Lovely for Less . . .

Who doesn't love a gorgeous milk glass centerpiece;  beautiful bouquets of blooms set amongst the bright white class of vintage vases is definitely a look that you're sure to love.  But creating something this lovely can set you back a pretty penny. 

 Milk glass can cost $30 and up a vase, depending on the size & condition, and when your dream consists of a cluster of three to five vases per every centerpiece and you have a room full of tables to fill, well this can get pricey!!  

But have no fear, because we've got you covered!  All you need is a determined little DIY bride or shower hostess and you will have the room bursting with whimsy in no time . . . for basically pennies too!!!  Just follow along . . .

Fresh blooms in bright white milk glass is the inspiration . . .

But let's save a fortune by using fluffy tissue poms or crepe paper flowers instead . . .

Still need to make a major cutback on the cost?  How about making your own milk glass then?  Who knew it could be THIS simple?!!!

(via  http://emmalinebride.com/handmade-wedding/diy-milk-glas....ieces/)

That's right . . . soup cans, glass cylinder vases from the Dollar Tree, and even soda cans can be dotted with puffy paint, allowed to dry, and then sprayed with white paint and you will have all of the vintage charm of milk glass with none of the price!!!

Now that is pure thrifty brilliance at its very best!!!

A Very Big Announcement from Juneberry Lane . . .

I am so very excited to spread the word to you all and let you know that we are expecting Baby #2!  It is such a relief to explain to you why there were days of missing posts due to complete exhaustion and a serious case of all-day morning sickness!  But the first trimester is over and things are getting better everyday...so it will be back to our usual party inspiration from here on out!!

This little lovebug is due October 25th, 2012 (can you imagine all of the fun we will have doing an Autumn birthday?  YAY!!!)  and we couldn't be more excited over here!!!  Of course, stay tuned for a fun gender reveal and nursery design sure to come your way in the weeks & months ahead!!!  Here are a few more pics from our fun & exhausting photo shoot yesterday.

***footnote ~ only 3 cupcakes were harmed in the making of this baby announcement!!  Have a wonderful day!!

p.s If you are looking for a few cupcake circles to announce the upcoming arrival of the newest member of your family, just send us a message and we will be happy to oblige:)  Or visit the Juneberry Lane Etsy Shop for a couple of new additions in the days ahead!!

Wedding Wednesday: Papel Picado . . . Romantic, Colorful, and Simply Splendid!!

In honor of the approaching Cinco de Mayo, I thought today would be the perfect Wedding Wednesday to direct your attention to one of my favorite wedding traditions straight from Mexico.  I am addicted, ADDICTED to Papel Picado; the color, the intricate & delicate design . . . quite simply one of the most fabulous things ever in my opinion.

And what is this Papel Picado I speak of, you ask?  Papel picado is a beautiful Mexican folk art tradition of cutting elaborate designs into colorful tissue paper; it basically means 'perforated paper'. Using a small hammer and chisel an artist can create as many as 50 banners at a time, but there are plenty of ideas for a DIY bride armed with a pair of scissors.

So first, I will provide you with a bit of inspiration . . . and then a simple little tutorial will be heading your way soon . . . so that you can create your own strand of beautiful folk art . . . perfect to string a-top your mantel for the upcoming holiday or to hang above your homemade margarita bar.  Take a look . . .

In all of it's authentic splendor . . .

Invitations to die for . . .

And how about this for a rehearsal dinner?  A Rehearsal Fiesta!!!!

Crazy for cakes . . .

Seating cards . . .

Love this handheld bunting . . .

Feeling the love . . .

A night to remember . . .

Don't you just love all of that gorgeous color?  And now I am totally stuck on the idea of a Rehearsal Fiesta complete with everyone's favorite Mexican food and free-flowing margaritas.  Although, convincing your guests to hit the hay before dawn so they aren't falling asleep at the wedding might be whole new challenge entirely:)

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY Mini-Piñatas for a Cinco de Mayo Good Time . . .

Oh my goodness, can you believe it is nearly May?!  Summer is almost here and it is time to start having some fun!! And what better way to open the gates to the warmest season of the year than to kick things off with a Cinco de Mayo Celebration?!

Need a bit of inspiration to get your party wheels a-turning?  Well don't worry, we'll be sure to send a few things your way in the days ahead.  But first, let's get the ball rolling with a fun little project from the Ruffled Blog to get you in the spirit of things...DIY mini-Piñatas!!  Take a peek . . .

Supplies You Will Need:
~ Small balloons (I used 7″ balloons, but water balloons may work too)
~ Flour & water for papier mâché
~ Newspaper or any thin paper
~ Candy to go inside the pinata (we used saltwater taffy)
~ Scissors
~ Elmer’s glue
~ Tissue paper
~ Glasses or a base to hold the piñatas while they dry

Directions:
1.) Blow up balloon to desired size and tie with a knot. Ours were about 5-6 inches long. Rip paper into small pieces – strip or square shapes are great, but really any shape will do. Mix equal parts of water and flour for papier mâché glue paste.

