Preparing For the Baby Announcement Picnic Basket

For Joie's one month baby annoucement hamper, or widely known as Manyue/ Manye, we wanted to give something special and useful for the receiver to keep and use them. My friend Yulni gave a lot of suggestions and I decided on picnic basket. I had a lot of fun looking for things to fill the basket with good quality items and also they had to fit into my budget.

Picnic Basket ordered from Madewithlovelyby Pepperbliss

Colorful frosted mugs from Kandadinda Souvenir and custom print from freebie image from Weddingchicks

Smiley wooden spoons from Aliexpress seller

Gold rimmed 6" ceramic plates from Senin Indah

Japanese inspired honey citron cookies made by Surely+Someday and added Kinder chocolate eggs

Assembled into the box

Fitting into the straps and pockets

Tagging the baskets with free printables from Smitten Blog Designs. Thank you for the lovely freebies!!

Ready to be delivered

Vintage Hankerchief Baby Announcement

Ordered vintage scalloped handkerchiefs from a Aliexpress seller and had them shipped from China in a big envelope. It said 100% cotton but I have to say it felt more like polyester due to the stiff material.

Found the flower wreath on free DIY printables from Wedding Chicks/
Printed the announcement on iron-on transfer paper. Its easy and fast but it came out to be a plasticy film over the handkerchiefs.I wanted to try stamping but I ran out of time to custom the stamp.

Woodland Birthday Cake

Source of Inspiration - Andrea Sweet Cake

 I made some sketches of some woodland animals and tried to make my first fondant 3d characters from scratch. It would be easier if I purchase books on how to make 3d fondant characters step by step... All I can say after this cake is that - I will be on a long hiatus to make characters

 The base was my sister's favorite Rose Levy's Grand Marnier Chocolate Chip Cake. I will probably find time some day to post the recipe up. Frosted it with chocolate ganache, then fondant the cake.
 

 The tree trunk needed a extra layer of cake and each layer was frosted with vanilla buttercream.Since I don't have brown fondant, I made chocolate from scratch with marshmallow and cocoa, which was surprisingly not very difficult as I expect it to be. Using toothpick and fondant veiner tools, I tried my best to give textures to make the trunk look somewhat real.

Use buttercream to pipe the vines and leaves

The birthday girl and her woodland friends

More friends. Making the wordings was another challenge.

The cake

 Grace, my darling niece, I hope when you are old enough for your mommy to let you use the internet browser, and that you come by to read Auntie's blog, you can feel my love for you. Hugs and kisses from Auntie!

Pillow Invitation with Headbands for Baby J & I Birthday 2011 Party

I first bought the princess crown headbands for my daughter and my nieces from Pasar Pagi (traditional wholesale market in Jakarta) and decided to go back and buy more to give as invitations so all the little girls can be princesses. Since they sold out of the crowns, I went about to buy few dozens of other cute headbands from  for average $10 for a dozen.

After making few boxes of these, I decided to save paper and make these:

Pillow case envelope! Inspired by Watermark invitation for my bridal shower

One pillow case envelope only uses one A4 paper. I used local bookstore bought Conqueror 250gr fancy paper, drew and cut a prototype. Once I have the prototype done, its easier from there to draw the sides to cut. Using the blunt side of scissors to pressure carve on the curves so that it will be easier and neater to fold. I the double-taped the sides. To finish the envelope, fold in the curves. One done...30 more to go...

 Next to do was printing the invitation. Cut them and used a puncher to punch round corners on the invitation. After that was to put the invitation and headbands in. Ummm... the double tape didn't do much a good job on sticking the sides and the envelope was bursting. I tried to a tape to stick the sides from the exterior then almost decided to overlook the imperfections... then finally, I resorted to staple the gaping envelopes.

Made the name sticker tags with vintage image found under free printables. The envelope looked very plain with just the name sticker so I spruced it up with ribbons. Voila! Invitations done!

Baby K 1st Birthday - Travel Around The World Party

Its all in the details and my sis love doing all the decor details by herself. Here's my niece's, K's 1st birthday pictures and the theme is Around the World

Welcome table decor

Globe, framed world art map, family pictures, party hats, and a mini luggage

Candies for little guest

3d and balloon decor by Fairy Floss

My sis own decor. Cake stands, candy jars, and other decor were sourced online. The vintage balloon can be sourced by FB sellers, such as Shiori. Cake and cupcakes by Cupcake Moment.

Crayola goody-bags for the little guests

Carnival Birthday Party -2010

This birthday was done and hosted by my sis in her house for her daughter and my girl 2 years ago (again, a very late posting). The girls are only 3 weeks apart and they are inseparable; they are in same school, class, and tuition. I just gave birth to #2 so I didn't really helped around for this party.
Will post up our children's party in 2011 and this years soon :)

The invitation designed by my sis

Decor. Tables, chairs, covers and balloons coordinated with Dreamflavors.

Dessert table. Pinwheels was a great idea by my sis. Cake was by Cupcake Moment. My sis prepared drawing paper as the table mat and crayons on cups for the children to doodle. That's my girl there who was practicing her lines.

Ordered Children lunch boxes from Obento

Goodie bag - travel sling bag and a passport cover all custom designed for each child by MasterWorks.