I mentioned to you all recently how Life’s Little Celebrations is getting a {big} makeover and will be developing into a Party Directory site while still continuing the blog on this new site as well. If you missed the news you can read about it here.
Along with this makeover comes a new logo and I am thrilled to show it to you!
Thanks goes to the talented & patient Anna from Design With Style who has seen probably too many different shades of blues and greens thanks to me! =)
I wanted something with a celebration feel while still being classic and unique and I believe the logo is all these things!
Do you love it?
I hope so!
Anna has also designed the new website for me and development is starting this week!
Media kits will be emailed out in the next week so I can have everything ready for when the website is ready to go live which should be around June or July….my daughters’ first birthday party is also in July…crazy times ahead!
I look forward to stepping into this next phase of Life’s Little Celebrations with you ‘party mamas’ and I just know that the new directory is going to save us ALL a lot of time and put us in touch with some great businesses’!
xx
Who doesn’t love gold?
It instantly dresses up any event to make it a little bit more special and mixes well with most colours.
Here are a few gold party finds you might just love:
Gold drinking straws - Little Dance Invitations
Golden glitter teardrop spoons - Red Elephant Creative
Lucy gold cake stand - Leo & Bella
Short gold royal cake stand - Bon Bon Boutique
Gold beverage dispenser - The Little Big Company
Gold glitter jars - Dunne with Style
Gold mason jars - Carousel Boutique
Large gold number and letter foil balloons - Occasion by Design
Giant gold balloon - Simply Sweet Soirees
Gold table runner - Hunt & Style
Gold foil crowns - The Party Table
Golden spot treat bags - Larkmade
Gold glitter cupcake wrappers - How Divine
Gold treat sticks - Polkadot Prints
Gold sixlets - Sweet Style
Old fashioned lolly treat sticks - The Little Big Company
Gold ribbon - The Social Boutique
Gold tape - The Party Table
Are you using gold at your next celebration?
You know those stylists who when their parties/events come up in your facebook newsfeed you just cannot wait to see the photos? Well – that is me when I see an event by Leanne Ambrogio from Sweet Style! I just adore her style and cannot fault her dessert tables.
Not only is she an amazing stylist, but she also runs the beautiful Sweet Style online store as well as her online blog (again one of my favourites). She is a wife, mum to four girls, involved with the Stillbirth Foundation Australia…yes you can imagine she is one busy lady! I have had the pleasure to meet Leanne in person and she is just lovely, warm and down to earth.
In this interview she shares her thoughts and tips for styling a dessert table, managing a work/life balance and having an event styling business. All the gorgeous images I’ve included in this post are Leanne’s work and are a true testament to her talent.
1) Describe your style when it comes to party styling
I describe my style as clean, fuss free with a few special details. A number of people have said to me over the past year that they know when they see a dessert table I have put together – I love that I have a style that is mine.
2) How do you keep inspired to ensure your creativity keeps flowing?
I am constantly browsing blogs and online magazines for inspiration. Â I have also been taking part in loads of online and e-courses that just help you think outside the box and give you access to other talented peoples thought processes. Â They challenge you to try different things and recognise what you love best & making that creativity flow.
3) With a party styling business, online store, young family, husband as well as your work with the Stillbirth Foundation- how do you manage your time to ensure your priorities stay in order & you achieve all you want to? Do you have any advice to other working mums on achieving this?
 I am a big list writer – I am constantly writing new lists to make sure I keep on top if it all.  I also have had to get realistic about how much I can achieve in a day, asking for help and learning to say no.  Over the past 2 years I really feel as though I have grown so much as a person and I have become comfortable with saying no to jobs that really do not fit with my style.
4) What are your golden rules when it comes to styling a dessert table?
For me I like things to be balanced. Â This doesn’t need to mean it is symmetrical (although I do love a symmetrically balanced table), it just means that you need to balance the various components of the table – jar heights, cake stands and flat items need to all work well together to make the table flow well. The other thing to remember is that you don’t need to put too much on a table – or every piece of food you want to serve on the table – keep some in the fridge or cupboard so you can fill the gaps later in the party.
5) What are some tips you have for the day of your child’s party to ensure it all runs smoothly?
