Ahoy! It's A Boy Baby Shower!

Ahoy there me hearties!!! Anchor's Away!! Swim on into the blog today, sit back and relax, and sail away with some great ideas for making your baby shower a hit for land lover's and sea lover's alike!!! Around here, it's finally starting to feel like spring! Temperatures are warming up, and it's in fact so spring like that it makes me feel like summer is not too far away either!! Thoughts of beaches, cottages, boats and summer breezes were fully on my mind as I had a tonne of fun setting up and planning the latest party theme inspired by this week's invitation! We are moving onto some bolder colours! Red, White and Blue and a touch of yellow have taken over this week to highlight the beachy, nautical baby shower you can plan when you order Cardmint's "Ahoy! It's a Boy!" baby shower invitations!!

 At $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes, these invitations are the perfect first step to planning your event! All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. A proof is sent for your approval before the printing takes place. If you would like to choose a coloured envelope to enhance your invite, they are available for an upgrade fee of $9.00! Your order will arrive 5-7 business days after purchase, If you would prefer to print them yourself, you can purchase the printable file for $15.00 and it includes all personalization and proof within 24 hours of purchase!

 I love to use the invitation itself as part of the centre of decor for your special occasion. I had a lot of fun, finding little sand pails, buying some decorative sand and sea shells, rope and a metal anchor to set the tone! The little pinwheels were  a hit as a take away gift for your guests, and they displayed so nicely with a bit of sand in the bottom of the bucket!

 I found the perfect table cloth with a blue and white pin stripe, and I used a large seashell to hold some paper and a pen for guests to write their names and addresses to help the mama-to-be get one step ahead on her thank-you cards, as well as using them for a draw slip for door prizes!

 Just have guests fill out their info and drop it into the gift bag.Names can be drawn from the bag for door prize winners, and the mom-to-be can take the bag home to make her thank-you notes that much simpler!! :)

 I used some twine and clothespins to fashion the nautical banner to the wall. Don't forget to check out Cardmint's banners that can be ordered for many of the card themes!!

 I used a rustic container to hold drinking straws, and goldfish crackers for a little "Gone Fishing" station. There is so much fun food you can use to serve your guests! How about "Seaweed Dip" (spinach dip), "sea" cucumber slices, and carrot sticks for "crab legs"!Turn stuffed croissants into crabs by using toothpicks and olives for eyes, or slice up a red pepper into a crab shape and do the same! Stuff it with some chip dip, or cracker spread, and you are all set! Salt water taffy and slices of melon made into sail boats with some paper sails can be a fun sweet treat too!! Carve a watermelon into a sand pail, and fill it with sea shaped fruit pieces made with cookie cutters....the ideas are endless really!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and hurry and secure your treasure.....which is OF COURSE these adorable invitations handmade by Cardmint for your upcoming baby shower!! Now that you "know the ropes"  you can make "Great Headway" in no time planning your special event! Don't forget to check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Etsy for more ideas!! 

Saddle Up and Ride Over! It's a Horse Lover's Birthday!!

Well Good Sunday to Y'all! I reckon if you've found yer way over here today, you might just be plumb plannin' a real ace-high jamboree for a l'il calico in yer life. There is no need to get fit to be tied.....just stop yer belly achin' and don't hang fire. Cozy on up, and check out today's post! 

How was that for cowboy speak? Haha!! It took a bit of planning to pull that off! If you weren't quite following my lingo, I'm just trying to say, if you are planning a spectacular birthday party for a little girl/horse lover in your life, you have come to the right place! Don't stress, and don't delay! Read on for some suggestions on getting started on your special girl's Horse Loving birthday!! 

