Category Archives: parties

Go Jack Go! Jackson’s 2nd Birthday Party

As I’m preparing for my son Jackson’s third birthday I realized I never shared the pictures from his second. We call Jackson our little wild child. He has two speeds, stopped and RUNNING! I chose the theme of “Go Jack Go” because it just fit him so well. His birthday is in April so the weather is warm enough to have an outdoor party too. 
I created the invitations to look like a set of keys. I downloaded a key shape from the Silhouette store and used my machine to cut out two keys (because he was turning 2) out of metallic silver paper for each invitation. The information for the party was printed on the “key chain” and each was tied together with some striped ribbon. I created a cute little car and dog logo as well. 
I called my friend Alyson from Aly B’s Bakery here in Shreveport and had her create a dog cake for the party. She also created some adorable race car cookies. The cake was precious and delicious but I must admit, once it came time to cut into it I felt bad! I just felt a little brutal and I kept having a flash to the Steel Magnolias scene when they cut up the amarillo cake. I also ordered race car cupcake toppers and placed them on top of cupcakes from Sam’s Bakery. I made coordinating cupcake toppers and wrappers to go with the theme.
We served water, lemonade, hot dogs and chips (Jack’s favorite food). I purchased precious little ice cream cups and filled them with vanilla ice cream. I punched out red, yellow and green dots out of vinyl and added them to the spoons to resemble a stop light. Jenny from Craft that Party created the most adorable garland that matched the color scheme perfectly, I used it wherever I could. She also created a precious Go Jack Go peg which Jackson carried around everywhere!
The activity for the party was a race. I spent months collecting child appropriate sized boxes that the kids could decorate themselves and make their own race cars. I saw this fabulous idea from Jordan from Oh Happy Day in an issue of Parenting Magazine. I created an art station with aprons, markers, glue, paper, stickers, paint, brushes, you name it, we had it! The kids had so much fun decorating and I think the adults did too. We set up a race course in the yard and held several heats. Everyone took their race card home and from what I heard from all the parents is they continued to play with them at home – what a bonus!
At the end of the party every child went home with their own new plush puppy friend, some candy and some dog shaped suckers. It was such a good time and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Jackson’s third birthday party is this weekend and I’m hoping we have as good of weather too. His theme this year also involves wheels and dogs, boys never seem to change I guess. 
PARTY CREDITS
Invitations, party paper, theme and styling: Magnolia Creative Co.
Dog cake and race car cookies: Aly B’s Bakery
Race car fondant toppers: Cakes and Kids
Cupcakes: Sam’s Bakery
Ice cream cups and spoons and paper straws: Shop Sweet Lulu
Crepe paper garland and Go Jack Dog peg: Craft that Party
Party favors (plush dogs, favor boxes, dog bone candy, dog suckers): Oriental Trading
Jackson’s birthday shirt: Collins Creations
Race car activity inspiration: Oh Happy Day

GIVEAWAY – A Rouler Gold Foil Print and a King Cake for Mardi Gras

So this giveaway is in it’s third year and always seems to be a popular one. It’s fun to see people in get so excited about the possibility of winning a King Cake, but honestly who can blame them! In Louisiana it’s a heated debate on who has the best King Cake. From Lafayette to New Orleans people will argue as to who has the best and EVERYONE has a favorite, even in Shreveport people battle it out.  Gambino’s is my favorite (they did my wedding cakes so I’m partial to them), Haydel’s, Randazzo’s are the top contenders around the state but there are many, many more! To celebrate my favorite holiday and this heated ongoing debate, I’m giving away a FREE Gambino’s King Cake shipped overnight, straight to your door and ready for your Mardi Gras party AND one of my new hand lettered gold foil Rouler Prints, in your choice of white or Mardi Gras Stripe to add some flair to your Mardi Gras party decor.
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY – 3 Simple Ways!
1. Pin your favorite Rouler Print image on Pinterest – 2 Entries
2. Post your favorite Rouler Print image on Instagram – 2 Entries
3. Like the Magnolia Creative Co. Facebook page – 1 Entry
IMPORTANT: Be sure to use the hashtags #RoulerPrint and #MagnoliaCreativeCo in order to be counted for the Pinterest and Instagram entries
The giveaway will end Thursday, February 20 and your king cake will be delivered to you on Monday, March 3 in time for Mardi Gras. 
Good luck and laissez les bon temps rouler!

