I have a gorgeous table to show off today by my lovely friend Jacki from Blissfully Sweet Cakes.
Jacki’s eldest son Liam celebrated his FIrst Holy Communion last week so Jacki wanted to create something that was not overly religious in the traditional sense but still meaningful. To help with this Nicole from Pretty and Print created a stained glass window themed invitation and from their Jacki created a stunning table that kept to this wonderful theme. Enjoy some wonderful photos and Jacki’s words about how the table came to life below.
I wanted a crisp white look matched with the blues and greens of the design theme. I did not want anything too cluttered and while toying around with some ideas, the string art backdrop idea came to life. As my table was not large, I needed to keep my items clean and uncluttered. My colour coordinated sweets (thank you!) became another part of the backdrop and instead of fancy candy jars, I used regular straight edged drinking glasses. For this table, I made a lot of the props and serving ware myself. The back long riser for the candies was made with a simple long piece of wood and decorative raised feet on either end gave it the height it needed. Simple rectangle platters were made the same way at the front of the table and both were painted white. My lime green cake stands were made from IKEA candle sticks with round boards affixed to the top and then given a spray paint finish.
For the sweets – the table was a small display piece for my desserts. The centrepiece cake I always wanted to be based on a stained glass design. A black outline was piped on and then the “windows” were all hand painted in different hues of my theme colours. The table was anchored by 2 matching water coloured cakes. As adornment for these cakes, I tried my hand for the first time at royal icing cages. These were very delicate and were like stained glass walls they wrapped around the cakes. Cookie bites were made and given a watercolour finish in the design colours and the most delicious marbled macarons were made by the wonderful macaron goddess Jhoanee at Its a Cake Thing. Layered petit cakes were topped with royal icing stained glass and pannacotta shot glasses were topped with mini macarons.
Additional desserts were also made and they included layered jelly and ice blocks for the kids and for the adults we had vanilla pannacotta with balsamic strawberries as well as a decadent coconut and raspberry cake with a cream cheese whipped icing.
Lastly, our celebration was a small family and friends affair and this allowed for small and intimate table arrangements for the guests. Flowers for each table were the centrepiece and arrangements of blue hydrangeas and baby hydrangeas were natural looking and bought colour to the table. Little glass jars filled with little flower buds completed the table flowers. I included the printables into our table setting in the form of placemats for everyone. I loved how these set off the blue china perfectly.
Credits:
Cake, sweets, styling and photography by Blissfully Sweet
Printables by Pretty & Print
Macarons by Its a Cake Thing
Candy, milk glass cake stand and white compotes by Sweet Style
It is always such a pleasure to be involved in beautiful projects so when my lovely friend Kim from The Tomkat Studio asked me to put together something to include in her 2012 Gift Guide I jumped at the chance.
The beautiful Gift Guide which was released today is full of wonderful inspiration for the Christmas Season and includes some gorgeous contributions from great party girls.
I put together a Shortbread Star Cookie Recipe and packaging ideas which were are all super easy to create.
Kim has created a great Christmas tag which is available as a free download so all you need to do is print out your tags, make your cookies and package them up. I have used a selection of favour boxes, bags and twine all available in both the Sweet Style online store and the Tomkat Studio online store. The favour tag looks great when used with the fancy sign punch.
I have used a two different colour combinations – one traditional red and green and something a little prettier for those of you who like me love to add pink into their christmas.
The talented and ever so lovely Dewi from Sweet Bloom Cakes is showing us one of her favourite cakes from this weekend just past.
This stunning 4 tier ruffle cake was created for an elegant wedding in Sydney. Dewi really does make the most stunning cakes that make the incredible centrepiece at any wedding or on any dessert table.
To visit Dewi’s website follow the link here or visit her on Facebook here
Nicole from Pretty and Print has joined us today to give us yet another fabulous idea for your Christmas Favours. Her Reindeer Noses were a big hit last Christmas – they really do look so cute!
Nicole says …
Rendeer Nose’s are such a fantastic, simple, and easy gift idea. With the weeks creeping closer to that time of the year you might like to keep these in mind as a cute gift idea for class mates, work collegues, teachers and family and friends.
Pretty & Print has 4 different printable bag topper designs available in both personlalised and fill in versions. These are available from the Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/prettyandprint
All you need is a packet of both Maltesers and Jaffas (maybe a Red Gum Ball if your outside of Australia).
You can either pop them in some 110mm wide cello bags or jazz them up a little in some of Sweet Styles “Glass Test Tube Favour Bottles”. Such a cute idea and so much fun:)
Nicole Hanna is the owner, designer & paper whisperer behind Pretty & Print, which combines my love of pretty paper, printables, craft and all things design. Please pop by and visit me on Facebook to discover more paper inspiration, printables and creations.
Time to get moving with loads of Christmas Gift and Favour Ideas that seem to be swirling around in my head!
Today we kick of with some fluro which is all the rage at the moment.
The lovely Vesna of My Little Jedi fame has just relaunched her brand and relased the first edition of One Lovely Day Magazine. Vesna asked me to create some Christmas favour packaging ideas for the magazine.
I always find it hard to pick just one so I pulled together loads of bottles, bags, washi tape, tags, string, tasty treats and even some pens and set to work coming up with different combinations.
Idea 1
A mini glass jar filled with bright lollies or sweet treats and decorated with washi tape – simple and cute.
I have used my Merry Christmas stamp stamped onto the washi tape and stuck on the front of the jar.
Lollies for the kids and mini biscuits and fudge for the adults!
Idea 2
A pretty tag that also doubles as a christmas decoration is always a great idea.
These reindeer and star tags can be written on or as I have done here added bright washi tape to add some colour.
Add them to a favour bag or glass bottle and you have a gift that will be around for years to come.
Idea 3
A bright tag stamped with Merry Christmas makes anything look cool.
Fill these little clip jars with heart shaped sweets for the kids or marmalade and jam for the adults and decorate the lid! Easy as that!
Idea 4
Another simple idea which was a big hit last year for my girls school christmas favours.
The skinny cello bag! Fill it with a row of lollies or even a pen if you would ilke to stay away from the sweets – stamp your washi with merry christmas and stick it on the bag and you are done!
Glassine Favour bags also work perfectly for sweets and pens as well – a large fluro sticker, that lovely bright tag with the merry christmas stamp on it and some washi to seal the bag and you have another simple and easy idea
Favour Bags, Bottles, mini jars, cello bags – Sweet Style
lollies, star and reindeer tag – Sweet Style
Merry Christmas Stamp – Sweet Style
Washi Tape – Little Paper Lane
Pens – Smiggle
Fluro tags – Blank Paper goods
String and ties – bunnings – spotlight – fabric stores
I wanted a crisp white look matched with the blues and greens of the design theme. I did not want anything too cluttered and while toying around with some ideas, the string art backdrop idea came to life. As my table was not large, I needed to keep my items clean and uncluttered. My colour coordinated sweets (thank you!) became another part of the backdrop and instead of fancy candy jars, I used regular straight edged drinking glasses. For this table, I made a lot of the props and serving ware myself. The back long riser for the candies was made with a simple long piece of wood and decorative raised feet on either end gave it the height it needed. Simple rectangle platters were made the same way at the front of the table and both were painted white. My lime green cake stands were made from IKEA candle sticks with round boards affixed to the top and then given a spray paint finish.
