Out Of This World Birthday Party

Get ready to blast off with a birthday party that is out of this world! Chelsea from Life Frosting created an amazing space themed birthday party that I just had to share. Your little astronaut will be over the moon when he sees these party details!

Party bags with astronaut ice cream, water and other treats make great favors for guests -- Life Frosting

Every astronaut will be honored with a certificate upon completion of all space odyssey quests -- Life Frosting

Bake a cake in the shape of a rocketship, and use a tablecloth that is covered in stars to set the scene -- Martha Stewart

Create paper mache planets, and set them around the party space to create a space-like atmosphere -- Amy Atlas

Set up little stations for party-goers to complete missions, like this "Shuttle Orientation" project -- Life Frosting

Colored lanterns hanging from the ceiling are reminiscent of floating planets -- Life Frosting

Use a paper cup and fashion a lid from construction paper to form small rockets to fill with "moon rocks" (candy!) -- Amy Atlas


There are so many great rocket and space themed invitations to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites:

Clockwise, from top left:

Outer Space invitation by Noteworthy Collection

Silver and blue rocket invitation by Meri Meri

Green stripes and rocket invitation by Pipo Press

Moon Landing invitation by Ellie Mims

All invitations available at FineStationery.com

Enjoy your weekend!

This weekend, my hubby and I are traveling to Michigan to celebrate the marriage of one of my dearest friends. She will marry her sweetheart in a tiny church and then dance the night away on her family's cherry farm. I'll be sure to post the details of this amazing cherry-themed wedding in the near future!

Due to my travels, I will return to regular posting on Tuesday, August 31st. Have a wonderful weekend!

Fresh Michigan cherries as wedding favors -- Martha Stewart

Guest Post: A Vintage Peach Bridal Shower

{While I am out of town for a dear friend's wedding, I hope this guest post leaves you with a nice fuzzy feeling - kind of like a peach! This bridal shower inspiration comes from Meredith, one of FineStationery.com's Merchandising Specialists.}

The end of summer brings with it the end of peach season. A staple in my family for homemade peach crisp, peaches have a wonderful color palette of pinks and oranges. Feeling inspired by my local “Olde Tyme Peach Festival,” which features old fashioned family fun, fresh food and even a parade in honor of the fuzzy summer fruit, this soothing color combination makes for a lovely end of summer bridal shower.

Serve fresh peach sherbet to guests in simple white bowls -- Martha Stewart

This white invitation, with its creamy orange sun dial pattern, is the ideal way to share all of the party details -- Invitation by Smudge Ink, available at FineStationery.com

Adorn these cool “Peach Fuzzies” drinks with fresh peach slices and mint leaves -- MyRecipes.com

Decorate the bride-to-be’s chair with an elegant peach colored ribbon -- Carter & Cook Event Co.

Place fresh peaches around the table and in a glass bowl to create a unique look -- Carter & Cook Event Co.

This vintage peach print would make a lovely table accent in a simple whitewashed frame -- Art.com

Send guests on their way with a jar of fresh peach jam decorated with a wrap of white lace -- Peach Pizzazz

Cool ice water can be served to guests in these pale pink goblets -- Elizabeth Anne Designs

Apply a coat or two of this lovely “Orange Fizz” nail polish. Bottles of nail polish also make great favors in an assortment of coordinating colors -- Chanel

The bride-to-be will look radiant in this ivory cocktail dress that is accented by a peach sash and tulle flowers -- ModCloth

These pom pom style earrings are the perfect pop of color to any outfit -- Etsy seller catiesblue

Rosh Hashanah Dinner Party

In honor of the New Year, host a dinner party inspired by beautiful and symbolic pomegranates.

A large hurricane vase filled with pomegranates creates a lovely centerpiece. Dust the red fruit with gold paint for a chic look -- Pottery Barn

Serve Pomegranate Honey Coolers to guests as they arrive -- Martha Stewart

Small ceramic pomegranates make perfect favors -- Golden pomegranates by Etsy seller idale, Red pomegranate by Etsy seller thesecretofstyle

Chicken with a pomegranate glaze is mouthwatering as a main dish -- Canadian House & Home

For dessert, this yogurt cake with pomegranate sauce is sure to please -- Tesco

Brie on toast topped with pom seeds is a yummy appetizer -- Cleveland

This Rosh Hashanah greeting doubles as an invitation to your dinner party in celebration of the New Year -- Card by Checkerboard, available at FineStationery.com

A pretty pomegranate works as a place holder when you write the guest's name in gold ink -- Sunset

Black & White Striped Birthday Soiree

A black and white palette is a classy choice when it comes to styling a party. For a birthday soiree that is chic and fun, choose black and white stripes. Add anemone flowers to the decor for extra flair and a touch of femininity.

