Lauryn's Birthday! Geometric Fun!

Can you believe we are nearing the end of June! My kids are out of school for the summer starting tomorrow, and I know many kids are already out enjoying their summer breaks!! For the most part, we have been having just wonderful weather! Not too hot, lots of sunshine, and just enough rain to keep things growing! Part of today's blog will be telling you a little about one of those few days, that was not so very sunny. In fact, the words torrential downpour doesn't even begin to cover it!  It rained, and it rained, but it could not dampen our spirits, as much as it made our running shoes very soggy! :) Recently, a little family friend was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Her name happens to be Lauryn, and later this year she will be turning 7 years old. We were all so thankful to hear that her tumour was benign, and that they were able to remove a lot of it during a recent surgery. Of course, when something like this happens, friends and family just want to DO something! So, we raised funds online, and around our neighbourhoods for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. We know they need to find a cure, and we worked our hardest to do our part, while doing a walk called the Spring Sprint, a few weekends ago on a VERY rainy Sunday morning!

Today's card was designed, keeping Lauryn in mind, and has been used to raise funds for this organization. It is spunky, and colourful, and fun.....just like the future birthday girl is! I just love the touch of gold, and the shimmery envelopes. It is a vibrant card, that represents how Lauryn lives her life, and will continue to do so!

Sit back, and enjoy this little post, a super fun invitation that you can order from the Etsy site today, that may also represent the fun personality of your little girl, a fun, summer smoothie recipe.....a great way to add a splash of "healthy" into the fun of a birthday party, and why not consider donating to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada? https://www.braintumour.ca/

 Here are a few photos of most of our group.....there were a few minutes before the walk where it was barely raining, so these were the only photos we got! Unfortunately, we are missing a few members that were running a bit late!

 Go Lauryn's Life!!!!!

 Geometric Shapes are super trendy right now, and the awesome colours were a breeze to find little colourful pinwheels, napkins, straws and treat bags to accessorize the party!

 You can order this card from Cardmint on Etsy, two different ways! You can print it yourself when you order the printable file for $15.00. It includes all personalization, and will send a proof to you within 24 hours. You can order your prints, and Cardmint can do the printing too! $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes. All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. A proof is always sent for your approval before printing. You have your choice of white, or coloured envelopes. There is a $9.00 upgrade fee for the coloured envelopes that will be added onto your order! Check out the shimmer they have in the photos below!!

 I don't know about your kids, but mine are in LOVE with smoothies! They will slurp most anything through a straw that they won't eat whole on it's own!! I thought a great idea would be to set up a smoothie bar with all of the toppings, and have the kids choose their favourite fruits to custom make a smoothie! I used a rim trimmer here to heighten the fun factor! I dipped the lid of the majon jar in a little lemon juice, dipped it into a shallow dish of sugar and party sprinkles for a little smoothie "bling"!!!

 Today's photographed smoothie recipe is as follows: 10-12 frozen cherries, one banana sliced up, almond milk (enough to make it blend well) and a 1/2 cup of vanilla yogourt. My kids ask for this one almost every day!!

 Check out the shimmer on these special envelopes and cards!

 This card comes in two sizes....5x7 and 4x6, with slightly different features on both! Check out all of the specifics on Cardmint's Etsy site today! Both choices are absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy whatever invitations you choose! Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and of course Etsy!! And P.S! Don't forget to use your invitation as part of your decor on party day!! Frame, it, hang it.....let it inspire you!!! :)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star-First Birthday!

"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you are!" If you are anything like me, you did not just read that first line, you SANG it!!! What a classic little song. One that conveys the joy and delight of childhood.....one that brings to mind adorable little actions, with the chubby little hands of our little ones, along with their 1000 watt smiles:)  My kids are long past the age where they will sing this song with me, flashing their ten little fingers open and closed, like all of the twinkling stars in the sky, but it's an age and a time in my life I will never forget! If your little family member is coming upon this delightful time in childhood, maybe their first, second or third birthday, this could be the perfect invitation and theme for their upcoming birthday! Today our invitation is one for Avery's 1st Birthday party! It has such a personal touch, with the option to add a photo of your gorgeous little one right on the invitation! Take a peak at the end of this post where I added a few of Evelynn's First Birthday invites too, to give you an idea of a different style of photo too!

