Our sweet Little Amelia (and her mommy!) sent us the wonderful photos from her first birthday party.

Isn’t Mia adorable? I just love her! Her little birthday outfit was handmade just for the special event by Wild Olive Kids .  She has a lot of  really cute dresses so be careful when visiting her site!! Don’t say I didn’t tell ya so. The hair bow was made by a friend of little Mia’s mama. I think it “topped” off the outfit, don’t you?

I will take credit for the invitations and you can find one’s like them here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/99325377/the-hungry-caterpillar-book-invitation

For all of the adorable decorations, though, kudos goes out once again to Amelia’s talented mama.

The smash cake was shaped like a bitten apple! How freaking adorable is that?!?! Frosted was the talented bakery who designed that special little goodie. And who made the incredible two tiered cake? Another amazingly talented person the mama knows! How lucky is she that she has such talented friends?? If you aren’t like this lucky mama and you don’t  have such creative people in your life, this cute little Hungry Caterpillar Cupcake topper will make your cake extra cute.

The caterpillar above the mantle was made out of balloons and colored paper. Amelia’s mommy also made the “Happy Birthday Amelia” sign with her handy dandy Silhouette.

The favor table had some awesome things on it! Cute little candy favors and little board books for the babies who attended. For the older crowd, a coloring book and crayons of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. She also made cute little headbands made from twisted pipe cleaners. Easy and simple and oh so cute! (My little man sported a yellow one through the whole party!)

I loved this theme and I really enjoyed creating this special book for Amelia and her family!

Invitations can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99325377/the-hungry-caterpillar-book-invitation

My dear friend’s daughter turned one this past Saturday and I had the pleasure of designing her invitation. The party was in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Theme. I wanted her to have something different than everything else and because the book was so popular, I thought making a book invitation would be too

I titled her book “The Very Sweet Amelia” because she’s just that.

The inside pages told a brief story of her first year. She ate and she slept and she grew….and everyone loved to see how she grew.

The back cover was the actual invitation with all the party details.

The outside back cover was a spin on the normal “about the author” blurb. I named it “about the birthday girl” and gave little facts about our sweet Mia’s first year. Just look at that sweet face. How could I not create something as beautiful as she is??

Love these invitations and want some of your very own? Get some like these here: 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99325377/the-hungry-caterpillar-book-invitation

In Ohio, it was 67 degrees today. It got me longing for the warm days of summer and going to fairs and circuses. I put together this fun inspirational board to help feed my hunger. What is your favorite part of the Big Top?

WHERE TO FIND:

Paper Straws Becca Bond

Circus Top Hat kalliegalaz

Circus Cookies NotBettyCookies

Lollipop Invitation whenandwhereinvites

Shhh…these guys are a little shy….we don’t want to scare them…they aren’t quite ready for their store debut yet….almost, but not yet. I just wanted to share them with you because I was too excited to wait.

Such sweet eyes. And I could just pinch those cheeks!!

I’m a proud mama. Can you tell?

I’m thinking I’ll be making centerpieces and party decor to top this invitation off right. What do you think?

My sister hit it out of the park (get it?) creating all the elements to this girls night out. I was highly impressed, as well as all that attended.

 Laura, my big sis, wanted the invitation to look like a ticket, because, after all, we were going to a Reds game. There was so much information we needed from each guest that I also created an RSVP card as well.

Why did we have to have an RSVP card to a bachelorette party? Well, let me tell you, it was one eventful night. Hotel rooms were rented so we needed to know how many planned on staying in the Queen City after the baseball game and all the partying. We also ordered shirts with “Krista’s Last at Bat” written on the front with our last names on the back and we alternated the date of the wedding as our numbers. We are that cool.

I think the trial pictures are the funniest.

The shirts and all their glory.

The bags contained the girls’ shirts to change into when they got to the hotel and a few other goodies such as those cool sunglasses and beaded necklaces.

Pre-game snack tables. We had cracker jacks and baseball chew bubblegum like we had at the bridal shower. There were a lot more pictures but not really appropriate to put on the internet. It was a bachelorette party after all.

