Fête Gazette and Central Kentucky Home & Garden Show

Hello friends!  I honestly have no idea if people read blogs these days, but I like to pop in once in a while to update my portfolio, and to say hi!  So, if you happen to read this, I hope you're doing well and I would love to hear from you!  For an update on my end, I met Amy at the fall market held at Manchester Music Hall here in Lexington.  We immediately bonded over our love of fun party decor, quirky items, and 80s childhood memorabilia, and I took her business card with plans to reach out.  We met for coffee, (it was my first time at Brevede, and I highly recommend the place), and Amy sold a few of my handmade items at some of her Christmas markets and events.  We had snowball piñatas, beautiful bells, and some sweet treats.  

I have currently been working on some springtime goodies for the Central Kentucky Home & Garden Show where Amy will be selling this weekend.  If you are in Lexington, buy your tickets now, and be sure to check out the PK's Gift Closet booth for some really unique gifts and products including some of my handmade party supplies.  We are also working on a really fun backdrop, so be sure to stop by and take some pics!  

So, these are Easter Egg piñatas filled with fun treats.  You can stick them in a basket, or send the kiddos on a hunt.  Either way, this could be a really unique addition to your Easter gifting.  

If you plan to host any parties this Spring, you'll definitely want to pick up some cotton candy cupcake toppers!  They come in a set of three - pink, light blue, and peach.  I designed them for county fair, carnival, circus or candy themes, and I am sure there are a lot of other ideas for cotton candy!  How do you envision using them?

    

I thought some wooden pill gift tags would be adorable on any "get well soon" present, and I believe these will be attached to the cutest gift baskets that Amy is pulling together.

These handmade sushi roll gift boxes will be sold in sets of three, and they're really cute in real life!  

In the first photo, I shared the mushroom and carrot piñatas I designed.  Unfortunately, the mushroom was especially time-consuming, so it will not be available for sale.  Neither will the carrot, but I wanted to share anyway because I love how they turned out!  I wish they were easier to whip up, because I would love to see them used for a party.  I'm afraid I will not be offering shipping at the moment, so I really hope to see you at the show!  Happy Spring!!  

DIY Mini Stick Horse Piñata

It's Derby week here in Kentucky, and it's time to make some stick horse piñatas!  These are perfect favors for the kiddos, and you could even have a fun little race with them!  They could work for a pony party as well.  You can find the tutorial here, in the Handmade Charlotte archives.  

DIY Shamrock Piñata

Happy (almost) St. Patrick's Day!  I realized the holiday is coming up quickly, and I have a number of projects to share before the seventeenth.  The tutorial for these shamrock piñatas can be found at Handmade Charlotte.  Enjoy your weekend!  What do you have planned?  We went from 60 to 70 degree weather, to having a few inches of snow on the ground! 

"You're Shrimply the Best" Valentine Shrimp Piñatas

You are “shrimply” the best!  I have always wanted to try making shrimp piñatas, and adding a little pun made these perfect for Valentine’s Day!  It would be so fun to host a seafood or sushi night for Galentine's and send the girls home with some piñatas filled with chocolates…or just make one for your love and go out to your favorite sushi restaurant.  If you have a mini sushi lover, it would be an adorable birthday theme!  Be sure to check out these sushi favors as well.

SUPPLIES:

• Twisty balloon

• Balloon pump

• Clear tape

• Newspaper strips

• Paper mache paste (1 c water, 1 c flour)

• Scissors

• Acrylic paint in peach + pink + hot pink

• Sponge brush

• String

• Paper plate

• Mesh loofah sponge

• Party streamers in peach + pink

• Hot glue gun

• Box cutter

• Valentine candy and/or favors

HOW TO:

Step 1

Use a balloon pump to blow up your twisty balloon to about 8 inches long.  You really have to blow up the entire thing, and then let out some air to get to your desired length.  Use a long piece of tape to hold the ends together.  Leave a decent length of tape in between the two ends to curve the balloon like shrimp, without allowing the ends to touch. 

Step 2

Dip newspaper strips in paper mache paste, and wrap the balloon in a few layers, starting in the center, and working your way up to the pieces of tape.  Allow to dry. (Overnight would be ideal).

Step 3

Remove the tape from the balloon and cover the ends in newspaper strips dipped in paper mache paste and allow to dry.  It is best to place newspaper strips in an “x” around the ends, and then wrap horizontally down the sides. 

Step 4

Paint the shrimp body in pink, and then place the pink and peach paint colors on a paper plate.  Dip your mesh loofah sponge in both paint colors, and dab it all over the shrimp, until you have a nice, varied pinkish-peach color.  Allow to dry.

Step 5

Place some hot pink paint on a paper plate, and hold a string at each end, and dip it in the paint.  Wrap the string around the shrimp body in multiple places, about an inch apart.  Allow to dry.

Step 6

Layer about 2 ½”-3" long pieces of pink and peach party streamers and cut a tail shape with scissors.  Fan them out a bit, and bunch them up at one end.  Use a glue gun to attach them to the end of the shrimp body. 

Step 7

Use your box cutter to cut three sides of a rectangle on the back of the shrimp, to make a little door for placing the candy and favors.  Take out the balloon and shake out any dried paper mache flakes over a trash can, and then fill with favors. 

Happy crafting, and Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Rocket Pop Party Favors

These paper mache rocket pops would be perfect favors for a Fourth of July celebration!  Make your own using the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.  Happy 4th!