Caitlyn's First Birthday Cakes

Last weekend we celebrated my little girl's first birthday.  It's hard to believe that she is one already.

For her party I had been planning to do a pink and brown giraffe theme.  I mean planning since before she was even born.  A few weeks before the party I found some amazing fabric and all my plans changed.  I still incorporated the pink and brown and a few giraffes but it was more about fun colors and simple sweetness.

 Here's the cute clothespin doll I made to go on top of the cake.  I used my fun fabric to make her dress.  I debated about putting a package in her hand or a sign or a balloon but I then decided on the candle.  It's practical and cute!

The cake is two tall 6 inch layers of chocolate coconut cake with butter cream icing.  I did a ganache drip on top mostly because I love the taste but I also love the simplicity of it.  If you have been following this blog for a long time, I am sure you have noticed that I have not always been into "simplicity"...well, life has gotten full and simplicity is a must these days!  I guess I proved to myself I *could* make a fancy cake of any kind and now I am more interested in making a great tasting, beautiful cake without losing too much sleep!

This is Cait's "smash cake"  I used a round cookie cutter to make this.  I cut three rounds out of a thin flat cake and stacked them up.  This is a great option when you don't have a teeny pan. (Or when you've misplaced yours, eh-hem...)

The giraffe on top was a ready to finish wood toy at Michaels.  Can't remember what those bendy toys are called? 

Here's the little birthday baby taking a first lick...

Taking off her giraffe so she can get to business!

 There they are, the big cake and the tiny smash cake perched on the pretty sweets table.  I'll share more about that really soon!

Sweets For A Doll

This is my first sweets table!  It was so fun to create!!

 This is during the day when we were setting up.  In the evening the plastic chairs did not show:)  

Oh shoot, you hadn't noticed them?

  Well now you see them!

Curly Willow looks great on it's own but I wanted it to have a special touch. I saw something similar to this over at TomKat Studio. 

I made the huge tissue paper puffs for a baby shower  a year ago so I knew just what to do, just on a much smaller scale:) 

I gave my kids (10, 8 and 6) this job and they executed it so well!

 Chocolate Coffee Mini Cuppies

Pretty Vanilla Cuppies.  

I used two Vicoria Secret boxes for the cupcake stand.

I have a slight obsession with cake plates.  

 Sticking a candle in the teeny cute cake.  We didn't cut into it, I sent it home with the birthday girl. 

The cupcakes and candies were plenty.

Here's the birthday girl with her cake.  

I am not sure if there was anything more beautiful that these two together?

Have I ever told you how much I love birthdays???

I didn't get a shot of the cake in it's adorable stand but be sure to look closely at the pics with the whole table to admire the latest member of my cake plate collection.  

She's so pretty and I got her for $10 at Home Sense!!

Favor purses from Michael's wedding favor isle.  

We dressed them up with an adorable Poupee Girl.

The guests digging in to the sweets!

 Here are the party planners with the birthday girl.  I just wanted to point out how cute the sweets are as a photo prop!  

If you are planning to have a sweets table at your party, be sure to make use of the cuteness in a few photos!!

(after all, the photos will be there long after the sweets are scooped up, right??)

Thanks for coming over to check it out!  I hope you will feel free to ask me if you have questions.  If you are inspired to try something that you have seen, go for it!  

I want to see your finished product so please send me a pic or a link!

Seashell Cookies

Poupee Girl Party Pics are up over at Fig & Ruby.  Go check them out for an explanation of what in the world I am talking about!!

Seashells are important to Poupee Girl so it seemed fitting that we make the cookie favors seashells.  I bought little zip bags, plopped one cookie in each bag, folded cute paper over the bag and stapled.  I actually gave this job to my 6 year old...it's that easy!

I love this paper/pattern/color combo!

What Inspires Me?

Hi!  I am in the throws of preparing for my sister's "Poupee Girl Dress Up Party".  The color scheme is aqua and pink with an Asian flair.  When I came across this yesterday it took my breath away!  How can I ever begin to live up to the likes of Amy Atlas?  The girl is UNREAL!  I am not going to try to attain this level of Fantabulous-ness but I sure am gonna appreciate it...and perhaps drool a little bit...and daydream a lot...and maybe even lose a little sleep at night...