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Archive for the ‘Party Theme’ Category

I was asked to bring dessert to a bridal shower the other day. The bride-to-be mentioned one of her favorite things to eat was Rice Krispies Treats. So I decided to make her a “wedding cake” out of Rice Krispies Treats with Fruit Roll-Ups for the trim.

It was a lot of fun to make and not hard – it just took some time. You want to give yourself about an hour and a half, start to finish, to do this project.

The cake was a big hit with both the bride and the guests – so that really made my day.

Ingredients

 

Melt marshmallows and butter until smooth.

Add cereal and mix well.

Press into greased cake pans.

 

Make your rosettes out of Fruit Roll-Ups. Cut a strip and start winding it around until it looks like a sweet little rose bud.

 

You need to make approximately a gazillion of these (or three dozen).

Make a bow by cutting a thin strip and looping it over one side then another to make a bow. Trim ends diagonally. You need three bows.

Assemble your cake layers on a cake stand or serving platter.

Wrap a “ribbon” around each layer and finish with a bow and rosette.

Place roses all over the top. They will stick together and stay on if you make sure they don’t get too greasy from the cake.

Give yourself a pat on the back and be prepared for the exclamations of surprise and joy over your creation!

Rice Krispies Treats Wedding Cake

6 tbsp. butter

8 cups miniature marshmallows

12 cups Rice Krispies Cereal

2 boxes of Fruit Roll-Ups

In a microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for about 3 minutes. I stirred after each minute. Stir until marshmallows are completely melted and smooth. Pour in cereal and mix well.

Grease cake pans. I used two 8-inch pans for the base, a 6-inch pan for the middle layer and a 4-inch pan for the top.

Spoon mixture into pans and press down. Set aside.

Unroll fruit roll ups.

Cut strips about 1/4 inch wide and about 4 inches long. Starting from one end, roll a tight little center for your rosebud. Continue lapping the roll up around that center, pinching in one end with your fingers as you go. Don’t pull it tight as you roll it around, let it wave a bit to make it look like petals. You’ll need approximately half a million rosettes for the cake (not really, it just seems like it!). I think I made about three dozen of them. Set aside.

Place your bottom layer of your “cake” on your serving dish upside down. Put the second half of the bottom layer directly on top and face right side up. Add the middle layer and the top. The treats are sticky enough, they will hold together without worrying about them wiggling around.

On a cutting board cut into 1/2 strips for the ribbon around the cake. Because these are sticky, they are easy to layer the ends to make the ribbon as long as you need. I pieced them together as I placed around the cake. I used them to hide the layers.

Cut 1/8 inch wide strips about 6 inches long for the bows. Just fold to make a lop on each side, trim the ends and press onto the ribbon on the cake. Add a rosette in the center.

When you have the ribbons around the layers, gently press rosettes into the top of the cake. The stickiness of the whole thing holds it together really well.

If you get grease on your fingers from the cake, make sure to wash your hands because the Fruit Roll-Ups do not stick to anything once they get greasy.

Enjoy!

She Who Had a Lot of Fun With This

 

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I’ve had a lot of searches lately for western party theme ideas.

Here are some fun links to websites with people much more creative and crafty than me who whipped up some fun centerpiece ideas!

Enjoy!

Bandanas and sunflowers combine for a striking centerpiece in this creation from Simple  and Easy Party Ideas Galore from The Girl Next Door.

I love the flower-in-a-boot idea from The Flower Studio.

Or this fun idea from Mitzvah Market by CherylStyle.com

I love this rope centerpiece idea from Truly Lovely. What a great way to repurpose old ropes!

I’m a huge fan of old jars, especially if they have already turned blue. This is such a lovely and simple idea from the Wedding and Party Network.

This gingham themed table from Kate Landers Events is just too fun!

Party on!

She Who Now Wants a Hoedown Party!

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With graduation season here, I thought it might be good to pull together some tips for graduation parties.

