The Incredible {Edible} Easter Napkin Ring

Here is an easy idea for Spring and Easter table settings.  I made napkin rings using edible candy grass.  After you find your seat at the dinner table you can eat your napkin ring as an appetizer, how fun!

Materials Needed: Edible Easter Grass Candy (found at Wal-Mart), 

flourish punch and scrapbook paper

Directions: Twist long strands of candy grass into circle, tucking in the ends. 

Insert into a napkin and embellish with a place card. Eat any loose ends, ha!

WINNER of the Origami Delights Giveaway & Nautical 1st Birthday Party Sneak Peek

And the winner of the Origami Delights Giveaway is......

#28 Dorangelawho said:

I recycle everything that I am able to!

Thank you to everyone that entered. I loved reading all the ways you help the environment! Congrats Dorangela of Two Prince Bakery Theater, hope you enjoy your rainbow recycled paper seed bombs!

................

Thought I'd share a sneak peek at the Nautical Party I have been working on... 

My sweet and always cheery nephew turned 1 and we celebrated in style. 

The pictures will be featured in the upcoming issue of Bird's Party Magazine (yay!)

Ultra adorable Birthday Hat by Prop Shop Boutique

Custom Nautical Plate by Magnolia Creative Co.

5 Reasons to Skip the Dessert Table!

In case you missed my Silly Sunday post over at Piggy Bank Parties, thought I would share it here as well. And don't forget to enter the Origami Delights Lorax inspired giveaway going on now!

I love a good dessert table, but lately I've been wanting to slim down the desserts and try something a little different. Here are 5 reasons to SKIP the traditional dessert table at your next celebration.

1. My FAVORite kind of table

In true Purple Pug brilliance, Kristy skipped the traditional dessert table at her son's Fly Guy Rave and opted to make her treats and trinkets favor table the focal point. There were no complaints from the kiddos as they filled their buckets with fun take home goodies. 

2. UPGRADE the beverage station

Try upgrading the beverage area by adding flavors, toppings, or fun garnishes. Fellow Piggy Bank Crew member Mariah from Giggles Galore created a cozy Hot Cocoa Bar. Mariah offered hot cocoa toppings in glass ice cream dishes, candy canes tied with bakers twine to mugs, and hot chocolate served in glass beverage dispensers. 

3. Skip the table, keep the DESSERTS

Christine from Pure Joy Events set the mood for her daughter's sewing party by beautifully displaying desserts on a vintage rotary sewing machine.

Christine opted again to skip the traditional table for her sister's baby shower. She used a sleigh crib and coordinating crib skirt to create this beautiful dessert area. Imagine how different both parties would have looked on traditional tables?

4. Skip desserts, feature the FOOD

This beautiful table by Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers  is an excellent example of making the food presentation extraordinary. The table has the feel of a dessert table with a variety of cheeses being displayed on cake plates of various heights and glass cloches. Yet there are only subtle hints of sweet flavors offered to compliment the cheeses. 

5. Move the party to the TABLE

Sometimes the tablescape is the best place to represent the party theme.  Piggy Bank Parties Jack and the Beanstalk is my most favorite example of this. The beanstalk is the focal point of this children's story, so why not make it the focal point of the party also? The beanstalk sprouting through the middle of the table is so unexpected and whimsical.

Special thanks to my favorite party gals for permission to share pictures of their ultra fabulous parties. Hope it has inspired some new and creative ideas for your next party!

A Lorax Inspired Giveaway {Origami Delights}

We are celebrating the opening of The Lorax in movie theaters with a fun giveaway thanks to Origami Delights! If you have read the book or seen them movie, you will know that it carries a message about being being responsible for our environment. I've seen a party trend happening that I just adore, going green! Many party planners are consciously making an effort to use Eco-friendly materials from reusable banners and tablecloths right down to their party favors.

Recyclable party favors leads right into today's giveaway...

Origami Delights is offering the lucky winner a set of 30 RAINBOW SEED BOMBS party favors!

Seed bombs are made of recycled paper pulp. Inside each one are flower seeds. Just simply throw the seed bomb where you would like flowers to grow, water, keep moist and watch your flowers grow!

Wouldn't they make a terrific party favor or gift to hand out in a classroom?

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post on what you do to be more EARTH FRIENDLY everyday 

Additional Entries (Up to 4 extra):

- Visit Origami Delights on Etsy and leave a comment here about something that catches your eye from her shop
- "Like" Origami Delights on Facebook, leave a comment back here

- "Like" Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line on Facebook, leave a comment back here

-  Share this giveaway on Facebook, let me know you have done this and leave the link here

Rules: This giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, March 11, 2012. The winner will be selected by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to our notification email before another winner is selected. So please, pretty please leave a visible email address on your entry! This giveaway is open to US residents only. 

