sincerely yours, dena

A good thing about making cupcakes for a special event is that you can sample a cupcake prior to know they taste good without anyone knowing. It’s kinda hard to hide the fact that you tasted the sheet cake. I used my favorite carrot cake recipe to make this cute cupcakes for a wedding shower.

I try to avoid buying off of registries if all possible. For my friend Maggie’s shower I had a no brainer gift. She and her hubby-to-be saw a dwarf lemon tree in a gardening catalog and got all excited about it but never pulled the trigger to buy one. So I ordered them a tree and had it delivered directly to their house. That was a selfish move as well, knowing that I was going to assist in carting the gifts from the shower home:). I wrapped up lemon so she would have something to open at the shower.

My girlfriend needed a invitation in a pinch for her bridal shower. Weddings are like my favorite thing in the world so of course I jumped at the opportunity to help. I always make 3 different versions of something I make so the person can pick but my first one is always the best. Of course she loved the first one too!

These flowers make a huge difference when decorating for a party. I made these a few years ago for a “Mexican Themed Baby Shower” at work. They are going to get some more mileage this summer at a bridal shower I’m helping throw.

Idea for “She who must not be named“

The hostess at my friend’s “wine tasting” bachelorette party wrote all the guests names on rubber bands and used them as wine glass markers.
It served 2 purposes:

1. No fear of cootie exchange cause everyone could keep track of their glass
2. If after a few glasses you forgot the name of the person you were talking to, no prob cause it’s written on their glass

A cool wedding recipe sticker from EKSuccess slapped on cardstock, trimmed then glued on a card makes a great and easy shower card.

If I buy a gift off a registry, I have to do something to it to make it original. So….. if you buy a pillow, make a pillowcase! The bride will never forget what her husband looks like. I should have wrote on it, “If lost, pls return me to my wife”

I just have too much fun with iron on transfers.

It’s my second anniversary today and we celebrated the traditional way by buying a new comforter that was 100% cotton.

Anniversary Gift Table

Taken from about.com

Surprise engagement party a’la purple (the bride to be fav color.) I ordered mini cupcakes from Party Favors and used a glass 3 tier desert tray to form a cake like shape. I bought some fabo wrapping paper and cut an inch & 1/2 strip to use as a rim. I also used the same paper as a table cloth. My favorite surprise party ‘party favor’ is blown up cut outs of the couple’s faces. They serve as masks so the guest can reveal themselves one by one.

Got a wedding or wedding shower to go to and your not sure what to get them? This is the answer. I’ve done different variations with substituting the “box” for a “basket” or changing the color or types of candles (either votives or tapers). You can also include candle holders, snuffers or matches to personalize the gift. If the couple registered for fancy candle holders but you feel like you want to add a special touch, this gift is perfect. Make sure you make the text couple appropriate. For example: if they already have a child, be sure to adjust the line “By this time we hope just maybe, You’ll light the purple candles to welcome another baby”. You get the general idea.

A box of candles for you two to share
Wrapped with love for the special “pair”

Love Always,
Dena & Matty