Bridesmaids Invite for a Destination Wedding

My neighbor at work is having a destination wedding in Mexico and she wanted to come up with a fun way to ask her bridesmaids.  She and I had fun brainstorming the ideas.  I found a really cute post on a bridal sight where someone had made pinatas to ask.  

The bride's mom found some mini pinatas at a fiesta store (Fiesta on Main) near her in San Antonio and sent them in the mail.  

 I sliced a hole in the bottom by poking scissors through and then cutting a t shape.

There was a hollow belly that was the perfect size for her message.  

I had some round labels we used to cover up the hole I cut after it was stuffed.  She got some confetti and I printed off a message "There is no fiesta without you friend.  Will you be my bridesmaid?"

I curled the notes up and put them inside.

 Next up...confetti.

 Once they were filled I covered up the hole with the stickers.  I figured this would help them get inside.

 She got some boxes, fillers, and candy and other fun 'stuff' to fill it up.  She's also adding a picture of her and each girl to the box, and then added a fiesta head piece to the top.

She was taking this this past weekend.  I do love a good wedding brainstorm!

Party Mix for Cinco de Mayo

I put these together last year for the ladies at work for admin. appreciation.  Party mix-get it?  So easy, but cute.  I filled bags with a mix of color candies and salt sweet snacks, then just added the mini sombreros I got at Party City (I've also seen them on Amazon), and I taped on some little glittered mustaches that are actually confetti I saw at Walmart.  I attached a tag and they were ready to go.

Pink and Gold Fiesta

I put together a little party for my Mom on her 'actual' birthday as well with the whole family.  I had used pink and black for her tea party the weekend before, but went with pink and gold this time around.  These are just a few pictures....because it turns out right before I got pretty sick...so as soon as dinner was over, I took myself to the late night clinic, so...I didn't take too many pictures, but....I think you get the idea!  I made some little m pinata's using this method.  And tissue flowers using these steps.  I also made some gold candles that would later go on the cake my aunt brought using these steps.  I used some pinatas I sprayed to match the colors to hang from the chandelier as well.

My family is kind of picky (not my mom,just everyone else), so it was a mix of things every would eat, and some even :gasp: came from the freezer.  I made some cheese dip, cheese enchiladas, and then just heated up some frozen quesadillas, and taquitos.  I ran by a nearby restaurant and bought rice, and sopapillas and added some honey/butter/cinnamon sugar to make a little dessert bar.

I also did a little Dr. Pepper float crate to go with the cake.

My aunt, uncle, cousins in town, and brother all ate...and then ate some more.  I think it was a nice way to finish up a really great birthday and....hopefully the start to the best decade yet!

Pink and Gold Fiesta Baby Shower

 This past May I helped host a shower for a friend who is a big fan of queso...and pink.  I decided to merge her two loves in a baby fiesta.  I've thrown plenty of fiestas in the past, but they've always been multi colored, and I wanted this one to be more 'girlie.'

 I love those the banners that hang around the markets and decided to go with this theme for the guest sign in by having people leave advice for the parents-to-be and then hang them up.  I just found a card I liked online and used some scalloped edge scissors to make them look more like the flags I love.

 We did a salsa bar.  Each host brought a portion of the meal.  We had queso, and then 6 different kinds of salsa (thanks to a co-worker's husband that loves to cook).  We put chips in cups just for a fun way to serve.  I also had little plans to place the dips, but....it did seem like a good size portion to serve these up in the cups.

 I made a ton of these tissue flowers.  I could wallpaper my room in tissue flowers-I'm a fan.

 For dessert, Sarah doesn't like chocolate....or cinnamon, so we went with cream cheese iced sugar cookies and fruit to 'make your own' pinata dessert pizza.

 Instead of the traditional pinata candy, I went to Party City and raided their pink candy selection and tossed it all over the tables.

 Each host was assigned an age, and we brought gifts.  I made an I shaped pinata which was a party decoration....turned gift when gifts were opened.

 For favors, I used a mustache mold and made pink mustaches.

 It was an easy shower to share duties on, and went a long way to serve a large group of co-workers.

Pink and gold fiesta will star in a second party very soon.  Stay tuned.  

Color Your Own Pinata

 I've used little mini pinatas for awhile now at various parties.  In this particular case, I wanted to go with a different color scheme than....everything...for a baby shower.  Gold and pink.  I still wanted the baby pinatas...hello, mini everything is where all the fun is at.  Instead of making my own....I ordered some online (they also sell these at Hobby Lobby....which I knew that before), and I sprayed them down.
It did take two coats of paint with the gold, and more than that with the pink b/c it's ruffled tissue, it's hard to get all sides on the first spritz, but they were fun when all was said in done.  I'll show the rest of their friends soon.

Pinata Packaging

 This past spring we threw a baby shower for a friend at work.  More on that subject in a few days.  When we were brainstorming, I suggested putting the hostess gifts (we decided to get 'party dresses' to outfit baby Isabella for her first year) inside a pinata.  Instead of purchasing one at the store, I made one.  It served as a focal point at the guest sign in....and later....to complete the fiesta theme-a fiesta isn't complete until someone cracks open the pinata!
Here is a basic tutorial on how to make these cardboard shaped pinatas.  I cut out two large I shapes, and then made a four inch border I taped onto one I.  I filled the pinata with all the outfits...

 I placed the second I over the top and taped it shut.

 I covered it with ruffled tissue to match the shower colors, and then....breaking the pinata for all the goodies....

Fiesta Candles

 I hosted/and am about to host some fiesta themed parties-with a pink theme-a baby shower and a birthday party.  I've been working on some decor, and here are some little candles I put together.  I found this cute little trim at Hobby Lobby.

 I used hot glue to attach these to these little candle holders I got for 77 cents at Walmart.  Easy and cute.  Stay tuned, they have lots of friends....

Ruffled Streamer

 I've been in love with ruffled streamers for awhile now.  I've done this in the past, but I used the same color, just ruffled it to make it fun...but this time...I walked on the wild side and made this two toned streamer.  This is so simple to do.....
Stack two pieces of crepe, and start pushing it through a sewing machine.  Right before it goes under the needle I bunch it up so it's sewing the crepe together in what turns out to be a ruffled look.  Stay tuned for how this little gal gets displayed....