 A first birthday is a very special occasion! It is one party YOU will always remember, even though your little sweetie will only have the photos to look back on. It's a time for family, and special friends to gather, and watch the birthday girl surrounded by delightful gifts, their favourite foods, and perhaps watch their first taste of birthday cake! Photo opportunities abound. Truly, is there anything cuter than cake and icing all over the cheeks, and maybe in the hair of an adorable one year old?

 A little sparkle, and gold to go with the classic pink of baby girl-hood, makes this invitation just delightful! Our sample party is set up with a garden theme. Lace, pink, flowers, twinkly mason jar lanterns hanging in the tree, some special treats for the other little ones attending in adorable little treat boxes and bags. Make sure to spot the custom thank-you cards you can order along with your invitations!

 There are two ways you can order these invitations. The first is the "print your own option." For $15.00, Cardmint sends you the printable file. This includes all personalizaton and a proof for your approval beforehand. This should occur within 24 hours of ordering.

 The second option is $16.00 for a  set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes. All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. A proof is always sent beforehand for your approval before printing. If you prefer a coloured envelope, they can be ordered with an upgrade fee of $9.00 added onto your order. They should arrive 5-7 business days after your order has been placed! If you would like to see a small tutorial on how to make your own Mason Jar lanterns, check out last week's post here on the blog!!

 Take a peak below to see an up close version of the adorable Thank-you cards you can order. Don't forget to browse all of the items Cardmint has in the Etsy Shop for all of your party needs!!

 Watermelon, (it could be cut up into star shapes), cheese cubes (also in star shapes), cupcakes with star sprinkles, and perahaps some custom made star cookies from a local bakery would be some yummy little treats you can serve your little guests!

 Don't forget to take lots of photos of the occasion. Both the decor and the people there are wonderful memories you won't want to miss!! The invitation itself makes a great addition to your decor,
 either in a photo frame, or clipped to a memory board.....whatever suits your style! You could also mount special photos of your baby's first year on star shaped banners in the trees, or from your chandelier if you prefer an indoor occasion!

 These last two photos show a different photo, of another little birthday girl, to give you an idea of what photo you can use. The style of the invitation also changes slightly, with the star on the opposite side. Thanks for stopping by today! Please enjoy browsing the Cardmint Etsy Shop, and check out all of our posts on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook!! Happy Planning!!

Mason Jar-Baby Shower!

Well hello there readers! I hope you all had a most wonderful day! It's June, so of course, beautiful weather is in full swing around here, and as much time as possible is spent outdoors! We have been busy around here, working on the gardens, and many other outdoor projects. They can seem never-ending at times, but there is such a feeling of satisfaction when one is checked off the list! One of our weekend projects, was to resurface what I like to call the "Ugly Deck" at our house! One side of our yard has a big beautiful deck where we spent most of our time. The other side has the "Ugly Deck"....it was gross, old, and rotten looking, and in major need of a makeover, but the view from it is just awesome! We have gotten a good start on this deck's transformation, but it's still a work in progress! I was so excited about it however, that I decided to use it for today's photo shoot....despite the fact that it does not yet have a railing, and is quite high off the ground, it has the neatest, little, old, gnarly tree that I wanted to use to hang my feature this week! What are they, you may ask? Mason Jar Lanterns, to go with our Mason Jar Baby Shower Invitation! 

If you have stopped by here before, you may recall my exciting find at a yard sale a few weeks back....some vintage mason jars that I just love, and couldn't wait to use! Well, they are serving me well, and appear again today, serving another purpose! Check out today's invitation from Cardmint. There is nothing about it I don't love! I love the colours, pattern, occasion, and of COURSE the charming mason jars hanging from the tree! I tried to recreate a little of that today with my photos to give you an idea of what you can do if you are planning a baby shower for someone special this summer!

