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The Joy of Designing for Baby and Beyond

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Celebrating 4 years on Etsy !

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Hello everyone!

I opened my Etsy dashboard this morning, and -to my surprise- I found a message from the community congratulating me on my 4th anniversary. I made my first sale on June 25th, 2011, just around the time when I was planning my son’s very first birthday.

But Etsy is also celebrating 10 years, I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful community!

Here is beautiful -short and sweet- video that Etsy put together, enjoy!

DIY Back To School Photo Prop

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Happy Saturday everyone! I hope this summer is starting off right for all of you! I want to bring you today a very fun and easy project.
This DIY back to school photo prop is my latest contribution for ehow. I did not hesitate for a second to create this project and write the tutorial. I love taking pictures (understatement of the year), so a photo prop for the very first day of school was on my long list of crafts to make (aka Neat DIY’s Pinterest board).

Easy DIY Snowflake Garland – Tutorial

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Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!

The temperature dropped drastically in SoFla just in time for Thanksgiving and it was won-der-ful. I love when mother nature cooperates 😉 . Hitting the low 50’s is sooo exciting for the sunshine state!

Well, we had turkey for three days two days and a half…. so last night I baked a meaty and delicious homemade lasagna, yum! But I am not a food blogger so don’t be getting any ideas. I am just saying.

Ok. So, remember my Thanksgiving table centerpiece featured below?… Well, it has officially been taken apart and now is getting ready for Christmas!. I love that I can just move things around the house, change out a few things and get different looks!

Speaking of Christmas and low temperatures, I want to share with you this wonderful tutorial on how to make a snowflake garland.

When my ehow editor asked me if I could make a non-traditional (no white, no silver) snowflake garland, but a gold one instead, I thought it could be easy as pie. 
Ok, I have to change the subject for a minute here. If you ask me, there is NOTHING easy about making pie – or at least pie crust – I had such a hard time rolling that dough last wednesday. I blamed it on the unsalted butter. 
Back to the garland:
I browsed plenty of tutorials and probably 90% of the articles featured a garland made with white copy paper or coffee filters. I even found snowflake garlands made out of paper doilies. 
You would think that making it with gold paper would be as easy. Well, it could be, if you find the right paper. In my case, it had to be gold, pretty and thin, very thin in order to be able to make all the folds and cut through thick layers.
Well, my old friend Michaels – the arts and crafts store that is – had a beautiful gold, glittery and very thin wrapping paper and this happened…
Gorgeous uh?
This garland was actually mailed out to the ehow headquarters and it was used on a Christmas photoshoot. My editor flipped out when she received it. *blush*
It was simply beautiful.
Check out my easy tutorial on ehow: How to Make a Hipster Snowflake Garland and let me know if you are making one. It will look so gorgeous on a fireplace mantle!! Send me pictures and tips too!
UPDATE: on December 3rd – 2014 this article was featured on ehow’s homepage! How cool is that??
XOXO

Easy Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece – Free Printable

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Hi there again!

Well, this is really awkward… If you scroll down just a bit, you will see last year’s Thanksgiving post…*blush*.

The truth is, I had THE. BEST. year at Posh Paper Parties. I kept very busy!

I also styled a beautiful vintage chic themed wedding last month and that was a lot of hard work throughout the year. Our family life started to get hectic with a 4 year old practicing soccer twice a week {wow! time sure flies} so, the time to blog was really scarce.

I just started to slow down a bit…which cracks me up because I never slow down myself.  I am just bracing for impact: the holiday rush just started and I am SO NOT READY!.

I also got a new ‘ job ‘ back in August – it is really weird to call it a job because is so pleasant, it does not feel like a job at all. I am now a freelance writer for ehow.com, contributor for their DIY section. It really is a pleasure to work with them! You can find my contributions here.

You have probably been scrolling and reading my babbling about how life is so busy, and I know that yours is too. So, to the point.

