Color Palette Love: Raspberry + Lemonade

It's been a long time since I posted a new color palette post.  Just this morning, I was looking for color combo ideas for the newest collection I am designing for my girls upcoming birthday party.  I plan to add more color palette posts in the future as I come across them and I hope that they will continue to inspire you.  This particular image comes from Heather Bailey.  I have loved her beautiful and colorful fabrics for a long time.  Her lively fabrics are one of the reasons why I wanted to learn how to sew so that I could make skirts and dresses for my little girls.  If you are not familiar with with her line of products, I encourage you to take a peek at her site.  You will find a range of designs from textiles and sewing patterns to paper crafts, kitchen linens and home decor.

image credit ♥ heather bailey

Free Printable: Happy Father's Day!

This week we celebrate Father's Day.   It is a day to celebrate dads throughout the world.  I created a free Father's Day printable using shades of blue, green and brown along with a fun plaid pattern.

 How cute are these ribbon bow ties?

Simply print, punch and add a ribbon to cupcakes, gifts and so much more!

Print on heavy card stock, matte photo paper or 8.5 x 11 full size label sheets to make stickers. Cut to make squares or use 1 7/8” and 2” circle and scallop circle paper punches. 

Get your 2 inch scallop circle punch HERE.

Download your Happy Father's Day printable HERE!

Check out our Pinterest board for more Father's Day ideas HERE including this idea from Crafty Texas Girls I found last year for my hubby that he loved.  Makes for a great twist on a special photo for dad.

Have a favorite Father's Day idea?  Leave a link in the comments and I will pin it to our Pinterest board.

Enjoy!

Giveaway: Albion Fit Store Credit!

We have a winner!

 Comment #81 - Melissa Stram

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Please email stefanie@annaandblue.com for info to claim your prize.

This weeks fabulous GIVEAWAY comes from Albion Fit!  One lucky person will win a $50 gift certificate to pick out what they absolutely love.  Albion Fit provides the most luxurious, flattering and comfortable women's fitness and swimwear, workout clothing and leisure apparel on the market. They recently opened their flagship store in City Creek Center in SLC.  Here is a sample of just a few of my favorite designs.

 Navy Gown Suit

Blousy Suit

Heather Grey Go Long Crew

Full-Zip Coral Jacket

Ivory Go Long Crew

Black and White Uline Dress

White Tunic Dress

 Albion Fit is also offering anna and blue paperie readers and fans an exclusive coupon (good for 6.14.13) for $15 off a $50 or more purchase.  Simply use coupon code annablue15 at time of checkout.

Who wants to WIN?? Here's how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Tutorial: Geometric Piñata

I recently came across this fun piñata tutorial in our local Austin Home Magazine and instantly fell in love.  All grown up and a little bit fancy, piñatas can be the perfect centerpiece for your next outdoor get-together.  

Supplies:

cardboard from large boxes

masking tape

ruler

craft or utility knife

craft glue

old paintbrush

1 package of colored tissue or crepe paper

15-25 feet of rope

this triangle template

Tutorial courtesy of reveiller

New to the Shop - Princess Party Collection

We have a new collection that we are sharing with you today and it's perfect for your little princess.  I created this collection for my friend Charlene who is also the creator behind the fabulous desserts.  You might also remember seeing her gorgeous Owl themed cookies HERE as well as the beautiful butterfly silhouette cookies for our butterfly dessert table HERE. With crown silhouettes and a soft pink and green color palette that includes a classic harlequin diamond pattern, our vintage style princess party is perfect for birthday parties and baby showers.

Poms in pink and green were part of the backdrop. You can view the diy tutorial for making the tissue paper poms HERE.

The "Princess" collection includes:

1. Double Sided Invitation

2.  Pennant Banner

3. Wrappers

4. Blank Gift Tags/Labels

5. Blank tents/placecards

6. 2. Inch Party Decor

7. 2 inch favor tags
8. Cake toppers/table decor

9. Welcome sign

10. Drink flags

The "Princess" printable party collection is currently on sale for 50% off in my etsy shop HERE through June 15, 2013.

