{New Lines} Available Now!

I just finished listing items for 4 new lines that I have created.  They are now for sale at Belleza e Luce.

Baby Boy Blue

Cotton Candy Pink Stripe

Fancy Nancy

Cake Chic

Additional items including thank you cards, door signs, banners, and cake toppers will be added soon.  AND an additional 5 lines will be making their debut in the near future!  What themes you ask?  I'll give you a hint for one ... you won't want to be late to the party!

Visit my shop.

{Real Parties} Gender Reveal Party

This gender reveal party was originally hosted by Brittany at Grey Grey Designs.  Thank you Brittany for sharing your party with us!

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I love this idea!  When I was pregnant with my daughter I was firm that I did not want to know what I was having.  I wanted it to be a surprise.  Well ... at one of my ultrasounds, she was being uncooperative moving all around and I was able to figure it myself.  From that second forward, all my thoughts were pink and out went the bee-themed nursery I had been planning.

Brittany did a great job with this party and with only 2 weeks to plan it.  All the bee details are just bee-utiful!  Okay, I know ... but I had to do it!  I would love to throw this kind of party!  Enjoy everyone, post a comment, and then head over to Brittany's blog!

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What's It Gonna Bee?

This weekend, I did my very first gender reveal party for some of our dearest friends, Tommy and Lauren. Gender reveal parties are the new trend in baby parties, so I couldn't wait to get a jumpstart on this one. I had been tossing ideas around with them for a few months, but I actually planned this party in about 2 weeks, since we weren't positive when the actual ultrasound appointment would be.

Obviously, I thought that yellow would be a perfect color for the theme, but then I came up with the idea of making it bumblebees, and calling it "What's It Gonna Bee?" I handpainted that sign on butcher paper, which is one of my favorite "big impact" ideas for a party tablescape. It really puts the focus on the theme of the party.

I decided on a candy/dessert buffet, since this was an afternoon event. Plus, then we could do a really fun theme colored display of foods. Some of the foods that I used were licorice, black and yellow jellybeans, moon pies, oreos in yellow and black, black raspberry now-n-laters, custom wrapped hershey miniatures, cupcakes, and bee pops.

I also did Martha Stewart's tissue flowers over the table for big impact. It's hard to tell in these pictures, but there were actually two large ones and two small ones. The fabric for the table is from JoAnn, which we only recently got in Memphis, and it is LOVE. SO much better than Hancock. I wanted something modern and graphic and I thought it was perfect!

I lucked out big time on these bee pops. I sent my husband out to Wayne's Wholesale Candy company one day on a mission for yellow and black candy and he calls me and says..."you're never going to believe this, but they have bee pops!" I said..."snatch them up NOW!" This is simply a piece of styrofoam covered in scrapbook paper.

All the tags for the food items are also made from scrapbook paper. For the "reveal" part of the party, I decided to have them cut into a cake and the inside would be blue or pink. This was the first time I have ever attempted to tackle fondant for a cake, and  I wasn't thrilled with the results, but it turned out cute. I also did little stripes of black on some of the cupcakes to inject a little contrast. The top cake is supposed to be a beehive cupcake, if you can't tell from the picture.

The small bumblebee votives and napkins are from Hobby Lobby. They have a ton of cute bee stuff right now!

The moment of truth....

It's a BOY!!!!

Hey Tommy, how do you really feel?

A totally fun party for two awesome friends!  We can't wait for him to BEE here!

{Real Parties} Pink & Orange Parsasol Bridal Shower

Staring out my window this morning with lots of fluffy white snow covering everything, I began dreaming about summer.  Yes, I know it is February.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I am a warm weather girl.  Give me 90 degrees along with the 100% humidity and I'm happy.

Dreaming of warm weather, I was reminded that it was 3 years ago when my mom and I began planning my sister's August bridal shower.  Her shower was a suprise and we successfully pulled it off!  (Not an easy feat for those who know my sister!)

I used hot pink & orange as the color scheme, with parasols, gerbera daisies and kermits in the decorating.

First off, the invitations, menu and registry insert.

 

 The centerpieces alternated hot pink and orange parasols atop trumpet vases filled with orange and hot pink gerbera daisy blooms.  There was about 50-60 blooms per vase.  Falling from the parasols were kermit poms blooms attached with fishing wire.

 

3 small bouquets with votives circled the base of the trumpet vase.

 

 Watering cans filled with real gerberas on top.  I created the rain and paper petals shower.  The petals would contain messages from the guests for the bride-to-be.

  

 

 Seashell placecards in pink and orange writing.  The backside of the shell contained the guests' table number.

  

 My sister wanted a cupcake wedding cake since she isn't a huge sweet eater.  Her fiance didn't go for the idea.  She got her wish at her shower.  This was the first time I used fondant - ever.  We had a baker hired to make the cupcakes, but she cancelled only 3 days before the shower.  This began my obsesssion with fondant as I then made my daughter's 1st birthday cake just 6 weeks later.

  

 Favors were small hand lotions in 3 different scents from Bath & Body Works.

 

One surprised bride!

{Inspiration} It's Time to Relax ...

 

  

  

I don't know about you, but it's been crazy and hectic around here.  Unfortunately, my 'Kick off my 30's' Super Bowl Party had to be canceled.  I never realized how many friends and family go to Super Bowl Parties (Me being single and not into football, I'm perhaps a bit oblivious to this!)  I'm in the process of designing an additional 6 product lines, and completing orders.  Keep your eye out for these in the upcoming weeks!

I am in desperate need of pampering and a trip to the spa!  

I love the idea of spa parties, and they can easily be done at home with a female family and friends.  Bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, or just a girls' night out are perfect excuses to do this at your next party.

