Minted Inspiration Board Challenge: Merry Travels

The biggest challenge I faced while creating my board in the Minted Inspiration Board Challenge was narrowing down my card options. There are sooo many cute cards to pick from. I couldn't decide. Finally, this card caught my eye, maybe because I saw the map & Pittsburgh written in big letters.

Next, the challenge was to create an inspiration board from this card. Have I mentioned that I love creating inspiration boards? I would be a professional inspiration board maker if that existed (does anyone have this job opening? If so, call me!).

Here's my Merry Travels Inspiration Board...

Merry Merry On The Road board by Jenny. See more Minted holiday photo cards

Want to enter? There's still time and prizes to win through 11/18.

The Party Dress Magazine 2012 Holiday Issue!

It's almost as exciting as Christmas morning around here! 

The 2012 Holiday Issue of The Party Dress Magazine is out today!

The issue is filled with Holiday entertaining ideas, recipes, gift ideas, and craft tutorials! 

Be sure to check out my New Years Confetti Wreath Tutorial on pages 78-81!

I was so lucky to work with the following vendors:

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Photography: Studio One Two One

Fondant Toppers, Cake Topper, and Custom Oreos: Love & Sugar Kisses

Cake, Cupcakes, and Cake Pops: Samantha's Sweets

Cookies: Bambella Cookie Boutique

Silver Mermaid Backdrop: Drop It Modern

New Years Eve Printable Collection: The TomKat Studio
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Surprise 70th Black & White and Garden Party

My Mother-In-Law turned 70 this week. Unlike most people, she loves surprises. She always says if it's not a surprise why bother. Sooooo, of course we had to throw her a surprise party!

Party Theme:  Garden & Stripes. Annika of Cakes Like a Party created the most unbelievable Garden and Stripes printable party collection. Annika was gracious enough to grant my last minute request.

Party Decorations: Huge scrolly banners, crepe paper flowers, and black and white fabrics. 

Party Highlights: A Pie Station filled with the birthday girl's favorite desserts

Cheesecake, Apple and  Raspberry Pies

Beverage area with black polka dot plate wall

My hutch transformed with black paper plates and crepe paper roses

Money Saver Party Tip: I bought a twin sheet set in a great black and white fabric. I threw the flat sheet on top of my  Tablevogue tablecloth that I use on my 6' folding table. The fitted sheet fit perfectly on my kitchen table and I also lined the inside of a frame on the wall with the pillowcase, all for $10!

Appetizer Home Run: The most beloved appetizer I have ever made is this Brie En Croute recipe by Paula Deen. It's so easy to make and really tasty!

Some birthday singing to Grammy!

To be honest, I've been simplifying my parties lately. I love a big party, but sometimes it's just nice to keep things small and homemade. I chose to use only one party resource (Cakes Like a Party) and made all the decorations myself for under $15. The party was a huge success because the birthday girl was so surprised, grateful, and surrounded by the company of lifelong friends and family all evening. That is what celebrating is all about.

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to Annika for letting me use your party collection, my sisters-in-law for helping with all the food, and my hubby and buggers for helping with all the party prep!

Giveaways, Giveaways, and MORE GIVEAWAYS!

This week there are SO many great giveaways happening on my favorite blogs,
I had to share the links with you,

hope you will head over and enter. 

I would LOVE to see some of you win!

Giveaway #1

A HUGE THANKS-Giving Giveaway hosted by Magnolia Creative Co., SwishDesigns, La Belle Party Planning and Three Little Monkeys Studio. There are 46 PRIZES for 46 WINNERS!!!

I'll be giving away a $25 credit to my Etsy Shop, so be sure to enter!

Giveaway #2

In Flight is celebrating 2 years and 2,000 fans with a fantastic giveaway with over $538.00 in prizes! There’s a total of 16 prizes including the 1^st prize and there will be 16 winners.  I will be giving away this  adorable owl set of 3 pegs!

Giveaway #3

Dukes and Duchesses is hosting a special giveaway to celebrate her birthday!

Head over to win $25 Pick Your Plum Box (one of my favorite online craft resources!)

Good Luck Everyone! Be sure to come back and tell me if you WIN something!!! 

Halloween Costume Peg Ornaments

Do you love looking back at photos of your kids'  Halloween costumes over the years?

I do (and tend to get a little sappy in the process).

This year I decided it would be fun to document their costumes as pegs. 

I added a hook and Halloween Divine Twine to transform each peg into an ornament. 

The boys will get such a kick out of adding their Halloween Costume Pegs to our Christmas tree this year!

I even painted pig & skeleton costume ornaments for our next door neighbors and added their names and the year on the back.
Much more fun than candy, right?

Here is a peg I made for a sweet little girl dressing up as Lalaloopsy Rosy this Halloween!

and of course the trio of SCARE PEGS!

$15 for the set of 3 and free shipping with code: HALLOWEEN12

Pretty Pastel Carousel Party by Fanciful Events {Featuring Craft That Party Ruffle Garlands}

After my Halloween ruffle milk bottles were featured in The Fall Issue of The Party Dress, Suzanne from Fanciful Events asked if I could make pink and sea foam crepe paper ruffle garlands to coordinate with her upcoming party. Her work is nothing short of whimsical and fabulous, so I knew whatever she was planning would be stunning.  Here are the ruffles I made. Wait until you see below what they became, amazing!