New Contributor for Bird's Party & Coffee Filter Roses

I have some fun news to share! I am the newest contributor for Bird's Party Blog.  Bird welcomed me with this very sweet introduction.  Bird is one of my favorite party peeps. She is an amazing designer, stylist, and editor of Bird's Party Magazine.  I am so honored to work with her!

I had to celebrate my great news with some beautiful flowers...

Rather, I had to celebrate my great news by buying making some beautiful red roses. Can you guess what they are made of?

Yes, coffee filters, water colors, floral tape, and wire courtesy of this tutorial from Martha. 

See, no water needed and cost under $2 to make.

Linking to: 30 Days Handmade, Whipperberry, Tatertots and Jello

Crepe Paper Ruffle Cups {Tutorial}

In case you missed this yesterday on Piggy Bank Parties, here's my tutorial for making pretty ruffle cups.

Crepe paper ruffle garlands make easy and inexpensive party decorations. I had an idea to embellish paper cups using this pretty ruffle, but with two boys I had to wait for a girl party to come along. I finally got to help a friend create a Pajama Glam Barbie party. We used hot pink and light pink ruffles on black paper cups to match the theme. Maria from Love and Sugar Kisses brilliantly discovered a way to make a no-sew version of the ruffle cups for her Piggy Ballerina Party, so today I will show you both ways!

Both methods create a darling ruffle cup (sewing method on left, no-sew on right) 

Materials:

Crepe Paper (2 colors)

Glue or Tape

Sewing Machine

Paper cup or glass bottle

Ruffle Cup Sewing Method Directions:

1. Gather 2 rolls of crepe paper together. Pleat about 3" of crepe paper at a time and slowly sew a straight line down the center of the pleated crepe paper. 

A closer look at the pleats

Sew as much ruffle garland as needed. Cut pieces to fit the cup or bottle. Attach with tape or hot glue. 

Fluff the ruffle if desired. 

Crepe Paper Ruffle Cup No-Sew  Method:

Add a line of glue around the center of the cup

Scrunch crepe paper into the glue to create ruffles by pinching. 

Add more glue as you go if needed

Embellish as desired...

For the Pajama Glam party I added Barbie confetti to the ruffled cups 

Maria tied tulle to her paper straws, I just love the way the cups turned out!

Boy Bash on a Budget Challenge {For Spaceships and Laser Beams}

When Spaceships and Laser Beams extended an invitation to party enthusiasts to participate in a Boy Bash on a Budget Challenge, I knew this challenge was for me because it included three of my favorite things... BOYS, PARTIES, and BUDGETS!

I will be creating a Vintage Fishing Tablescape for $20 or less. I chose this theme for a few reasons, one I really love the graphics in this collection by Spaceships and Laser Beams. It is really unique and offers many ways to work with it. 

The second reason, is well this...

All three of my boys love to fish!

Spaceships and Laser Beams will showcase the final party pictures from the 25 of us participating every Tuesday starting in April. If you have a brilliant (cheap) fishing party ideas, let me know! I might just be able to add it to the table!

Kid Approved Healthy Apple Snacks {for Piggy Bank Parties}

I'm sharing a simple, yet fun and healthy snack idea over on Piggy Bank Parties today. It is a reminder to myself that not everything has to be beautiful, complicated, or perfect. 

JOY can be found in simplicity

{BEHIND THE SCENES} KATE LANDER'S BABY SHOWER

You've seen the gorgeous photos and read about all the amazing vendors who contributed to Kate Lander's ultra classic baby shower, now it's time to share a little behind the scenes look at what goes into a party like this. For example, can you find the stain on the backdrop? Or can you guess which dessert is too hard to actually eat? Nope, I didn't think so... but they are there. All parties have hiccups, but this party had very few  because of how well we worked together and executed Kate's vision.

All images courtesy of the ultra talented and cool as cucumber Liza Voll Photography

HIGHLIGHTS:

HELP WANTED: Many months ago Kate posted a request for design assistance for a special event. I had an inkling that it would be her own baby shower. I also knew the event was 500 miles from where I lived. I sent Kate my craft resume and nearly fainted when there was a reply email from Kate Landers in my inbox.

FIRST PHONE CALL: Can you imagine all the things that run through your mind as you wait for Kate to call you? I banished my husband to the basement. He was oddly amused by my sweaty palms, notebook, and open Google browser.