The beginning of any great event, is of course the invitation itself! Cardmint has got you covered!! This lovely invitation sets the tone for the event. It is simple, lacy, yet rustic, and is just right to send out to your special guests! At only $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes, it is the perfect first step to your party planning! It includes all personalization and a proofread within 24 hours. The invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. If you would like to upgrade your envelopes to something in a complimentary colour, a $9.00 upgrade fee can be added onto your order. Your invitations will arrive 5-7 days after purchase. If you choose to print yourself, you can purchase the printable file for $15.00 which includes all personalization and will be proofread within 24 hours. If you are interested in a custom invite including your child's photo, Cardmint is able to do that as well! Contact us for more information.

As far as decorating for that special day goes, whether your party is indoors or out, there are certain items you can track down to pull off your look! Simple banners on twine, rustic wood pieces, any horse figures you can get your hands on, rustic burlap or brown paper table cloths, horseshoes, mason jars, simple flowers and even your tack box can add to your look! A bale or two of hay would be a fun addition, and could even be the base of a photo booth! Setting up some cowboy(girl) hats, bandanas, a "Wanted" frame to pose inside of, or mustaches on sticks, or some funny stick horses to pose on could make for some hilarious photos! :)

 Keep an eye out for horse related signs, or even make your own! 

 Don't forget, the invitation itself is a great decorating tool too! Photos of the birthday girl on or around horses is also a charming addition! 

 Every day items like milk jugs, and mason jars make great vases for your flowers, straws, cutlery, or anything else you need to display! 

 I found some western style stars at a local market to use as napkin rings to just add a little extra flair!

 No party is complete without games, so why not a traditional game of horseshoes? Or if you are celebrating outdoors, a game of "Water the Horses" would be a blast! Fill 2 large tubs with water, and find two rectangular "trough like" containers that will hold a similar amount. Two teams are competing to see who can fill their trough first. Teams take a plastic cup, with holes punched in the bottom for a slow leak and run from the bucket to their trough to see who can fill it up first!

 After you set the table with your napkins, dishes, cutlery etc....don't forget about the food itself! The internet was teeming with great ideas! How about "Trail Mix," "On The Ranch" dip with veggies, Wild West Popcorn, (Caramel) Horses Apples, and drinks from "The Watering Hole" are some simple ideas to enhance your theme! Many local bakeries will custom make you cookies in the shape of horseshoes, or horses themselves to either eat at the party, or send home in your loot bags with guests!

 I used a friend's tack box to hold dishes and napkins for guests to help themselves to! 

 I had some mason jars fashioned to barn board for cutlery, straws and extra napkins too! 

 Simple loot bags clothes-pinned onto twine is a great way for your guests to take their special souvenir home after their great day celebrating! 

Thanks so much for stopping in, and no blog about this particular topic would be complete without me saying "Y'all Come back now, ya hear??" :) Oh! And don't forget to check us out on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!! 

Ooh La La! It's a Baby Shower!!

Ooh, La La! Bonjour! Cherie! Amour! Je t'aime! (Did you just read that in a cheesy french accent like I did? haha.) No matter how much (or how little) of the French language you know, you have almost definitely heard these french expressions and greetings. What comes to mind when you think of Paris in the spring? Romance? Love?  Beauty? How about these words? Croissants, Eclairs, Macarons. If your mouth isn't watering yet, just think about those delicious french indulgents a little longer!! Exquisite french wine and cheese (or grape juice for the mama-to-be), baguettes, sipping tea at a delightful little french cafe table! All of this "joie de vivre" (joy of life) can be rolled into one special baby shower, and you can read a little bit about it here on today's blog! 

A Parisian Baby Shower has endless possibilities! Think pink and black to get your decor ideas started. This beautiful chalkboard design is soft and romantic, and compliments so much! Of course, you can have it customized for your own special little person ( or their mama,) but today we are showing you this invitation for Bebe Sophia! Please enjoy scrolling through the photos to stimulate your own ideas for your upcoming special occasion!

 I found the perfect Eiffel Tower card stand for just a few dollars to highlight the invitation, which of course can be part of your decor that day! You could also use it to prop up your napkins, or show off photos of the baby or mama-to-be!

 Floral elements, and other black and white accents, (and this little clock ball on Parisian time) are other lovely props you can add into your theme decor.

