Ribbons and Pearls for Baby Girls

One of my very best friends just welcomed a sweet baby girl to the world, so I've got ribbons and bows and all things pink on my mind! If you're planning a baby shower for a little girl, consider going ultra-girly with a ribbons, bows and pearls theme. Ribbon is inexpensive and easy to work with, making it the perfect choice when it comes to decorating. Create a ribbon garland, or simply tie tiny bows on desserts or decorations. Faux pearls are also easy to find, and can be strung onto ribbon, scattered on tabletops, or poured into glass jars. With a ribbons and pearls theme, make sure you incorporate girly pink into your palette by serving pink lemonade, pink candies and pink desserts. Your shower is sure to be just as sweet as the little girl that is soon to arrive!

Using tulle and ribbon, create simple table skirts that are inspired by pretty pink tu-tus -- Hostess with the Mostess

Wire and faux pearls can be shaped into the baby's initial. This craft is also a keepsake for the mama-to-be -- Martha Stewart

Cake pops are perfect for parties, and look so sweet with tiny bows tied around their sticks -- Hostess with the Mostess

Mini cupcakes go glam with sugar pearls as accents -- Hostess with the Mostess

Fill the venue with fresh pink flowers in white vases -- Hostess with the Mostess

Using glass jars in varying sizes and shapes, create a dessert table that is full of pink candies and sweets. Be sure to accent the jars and dishes with ribbons -- Amy Atlas (slide 93)

Start the party in style with a pink scalloped wrap invitation, accented by a silky ribbon -- Invitation by San Lori, available at FineStationery.com

Every little girl should have a set of pearls! This baby onesie is printed with a strand of pearls and has two tiny ribbons. Along with a flower and pearl headband, this ensemble makes a great gift! -- Onesie by Grows Up, Headband by Etsy shop Bloomz

Passionate Purple Valentine's Dinner

This Valentine's Day, host a dinner party for your closest friends. Instead of the typical red and pink decor, choose shades of purple and dark chocolate tones. Purple has always been seen as a rich and passionate color, making it perfect for a Valentine's Day soiree.

Serve chocolate martinis to guests as they arrive with their sweetheart -- Hostess with the Mostess

For dessert, a decadent chocolate torte adorned with rich truffles is perfect -- Martha Stewart

Simple place cards with a deep purple stripe and the phrase "how sweet it is" can add color to your tabletop -- Place Cards by Carlson Craft, available at FineStationery.com

Wrap chairs with silky purple fabric for glamorous style -- The Knot

Lavender linens tied with purple ribbons make for beautiful place settings -- The Knot

Mini cups of chocolate mousse are sure to please everyone's palette -- The Knot

Fill vases with rich purple blooms, and be sure to fill the space with candles for a warm glow -- The Knot

Opt for Orange

Orange is a fantastic color for spring and summer weddings. Even small accents of orange can add bold style to your big day. Try incorporating orange into your wedding day fashion, flowers, or stationery for an unforgettable look.

Save the Date Card by Chloe B., Ties and Dresses via Martha Stewart

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Stuck inside while the snow is falling? It's the perfect day for some online shopping!

It's a great time to order wedding invitations for spring and summer weddings, or save the date cards for a winter wedding! New baby? Send adorable birth announcements with your baby's sweet photo. FineStationery.com is currently offering 10% off orders of $100 or more, along with $3 ground shipping for orders of $100 or more. Happy shopping!

Shop Save the Dates | Shop Wedding Invitations | Shop Baby Essentials

Wedding Trend: Creative Chair Decorations

It seems that brides and grooms are ditching the standard satin chair slips and opting for a more festive look. These creative chair decorations give personality to the head table (or sweetheart table), and are perfect for cute photo ops.

Clockwise, from top left:  Style Me Pretty, Love & Lavender, Grey Likes Weddings, Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake

Invitation Inspiration

An invitation sets the tone for any event. After all, it is the first bit of information that a guest will receive. The invitation can convey what kind of event is being thrown, what the color scheme will be, or if there is a theme. With the invitation being of such importance, why not choose one that you simply adore, and then style your event after it? This boldly patterned invitation by Boatman Geller makes for a fun and bright Baby Shower:

Invitation -- Boatman Geller, available at FineStationery.com

Chocolate Cake Pops -- Hostess with the Mostess

Pink and orange party bunting -- Geninne's Art Blog

Fizzy orange soda pop -- The Knot

"Bun in the Oven" cinnamon bun favors -- Gather and Nest

Gorgeous pink and orange blooms -- Hostess with the Mostess

Pretty pink plates and bright orange personalized napkins -- Caspari, available at FineStationery.com

Snowy Treat

We’ve been getting lots of snow in our area this winter, and it’s not over yet! If you’ve got lots of the white fluffy stuff, and a tiny bit of spare time, consider whipping up a batch of Snow Ice Cream. My mom used to make this for my brother and I when we were younger, and we always relished in the snow-day treat.