Cinco De Mayo Party Ideas and Friday Favorites



I’ve gathered up some of my favorite Cinco de Mayo party ideas on a pinboard. There are some really cute ideas out there to help you create a fabulous party of your own. My favorite has to be the Taco shell garland and the ping pong light tutorial, you can’t get much cuter than that!

There has also been a lot of other great ideas all over the party blogesphere this week. Here is my roundup of links I love!

PARTIES
Precious woodland party featuring a spunky raccoon and owl for a first birthday.
An awesome modern baseball party.
You  have to check out this over the moon Star Wars Party.
Get your engines revving for this motorcycle birthday!
A great round up of fun Cinco de Mayo party supplies on etsy.
Party favors that last – enough said! Check it out.

FOOD
Earth Day may have already passed but you’ll want to save this Earth Day Cupcakes recipe for next year. It’s a great project to make with your kids.
Try this new frosting on your next cupcake batch – Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe
Here is a great tutorial fro making Rasberry and Lemon Meringues – a great springtime treat!
You can thank me later – The World’s Best Banana Bread Recipe
DIY
The top 10 spring cleaning tips from around the web – a must save.
And if you need a fun little craft for your kids to show their teacher how much you appreciate them, my Teacher Tulip Thank You is what you need. Just make sure your kids don’t eat the supplies, mine did!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Wrap up and Free Printables

I hope y’all had a great week, it’s been a busy one around here. We’re packing up to head to Baton Rouge for my brother’s birthday and the Blues Festival. It’s going to be a lot of fun and my super awesome sister in law is going to have a booth selling her wonderful jewelry. I hope to pick up a new piece or two.

I’ve also been behind the scenes working on a TON of new designs and products to add to the shop. I’m shooting for a late May release so stay tuned, you’ll going to love the new look – promise!

In case you missed it I put out some new printables, free set of gift tags for every occasion. You can download them here.

And now for the weekly wrap up, there have been so many cute parties this week including this Jaws inspired shark party and this this sweet You Are My Sunshine party. The divas will love this Vintage Glam Birthday Party. If you’re looking for party ideas for boys don’t miss this post about 24 first birthday party ideas. Know anyone moving, celebrate this milestone with a modern moving party. I’d love this party for myself, a fun night under that stars movie party!

There’s been some fun food too including a new cookbook all about macarons. I’d love to bake these treats and with this macaron cookbook I just might be able too! This recipe for curry chicken salad would be perfect for any springtime event and so easy to make!

Looking for a fun DIY for the weekend, this cupcake yarn pom pom garland is precious and looks like so much fun! Here are some fun party games for kids, a must for any party! If you’re a scrapbooker check out this post of making scrapbook pages with digital printables. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Lundi Gras & FREE Printables

I was honored to be asked to contribute a Mardi Gras shoot for the new Everyday Party Magazine. The recent launch was a huge success and one of my Mardi Gras pictures was selected for the cover! If you have not checked out this magazine you need too. It’s filled with some spectacular parties and TONS of DIYs to help you to create a fabulous party on an everyday budget. You and read the magazine here. 
For the shoot I created some new Mardi Gras printables. They contain invitations, party circles, signs, bead wraps and a banner, just in time for your Mardi Gras party tomorrow. Download them for FREE here and laissez les bon temps router!
Have a wonderful Lundi Gras today and Mardi Gras tomorrow! This is my favorite time of the year and it’s hard to believe it’s over. I hope y’all had as much fun as I did! 