Kate's voice was calm and collected. The first half hour was spent talking about my projects. I babbled on wondering how on earth this event planning legend was interested in my projects. Her answers were thoughtful, thorough, and genuine. We then turned the conversation to the baby shower and she gave me a few projects to work on. We continued to communicate via phone and emails. Our conversations always started with a check in of my projects and the kids. The anticipation of meeting Kate was growing and I was truly looking forward to helping her with this most special and personal event.

TRAVEL: Yes, I traveled 500 miles to go see baby Noah and mommy-to-be Kate. I grew up in Boston so I love any excuse to get home and visit my family! Due to some eastern PA flooding I almost didn't make it out of PA, but we finally arrived in MA around 3:30am. 

FRIDAY BABY SHOWER SET UP: Kate gives me a huge hug and welcomes me in. Christy from Inspired Design arrives with a ginormous party kit and contagious smile. You can tell we all *love* doing this. We squeal over all the pristine Loralee Lewis printed goodies, the immaculate details on the fondant diaper bags by Lynlee and all the other amazing vendors who have labored hours on these meticulous creations. We quickly realize we have a lot of work to do! I really wanted to snap a picture of Kate's husband IRONING, but I refrained (heck, I had only been in a part of the Landers' Team a few hours now). Ryan is the most doting, darling, supportive party planner's husband I have ever met. He not only irons tablecloths, but lifts heavy objects, delivers endless supplies of Dunkin' Donuts coffees and McDonald's flurries, builds backdrops, and knows where all Kate's party boxes are in the basement. May we clone him?

SATURDAY- IT'S SHOWER TIME: Kate walks in wearing a beautiful bright blue dress and hair still in curlers. She is way more relaxed about crunch time than I expected. I am always a pre-party wreck! There are the usual last minute details to attend to such as beverages, food, desserts, wreaths, favors, and pictures.

Liza, our photographer arrives. The dessert table is not quite ready, but she is unfazed by this. She works around our scrambling and takes beautiful shots. Guests start arriving and Kate transforms from party planner to guest of honor. The moment Kate sat down in that big comfy chair, I knew the rest of the party was in our hands and she could relax and enjoy her day.

Kate's family and friends are warm and gracious as she. Everyone enjoyed designing wood blocks with baby wishes for baby Noah. There were many compliments on the immaculate desserts. Gifts were opened with thoughtfulness and care. Kate's friends and family showered her with Pottery Barn Kids and Layla Grace gift boxes that suited her classic and elegant style.

POST SHOWER: My favorite part. Kate stole precious time away from her family and friends to talk with Christy and I before we left. We chatted about our goals and motherhood. Kate offered us some valuable advice and presented us each with one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. Kate gave each of us cake plates and signed the bottom. My "Kate Cake Plates" have made an appearance at all my parties ever since! It is a special reminder of the risk worth taking and the bond that passion and creativity can create among new friends.

POST SHOWER UPDATE: Baby Noah arrived safe and sound this fall. Mommy Kate, Daddy Ryan, and Baby Noah are all doing well. Of course Loralee Lewis created the most beautiful birth announcement for Noah. Kate, I cannot wait to see what you have in mind for Noah's 1st birthday. Team Landers is ready and willing!

See the entire Baby Shower feature on Layla Grace, and more details from Kate over on Kate Landers Events.  

Peppermint Heart Sugar Cookies

Need a last minute gift idea?  How about some Valentine sugar cookies for someone special? I made Peppermint Sugar Cookies for my annual cookie exchange with friends over the holidays. They were delicious! The pretty specks of pink and red peppermint made me think that these would make such pretty Valentine cookies. I modified the recipe slightly below.

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Ingredients: 

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup finely crushed hard red and white peppermint candies or candy canes
additional powdered sugar for rolling

heart shaped cookie cutter

white chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt). Set aside

2. Beat butter and powdered sugar with a mixer until fluffy, add an egg yolk and mix until blended. Add egg whites and peppermint extract and mix well. Slowly add dry ingredients in. Then add finely crushed peppermint candies and white chocolate chips (if desired). 

3. Form a ball with the cookie batter, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for an hour. 

4. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and have a bowl of powdered sugar ready. 

5. Make 1 inch balls, roll in powdered sugar and flatten with palm. Use heart shape cookie cutter to cut out heart. Dip again in powdered sugar and place on parchment paper. Use a fork to make crisscross design. 

6. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees until bottoms are golden brown. Cool on wire racks.