A Crazy Wedding Find

I was actually looking up how to do an awesome way to display cut fruit.  A friend needed some assistance, so I went looking for inspiration.  I stumbled on something that may thrill some brides looking for cheap wedding ideas.  Maybe, maybe not.  But I gotta pass on a cheap party idea when I find one.  Enjoy this link to HOW TO CATER YOUR OWN WEDDING RECPTION.

What’s All the Buzz About? Cheap Party Chick?

I bet you are wondering how this is all panning out.  Who is this cheap Party Chick?  What’s she all about?

Yes!  I will be at the bridal show.  Check my Where’s the Cheap Party Chick page for details.

Here are a couple of things you can expect.

I have made a few CUTE projects available for purchase

Tons of ideas.

Opportuinities to sign up for your personal Mastermind Session with ME!

Group Class Sign UP

And My Brand New Easy Peasy Feedback Form Option

AND there’s always the D.I.F.U. Option.  (Do It For You!) Yep, overwhelemed, don’t be.  I’ll do it for you.

DETAILS:

Show up at the Bridal Extravaganza at the Indianapolis Executive Airport on Sunday, January 17, 2010 between 2PM and 5PM.  Visit the Ace Party Rental Booth and you will find me there. 

Let’s have fun ladies.  You CAN do it!  You just need a plan, and a little help from a freind.

Cute Bridal Party Idea or a Great Girl’s Night

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Here is a suprising celebration that could be a wonderful idea to get your bridal party on the same page, and have a blast doing it. As I was reading my Flylady daily digest this morning, I was thrilled to read a “flybaby” testimonial. One of the ladies had purchased some calendars and pens and clingies from the flyshop. The suprising and delightful part is what she did with them.

As her family and friends (I would assume this is a rather intimate gathering) got together for a casual meet and greet, she passed out numbered index cards to each guest. On the index card, next to each number each woman wrote her favorite color, favorite birthday she ever had, favorite past time, favorite collectible, favorite animal, favorite season. Then each person signed the card. If you have five guests, each guest should receive 5 cards. Fill out each one and then hand a card to each person at the table. Then, explain to the guests that you plan to use these as jumping off points for celebrations, craft and gifts ideas.

This woman then went on to present her friends with calendars and pens and stickers. They all got a big kick out of learning about each other and chatted their time away with each other in grand fashion while sipping sodas and nibbling on chips and salsa.

One thing I have done in the past with my calendars is I’ve been very deliberate about the one I use most often. My central calendar, so to speak, (yes the old-fashioned kind you write on) hangs in my kitchen. The one I picked out this year looks like this.  It can be purchased at Calendars.com.  Click on the pic.

Pretending to be Normal Central Calendar.

I write my bills on it as they come in the mail along with balances. I also put stickers (shiny ones always) everyday that I workout. This gives me a quick visual as to whether I am on track with my fitness plan.

What a great gift to give each other, and yet another cheap party idea! Love it.

The Cake Balls go Cheesy

Ya know.  Just when you think you have something perfected.  Nooo, someone just kicks it up a notch. 

I have tried to make cakeballs a few times, and even if my attempts weren’t always gorgeous, my kids gobbled up whatever came of the attempt.  I finally thought I had it.  I was now a cakeball master right?  I mean every time you do something again, you get a little better.  I would not put cake balls on the top of my favorite things to make list.  Just because it’s a messy endeavor.   But yet, the temptaion comes again.
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Here it is the holidays, and as if I haven’t baked enough already, something in me drives me to just bake one more thing.  Well, I log on to WordPress today and there it is.  That recipe that is going to make me do it again.  I mean, I just finsihed ruining meringues, and putting together a roll of chocolate chunk oatmeal cookie dough.  The recipe is for cheesecake snowmen.  Who can resist this?  Really? 

I believe the Author of Lemon Tart Diary goes by Annie.  Her blog is darling.  And if you want to attempt her Cheesecake Snowmen.  She lays out all the steps beautifully.  Just in time for you to have one more go in the kitchen before Christmas.  I always love find recipes that could be big impact, little dough.