One of my latest contributions at ehow an easy, DIY Thanksgiving table setting and centerpiece.

It was a breeze to put together and it did not cost me a penny. I went shopping inside my own home, garage, yard and of course I re-used decor from the past fall.

This is what I found:

– Fall garland
– Old window planter box
– Pillar candles
– Plastic gourds
– Moss

The window box was a frightening brick red color and, although it could have matched the fall colors, it needed some love. So, I stained it with Minwax Stain in Red Mahogany (affiliate link). Why Red Mahogany? because it was the only can of stain I could find in my garage, probably leftover from a past project.

I also created these pretty napkin ties, that you can download for free here. All you have to do is print them, punch them out and thread a ribbon.

To get this look, I printed them on kraft paper (affiliate link) and punched them out with a 2″ scalloped punch (affiliate link). Wood clothespins serve as place cards 🙂 . To read a step by step process on this project, read my article: Inspirations for Setting the Perfect Thanksgiving Table on ehow.

Thank You so much for stopping by and I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What a Joy, Another Boy! Baby Shower

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This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, please read my Affiliate Disclosure page.

 A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to help my friend style her baby shower.

As she gets ready to welcome her second baby boy, she admitted she did not have the need to have another shower since obviously she will be using all of the gear she saved from her first boy. However what a great idea she had to still throw a party and celebrate the joy of another boy. In lieu of gifts, she asked for donations for a local diaper bank, where she is an active member.

Second time around: What a Joy, Another Boy! 

If you have been following my blog for a while, two years ago I posted her first baby shower: Mod Baby Shower for a Boy. That was one successful event! Make sure to check out the beautiful flower arrangements she made, and the baby bottle ‘drinks’ sign that I crafted. They have been pinned and liked by many on Pinterest.
This time, she decided to go with a bold combination of navy blue and bright yellow. The flower arrangements were simple bunches of yellow chrysanthemums. Nothing else. They looked gorgeous!
We wanted to embellish the white favor boxes, so I suggested we painted a yellow stripe on them. She thought I was nuts trying to do this on 60 boxes, 48 hours before the shower. But anyone that knows me, knows that I won’t give up. I will make it happen.
So, we sat down and painted 120 stripes. She placed painter’s tape (affiliate link) while I brushed my favorite acrylic gloss paint (affiliate link) in Chamomille. We were done in two hours. Not bad, uh?
I know you love those favor tags! You have pinned them over and over again 🙂 . You can find them in my Etsy Shop. 

If you are interested in the boxes, cupcake wrappers and other partyware, you can contact Forminhas Florida. They have an amazing assortment! 

Old willow branches were spray painted, placed on a vase and displayed as a ” Wishes for Baby Tree” . How cute are those tags hanging? I keep a stash of mini wooden clothespins (affiliate link). They always come in handy for many of my crafts. 


To read more about the background piece and the beautiful “Wishes for Baby Tree” that I created, check out my Ehow contribution article: Baby Shower DIY: Create a Focal Wall on a Budget.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Cyber Monday Sale at Posh Paper Parties!

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Good Monday morning and Happy December!

Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday weekend!

Last Wednesday and Thursday were very hectic for me as I hosted a huge Thanksgiving dinner but I got to relax from Friday till Sunday and FINALLY enjoy some cool weather!

Here is a treat for you. It’s Cyber  Monday and I am slashing prices in half on ALL my DIY files plus I have a couple of coupons to share with you.

The more you shop, the more you save!

Scroll down to see some of the products you can purchase!!! 🙂 and find the coupon codes at the end of this post!

Baby Girl Baptism Invitation – DIY

Shabby Chic Birthday Favor Tags
Nail Polish Favor Tags
Birthday Party Cupcake Toppers

Strawberry Birthday Party Invitation
Strawberry Party Favor Tags

Use the following coupons at checkout in the coupon code field:

– CYBER5OFF25  $5 off a purchase of $25.00 or more

– CYBER10OFF50   $10 off a purchase of $50.00 or more

– CYBER20OFF100   $20 off a purchase of $100.00 or more

plus, remember: all DIY files are 50% off! No coupon needed.

