Real Party Tuesday

Meg Baisden, from Meg Baisden Photography, submitted her amazing Halloween party pictures. You can also check them out on her blog for more shots of decor.

From treats to drinks, she did a great job incorporating Halloween in shapes, color and it looks like taste as well!

Kicking off the week with: Fall Crafts!

Well, Halloween is officially over. Fall has really dug in it's heels these last couple weeks and every thing has begun to transistion over to Thanksgiving. If you want to be crafty and economical, here's a couple ideas were we reuse some pumpkins for your fall tablescapes.

Need a candle holder? You can use the mini pumpkins and tea lighs! Simply trace the tealight's outline around the top of the pumpkin and cut along the line. Pry it out with a sharp knife and place the tea light inside your custom-made hole.

Have an extra pumpkin leftover from Halloween? How about using that as your new vase for your fall centerpiece? If you haven't already, carve out the top and scoop out the seeds as you would for a jack-o-lantern. Then, place a piece of floral foam shaped to fit the bottom of your pumpkin. Press in your fall flowers so they hydrated and in place, and voila! Your fall centerpiece is ready!

Thievery Thursday: The Scary Apple of My Eye

Halloween is just over a week away, and with these gorgeous creations, you could blow away any guest or trick or treater!

These candied apples are absolutely stunning and look delish! Found on MattBites.com, the recipe is included. I love the use of a branch as a new twist on an old favorite. Matt also tells you how to pick the right color apples for these decadent creations.

Wild Card Wednesday: Something blue?

Looking for something blue for your wedding? Here's a new option: the I Do Tattoos. With eight different options to choose from, you can have your something blue be a temporary tattoo. It comes with two separate tattoos (one for practice and one for the big day) in a keepsake folio that doubles as a picture frame.

It's definitely a non traditional way to go, but at least it's temporary! It might not be for me, but what do you guys think?

Real Party Tuesday: Dr. Seuss Madness!

Reader Jill Hutchings from the Bird and the Berry sent in these pictures of a party she recently had. My favorite part is those yummy looking cupcakes!

Months ago I decided to throw this gal from over in Holladay (were I used to live) a baby shower. She is so nice and kind, but is very shy and has no family in-state and is having her first baby. I just could not let her have her first baby without having some sort of shower or celebration. When I first talked to her about her shower I gave her a list with a couple of different themes on it and told her to pick one. Secretly though I was hoping she would not pick the Dr. Seuss theme and sure enough she did. For some reason I just thought it would be so much harder to do a trademark theme. I really lucked out though and it only took me a couple of days to get really excited about the theme and run with it.


I made these really cute invitations, and I wish I could take credit for the little rhyme, but I can't. My friend Holly came up with that all on her own at crunch time late one night. She is a child development teacher and maybe a little more versed in the world of Seuss then I am. I loved the ribbon I found too, it was the perfect look and just dainty enough for the little invitations. For the envelopes I made and printed out circle address labels onto sticker paper and cut the labels out and placed them in the center of the envelope. I thought it added a nice touch and made the invitations more special.

All the fonts I used for the party where either in a typewriter style or a Seuss font I found online.My luck with the Dr.Seuss theme really came when a friend in Colorado who knew I was on the hunt for anything and everything Seuss spotted a whole dollar section at her local Target full of nothing but Dr. Seuss items and gave me a call. The next day I went to my Target and sure enough mine too had a Seuss dollar section. I was so excited and must have looked like a freak stocking up on the stuff. I bought a couple of everything. . .pencils, pins, hats, stickers, you name it. I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I bought it. I also found these amazingly cute plastic cups and bowls at Michael's in the discount section for 28 cents each, or something crazy like that. They were the perfect color and really whimsical so I knew they were a must for the theme and party.

Swedish fish...blue feather boas...felt dots and bow ties...poster-board painted fish...red gerber daisies...gold fish in bowls...and 24 cat in the hat cupcakes later...I had a party. TaDa!


It was a real hit and everyone really enjoyed themselves. We played two games in which we used are Seuss pencils of course. One a guess what book game, the other a name that Seuss character game. The prize? Gold fish in little bowls with blue feather trim. I also set up a table for people to write advise for the mother to beThe best part of all this Seuss madness is that I am going to be putting together a Dr. Seuss themed playroom upstairs for little miss Jayna Berry for Christmas. Her grandma wanted to know what she was "allowed" to get her (she is the only grandchild), and I said "no more toys we have way to many!". So I told grandma she could buy furniture for the playroom so that we could organize the toys she already has, and so that grandma could have a chance at possibly being allowed to buy her toys for her birthday. Grandma agreed.

Kicking off the week with: Minted.com

Looking for a clever invitation with a budget in mind? Check out Minted.com.

These modern masterpieces capture the spirit of any event from weddings to baby announcements to holiday cards. Add in your own photo to further personalize your invitations. My favorite part? The Thank You notes come in corresponding designs!

Here's a few of my favorites:

Attention Brides: Urban Unveiled!

Getting married? Urban Unveiled is a collection of superior quality vendors at a wedding show like no other. Drinks and appetizers throughout the night as you peruse these vendors' services and wares. The cherry on top? Luly Yang Wedding Couture fashion show with the season latest wedding fashions. Oh, and BIG raffle items included in your ticket price. Stop by Totally Tabletops and say hello!

Wild Card Wednesday: I'll take mine On the Rocks!

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to start looking for gifts for those hard to find people in your life! Got a scotch or whiskey drinker in your life? Then look no further!



