Celebrations deConstructed

Celebrations deConstructed

April/May Issue 2011

Contents SPRING Plant Favors....................................................

8

Grown-up Planting Party..............................

9

Kid’s Planting Party........................................

18

Seed Wrap Favor Download.......................

24

Spring Shopping............................................

26

EASTER Easter Gathering ..........................................

Easter Favors & Recipes...............................

Real Mom Easter Party.................................

Easter Shopping............................................

ARBOR DAY

28 34 40 42

Arbor Day Favor Tag Download.................

46

Mother’s Day Tea Party .............................

47

Tea Bag Cookie Favors..............................

54

Mother’s Day Shopping.............................

56

Tips and Tricks .............................................

58

Sponsors ......................................................

60

MOTHER’S DAY

...MORE!

Celebrations deConstructed

April/May Issue 2011

About...

Celebrations deConstructed was intended to provide a way to dive deeper into celebration setups - far beyond what the party blog platform can do. A lot of trials and tribulations were met along the way of this new venture, but hopefully you’ll find this first attempt inspiring, none-the-less!

Hugs!

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Spring Events.. special dates for

APRIL 1

April Fool’s

1

2

Day

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

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12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

Palm

Sunday

24

Good Friday

Passover

25

Easter

9

Earth Day

26

27

28

29

30 Arbor Day

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..

April & May

MAY 1

2

3

National

4

Teacher’s

Cinco

6

7

National

Astronomy

de Mayo

Day

8

5

Day

14

9

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

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24

25

26

27

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30

31

Mother’s Day

Memorial Day

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Spring

When you think Spring, you think gardens! Why not kick off the season with a planting party! The following are inspiration for both a grown-up and kid version! For either party, create a planting favor for your guests to take home!

Planting Favors Empty vintage looking soda cans make wonderful vessels. Use a regular hand held can opener to cut off the top of the can to turn it into a vase!

Surprise your guests by placing seeds and a starter pellet in a small favor tin. Wrap it up with a ribbon or bakers twine.

Mason jars can be bought in bulk and are easily accessible. Decorate with a tag, ribbon or bakers twine and let your guests pick their favorite one to take home!

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DRINK

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PLANT

DINE

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deCONSTRUCTION

elements of the event

A garden is a thing of beauty and a job forever.

-Richard Briers

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Elements Planting

Growing your own food has become a hot trend. If you don’t think you or your guests can pull off a full garden, herbs are a great way to start! Have pots, dirt, seeds and markers for your guests.

Dining

Planting parties will be about getting a bit dirty, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wash up and fill your belly! Think light fair - cheeses, olives, bread, crackers, meats, etc. - and pairing anything with wine is always recommended! Tip: serve your meats on a separate platter to ensure you won’t cross contaminate for your strict vegetarian friends!

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Nature

With all the texture, color and smells that plants bring, you won’t need any real decorations other than the items that you’ll need for planting! Gather up your house plants and use them throughout the party space as well - no need to buy extra plants just for decorations if you have some growing around the house!

Little Touches

Don’t forget to accessorize the space with little touches!

This can be as simple as breaking up all the dark colors in one space with the cork from the wine!

Garden Elements

Look around for items like brick, stone and terracotta to complete your table setup.

These earthy elements are not only food safe (when new & cleaned) but dishwasher safe and most are even stain resistant!

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Recipe Tie into your theme by serving guests food and drink items are made with fresh herbs!

Mojito Ingredients 10 fresh mint leaves 1/2 lime, sliced 1.5 tbsp white sugar 1.5 fluid ounces rum 2 oz club soda Crushed Ice

Add all ingredients, except for the club soda and ice, to a glass and muddle. Then, add club soda, garnish and serve!

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Inspiring everyone to put a little extra “frosting� on every event! Daily party inspiration, tutorials and shopping tips!

Website: www.partyfrosting.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/PartyFrostingFB Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PartyFrosting Wedding Journey: http://loveubetter.blogspot.com

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TIP: Add a small area of chalkboard paint & write guests’ names!

Supplies

Starting with clean, unglazed pots, fill approx 1/2 way with chocolate cake mix and bake.

Cake mix Chocolate cookies Chocolate Rocks Fresh Mint Frosting Clean garden pots

After baking, apply frosting of choice and top with crushed chocolate cookies.

Cut sprigs of the mint and gently press into the cake.

Use the rocks to decorate your tray and serve! p.s. Wal-Mart now carries the chocolate rocks!

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inspired by Martha Stewart April/May Issue 2011

Fun Plant Facts!

1200

A pineapple is a berry! # of watermelon varieties!

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800

approx. # of kernels on each ear of corn!

Peanuts are beans!

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PAINT Celebrations deConstructed

PLAY

PLANT April/May Issue 2011

deCONSTRUCTION elements of the event

All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.

