Cinco De Mayo Centerpieces

I love Cinco de Mayo.
It's such a festive, colorful and simple celebration
and I think the centerpieces should be too.
Just a little something fun to dress up the fiesta.

What better way to say olé than-
Succulents and Cervezas...
(simply cut the top off of an empty beer can, poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage,
 fill with soil and top with succulent)

Bright Blooms and Beer Bottles...

(full directions here)

or Flower Stuffed Shells?

(more info here)

They all make your table say Muy Bien!

Holiday Gift Guide - You are getting Sleepy...

We all know how important sleep is, 

and often how hard it is to get!

Imagine giving the glorious gift of sleep this holiday season.

A few fabulous finds for a full forty winks...

In these days before Christmas, 

we all long to settle down for a long winter's nap.

A cozy throw blanket with jolly Etsy tag, a

  soft, fluffy knit pillow and my "secret" slumber salve 

Sleepy from Lush...

This lotion has changed my life.  

I don't know exactly why but it's creamy and smells dreamy 

and I'm nodding off in no time...

 

There's no better way to wind down after a long day than with 

a warm cup of Sleepytime Tea.

A few sips and you'll be slumbering in seconds...

And is there anything more relaxing than pretty flowers to sooth your mind?

Chamomile tea is known for it's calming qualities 

but I feel my tension lifting by just looking at it!

Take a glimpse before you shut your eyes, then pop on a sleep mask 

and it's 

Sweet Dreams Baby...

jumbo party poppies

Every party needs a poppy, 

and this bridal shower is no exception.

Festive jumbo poppies will add just the perfect pop of color to this sunny, outdoor soiree.

I made a bunch of them in just a few minutes.

So easy, so fun, so happy!

For each flower I used:

5 sheets of orange 20"x 20" tissue paper

5 sheets of yellow 20" x 20" tissue paper

2 sheets of white 20" x 20" tissue paper

2 strands of raffia

First, for the center of the poppy, 

crumple up one sheet of white paper into a ball and cover with the other sheet, 

then tie with raffia.

(it'll look like a ghost)

Set white center aside, and fold your stack of 5 orange sheets in half width-wise 

and cut the top right corner so the top of your petal will be rounded

For your first petal, 

lay out 1 sheet of orange and place 1 yellow sheet on top about half-way down...

Crumple together about 2" up from the bottom of the orange paper, 

then set this aside and do the same for the next 4 petals...

Grab your white creation for the center, 

then while holding in your hand, gather the petals around it, fluffing as you go...

Lastly, tie with raffia underneath, ensuring the orange and yellow tissue papers are all secure.

We are using our poppies for a photo backdrop, so I left the paper long underneath 

(kind of like a stem) so we could secure it with wire to a tree...

And ta-da... the poppies are ready to party.

A California native and an orange lover, 

the bride picked poppies for her invitations as well...

After cultivating this bumper crop, I started planting the seeds for the menu cards.
Needless to say, they left me drooling...

and a Peach Bellini is calling my name!

linkpartypalooza

TipToe through the Mother's Day tulips

Beautiful flowers and a day of pampering 

are the epitome of Mother's Day gift giving...

It is a day that all moms should have the opportunity to, 

Tip Toe through the Tulips!

For an easy, festive treat for your favorite mom, 

grab some gorgeous tulips and your favorite polish.

Package them together and print out the tag here.

linkpartypalooza

Channeling Coachella - Boho Daisy Bracelets

The Coachella Music Festival is this weekend,
and although I won't be there,
a girl can add a little fresh Boho style to her look, right?

All you need to make these easy daisy bracelets are freshly cut daisies 

(with at least 2 inches of stem), 

a bangle bracelet 

(mine is from the craft store jewelry supply section) and 

washi tape 

(or floral tape but I had washi on hand)

Attach your first daisy with tape...

then the next...

go about half way around your bracelet, 

then start on the other side...

snip any long stems where the rows of daisies meet, 

and then cover with more tape -

and that's it!

Put that baby on and get ready for some fun...

Obviously a fresh daisy bracelet will not have a very long "life", 

but enjoy the beauty while it lasts and you can try to preserve by misting with water and 

putting in the refrigerator.

Or make one that is just as cute with faux flowers using the same method!

linkpartypalooza skiptomylou

the envelope please...Academy Awards Centerpieces

The Academy Awards is the one night that we can all enjoy

 the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in our own homes.

The years' best movies, the fashion and the speeches all rolled into one big event, 

but the excitement really comes down to one thing...

what is in the envelope!

The perfect simple centerpiece for our Oscar party, 

a shimmery gold envelope, filled with delicate flowers.

(to keep them fresh for the night, I dampened a few paper towels, 

and put them in a plastic baggie, then placed inside the envelope)

The perfect compliment for Oscar Ballots...

and best nominee cupcakes!

You can print the cupcake toppers here and the ballots here.

skiptomylou  bloomdesigns linkpartypalooza

The Hangover Arrangement for Super Bowl Monday

For some, yesterday's Super Bowl festivities

may have made Monday morning not so merry.

But, I have an arrangement for that.

A post-bowl bouquet, 

to make your ailments go away!

After all that football manliness, you need a little something pretty,
that smells amazing.

A lovely, simple mixture of lavender and mint is just what the doctor ordered.

The calming, smoothing scent of lavender has been known to help with
fatigue, headaches, nausea, stress and depression
(so sorry Carolina fans for your loss).
The refreshing aroma of mint can aid your concentration, boost energy,
elevate mood and even aid in digestion
(in case you are regretting that last chicken wing).

And we all know the benefits of staying hydrated,
so the only appropriate vase is a box of water.
(after you've guzzled it down, of course)

Cheers to a great Super Bowl 50 in the books.

Hats off Bay Area, you made us proud!

skiptomylou