Anemone centerpiece -- Handmade Flowers

Black and white striped tie for a gentleman -- Ties Planet

Striped birthday cake invitation -- Checkberboard, available at FineStationery.com

Black and white dinnerware -- Apartment Therapy

A pretty striped cake with sugar anemones -- Yummy Cake Company

Party dress with striped details -- ModCloth

Crisp white table linens wrapped with black ribbon -- The Knot

Assorted black and white striped candy for a candy bar -- The Sweet Treat

Black and white gift boxes as decor -- Pandora's Boxes

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Start Planning for a Haunting Halloween

Believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about witches, goblins, ghosts and ghouls... That's right, it's time to plan a Halloween party! Halloween party invitations feature some of the most fun and creative styles. Turn your party into a spooktacular event by sending friends and family a Halloween party invitation that screams fun! Here are a few of the newest additions to FineStationery.com's array of spooky styles:

 This invitation by Noteworthy Collection has an eery elegance to it,

and is offered with a matching response card and address label.

This pocket-style invitation by Meri Meri is perfect for

an adult "Costumes and Cocktails" party!

Trick or Treat? This invitation by Jasmine & Woo is certainly a "treat"!

Send it to family and friends to invite them to your family's Halloween bash.

To complete the ensemble, a matching address label is also offered with this invitation.

Invite your children's friends to a costume party with this

treat-inspired invitation by Starfish and Dreams. The candy

illustrations on the envelope are almost as fun as the invitation itself!

Make addressing easy with a personalized Halloween stamp!

"Boo!" stamp by Noteworthy Collection

Haunted House stamp by PSA Essentials

Jack-O-Lantern stamp by Noteworthy Collection

Folded With Love

It seems that origami is making its mark in the world of weddings. Lovely pieces of carefully folded paper, in the shape of cranes and flowers, are adding to the style of many wedding ceremonies and receptions. The gorgeous papers used to fold these delicate creations is admirable. The crane shape seems to be the most popular, as it has special meaning in the ancient Japanese culture. It is said that anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted one special wish. With that said, 1,000 cranes would be a very fitting backdrop for a wedding ceremony -- don’t you think? And for those of you who are romantics, add sentimental value to your origami art by using old love letters or notes from your sweetheart to construct the folded cranes.

Origami crane backdrop -- Once Wed

Cranes floating above tables -- Paper Mojo Blog

Cranes hanging from strands of lights -- Paper Mojo Blog

Origami flowers -- Green Wedding Shoes

Boutonniere -- Paper Mojo Blog

Origami flower branches -- Style Me Pretty

Put On Your Lab Coat!

If your child is mad about science, then a Mad Scientist Birthday Party is the perfect solution! Create a lab atmosphere in your own home, and have plenty of experiments for kids to perform. Add to the fun by creating a simple lab coat for each party-goer. This hands-on party is sure to be scientifically super!

Plastic petri dishes filled with gelatin and a gummy worm can be made in advance and served between experiments -- Cookie

Fill beakers, petri dishes and test tubes with tempting treats for the little scientists -- Parents

Making slime is an easy, fun, and totally hands-on experiment that kids can take part in -- Cookie

A set of mini plastic test tubes filled with colored rock candy is a great party favor -- Parents

Head to the lab's cafeteria (otherwise known as your dining room) for "radioactive" wraps -- Cookie

Fill beakers with brightly colored juice -- Science Junkies

This invitation, complete with a boy in a lab coat and safety goggles, is a great way to announce the party to friends -- Invitation by Inviting Company, available at FineStationery.com

Get creative with the birthday cake! Create a test tube or beaker shape and use brightly colored icing to give the illusion of a special scientific concoction inside. Cotton candy adds the look of smoke at the top of the cake -- Family Fun

Along with a lab coat, outfit each child with safety goggles as they enter the "lab" -- DIY lab coat by One Charming Party, goggles via Amazon

25th Wedding Anniversary on the Silver Screen

A 25th wedding anniversary is typically celebrated in shades of silver. For an anniversary celebration that is just as chic as it is sentimental, impress guests with a silver screen theme. Use silver and blue accents to style the party space, and be sure to add bits of old Hollywood glam. Ask guests to dress as their favorite characters from the silver screen, or in their most glamorous apparel. As the feature of your soiree, the wedded couple should be celebrated with a movie-like presentation of their 25 years as husband and wife.

