Choosing Desserts for your next kids party

When choosing desserts for your next child’s party…how do you decide? Cake pops? Macarons? Jelly? Cookies?

I tend to mix it up each time I do a dessert table however I have found kids love cookies (as they normally come in some fun designs) and also love the novelty of a cake pop being on a stick !

Today we chat to Su from Sydney based Popolate regarding some tips on how to choose desserts and a baker for your next kids party!

Su, what is the most important factor when creating desserts?

This may seem strange for someone who specialises in making good-looking things, but looks are not everything for a dessert table.

Yes, we are enamoured by the beautiful pictures on Instagram but at the end of the day, they are meant to be eaten.

You eat with your eyes, but true happiness comes from that first bite of heaven! So I’d say looks and taste are equally important.

What are your customers favourite flavours?

Vanilla is the winner, hands down. It sometimes surprises me given the variety of flavours, but I guess simplicity and quality ingredients win.

When choosing a baker, should customers solely base their decision on the look of the designs they see online? What else should they consider?

I think, as above, that taste and quality ingredients, and freshness are definitely factors to consider.

A soft buttery cookie that crumbles in your mouth and a hard, dry cookie can look the same when decorated and photographed but you will want to eat one and not the other.

Similarly, cake pops can look the same but taste completely different.

Mass produced cake pops (you can sometimes buy these from supermarkets) can be very gummy in texture, as they are made in the tens of thousands and go through machines to roll them.

I also think food safety is important. Glitter and gold is pretty popular these days but not all dusts are rated edible.

I do tell my clients that the super shiny effects (known as holograms or disco dusts, which typically come in bigger chunks) are not edible and I never make products with these.

On a cake, they may be removed or used as decorative elements only, but not on, say a cake pop, where they will be consumed one and all!

What have been some of your most popular dessert themes lately?

The unicorn must be the theme of the year! I’ve done multiples in cookies, cake pops and cupcake form.

My designs tend to be pretty spread out though – this is what has lead to my having hundreds (I’ve lost count) of designs in my portfolio. I actually enjoy it this way because I love a new challenge each time.

Thanks Su for sharing your tips with us!

If you’re in Sydney looking for someone to make cute cake pops and cookies for your next kids party, then head to Popolate to get in touch or to browse more of her work!

Happy planning! xx

Up, up and away!!

Hot air balloon parties are all the craze but this year Melbourne event stylists Willow and Duck took this theme to new heights.

They took a creative risk and together with some amazing vendors created a dessert table which mimicked a hot air balloon.

The talented ladies used printed panels from Edge House Design to create the basket , a giant balloon sphere made up of mini balloons (by Belle Balloons) and an amazing flame cake (by Frosted by Nicci). The result was epic and created a tiz on social media. Here is what the ladies from Willow and Duck had to say about this event:

How did you come up with the idea?

We both love to think outside the box. When our client approached us and asked us to get creative with the theme we jumped at the opportunity. We worked with Astons mum to come up with a concept that suited her budget and style.

What inspired you to take this creative risk?

We have seen many hot air balloon events done and done very well by our colleagues.

We wanted to do something that had not been done before with this theme.

Staying with a pastel colour pallet to keep it kiddie, we decided to transform the entire dessert table into a hot air balloon.

As the function was outdoors, we utilised the marquee to suspend the balloon sphere.

It all came together so easily thanks and our amazing vendors who jumped right onboard when we discussed our ideas!

What recommendations do you have for other people wanting to take a creative risk?

Planning is key.

Pam is great with a sketch pad so we were able to visualise the styling and make changes where we felt necessary well before the event.

This kept the costs down for the client and allowed us to clearly articulate to our vendors exactly what we were after.

What did you find challenging about this concept?

Our biggest fear was that the end product wouldn’t transcribe on social media. The outcome was the complete opposite!

We were worried that people would see the table and not realise that it was a hot air balloon or that the cake was the flame. It was a big creative risk for us but one well worth taking!

What did you love most about this theme?

Everything! From the colours in the balloon sphere to the amazing cake under the gorgeous marquee- the entire set up was perfect.

Our proudest moment was seeing our clients face when she entered the space.

Ultimately, the greatest gratification for us is knowing that we delivered what the client was after and more.