Simple Mardi Gras Décor

It’s no secret that I LOVE Mardi Gras. Raised in the South we bleed purple & gold and then some green. King Cake for breakfast is totally acceptable and “Throw me something mista” is one of the first full sentences you will learn as a child. My house is on the Mardi Gras route in Shreveport and this was one of the main reasons we purchased it. Saturday is the first parade and the first of two weekends my house will be filled with people, which my husband and I love. After four years I’m learning and changing a lot of the ways I’m decorating and entertaining. I’ve simplified a lot of the decorations inside the house. The main reason is because of my little boy is climbing on everything and unfortunately can’t have anything nice in his chubby hands because it will shortly, be destroyed.

I wanted to share with you my simple Mardi Gras decor for this year. I say simple because in previous years everything was decorated, doorways, mantle, light fixtures, you name it. There were even arrangements in the bathroom! This year I decorated my mantle, the top of the china cabinet and a centerpiece on the dining room table. Now the outside party tent will be a different story, more to come on that later.

The mantle is a collection of ornaments and other Mardi Gras decor I’ve gathered over the year. I buy a lot of decorations after Christmas when they are half price – good cost cutting tip that the husband likes a lot! My favorite part of the dining room centerpiece, gold spray painted mason jars (inspired by Jenny of Craft that Party). Before this weekend I plan to add glitter to the bottoms in purple in green!

Some new additions this year is my beautiful ruffled burlap table runner from Sweet Tea and Linen. I love it and plan to use it year round! I also purchased several tassel garlands from The Flair Exchange. I’m saving two for my outside decorations on the day of our big party but I hung the purple, green and gold one on the mantle. Our last fun new party item is our personalized koozies from Cayenne Marketing. They match our invitation logo for this year and I know our guests will love them! The big party is next weekend. I can’t wait to share the details Audie Gras 2013 – Super Hero Bash with you soon! Stay tuned and as always…..Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Budget Friendly Patriotic Party 2012

Budget Friendly Patriotic Party

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Amelia from Her Royal Heinous and I worked on a Budget Friendly Patriotic Themed Party. We started off with an idea of using a more muted, classic American theme. I designed the printables and we were off. Dollar store finds, previously purchased items and a lot of baking ourselves. This party can be used for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day or a Welcome Home Party which is very close to our hearts as Amelia’s husband is in the Air Force and returned home from deployment in December. With a few minor changes this theme can even be used for a baseball party. This party was also featured on Pizzazzerie and Courtney added a few of her own party tips too!

The collection is available in my shop and can be personalized with your party copy. Purchase it here today! We’ll also have a limited FREE collection available soon on the Scribd site.

Originally we discussed covering the entire table with a white cloth – but that would have hidden the charm of the picnic table. The flags were left over from Amelia’s husband’s return home from Baghdad but you can find them anywhere now during this time of year. A few $1 tins from Hobby Lobby, some sand and the flowers from a local store created a great backdrop for the all American party.


The apples for the garland were half off at Hobby lobby, just threaded with some twine through and added ribbon accents to the end. The white tableware and burlap table runner for the main table were already owned. As well as the Dollar tree sink shelves that was sprayed white and used for almost EVERYTHING now. It makes a PERFECT table riser to display anything! Clean and simple.

For drinks we had Pellegrino, cane cola with printable bottle wraps and lemonade served in traditional mason jars. The food was traditional, hot dogs, potato chips, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and a Cherry Pie complete with a printable USA cake bunting. The hot dogs were wrapped in pattern sheets from the printable collection and tied with twine.

The dining table was covered with a white table cloth and some burlap fabric. Again our dollar store finds of placemats, napkins and tin buckets added the perfect pop to our table. Place settings were topped off with more printables tied with twine and completed with favor bags filled with bubble gum and peppermints.

Credits:
Paper printables: Magnolia Creative Co.
Party styling and photography: Her Royal Heinous
Apples, paper flowers on chairs, burlap fabric, glassware, flag garland and ribbon: Hobby Lobby
Placemats, napkins and baskets: Dollar Tree
White plates: World Market
Place stand: Layla Grace
Ketchup, mustard and relish holder: Pottery Barn
Red, white and blue buckets: Target $1 section
Red and white straws: Hey YoYo