These Whisky Stones are the latest and greatest way to keep your liquor cold, without diluting it down with water. I got them for Jason last year and we've both enjoyed them! Made from limestone, these stones are soft enough not to scratch your glassware but stay cold enough to be used for cocktail hour. Simply cool the stones before enjoying your beverage. Pair the stones with a bottle of liquor and your gift is ready to go!

Real Party Tuesday: The Swashbuckling Pirate Adventure

Reader Jamie Boudman recently held a birthday party for her four year old son. The theme: Swashbuckling Pirate Adventure! Every detail was thought of, right down to a plank for the kids to walk! Jaime has started her own event planning business specializing in unique theme events for children and we wish her the best of luck.



The theme of my son's party was a Swashbuckling Pirate Adventure. The guests enjoyed dressing up as pirates, walking the plank, shooting cannons and going on a treasure hunt.



The table was a child-sized picnic bench and embellished to look like a pirate ship. My husband made the ship's masts complete with crow's nest and rigging. I sewed the ship's flags for the masts and tabletop and used the pirate flags from the PB Kids collection for the bench covers.



For the table setting, I used black stoneware plates and made napkin rings out of plastic gold coins. I sewed the napkins using fabric I found at JoAnn's.



For an authentic pirate look, I purchased antique keys and locks to lay on the table.



The place card holders were made from unfinished treasure chests from Michael's.

Kick your Week off with TiltShifter!

There's this fantastic site that will take you photos and alter them so that they make the landscape look like miniatures of the scene. I took my picture from Rothenberg, Germany and put it through the TiltShifter- wow! So there you go, now I've given you a proper Monday morning distraction.

Funny Friday: Glowstick Chandelier

I came across this fabulous use of glowsticks on Social Couture. I'm not sure where they got this idea, but I love it all the same! What a fixture to hang over your 80s themed tablescape!

Wildcard Wednesday: Mustache salt & pepper shakers

What silly little shakers! The mustache craze that has taken people by storm the last year has inspired this Etsy shop, Paper Doll Wood Shop. At a friendly price point of $28, there is certainly a friend who would love these food flavor-ers.

Seattle Internship Available- Start date: NOW!

Internship positions available! Motivated, self-directed and creative interns needed for a end of summer/fall internship with Kelley Moore Creative Media. An internship with KMCM will expose you to television, print media, and writing in the design and entertainment field.

START DATE: ASAP!

BROAD NEEDS:

We are interested in Communication, Graphic Design, PR, Interior Design, English (writing), or Broadcast Journalism Majors.

SPECIFIC NEEDS:

Filming and editing Intern to head up Kelley's weekly, "coffee with Kelley" videos for her website. Web savvy a plus.
Writing Intern to write Kelley's daily Idea Lounge and Favorite Things post on her website. You would also occasionally ghost write for her MSN post and miscellaneous articles when needed. Idea generation and creativity is a must! Web savvy a plus.
Production Interns will work on Kelley's twice-weekly segments then segue into working on her weekly King 5 show, Moore to Life. You will be making the DIYs, generating concepts, crafting, and working on set of the show.

TO APPLY:
We want to see an example of your creativity by creating a story board displaying the following: Tablescape, Party Theme, and Gift Giving idea or DIY project

Hours are flexible. This position is non-compensated.

Please contact sheena@kelleylmoore.com to schedule an interview.

Wildcard Wednesday: Concrete Tumblers PRE-SALE

Charles & Marie were flooded, just flooded with requests and inquiries about these concrete tumblers. The manufacturer said "no more! We cannot make this! It's too difficult!" Then Charles & Marie made them an offer they could not refuse- they bought a sh*% load of these suckers to make it worth the companies while.

They're back and better than ever. Currently in production as you read this, Charles & Marie is pre-selling these glasses for the person who HAS to have them. If this is you, you're in luck!

Real Parties: Mad Hatter Party

Donna at Party Wishes never ceases to amaze me! She was the talented mom who threw that divine pink asian themed party for her daughter and now THIS! Painting the Roses Red photo kills me! Every detail was thought of. I literally copy/pasted her post for your viewing pleasure...

(click on pictures to enlarge)

On Saturday, I hosted my first Mad Hatter Tea Party. The week prior to the party, I was painting all day, everyday, trying to get ready. I was covered head to toe in paint!

This topiary sat next to the front door with a can of paint and used paintbrush left behind by one of the cards while trying to cover up his gardening mistake.

I cut the 4' tall croquet wickets out of 1/4" plywood and painted both sides. They are supported by 1X1" pieces of wood with rebar drilled into the bottoms.

The giant stacked tea cups took MANY hours of painting. I would even bring them to swim practice. They drew quite the crowd!

I also brought a giant chess set for kids or adults who wanted a little quiet time.


The hedgehog balls are madeout of 4" styrofoam balls. I ripped up paper grocery bags and used Mod Podge to apply them. Each ball took about 1/2 an hour...I made 16 of them. Luckily, my friends Sandy and Marina helped me with them.

The mallets were 2' stuffed flamingos.


My client, Tammy, had a perfect backyard for this party. We hung paper lanterns from her pergola as well as giant butterflies.



For the table, I had another stack of giant tea cups as the centerpiece. It was filled with flowers, fiddleheads and butterflies.


The placesettings consisted of plastic pink chargers, black ceramic plates with white polk dots, giant metal flower and ribbon napkin rings with chartruse napkins and black and white Cheshire cat mugs. The place card holders were butterflies in pots and I made the name cards on the computer.

It was such a wonderful party and Tammy said that I would be her party planner for life.

That is the best compliment EVER!



UPDATE!

I've had a lot if inquiries about the tea cups. I got them in downtown Los Angeles at the Flower Mart. They are pretty lightweight and I think they are some sort of fiberglass.