-Swedish Proverb

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Elements Planting Flowers A great way to

keep the kids busy is let them pick out seeds or seedlings off of a favor table and then send them off to your “planting station�! Have dirt, extra containers, trowels, garden gloves and smocks ready for them!

Table Coverings

A combination of planting, eating and kids does not make for easy nerves when it comes to deciding what table coverings to use! Inexpensive plastic coverings will do the job, but they often make the items you put on top look cheapened. Think creatively and pick up a roll of contractor paper at your local hardware store for under twelve bucks. Not only economical, it fits with the natural theme and the kids can draw on it!

And if anything spills, no issue - just roll out a new sheet!

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Garden Elements

Look for garden decor - hangings, stakes and garden trinkets - to decorate your space. It will bring color and texture, and you can use them in your garden afterwards! Also, think of nontraditional items like garden lanterns and string lights and use them indoors on your table, as well!

Painting Pots

Letting guests decorate a pot with paints, stickers, gemstones and ribbons is a great party activity. The finished creations are fantastic, inexpensive take-away items!

Colorful Touches

Look for clever ways to carry your colors throughout by adding touches of ribbons, colorful, seasonal foods and fabric to solid elements. Added to these simple, plastic orange tumblers, were cuts of coordinating ribbon, attached with scrapbooking glue dots, placed just at the same level as the liquid. A slice of lemon and a contrasting stirrer stick were added to carry all the colors of the party to the right side of the table.

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Seed Wraps

Sponsored by Good Gravy Designs Supplies Free printable printed on heavy paper Scissors Glue or tape Seed packets

FREE Download Here

Print and cut seed wraps. Fold along the white dotted lines and address “to/from� on the back. Wrap around seed package and glue or tape on the small tab.

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Click to purchase these “Create-Your-Own Custom Saying Printable Banner� for your Spring event! www.piggybankparties.etsy.com

Create toppers, favor tags, envelope seals, place cards and napkin rings with these Spring themed printables! www.itsybelle.blogspot.com

4-petal paper Twirlie Whirlies clustered together make a fantastic Spring favor! www.twirliewhirlies.com Celebrations deConstructed

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e Spring must haves!

paid advertising

Original hand-cut layered art adds a Spring touch to any nursery or kid’s room or as a display at a party. www.paperstork.etsy.com

Fun, personalized favors on a stick!

Creative sweet pops can be made to coordinate to any party! www.etsy.com/shop/stixnpops

Personalized, custom cookies are the perfect touch to any Spring baby shower and make easy favors! www.mypinklittlecake.com Celebrations deConstructed

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www.fireflyconfections.com

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deCONSTRUCTION elements of the event

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.

-S.D. Gordon

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Elements

Fun Favors

Guests will love taking home these fun favors. Either fill favor boxes or bags ahead of time or let you guests choose from an assortment of seed packets.

Mini bouquets

Make your own small, fresh flower arrangements using a large bouquet purchased at your local market. Use odd numbers of flowers for the best effect (even just one per vase!) Old glassware, mason jars or tin cans make great small vases.

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Colorful Treats Sprinkle wrapped or hard candies around your table for an extra pop of color! It will help fill blank spaces and give you guests a sweet treat to snack on while food is being served.

Easter Containers

Continue the color theme by using pastel containers to serve up goodies. Look at your serving pieces in new ways - egg cups are the perfect size to hold mini muffins or cupcakes!

DIY Placemats

Instead of cloth or plastic placemats use a decorative piece of 12� x 12� pattern paper that compliments your color or design style. For the little ones use non-patterned paper and add crayons for drawing or playing games like tic tac toe.

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Cream Cheese Mints Ingredients: 8 ounces of cream cheese 2 lb package of powdered sugar Âź tsp peppermint extract Gel food coloring (optional) Granulated Sugar (for rolling) Flexible Mold Directions: Mix ingredients in a bowl (will be dry). Remove from bowl and knead. Mix in food coloring until desired color is reached. Roll small pieces of dough into balls, then roll the balls in granulated sugar. Press sugared balls of dough into molds.

Remove from mold and lay on parchment paper to dry overnight in refrigerator. Flip mints over after 12 hours. Use within a week or freeze for future use.

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Tutorial

Easy Easter

Step 1

Step 2

Score your card stock at 2” and at 4”. Rotate card stock 90 degrees and score again at 2” and 4”

Score each corner square starting at the center square’s edge and moving out to the outer corner of your card stock.

You should have a grid with a total of 9 “squares”.

Repeat on each corner.

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Supplies

Favor Basket

Step 3 Using a 3/16” hole punch, punch holes in each diagonally scored corner: a total of 4 holes.

Now fold all of your score marks upwards.

This will create a bowl effect.

