Spring/Easter Ideas and Inspiration: Carrots

Though it doesn't feel like Spring yet here, I am getting the itch for Spring cleaning! I have spent all week between rearranging rooms and being sick :( boo! It's hard to believe that Christmas wasn't last week! So I guess we better start thinking about Spring and Easter (if you celebrate)!

Here are some carrot ideas/inspiration to get your creative juices flowing!

Transform chocolate dipped pretzels & crushed cookies into "bunny food"! Source and tutorial

Turn wooden prop eggs (or even hard boiled eggs!) into "carrots" using some felt! These would be adorable in some cookie "dirt"! Source and tutorial  (buy wooden eggs here - link)

What could be more fun than pulling a strawberry "carrot" from your cupcake? Talk about a 2 for 1 dessert! Source and tutorial

















 

Outdoor party: Garden Touches

As soon as we got back from Maine, the summer weather came back - ugh! But trying to look on the bright side - still plenty of time for summer themed parties!

 Today's inspiration is how to Frost your party with simple things you have from the garden (especially if you didn't keep up with the watering heehee)

Flowers don't have to take up the table... put them UNDER the glass table! Great way to add color and interest to your buffet.  Source

Planters hold ice perfectly! Use pots as serving bowls! Source

Serve up appetizers on terracotta planter bottoms! Use garden bricks for height and texture and don't forget to decorate with clippings or plants, too! Source

Make a fun, edible favor and package in simple kraft boxes.  Use chalk for names and a simple clipping of on of your bushes or herb plants for a dab of Frosting! Source




















 

Sunflower Party Ideas and Inspiration!

We were shopping local farm markets today and they had the most beautiful, perfect sunflowers! So today's post is completely inspired by the local farmers! 

Ok, no bowing out of this one my less-then-crafty Frosted Family! Just icing up some yellow, orange and cream cupcakes (yes, they can be from a box mix!) and arrange as shown... stem of a sunflower makes it come alive! Source and tutorial

Folded paper fans with a black pom-pom center make for adorable, inexpensive sunflowers! How fun would it be to use the book pages as shown for a Sunflower Summer Book party! Source

How clever would it be to use those plastic bins you can get at the craft store to make invites with the center filled with sunflower seeds?!? Source

These are SUPER simple, pinky swear! Use yellow fondant and daisy cutter (on baking aisle of any craft store).  Add a little dab of frosting gel in the middle and dip in chocolate jimmies, ta-da! (you can even put them on store bought cupcakes!) Source and full tutorial








 

Garden/Planting party ideas/inspiration

Whew! I have been out of it! Been fighting a bug, working on a secret project (wish I could tell you!!! maybe soon!) and digging a hole for a 20foot new cherry tree (HUGE HOLE!)!!! WOOT! I am so tired!

So since I am working on my garden here so I figured why not do a Garden party post!? Don't forget older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a Garden party - here.

Super cute take on a garden party! Love all the fake grass, bugs and garden items! Source

Go organic with the theme! Lots of kraft paper and paper leaves.  Leave pots for all the guests as placecards and favors.  Source

Use a grass paper punch to create these fun grass placemats for your guests! Source and tutorial

The perfect finishing touch... these garden veggie cookies! Source and tutorial

















 

Spring Garden Planting Party Ideas/Inspiration

I love when Spring starts awakening everything! Our bushes and trees are blooming and mother goose is in her normal spot preparing for this year's goslings!

To kick of the season, hold a planting party!

Start with a rustic setup - use chicken wire, trellises, lots of greenery, pots and other items you think of when you think of starting up your gardens! Source

Have planting stations where you have all the essentials like tools, pots, dirt and plants... then other essentials like wine, cheeses and breads! Source

Use pots to hold silverware... use a paint marker to write on the pots or attach tags if you want to reuse the pots later! Source

How fun would these garden inspired cookies be for your guests?! Source and tutorial














 

Ladybug party ideas/inspiration

Ladybug themed parties are a great warm weather girl party! Or mix them in with a garden theme! Don't forget about these older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a ladybug theme here!