Here is the fine print:


– Valid only on IN STOCK items. 

– Not valid for custom orders
– Coupons can not be used on DIY files orders

– Coupons Expire at 11:59 PM ET on 12-2-13
Now, head on over to the shop here! 
Have a great day! 
XO

Transitioning from Nursery to Toddler Room

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This post contains affiliate links, for more information please read my Affiliate Disclosure.

Three years have passed since I first started this blog and my very first post and main reason to start the blog, was about our son’s Nursery Project and how we created a beautiful nautical retreat to welcome our first baby.

Transitioning the space from nursery to toddler room was easy to do. The hard part was to acknowledge the fact that my baby was growing up and I had to let go of some pieces that made the room still look like a nursery. 
The first thing we had to move out of the room was the rocking chair. We replaced the empty space with a much needed 9-Cube Organizer. These organizers – also called cubeicals – are inexpensive, very easy to assemble and to me, the best storage system for kids’ rooms.

We added some fabric drawers to hide away the hot-wheels clutter {really how many race cars and race tracks do they need ???} and kept some open shelves for displaying bigger toys, puzzles, etc.

I am trying to figure out what to place on top of the organizer to make it look prettier but I still don’t want to put anything that might tip over his head while he plays near the area.

I actually had an arrangement of stuffed animals on top of it but for now, they call the dresser-changing table home.

Our goal is to remove the small rails that used to contain the changing pad in place but once we do that, the surface has to be redone. That means we have to sand and spray paint the dresser all over again and we definitely don’t want to do that inside the room, so… good luck finding the right time to get that project done!

Oh well, nothing is perfect. 

Yes, there is a Hello Kitty in there. It’s actually mine.

When our son was 20 months we removed the rail off the crib and converted it into toddler bed. We took this step earlier than most parents do, particularly because our son was – and still is – very tall for his age. I think that the majority of the parents transfer their kids to a toddler bed after they turn two, but in our case the crib didn’t work anymore. 

Back in 2010 when we created his Nautical Nursery, we purchased the Charleston Classic 4 in 1 Convertible Crib from Graco. We loved the bead board design on the headboard that matched his nursery wainscoting. The fact that we could use the headboard and front rail for a full size bed was a plus. 
Fast forward three years and this is the final result:
The initial thought was to purchase a conversion rail kit but for now, we prefer the convenient height of a full size box spring and mattress. The box spring is sitting directly on the floor so the bed is not even 2 feet off the floor. We don’t have to worry about him falling off the bed and getting hurt, the room has carpet. 
I purchased the white coverlet as well as the nautical pillows at my local Home Goods store. We put the bed together right around summer, so the seasonal and nautical items were trending at the store at that time. You can find a similar white coverlet and  nautical throw pillows here.
I love the clean look of the white coverlet and the contrast with the navy blue bed skirt. Both are easy to wash and dry at home. The bed skirt I found at Walmart for cheap!.
The bunting banner hanging on top of the window, I made and you can purchase it here. Mention this post and I will send you a unique coupon code for 10% off.
The boat bookcase is perhaps the only piece that did not change purpose. There are a lot more books now, than before and I placed a small basket in the bottom shelf where I store loose ends I find scattered on the floor every.single.night.
I switched things around the crown molding shelf, and I moved all the books I mentioned in my post My Favorite Books for the Nursery to the shelf in order to keep them in good shape until our son is old enough to treat them gently.
Two items I keep close to my heart and  I haven’t moved from this shelf in three years: One is the wood sailboat my dad carved by hand out of a tree branch he found in his backyard, the boat proudly waves an Italian flag. The second item is our son’s first portrait at 2 days old. 
Those two things make me giddy and smile every time I see them.
The little boat keeps my dad’s memories alive, bright and clear in this room, and to say that is an understatement, but I will leave it there before I get teary eye. 
Logan’s first portrait on the other hand, reminds me of the best day of my life when I held him for the first time and felt the biggest, deepest love of all. So, I guess even with transitioning this room from nursery to toddler room, I still can’t let go of my baby boy!
If you have pictures or a blog post about how you transitioned the nursery into a big kid room, leave me a comment with a link, I would love to see the transformation!.
Once again, thank you so much for stopping by! 