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6”x 6” card stock Scoring tool 3/16” hole punch Tulle or Ribbon Easter grass

Step 4 Run ribbon or tulle through two diagonal holes. Repeat on opposite holes.

Cinch all four corners together near the center of the box. Tie ribbon or tulle in a bow or simple knot.

Fill with Easter grass and small treats.

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Recipe

Melting Ingredients: 1 cup butter (room temp) ½ cup powdered sugar ž cup cornstarch 1 cup all purpose flour

Step 1 - Mix Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients until they form a soft wet dough. Using a tablespoon spring loaded cookie scoop, drop dough onto a parchment lined cookie pan.

Step 2 - Prepare Depending on your decorating preference, either use a fork to make crisscross marks in your dough OR use your thumb to make an imprint.

Step 3 - Bake Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cookies will spread a little and should be slightly golden around the edges.

Move to a cooling rack, but be very gentle as these cookies are fragile when warm!

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Moments Cookies Decorating Options Melted topping After baking, add a teaspoon of melted chocolate on top of each cookie.

Mix food coloring gel with melted Almond Bark to create a tasty topping, too.

Sparkle topping Before baking, sprinkle colored sugar on cookies for a fun sparkle and pop of color! Combination: You could add sprinkles to the melted chocolate ones using a contrasting color!

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Real Mom

Jessic

Temecu

We love a great ‘real mom’ party! Jessica incorporated all the winning elements of a great event -great food, desserts, decorations and activities!

She gets extra points for reusing many items from around her home - like this frame and tiered stand!

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ca F.

Real Party

ula, CA

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Our favorite elements are these colorful and adorable cupcake stands, the egg wreath, Easter themed desserts and all the fresh flowers! (extra points for the hubby!) The kids were kept busy decorating Easter bags, dyeing Easter eggs and a round of egg hunting!

Awesome job Jessica!

April/May Issue 2011

Click to purchase thes Throw a beautifully coordinated party, down to the last detail Spring party with printables! www.greenbeansie.etsy.com

Handmade banners can be hung over your Easter table or strung on an Easter basket to personalize! www.etsy.com/shop/ncooper21

You can find all your Easter candy needs in on place! From traditional to the unique, they have it all! www.candy.com Celebrations deConstructed

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se Easter must haves!

paid advertising

Add fun Spring shaped recycled crayons to their Easter baskets and keep the kids busy all day! www.etsy.com/shop/hippoink

These versatile clear tubes are perfect for packaging Easter favors!

Embellish with ribbon and tags to personalize. www.etsy.com/shop/QuaintlyAmusing

Custom-made cake balls will steal the spotlight at Easter this year! Use as placecard for each guest! www.terrispartytreasures.com

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Click to purchase thes Think Spring DIY Printable Party Pack will make great party pieces or as an Easter gift! www.etsy.com/shop/EyeCandyEventDetails

Accessorize your favors with colorful printables. A jar full of jelly beans instantly become “Bunny Noses�! www.simplycreativeinsanity.blogspot.com

Spring patterned soft-soled Bison Booties make the perfect Easter accessory for your little one! www.etsy.com/shop/bisongirl Celebrations deConstructed

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se Easter must haves!

paid advertising

Your kids will look adorable in these handcrafted, spring outfits - perfect for Easter Sunday or everyday! www.elledeedesign.com

Whimsical DIY party printable collection to add to your Easter table and favors! http://www.ablissfulnest.com/

Hand crafted rosette headbands will make girls of any age happy to discover in one in their basket! www.etsy.com/shop/LissieAnns

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Abor Day

FREE Download Here

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Laugh

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Sip

Love

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deCONSTRUCTION elements of the tea party

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother - Lin Yu-tang

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Elements

TEA A tea party is a perfect way to celebrate not only your mother, but other special moms in your life. Not only will you have a chance to honor those women, you can set up an environment for relaxing, laughing and sharing!

COLOR The easiest way to unify your table is through color. Start your planning by picking your color palette - could be from a piece of fabric or as simple as the guests’ favorite colors!

REPETITION Take your flowers and repeat them throughout the table - a bud here, a little bunch there keeps the eye moving and adds pops of color and texture everywhere!

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SERVING CONTAINERS Look for outside-the-box options for serving. This rose is actually a tea light holder! If your baked goods do not fit in your fantastic finds, use cookie cutters to cut a slice of cake into a smaller round shape to fit inside. Venturing down other aisles of the store may lead to unique serving container finds! Remember, you can send them home with your guests as favors, too!

FLOWERS Every celebration comes more alive with flowers - they bring color, texture and life! Use blooming potted plants for a great, long lasting, alternative. Shy away from silk flowers when you can! They definitely don’t bring the same ambiance or fragrance - so treat yourself sometimes to fresh flowers!

SPECIAL FAVORS Edible favors are always a great way to make your guests feel special and take away something that won’t break the bank! These tea bag cookies (tutorial next page) will be the perfect complement!

Homemade breads, jellies, pies and marshmallows make great gifts too! Make them look even more special with nice packaging adorned with ribbons or twine and a personalized tag.

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Menu TO MAKE Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches Lemon Cranberry Scones Tea Bag Cookies Chocolate Cake Coconut Ice

TIMELINE Up to 2 Days ahead Coconut Ice

Tea Bag Cookies

Up to 1 Day ahead Chocolate Cake Lemon Cranberry Scones

Day of Tea Party Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches Celebrations deConstructed

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Tea Bag Cookies de CONSTRUCTED

Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage

- Catherine Douzel

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Tutorial

FREE Downloads pg. 64

Supplies: Wax Paper Pastry Scraper/Knife Round Frosting Tip Scissors Tea Bag Template Marker Shortbread Dough Chocolate Candy Melts

Print Tea bag template and cover with a sheet of wax paper.

Trace outline using marker or pen (perfection is not needed!)

Cut out and set aside (be sure to cut INSIDE the marker line, leaving no marker on cut template)

After preparing shortbread dough, roll out on a nonstick surface.

Apply wax paper template on the dough (slide finger over to help adhere) and cut out around the template.

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Transfer cookie to a cookie sheet.

Use parchment paper if you are worried about the cookies sicking or over browning.

Using round frosting tip, press into top center to create hole for preparation of string later.

Bake cookies based on recipe you chose and set aside to cool. Holes should have remained.

Melt chocolate candy melts in a double-boiler or microwave.

Dip cookie in the chocolate - slightly pushing down and forward until the chocolate reaches a little more than 1/3 of the way up the cookie.

Tilt cookie back and push through the chocolate to cover the back to the same level.

Lay cookies on a sheet of wax paper to dry. You’ll notice the chocolate changed to more of a solid looking finish.

Tip: you can place in refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process.

Once complete, add thread and a tea bag tag and you are ready to serve! (tea bag tag template available on download page) Celebrations deConstructed

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Click to purchase these Edible image-frosting sheets will transform your plain cupcakes for Mom into unique, custom creations! http://etsy.com/shop/eyecandey

Wrap up Mom’s gift with stylish ribbon! Many styles & patterns to chose from! www.etsy.com/shop/IsamayDesigns

Sweet sterling silver bird necklace.

Hand stamped and adorned with a creamy freshwater pearl for Mom! www.3littlebirdsboutique.com Celebrations deConstructed

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Mom must haves!

paid advertising

Mom will feel like everyday is a celebration sipping drinks through fun vintage straws with happy sayings! www.etsy.com/shop/goagainstthegrain

Pamper yourself or someone special with a collection of gourmet skincare products. www.moodyliciousskincare.com

A silver pendant created with a beautiful “glass like� finish which arrives in signature packaging. www.Ann-Margarets.com

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Tips & Tricks

Neutral dishes and servingware are the biggest bang for your buck!

You’ll notice your food will take center stage and just POP off the neutral background. These solid pieces can be used for every event and can be dressed up in so many ways.

-- Pair a white plate with a smaller plate that has color and pattern -- Cut paper or fabric and place on the inset of the severing dish -- Add ribbon or twine to handles or across the plate -- Layer up! Add a beautiful charger, colored linen napkins, interesting napkin rings and a menu card to your place setting -- Add a few flower buds or herb clippings Celebrations deConstructed

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WHITE CAKE STAND - 4 WAYS Buy neutral cake stands, either metal or a solid colors, to allow for the greatest amount of diversity. Here are just a few of the many ways you can adorn a solid cake stand!

RIBBON/FRINGE Less a yard of ribbon/fringe can change a plain cake stand into an adorable focal point! Adhere ribbon or fringe with scrapbooking glue dots or a piece of double-sided tape so to not permanently damage your stand.

FLOWERS Pick up a branch of artificial flowers (even at the dollar store!) to give a seasonal flair to your stand! Think daffodils in Spring, daisies in the Summer, mums in Autumn and poinsettias in the Winter! Use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach.

LINERS A trick for any inset of a tray, dish or pan, is to carefully cut out the size of the inset in scrapbooking or wrapping paper, fabric or even craft foam.

Ensure paper is food safe and place in inset for a pop of color and pattern!

CUTOUTS Let your imagination be your guide! Cut out coordinating shapes or make paper doll style trim of any design. Simple tip - trace cookie cutters if you do not have a shape cutting tool or punches! Add rhinestones or glitter to dress up your shapes, too!

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ur great sponsors!

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ur great sponsors!

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Downloads FREE Download Here

FREE Printable Here

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FREE Download Here

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April/May Issue 2011

Celebrations deConstructed

April/May Issue 2011