Vendor Credits & Resources

Cupcakes, Fondant Crown Topper, Cookies, Cake - Charlie's Cakes and Cookies

Party Styling - Simply Sassy Cakes

Photography - Isaac Stafford

Favor Boxes - Shop Sweet Lulu

Tiered Cupcake Stand - Save on Crafts

Balloons - Party City

DIY Tutorial: Graduation Cupcakes

Congratulations 2013 graduates!  Celebrate with our fun graduation cupcakes.

Cupcakes with Graduation Caps and Diplomas!

What You'll Need:

Cupcakes with icing

Red hots or m&ms

Square chocolate cookies

Fruit rollop or similar gummy strips cut into thin strips and 1 1/2 inches long

Waffle cookies or Oreo Funstix cut into 1 1/2-2  inch pieces

Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Decorating Gel or similar

Step 1:

Add your Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cup with the large side onto the icing.

Step 2:

Turn your cookie upside down, and add a touch of your icing gel to the middle of the cookie.

Step 3:

 Place cookie on top of the peanut butter cup so that the gel is aligned with the candy.
Refridgerate for a few minutes to let it set.

Step 4:

Add a touch of icing gel to two gummy strips and place in the middle of your cookie.

Step 5:

Add a touch of icing to the top of the gummy strips and add a Red Hot or m&m.

Your cupcake should look something like this.

Place in the refrigerator for a few minutes to let the gel set.

Step 6:

Add a gummy strip and wrap it around the waffle cookie and press into place.

Step 7:

Place waffle cookie on your cupcake and add a fun cupcake liner if you like.

Voila!

This cupcake stand can be found HERE. 

Change the ribbon to match the color palette for your celebration!

Click HERE for many more graduation party ideas.

Looking for a great graduation gift?  Our personalized note cards would be perfect!

 Shop custom stationery in HERE.

Giveaway: Custom Designed Party Collection

We are SO excited about our BIG milestone of reaching 10,000 "likes"on Facebook that we are going to continue celebrating with another SURPRISE giveaway!  This week's giveaway is for a custom party collection that I will design for our winner.  

The collection will include the following printable designs:

1. Invitation

2. Banner

3. Wrappers

4. Gift Tags/Labels

5. Tent Style Labels

6. 2 Inch Party Tags

7. 2 Inch Favor Tags

8. 5 inch Party Signs

9. Welcome Sign

10. Drink Flags

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: $100 Shopping Spree to anna and blue paperie

We have a winner!

 Comment #436 - Farrah King

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Please email stefanie@annaandblue.com for info to claim your prize. 

We are SO thrilled about our BIG milestone of reaching 10,000 "likes"on Facebook. To begin the celebration, we are doing a fun giveaway for our fans and readers. One winner will win a $100 shopping spree to our shop! Thanks so much for all of your support and for being a part of our exciting milestone.

 We're also offering anna and blue paperie readers and fans an exclusive coupon (expires 5.24.13) for 25% off your entire order.  

Simply use coupon code APB25 at time of checkout HERE.

Who wants to WIN?? Here's how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Good luck!

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day - 6 Best-Ever Recipes

 

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day and I thought it would be fun to share not one but six Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes with you.  If you are a chocolate lover like me, you are sure to want to try these recipes.

Chocolate Chip Rolled Oats and Nuts Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Recipe

Cookie Jar Double Chocolate Chip Recipe

 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie Recipe

Cookie Tips

Mix Chocolates:  Try combining types of chips or chunks (such as milk chocolate, semisweet or bittersweet) for contrast, such as mixing milk chocolate with bittersweet.  They all bake up the same way.

It's in the pan:  Dark-colored cookie sheets bake cookies browner than shiny ones.

Don't get stuck:  Keep cookies from sticking by baking on cookie sheets lines with parchment paper.  A parchment paper bonus = easy cleanup

Cookies on demand:  All of the above cookie dough recipes above are fine for freezing.  Shape into balls before freezing.  Place frozen balls on cookie sheet; bake a little longer than regular dough until done.

Creative serving:  Sandwich chocolate chip cookies around vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

Tips via Midwest Living

What is your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe? 

 Leave your recipe in the comments below.