Knot Too Shabby: Sailboat Cake + Easy Cupcake Liner Garland

Guys. This is as easy as 1-2-3. We're talking easy party idea! "Mellow sailing theme!" 

 Make a sweet and easy garland using about 24 mini cupcake liners.

 

 Make some cute sailboat themed toppers using craft paper, wooden skewers and washi tape!

Pipe your cake with a wavy buttercream ocean top!

 

 Now, party all day and sleep all night! (that's the dream of the new moms!) I'll have a medium-large slice, please! Muffin top for-eva!

You can read more about this ridiculously easy party idea over on my guest post at the awesome blog You Are My Fave!

Pink Tiger Cake + Mini Ruffly Cupcake Buddies

I kind of just want to cuddle this fluffy pink tiger face and give it a big old squeeze hug! But that's just not a cool idea! Especially since I have an aversion to food, namely dairy products, on my face.

Weird, yes. You won't see me indulging in a Cleopatra-inspired milk bath. Yuck!

Although since having baby Teddy in my life, "food on the face" has forcefully turned into a No Big Deal situation for me. Ha.

Back to the cake: very cute vanilla raspberry cake for little Angelina's 3rd birthday party, ordered by her Auntie Jenny! Angelina is a year of the tiger baby, hence the girly tiger cake. Love!

Happy birthday Angelina and thanks Jenny for the fun order!

xo Lyndsay

Burger Time! A Burger Cake Photo Tutorial

Hope you enjoyed this photo tutorial... anyone feeling hungry for drive-thru??

Full instructions can be found over at my post on the Craftsy blog!

Pretty as a Peacock Party Cake!

 

Our friend Joel is celebrating a super special milestone this month - marking one year of sobriety. He is a die-hard NHL Vancouver Canucks fan (even though he is from Montana) and has never been to a hockey game - so it seemed like the coolest and most special gift ever to give him two tickets to a Canucks game! We celebrated his one-year with a blue and green party!

I'm kind of into the idea of minimalist parties these days - maybe I have dessert table fatigue? Of course I love design and matchy matchiness and craft and the love and care that goes into a mega- coordinated party... but sometimes it's nice to just throw something together on the casual. I feel inspired by Jordan at Oh Happy Day for that. Her parties always feel like just enough party-time-ness - there's a modern simplicity to it - but never overdone.

Or, maybe I've just become party-lazy!!! Ha...

For party decor, I purchased two rolls of crepe paper streamers in blue and green at my local party supply shop for $2 each, and used them to make minimal decorations around the house. The good thing about minimal decor is it's not going to cost you an arm and a leg. I twisted the two together to make a loose easy garland around the window, then cut strips of streamers in alternating colours and taped them up to the doorway! I "finished" the edges by cutting a little "V" shape into them - nerd alert!

Testing out frosting styles with my two-toned buttercream!

And a close-up of the finished cake ... Isn't this, in TLC's words, crazy sexy cool!? Ha. Head on over to CRAFTSY for the full peacock coloured buttercream cake tutorial! Yes, I'm writing for the awesome Do It Yourself blog Craftsy now and I'm very excited about it!

And there ya go. Perfect for a simple birthday party, or a bridal shower, or a peacock themed party... or a one year sobriety party! Hooray Joel! We are so happy for you.

What are some of your favourite "throw a party on the fly" tricks? Would love to hear. 

xo Lyndsay

Cute + Easy Cupcake Party

Sometimes all you want is to pull off a simple little party with not too many frills - just enough cuteness without going overboard matchy-matchy. Keep your next party simple with a casual times approach: afternoon party anyone? For the menu - sandwiches and juice, fresh fruit, potato chips and cute and easy cupcakes in colorful liners with just a few sprinkles for crunch and colour! Plus, one little cupcake flag that can't help but scream out "party!"

You can find so many cute cupcake liners these days online - the choices are endless! I'm always a fan of these red and white stripey guys. Colorful liners also means you needn't overdose on much food colouring. Of course, a red or blue frosting mouth once in a while isn't going to hurt anyone... and kids in particular love sticking their tongue out in the mirror and marveling at the crazy colour... :)

Decor? A teensy vase with one bloom can go a long way, too! I snipped this pansy from a potted flower plant in my backyard. Or, arrange a collection of mini vases with single blooms for even more party cheer! I have a collection of inherited vintage plates, along with a decent collection of cake stands - but really, all you need is one cake pedestal. Different heights can add interest to a party table.  

What are your go-to tricks for throwing together a little party? Or can you not resist going nutso and working on every little detail, from the cake to the favours to the decor? (I've done both!) Do tell!

xo Lyndsay :)