

 If the traditional tie theme works for your man, why not line the edge of your table with them - looks so cool! Also love the newspaper touch for the presents! Source unknown :o(

You could also do up a fun chili station (or any station for that matter that works for his taste) for dinner using masculine serving containers like cans with the labels removed and coordinating stainless steal items.  Source

I'm back! ....let's get our party back on with an Ant Picnic!

Quick update... Thank you all for your well wishes as my little guy, Elias, turns 2 weeks tomorrow! I am so glad I took the time to not focus on anything buy my new family, it has been such a blessing and dream come true.  My recovery (c-section) is going well and I am feeling up to being back in the party world! Thank you all for supporting me while I had a hard pregnancy! many hugs!
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Back to the party life! With the weather getting very warm it's the perfect time of year to hold a picnic party! Here are some ideas to Frost your Ant Picnic theme!

Set up a fun station complete with ant hill cake, jello "puddles" and leaf-topped drinks! Source and tutorial

These cookies would be awesome additions! Source and tutorial

Use fun patterns and cutout ants & watermelons on sticks for props... Source

Send your guests home with a treat in a fun ant themed favor bag! Round circles and googly eyes make this approachable for any level of crafter!
Source unknown :o(