My biggest tip of the day is to not plan a family gathering for the same time a school-sponsored party is being held. Your graduate won’t appreciate missing one to attend the other. They’ve worked hard to get to where they are at, so let them celebrate all they can!

Start by thinking about the type of celebration you want to host. Will it be a low-key backyard barbecue or a formal gathering at a local restaurant?

  • Backyard Bash – everything about this celebration is casual. Have the grill-meister at your house cook up hotdogs and hamburgers. If you have room to plan a bonfire, you can keep the party going into the evening. Make sure you have the makings for S’mores.
  • Picnic – again a more casual feel, but no mess at your house to clean up. Maybe you and a couple of parents want to go together to host a joint celebration. Plan on easy to eat finger-type foods such as sandwiches or fried chicken. Make sure you take plenty of garbage bags, wet wipes for cleaning up messy fingers or spills, and a good supply of games. Play pin the mustache on a teacher by blowing up a photo from year book and cutting mustaches out of black construction paper. You could also print names of teachers on sticky labels and put on the backs of those attending. Those wearing the tags will have to ask others for descriptions, trying to guess who they are. An idea I just llove is having a memory box for each student. Offer an assortment of note papers (you could cut scrapbook paper into different sizes) and pens and ask students to write notes or share memories with each other. Give each student a box or envelope to collect the memories.
  • Restaurant or banquet facility – if you want a little more upscale celebration and don’t want to have to worry about the food, reserve a room at a local restaurant or conference center. This again may be something you do jointly with other parents, or it could be a small private celebration with close family members. Decide before hand on your budget and stick to it. Most conference centers with catering departments will work with you to choose selections that fit into your budget.

Once you know what type of party your want to host, send out some fun invitations. There are hundreds of paper selections you can choose from, you can send electronic invitations or you could even include a simple invitation with the graduation announcement. Let your grad help in deciding the type of theme and atmosphere they envision for their party.

If you are looking for some gift ideas for grads, here’s a list:

  • Luggage – I know I got a set for my high school graduation. It wasn’t the most exciting gift I received, but it was one I used for years and years.
  • Gift Cards – particularly to office supply stores or stores where they can pick up things for their new home (be it dorm or first apartment) like bedding, etc.
  • Digital camera  – fantastic for grads who are taking a trip with family or friends before they embark on their next adventure in life.
  • Netbook computer – these are smaller and lighter than laptops, but get the job done.
  • Dorm basket – for the high school grad who will be heading off to college, fill a laundry basket with some essentials like rolls of quarters, laundry supplies, a robe and slippers, an alarm clock, etc.

If you are feeling particularly crafty or creative, make a special little keepsake for each party attendee (or at least the grads and any kids in attendance).

Who wouldn’t love these fun graduation cap treats from Bakerella? Love, love this idea!

She Who Needs to Get Shopping for a Grad Gift

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If you’ve been putting off entertaining because you just don’t have any fun party ideas, why not choose a spring color for your inspiration?

Yellow screams spring time, daffodils and sunny days.

You can easily pull together a Mellow Yellow party theme.

Start with yellow card stock for your invitations or choose online invitations with some bright yellow accent like a smiley sun, bright tulips or lemons.

Decorations are simple – pile lemons into clear glass bowls, add a couple of yellow throw pillows to your decor. Fill a vase or two with yellow flowers and use a yellow tablecloth for your table.

Food choices can include anything yellow like pineapple, bananas, lemon (insert your favorite sweet like cake, cookies, tarts, pudding, pie), cheese, crackers, etc. Drinks can include lemonade and, if you want to really carry out your party theme, bottles of Mello Yello.

Of course, the hostess can also be attired in something yellow (unless the hostess is me in which case the hostess would look terribly ill).

Sorry, I digress.

I loved this dress. It just said Savvy Hostess while the shoes screamed  “We’re so cute! You should buy us.” Really, they did.

Have fun with your party theme and remember the most important thing is relaxing and having fun with your guests.

She Who Wants A New Hostess Outfit

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