Perfect Pool Party

I'm not sure if it is the summer heat shimmering off of the pavement at the Joann parking lot, or the sight of my silly kids jumping over and over again from the diving board at our local pool, that makes me dream of a pool side party.

Simple yet eye catching decor, printed on shiny photo paper can go a long way poolside. Just add some fresh fruits and yummy treats - and maybe a floatie or two - and you can keep those kids entertained for hours.

In our printable Poolside Party collection,

Invitation (fits A7 envelope) +
Pennant Banner +
Straw Markers +
Cone Party Hats
Cupcake Wrappers +
Cupcake Picks
Pin Wheel Craft
Snack Box or Hamburger Sleeve +
Napkin Rings, Vase Wraps or Candle Wraps
Paper Lantern
Party Food Labels +
Placemats
Front Door Banner +
Full Sheet Patterned Paper

+ Customizable item: Those items with a + sign can be easily personalized using Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe.com.

Just print as much as you need, and voila! It's a party!

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Get your Block Party on!

Is it the scent of a hundred barbeques filling the neighborhood air that lets you know it's time to celebrate the 4th of July? Then, get your Block Party on! Whether you are celebrating with 4 or 40, print as much as you need from our Red, White and Blue printable set. It's perfect for an entire neighborhood of guests!

Yummy red velvet cupcakes from Meringue Bake shop

Cute and delicious pies from Porch Pies

Coordinating table ware from Social Couture

Set up way finding signs, inviting guests to enjoy all the festivities

Those kids always enjoy a parade!

Mini popcorn boxes are easy to make, and easy to fill

Bottle labels in 2 sizes will cover just about anything you need.

Patriotic drink umbrellas can add a festive touch to any glass!

Kids table! Kid friendly foods, drinks and yummy snacks

In this printable set:

Invitation (fits A6 envelope) +
Cupcake Picks +
Mini-popcorn box
Paper Lanterns
Napkin Rings
Bottle Labels (2 sizes) +
Drink Parasols
Pinwheels
Party Food Labels +
Straw markers
Signage +
Pennant Banner +
+ Customizable item: Those items with a + sign can be easily personalized - by you - using Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe.com. 

Pick up your collection today - and get to printing! 

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In Appreciation

To say Thanks to the teachers at my kids school this year, the parents put together a little end of the year "Appreciation" pot luck for them. And since I do not cook, I only had one option.

Cake pops!

Ever since I tasted Terri's cake pops, I've been a little obsessed, to say the least, with all things cake pops. I even have a Bakerella book that I've studied within an inch of it's life, although it hasn't helped my technique.

terri's cakeballs served up on an Art Party palette

Anyway, to match the color scheme of the luncheon (using leftover crepe paper streamers from our last school event), I purchased supplies in yellow, orange and red. Two sand buckets from the .50 cent bin at Michaels and some green floral foam bricks were the base of my cake pop centerpiece. Just trim the bricks to fit using a regular kitchen knife, leave them a little bit big for the bucket and really push them in so they are nice and snug. Use rice to fill up the rest of the bucket and to cover up the foam.

I followed the directions in the cookbook from Bakerella, and used 3 different length lollipop sticks to vary the height in my centerpiece.

I also made the cake pops with out sticks in them (technically cakeballs) and put them on square paper plates. Add a little print/cut/party magic, and these super cute little flags and signs hit my "thank you" message home.

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GIVEAWAY: Martha Stewart Party Crafts

Who wouldn't be excited to check their mailbox and find a giant envelope from Martha Stewart? I know it wasn't actually from Martha herself, but eh, close enough.

Anyway, inside? Super fabulous items from her Party Craft line!

• Eyelet Cupcake Stand
• Pink Pom-pom Garland
• Tissue paper Pink Pom pom kit
• Eyelet paper Lanterns

Over $50 worth of ultra party crafting cuteness!

And how about a couple of half off coupons for Joann? Just in case you needed some glitter or ribbon or stickers or beverage labels or cake and cupcake stencils?

and you know I wouldn't stop there because what is a party without some Paper & Cake printables? A $50 shop credit goes a very long way toward throwing the party of your dreams (handmade by you of course). Our Pink Polka dot printable party or the Printable Pink Pirate party or the Fairy Wonderland printable birthday party would all work perfectly with these Martha Stewart party craft items.

*  *  *

To win these prizes worth over $100, leave your comment on this post telling me which Martha Stewart Party Craft item is your favorite!

You can also get up to two extra entries by becoming a Facebook fan, Twitter fan or by bringing along a friend, who also leaves a comment. Your comment on this post will be your entry into the giveaway.

You have until Friday, June 24th at 5pm (PST) when one lucky winner will be announced.

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please be sure to link your name, email or blog to your comment. The winner will be determined by random.org.  

UPDATE: Congrats to our Winner... Dana Beeman!

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P&C Real Life Party: Start Your Engines!

Start those engines! This real life Race Car birthday party is so spectacular, you need a seatbelt just to look at it! Charlene (Brendan's ultra awesome mom) put this together recently, and here is what she had to say:

When I started planning my son's 4th Birthday party I was inspired by Paper & Cake's car party. My son LOVES playing with his hot wheels!

I loved the color palette of red, light blue and white. I also wanted to accent it with the black and white check. I was able to use the printable package and enhance those colors with all the decorating accents. I customized the printable a little to gear it for his 4th birthday by changing the red car number to read 4!

I enlarged the car images and printed and spray mounted to foam core to have added stand up decorations.

