Ice Cream Cone Balloons

Make "ice cream cones" with a bunch of helium balloons, and some brown kraft paper cones. Genuius!

Image: http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2010/08/lauras-baby-shower.html

Today's post comes via the great Martha and her team at the Crafts Dept. I love this idea so much, I had to share. It's so easy, and it looks so great. The team made them for a baby shower, but I would use them for a kid's birthday, a family reunion or any other summer time event.

Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are hot right now, for both party and wedding decorations.
Personally, I love them. If done right, they look fabulous.
Another big bonus is the price! They're super affordable, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.

I had intended to use white paper laterns to dress up a feature on the grounds of the Living Arts Centre. For lack of a better description, let's call it a "stage". My idea was to shoot some cool wedding shots using the structure.

The "stage"-wouldn't paper lanterns look cool?

I picked up round, white lanterns into two sizes-small and large from a party supply store. I only wanted a few, so I didn't want to order them online. Perhaps I should have. The ones I bought didn't form a sphere well, they were ended up as odd shapes. So, sadly I didn't use them. When buying lanterns, go for the good quality. They might cost more intially, but it will be worth it in the end.

Luckily, our photographer was able to get some amazing shots anyway. Here are some of those shots....

Photography by Red Garter Studios

My point-I still love paper lanterns. Any shape, any colour. Hang them from poles, from trees, attach them to sticks and drive them into the ground. If you have a clothesline, string some up there. They are an easy and fun way to decorate a backyard for a party. Ikea even has solar powered paper lanterns in red, white or turquoise. Love, love, love.


Party supply stores usually carry them in the summer months. They are also sold online. Chinatown of course, is an obvious source. Dollar stores do have them, but they can be cheaply made. Buy one or two, and try them out first.

Check out my party décor board at pinterest.com for some of my favourite pics of paper lanterns.

http://pinterest.com/razledazlerose/party-decor/

Digital Bulletin Board

I recently discovered pinterest.com, a site that functions as a digital bulletin board. Instead of adding websites to your bookmarks toolbar, you can "pin" things you like to your "pinboard".

You can create pinboards about anything. Several templates are pre-loaded with titles such as "books to read", "for the home", "my style pinboard" etc, but can delete or edit these, as well as create your own category.

The site is very easy to use, just drag the "pin it" widget into your browser toolbar. When you come across something you like, click on the widget. A new window pops up- you can select exactly what you want to pin, and to which category.

Next add a description and tags. The site will automatically add the source, no need to keep track yourself!

Pinterest is also linked to facebook and twitter. You can "follow" other users, and "repin" items you like to your own pinboards.

To create an account, you have to sign up for the waitlist but I found it was very quick. Once you are signed in, you can invite up to five friends to join as well.

To see more, follow my pinboards here

E invitations

Online invitations, a.k.a "e-vites" are an excellent choice for many reasons-they're free, paperless and quick and easy. Two sites that I use frequently are evite.com and mypunchbowl.com
Here are some highlights of each.

Evite

• completely free (you need to register for an account)
  
• quick and easy to use
• pre-made templates for every category
• custom options are somewhat limited but you can change the design image or "design your own" from scratch
  
• easily import your contacts from email accounts such as gmail and hotmail
• guests options such as potluck requests, polls, even let guests create a playlist
  
• links to google maps
• option to post the invitation to facebook
  
• tracks rsvps for you
• after the event, guests can post photos
• free e-cards available
  

To create an account go to http://www.evite.com/

Punchbowl

• a digital version of a real invitation-designs have envelopes
• classier than a usual e-invitation
• basic options are free-you can upgrade your account to "plus" or "premium" for a monthly fee
• customize options such as background and text colour, add a photo
• tracks rsvps for you
• links to social media-facebook, twitter, linked in, my space
  
• free e-cards available
• party planning options-find a venue, create a budget, order party supplies etc.

To create an account go to http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

DIY greeting cards and invitations

Materials needed:

• pre-made envelopes, in any size
• variety of decorative papers-I used scrapbooking paper
• embellishments: die cuts, glitter, stickers, scraps of ribbon, etc.
  
• glue stick
• glue gun for thicker elements (if using)
• bone folder (optional)
• cutting mat and xcato knife or paper cutter

The only essential aspect of making your own cards is making sure they fit into the envelopes.

Other than that, let your imagination run wild!

Craft stores sell blank card and envelope sets. This project is even easier with pre-made cards, just decorate! Each card takes only a minute or two.

If you are making invitations, you will likely want to make them all the same. I don't think this is strictly necessary-your guests won't compare them! But it is easiest to make them all the same colour scheme, you can vary the patterns and shapes if you like.

For invitations print out all the details such as date, time, location and the contact information for the guests to rsvp and print out as many copies as you need from your home computer.

Glue this sheet into each invitation.

This is really a creative exercise, you can make cards and invitations in any colour scheme and pattern you like.

Here are some samples I created using leftover scrapbooking supplies and bits and bobs I had lying around the house. I confess I save ribbon-I have a drawer full of random pieces.

This could be an invitation or a card for a wedding, an engagement party, a shower, or an anniversary party.

This card or invitation is more general-it could be for birthdays or as a thank you card.

It really only takes a few minutes to make a card and it's a really nice way to create a hand made custom card. Tailor the card to the person it's for, the event, or even to the wrapping paper.

Most of all-be creative and have fun!

Book Review-Real Simple Weddings

From the Editors of Real Simple Magazine, 2009

Technically this is a single issue magazine not a book, but it's close enough for me.
I received this as a gift after I had already begun my planning process, so I really didn't use it to it's full potential. However, I find it so helpful that I wanted to write about some higlights and features.

At 160 pages, it is jammed with useful tidbits interspered with lovely photographs. One of the features are "real weddings" in each chapter linked with that topic.

The book is divided into three sections, with ten chapters covering every aspect of weddings-calendars and timelines, attire, invitations, ceremony ideas and much much more.

The planning section includes handy worksheets with timelines, checklists and budgets.

A nice bonus is the pull-out quick reference guide. It's small enough to carry around with you in your purse, and has spots to jot down contact information for vendors as well as checklists.

The only negative-the local vendors resource list is all American sources.

Each section contains common questions, as well as features based on style and season.

The chapter on wedding and bridesmaids dresses is nicely divided into body types, as well as by season with full colour photographs.

The common flowers used in weddings are nicely laid out in a chart with season, colour and average price.

The index has tons of websites broken down for each chapter.

Overall, this book is an excellent resource. If you are looking for a guide-pick this one up for it's helpful information and insipirational photographs. It is worth it.

To buy:
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/books-back-issues-subscriptions-00000000017526/

Note: the 2010 edition is also available in stores or online

Mary and Doug's Wedding-Card Box

Card boxes are expensive. This does not make sense to me. It is a box, that you put cards in. That's it.

I had some leftover wrapping paper that I used to make the message board, so I decided to diy a card box. Quite simple really. All you need is a box, some wrapping paper, and some tape. The box I used is a 1/2 ream copy paper box. I picked it up at Staples for free. They will usually give you their leftover boxes if you ask. You could also use a shoe box, a wine box or a box that's used to send packages in the mail.

I wrapped the box in two parts-the lid is wrapped separately. This makes it easier to take the cards out, no need to unwrap the whole thing! I didn't bother to wrap the parts that you can't see. Leaving at bit of space where the body meets the lid is a good idea, it lets the lid slide on and off much easier, and prevents the paper from ripping. I did spray paint the box silver, since the paper is white I didn't want any text to show through. This probably isn't necessary for most papers. There is one seam, but if you turn it towards the wall no one will see it.

I cut a whole in the top with an xcato knife, and used some regular tape to adhere the cut edges of the paper on the inside of the slot, so it looks neater. You can see in this photo how I wrapped the edges of the paper and taped them on the underside. It looks similar on the bottom of the box.

Voila! Easy peasy. And much much cheaper than renting or buying a premade one. The box was free, and I used the rest of the leftover paper from the message board project, so that was also free. Got to love a free project that is both useful and pretty.