And here are the talented ladies themselves – Pam and Mel of Willow and Duck who creatively dreamed up and executed this amazing setup!:

Vendor Credits with Instagram links:

Tent hire: Tent Luxury Hire @tentluxuryhire
Balloons: Belle Balloons @belleballoons
Birthday cake: Frosted by Nicci @frostedbynicci
Desserts: Aynets Cookies n Treats @aynets.cookies.n.treats
Fairy floss cones: Under the Cotton Tree @underthecottontree
Graphic work: Edge House Design @edgehousedesign
Furniture: Dann Event Hire @danneventhire
Cone holders and white cake stand: Burnt Butter Cakes @burntbuttercakes
Turquoise stands: Petite Portions @petiteportions
Cake topper: Melbourne Laser Cutting @melbournelasercutting
Foam name: Artistic Signage @artisticsignage
Floral arrangements: Lilly Pad Weddings @lillypadweddings
Kids play area: Little Pop Up’s party hire @littlepopupspartyhire
Photos -Ferdi photography

Are you looking for amazing event stylists in Melbourne? Contact the ladies from Willow and Duck to see what they can create for your event!

If you’re looking for other stylists in your state, then check the Directory for your location

Happy planning!

Tutti Frutti Party Supplies!

Styling by Sugarcoated Mama

Besides the obvious perks of long days at the beach, swimming and ice cream, the Summer months lend themselves to lots of opportunities for occasions to be enjoyed outdoors, and lots of bright party themes too!

With an abundance of colour on display, the tropical tutti frutti party has grown in popularity and for all kinds of occasions, and for good reason! So here’s our fun finds and inspiration to make a splash and go a little bananas with fruit for your next party.

Styling and Backdrop by Jo Studio

Watermelon party styling, Saffy & May

Styling by Sugar Coated Mama

Tutti Frutti Party Invitations

Choose to hero a favourite fruit or mix up an entire fruit salad with your invitation, giving guests a delicious taste of what to expect on the day.

Tutti frutti invitation – Giggles and Grace Designs

Watermelon Party Invitations, The Party Parlour

Fruit Salad Invitations, Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Tutti Frutti Invitations, Jo Studio

Tropical Party Invitations, Camilla Events

Party Like A Pineapple Invitations, Giggles & Grace

Tutti Frutti Invitations, Eckles Invites

Tutti Frutti Party Stationery, Emma Smith Event Stationery

Fruit Salad Party Invitations, Pretty & Print

Tutti Frutti Party Decorations

Summer fruits really do speak for themselves when it comes to colour, so go bananas and splash as much colour around as you like for a tropical fruit salad vibe, or lots of shades of the one or two colours if crushing on just one, such as watermelon.

Gold pineapple balloon – Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Peach Paper Fan, Emiko Blue

Pineapple Party banner, Favor Lane Party Boutique

Honeycomb fruit garland, Emiko Blue

Pineapple centrepiece, Little Boo-Teek

Giant Watermelon balloon, Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Yellow paper fans, The Party Parlour

Mixed fruit garland, Fantasy Kids Parties

Honeycomb fruit, Poppies for Grace

Pineapple pinata, Party Pony Designer Pinatas

Honeycomb fruit, Poppies for Grace

Tutti Frutti Party Tableware

All that fruit has to be eaten off something, right? Continue your colour explosion to the table with coordinated tableware and fun finds like watermelon napkins or pineapple printed straws!

Watermelon paper table runner, The Party Parlour

Gold pineapple plates – Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Candy Striped plates, Emiko Blue

Watermelon plates, Little Boo-Teek

Pineapple plates, Little Boo-Teek

Pineapple napkins, Favor Lane Party Boutique

Fruity Sorbet plates, Fantasy Kids Parties

Watermelon napkins, Hip & Hooray

Yellow plates – Oh Sunny Day Party

Pineapple paper straws, Party Splendour

Tutti Frutti Party Cakes, Desserts & Accessories:

As pretty and as tasty as Summer fruits are, a party wouldn’t be a party without a few sweet treats made to look as good as the real thing as well as a few finishing touches to bring this theme alive!

Candles, Emiko Blue

Watermelon candles, Little Boo-Teek

Fruit picks, Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Tropical fruit picks, Party Splendour

Acrylic cake topper, A la Roch

Fruit sticks, Cookie Queen Kitsch’n

Tutti Frutti cookies, Flyaway Pineapple

Fruit kebabs, Petite Cookies

Tutti Frutti cake, Cookie Queen Kitsch’n

Pastel tutti frutti cake, SweetP Cakes and Cookies

Mini desserts, Cream n Soda

Watermelon party, Perfectly Sweet

Rice paper – Something For Cake

Watermelon cake sprinkles, Something for Cake

Tutti Frutti Party Favors

Summer parties might be known for continuing well after the sun goes down, but for the little ones heading home after a fun-filled day, gift them with something sweet and slightly coconutty crazy after their fruit frenzy with these fun and colourful finds.