I decorated the cake table and dining table with hanging tissue honeycomb balls above from devra-party.com. I printed many of the 2" circles graphics with adding "Fuel Up" on to sticker paper and used them on cups and plastic juice containers.

I transformed the basement into his own mini race track where I made signs and set up stations for the car mechanic, pit stop for drinks and snacks, gas station, tattoos and also set up some hot wheel race car tracks all around the house!

I also had mini car cakes made from a car cake pan I had from William Sonoma the kids decorated them for an activity and for their own cake to eat!

I also loved using the car trays that was included in the package to use as there goodie-loot bag!! I also had to enhance a plain white paper bag from Michaels for all the extra things to bring home by printing the top part of the invitation and spray mounting them  to the front and backs of the bags and adding there name onto the thank you tags tied with a ribbon to the bag!

The kids all had fun and most of all the birthday boy who said "Mommy, I love my car party- thank you!!! So makes it all worth it!

Oh- The Dessert table had Oreo truffle pops and chocolate dipped Oreos that I made, and I bought the chocolate covered square marshmallows from Costco (just added the blue chocolate drizzle). My friend Elizabeth Geiser made my cake. And assorted candy from gumballs, sixlets, licorice, gummies all from Party City and The Sweet Factory.

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Wild Wild West!

This just goes to prove, you can have a Photo Booth ANYWHERE for ANY event.

Seriously.

We have a super ultra urban Farm in an area of our fair city that is mostly, well, concrete. One third of an acre has been reclaimed to grow fruits and veggies, and eventually to raise chickens in addition to strengthening a community and teaching the school kids in the area. Last weekend, we all celebrated the Farm's 1st anniversary with a street festival extravaganza complete with food, crafts, local vendors, and different performing groups like Kalpulli Tlaltekuhtli, Capoeira CDO Long Beach and some beautiful Baile Folklórico!

Who else was there? Well, Paper & Cake of course! I wouldn't miss offering a super fun themed photo booth for all to make a memory of this fun event. I came up with the theme "Wild West" mostly because of a "horse" that was brought over by the event's organizer (how could I turn her down?) to use in the photographs. Add some printable "Wanted" posters, some Cowboy hats and of course over-sized mustaches, and there you have it!

The backdrop was created with old fruit crates stacked one atop the next with a bit of maroon felt behind that to block out the direct sunlight, and the occasional car (I did mention how urban this farm is, right?). Old and young alike lined up to hold up ridiculous props or to just sit on the horse for their portraits. The booth was nearly free to set up, and worked perfectly as a fundraiser for the Farm Anniversary event - just charge a fee per photo and either: print on the spot, email to your customers, or have them pick up their prints.

Having your own fundraiser event? Or maybe a Cowboy themed party? You can pick up your own set of Wild West photobooth props - just add your own bandanas, a camera and a little imagination.

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Red, White and Blue Cake

What with Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day right around the corner, even my dreams have been in Red, White and Blue!

Let me take just a moment of your time to share a little cake I threw together. All you need: box of cake mix (plus the egg and so forth), cake pan (small medium or large will do), a batch of butter cream (although can of frosting would work just as well), and some Patriotic Nonpareils.

First, bake your cake layers - as directed - and after a bit of cooling time, you will want to slice off the top bump to make flat on the top. I find a long serrated knife works best. For this cake, I used a 6 inch round and I baked up three of them (still only 1 box of mix) I also used a 6 inch cardboard round as a base.

Next, after whipping up your batch of butercream frosting, use a bit to fill between layers, then do a crumb coat. That is, completely cover your cake in a thin layer of frosting to keep all the crumbs in. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

 Buttercream Frosting
    •    8 oz. unsalted softened butter
    •    4/5 c. powdered sugar
    •    2 T milk
    •    2 t. vanilla extract
    •    2 t. fresh lemon juice
In a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, add 1/2 the powdered sugar plus all of the other ingredients. Beat until moistened. Add the rest of the powdered sugar. If the frosting is still too thick, you can add a tiny bit of milk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

I do find that this next part works best if you are using some kind of rotating cake stand. Coat the sides and top of the cake fairly thickly with your remaining frosting, then, get out your Dritz EZY-hem guide (I know, right?). Hold it parallel to the side of the cake, lightly pressing into it, turning the cake at the same time - drag that hem guide and smooth the frosting out. Cool huh. Wish it was my idea.

And now? the FUN part! I ended up taking the cake outside, because I knew clean up would be super fast using the hose. You could certainly do this inside, but, I'm not coming over to pick up a zillion tiny red white and blue balls off the floor.

Voila! You should totally make this. Add a printable party, or printable photo booth prop set to match and you will be the talk of the block.

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Post-Weekend Update

Thank you everyone for the most successful giveaway that Paper & Cake has ever seen! Hopefully Martha will send some more craft tools our way in the not too distant future - cross your fingers.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but Paper & Cake has a new logo! No, not here on the blog yet - but on Facebook, twitter, etsy and flickr to start. This is just a taste of what our new (and much improved) site will look like, I can hardly wait until it is ready to share with you! Want one for yourself? Visit our FABULOUS and ultra super talented graphic designer who created this for us.

In the meantime, I am still basking in the glow that is all things Rainbow of Bugs printable birthday party. It seems as though every time I turn around, there are more rainbows?

What's coming this week? Well, we need to talk Memorial Day - how will you celebrate? AND I will have a poll available on Facebook for you to pick what type of photo booth prop set you want next, "Graduation" or "On the Farm".

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