Happy New Year's Eve

Couldn't resist.  We are have some friends over tonight to celebrate and had to share this last picture with you. My favorite party to date (did I say that before?).  I'll share the rest with you in 2012!
XO

Parties in Bloom: Holiday Party

I thought I'd use my last post of the year to share another party from my friend, Lauren, who has really been a huge support and source of encouragement this year.  Lauren used many of the same elements in this party that she did in her red and green holiday party shown here but in a more formal, sophisticated color scheme of black and silver.  I love how she used martini glasses for candy containers and the candy apples add just the perfect amount of color to the table.  Take away the snowflakes and tree and this would also be great for a New Years party. 

So, goodbye 2011.  I'll miss you.  What started off as a difficult year turned incredible.  It really surpassed anything I could have hoped for or dared to imagine.  25 followers, 3,100 page views, post around the web..... I am so excited for the possibilities in 2012 and can't wait to see what blooms!

Have a safe and happy New Year!

XO

New Year's Eve Motto

Nicole from Nicole's Guide To Style  (and also my dear sister) asked me to do a New Year's Eve printable package for a party she and her husband of seven months are hosting.  Nicole's style is sleek, elegant and modern, so the silver and charcoal color scheme was a perfect choice to reflect her personal style.  I showed some of the printables on Monday and they are available in my etsy shop.  The icing on the cake though came last night we found this saying all over Pinterest.   It sets a great tone for any party- silly, festive, a bit wild, so we thought we would do a version of it to match our New Year's printables.  It's available for free by clicking here.

It actually would work for gatherings all throughout the year, so don't miss out!

XO

Make It Monday- New Year's Toppers

Hope you all had a fabulous day yesterday.  Are you ready for the next celebration? 

                        
                                
                                    

These silver and charcoal flags are the perfect accent to any New Year's celebrations.  These flags can be made into toppers for cakes or cupcakes, stir sticks for drink or wrapped around straws.  I attached an adhesive glitter shape by Recollections to the top of each stick to add an extra bit of pizazz.  Better yet, the flags are free.  I will be happy to send you a pdf file of the flags if you do the following:

1. Sign up to follow Bloom Designs on Pinterest or follow my blog by becoming  a Person in Bloom.
2. Post a comment below telling me which you signed up for and with your email address so I can send it to you.


Looking for more decorations?  The matching banner and labels, shown below, are available in my etsy store for just $5.00.  

XO

Holidays in Bloom!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday.  I hope you enjoy every minute of this glorious season with your family and friends.  Starting Bloom was the best present I ever gave myself.  I have loved every minute of it and am truly blessed by those of you reading this blog and buying my products.  Thank you with all my heart.   May each of you find a present as rewarding this holiday season!

XO

                    

Happy Friday- Christmas Word Art

Can't believe Christmas is finally here and almost over!  This Happy Friday posting is a few hours early but I wanted to give you the chance to make one last Christmas decoration before the holiday passes. 

 If you would like a pdf file of this word art for you to print and use at home, just do the following:

1. Sign up to follow Bloom Designs on Pinterest or follow my blog by becoming  a Person in Bloom.

2. Post a comment below telling me which you signed up for and with your email address so I can send it to you.

Easy.  This word art fits into a 8x10 frame.
I hope all of you have a merry, merry Christmas filled with love, family, friends and rest:).
XO

Parties in Bloom: Christmas Lunch

I am so excited to share Bloom's first official party submission with you.  It comes from my dear friend, Lauren- mother, wife, and party planner extraordinaire.  She just hosted a Christmas lunch for the mothers in her daughter's first grade class.  Lauren used traditional Christmas colors with crisp, clear, classy detail.   I just adore the twine ribbon on the sandwiches and the candy cane centerpiece.  You can find more of Lauren's parties around the web by clicking here and here.

Make It Monday- Reindeer Noses

Here is a great twist on the chocolate covered pretzel that is even easier to make and oh so yummy- reindeer noses.  I found this little snack on Pinterest and it is perfect for Christmas- simple, fast and delicious!

Supplies: pretzel rounds, Hersey kisses, Christmas M&M's

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 225.

2. Lay pretzels flat on a cookie sheet covered in parchment for easy clean up.

3. Set an unwrapped kiss in the middle of each pretzel.

4. Let the chocolate melt in the oven for 2-4 minutes.  The chocolate will still have its shape but will be soft.

5. Press an M&M in the middle of each chocolate, pushing the chocolate to the edges of the pretzel.

6. Eat 'em up.

Every time I look at these, I smile.  Believe it or not, I'm already planning my Christmas party for next year.  Can you guess the theme?  

XO

Happy Friday- Tale of Two Blogs

Happy Friday, Everyone.  I want to share two fun blogs I discovered this week.

The first is Creative Party Ideas by Cheryl.  Cheryl contacted me earlier this week when she saw my Reindeer Peeps on Pinterest (my new favorite, favorite passion).  Her site is full of great projects that you can do with your family.  Yesterday, I downloaded these amazing gifts tags that are available on her site by clicking here.

The second blog I discovered just this morning.  Missy had contacted me a few weeks back to do the party printables for her daughter Hadley's second birthday.  Since this was the first party package I had sold on Etsy, I emailed her to see how the party went.   She sent me a link to her blog, Little Ladies and Lambs where she writes about her life as a stay at home mom and sheep dairy owner.  Hadley's birthday turned out darling.  I love the crepe paper backdrop she created and the milk bar with the fringe around the bucket.  Her party theme of Make A Wish and Believe was perfect for the season.

                                

Do you have party pics?  Send them to me!  bloomonline@sbcglobal.net

XO

Make It Monday- Reindeer Peeps

Reindeer Peep Bags are super cute and easy to make treats that everyone will love.  They are perfect for the kids in your neighborhood or for your childrens' classmates.
XO

Supplies; Reindeer Peeps, M&M's, double stick tape to attach the labels (Target),
cellophane bags, labels

Happy Friday!

To thank my new followers and to everyone who, as of yesterday, helped me reach 2,000 page views on my blog, all items in my etsy store will be 20% off if you use the code bloomin at check out.  I am really humbled by each and every blog view and truly thankful for each of you. Have a great weekend. The code will work until the end of the year.  

Make It Monday- Cones

    

Styrofoam or paper cones are a great way to add height and color to your food tables.  They can be found in most craft stores and covered with anything from paint to candy.  For my Trim A Tree party, I used pink marshmallows, Christmas taffy and ribbon that held lollipops in place to cover three cones of different height.  The cones accentuated the color theme and added a bit of whimsy. Here's a couple other examples of cones from around the web...


                     
           

Trim A Tree Party

Recently, I hosted a Trim A Tree Party for a few little girls from the neighborhood.  They had so much fun decorating Christmas trees or crafting things to put on it.  I loved the soft pastel palette of baby pink, mint green and ice blue.  The colors gave the party a magical, dreamy feel.  It was one of my favorite parties to date, but I think I say that nearly every time I host a party.  Here are some of the pictures.  You can also read more about it on Pizzazzerie's  feature by clicking here.  Thanks again to Courtney Dial for showcasing it!

If you have a party send it to me.  I'd love to show it.