• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

And, here’s how you can win two round trip tickets to Louisville, Kentucky, two tickets to the Kentucky Derby, and a three-night stay (Thursday, May 4 – Sunday, May 7) at the Days Inn Louisville:

• Visit the Kentucky Derby’s blog to learn more about the Kentucky Derby’s traditions.
• On Instagram, create your own Instagram album or collage featuring photos of your dream Derby party and using the hashtag #KYDerby and #MyDreamDerbyParty

The contest begins at 6:00 AM PST 4/21/17 and ends 11:59 PM PST 4/24/17. Our team will review the hashtag, choose our favorite party, and announce the winner on Tuesday, 4/25 via Instagram. We will contact the winner via Instagram messaging.

A few important details: This trip must happen between Thursday, May 4 – Sunday, May 7. The winner is responsible for all expenses beyond accommodations, airfare and derby tickets. You must be 18 and living in the United States to enter – and sorry to my friends and family… you’re disqualified.  For Official Contest Rules go here.

Here’s how we made these Floral Wreaths:

Materials needed: Horse balloons, helium, cardstock, tape, tissue paper, scissors, ribbon, hot glue gun

Step 1: Inflate a pony balloon with helium. Tie a ribbon around the tail. Allow enough ribbon to reach the ground before cutting.
Step 2: Cut a large half circle out of a sheet of cardstock. Cut out the inside of the half circle, leaving a 1” ring. Cut out a matching piece. Tape the two semi-circle pieces together to form a ring. The opening of the ring should be wide enough to drape over the pony balloon’s head and mane.
Step 3: To create scalloped pom flowers, cut a small stack of tissue paper, and accordion fold. Tie and knot a piece thin ribbon around the middle of the folded paper. Then, cut two scallop shapes on both ends of the stack. Fan out the individual sheets and separate the layers until you achieve a fluffy flower. Trim off any extra ribbon.
Step 4: Attach pom flowers to the cardstock ring with small dabs of hot glue. Create a fuller look by gluing flowers closer together. Let dry.
Step 5: Cut small leaf shapes out of green crepe paper. Hot glue the leaves to the back of the wreath and let cool.
Step 6: Adorn each pony balloon with a wreath and you’re all set!

Here’s how we made the Paper Prize Ribbons:

Materials needed: Colored cardstock, twine, stapler, scissors, hot glue gun

Step 1: Accordion fold two sheets of cardstock, making sharp, clean creases.
Step 2: Stack the two folded cardstock pieces. Knot twine around the middle point of the stack. Trim the extra twine.
Step 3: Using the midpoint as your guide, join the two opposite ends of the cardstock and staple as close to the edge as possible. This will form one half of a rosette. Repeat on the other side.
Step 4: Re-crease any folds that need more definition.
Step 5: Cut out a 6” circle out of cardstock. Hot glue to the center of the rosette.
Step 6: Cut two 11” rectangular pieces of cardstock. Trim the cardstock to create pointed ends. Hot glue these cardstock to the back of the rosette for paper ribbon!
Step 7: Hand out your ribbons or hang them as fun Derby decor!

This post is sponsored by The Kentucky Derby. 

Styling by Alison Piepmeyer and Naomi Julia Satake
Crafting by Justine Pon and Erica Kjos