Countdown to Thanksgiving – Decor and Menu!

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Wowza! It’s November, I can’t believe how fast this year went! 
I am unpacking all my Thanksgiving home decor and making the house feel cozy and smell like cinnamon, pumpkin spice and pinecones… Too bad we are still having 90 degrees weather. Our best cool front yet dropped the highest to 81F …Gee Thanks, mother nature!

But, I don’t want to talk about the weather cause it’s just not nice at this time! Will talk about it when it drops down to the low 60’s.

I am here today to share with you my latest pinspiration for Thanksgiving home decor, recipes and tablescapes!. I am hosting Thanksgiving this year once again and I am super-excited …. and super- nervous because it is creeping up on me {24 days to go}.

A small disclosure before I start sharing this beautiful sight of fall goodness: all images, recipes and ideas via Better Homes and Gardens. Why? Because I think I am going to frame each page of their latest magazine issue. I just LOVE it all. And, no compensation was received for this post. It is all me, for the love of BHG.

Now, let me show you my favorite fall things I am looking forward to replicate this season!

1. THE TABLESCAPE:

– Miniature gourds and pinecones on each guest’s plate : {maybe with an added placecard tied to the pumpkins’ stems!}


{via}

– Easy, beautiful tablescape with colorful gourds and pumpkins:  What’s not to love here? I will make sure to snap a picture of our table and come back with an update!

{via}

2. THE MENU:

Each year I try to stick to one author’s menu {from turkey to side dishes, to dessert}. So far I have done: Alton Brown’s Best Thanksgiving Turkey Ever, last year I made a whole menu off of The Pioneer Woman’s blog and this year, my mouth is watering over these Better Homes and Gardens magazine recipes that you can find on their latest printed issue. 
– First and foremost: The Turkey

How does a Spiced Turkey with Cherry-Pear Glaze sounds to you? Stuffed with lemons and spices and then glazed with sweet cherries and pears? I am in!

{via}

– The Stuffing: Caramelized Onion and Carrot Stuffing

I roast and caramelize my vegetables on a regular basis, so this definitely will be on my Thanksgiving table this year. I vow not to buy boxed breadcrumbs and buy fresh sourdough bread. Will give you an update on that! 😉


{via}

– The Dressing: Creamy Barley and Chard Dressing.


This year I am making both {dressing AND stuffing}, mostly because I have fallen in love with barley {and quinoa} ever since I started making homemade soups for my son 3 years ago. 
My hubby and I are not big soup eaters {unless it’s Pasta e Faggioli from our favorite italian restaurant} but I have been trying to raise my boy to eat {or drink} lots of soup and he really likes them. 
So, going back to the barley, I think this one I will make just for me {ahem!} since I think hubby and relatives will say: what in the world is this on Thanksgiving day? But, you never know!

{via}

– The Vegetables: 


Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts and Apple: you had me at Brussels Sprouts. We eat them steamed, roasted, baked, pan fried, you name it, we love them!

{via}

– Garlicky Crumb-Coated Broccolini: whenever there’s garlic and broccoli, I am in, in a heartbeat!. I am half italian so, this combination is perfect to put the italian touch to our Thanksgiving table. Will miss you dad! 🙁

{via}

– The Starch: 

Lemon-Garlic Mashed Potatoes: There’s garlic in here too, say no more. 

{via}

and last but no least: The Desserts. Yes, plural. I am challenging myself to make these two! I take pride on my home-cooked meals and savory dishes…Baking however, intimidates me. But, I always give it a try and this Thanksgiving won’t be the exception.