Tip 1 is get a great party entertainer – a good party entertainer will make a party run so smoothly. Â I would also send them an email explaining when you would like the kids to eat and cut the cake prior to the day, that way they can arrive and now exactly what is expected of them.
Tip 2 is make sure you order all of your party goodies a few weeks in advance so that it has plenty of time to arrive and allow for that change of mind if you don’t think the item is exactly right.
Tip 3 If you are putting together a dessert table, set up it up and ready to go as far in advance as possible (without the food of course). Â I usually put my table together with all my cake stands and bowls at least a week in advance so I can play around with it. Â On the day of the party put all the food out on the table early and take your photos and then put everything back in the fridge or away from little people and then get it all back out just before your guests arrive – it is far too stressful to try and take photos of a dessert table when other people are around.
6) Is there a party theme you would love to style for that you haven’t done as yet?
There are lots of themes I would love to try although a lot of what I want to do is currently based around my favourite colour combinations.
7) You have such gorgeous products in your store. What are your favourite and “must have” items?
My favourite must have item will always be the milk glass cake stand – they just set off any cake in any situation. They look good by themselves or group or stacked with others. Â I also love all the drinks dispensers in the store! Â They can be dressed up for a fancy wedding or dressed down for a casual bbq – guests just love them!
Milk glass cake stand in blue - Sweet Style
8. There are so many new party styling businesses starting up – what advice could you share that has helped you with your own success
My advice to new people is don’t underestimate the time it will take to plan and execute a beautiful table. Â I know that new businesses are desperate to get the job so they will give a cheaper price – in the long run it does not help your business as your next client is usually a referral from the previous client and they will want the same price. Â Work out how long you think it will take to plan, put together and importantly pack up, take home, clean and put away.
9) What do you hope your daughters learn from you as they see you run a successful business from home?
 I would like to think that they are learning that having a passion for something is a fantastic way to ensure your work is enjoyable.  My dad was a huge inspiration to me as he left school very young and by 18 had started his own business and never looked back – he was an entrepreneur that just got out there and tried new things – some worked and some didn’t but he gave everything a go – he was my hero so I would love to think my girls realise that they just need to get out there and give everything their best.
10) What is your own favourite dessert ?
It is so hard to pick my favourite dessert as I have such a sweet tooth – it is either something with chocolate or a lemon meringue tart! Â Mmmm
Thank you so much Leanne for all your tips and advice!
You can view Leanne’s work, her online store as well as her blog all from the
Sweet Style site.
Confetti and sprinkles are typical images which come to mind when I think of a kid’s celebration – and it is a wonderful “theme” to base a party around. It is very simple to decorate for since you can combine lots of colours together rather than find specific theme based partyware.
You could go for a really bright look or a more pastel confetti look – anything goes!
I also think it is a great theme if you don’t want to have a really detailed theme but still want some type of decorating pattern to set the tone/decor for the party!
You could combine it with an icecream based theme or use it for a baby sprinkle event (a baby shower for a 2nd, 3rd etc baby).
Hope you enjoy the collection I’ve put together:
Invitations/Printables
Confetti party - The Little Soiree
This gorgeous range comes in blue as well as pink:
Confetti printables - Style Me Gorgeous
Confetti and tassel printables - Ham&Pea Design&Paperie
Sprinkled with love birthday printables - Kojo Designs
Although this confetti design is shown below for a wedding, I have seen it used for a birthday in this party styled by Leo & Bella featured on the Marabous site:
Confetti printables - Three Eggs
Printed Confetti invitations - Poppies for Grace
Tableware
Pastel polka dot table runner - The Party Parlour
Polka dot plates - Partylish
Baby me dessert plates - The Baby Shower Shop
Multi coloured polka dot plates - Party & Co
Polka Dot party plates - Pink Frosting
Let's have a party napkins - The Party Table
Sprinkles wooden spoons - Sucre Shop
Paper straws confetti dot - Leo & Bella
Decorations
Pastel spot pom poms - Ah-Tissue
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Disc garland - Red Elephant Creative
Rainbow garland - The Party Studio
Tissue Paper garlands - Invite Me
Polkadot bunting - Giggleberry Creations
Confetti paper chain kit - Larkmade
This is a great DIY tutorial on how to create this confetti balloon look!:
Confetti balloon idea - Kidspot
Sweet Treats
Some cute containers to serve some sweet treats in:
Sambellina ice cream cups - Sweet Style
Confetti dots candy cups - The Social Boutique
Confetti cupcake holder - Larkmade
Rainbow polkadot cupcake wrapper - How Divine
Favours/Packaging:
Confetti lolly bags - My Garden Party
Confetti party bags - Pulp Creative Paper
Polka dot gift bag - Kikki.K
Washi Tape is brilliant for decorating anything from wooden spoons, paper bags, glass bottles etc. It’s a great and easy way to bring a confetti feel to your partyware:
Washi confetti tape - Kawaii Kids
100's and 1000's washi tape - The Party Table
Real Parties
This “Sprinkled with love” birthday party is bursting with inspiration – from the Kojo Designs website
A fabulous baby sprinkle with some nice decorating ideas for a sprinkle theme. Featured on the Kara’s Party Ideas site
A delicate confetti first birthday on the Sweetest Occasion site
Fantastic Confetti ideas in this rainbow confetti 3rd birthday featured on the Bondville blog!
