Studio DIY®: Inspire, Create, Celebrate

DIY Rainbow Birthday Party

By Kelly on May 31, 2012

When I saw this party, I thought “I want this party.” As in, my birthday is in four weeks and I want this party. Jeff, are you listening!? It’s not your typical birthday party, no guests or favors or anything. Just a stay at a rainbow hotel, a colorful cake, a suitcase full of fun and family. The oh-so fabulous Rubyellen is responsible for this celebration perfection, all for her daughter True’s, 6th birthday. True wanted to stay at a hotel and her awesome momma made it happen and then some. It all went down at my DREAM of a hotel, The Saguaro, and it began with a suitcase. A party in a suitcase to be exact…

Rubyellen kicked off this Eloise-style hotel stay with a suitcase gift for True, filled with streamers, party blowers an colorful birthday clothes to match!

While the kids were enjoying the pool, Rubyellen created a mini party in the hotel room with a rainbow cake, baked before they left and assembled at the hotel, and a whole lot of streamers! Kids are excited by the simplest things and this was all True needed for the perfect birthday. I mean really, does it get any better!?

All Photos by Rubyellen of cakies

Be right back, I’m going to go book my stay at this unbelievable Palm Springs hotel, who wants to bring the streamers? In the meantime, you can see more from the big birthday bash here.

Crafting your own event details? The craft supply guide has all the supplies you’ll need! Or perhaps you’re looking for something handmade for your upcoming party? Head on over to the handmade vendor guide, too!

Posted in Birthday parties, DIY, Real DIY Birthday Parties
Leave a response

Five Ways to Serve Donuts at a Party

By Kelly on May 30, 2012

June is my favorite month. It’s the start of summer, which also happens to be my birthday, and it’s just the best month. Even better, June is rung in with one of the best food holidays of all… National Donut Day! WA-BAM! While LA may not have Dunkin’ Donuts (which Jeff reminds me of every day) it may be the most donut-laden city of all. And I am not complaining. If you have a love affair with donuts like me, than you are obviously planning a donut party to celebrate. So here’s a few ideas for how to serve those yummy donuts in a few new ways. Disclaimer: These ideas can be done with the box of donuts that you don’t eat on your way home for the store, or the dozen you eat straight out of the donut pan. Without further ado, donuts…

1. On a Cupcake: A coffee and donuts cupcake to be more specific. As if cupcakes weren’t good enough already, top them with a homemade mini donut and you official wear the “Best Host(ess) Ever” crown.

Coffee and Donuts Cupcakes via Always With Butter

2. On a Stick: These donut holes are disguised as cake pops. Just dip some store bought munchkins in melting candies or chocolate and add a few sprinkles. Cake pops (but better!) in under 10 minutes. And that, my friends, is how it’s done.

Donut Cake Pops via Aubrey + Lindsay’s Little House Blog

3. As a Garnish: Milk for kids parties, coffee for adults, both like great with a little sprinkley donut sittin’ on it’s rim. YUMMY!

Mini Baked Donut Garnishes via Frosting for the Cause

4. As a Favor: Since there’s never enough donuts, guests won’t turn you down when you send them off with a perfectly packaged box of donuts. Edible favors are by far everyone’s favorite way to part and they can enjoy these all the way through to breakfast. You know, if they don’t eat them in the car on the way home first.

Donut Favors via MaeMae Paperie

5. As a tasting: Wine tasting, beer tasting, donut tasting. What? It’s true! A donut tasting party is a possibility in our lovely little world. Gather friends for brunch (this would be a great shower idea!) and offer up several kinds of donuts, dippers and coffees. Let people pick their favorites and their most desirable pairs, then provide them with little baggies of their chosen favorite donut and coffee beans to take home for later.

Coffee and Donut Tasting Party via Eat Drink Pretty

Now that you’re party is set, go get yourself some free donuts! On Friday, National Donut Day, Krispie Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts will be handing out free morsels of goodness. If you’re in LA like me, BLD will be serving donuts all day. Know of any other National Donut Day events? Share the love in the comments below!

Have something you’d like to see in the “Five Things to do with…” series? Let me know in the comments below!

Posted in Baby Shower Inspiration, Bridal Shower Inspiration, DIY, Five Things, Parties, Etc., Parties, Etc. Inspiration, Sweets & Treats Inspiration
2 Responses

DIY Post-It Note Messages

By Kelly on May 29, 2012

A few weeks ago Jeff and I celebrated our five year anniversary, and we did so on the cheap. We agreed on no gifts, just a fun day at the beach together but, well, I love surprising people so I had to think of something to do that he wasn’t expecting. I had been dying to try printing on post-its after sharing this post and decided this was the perfect time to do so! So I printed and plastered up a little post-it love note while he was out. Yep, I was able to do this whole thing during that short half hour! That’s how easy it is! This idea would be great for a graduation or a birthday, too, wouldn’t it!?

To Make:

Choose a font you want and spell out your message, sizing the font so one letter fits on each post it and leaving enough space between the letters to fit the post-its without overlap. Print out your message on plain old computer paper. Adhere a post-it over each letter.

Place your paper with the post-it notes on it back in your printer and re-print the exact sheet again. Be sure you align your paper properly, this will depend on your individual printer. And that, my friends, is a wrap! Peel off your post its and stick them on the wall, the fridge, the bathroom mirror, a piece of kraft paper.. you get the point. Easy to adhere and easy to remove, the perfect celebratory message!

Looking for more DIY projects? Check out the Project Gallery and Free Printable Gallery! In need of supplies to make your own cake bunting? Check out the Craft Supplies Guide!

Posted in Birthday Party DIY Projects, Decor DIY Projects, DIY, DIY Projects, Paper Goods DIY Projects, Parties, Etc.
2 Responses

Happy Holiday Weekend!

By Kelly on May 25, 2012

Eeee! I love holiday weekends. Especially when they come after a very exciting week that saw a ton of new projects and collaborations for me. How are you guys celebrating Memorial Day!? Hopefully you’re planning a BBQ with one of these as a finale. Right? Whatever you do, enjoy it! It’s the unofficial start of my favorite season. WAHOO! And I’m taking the day off to celebrate it, so I will see you all back her on Tuesday with a fun DIY that would fit perfectly into this.

Memorial Day Goodie Bags by Lovely Indeed via The Sweetest Occasion

{Inspire} Links to Love

Prepsters, you’ll love this tennis themed bash.
Polka dots and gold, always a winning combination.
Am I too old for these bedrooms?
Hooray for baby!
I love our First Lady’s initiatives.
My favorite floral designer does it again!
I asked The Kitchn a question, and they answered!

{Create} DIY Projects & Recipes

MAKE THIS! For your Memorial Day BBQ.
And give your guests a fun goodie bag, too.
A great graduation gift DIY.
The simplest backdrop with the biggest statement.
Always say yes to yellow.

{Celebrate} This Weekend’s Local Events

May 27: Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival | Santa Ana, CA

To find weekly events and markets in your area, plus future events, check out the complete Local DIY Event Guide.

Posted in DIY
Leave a response

DIY Metallic Inspired Brunch

By Kelly on May 24, 2012

A lot of you may be planning graduation parties, whether it’s from college, high school or kindergarten and I thought it would be great to share a few fun metallic inspired ideas that would be perfect for a post-graduation brunch! Teresa of Rex & Regina Events actually threw this brunch for New Years but the awesome neutral colors would make a great alternative to typical graduation themes that flaunt the guest of honor’s Alma Mater. A few sparkly star drink stirrers and a bellini bar is just about all you need for a good time, right!?