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

Two Of My Favorite Things... Coffee Cake and Party Pretties

Today I am sharing two of my favorite things with you. The first is this cute "Cross + Plus" garland I was sent from The Flair Exchange.  I can't wait to put it in my new office space once we move (the packing process has started). Second is this sour cream & chocolate chip coffee cake, I have been eating this ever since I can remember and have been feeding it to my kids since they were little. Give it a try and while you are enjoying a piece hop on over to The Flair Exchange and do some shopping. 

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Cream together

1/4 C butter (room temp)

3/4 C sugar

Add:

2 eggs

1 C Sour Cream

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 C all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix until combined, then add 1 bag of mini semi sweet chocolate chips. (Mini chips work best, because they won't sink to the bottom of the cake)

Pour into greased 9" square pan

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

1/2 C sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix together then pour on top of cake batter to cover. 

Place cake in preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes. Cake should be golden brown and when toothpick is inserted in center of cake, should come out clean.

Serve warm or at room temp.

DFTBA,

PS

A Little Celebration. Cupcakes and Champagne Included!

What could be better then celebrating with cupcakes, champagne and friends? Here is a little party I put together with my April Ambassador box I received from The Flair Exchange. Take a look...

The Flair Exchange Ambassador kit for April included the "orchid" tassel garland, coordinating 17" confetti balloon and package of confetti. I created the "Dream, Create, Celebrate" poster in black and white and had it printed as a 18" x 24" "Engineer Print" at Staples. The quality isn't meant to be the best, it has a few small smudges, BUT it cost less then $2. I used assorted Copic markers to color in the flowers, framed it and love how it turned out. I also created matching favor tags to go along with my black "Swiss Dots" petal boxes and filled those with the purple foil wrapped Hershey Kisses (dark chocolate). Some other items I used (all found at Target) were rolls of black and white polka dot wrapping paper, white with black polka dotted paper straws, fresh purple tulips & floral decorated cupcakes. I truly love how this turned out and the reason for the little celebration is even better, but I will share what that is later this month.

Thanks for taking a look!
DFTBA,
PS

Party By Colors ~ Plum, Apple, Gold & Aqua

I had the privileged of being selected as one of The Flair Exchange's Ambassadors. Each month they send me a variety of products to play with and review. For those of you who have been following me, you know that I am already a fan of The Flair Exchange and their tassel garlands. I have been using their festive garlands for nearly two years for various occasions and can't wait to try out more of there fun products in the coming months. 

For the month of April I was sent this fun box which contains:

• Orchid Tassel Garland
• Confetti 17" Balloon (coordinates with the Orchid Tassel Garland)
• Tissue Confetti (coordinates with the Orchid Tassel Garland)

I have a little party planned in my head using these products, but I thought it would be fun to put together a PSD "Party By Color" inspiration board for you all to see. 

1. The Flair Exchange Orchid Tassel Garland  2. The Flair Exchange Gold Confetti Filled Balloon  3. Purple Place Setting  4. Light Blue & Gold Place Setting  5. Pamela Smerker Designs Mini Gable Boxes in Apple Green. 

What occasion do you see yourself using this pretty color scheme for? I will be prepping for my party and am excited to share all the details soon! 

DFTBA,
PS

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