What a perfect garden setup! I love the use of tools and how fun are the ladybugs on the wall! Source

I love the idea of fake grass on your tables and these little ladybug lunch boxes are such a great idea! Source

Serve up split cherry tomatoes and an olive on a cracker for a super cute appetizer! Source and tutorial

The most creative chocolate colored pretzels I have ever seen! Source

Flower touches to Frost your next event!

WOOT!!! I finally found my wedding dress today! SO EXCITED! so back to the party planning!

Here are a few flower ideas to incorporate into numerous themes...

Steal this idea for any party... take simple fabric and add embellishments, either with fabric, iron-ons, etc to complement your theme! Source

How cute are these pom-pom topiaries?! You could even Frost them with glitter or dip the edges in dye or even have the kids each Frost one! Source and tutorial

How hilarious and fun is this?! Adults and kids alike would love this! Source

A great low DIY project - yellow cake box mix, coffee filters cut into flower shapes and on green straws! and turn plain cupcakes into a garden! Source

More Garden Inspiration!

 First, don't forget to enter this week's giveaway!

Getting ready to plant our veggie garden inspired today's post of more garden theme inspiration.

How fantastic is this setup!?! I would love to be at this party! Perfect for a garden, fairy or woodland theme! Source found via delightfulevents

I am so in love with these veggie cookies! They would make a great Mom's day gift, too if she's a gardener.  From one of my fav cookie sites Source and tutorial






Garden invite that is so simple but so dang adorable! I think this would work for both kids and adult parties.  Source

You could modify this with any flower or topper - just a simple glue the end to a toothpick and you have instant whimsy even on your appetizer trays! Source

These are too adorable - chocolate cupcakes baked in terracotta pots and finished with a mint sprig.  Use chocolate rocks - our local Super Walmart sells them.  Source, directions and recipe

A veggie cake I made and took to work for a vegetarian coworkers bday.  Just in a cake carrier - no fancy presentation at work ;o)  Made multi-tone chocolate veggies in Williams - Sonoma veggie cake pan.  I used petal dust to give the veggies some more dimension.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day! If it clears up any, I might actually be able to go plant something today! (fingers crossed).  I hope we all find something environmentally friendly to do, even if it is small... so what is on your Earth Day plans?

When you are done your good deed, treat yourself to a plant cupcake! Super simple... chocolate cupcake in a terracotta pot, green icing and a sprig of mint! Source  There are tons of earth day crafts and activities you can do with your kids to help them learn about Earth Day... here are a few of my favorite listings

http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/earth-day/earth_day_crafts.html
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth.htm
http://edhelper.com/caring_for_earth.htm?gclid=CI2gzMacmqECFQk65Qod7waSOw

Butterflies

I love using butterflies around for all kinds of themes.  I saw the first pic below today which inspired the theme for today... Here are a few additional finds...

I thought this was great for the day before earth day because these are up-cycled magazine photos! How adorable would these be hanging around your next party!?! And practically free to make! Source & tutorial

You can modify this one for any theme - homemade marshmallows into a shape that compliments your theme  Source and tutorial

Cupcakes that I made for a coworker's bday - didn't take a good pic, of course! But something that you can take from this is you don't have to spend time on decorating every cupcake, a few special ones will still give a great impact (inspired by hello cupcake)

 Find ways to pepper butterflies throughout your space! Let them "land" on lanterns, straws, dishes, tables, etc. Source (Martha mag, I believe - unconfirmed)

Wrap water or juice bottles in coordinating patterned paper and even add a fun tag to mach, as well! Let even everyday food and drink items add to your theme! Source

I'll end a whole lotta sweet notes! I love this dessert-scape for so many reasons - the biggest is that they used ALL the space - they thought up, down, and all around... don't be shy about using more than just the table top! Source found via Karasparty