Project Nursery Event @ Pottery Barn Kids

I love this event/class that Becca with Project Nursery hosted at Pottery Barn Kids.

The focus was on Easter decorating and entertaining, with so many simple DIY ideas to add to your party! I wish we would have been able to attend!!

I love the centerpiece "garden" which was created as a quick and easy DIY project using some craft wood pieces, a foam block, shredded paper, faux florals and decorated cookies. The cookies then served as favors! Totally cute and edible!

The cake was purchased at the local Target bakery as shown below ~

Becca added some adorable fondant shapes and some decorated sugar cookies and voila!

Another darling element in keeping with the Easter / Garden theme were these adorable "potted cupcakes". How to: take miniature terracotta flower pots lined with foil, pop in a cupcake, frost, sprinkle with crushed oreos, insert decorative paper straw, top with faux floral or mini decorated sugar cookies.

Oh my goodness, using your daughter's side table out of her bedroom for a kid-sized

beverage station is a fantastic idea!

And the best part? Guests were given a sheet of Easter printables designed especially for Pottery Barn Kids and Project Nursery by Fresh Chick Design Studio...which you can have too by clicking HERE.

original post via: Project Nursery

Apple Velvet Photography – Photography

Scrumptious Swirls – Fondant Cake Toppers and Cookies

Modern Cupcake – Cupcakes

Two Sugar Babies – Fondant Cupcake Toppers

Casey’s Confections – Decorated Sugar Cookies

Wheatgrass Table Runner

Wheatgrass makes a wonderful Easter table runner or centerpiece and provides the perfect background for displaying decorated eggs, flowers, and chocolate bunnies.

You can either grow your own wheatgrass from seeds, which take a few days to sprout, and in about 10 days the grass will be ready to use as a decoration in your home....or you can simply buy trays of wheatgrass in whole food stores or floral designers.

original source: Martha Stewart

Easter Decor from Pier 1 Imports

Oh my goodness I am loving the Easter decor from Pier 1 Imports this year!

Some ideas for front doors and entryways: go with natural rattan textures and soft colors

for a traditional look; keep it fun with just a few big, unexpected details; or create a little

space that's pure, sweet whimsy.

Try bunny towels and Easter aprons and suddenly your kitchen is ready for holiday baking, coloring eggs and preparing Easter dinner. To brighten countertops, mix in a ceramic bunny vase, a hand-woven basket with decorative eggs, pottery bunnies or spring florals.

For an instant focal point on your holiday table, fill one of your special serving bowl with decorative eggs. Add in details like Easter napkin rings, a spring topiary, hurricane centerpiece, or a festive table runner. And on the sideboard or buffet, show off all your treasures from the Easter egg hunt, including the complete line-up of Easter baskets and treats.

In the family room include a treasured hand-painted, whimsical piece that makes

everyone smile, or create displays on bookshelves, and accent tables. Easter garland

(we have done many posts on these!) can be strung across mantels, stairways and entryways. You don't need a lot of space to have some fun!

Even your bathroom can be festive! Use a woven basket (or carrot basket) to hold

extra guest towels or bath gels.

original source Pier 1 Imports

DIY Fantasy Pumpkin Carriage

I am absolutely going to be making this fantasy pumpkin carriage for my little girl!!

This was originally posted on Hallmarkmagazine.com which has since ceased publication.

What You'll Need:

1- 12" tall pumpkin
4- 4" tall gourds
4- ornate drawer pulls
3- ornate metal belt buckles
1- ornate lamp finial
2- 1/4" dowel rods (cut to the approx. diameter of your pumpkin)
Pencil or marker
Knife
Craft glue
Heavy-gauge florist's wire
Cordless drill fitted with 1/4" bit

Instructions:

1. Trace the inside of each belt buckle onto the pumpkin and cut to create openings for two windows and a door.

2. Glue the hardware over the openings.

3. Remove or cut down the stem until it's even with the flesh of the pumpkin, and twist the finial into the top.

4. Drill a hole through the center of each gourd.

5. Insert one dowel rod into the holes of two gourds to create an axle, and secure with glue. Repeat to create a second set of wheels.

