A Spring Affair

We've finally busted out of the low temps and are embracing the 70's nearly every day for the next coming week.  Spring has sprung here on the coast, and it has me ready to be outside.

With the warmer temps, comes more visitors (a perk of living by the beach), and I am excited.  Spring and summer are the perfect time for hosting guests and gatherings...especially outdoors.  As you may have noticed, design for us don't stop in the home.  Pillows and furnishings are great, but we love a beautifully done shower setup or tablescape too.  Here are a few images that have me inspired and ready to play hostess in my home...or backyard.

I love the idea of a brunch gathering or shower.  Especially one that involved a pancake "cake" like this one featured on Camille Styles.

Here's a great idea of using a runner (either fabric or kraft paper) as an entry sign like seen here on 100 Layer Cake-let.

Make inexpensive mylar balloons shine with a metallic paint pen and a beautiful script (tip: recruit your friend with the best handwriting) shown here via Hello May.

Switch up your normal table decor with changing your white tapers to gray ones.  This has bee a favorite I've seen lately.  Image via Southern Weddings

Think small.  Even a small gathering can have a big look if you make everything mini--like these desserts at Desiree Hartsock's wedding shown on Inspired by This.  Think mini cakes, mini banana puddings, macaroons, etc.

One thing to always remember when trying to create a stylish and cohesive design is the color palette.  Here are a few favorites for spring.

Cheers to new gatherings and memories made at the table!

DIY Balloon Fringe Tassels

I am currently immersed in first birthday party planning for my little girl.  Last minute crafting, getting bedrooms ready for out of town guests, wrapping up all of the finishing touches.  I feel like the first birthday is such a milestone, and I want to make it a memorable one.  I know she won't really remember it now, but I hope one day she can look back on the pictures and see all of the hard work that went into celebrating her first year of life.   

We're having a very intimate gathering at our home with some of our closest family and friends.  While it is a small affair, I absolutely love planning parties and all of the personal touches that go into them.  So naturally, I've exhausted my frugal, perfectionist, DIY self into making almost everything myself (with the exception of the cakes--although I am adding my own decoration to them).  Pinterest, of course, has been a great inspiration.  What did we do before that little site came along?

One of the ideas I got from Pinterest was making fringe tassels for the oversized balloons I purchased.  I love those guys.  Anyway, I wanted to create some tassels to go on them for Auden's first birthday pictures and her party.  Luckily, I found this tutorial by Firefly Events that described how to do just that.  

Image via Sweet Thing Blog

I followed her steps using some shirts I found at a local thrift store and some lace ribbon I had from a previous project.  The total cost (minus the balloons) was $4 ($2 per shirt).  You could obviously go to a fabric store to select your choice of fabric as well, but the closest one to me is across town.   And I'm sure I would have spent more there anyway (plus the cost of gas to get there).  So the thrift store it was.  Win, win.  Whatever fabric you end up using remember to take its weight into consideration.  Something too heavy will weigh the balloon down.  Which is also why using tissue paper is a good option.  If you're using more than one balloon, you can obviously have more weight.

Image by Jordan Burch Photography

Here is my finished product from afar.  It's all I have to show for now, but I'll be back with more photos and party details later.  I absolutely love how it turned out and am sure I will be making many more in the future!  

Wish me luck for a smashing party (no pun intended)!... but I can't wait to see what she does with her smash cake :)