Valentines That Glitter: Pink Grapefruit Martinis

Continuing the glittery pink + gold Valentines theme, impress your party guests with a Pink Grapefruit Martini.  These swanky cocktails are the perfect shade of pale pink, and are completely delicious with or without alcohol. To make your martinis extra special...

- Modernize a basic martini glass by painting a gold trim around the base. Metallic gold craft paint works great and is generally non-toxic. 

- Make your glasses sparkle by adding a dash of gold luster dust to white sugar. Use your finger to swipe water around the rim, then dip in the sugar mixture. 

- To create glittery stir sticks, use a heart shaped punch or stencil on glitter sticker paper (found at your local craft or scrapbooking store). Sandwich hearts together over half of a wooden skewer.

Want to see more of this party?  Click here: valentine cards \\ sweet treats \\ handmade favors \\ on display 
  

photos © sherry heck
styling and design collaboration: CAKE. + Cakewalk Baking

Pink Grapefruit Martini

Ingredients
2 oz vodka or gin (optional)
½ oz fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice
½  oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
¼ oz simple syrup
2 dashes orange bitters

Directions
In a tall mixing glass filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled, sugar rimmed martini glass. 
 
recipe created by Levi & Remik, bartenders at Zut!

Valentines That Glitter: Free Printable Cards + Stickers

I’m over at One Charming Party this week featuring my Valentine’s day collaboration with Michele of Cakewalk Baking. We’ll be sharing even more unique ideas here, so be sure to check in on both sites for some beautiful pink + gold glittered projects all week long.  We're so excited about this one and hope you find the perfect inspiration for your Valentines Day, or even for a glamorous bridal or baby shower.

Let's kick things off with a freebie, shall we? Valentines Day is the perfect time to send a handwritten note.  Whether you prefer traditional hearts or modern arrows, with these darling printable notecards and stickers you can send a sweet message to all the loves in your life.

Want to see more of this party?  Click here: pink grapefruit martinis \\ sweet treats \\ handmade favors \\ on display

photos © sherry heck
styling and design collaboration: CAKE. + Cakewalk Baking

 

Tips:
- Print notecards on heavy cardstock in ivory or cream. Each card is 3x5 when cut.
- Circles can be printed on 8.5x11 whole sheet sticker labels (or on cardstock to make favor tags) and punched with a 2” circle punch.
- To add a little sparkle: glue over your heart and sprinkle with glitter, or toss some heart shaped confetti in your envelope for a shimmering surprise.

Simply Styled. | Say Cheese

via cupcakes + cutlery

A Retro Mad Men Inspired 25th Birthday

After an absurdly long hiatus, Mad Men is finally returning to AMC on March 25th.  If you're anticipating the new season with as much giddy excitement as I am, you're certain to be inspired by this party.  The ladies of Dulce Sobremesa put together a small + glitzy Mad Men inspired affair for a friend's 25th birthday.  The retro colors, polka dot pattern, and festive props are the perfect touches to bring out a swanky retro vibe.  Kinda puts me in the mood for a martini...

photos © dulce sobremesa


For more from Dulce Sobremesa, click here.

Free Printable: Shhh... Door Hangers for Mom + Baby

I designed these printables for the lovely Jordan of Polka Dot Prints while she's away spending time with her beautiful new baby girl...

Every new mama has heard the advice 'sleep while the baby sleeps', but with so many people (big + small) crying out for your attention, sometimes a nap begins to feel like an impossibility. I designed these door hangers as a little gift to Jordan during her maternity leave, and for all moms who could use some serious R+R.

 Simply print the file onto heavy cardstock, cut and hang over your door knob- either on your front door to warn off guests that unexpectedly drop by, or outside your bedroom and nursery to remind your family to keep the volume down during naptime. Hope you enjoy... and finally get the rest you deserve.

Download PDF here.

photos © cake. 2012

A Vintage Winter One-derland

Another stunning event submitted by Little Miss Party... this first birthday in soft pinks, white, gold and natural burlap is too pretty for words.  Read on below for all the sweet vintage details...

photos © raquel bianca 

From Little Miss Party: Colette’s mom wanted the party to feel soft, vintage and feminine and since the party was in the beginning of January (when it usually is cold and snowy), we loved the idea of using muted pink, soft gold, ivory and burlap brown for the color story.  Above the food station our source of decor was a really pretty bunting made out of many strips of fabric. We spent an afternoon at Mood in the garment district picking out fabrics that were unique in texture, pattern and color making this banner different and interesting against the large wrought iron windows that fit in so perfectly with the vibe of this party.  We also thought it would be fun to spruce up the winter crudite by serving in glass cubes that I covered with burlap fabric and decorated with pretty ribbon.  Above the bar we set a string of photos of the birthday gal.  Traci loves Coke so I thought it would be really cute to get some of the old school bottles to set out on a wood tray and they were a hit. We also set out vintage looking milk bottles for the kids with C’s and 1′s tied with ribbon around each. We had some fun with the coffee station as well spicing up the design on our cups and serving hot cocoa for what we thought would be a cold winter’s day.  Last but certainly not least – dessert. This table was my favorite. So clean and pretty looking.  We also took fabric and draped it over the stairs that we used for gifts. This was a perfect way to keep the kids from climbing up to the deck and trying to escape from the 13th floor of this loft…not to mention looked very pretty!  The party was timed nicely, the music flowed throughout and the guests truly seemed to enjoy themselves. Most importantly, our guest of honor Colette was happy and looked to have a smashing time at her first birthday party.

Venue: Ramscale 

Music: Appleseeds 

Caterer: Cobblestone Catering

Cake Pops: Kreated by Kristan 

Cake + Cupcakes: Sugar Sweet Sunshine 

Favors: Vintage Confections

For more from Little Miss Party, click here. 

10 Takeaways from Alt Summit 2012

 photo © justin hackworth via alt summit

I’m back! Did you miss me? Before we get back to blog business as usual, I wanted to share just a hint of my experience at Alt Summit with you. This trip was essentially a week of college for design bloggers, and I mean that in all of the best possible ways.  Some of my online acquaintances have become dear friends and I’ve returned home with invaluable networking connections, a new perspective and a wealth of information (not to mention some pretty amazing swag… yeah, I’m talking about you Epiphanie bags). I’m going to need more time to process it all, but for those of you who are interested, here are my top 10 takeaways from the trip:

1. Your most valuable connections might get made while you’re 30,000 feet in the air, or waiting in line for the ladies room.  Always, always be prepared.

2. Using the manual settings on your camera makes all the difference in the world. No more denial. Photography classes begin next week.

3. As a whole, design bloggers are an insanely generous and welcoming group.  Also, we sure do love us some stripes + ballet flats.

4. Your roommates can be your best source of motivation, inspiration and advice.... totally worth the messy hotel room.

5. You can increase or decrease the size of a brush tool in Photoshop just by using the bracket keys. Doh... thanks Ollibird.

6. Publishing a book is not nearly as lucrative, profitable or even fun as one might think. But it sure does come with some good street cred.

7. “If you don’t bet on yourself nobody else will.”  - Ben Silbermann, Pinterest

8. The only thing better than 1 fabulously designed party is 8 fabulously designed mini-parties.

9. I don’t know nearly enough about (you) my dear readers. I’m going to correct that and soon...

10. “If you cram your life with the things you love, there’s no room for the things you don’t.”  - Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

If you're interested in more information on a specific subject from the conference, I'm happy to share... feel free to drop me a line in the contact form with your request.

I'm Going to Alt.

Hurray!  My bags are packed with sequins and my business cards are dressed up + ready to go.  I'm leaving tomorrow for Altitude Design Summit and I couldn't be more excited.  I'll be spending the next four days learning, networking and meeting the very people who have inspired this blog to become.  Oh, and then there's that little matter of my discussion group, which I can't dwell on too much because I'll bite off my nails from nerves.  I can't wait to return home with loads of fresh motivation... the perfect way to kickstart a new year.  Wish me luck!

Of course, you'll be attending Alt with me this week, I'd love to meet you in person.  Drop me a line or send a tweet to @cakeeventsblog. 

photo © cake. 2011

Simply Styled. | Pink + Patterned

via sweet tooth // styled by somewhere splendid // photos by paper antler

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

You know how sometimes a beautiful photo of food catches you in the right mood and you feel like you might faint if you don't have some right.now? When I saw this cake at with butter...always, I melted.  I haven't gotten a chance to make it yet, but my mind is completely preoccupied with visions of lemon and poppyseed... as in 'Wait, what was that you were saying?  No, I'm sorry, my head is filled with cake right now'.

 photos © julie marie craig

Sophia's First Birthday

I've been behind the mark on some of my most beloved blogs.  So what before my eyes should appear, but this bit of first birthday loveliness from Sunday Suppers... 

photography © karen mordechai

You Rock.

Ladies and gentlemen, the boombox is back. In a tinier, letterpressed, much quieter package that is. Mark this one under too cool not to share...

via frolic!

The Obliteration Room

Hello again + hurray for 2012!  I found this art installation completely brilliant and metaphoric for the start of a new year.  It begins with a clean slate... a pure white room.  Over the course of two weeks, the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane handed out thousands of colored dot stickers to children, who were invited to collaborate in the transformation of the space, turning a contrived living area into a vibrant explosion of color.

My hope is that by year's end we all find our opportunity to grow and shine just this brightly.

via colossal