 Tea or wine accessories, rustic but simple banners, pretty jewelry boxes can all be collected to support your colour palette for the day!

 There are endless food ideas including the above mentioned croissants, wine, cheese, baguettes, tea, coffee, and other french pastries. I have recently seen beautifully made cookies that were Eiffel Towers, "I Love Paris" and the baby's initials all gathered together on a tray. Check your local baker's and see if they can custom make these for you too!

 Don't delay in ordering your invitations! For only $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes, they are the starting point for any great party! If you would like coloured envelopes (like the pink ones shown on the blog) a $9.00 upgrade fee will be added onto your order. All invitations are printed on high quality card stock, and a proof is sent for your approval before hand! They will arrive to you 5-7 business days after purchase. If your prefer to print yourself, you can purchase the printable file for $15.00 and that includes all personalization and the proof within 24 hours.

I will leave you with one last fun idea for the special day (because no shower is complete without some entertainment!) Why not set up a photo booth for your guests? Use a french beret, umbrella's, feather boas, dark sunglasses faux pearls, perfume bottles, a french baguette as props,and a back drop of the Eiffel Tower for your guests to create some hilarious memories of the day!

Thanks for popping in, and don't forget to check out Cardmint on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Our Little Lady Bug!

TGIF. Thank Goodness it's Friday. We all know the expression.....we probably all USE the expression (at least sometimes!) I know for a fact everyone looks forward to their weekend, even if it's not in the traditional sense....It might be a Monday/Tuesday because you work on Saturday/Sunday, but we all look forward to our time off; our time to reflect, and be with those that we choose to spend our time with! Well today is the day.....TGIF!!! The beginning of the weekend, and today in particular is a very important Friday. Most call it Good Friday, but I like to think of it as the Ultimate Friday. Its a day to focus, remember, reflect on, and feel blessed for what we've been given. The ultimate sacrifice was made, and although it can be a somber day, there is no need to stay sad, as Sunday is coming!! Along with the joy of celebrating the reason for this holiday, (the death and resurrection of Jesus) comes the family time. There is eating and visiting...hunting for eggs quite possibly too, and the general celebrating that comes with most of our traditional holidays. I hope however you choose to celebrate this occasion, you do it it with love in your hearts for those who are close to you. Enjoy your family and friends, and the appreciation that spring is here... (despite the lack of some evidence depending on where you live! haha.)

In our neck of the wood, there was some snowfall this week. AGAIN! We saw the whole ground covered one morning, but by the next day, there was a sign of hope! My first robin sighting, and my first flower sighting appeared on the same little stroll. It made me soooo very happy :) So happy, I just HAVE to share it with you!

This little flower sighting, was so encouraging, that I came right home and started on my photo shoot for this week's post! Something else involving flowers, and birds, and even LADY BUGS!!!

This card was created for Charlette's Third Birthday party, but it can be made personally for the little Lady Bug in your life too! It's only $16.00 dollars for a set of 12 printed invitations, with white envelopes, or $15.00 for the printable file. This price includes all personalization and a proof within 24 hours. All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. If you want colour envelopes, an upgrade fee of $9.00 will be added onto your order. It will arrive to you 5-7 days after purchase!

It was so much fun to put together the theme for  photographing this invitation. Inspired by my stroll, I thought of trees, flowers (of course), birds and picnics....and of course, some of my most favourite colours. 

 Whether your little one's birthday will be indoors or out, this invitation is the beginning of a beautiful occasion! You can use simple brown Kraft paper, or burlap, (or go more fancy with pretty fabric table cloths.) Use white or colourful pennants or banners, every day garden items, and other simple pieces to create a wonderful garden theme for your little "lady bug" to celebrate her birthday in a way you will always remember!

 As always, thanks for stopping by! Be blessed today, and remember Cardmint as your first step in creating the perfect occasion for all of the special events in your life. Visit Cardmint on Etsy, and don't forget to check out our pins on Pinterest, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook!