Party + Wedding Ideas

Family Reunion T Shirts + Free Download

I’m a huge fan of Angela Hardison’s Family Reunion T-shirts (you can purchase them right here or have her design one custom for you.) I asked her to design one that we could use for this project on Oh Happy Day and its available for free download so you can use it for your family reunion. (Thanks Angela!) I seriously love family reunions, it is a hallmark of summer. It’s great to be able to talk to everyone and play with my nieces and nephews and make deeper connections with my family. These t-shirts are easy to make and you can personalize the design by adding your family’s name at the bottom if you want.

Step 1: Download Free Template and add your family name if desired.
Step 2: Print the design (backwards) onto iron on paper. Cut out the design and lay flat on front of t-shirt.
Step 3: Press firmly with the iron using no steam.
Step 4: Peel back the paper from the t-shirt.
Step 5: Put on the t-shirt and listen to your Uncle Lloyd’s corny jokes.

Cupcake Flower Lights

By Steph Hung

May flowers have arrived!   These lights were inspired by all the beautiful blooms I’ve been seeing around town.  I wanted to bring the summer indoors, but they could make for some colourful outdoor lighting too:

Making these floral garlands couldn’t be faster – all you need are cupcake papers and string lights, and you’re on your way to some simple summer lighting.

Materials you will need:  cupcake papers (large and small), string lights, scissors, and an exacto knife.

Step 1:  To make leaves – fold a small cupcake paper in half 2 times, and with the folded point at the bottom cut a leaf shape.

Step 2: To make an 8-petal flower – fold a small cupcake paper in half 3 times, and with the folded point at the bottom cut around the top.

Step 3:  To make a 16-petal flower – fold a large cupcake paper in half 4 times, and with the folded point at the bottom cut around the top.

Step 4:  Cut a small X in the center of each paper.

Step 5:  Layer cupcake papers onto each lightbulb to make flowers.

Veggie Boats

This post is sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch.

These veggie boats would be great snack foods for a pirate party or even a Columbus Day Party (Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria!) All I know is when you turn food into little boats it is makes it a million times more adorable. This concept is pretty simple to execute and you could make it with lots of different vegetables and spreads.

Instructions: Gather veggies and spreads (here we used hummus) and some toothpicks. Hollow out vegetables and cut off the bottoms so they can lay flat. Assemble the boats with toothpicks and sail shapes as desired. And that’s it!

Concept + Photos + Styling by Alexis Birkmeyer

DIY Geometric String Art Escort Cards

by Jenny Batt

I’ve been dying to try string art. I just think it is so simple but so beautiful in it’s gorgeous symmetry. I found little black mini canvases the other day and this little idea popped in my head. I wish I knew someone getting married. Personally these little lovelies will be backed with magnets and used on the fridge.

Continue reading for more pictures and complete instructions.

(more…)

Fruit Balloons DIY

by Brittany Watson Jepsen

We’ve been planning a “fruit party” for a few years now, the gist is that everyone brings an exotic fruit and we, the hosts, provide a batch of the more common kinds. Who doesn’t want to feast on a smorgasboard of Mother Earth’s natural sweets? These balloon garlands were a cinch to make and provide maximum effect.

You will need: balloons (make sure to get some long ones for bananas), green paper for leaves, twine, scissors, tape

Step 1: Blow up your balloons. To really make them look like fruits, size them proportionally so that a blueberry is smaller than an orange, etc. To make the grapes I taped the small purple balloons in clusters.
Step 2: Tie the twine around each end of the balloon.
Step 3: Cut out leaves

Step 4: Crease the leaf to provide the 3D effect.
Step 5: Tape the leaf to the balloon using the end of the balloon as the stem.
Step 6: Continue tying the balloons to the twine to create the garland. Have fun fruiting!

photography by Hilda Grahnat