Astonishing Cakes' Fall Dessert Table

Renee from Astonishing Cakes is back today with her Fall Tablescape Challenge dessert table.  If you missed her challenge entry post yesterday, hop on over to check it out as well. ~ Pamela

Fall Tablescape Challenge with Astonishing Cakes

I have a very special blog post today, from guest blogger Renee Hiser of Astonishing Cakes llc. Renee was recently part of a Fall Tablescape Challenge and is here to share all of the details of her entry.  Be sure to check out the "competition's" entries too by clicking on the links at the bottom of this post. Get ready to be inspired! 

~ Pamela

Create A Party Greeting Station {DIY Decorating}

I had the pleasure of being an Ambassador over the Summer for The Flair Exchange. In the last Ambassador kit, I received the new "Poolside" Hexagon Honeycomb Garland  and coordinating "Peace, Love & Party" balloons. I love these colors and again I can't say enough good things about the quality of The Flair Exchange's products. Seriously love!! 

Typically when we have guests over for dinner there isn't really a need for party decorations, but I thought I would mix things up a bit. Since I had these great new decorations on hand,  I thought it would be fun to decorate a greeting station by my front door to welcome dinner guests with a dessert hors d'oeuvre when they entered the house.

  Astonishing Cakes designed and created these amazing cakepops that not only started a conversation, but were delicious too! Plus every meal should start with dessert...right?!  

I feel that every party, big or small should end with a little favor. So, I filled plain white Alto favor boxes decorated with a little hexagon tag I created with candy for guests to grab as they walked out the door.  Party success without a bunch of hassle. 

DFTBA, 

Pamela

Here are links to a few more projects I created using The Flair Exchange's products:

A Little Celebration

The Fault In Our Stars Movie Premiere Party

Coffee Cake & Pretty Parties

DIY Sweet Shoes Party {Real Party}

I was invited to a fun DIY shoe decorating party by the lovely Renee of Astonishing Cakes. Renee had been seeing images of shoes by designers that looked like real confections and thought the concept would make for a fun party project friends could do together.

We were each asked to bring our own pair of shoes to decorate and Renee supplied all of the decorating supplies, which included paints, beads, faux cherries, faux nuts and caulk, which make for wonderful faux icing. You can see a step by step tutorial on the shoes I created in my previous post called Super Sweet Shoes

We were treated with both a sweet and a savory table to snack from while created. Being the confection-ista that Renee is, her sweet table consisted of iced sugar cookies, cake pops and cupcakes. All of which were delicious as well as gorgeous!

The savory table was where we grabbed veggies, pickle rolls, chips and fresh fruit flavored water.

Here are what the finished shoes looked like at the end of the party. As you can see I am the practical one, with my cute little tennis shoes I can wear all summer. I love how whimsical the over the top decorated shoes my friends made and can't wait to see where my friends wear these. You might be shocked to learn this type of confection decorated shoe can sell for $200 + a pair!

My boxes did play a little roll in the party too! Guests used my Yellow and Baby Pink Pinstriped Alto Gable boxes to take home a few cookies in.

Such a fun time, I can't wait to attend or host another DIY party of this sort.

DFTBA,
PS

Credits:
Party Concept, Styling, Confections by www.AstonishingCakes.com
Printable place cards and banner by www.DandPcelebrations.etsy.com
Alto Favor Boxes by www.PamelaSmerkerDesigns.etsy.com

The Fault In Our Stars Movie Premiere Party At Home

I have said it many many times, I am in love with the book The Fault In Our Stars. A sweet and short love story about two teens with cancer, only the book isn't about cancer. I love the metaphors, I love the  characters sense of humor... I just love it. Plus I adore the book's author, John Green. His Vlogbrothers, The Art Assignment and Crash Course History YouTube channels are a few of my favs!! 

You might imagine my excitement when I heard that the book was being made into a movie and comes out June 6, 2014. I have watched the preview for the movie several times and I can't get through it without crying. I will be bringing a box of tissues to the movie theater with me for sure! Anyway... I put together a little party that I want to share which includes some of the fun elements from the book and from what I can tell, the movie as well. These are just a few of the images I took myself. The full party and professional images, by Michelle Young Photography will be in Polka Dot Balloon magazine which comes out June 2, 2014. Stay tuned for that!!
*Edited* Check out the Magazine Feature HERE

I created popcorn boxes, Alto gable boxes, luggage tags, Kleenex wrappers, party squares (freebie at the bottom of this post), Amsterdam flags and posters for this party. You can find the favor boxes, tags and other items I have created in my shop.  I will be hanging the large quote posters in my new house when we move this summer. They are a couple of my favorites.

I asked Carmen from The Flair Exchange for a custom tassel garland and confetti in the "TFIOS color scheme of blue, yellow, black and white. I am a stickler for details and am never let down by The Flair Exchange's products. 

 I love working with Renee of Astonishing Cakes, her work is absolutely amazing! Renee created orange flavors cake pops, fondant cigarettes and this incredible cake with Hazel's swing set sitting on top, the cloud design from the cover of the book, along with many of the quotes from the book which makes a fun graffiti style design. IN LOVE with this cake!! 

When my husband and I bought the audio book set from www.dftbarecords.com we also received some goodies with the package, like postcards from the different places visited in the book, a concert ticket and bracelet which all made for fantastic party props. 

I also created a faux "An Imperial Affliction" book cover. This imaginary book plays a big role in "The Fault In Our Stars", so it's presence was a must. Along with the book cover I made a little cartoon image with Hazel and Gus, the main characters that shares yet another quote from the book "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”- John Green

Last but not least, I picked up some of these flair buttons from Hello Stranger on Etsy. A perfect little party favor along with a small package of tissues and some candy for the movie! 

Now for a little freebie!! Feel free to download the party squares I created for this shoot and use them for your own personal use. Make cupcake toppers, like I did here, tags, you name it!! If you end up using these I would love to see your creation, so please share with me!! Just click on the link below...

TFIOS Okay Party Squares by Pamela Smerker Designs

DFTBA,

PS

Cake Anyone?

I have been meaning to share both of these cakes for a while now, not sure where the time has gone. My birthday was back in November....geeesh. Better late then never, right?!

Meet my 40th birthday cake. I asked my friend Renee of Astonishing Cakes to create this cake for my party. She completely blew my mind and a few tears were shed.  The top two sections were actually fake, I just wanted a HUGE cake for my party without a ton of left over cake to eat. To see more details from my party check out the feature in the Premiere Issue of Polka Dot Balloon Magazine. 

My hubby surprised me last year with my 41st birthday, which was Renee's cute little version of my 40th cake. Can you say adorable!! I absolutely loved it!! I am spoiled!!

Are you a cake person or would you rather have a pie or maybe ice cream for your birthday.  I would love to know. 

In other news, I just had to share what I have been working on for the past few weeks. The latest issue of Polka Dot Balloon Magazine, The Valentine Mini. Please check it out! I am so proud of all of our contributors, all of which are either stay at home wives and mommies and also small business owners. AMAZINGLY talented women that I adore!! Check it out...

DFTBA, 

PS