Suzanne wrapped the ruffles around glass bottles, dessert cups, and cupcake wrappers. She then embellished them further using her party printables and darling yellow buttons.

Photo by Renee Nicole Design & Photography

Photo by Renee Nicole Design & Photography

Photo by Renee Nicole Design & Photography

Photo by Renee Nicole Design & Photography

To see more pictures of this incredible party, check out Fanciful Event's full party feature on Amy Atlas!

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p.s. I am currently working on a special project for Suzanne's next party, I am totally in love with how it turned out and cannot wait to see how she uses it!

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I'd love to know, would anyone like to see ruffle garlands added to my Etsy shop? 

VENDOR CREDITS:

Photography: Renee from Renee Nicole Design & Photography

Event Design and Styling: Fanciful Events

Invitation and Printables: Paper & Pigatail

Paper Carousel Favor Boxes: Maita from Paper Candee

Button Toppers, Balloon Pops and Little girl topper: Edible Details

Carousel themed toppers and Carousel button horse toppers: Sugar High, Inc

Ruffled Crepe: Crossing The Bugger Dixon-Line

Table Runners: Sweet Tea and Linen

Chalkboard Sign: Moulage Collection

Cookies and Cake Pops: Bee’s Knees Creative

Tulle backdrop and favor Table Design: Let’s Get This Party Started

Macaroons: Crazy about Macarons

Carousel Design from Backdrop: Frog Prince Paperie

Silhouettes Design: Vana from Le Papier Studio

Banner and Cotton candy glassine bags: The Purple Pug

Polka Dot Candy Cups and Ice Cream Cups: Tomkat Studio

Straws and wooden scoops: Shop Sweet Lulu

Cake: Sweet Tweet Cakery

Gender Reveal Peg Doll Party by Marie Thomas Designs

I was so excited when Christina of Marie Thomas Designs contacted me about creating pegs for a Gender Reveal Party. I had never seen pegs used in such a creative way!  Her plan is to have the big-sister-to-be open a box with the special peg inside to reveal if she is getting a little brother or little sister.  Isn't that the CUTEST idea ever??!!  I love that the family will have the peg as a keepsake from their big reveal.

The family will not find out the sex of the baby until the week of the party, so we decided it was best to make  both a boy peg and a girl peg. I painted the baby boy peg in light blue overalls and the baby girl peg in a light pink dress and flower headband. Both with a teeny tiny curl of hair on top.

What will it be ... a little brother or little sister?

Christina designed this darling invitation. I am so smitten with it.  She has some amazing party details planned and I will be begging her to share pictures after the party.

I cannot wait to see how the party turns out

and see which peg is in that box!

Happy Friday & Girls Night In Cocktail Recipe

Happy weekend everyone! I hosted a much needed and very fun "Girls Night" recently. I set up a cute beverage area and served a signature cocktail that I found on The Sutter Home Blog.  It was a huge hit! I plan to make this again very soon.

Bugger Moments In Sports #MajorLeagueMom #spon

My two boys love anything that involve sports. It is a necessary outlet for their tireless amounts energy. They both are just entering the magical ages of playing on organized teams. This is new to us... we've always played pick-up games in our backyard. But now they are learning to play with their peers.

There are so many lessons to learn in sports. The boys are learning patience, compassion, and confidence. Every time they step on that field, they will be require they make their own choices. As parents standing on the sidelines, we hope they make the decision to try their hardest, be respectful to their coach and teammates, and most importantly to believe in themselves.

My youngest is shy, gentle, and sweet. This was his first season of tee-ball. We weren't sure if he was ready for it, but signed him  up anyway. He loved catching and throwing with his daddy during warm ups. When it was his turn to bat, he would always check back to make sure daddy was close by. His last at bat for the season, he hit the ball far, very far for tee-ball standards. He could hardly contain his bashful enthusiasm as he ran the bases. He tagged first base, looked at the mom standing there and yelled, 

I crushed that ball!

That was his moment (and my Kleenex moment for sure). This is his smile. This is why sports will always be an important part of my boys' lives. And that is why I will always be a proud momma, cheering on the sidelines. I will be the one cheering for the little men they are developing into.

Get a Kleenex custom oval BOGO until 11/15/12, just use the code PLAYOFFS at checkout on the Kleenex site. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. 

Grand Opening! Etsy Shop & Giveaway

I have exciting news to share! My pegs are now being sold on Etsy in my store called Craft That Party!

To celebrate my Grand Opening, I am giving away a $30 credit to the store in Kate Lander's MEGA HUGE 1st Birthday Giveaway!  Hope you will head over and enter, I would love to see lots of you win prizes over there!

Here are some of my newest designs...

Gingerbread Boy and Girl Set

 Owl Always Love You 

First Birthday Peg Doll

Hope you will add my store to your favorite list and check back often. I will be adding peg ornaments and new peg designs for the Holidays!