Set up a small movie screen at the venue to project photos of the couple throughout their courtship, wedding, and life together -- Martha Stewart

The guests of honor will look oh-so-glamorous in a silver cocktail dress and stylish tuxedo -- Dress by ModCloth, Tux by J.Crew

Details of the party should include favors wrapped in shining silver, blue and silver candies, a miniature version of the couple's wedding cake, old-fashioned paper tickets used as garland, champagne toasting flutes, and lots of silver balloons -- Martha Stewart, Century Novelty, Mikasa, Balloonacy

This invitation is just the ticket - literally! This silver invitation in the shape of an over-sized ticket is perfect for a silver screen styled event -- Invitation by Checkerboard, available at FineStationery.com

Guests, dressed to the nines, will enjoy champagne from silver buckets that serve as centerpieces. Use fine china and pretty organza linens to top off tables -- Martha Stewart

Lil' Pumpkin Baby Shower

If you're hosting a baby shower this autumn, consider using pumpkins for your inspiration. The mama-to-be will adore the pumpkin decor and tasty treats while sharing the guests excitement for her "lil' pumpkin".

Share an ultrasound photo of the baby by posting one on a pumpkin shaped cut-out with ribbons -- Creative Party Place

A onesie with a teeny pumpkin applique and a knitted pumpkin hat make great gifts for a baby born in October -- Onesie via Polka Dot Mom, Hat by Etsy seller knitrgal

Use pumpkins to spell out, "It's a Boy!" (or girl) either by writing on them with a marker, or carving them and placing candles inside. You could also carve a pumpkin for each letter of the baby's name and place them on the front step to welcome guests -- Creative Party Place

Guests will savor pumpkin smoothies, whoopie pies and a pumpkin shaped cheese ball while watching the mama open gifts -- Cheese ball via Creative Party Place, Whoopie Pies via Martha Stewart, Smoothie via The Green Baby Guide

Carve out a pretty white pumpkin, filling it with fresh flowers -- Martha Stewart

This invitation, with its fun die-cut shape, is perfect for the baby shower. Use blue or pink ink when personalizing -- Invitation by Sarah LeClere, available at FineStationery.com

Use pumpkins of different sizes, shapes and colors to create a pumpkin patch in your party space -- Creative Party Place

Fall Fashion 2010 Trend

Images via The Lady Returns, Vogue Accessories Guide - Fall 2010

According to Vogue's article, The Lady Returns, the polished and put-together style of the 1960's woman is making a comeback this fall. The trend could be due to the overwhelming popularity of the television series Mad Men, but it is certain that the modern take on this vintage style is more than just plain pencil skirts and pretty pearls.

Handbag by Louis Vuitton via Elle

Pearl Bracelet by Majorica via Saks Fifth Avenue

Evening dress by ModCloth

Heels by Jimmy Choo via Elle

Pencil skirt by Anthropologie

Earrings by Anthropologie

Reader Request: A Maritime Marriage

Rachel and her groom-to-be will be married next June at the Maritime Academy on Michigan's coast. For the color scheme, she'd like to go with navy blue and hints of green and yellow. The bridesmaids will be wearing navy blue dresses, and groomsmen will look sharp in khaki pants and blue blazers. Some of Rachel's details include nautical lantern centerpieces, oars for guests to sign in place of a standard guest book, and beach stones from the Great Lakes as "place cards". Rachel mentioned that she has about 1,000+ ideas, and needs to put them all together to style the perfect event. Well, Rachel - you have some amazing ideas so far, and with a color scheme that is perfectly fitting for your venue, your wedding day is sure to be full of style and fun! Here are a few ideas to help you plan your big day:

A navy blue blazer and yellow tie for the gentlemen -- The Knot

Navy and white striped grosgrain ribbon adds extra style to boutonnieres and the bride's bouquet -- Brides

This square invitation features a tiny anchor motif and thin gold rope -- Invitation by Checkerboard, available at FineStationery.com

Since you're "tying the knot", use white rope accents in unexpected places, like table number signs, tied around chairs, or draped across the bar -- Rope bow via Wedding Chicks, Table number card via Style Me Pretty