Cool Confetti: Who knew?

Confetti and parties, such a lovely combination.  As I was researching a bit for this confetti blog entry, I found so much more information than I ever could have imagined.  So, I am going to run through a few ideas for using confetti for weddings primarily, but use your noodle, and I am sure you can get so creative with what I am about to share.
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This particular entry is inspired by a bride on a budget,  Because she was having trouble making he tables look fab without having a lot of cash, she decided to use circles cut from paper in three different colors.  Brilliant.  Big color impact for  little coin, you gotta love that. 

Next, I found a site that sells confetti of every size and shape, and oh, yes confetti cannons. 

BUT WAIT!  What would a confetti blog entry be without a confetti launcher youtube tutorial.  Holy cow, this dude shows the mechanically inclined how to construct their very own confetti cannon.  How cool is that!  I am not suggesting you try this.  I just thought, hmmm, super cool.  If I share this with hubby, I wonder if he would make one for me.  Hey all you bar owners, maybe for your New Year’s Bash?  Hmm.

So that’s my confetti wisdom for the day.  Party on.

Paper Chains: Beauty & Simplicity Linked

I am in the middle of toying with inexpensive wedding decoration ideas that are both beautiful and simple.  As always, the goal is to create a stunning effect and keep within the budget of the bride.  This past weekend, I came up with an easy winner. 

While looking at some gorgeous papers that I couldn’t bear to watch go to waste, I was reminded of my childhood.  My mother and I  would get out the construction paper, tape and scissors, sprawl it across the dining room table and create.  Sometimes it would be hearts, or christmas trees, or butterflies.  Other times we’d spend hours making snowflakes and paper chains.

So that’s what I did.  Scooping up the scrolly patterned paper and my scissors and tape, I made a home at my dining room table, and commenced to create a paper chain.   Only this time, I played with the width of my links, and the ends of the chains.  I think this would be a gorgeous way to grace the ends of pews, or to adorn the tops of tents.  The most beautiful part of all is the ability to completely customize it to your wedding, event, or even your Christmas Tree.

Here are the results.

The Paper Chain Goes Posh.

 I only had a few matching ribbon pieces to tie to the ends of the paper chains.  But imagine how graceful this could look with ribbon tails, and a centerpiece swag.  Gorgeous.

Granted, the photo below was taken in my living room, it was the only place I could find to display this for picture taking purposes. 

These pictures don’t come close to doing these justice.

 

 

 

 

Imagine the Possibilities. A gorgeous bouquet in the middle with ribbons streaming down the ends.

 

Fruit Bouquets

Cute Fruit. Care of Allrecipes

  Here’s the link! http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Make-a-Fruit-Bouquet/Detail.aspx

I just found this at the ever famous AllRecipes.com.  I guess I didn’t even realize you could make your own fruit bouquet.  Duh!  What appeals to me most about the idea is, I think it would encourage more kids and grownups to make at least one healthy choice. 

One of the rules I try desperately to enforce is if you’re feeling hungry, make sure you have some water and a healthy snack.  If your family is anything like mine, you know that easy is good.  If it involves getting out a dish, cutting something, and heating…oh my.  This is too much effort.  Heaven forbid we lived in the Colonial Days!  We’d be some skinny suckers.  So anything that is healthy and easy to grab and eat…I’m all about it.

My mom and I were kidding each other that this fruit bouquet would cost about a hundred bucks to make.  But why not sub out some of the fruit.  You could skewer on some angel food cake bites on the top.  Or, you could just cut the sticks shorter. 

Anyway, I just thought I’d share this fruit bouquet.  Cute for entertaining.  Healthy and quick for the kiddos…and mom.

Centerpiece Idea: Eye Poppin’ & No Leaves Droppin’!

Eye poppin', show stoppin' & no leaves ever droppin'. Love that!