]]> http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/baseball-invitation-bachelorette-style/feed/ 0 http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/meet-tamara-with-limited-lane/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-tamara-with-limited-lane http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/meet-tamara-with-limited-lane/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:29 +0000 Mandy http://www.wandwinvites.com/?p=315 [Continue Reading]]]> Oh boy do I have a great person to introduce you to! Tamara, with Limited Lane makes custom wedding signs that are oh so adorable. Read the interview and check out her awesome products. (Read further to learn how you can get one of these gorgeous signs at a discount! That’s right–adorable AND on sale what could be better??)

  WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BUSINESS?
Arts and crafts has always been a passion of mine since I was a little girl,  knitting and crocheting with my Grandmother, sewing and quilting with my mother. Then 22 years ago when I was pregnant with my 2nd child and worked full time, we were struggling with the best option for daycare for our two girls. My husband suggested that I leave my job and stay home with them. I started researching different venues that offer arts and crafts throughout the year instead of just during the holiday season. Well, I left my job and started doing crafts at home while being with our children. We now have 3 wonderful girls, ages 26, 22 and 20 years old.

I have ventured out in many different areas throughout the years, doing craft shows on the weekends, wholesale, gift shows, etc. Then the internet came along and opened a whole new world of networking.

This last September my oldest daughter got married, and while helping her plan her wedding I began designing and making custom Wedding Boards. This has been so much fun creating custom signs for Brides helping to make their Wedding Day unique.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO KEEP ON CHUGGING?
I love and enjoy the feedback I get from my customers on how much they enjoy my work and that I offer a high quality product at a price everyone can afford. They tell me that as soon as you categorize and item “Wedding” the price seems to sky rocket. I offer great prices and have made their wedding day personal with a custom sign.
Crafting is my way to escape the world, my stress release. I seem to go to my own little place for peace.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
There are so many….
Being able to be home with my children as they were growing up, being able to participate in their school functions, and trying for the Best Mom Award has been the Best Part of my Job.
I also love creating and designing items for people all over the world. Chatting with them in emails, and then when I have the idea of what they are dreaming of, I get busy designing. I send a proof of the design I have worked up, and when they reply with “That is just what I wanted”,it makes my day.

WHAT MAKES YOU SPEECHLESS?
Wow, that one is easy. My beautiful family. I have a wonderful husband of 27 years, who puts up with all of my “crafting” stuff. My 3 wonderful daughters, and sometimes….. ya sometimes they just leave you speechless. I truly have been blessed.

IF YOU WERE A SUPERHERO, WHAT KIND OF SUPERHERO WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?
I have never really thought of myself as a Superhero, but, from time to time my daughters call me Super Woman, because they think I can do anything. Little do they know, there are things I can’t do, but we will keep that a secret.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE THE READERS OF WHEN AND WHERE INVITATIONS TO KNOW?
I ship all over the world, and I treat each and every product that I make with my personal touch and strive for a high quality product and one that you will be proud of.

WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOUR AMAZING PRODUCTS AND CONNECT WITH YOU?
I sell my items on etsy. www.limitedlane.etsy.com Feel free to stop on by, browse through my shop. Send me a message if you are looking for a customized sign with your thoughts and dreams and let me create one just for you for your special day.

A special discount has been created for When and Where Invitation Blog readers!! Please use coupon code WWINVITES at time of checkout to receive 10% off!

****ALL PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY OF LIMITED LANE.****

Would you like When & Where Invitations to feature your product or service? Please email mandy@wandwinvites.com for more information!

]]> http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/meet-tamara-with-limited-lane/feed/ 0 http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/luxury-wedding-shower-invitation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=luxury-wedding-shower-invitation http://www.wandwinvites.com/invitation-ideas/luxury-wedding-shower-invitation/#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:34:45 +0000 Mandy http://www.wandwinvites.com/?p=270 [Continue Reading]]]> I had the pleasure of creating custom designs (and I had a hand in the party planning as well!) for a dear friend’s wedding, bachelorette party and wedding shower.  She was getting married in Destin, Florida on the beach. A reason to go to the gulf?! I’m totally in!