 Today was nothing if not insanely windy around here! There were even tornado watches in our area for most of the day, but it was also so beautiful out, I just had to get out there! :) I love the gnarly old tree that I hung the lanterns from. I feel like it has character, and a bit of a story to tell, if it could talk!

 The little turquoise tray in the photos was also a yard sale find! How cute for a splash of colour for only $1.00. I think I may have found a new favourite past time!

 Check out the Etsy page, and put in your order today for this delightful invitation! At $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes, it's the perfect price point to get your planning started! All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. The proof is always sent for your approval beforehand! If you prefer a coloured envelope, there is an upgrade fee of $9.00 added onto your order. They should arrive 5-7 business day after your purchase! If you prefer to print yourself, you can purchase the printable file for $15.00. It includes all of your personalized information, and you will receive a proof within 24 hours.

 I had a lot of fun mixing and matching the greens and blues from the invite in the little vignette I created for this occasion! Maybe that's why I love this invite so much....it was chock full of some of my most favourite colours!!

 If you would like to make some mason jar lanterns for yourself, it's super easy to do! First, track down some jars that make you happy, like mine do! Purchase a roll of burlap from your local craft store, and measure it around your jar. Snip it right where the two sides overlap! Get out your handy dandy glue gun, and glue the two sides together! I found some adorable paper flowers at the same craft store, and I glued them to the centre of the jar. I then tied some twine underneath the ring of the mason jar, and tied two other pieces to each side so they can tie together on the branches of your favourite tree! Add some tealights, or fresh flowers, and voila!! You have yourself some charming little conversation pieces in no time flat!!

 I found some blue and green gift bags and glued some more paper flowers onto the bags, and tucked a bit of white tissue paper inside to hide the little "thank-you gifts" and prices for each guest to take home!

 Thanks for popping by today! I hope that Cardmint has inspired you with some ideas for your upcoming baby shower! Check out our full selection of cards on Etsy, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for more ideas!!

Vintage Airplane Birthday Party-Bently is turning 3!

Look up! What's that up there in the clear blue sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? YES! Yes, it is!!! It's a vintage airplane in fact, all set to help Bentley celebrate his third birthday! :)

Well hello there readers! Today, the weather is gorgeous! Literally, not a cloud in the sky! It is so beautiful outside in fact, that I have to say it's a bit tricky to keep me here in my seat, on the computer writing this post!!! My reward, upon completion is a cup of coffee outside, under the tree I am watching through the window as I type! Haha :)

Today, Cardmint has brought us yet another adorable invitation to party plan around! There is nothing like a red, white and blue, chevron, VINTAGE airplane invitation to stir up the ideas for an amazing birthday bash for Bentley, or for your little man! This weekend, I did a little yard saling around the neighbourhood. I am a treasure seeker, and I just LOVE finding something fabulous for next to nothing! (Who's with me?) Check out today's photos to appreciate my treasure....real, vintage Crown mason jars. I just love their rustic metal lids. The inserts were actual glass even, but I popped them out to display the straws and cutlery etc for this event!

On a white background, with some jars, and globes, a metal sign with an inspirational message (you can find it at Hobby Lobby) and a hand made wooden plane made by grandpa himself, it was super easy to pull off my plan for this party! I printed off a few tiny vintage planes to accessorize the cupcakes etc. and we have the base to back up what this awesome little invitation has started! A vintage themed airplane party that's just perfect for any little airplane lover!

 Make sure you check Cardmint out on Etsy today, and order your invitations! It's the first step in your party planning, and you want to leave yourself as much time as possible to get them handed out to your little one's special guests! Cardmint gives you options of course, if your timeline is tight! You can print yourself from the printable file for $15.00. This includes all personalization and you will receive a proof within 24 hours. Cardmint can do the printing for you as well. $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes. All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. The proof is sent for approval before printing. If you would like coloured envelopes, there is an upgrade fee of $9.00 added onto your order! It should arrive 5-7 business days after your purchase. Don't forget to check what other accessories may be available....banners and thank-you tags are often available for many of the cards! :)

Upon arrival at the party, you could have a"Check-In" table, and hand out name tags, and gather some personal information about the guests for their "flight." Elsewhere on Pinterest, I saw the most adorable plane made from a cardboard box, and they hung blue curtains in the background and white "cotton" clouds for the cutest little photo booth. Guests held up suitcases, and mustaches, funny hats and eyeglasses for some very comical photo memories! 

