Countdown to a Fabulous New Year!

{via martha}

Good morning!
I'm apologize for neglecting my blog lately, but with the craziness of the holidays and moving, things have been quite hectic! I'm happy to say that we are getting settled in our house and the fun part has begun....decorating! I have so much to share with you and I want to thank you for reading my blog, giving me advice and sharing in my passion for all things pretty this year!

I'm looking forward to next year, connecting with you all, sharing parties, decorating ideas and new products! If you have ideas of what you would like to see more of here at The TomKat Studio, please comment or email me your thoughts and feedback! I would love to hear from you!

Have a fabulous time tonight!

Here's hoping that all of your dreams come true in 2010...

XOXO,
Kim

{Cupcake Monday} Charlotte's Snowflake Birthday Cupcakes & Party Hat!

Happy Monday!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I sure did! It's time to get back to blogging and what a better way than to start with Cupcake Monday!

After seeing Marley's party here on the blog, Ellen contacted me to create party circles for her daughter, Charlotte's 1st birthday snowflake party!
The cupcakes turned out adorable..I LOVE the aqua frosting!

And, check out this cute hat she made!

I'm sure you've been very busy with the holidays,
so just in case you missed Marley's Snowflake party post....
CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

{photo by live love photography}

I have to confess, I designed my Christmas cards but didn't get them printed and out in the mail in time! With moving last week, things just got too busy! So, I plan on redesigning, and sending out a New Year's card which will also act as a "just moved" card!

Here are a few more of my favorite photos from our family session with Live Love Photography! Thank you for the beautiful photos, Tina!

{Birthday Parties} Little Miss Marley's Sweet Snowflake 1st Birthday Party!

It's that busy time of year....the holidays! I've been trying to find a few spare moments to share this party with you!
I sure hope it was worth the wait!
If you've been reading my blog, you know that Amy Atlas is a such an inspiration for me. She is the queen of dessert buffet tables and I am obsessed with her beautiful creations. The presentation details and dessert selections she uses are not only gorgeous, but delicious I'm sure. I decided it was time for me to make my first attempt at a full dessert table, and what better time that for my best friend's daughter's 1st birthday party! We decided on an aqua & red snowflake theme. I started with the invitation design and made coordinating cupcake toppers and jar labels. We had so much fun finding all of the little snowflake details!

I made the cupcakes using my favorite icing tip, along with my favorite white whipped frosting! I found the snowflake sprinkles at HomeGoods (my happy place), which turned out perfect on the cupcakes and chocolate dipped pretzel sticks! I've officially started a collection of glass jars, and most I found at HomeGoods, as well. We decorated with white and red sparkly snowflakes hanging from the ceiling found at the dollar store and Target. Little Miss Marley borrowed Kate's aqua Kaiya Eve pettiskirt (from her cupcake 1st birthday) and our friend, Thuy created a coordinating snowflake shirt to go along with it! I bought Marley the adorable flower headband from Dolce Vita Mia, and her crown (shown above) was made by True Love Found. Could she be any cuter?! Santa visited the party and handed out gifts to all of the little party guests! Lots of fun was had by all! Snowflakes are the perfect theme for winter parties!
Invitation and party circle designs available will be available in my shop!

VIEW THE PARTY SLIDESHOW HERE!
The photos of when Santa arrived are too cute!
{Photos courtesy of Live Love Photography}

Hello! I'm Here and Celebrating!

{photo via vicki lynn photography}

I've missed you, my dear blog reading friends! Amidst the moving, unpacking, decorating and Christmas-preparing, I just realized that today is my blog's 1st birthday!
My very first post was today last year!
Where did the year go?!

I have had such a wonderful time "meeting" and connecting with you all. I love blogging and thank you for all of the support you have given me. Without your comments, I wouldn't continue to write and post all the pretty things I see and create! I feel that I have found my own little "place" for sharing creativity, and I want to thank you for visiting this little "place"!


{sneak peek of our family photos via live love photography}

I look forward to another year of sharing many more "pretty" things with you!

XOXO,
Kim

{Fabulous Parties} Ella's 1st Birthday Tea Party!

I love hearing from my readers that have been "inspired" by The TomKat Studio when planning their children's parties! I have such a passion for writing this blog and it always gives me the warm and fuzzies to hear from you!

Lacey from A Cherry on Top Photography emailed me about her friend's daughter's party that she took {gorgeous} pictures of! A sweet tea party with amazing details! Soon I was chatting with Cindy, Ella's mom about all of the beautiful details she created to make her daughter's 1st birthday so sweet! Get ready to ooh and ahh!