This idea was spotted over at Spearmint Baby, and was originally posted {here}. Click on over to get the full tutorial, along with the do’s and don’ts of making your own Snow Ice Cream. Enjoy!

Country Ranch Wedding

There is something so sweet and sincere about a country wedding. An intimate venue, the laid-back style and the warm earthy colors all add to the obvious charm. Here's a little inspiration for a country ranch wedding with an equestrian flair:

Simple wildflowers make gorgeous bouquets for a country-styled wedding -- Green Wedding Shoes

Opt for a selection of homemade pies instead of a fancy wedding cake -- Style Me Pretty

The perfect accessory for a true country bride is a horseshoe shaped ring -- It's a Jaime Thing

For a soft glow during the ceremony or reception, place candles inside hanging glass jars -- 100 Layer Cake

If the venue is a farm or ranch, consider holding the reception inside a beautiful barn -- Martha Stewart

For wedding favors, consider horseshoes or wildflower seeds. Wrap favors in cotton bags printed with a horse motif for added style -- Style Me Pretty

A classic cowboy hat is the perfect prop for photos. Hang a few hats from the backs of chairs inside your reception venue for guests that are feeling festive -- Style Me Pretty

Western-style boots are perfect for dancing the night away at a country wedding -- 100 Layer Cake

Horseshoes are great for a sweet photo op -- Style Me Pretty

When invitations are considered, choose a simple style with a horseshoe shaped motif. Horseshoes are often considered to be lucky and protective.

Invitation by Prentiss Douthit, available at FineStationery.com

Game Day Essentials

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, it's time to prepare for game day with these essentials:

Problem: You don't want to miss a play, and you certainly don't want to miss any goofy commercials. Solution: To avoid leaving the couch for a fresh cold one, this party tub can be placed right next to the couch. Personalize the party tub with your team's name to show your spirit. Just add ice and your beverage of choice! -- Personalized Party Tubs by Fontaine Maury, available at FineStationery.com

A personalized serving tray makes it easy to carry a variety of snacks from the kitchen to the living room table in a flash -- Personalized Tray by Fontaine Maury, available at FineStationery.com (other colors available)

A football themed invitation will stir up the excitement and remind your friends what time they should stop over for snacks and festivities -- Invitation by Noteworthy Collection, available at FineStationery.com

Festive beverage napkins are a great item to keep on hand -- Napkins by Inviting Company, available at FineStationery.com

Throw healthy eating resolutions aside for game day and whip up a batch of Blue Cheese Hot Wing Dip or Loaded Baked Potato Dip. For a sweet and salty snack, try this recipe for Potato Chip Chocolate Toffee -- Recipes via myrecipes and Food Network

Queen of Hearts Tea Party

Valentine's Day is sweeter if you can celebrate with everyone you hold dear. After you and your sweetheart spend time together, gather your gal pals for cards and tea by hosting a Queen of Hearts themed party. Brew the tea (or simply serve cocktails from teacups!), pull out a few decks of cards, and decorate with lots of hearts -- tell your friends to be there or it's "off with their heads"!

Create a welcoming wreath for your door by painting white roses red, just as the Queen of Hearts preferred -- Lark and Lola idea blog

These heels are the perfect accessory for the hostess to wear -- Style Me Pretty

Choose a playing card themed invitation, like this one from Crane & Co. -- FineStationery.com

Be sure to serve lots of sweet treats like heart-shaped cookies and candy -- Hostess with the Mostess

Create unique centerpieces by filling teacups with (faux) white roses that have been painted red. Add playing cards to complete the look -- Wedding Wire forum

Using an extra deck of cards, punch holes in a few of them and then string them from red ribbon to create a garland -- Bohemian Transplant

Scanned playing cards can be enlarged and framed in poster-sized frames for easy decor -- Martha Stewart

Don't forget the tea! If you're feeling creative, add heart-shaped tags to the teabags -- Martha Stewart

Star-worthy Stationery

Three major trends for red carpet wear this season, as so glamorously displayed last night at the Golden Globes, are green, pink and shimmering gowns. These best-dressed celebrities are a picture of beauty as they wow audiences with their style. As the fashion world so often inspires stationery design, here are a few examples of how your personal correspondence can catch up to these trends:

Gorgeous green is powerful, elegant and mesmerizing when worn by Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Elisabeth Moss. These notecards by kate spade and Vera Wang convey the same look.