6. Finish off all four wheels by inserting a drawer pull into the outside hole of each gourd for hubcaps.

7. Line up the two sets of wheels next to each other at about the same width as your pumpkin. Then wrap wire from one dowel rod to the other to fasten the axles together and to create a webbing for the pumpkin carriage to sit on.

8. Gently place your carriage on the wire.

For illustrated instructions take a look this Pumpkinhowto.pdf

Original Source: HERE

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas from Country Living

Here are some creative and inspiring ways to incorporate pumpkins in your fall decor ~

all of these ideas {and photos} are courtesy of Country Living.

You can find all the instructions and templates for these projects and many others,

directly on Country Living's site.

~~~

Spell out your greeting in mini pumpkins gathered at a prominent ~ and stationary ~

location. Here, strings of Christmas~tree lights, gathered in small bunches, illuminate

each pumpkin.

What a darling idea to use small pumpkins as votive candle holders! These festive

decorations can be used to dress any autumn table, Halloween party or Thanksgiving feast!

An artificial pumpkin, a faux crow, and some fall foliage create a beautiful focal point

when on this ivy planter chandelier.

Tuck candles and small pumpkins inside glass cylinders or canning jars.

Use pumpkins to create a painted tree effect in the bookcase.

Stack tiny jack-o-lanterns on a tiered cupcake stand for a darling buffet centerpiece!

This Crescent Moon mimics the look of a Lite-Brite by punching holes and adding a

tiny string of bulbs to make it glow. Love the idea!

Vintage Jeweled Brooch Bouquets

Amanda Heer with Fantasy Floral Designs is the designer and creator behind these unique and gorgeous brooch bouquets. She found her hidden creative talent when she raided her grandmother's treasured collection of vintage costume jewelry. How beautiful would these be for a vintage wedding! Also, it's a great way to incorporate a family heirloom or include your something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue into your wedding.

But don't limit these timeless jewels for just weddings...fill your tablescape with these charming bouquets for a lovely brunch, mother's day, a birthday party or baby shower. The best part is that they can be recycled for different parties since they are not real flowers.

They would make a great gift to present to the guest of honor at the end of the celebration;

and what a great tradition to pass down from generation to generation.

Beautiful job Amanda!

Photography, article and post adapted from Amy Atlas' blog and Brooch Bouquets

DIY Project ~ Recycled Cake/Cupcake Stands

I just love this idea I found on Design Sponge for recycling an eclectic mix of old vases and

cake plates to combine something new ~ a one of a kind cake plate or cupcake stand!

The bases can be made out of anything from milk glass bottles, to brass candlesticks,

to whatever treasure you have around the house or happen to find during a thrift

store shopping spree.

As with the bases, the cake plates themselves can be found at thrift stores, garage sales and probably around Grandma's house if she is willing to part with them.

What's fun about this idea is you are creating something unique. Your stands, whether they are used to serve cake and cupcakes for a birthday party; or pastries, muffins and quiche for a special brunch, you are sure to have the most thoughtful and unique food presentation for your celebration. You can use bases of varying heights as well as textures to create an even more eclectic and vintage feel. And the best part is they can be used over and over again!

What you'll need:

*old plates (any size)

*old candlesticks or vases (look for anything that is wider at the bottom, with a sturdy base and a flat top)

*epoxy (from a hardware store)

*masking tape

*popsicle sticks or q-tip without the fluffy end (something to apply the epoxy with)

*paper plate or scrap cardboard (something to mix the epoxy on that you can throw out)

*rags and cleaning solution

Directions:

1. pick out which pieces you want to put together and test it out. They should be able to balance on each other without the glue. If not, you may want to rethink your choices...is your plate too uneven or does your base have a flat enough top?

2. clean all plates and vases/candlesticks thoroughly. Dry completely.

3. measure the back of the plate and mark a dot in the center with a pen or marker.

4. squeeze out a little epoxy and follow its directions for use. After it's mixed, apply it to the top of the candlestick/vase and gently place your base upside down on the plate, using your dot as a guide to help you center it.

5. let it sit for a few minutes, then gently press down on it to hold it in place and get rid of any excess epoxy with a q-tip. Apply tape on four sides to anchor it while it dries.

6. let it dry overnight.

Note: while these are studier than you would expect, they are not dishwasher safe; therefore hand washing is recommended.

Tutorial, post and photos adapted from Design Sponge