A scavenger hunt is a great way to occupy the little one's time. Have cardboard box "suitcases" and send them off to find some flying related items! Aviator glasses, maps, compasses, "in-flight" snacks are all great little items they can find to pack in their suitcases:) 

 Cloud cupcakes, with vintage planes on top, cloud-like popcorn and pretzels as your "in-flight" snack are great little treats for your guests! Cotton candy would be another "cloud-like" snack as well!

 When it's time for the little ones to go home, have them stop by the "Baggage Claim" to retrieve their luggage (AKA Loot Bag goodies!)

 Thanks for flying in today, and as always, keep coming back! Who knows what the next posts theme will be? Check us out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and of course on Etsy!!

With An Oink And A Moo And A Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! Farm Birthday!

Well Howdy and Hello there!!!  Git yerself rounded up, and sit on down. We're down on the farm today, making plans for Abel's 1st Birthday Party!! Do you have a little one with a birthday coming up? Does he or she just love farm animals, or live on a farm? This is the cutest theme for a party, and of course the invitation that starts the party plan rolling!! It was a lot of fun setting up and planning this sample party for you! It makes me wish my kiddos were little again, just so I could do this theme for them!!!

 You may have noticed some trends in decorating these days...Mason Jars are new again....and they are not just for putting your jam in!! They are cute, and AFFORDABLE to decorate with!! They are also just perfect for containing party supplies like straws and pitchforks (errr.....utensils!!) Bandanas, small bales of hay (I found mine at our local craft store), burlap and wood were some other materials I made use of to set the tone of this party! Cardmint is your first stop of course to get your party started! Check out the Etsy shop to order your invitations and thank-you cards today!

 I just love the bright colourful invite with the farm scene, and red and white chevron, and of course the cute little twine tie at the top! Don't forget to use your invite as part of your decor on party day!!

 How adorable are these little chocolates? I was shopping a short while ago in Stratford, Ontario at the very famous Rheo Thompson Chocolate store, and when I saw these, I just KNEW they had to be part of this celebration! They come in packs of four, and make great party treats, or loot bag material for the guests to take home! You just never know when you will run into the perfect little thing, so keep your eyes peeled wherever you go! :)

 Of course, no party is complete without the FOOD!!! We had little Hay Bales (Rice Krispie squares), Chicken Feed (Bits and Bites), Straw (Hickory Sticks) and mini cupcakes for the kiddies to enjoy, and of course some good ole' fashioned milk to wash it down with (fresh from the farm!)

I made this cute little banner with two pieces of scrapbook paper, a ruler, scissors, a hole punch and twine. In just a few minutes I had created a little banner to string up! Of course, Cardmint has many beautiful banners for special occasions you should check out too!!

 For Loot Bags, I put the little farm chocolates inside these adorable burlap bags, and tied them off with a ribbon and a tiny pinwheel! They are just perfect for all of the guests to keep as a little memory of such a fun day!

 Don't delay! Just click your way over to Etsy, and order these invites for just $16.00 for a set of 12 printed invitations with white envelopes. All invitations are printed on a professional printer on high quality cardstock. You will receive a proof for your approval before printing. White envelopes are included. If you want colour, there is an upgrade fee of $9.00 added to your order. They will arrive 5-7 business days after purchase. You can also purchase the Thank-you cards for $1.30 each as well! If you prefer to buy the printable file for $15.00 and print it yourself, you have the option to do that as well! It includes all personalization and a proof will be sent to you within 24 hours of purchase.

 Thanks so much for popping by today! Don't forget to check us out on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for more party planning ideas!!