Shimmering gold and opalescent fabrics created shining looks for stars like Carrie Underwood. This layered note card by William Arthur has the same gleaming gold appeal.

Lea Michele and Natalie Portman look perfectly feminine and breath-taking in pink gowns. These simple and lady-like notecards by Checkerboard and Prentiss Douthit are great choices for women's stationery.

Sweet Valentines for Kids

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, these new children's valentines by Noteworthy Collection are sure to make everyone smile. Cute designs and bright colors paired with sweet sentiments make for the perfect way to say "Happy Valentine's Day!"

PB & J Card

The Tweetest Card

Out Of This World Card

Real Wedding: Dayton, Ohio

{The Finer Things would love to feature your wedding – complete with all of the DIY projects and lovely details! We love weddings, and sharing ideas on how to make them one of a kind is oh so fun! We would be so honored to share your special day with the rest of our readers. Say “I Do” and send us a few photos that capture your big day. With your photos, be sure to include your photographer’s name, your wedding date, wedding location and first names. Emails can be sent to jennifer.turner@finestationery.com. Then, stay tuned -- your wedding could be featured on The Finer Things Real Weddings!}

This stunning wedding took place on May 29, 2010 in Dayton, Ohio. Ashley and Jimmy are a gorgeous couple, and their wedding day was styled beautifully with a neutral, soft color palette.

I had the chance to ask Ashley a couple of questions about the big day:

The Finer Things:  What was your favorite moment from the day?

Ashley:  There are so many things!  However, if I had to pick one, it would be the beginning of the ceremony when my dad messed up his only line and everyone lost it.  My favorite picture from that day is everyone laughing with them.  It was great that he broke the tension and I felt like I could relax from that point on.

The Finer Things:  Did you have a theme or "feeling" you wanted to convey with the styling of your wedding?
Ashley:  We wanted a SIMPLE outdoor wedding with very little color. I love neutral weddings and wanted to go that route with the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen outfits. Other than that, we just wanted the day to be a fun party for everyone!

A huge thank you to the newlyweds Ashley & Jimmy for sharing their special day with The Finer Things. We wish you many years of wedded bliss!

All photos by Andrea Dozier Boutique Photography

For more photos of this wedding, please visit the photographer's website {here}

Words for Wednesday

Spotted over at Tracey Lau Art & Soul, this grouping of thoughts is perfect for a little mid-week inspiration. Have a lovely day!

{Click to enlarge}

Crazy for Chevron Prints

Baby onesie -- shakshuka

Clutch -- Etsy shop {A03} Designs

Casual dress -- Diane von Furstendberg at Neiman Marcus

Necklace -- Etsy shop Deuce

Curtains -- Etsy shop this little home

Wall art -- decor8

Desk (with a tutorial for making your own!) -- Sunset

Multi-colored and grey recipe cards -- Boatman Geller at FineStationery.com

Pillow -- Etsy shop Nena Von

Cute as a Button Baby Shower

Gather your friends and family to shower the mama-to-be before her cute-as-a-button baby arrives. This baby shower theme is perfect for a baby boy or girl -- Use a neutral color palette if the gender will be a surprise, or opt for blue & green or pink & yellow palettes.

Choose an invitation that is just as cute as the theme. For added fun, place a few tiny buttons inside the envelope with the invitation before you seal it -- Invitation by Prentiss Douthit, available at FineStationery.com

Favor bags are even more festive with multi-colored buttons glued to them -- Thoughtful Day

Place small buttons in assorted colors and sizes around the party space -- The Sweetest Occasion

Dress up flatware and napkins with ribbon and buttons -- The Sweetest Occasion

Sugar cookies in the shape of buttons make an adorable addition to the dessert spread -- The Sweetest Occasion

Place photos of the mom and dad as children (in button-adorned frames, of course) on tables -- The Sweetest Occasion

Small jars of assorted buttons are great for decor. As an alternative, fill smaller hurricane vases with buttons for centerpieces -- Couture Events by Lottie

Bake a special cake for the guest of honor, decorating it with fondant buttons -- Couture Events by Lottie

Friday Finds: Fun Felt

It's amazing what you can do with a few pieces of felt. It seems that there are more felt crafts popping up every day. Etsy has some very talented felt artists with a wide variety of wares!