Striped party bags, Emiko Blue

Pineapple treat boxes, Favor Lane Party Boutique

Fruit glasses, Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Watermelon treat bags, Little Boo-Teek

Fruit tattoos, Ruby Rabbit Partyware

Fruity favors, Glitter and Glue Designs

The perfect party favour…one that the kids get to create themselves with a ceramic painting party with a fruity theme! Perfect for slightly older kids!:

Paint your own ceramic bowls – Pinta Crafts (Sydney)

All you need now is one of those fancy tropical headpieces and you’re ready to party!

Happy planning!

Ballerina party feature

So many little girls dream of being ballerinas – they love to twirl and dress up in tutu’s and dance the day away! As a mum of 3 daughters I’ve seen 2 of my daughters go through this phase and a ballerina party really is such a well loved themed for so many young dancers!

So it was fitting to showcase a gorgeous Ballerina party in Issue 2 of Celebrating Little One’s magazine – with the shoot styled by The Detail’s Studio.

This styled shoot brought together Life’s Little Celebrations members for a beautiful soiree with a more unique colour scheme of lavender and silver which works so well for a slightly older aged ballerina party.

The invitation sets the tone and already has an air of elegance about it:

This elegance is then carried through to the event with beautiful desserts, table setting and gorgeous tutu’s for the girls! Have a browse of the gorgeous details and find the full vendor list at the end of this post:

All the ballerina desserts are simply amazing and styled to match the ballet theme perfectly:

Wanting to plan your own precious ballerina ball for your daughter? Here are the vendor credits to source any of the above items:

Vendor Credits:

Styling – The Details Studio

https://www.facebook.com/thedetailsstudio/

Captured by Kirri – Photography

http://www.capturedbykirri.com.au/

Sweets With Love – birthday cake, donuts

https://www.facebook.com/Sweets-With-Love-1550881478533583/

Quincy Lane – Cupcakes, meringues

https://www.facebook.com/Quincy-Lane-1500236163563930/

Dom’s Strawberries Delight – Strawberry tower

https://www.facebook.com/DomsStrawberriesDelights/

One Bite – Macarons

https://www.facebook.com/onebitemacarons/

Schooza Handmade – Tiara crowns

https://www.facebook.com/schoozahandmade/

Tiny Tutu Cake Couture – Ballerina Tutus

http://www.tinytutucakecouture.com.au/

Tiny Tots Toy Hire – French dresser, kids trestle table, Tiffany kids chairs, lavender cake stand, silver cake stand

http://www.tinytotstoyhire.com.au/

Cookie Queen Kitsch’n – cookies (tutus and floral plaques), cookie towers, tutu cake pops, panacottas

https://www.cookiequeenkitschn.com.au/

MooiCo – Paperie (invitation, tutu place cards, thank you tags, dessert labels)

http://www.mooico.com.au/

A La Roch – Cake topper and strawberry tower topper

http://www.alaroch.com.au/

All of these talented vendors are Life’s Little Celebration members and can be found on our Directory also and can also create something for any other theme you’re planning for your kids party!

Wanting to find out about membership? Email me at lifeslittlec@gmail.com

Happy planning!

A Purrrr-fect party!

MEOW! Get ready for a purrrr-fect party inspiration shoot by Dream a Little Dream Events which was featured in Issue 2 of our e-magazine Celebrating Little One’s!

Kitty Cat’s have perfect the latest popular party theme and able to be themed and styled in a variety of colour schemes and looks – you can really have fun with this theme:

Taking on a more rustic feel with a gorgeous combination of peaches, blacks and greys for a 8yr old party this setup was a perfect mix of sweet and stylish! Browse the gorgeous array of desserts and decor below and see the full list of vendors at the end of the post to style your own kitty cat party :

All the desserts were themed to match this party theme with stunning cakes, macarons and cookies:

Ruby Rabbit partyware was used throughout and this perfect partyware to match a kitty cat theme was the obvious choice for the tableware mixed with touches of rose gold: