Hostess Jo at Home

Nesting Baby Shower

I'm so excited to share with you the photos from my Nesting Baby Shower my wonderful friends threw me this past weekend!  The decorations were gorgeous plumes, birds, nests and butterflies- all pretty in pink and green.  I am so lucky to have such great girlfriends to throw me such a lovely shower. 

Look closely... there are so many special details!  Enjoy!

 

Welcome Wreath

 

Wishing Tree-this was so fun to go back and read everyone's well wishes! 

 

More lovely bird decor.  I got to take the bird cages home and display them in the nursery.

 

The hostesses borrowed my manzanita branch trees and they looked great with the nest eggs hanging from them.  These trees were the best decoration I've ever made!

"Reese" spelled out in paper circles.

There were butterflies everywhere!

Gorgeous food table.

So cute- nest cupcakes, tags and circles made by my friend Nicole.

 

Feather centerpieces

Nesting bird centerpiece.  Love the plumes.

Jelly bean "egg" favors with coordinating tags by Nicole.  Notice the heart hole punch!

Hope my shower gives you even more Nesting inspiration for your next baby shower!  

Marshmallow Snowmen

I stumbled upon these little cuties in my latest issue of All You and just had to share.  These would make great holiday party favors or even place card holders.  BONUS-the kids will love helping you make these!

Ingredients

• Marshmallows
• Melted caramels
• Gingersnaps
• Decorative elements (sprinkles, royal icing, pretzel sticks, spice drops, fruit leather, food coloring and pink Cake Mate Decors)

Preparation

1. Dip a marshmallow in melted caramel; place on a gingersnap. Put sprinkles over excess caramel. Halve a marshmallow for head and attach with royal icing. Insert pretzels in body.

2. Flatten a spice drop; attach another to form hat. Cut scarves and bow ties from fruit leather; tuck under head. Dye royal icing and pipe eyes, nose and buttons. Attach pink Decors for cheeks.
 

Baking Goodies

One of my favorite shops-Fancy Flours has a new website!  The new design is so user friendly and full of eye candy!  They have tips and and how-tos on every baking project you could dream of.  I could spend all day looking at their new fall and Halloween ideas, toppers, cupcake wrappers, cupcake stands etc etc! 

Here are a few of my favorites.  I don't have enough room for them all!

Back to School Cupcakes

 

Kick-off Cupcakes

 

Fall Owl Cookies

 

Candy Corn Cookies

 

Now I just need one of these cookies to dunk in my coffee!

Sweet Pea Featured

I'm so excited! Our Sweet Pea shower is featured today on Creative Parties and Showers!  Head on over to see this shower and get many other fun ideas for showers and parties!  Thanks Shannon for the great introduction!

Candy Cornucopia

I hope this post isn't too soon for everyone.  We had beautiful fall-like weather here this weekend and it got me thinking of all things FALL!  As you know, it is my absolute favorite time of year.  The vibrant colors and cooler temps bring new energy with them. 

This candy cornucopia is one of the cutest things I've seen in a while!  I couldn't wait til September to share it with you.  What a fun activity this would be for kids.  These would make great favors for a fall themed shower or party too.

 

How-to:

Heat water in a teakettle, and put pointed end of a sugar cone into spout. Let steam until softened, about 1 minute. Gently curve end 1/2 inch from tip; hold for 15 seconds. Steam 1 side of cone's open end; press to flatten (so cone won't roll). Let cool until set. Dip edge in melted white chocolate, and roll in chopped pistachios. 

Refrigerate until set. Fill with jelly beans and serve, or store in a covered container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.

 

(photo and how-to from marthastewart.com)

End of Summer Party Inspiration

I love that Sunflowers are making a big comeback for late Summer decorating!  They are so bright and cheerful.  To me they signal that Fall is not far away (thank goodness!). 

Here are a few ideas for incorporating them into your End of Summer Parties:

The yellow and dark brown really make an impact on this table setting.

 

These plates would be perfect for an end of summer gathering.  They are rustic and earthy.  

 

This sunflower table decor incorporates lemons.  A great addition to the bright yellow and blue.  These arrangements are a bit dressier with roses added to the bouquets.

 

Pillow covers to spread the theme throughout your house.

 

And for dessert...sunflower cupcakes.

 

Sunflower seeds would make perfect party favors!  I love the rustic simplicity of this arrangement.

Sunflowers are so versatile.  You can dress them up or down.  Combined with other flowers or alone they make unique arrangements.  I hope this inspires you to say goodbye to summer with a celebration.  Have fun planning all of your end of summer soirees!

Lollipop, Lollipop

Don't you agree that lollipops are the new cupcakes?  I will always love cupcakes and their many flavors and decorations but lollipops are a lot of fun too.  Turns out, they aren't difficult to make yourself!  You can make a whole batch of your favorite flavor.  Mine is lime!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 (3-ounce) box cherry gelatin dessert
• Nonstick vegetable cooking spray

Directions

20 lollipop sticks

Metal tablespoon measure

Candy thermometer

Butter or spray nonstick vegetable cooking spray onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Arrange half of the lollipop sticks on each and set aside.

Cook's Note: When measuring corn syrup, spray measuring cup with nonstick spray as corn syrup will pour out smoother.

In a small saucepan over medium heat add sugar, butter and corn syrup together until sugar has dissolved.

Slowly bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Insert a candy thermometer into syrup and continue cooking until temperature reaches 300 degrees F. Remove from heat. Stir in gelatin until smooth. Cook's Note: This sugar syrup is very hot and can cause a painful burn!

Using a metal tablespoon and working quickly, drop heaping spoonfuls of lollipop syrup on end of each lollipop stick. Cool completely. Wrap each sucker in plastic wrap and store in an air tight container.

(photo from foodtv.com)

Sweet Pea Shower

Well the Sweet Pea shower was a success!  This theme was a lot of fun to work with and pretty easy too.  This shower was done on a budget and in a short amount of time but I think it turned out pretty well. The mom-to-be loved it, and that is most important :)  

The mom-to-be does not know the sex of the baby but said she loved the color green.  I wanted to go with a bright green instead of a muted green and I really found a lot more decorations in the brighter green to my delight.

Here is the dessert table with the "pea" filled baby bottle favors (everyone loved).  The petit fours have peas in a pod on them.  I found the Baby Love green bag at Hallmark and fell in love with it.  It went so well with the colors.  I used it to give the mom-to-be a few items to take home. The coordinating paper ware is from Hostess Jo.

 

I also used the bottles as part of the table decorations.

 

One of the centerpieces.  I used real peas!  The outer vase is larger than the center one.  I inserted the flowers in the smaller one then into the larger one and filled with peas. 

 

The cute circle paper is actually a gift bag I cut into squares.  I thought it was really fun and colorful.

 

 

I also scattered green glass gems on the table that I brought from home.

 

My pea in a pod creation.  I used felt and spray painted styrofoam balls.

 

The ladies munched on mini bbq sandwiches and 7 layer salad with peas.  

 

These are the candles I used on the food table.  White unscented candles surrounded by peas!

 

Even the 7 layer salad fit into the decor!

 

Hope this gives you inspiration for your next Sweet Pea shower!  This theme works great with twins or triplets too.

If you'd like to see more pics from the shower head on over to our Facebook page. 

Sneak "Pea"k

Here is a pic of the favors I'm doing for the Sweet Pea shower this weekend.  I ordered the bottles and personalized stickers from here.  I filled them with Sour Apple Jelly Bellies to look like peas.  Check back next week for more pics from the shower!

Faux Firecrackers

Here is an easy craft idea for your July 4th table.  Bonus-you don't have to worry about injuries with these firecrackers AND you can use them as party favors!

 

You'll need:

• Mailing tubes and plugs in assorted sizes ( containerstore.com; 800-PAPER-01)
• Red, white and blue construction paper or scrapbook paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Silver tassels
• Star-shaped paper punch
• Assorted ribbons and rickrack

1. Cover a tube in construction paper, using glue to secure, alternating colors and designs.

2. Use scissors or a knife to carefully make a small slot in one plug. Thread silver tassels through opening and tie in a knot to secure.

3. Decorate by gluing star-shaped cutouts and ribbons on tubes as desired. 

4. To use as party favors fill with red, white and blue M&Ms or other festive candies. 

5. Group various sizes and designs together on a plate or tray and sprinkle tray with patriotic confetti.

(photo from allyou.com)