– Maple-Pumpkin Pie with Salted-Pecan Brittle: this recipe made the cover of the issue. 

Of course it did! 
{via}

and, Baked Apple Bowl Pies: no hassle, individually portioned Apple pies? Yes, please. I am definitely making this one!

{via}

By clicking on each picture, you will be directed to the Better Homes and Gardens website where there’s a small excerpt of the recipe, however, you must sign in to see the full recipe. Or, you can go grab the current {November} issue of the magazine!

I am hungry now! I shouldn’t post stuff like this on an empty stomach! 
Thank you all for reading! 

Nail Polish Favors for Baby Showers – A New Trend

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This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. For more information, please read my Affiliate Disclosure page.

Happy Saturday everyone!

This week sure flew by and so did this summer!

I  want to share with you these beautiful baby shower favor tags that kept me busy this past summer. I have made almost 1,000 of these nail polish favor tags these past two months and I have to tell you, they are stinkin’ cute! They are designed to fit around nail polish bottles which seems to be a trendy baby shower favor this year.

Many people have marked as their favorite these Pink Nail Polish Favor Tags, especially for the original wording written on them. The favor tag reads: “We are tickled pink, right down to our toes!” . I can’t take credit for the wording on the tag as it was a custom order from a customer.

Pink Nail Polish Baby Shower Favor Tags
We have seen so many favor tags tied around pink nail polish bottles reading ‘ It’s A Girl! ‘ . I believe it started trending when OPI came out with a beautiful shade of pink nail polish named like that. 
But a couple of weeks ago I had a custom order for baby shower nail polish favor tags for a baby boy. I made them in a beautiful shade of baby blue cardstock with white  ribbon and mint green  wording as requested by my customer.
Baby Blue Nail Polish Baby Shower Favor Tags

I tied them around one of my favorite shades of green/blue I own. The nail polish pictured above is called Mint Candy Apple by Essie. You could also tie them around a beautiful shade of baby blue nail polish from Essie too, called Bikini So Teeny. Yeah, love me some blue nail polish!
The tiny die cut onesie mounted on sticky squares are my signature favor tag. But how about this red favor tags – for nail polish bottles too- for a baby shower that will be held around Christmas time? 
Red Nail Polish Baby Shower Or Christmas Favor Tags

I can’t take credit for the original wording on this favor tag either, it was a custom order for Joanne’s baby Shower and it reads: “For your mistle-toes”. The die cut baby feet are the highlight of the tag. I can’t wait to make these in pink and blue too!

I have post about Baby Shower Favor Tags Wording Ideas that is very helpful!
Nail Polish Baby Shower Favor Tags

Feel free to send me an email at poshpaperpartiesco{at} gmail {dot} com to request your custom nail polish favor tags for your next celebration! Any color, any theme! You can also find me on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Thank you for looking! Have a wonderful weekend!
XOXO

Baby’s Beeday Photoshoot – Our Bee Day Banner

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I am back!

Phew, this past summer was packed with orders and right after that mountain of nautical and patriotic parties, my son started pre-school and with all the excitement {and separation anxiety too} I have totally ignored the blog. Shame on me!

One of the beautiful things I had pending to share with you were these awesome Bumblee Bee Banner pictures one of my dear customers sent.

Vanessa turned two years old last summer and she had a beautiful photo shoot outdoors.

photo via Chelsea Meier

I love how our  Beeday Banner worked as a perfect photo prop. 
photo via Chelsea Meier

What a lovely summer sky too! 
photo via Chelsea Meier

Our Beeday party decorations line is growing! This banner has been requested numerous time also with the words Mommy To Bee! and I have designed a beautiful Mommy To Bee baby shower invitation to go along with it! 

Mommy to Bee Baby Shower Invitation by Posh Paper Parties on Etsy

Thanks for stopping by, have bee-utiful day!