2.) Start gluing pieces of paper onto balloon, allowing an opening around the balloon tie for candy once it’s dry. We didn’t bother with a brush to glue the pieces and went straight to using my hands – another tip to speed up the process. Once your balloon is covered with its first layer of paper, let it dry for a few hours. Repeat the process until is thick enough to hold candy without the shell breaking. Three layers were sufficient for me and sturdy enough that they wouldn’t break if they fell on the floor, but you can add more to make them stiffer if you’d like.

3.) While your papier mâché dries, you can get your tissue paper ready. Again, we batch fringed tissue paper by folding a long strip of paper (about 4 inches wide) in half lengthwise so it’s 2 inches wide. Then fold the paper the other direction a few times and cut 2/3 of it’s width, so my paper was 2 inches wide, I cut slits of about 1.50 – 1.75 inches wide. To save us a little more time, we didn’t bother measuring measuring how wide each strip should be.

4.)  Once your papier mâché is dry, you can start layering your fringed tissue paper. I went against my own advice on this particular pinata and started from the top down. Don’t do that. By the time I was finishing gluing the last layer, the fringes on the top were wrinkled and some ripped. Always start layering the fringe from the bottom up. Here I used school glue, but I think flour paste could work too (but I’d use a brush since tissue paper is much more delicate than newspaper). I used three layers for each color tier.

5.) With a needle, gently poke a hole on the balloon to deflate it. Pull balloon out and we’re ready to add the candy!

6.) To create a handle for the mini piñata, thread a tag in a ribbon and make a knot halfway. Tie the ends of the ribbon onto a candy.

7.) Now you’re ready to add candy and seal the pinata. Add the handle last and seal the pinata with a matching piece of tissue paper.

*** You will  use a little less than 20″x8″ worth of tissue paper per colored tier for each piñata favor. You can reuse the scraps of paper to create confetti to add in each pinata along with the candy.  The specific type and colors of tissue paper above are are Emerald, Peridot, and Aquamarine. The glittery paper is called gemstone tissue paper, and it can be found online at places like this. Total cost for each piñata favor is under a dollar including the candy:)  SCORE!!

Pretty in Pink . . .

And how much fun would one of these be for a Gender Reveal Party?  You could fill the inside of the balloon with pink or blue confetti or whatever little pink or blue treat you can think of...when you pull the string on the Piñata "SURPRISE!!  It's a  . . . !"

Wouldn't a beautiful blooming piñata be amazing, decorated with pink & blue flowers and full of pink or blue confetti?

The main points of the tutorial are the same, except for the flowers and a bigger balloon of course!  For directions on how to make that lovely number above, visit Kate Landers HERE . . .

We'll leave you with a real-life Gender Reveal caught on camera . . .

Okay, so whether you are planning on having a rousing good time this Cinco de Mayo or are planning on revealing the gender of your baby to your family & friends in a way full of fun, this little project is sure to add some life to the party!!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!!

Fantastic Fabric Party Inspiration . . .

Party inspiration can come from anywhere; you can be strolling through a supermarket, see a bag of blue corn tortilla chips, and the vision of an entire evening of enjoying made-from-scratch margaritas and homemade fajitas with your nearest and dearest can unfold before your eyes.  You can spend a day at the beach and leave with the notion of a backyard luau complete with fresh leis, a blooming orchid tucked behind your ear, and something frosty to sip straight from a coconut.

But what do you do when a case of party-planner's block hits you and you just can't seem to find the missing link to your big day that will tie it all together in that oh-so-fabulous way you have been dreaming of?  Why, take a quick trip to your local fabric store or even your favorite home decor department and wait for the moment to strike you.  Just take a look at how a swatch of fabric can be translated into beautiful party details . . .

(Marimekko Cake by Wild Orchid & courtesy of http://cakecentral.com)

Inspired by this Marimekko Unikko Fabric . . .

Or how about a flash of genius sparked by your favorite Jonathan Adler pattern?

(Jonathan Adler-Courtesy of Brides Magazine)

(Jonathan Adler via Kate Sullivan for Lovin Sullivan Cakes)

A bright concept brought on by a moment with a swatch of Jessica Jones fabric . . .

(gumball Cake photo courtesy of http://www.atypicaltypea.com)

And I really can't get enough of this Marimekko fabric . . .

A sweet little girl's birthday party would look totally fab with a Waverly theme . . .

(above two photos courtesy of http://www.atypicaltypea.com)

And you don't need to just stick with the cake . . .

(invitations courtesy of http://www.merrimentdesign.com)

(above images via http://www.projectwedding.com)

Lovely Amy Butler stationary . . .

(Amy Butler fabric via http://www.100layercake.com/)

And a gorgeous backdrop inspired by a pattern from Joel Dewberry fabric . . .

(http://thebridesguide.marthastewartweddings.com)

So the next time you are looking for that 'a-ha' moment when planning your big shindig or special occasion, take a walk through your local fabric store or even the home decorating aisle of your local Target...you just might find that bit of inspiration to turn your next event into a night to remember . . .