 

I love all things bloggy.  And whenever I am travailing the big bloggy world, I almost always stumble across someone really special.  Sometimes, I am totally unable to recall the path I took to get there, but I guess that isn’t the point. 

Most recently, I was at one of my usual haunts, Mom Bloggers Club. checking out who was on the scene.   I just love to go check out the creative mom minds in cyberspace.  This trip found me at The Untraditional Topiary.  Yes!  This is what it’s all about.  Finding that thing that makes you YOU and going with it.  Shelley started making these stunning creations and before she knew it, she had a full blown business going.  On a visit to her etsy shop, I found out she will customize these for you.  Oh, the possibilities.  Go check out her blog, and her shop.  Maybe you’ll get a little inspiration, or maybe a little help with your next party!  You know you’ll be getting some great comments with one of these little gems on display.  It’s always fun to have a unique attention grabber, and this definitely fits the bill!

Cake Topper or Smile Maker?

You know, that when it comes to weddings receptions, my favorite show stopper is the cake.  This cake topper stops the show all right.  And it falls under cheap ideas because it’s versatile.  When the party is said and done you can set it in your bedroom to give yourself a little smile each morning, much better than the traditional topper.  Gotta love a keepsake that is still pretty to look at twenty years later.    SweetPixiePie makes these cake toppers CUSTOM out of polymer clay.

Gorgeous Cake Topper by SweetPixiePie

This is SweetPixiePie’s specialty, yet she welcomes a challenge.  If you’re looking (especially for a fall wedding) to wow your guests with a unique art piece, look no further.   Supporting handmade artisans is one of the little things we can do to spread the love, and at the same time bless our own lives with something crafted with care.

Etsy Finds for Weddings: Wedding Cake Idea & Gorgeous Favors

I love to stumble through esty.com to see what gorgeous handmade items I can find.  And when I find some that are made by locals, well I love it even more.  Supporting people who use their God given talents to spread some joy throughout the land is a wonderful thing. 

Here are two of my latest finds.  And the artists couldn’t be more creative or talented.  If you’re game to try these wedding ideas on your own, by all means give it a whirl.  If crafty isn’t your gig and you’d rather pay someone who has the gift… here are two artists who can get the job done.

The first is Trish from Holland, Michigan and her Etsy shop is daisyanddots.  She has been featured in numerous blogs and makes buntings that are the cutest I’ve ever seen.  But the reason I’m featuring her is her paper cakes.   She has taken the paper cake to another level.  Her are a few slices from her shop.

Vanilla Paper Cake by Daisyanddots

Two of every girls' favorite colors!

You’ll have to verify this info with the Trish, but I believe she customizes these to your colors, and the price couldn’t be better.  How cute would a slice of these little delectibles lining your tables look?  Fill them up with Hershey Kisses, or whatever treat your little heart desires, and your guests will leave knowing you’re a gal who pays attention to the details.  And if Trish makes them for you, she paid attention to the details, but I won’t tell.  You just look like a superstar while Trish did all the work.  Man, I wish etsy was around when I was getting married.  Hmm, maybe I can convince the Hubby of a do-over?  Oh, I think you’ll just have to invite me to your instead!

While you’re decorating, you can’t skip this talented lady’s shop either.  When I saw these, my imagination ran wild, or should I say flew wild?  I love insects, especially butterflies.  Butterflies have so many interesting little factoids to know about them, and their lives are such beautiful stories.  How perfect to carry the concept of the butterfly into your wedding.  With these paper beauties, nobody gets hurt, and you still get the whimsy and grace of one of God’s most amazing creatures in your wedding.

Check out this variation of a wedding place card.  Possibly simple to make if you have the inclination to do so, or an extremely talented friend or relative.  If that’s not the case though, visit Timeless Paperon Etsy.

Check out these beauties.

Timeless Paper Wedding Place Cards

So, if you are looking to include some custom elements in your wedding, here are some ideas the crafty bride can try on her own, or better yet…support handmade and go etsy!