Inspiration Board

 {photo credits left to right} Facial; Powder Puff Beauty Invitation at my shop;  

Bath Salts; Crudite; Sorbet; Towel Display

Planning your At-Home Spa Party

Invitations

 

I created these powder puff beauty invitations last spring for a bride who wanted to treat her bridesmaids and close female relatives to a day of pampering for all their help in assisting her create the wedding of her dreams.  This extraordinary invitation features a metal tin where a white powder puff sits.  On the lid, the circular invitation is adhered.  This invitation is now available at Belleza e Luce!  Customization, of course, is always available - changes in color, design and more!  An additional tag may be attached to the powder puff with registry or other pertinent party information.

Color Scheme

The spa party is versatile in color schemes depending on the mood you want to create.  Think grass green and browns for a serene environment or shades of aquas and white for a calming, water-type feel.  Choose a bold color combination such as turquoise, hot pink, black and white to create a chic and swanky atmosphere.

Decor

Simple is key.  You want a relaxing and calm environment.  Lots of candles with river rocks with a single orchid bloom creates a quick and easy zen-type centerpiece.  Float flowers in your pedicure baths.  Tall cylindrical vases filled with water and a submerged orchid stem or wheatgrass in galvanized trays good choices as well. 

Activities 

You can hire licensed beauty and nail technicians, and massage therapists for your party or do your own.  Provide stations for the different services - manicure and pedicures, facials, massage, etc.  If you will be having massages, consider an area that is at least semi-private for this.

Food

Light and refreshing finger foods and snacks are the way to go at your spa party.

Crudite with zesty dips

Fruit Display

Cheese & Cracker Display

Tea Sandwiches  such as:

•Brie with chopped walnuts and watercress
on white bread
•Salmon and herbed cream cheese on white bread
•Rare roast beef with sharp cheddar and
tomato on rye bread
•Cream cheese and mango chutney on
white bread
•Herbed cream cheese and cucumber on
white bread
•Chicken salad with chopped cashews on
wheat bread

for dessert - sorbet

Beverages

Cucumber Water

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Make-over Mimosa (a twist on the traditional Mimosa)

Pour ¼ cup cranberry juice and ¼ cup pink grapefruit juice into a Champagne flute or a thin glass. Top with your favorite Champagne or sparkling wine. Serve immediately and keep the juices and bubbly chilled for refills.  Makes 1 mimosa.

Favors

We all know what candy bars and dessert bars are.  Well, why not a beauty bar!  Create a multi-dimensional tablescape with apothecary jars, cake pedestals, and trays to showcase the various bath and beauty items.  Some possible items to include: bath salts, lotions, bath gels, travel foot soak, pumice stone, nail polish, bath bombs, body butter, and fresh cut soaps.  You can coordiante the bar to your party color scheme or offer various colors and scents to your guests.  Provide glassine bags or take-out boxes with tags for your guests to fill up on their favorites.

Contact me to plan your next spa-rty for children, tweens or adults!

Popcorn on the Brain ...

Since Wednesday's post, I've had popcorn on the brain!

I thought it would a great time to tell you about a wonderful couple that I had the pleasure of working with.  They had been dating for many years, and it became a joke amongst family and friends when they would tie the knot.

Well, one day Kevin did pop the question and of course Tracy said, yes!  With that they decided to surprise everyone with the news in a very unique way - yes, even their parents!  They reserved a wedding date and location, which Tracy tells me she had in mind for a long time and together we created these fabulous and fun Save the Dates AND engagement announcements!

The popcorn filled bags were a hit!

Take a look at them in my shop.

Real Parties: She's About to Pop Baby Shower

This Baby Shower was originally hosted by Kendra at Me and My Insanity.  Check out this fabulous party and then pop Kendra a visit over on her blog!

We're in the middle of full scale Easter preparations around here (report to come next week). But my sister finally sent me pictures of what the mom-to-be called the "coolest baby shower ever!" This is not a party I hosted. I didn't have to make the cake pops, or mail the invitations. I didn't even get to attend. (If I had I would have taken more pictures!) My sister, Shanda, threw this party, but I do take a little credit since we spent a lot of time on the phone together brainstorming ideas, and I designed the invitations and labels and emailed them to her. I had seen some fun ideas about using popcorn at a baby shower with the theme, “She’s about to Pop.” We decided to take it a step further and turn it into a full scale POP party!

INVITATIONS:

 

 

I designed these flower shapes with the party information. Shanda printed them on bright cardstock and stuck a Tootsie Roll Pop in the middle. (Blow Pops would be cute, too).

DECORATIONS:

Shanda decked out her house with hand-cut circles in lots of fun colors. It was time consuming, but was an inexpensive way for high impact decoration.

 

I found a few sites on line where you can create pop art from your own photos. (We used this one.) Shanda uploaded a photo of the mama-to be, and we displayed this “pop art”—labeled, just incase anyone didn’t get it.

FOOD:

 

 

We had a lot of fun coming up with food ideas. A popcorn bar (butter, cheese, kettle, and caramel flavors), Bakerella’s cake pops, pop tarts, and Popsicles. We thought of a few other options: popcorn shrimp, and bubble gum. And of course, she had lots of colorful soda pop. I made labels to cover each bottle.

 

 

She played 80’s Pop music, and they played a relay race where you had to pop balloons. (I’ll have her fill in the details on that one). This was not your formal tea-sipping event. But the word from all who attended was that it was a blast! If you are looking for a fun and light-hearted theme for a baby shower, this might work for you, and just to make it easier, I have uploaded some of the labels I created. Let me know if you end up using them!