Because the bride-to-be is a huge baseball fan, my co-planner (aka my sister) and I decided to take that and run with it. I debated on what to show first because I love all three invites. After much thought, I decided to show you the invitations and party details in sequence of when they happened. Which is bringing you to the…drumroll please….the bridal shower!

Cheering for the hometown team is a number one. So on the agenda, for both the bridal shower and bachelorette party was a Cincinnati Reds theme. To mix it up a bit, we had a vintage Reds themed shower.

I absolutely loved how the invitation for this vintage bridal shower turned out! I printed the information onto fabric, sewed it on to paper and voila! Awesomeness if I do say so myself. You can purchase these invitations here.

As centerpieces throughout the shower we took real grass and placed it in a shallow vase. WE then placed baseballs around a skinny vase as support and placed gerbera daisies in the Reds colors inside.

We searched Ebay and found these Cincinnati Reds vintage pennants and hung them above the gift table. WE were thrilled to have them to keep after the party was over being the big Reds fans we are

The cupcake picks we found online at a store that no longer exists. Sad, I know. But I found some similar ones here. Hopefully, they’re close enough to the same for you.

How cool is this cake?! I loved it! And what made it even cooler was that my mom made it She’s so talented.

As favors, we gave away cracker jacks and Big League chewing gum. A huge hit to the momma’s going back home to their little ones.

Writing a letter to Santa telling him everything you want is nice, but leaving him a note telling him that you are so thankful he came to your house on Christmas Eve is even nicer.

Leave him a message he will cherish forever when it’s written on this cute letterhead.(Scroll down for  Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe)

Santa Letter

Gingerbread and Candy Cane Letter to Santa

 Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies (from www.allrecipes.com)

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the peanut butter, white sugar and egg. Mix until smooth.
3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes. Do not overbake! These cookies are best when they are still soft and just barely brown on the bottoms

Here are a few things I learned along the way:

1. I had my party at 4:00 pm; close to dinner time. To keep it simple, I enlisted my good friends at the Honey Baked Ham store for the main entree of ham and turkey sandwiches. I also had a vegetable tray and my mother (I so lovingly call Mama Stewart) made cole slaw and chicken and noodles.  Everything could be kept in crock pots or just out on the counter. I hate having to worry about keeping cold things cold.

If you don’t want to worry about a dinner menu, I suggest having it around 2:00 and just having a few appetizers hanging around. After all, your main focus here is the cookies

2. Spread out the cleaning. I made a list of what I wanted to accomplish each day of the week and tried my best to stick to it.  (With two little ones to chase around and a husband who had to go out of town for a night, it was a little hard, but do your best so that your party day is a stress free as possible!)

3. Make the cookie dough in advance and freeze so all you have to do is thaw and bake.

4. THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT!! Never make a cookie you have never made before! I learned this the hard way.

I made two types of cookies: Red and White Sugar Cookie Pinwheels and Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies. Let me tell you, the pinwheels were hard! Hanna at Bouffe e babini made hers looks so perfect! I have a new found respect for Ms. Hanna. Mine tasted good, they just didn’t look nearly as pretty.

See? Sigh. Don’t laugh.

The Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies I found over at Sweet Tooth worked out much better for me. There was no talent needed as you just dropped them on a cookie sheet. No rolling up required.  And they were super yummy!

These=Yum.

As far as decor goes, I set up one table to put all the cookies on and another one that had the take home buckets, recipe books and food cards I already labeled with all the cookies everyone brought.

Cookie Buckets I found for $2 each at Target. I was ecstatic to find them because the only other things I kept finding were cookie boxes at Michaels  for about $2 each and I would have had to get two for each person just so they would have enough space to put all their goodies.

The recipe books and food tents are part of my Holiday Collection.

Can you smell the deliciousness? There were a good variety of cookies and sweets and everyone left with tummy aches but it was so super delicious.

I think we need to follow up a cookie party in December with a wine party in January…….

Happy Holidays Card

Free downloadable Holiday Card

These cards go along with our new holiday line: Gingerbread Family Party Collection.

Gingerbread Family Party Collection

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway in our previous post to get your own Gingerbread House Kit! (I told you we were in the holiday spirit!!)