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Hope you enjoyed the inspiration! Just can’t help but love confetti!
Easter seems to be just around the corner this year so for those of you starting to plan and dream up ideas for celebrating this occasion, here is a round up of some Easter finds!
Obviously you can find some gorgeous shops in stores such as Bed, Bath and Table and even Woolworths this year has some cute goodies. However here are some items you can find online if that is what is easiest for you:
Invitations/Printables:
Your printables set the colour scheme for your party so I’ve chosen some in classic pastels as well as some different more unusual colour schemes for Easter:
Easter printables - Ham & Pea Design & Paperie
Easter printables - 2 Love Birds Sweet Designs
Bouncy bunnies printables - Pretty and Print
Rainbow bunny printables - Pretty and Print
Classic collection - Fairydust Stylish Stationary
Easter vintage printables - Fairydust Stylish Stationary
Primrose bunny party - Bumpkin
Easter flower garden printables - TomKat Studio
Easter fun printables - Style Me Gorgeous
Easter printables - Style Me Gorgeous
Little cottontail easter printables - Tiny Tiara Party Shop
Funky bunny bag toppers - The Little Soiree
Easter chalkboard art range - Bespoke Party Products
Easter damask collection - Kayden Ashley printable designs
Bags and toppers - Kristy Gray Designs
Easter bunny printables - Birds Party
Bunny tail printables - Pretty and Print
Easter printables - One Lovely Day
Decorations
How gorgeous is this ruffle tablecloth in pastels?:
Custom made tablecloth - Saffy & May
Pastel check tablerunner - The Party Parlour
Easter tablerunner - Lombard
Cute egg decorations you can hang up:
Honeycomb easter eggs - The Party Table
12 spotty hand painted eggs - Larkmade
Sweet eggs from IKEA which you can fill up:
Paper easter egg - IKEA
Cute watering cans as a prop for your party table:
Watering can props - Saffy & May
Can’t resist cute bunnies around Easter!:
White moss rabbits - The Little Big Company
Mini ceramic rabbits - Candy Stripe Cloud
Plastic cottontail rabbit - Candy Stripe Cloud
A few garden props for this theme:
Green moss rocks - Occasion by Design
Mini picket fences - Saffy & May
Love the colour of this blue rabbit!:
Blue sitting rabbit - Larkmade
A cute little easter activity:
Make your own pom chicks - Larkmade
Sweet Treats:
Easter cupcake stand - Piece of Cake Parties and Celebrations
Rabbit cake stand - available through Stella Bella Cupcakes
Take the cake plate - Rawspace
Menagerie plate rabbit - Rawspace
Blanc rabbit casserole dish - Provincial Home Living
Favours/Packaging:
Some cute items to fill with easter eggs or other goodies:
Pastel mini baskets - Saffy & May
Gingham treat boxes - Saffy & May
Love this Belle and Boo basket/tin!:
Belle & Boo's Easter basket - Larkmade
Woven basket - Alfresco Emporium
Sambellina ice cream cups - Sweet Style
Easter bunny gift box - Occasion by Design
Easter bunny cello bags - The Party Table
Choc frosting bitty bags - Sweet Style
Vintage paper bags - The Party Parlour
Hope this post gets you on your way for dreaming up some plans for your Easter Celebrations!