Wall art by Etsy seller Dashing Etc.

Felt baby booties by Etsy seller Sunflower Express

Felt flower necklace by Etsy seller Little Fluff Stuff

Headband by Etsy seller No Plain T's

Flower shoe clips by Etsy seller Fink Shop

Sea and Starfish Wedding

I don't know about you, but I've got a case of the winter blues. I've been craving sunshine, sea and sand ever since the holidays came to a close. With that being said, I put together an image board for a wedding inspired by sea and starfish, warm breezes and sandy feet. This look is perfect for newly engaged couples that are planning a late summer wedding.

This breezy invitation by Vera Wang is the inspiration for this image board, with a cool aqua blue cardstock and beautiful white engraved starfish motif -- Invitation available at FineStationery.com

Supply woven grass fans accented with aqua ribbon to keep guests cool -- The Knot

Instead of flowers, opt for a beachy look by filling glass jars of various sizes with clean white starfish, white coral or white votive candles -- The Knot

This gown, from Vera Wang's Spring 2011 collection, is the perfect look for seaside nuptials -- Vera Wang

For table cards, collect white shells and print guest's names on them with an aqua paint pen -- The Knot

Tabletops will pop with crisp white linens and aqua colored cloth napkins. Accent napkins with tiny white starfish -- The Knot

Serve aqua blue-colored cocktails as your signature drink, naming it after your favorite beach -- The Knot

Choose an open-air venue with lounge areas, preferably close to the water and beach -- Martha Stewart

Confection Connection

A few months ago, The Finer Things posted some "Confection Connections" {see original post here} -- stunning cakes that seemed to be the perfect match for sensational stationery pieces. Today, we've got some lovely wedding cakes that pair perfectly with some of our pretty wedding stationery items. Enjoy!

Cake via Martha Stewart - Invitation by Vera Wang, available at FineStationery.com

Cake via Martha Stewart - Invitation by kate spade, available at FineStationery.com

Cake via Martha Stewart - Invitation by Checkerboard, available at FineStationery.com

Cake via Martha Stewart - Invitation by Squash U, available at FineStationery.com

Cake via Martha Stewart - Announcement by Boatman Geller, available at FineStationery.com

Big News! It's a Baby Shower

Extra, extra, read all about it! Babies are big news, so why not throw a news-themed Baby Shower for the mama-to-be? Send out invitations that resemble a newspaper clipping, like {these) invitations by Vera Wang (pictured below.) For decor, there are many DIY projects that can be created inexpensively with recycled newspapers. The theme is sure to be news-worthy!

"The Most Fabulous News" invitation by Vera Wang -- available at FineStationery.com

Create bunting by clipping newspaper pages. For a pop of color, use blue string to hang the bunting, or make every other pennant with blue craft paper. If the baby's name is known, cut the letters out of blue craft paper and attach them to the newspaper pennants -- The Sweetest Occasion

Blue and white cupcakes with small pennant flags add to the look -- Creature Comforts

For easy floral arrangements, wrap square vases with recycled newspaper pages. Add pennant flags made of ribbon, or flags that are printed with the baby's initial for extra flair -- Style Me Pretty

For shower favors, create small pots by folding newspaper. Pre-plant seeds in the pots, or hand out seed packets with them -- Home Made Simple

This confetti would look great on tabletops -- Etsy seller Mommy Holly

If you're feeling extra creative, whip up a few garlands with twine, folded newspaper and colored craft paper -- Creature Comforts

Stationery Styles & Sales for 2011

Image via Craftily Ever After

Absolutely not! The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to give your stationery wardrobe a makeover, and then kick correspondence into high gear. Re-connect with old pals, long lost loves, or simply send a note to a family member or friend to say "hello". These stylish stationery ensembles, among many others, will have you pulling out your favorite pen in no time. The best part? If you buy 75 pieces, you'll receive 25 pieces (of the same item) for free! Many designs from William Arthur, Vera Wang, Crane & Co. and Martha Stewart are included in this offer -- but hurry, it's for a limited time only!

Grass Green Flat Card by Vera Wang

Blowing Dandelion Flat Card by Crane & Co.

Yellow & Black Flat Card by William Arthur

Peony Note Card by Martha Stewart