Don't Toss your Bouquet

Save your bouquet and put it on display!



Vacuum freezedrying is the method used by Heller and Reid to preserve your bouquet. It's long lasting and retains the natural beauty of your flowers.
So don't toss, save your bouquet!

Bridesmaid Gift Idea: Purse Valet

Do you ever get tired of holding your purse on your lap during dinner? Have you ever pulled up an extra chair for your purse to have it's own seat? Well, you can give your handbag it's own place at the table without taking up space. I just received the Purse Valet in a gift bag, can't wait to try it out!

Naughty Nice Shower, Sunday April 26

The ladies over at Always a Bridesmaid are hosting a super swanky fantasy wedding shower this Sunday at the Morgan Hotel, in their penthouse suite! Fleurs will provide flowers and will be doing a bouquet demo, Agent Provocateur will have some gift gorgeous goodies, champagne cocktails will abound, and Always a Bridesmaid will be there to answer your questions. Hair and Makeup lessons will be given, and Mark Joseph Cakes will have samples of their sweet desserts. Entry is $25, but get registered now.. here Enter code FLEURS for free admission!
If you are going to be in the area, and plan on attending, please take some pics for me! I will be out of town!

My Daily Dose of Inspiration: Beach Tablescapes

Besides the April showers, it's not really feeling like Spring these days. So I'm totally skipping Spring today and moving on to Summer! Check out these great beach inspired tablescape I spotted at Bloomingdales! Talk about taking a theme to the extreme! Sand and shells are everywhere! Doesn't it make you want to hit the beach?!

Butterfly chandelier spotted on Pottery Barn Kids

Thanks to a Fete reader, I can now share where that pretty little butterfly chandelier can be purchased. Pottery Barn Kids! How Cute!


Guess what? If you don't like PBK prices...here is Etsy seller Kerleyskreations who makes something pretty similar for a fraction of the cost! Thanks to a very determined person searching the web, here you have it!

The Incredible Non Edible Egg

Easter is right around the corner! Do you have your Easter projects ready for the kids? How about for the adults? If not, try this one for size! These are a great spin on the traditional pastel Easter eggs! Let's call this the Incredible Non Edible Egg. They are way to pretty to eat! Besides, would you want to eat a Decoupaged egg?



These unique Chinese-inspired eggs make a lovely Easter project.

Preparing eggs for decoration
There are two methods used to prepare natural eggs before you decorate them -- blowing out the contents or cooking the contents. For either method, the first thing you want to do is examine your eggs for any visible cracks in the shells. The eggshell should feel dry to the touch. A noticeably slimy feeling may indicate bacterial growth, and powdery spots that come off when touched may indicate mold. Discard these eggs.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
• Red and black acrylic paints
• Chinese theme rubber stamps
• Gold ink pad
• Oriental papers (joss papers, foreign language newspapers)
• Decoupage medium
• Gold paint pen
• High-gloss, clear acrylic spray

1 Paint the eggs red or black. Let them dry.

2 Carefully stamp images onto the eggs with gold ink. Let the stamped images dry.

3 Cut out small shapes from the Oriental papers. Brush a thin coat of decoupage medium into a shape and apply it to the egg. Apply additional shapes, overlapping them as desired. Set the egg aside to dry.

4 Outline the shapes with the gold paint pen. You can also paint additional shapes onto the egg. Let the paint dry.

5 Spray the egg with high-gloss clear spray and let it dry.

Swap your Table Number for a Name

Many couples are going all out with creative escort card table displays. Don't stop at the display, replace your table number with a table name!
This couple used sea stones, and named their tables after the cities they traveled to together.


How about escort card topiaries? Cute!


These herb seed packets escorted guests to their tables named after common herbs.

All photos courtesy of The Knot

Foodie Friday: Tiny & Tasty Appetizers

Food is an important element of your wedding or party. You can make it playful,fun, and delicious! Sliders and bite size burgers are becoming increasingly popular for cocktail hour. Instead of red meat, serve up one of these options to cut some of those calories!

Seared Tuna


Mini Chicken Burger


Try making these cute clubs the next time you have your girls over.
Cut even more calories(minus the bacon of course) and prep time with these yummies.

Mini Clubs


1 tomato, chopped 4 slices OSCAR MAYER Center Cut Bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled 1/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing 1 pkg. (12 oz.) dinner rolls (12 rolls), split 3 KRAFT Deli Fresh Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices, each cut into 4 pieces 1 pkg. (9 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast 6 lettuce leaves, torn in half
Assemble

Now that you saved on calories, you can pack them back on with these...
(I couldn't forger a mini desert,**wink**)
Mini Pies


INGREDIENTS
1 can (21 oz) cherry, blueberry or apple pie filling
1 Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust (from 15-oz box), softened as directed on box
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
Sugar
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 450°F. Spoon 1/3 cup pie filling into each of six 6-oz custard cups.
2. Remove pie crust from pouch; place crust flat on work surface. Sprinkle flour over crust. Place crust, floured side down, on cutting board or pastry cloth.
3. With 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut 6 rounds from edges of dough. Place each over pie filling. Cut slits on top of each. Sprinkle with sugar. Place custard cups in 15x10x1-inch pan.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Colorful Chocolate

Chocolate anyone? A cool way to add Flair to your perfect desert ending is the Chocolate Fountain. Don't just stop at the regular milk chocolate, incorporate your event color palette in the chocolate!






photo credit Fountains for All Occasions

DIY: Paper Lanterns

Looking for an interesting way to display your table number or menu? Check out these beauties from project wedding.



Directions
Using two sheets of 8.5" x 11" cardstock, score according to the dimensions shown. I use the back end of a butter knife as a scoring tool along with a metal ruler.