Greet guests on the docks with a navy blue, yellow and white strand of pennants. For added nautical flair, create pennants that spell out your married last name in nautical alphabet flags -- The Knot

Signature cocktails can carry out your color scheme perfectly -- The Knot

The idea for writing guests names and table assignments on Great Lakes stones is a great idea, and the stones will make perfect keepsakes for guests -- Style Me Pretty

A framed "Eat. Drink. We're Married." print is a fun accent for the bar tables or place card table. Add an anchor motif for seaside style -- Wedding Chicks

Sailboat shaped cookies in simple sailcloth bags make great favors -- Martha Stewart

Dance the night away in pretty yellow heels -- The Knot

A sparkler send-off on the docks would make for a memorable ending to your reception. Accent matchboxes with nautical flag designs -- Martha Stewart

Oars are much more fun to sign than the pages of a guest book. Great idea! -- Style Me Pretty

Add a touch of seaworthy style to your wedding cake by having your baker add fondant wave designs -- Brides

Best wishes to you and your groom, Rachel!

End of Summer Luau

End the summer with a laid-back luau for your closest friends. Get inspired by pretty palm fronds and add color with pops of orange. Guests will feel as though they've traveled to a secluded island for your luau!

Choose a table runner with a tropical or floral pattern, and accent place settings with a dried grass charger and coconut candle favor -- Create My Event

This palm frond invitation is perfect for your late summer luau -- Invitation by Stevie Streck, available at FineStationery.com

Serve refreshing cocktails like melon coolers and caipirinhas. If you're feeling extra creative, accent glasses with a piece of tied dune grass before pouring the drinks -- Epicurious

This centerpiece looks amazing , and is so simple to create. Purchase a dried grass basket, and fill it with a pineapple or two, whole and sliced lemons, limes and oranges. For more orange accents, you could add a mango. Once the basket is filled with fruits, add cut palm fronds and birds of paradise flowers -- Gulf Coast Living Online

Create comfort and add style to your outdoor space by adding green and orange pillows that are patterned with palm fronds -- Outer Banks Trading Group

Decorate your bar or tables with large leaves and grass skirts for a tropical look -- Maui Moe's Luau Party Supplies

Coconut Lime Shrimp are perfect for the main course, but leave room for a tropical dessert like Chocolate Liliko'i Parfaits. Liliko'i is Hawaiian for passion fruit, and is extremely tart, but delicious with chocolate -- Sunset

Back To School Cool

With the first day of school quickly approaching, I think it's safe to assume that most parents are trying to find ways to make "back to school" more fun for their kids. Look no further! We've got some great ideas that will bring a smile to each young student's face this school year:

A personalized melamine plate for special after-school snacks will have kids running from the bus stop to the kitchen! Plates come in many patterns, making it fun for your child to choose their own style -- Personalized plate by Boatman Geller, available at FineStationery.com

Tuck a napkin printed with a personal note into your child's lunchbox -- Personalized napkins by Chloe B., available at FineStationery.com

If using a brown paper lunch bag is the cool thing to do, dress it up with a sticker personalized with your child's name and class. With so many stickers to choose from, you could have a different style for each day of the week! -- Sticker by Ellie Mim's, available at FineStationery.com

Taking notes and writing down homework assignments is much more fun with a personalized notepad and brightly colored pen -- Notepad by idesign + co, pen by Lilly Pulitzer - both available at FineStationery.com

Attach a personalized tag to your child's book bag before they head for school. Make sure to add their name and class -- Tag by Stacy Claire Boyd, available at FineStationery.com

An activity book with games, pictures and colored pencils will keep kids busy on the bus -- Activity Book by Lilly Pulitzer, available at FineStationery.com

Start a student's day with a fun and easy yogurt, cereal and fruit parfait. It's a great way to get them to eat healthy, and it looks extra colorful and delicious on the kitchen table in the morning! A great mid-day snack to pack is a cereal bar, made with crunchy cereal and dried fruit. The gooey marshmallow that holds the bar together is a great sweet treat as well. End the school day with a healthy after-school snack, like pizza crackers. Use whole wheat crackers, organic marinara sauce, cheese and veggies for a snack that kids will love -- All recipes and photos via Martha Stewart

This lunchbox by Yubo is BPA free, antimicrobial, recyclable, dishwasher safe and FUN! Change out the design on the front of the lunchbox with a handpicked style from Yubo's large selection -- Yubo

Reusable snack bags are earth-conscious and money saving - no more plastic baggies! -- Damask snack bags by Etsy seller epicraftian, Multi-colored and styled snack bags by snackTAXI

Adorable & Sweet Baby Shower

This adorable baby shower was featured on Twig & Thistle, as well as little.lovely. The rustic and natural style really makes for a great look that any mama-to-be would surely love.

