{Happy Customers} : Kylie

Well...it is possible that I am biased since Rach and I have worked so closely and become such good friends over the last year...or maybe its that I actually got to meet this little "nutball" as Rachel so affectionately calls her...but in any case I love these pics from 3 year old Kylie's popsicle party. She is a totally hilarious and smart little girl. I just wished she lived in MN so her and Avery could play together more often!

Basically when Rachel and I make something for each other's kids' parties, we give the other one the basic concept of the party and let the other run with it. Rachel sent me a pic of some popsicles she liked and the fabric she was using for the party and said "make me something."

In the end, she did request a few things, but I just basically made her whatever I wanted...so I sent her a banner, cupcake toppers, and the tutu I have been promising Kylie since I visited them in February. After seeing the kids lunch boxes from Beckett's party (and knowing that I had 90 left over!) Rach asked if I could whip some up for her as well. Rachel is of course responsible for Kylie's shirt and bloomers...

For a closer look or to read Rachel's gushfest about me =) (love you Rach!) head on over to {happy customers}...lots of other cuties there too!

BOO! Zoe is turning two!

I have a few clients this year working on Halloween birthday parties. I LOOOVVVEEE getting the kids dressed up for Halloween, so this has been totally fun for me! I designed some invitations for Beth (my repeat repeat repeat client!) for her daughter Zoe's second birthday.

Of course I snapped some pics of them before I sent them off to California to eventually get up on this blog, but my pics are usually done quickly before I send or late at night. To my delight, Beth sent some pics of the invites once she had gotten them all ready to send out. She made labels, stamped the envelope, etc, not to mention getting a much better shot than I did in the first place!

Beth says that Zoe loved them, too!



More matching partyware for this shindig coming later this month.

{Happy Customers} : Darrian Round Two

I'm sure you all remember Darrian's circus party from last year. It was the first time I was featured on HWTM and inspired my entire Circus Collection after the demand for that banner went crazy!

Michelle started emailing me about Darrian's second birthday in January and his party was last weekend! We had plenty of time to go over every detail. Since the theme was kind of midevil prince and princess with a cute dragon as the focus, I designed a banner and crowns for all the prince and princesses at the party.

Head on over to {happy customers} to check out the pictures in greater detail and read Michelle's kind words. Check out all the PDP cuties while you're there!

A wild time at the zoo...

These are possibly some of my favorite invitations that I've made to date...

Donna of Party Wishes (check out her blog!) asked me to make some invitations for her daughter's 9th birthday party being held at a zoo. She already had an idea board all made up with the banner she had already purchased included (check it out here). The banner is adorable...giraffe print backed in lime green, magenta, and orange. LOVE the banner. So I came up with these invitations to match...

So girly and fun for a 9 year old. You know that nine is the new thirteen, right? =) Can't wait for the pics, Donna!

Pirates x 2!

I was so excited when Shelley, a client from last year got on my schedule early this year! This time she was having a second birthday party for Harper with her little friend Jacob, also turning two. She loved Tate's pirate party, so we had to find a way to make it suitable for both boys and girls.

First I designed an invite and ordered some pink pirate paper that complimented the red paper I already had from Tate's party. Here is how it all turned out...

Invitations and sign to hang on the grounds where the party is being held

Favor tags, banner, beverage signs, and cupcake toppers

Thanks, Shelley! Glad you love it all. I can't wait to see pics from the party!

Bedtime for Baby Recap

So a while back, before I got totally consumed with being back at school, I told you about the baby shower my sister was throwing for her friend Darcy. As a refresher...here were the invites:

And here are the rest of her matching items:



The mommy-to-be showing off one of the many new books she has for Baby Hempel's library...

If my sister and her friends keep crankin' out the babes, I'll be in business for a long long time. =) Congrats Darcy and Joel!

Fun, food, family, and friends!

Last post about Beck's bday...I promise! Here are a few more details about the 4 Fs from the party...fun, food, family, and friends!

1. Fun...

Our big fun was the hayride I showed you on Wednesday, but we had a bunch of other smaller things to entertain everyone throughout the day as well.

I purchased a bean bag toss game for the kids to play...I think they played it more the week before the party at our house than they did at the actual party, though! We also had a "horse on a stick" as it was called in the store for the kids to ride around. It was so fun to see them galloping around the yard. My sister who is 6 months pregnant even took a ride. Nice, Rach.

The kids chose from pigs, cows, horses, ducks, sheep, and chickens and adorned their body with temporary tattoos. I have yet to meet a child who doesn't love a good tattoo!

The toy tractors that I used as part of our centerpieces entertained the kids quite a bit as well. When Beckett walked into the backyard that afternoon he immediately ran to a table and started playing. When I say he is obsessed people, I really mean it! When they would get sick of playing with them I would just place them back in the middle of the table where they were.

I ordered cow and pig suckers (they probably tasted awful but were adorable and cheap so I couldn't resist!) The kids loved them. They ate them at the party and got to take one home with them too!

Who knew straw could be so much fun! The kids honestly played with the bales for hours. They picked it out of the bales and made piles to jump into, they threw the bales off the rack, and even used the bales as a slide.

There were the usual things we enjoy at the farm as well...Grandma and Grandpa's swingset...the new playhouse...the hammock...they all make for an enjoyable afternoon spent with friends!

2. Food...

As I mentioned yesterday, I had an adult menu and a kids menu. The adult menu was bbq pork sandwiches, salads, chips, pickles, and no farm party would be complete without sweet corn! Perfect timing...they took my dad's field a couple days after the party. The kids lunch boxes included Uncrustable PB & J sandwiches, grapes, carrots, and a juice box. A few kids had corn on the cob as well!

Every party needs a good round of cake and ice cream...Cousin Addie got some good practice blowing out the candles for her party thisi weekend. I am sure that Beckett will return the favor! =)

3 & 4. Family and friends...

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who drove out to the farm for the day. We had so much fun and we are all so blessed to have you in our lives.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to my mom and dad (pictured lower right) for hosting the party and for all your help. Your house and farm are a place my whole family considers one of our favorites on the entire Earth. We love you!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Beckett James!