Simple Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe

This simple activity was a BIG hit at our annual Pumpkin Carving Party and best of all it was very simple to put together. All you need is 10 miniature pumpkins (5 white and 5 orange) and orange duck tape. This is sure to become a family tradition. 

Fishing Baby Shower {The Main Event}

Here are photos from the baby girl fishing shower that I coordinated for a couple at our church. The parents-to-be love to fish. The colors were bright pink, orange and shades of blue and grey. The party decorations were based on the invitation design. My favorite part about the decorations were the floating fish. At one point in the evening they were actually traveling around the room! Too fun!

I created this "guest book page" and framed it (putting the glass behind it for the event). Guests wrote messages inside the little fish. The top says "Blessings for ______". Download your own copy here.

The fish were made following the "Koinobori-Japanese Flying Carp DIY"

tutorial from Squirrelly Minds. 

The cake design was inspired by the invitation design and was baked and created by Barbara Watts.

I created the water garland using crepe paper streamers. I cut into the streamer about 3/4 of the way in on one side while it was still rolled. Then as I unrolled the streamer I twisted it. I gathered the pieces together and tied them with blue ribbon at the corners and in the middle.

Filled little metal buckets with Swedish Fish and Gummy Worm candies.

I've created a template of the fish (download here) so that you can make your own. It's best to buy colored paper stock that is double sided because the fish spin and move when hanging from the balloons. 

Church members were asked to bring "fish theme" related food items.

Here are two super creative ideas!

Fishing Baby Shower {The Invitation}

Who says fishing is just for boys? According to some, REEL girls fish.

Above is an invitation design I created for a baby girl fishing themed shower.

Welcome to the World Baby Shower {The Event}

 I worked with a lovely group of girls to host a baby shower for my sister-n-law. The event was not only beautiful but so much fun! The theme was Welcome to the World and the colors were earth green and blue with pops of orange (my sister-n-laws favorite color).

The invitation design might give you an even better feel for the event. 

A close friend of mine has a collection of globes, which were perfect for depicting the theme. 

We had globe cake pops made at a bakery in Houston. Guests took them home as party favors. The orange chevron paper straws were from Hobby Lobby. We added little tags to each one. The flags said "Welcome to the World and had the GPS coordinate for the baby's home.

I made round stickers with the free globe graphic from The Graphic Fairy and we stuck them to clear plastic cups. The napkins are George Stanley cocktail napkins.

I'm in love with the true round 3 foot balloons. Seems I can't host a party without them. 

I found orange luggage tags on sale at World Market and used them to label items on the welcome table. The tag above encouraged guests to share advice on a sticky note that was then placed on a globe.

We wanted to incorporate carrots into the party because Sarah loves to sit around an snack on carrots, plus they are orange. I think this arrangement of green and blue hydrangeas wrapped in carrots turned out BEAUTIFUL and so unique.

I designed thank you post cards that matched the invitations and guests wrote their mailing address on one as they arrived. This was to save the mommy to be time when sending her thank you postcards.

Instead of a guests book I created this orange world map. I found the frame at Garden Ridge and moved the glass behind the paper. Guests wrote a message to the baby and when the shower was over we put the glass back on the front, creating a beautiful memento from the shower.

And, no party post is complete without my sketches.

Welcome to the World Baby Shower {The Invitation}

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby and I was thrilled to help a wonderful group of girls host a baby shower in their honor. Because Joshua and Sarah love to travel, we thought a welcome to the world theme was appropriate for their baby. Sarah's favorite color is orange so that was a nice neutral color since the gender of the baby is unknown. These invitations were mailed in orange envelopes with these free vintage parcel post labels from World Label in blue. The map inside the heart was also a free download from The Graphics Fairy. She had so many beautiful maps to choose from!

Tropical Honeymoon Shower {The Main Event}

I was asked to coordinate a shower for a couple at our church. The couple was blending two households and had more than enough "stuff." What they really wanted was money to go towards their honeymoon. So I created a tropical Honeymoon Shower. To help guest understand the concept the invitations read: "give the gift of memories made, not just things that will fade." 

Here is my initial sketch for the party. I think the final layout was just what I had in my head.

The menu included finger food type desserts that included Sand (or Beach) Cups, Fruit Skewers, White Powdered and Coconut Flaked Donuts skewered with paper straws resting in crushed graham crackers (sand) and the cake.

The cake was my design, but was created by Barbara Watts. I thought it turned out beautiful and made me smile to look at it. The origami money clothes were the same ones used to create the invitation. I just stuck a candy stick into the bottom of each one and Barbara added them to the top of the cake.

I created a "Money Palm Tree" out of toilet paper rolls, black paper and mini clothes pins. Guests could clip their money to the tree along with a slip of paper that offered wishes or advice. The couple loved the tree so much they asked to use it at the wedding reception as well.

Tropical Honeymoon Shower {The Invitation}

I designed this invitation for a tropical themed honeymoon shower. The couple was blending two households and had more than enough "stuff." What they really wanted was money to go towards their honeymoon. The phrase I came up with was "give the gift of memories made, not just things that will fade." I had seen origami money folded into clothing before and thought this would be a clever way to communicate that guests should bring CASH without blatantly saying that. I followed these instructions to fold the money and then scanned them into my computer along with the drink umbrella using sand colored paper as the background. I added the text and palm tree sun design using Adobe InDesign. I saved the money clothes and used them as a topper for the cake at the event. They were perfect. People responded well to the invitation and the couple had a nice wad of spending money for their trip.

Knock, Knock Birthday {The Party}

"Knock, Knock,"

"Who's There?"

"Abby!"

"Abby who?"

"Abby Birthday Marin!"

 We celebrated Marin's sixth birthday poolside with a knock, knock theme birthday party. It was a simple menu of chips, crackers, cake, juice and watermelon.

Since turning six Marin's favorite color has changed from pink to blue.
So, she informed me that the party colors must include blue.

We had so much fun coming up with ideas for a knock, knock birthday party. One of the first ideas was to create a cake topper from a door. I'd seen these Tooth Fairy doors and immediately thought of them as a cake topper. It also served as a table decoration before and after the cake was served.

Another idea was to decorate with "knock out roses." These beauties were from my sister-n-laws garden. A simple talk bubble tag said "Knock out Roses."

Candy bags with a knock, knock joke:

"Knock, Knock,"

"Who's There?"

"Lettuce!"

"Lettuce who?"

"Lettuce eat candy!"

A simple "knock over the cans" game was made out of empty chili cans and a beach ball.

The knock, knock joke read:

"Knock, Knock,"

"Who's There?"

"Canoe!"

"Canoe who?"

"Canoe Knock these over?" 

The kids were all given inflatable microphones as a party favor.

The tub holding the favors had a sign that said: 

"Knock, Knock,"

"Who's There?"

"Yeti!"

"Yeti who?"

"Yeti Nother Knock, Knock Joke?" 

Grab a mic and keep em coming!

We made wraps for each one that said:

"Knock, Knock,"

"Who's There?"

"Hank!"

"Hank who?"

"Hank you for coming!" 

It was a great party. Filled with lots of love and laughter.