Little tea sandwiches and pint-sized desserts look darling on vintage cake and treat stands. Jars of cookie mix with onesie-shaped cookie cutters served as favors for guests. Perhaps the cutest of the party details was the fabric wrap and diaper pin that adorned each soda bottle - how sweet!

Four Fabulous Friday Finds

Here are four fabulous finds to bring a little fun to your Friday! Enjoy your weekend!

 

Flower sashes to dress up all ensembles - from a simple sweater set to a wedding gown -- Emersonmade

Discover the cooling powers of mint on a hot late-summer day -- Design*Sponge

A precious vintage-inspired tea party -- Hostess with the Mostess

Triple Chocolate Cookie and Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches... seconds, please! -- Epicurious

Like Birds of a Feather

For an autumn wedding that is rich in color and style, incorporate peacock feathers into your look. This gorgeous feather can be used in many ways – accenting everything from the flowers to the place settings. Be inspired by the peacock feather’s rich colors, and don’t be afraid to go bold!

Instead of floral centerpieces, opt for fancy feathered creations -- The Vegas Wedding Planner

Hint at your theme with an invitation accented in peacock feathers -- Invitation by Inviting Company, available at FineStationery.com

Dress bridesmaids in colors inspired by the peacock's feather, like aqua and deep emerald green -- J.Crew

This clutch is the perfect bridal accessory, along with a stunning aqua and gold bracelet and feathered hair comb -- Clutch by Etsy seller ClutchThat, Bracelet by Anthropologie, Hair comb via Hostess with the Mostess

Peacock feathers make a lovely statement when used in the bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere -- Bouquet via Manolo for the Brides, Boutonniere via The Wedding Chicks

Have your baker color your wedding cake with rich aqua tones and feathered designs -- Weddingbycolor

Fold the napkins at each place setting into pockets, and tuck a feather inside for a look that really makes the tables pop -- Hostess with the Mostess

Beautiful Balloons for a Sweet 16

Balloons are coming back into popularity for party decor - especially over-sized balloons in pretty colors. The look is popping up in photos of stylish parties, weddings, and even professional photo sessions. Try out this trend by hosting a Sweet Sixteen party that pops with pink balloons. Use several shades of pink, filling the venue with inflatable fun.

Pink balloons via dexknows Weddings, Dress from Delias, Over-sized balloons from BalloonsFAST, Cupcakes by Martha Stewart, Balloon Bouquet invitation from FineStationery.com, Balloon creation via Phindy Studios

Unique Bridal Style

Forecast calling for showers on your wedding day? Perfect! Simply outfit your bridal party with pretty parasols to stay dry and look fabulous. Even if rain clouds are scarce, gorgeous umbrellas make a unique bridal prop and provide stylish shade. Choose a color scheme and have each member of the bridal party carry a different shade or pattern for an interesting look. Bella Umbrella has an amazing selection of vintage umbrellas in an array of colors, shapes and patterns. The possibilities are endless, and your photographer is bound to capture some great shots, with or without the rain.

All images via Bella Umbrella blog

Creative Correspondance for Kids

Writing thank you notes just got a lot more fun with these adorably fun and unique stationery sets by Meri Meri. Each stationery set is housed in a colorful and durable box that opens to reveal lots of writing goodies, such as note cards, lined writing sheets, envelopes, postcards and stickers. These stationery sets make great gifts, and are sure to excite children when it’s time for written correspondence!

A pink Castle Stationery Set is fit for any pretty princess. The draw-bridge lowers to reveal writing paper, and the pink flags are actually pencils!

This cute Russian Doll Stationery Set is just like a real nesting doll, as the top folds to the side to reveal a surprise within. This set even includes three die-cut Russian Doll figures to play with!

Unwind the gears on the front of this Robot Stationery Set to find futuristic writing papers and stickers. The coolest thing about this robot is that his eyes light up and blink!

Set sail with this Pirate Ship Stationery Set. Pull the anchor to raise the sails and find all of your swashbuckling stationery. The ship’s mast is a pencil for drawing treasure maps!

With ten themed sets to choose from, find the stationery that is perfect for your child’s imagination!