View Cindy's full party post HERE!
Tell her what a fabulous job she did on this beautiful tea party!

Visit Lacey's Photography Blog HERE!
(lots of eye candy!)

Thanks for sharing, ladies!
This party is sure to inspire many more sweet tea parties!

{Free Printable} Chocolate Scotcheroo Recipe & Label!

Yum! You probably saw my previous post about my favorite treat, Chocolate Scotcheroos! Well, I decided it would be easiest to share with you a printable recipe card and sign I made!

ENJOY!

I would love to know if you plan on printing these!
Please leave me a comment!

Chocolate Scotcheroos Recipe & Label - Tomkat Studio

{Divas Holiday Party} My FAVORITE Yummy Treats - Chocolate Scotcheroos!

Have you ever had a CHOCOLATE SCOTCHEROO? If you haven't, you are really missing out! My mom has been making these since I can remember and they have always been my favorite! I made them for our "Domestic Divas" holiday party, as usual. Divas is my little group of girlie friends that get together every few weeks to be girls. You know...to talk, eat, talk, drink, talk, craft... We always do a fun holiday party at Taryn's house that includes a cookie exchange. So, chocolate scotcheroos don't really count as cookies, but no one has ever complained!

Chocolate Scotcheroos
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use a little bit more ;)
1 cup butterscotch chips (I use a little bit more ;)

Place corn syrup and sugar in 3 quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Mix well. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated. Press mixture into 13x9 pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. (OR melt using half power, 30 seconds at a time in the microwave ~ as I do!) Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand until firm. (I put in the fridge for 15 minutes so they firm up quicker so I can start eating them sooner)

YUM. I promise.
Comment with your email address if you would like a printable PDF of the little "Chocolate Scotcheroos" sign I made.

I usually try to get a little gift for the girls, and as you know, I'm slightly obsessed with personalized gifts. I found these adorable mugs at HomeGoods and was thrilled when they had all of the initials I needed! Filled with some yummy candy and topped off with a custom tag....all set and ready to go!

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Tweet Holiday Collection - More Ideas for Making Your Holiday SPARKLE!

Here are a few more photos of items included in my printable TWEET HOLIDAY collection!

This little birdie placecard is so easy to make, and you can add a little sparkle by gluing a rhinestone to the birdie's hat! To make the little holder, I just cut a strip of paper, made a little ring out of it, taped it and then made two little snips on the top for the placecard to slide into! Gifts, gifts.....and more gifts!Find the collection HERE in my shop!

{Cupcake Monday} Sneak Peek ~ Little Miss Marley's Snowflake 1st Birthday Party!

Are you excited to see what I did this weekend?

I'm excited to show you!

Stay tuned!

{photo courtesy of live.love.photography}

{Fabulous Things} Dolce Vita Mia on Etsy: Gorgeous Headbands, Hats, Bows & More!

Mia from Dolce Vita Mia and I became fast friends after she offered to host an auction back in July, for Kate McRae after reading about Kate here on the blog. Mia is local, and though we haven't met in person yet, she is sweet as can be.

Not only is she sweet, she's also super creative and runs fabulous Etsy shop, Dolce Vita Mia. Dolce Vita Mia carries handmade bows, headbands, hats & onesie sets using gorgeous fabrics including Heather Bailey designs (my fave, also a local).

I recently reached out to Mia and asked if she would be willing to design a hat to match Kate McRae's snowflake t-shirt (via Modern Frills) for her upcoming birthday. Of course, sweet Mia said yes and sent me not one, but two hats for Kate.

After she posted the hats, she created a headband in the same color scheme, which I promptly had her hold for me to purchase for Marley, my BFF's one year old (snowflake party this weekend)! It is ADORABLE! While I was shopping there, I decided to pick up one of her vintage inspired flower headbands as a little treat for myself! It's darling! Check these out...mine is the one in the top left corner...
Because I was shopping on Black Friday (I knew there was a freebie involved that day in her shop), Mia was kind enought to send me a fabulous freebie...a set of pink satin ribbon clips with rhinestone details! These are so perfect for my daughter...I LOVE them!
You probably get my point by now, but I had to share this fabulous Etsy shop & owner with you! Now, go visit her and get some gifts or treat yourself to a little something! You deserve it!

Thank you, Mia for your support for Kate McRae.
Read more about Kate here.

Find Mia ~ Dolce Vita Mia:

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

SHOP

{New to Shop} Tweet Holiday Printable Collection - 50% off TODAY ONLY!

Finally! I justed added another set of holiday designs to the shop! You all have seen my "Modern Holiday" collection, and this one I call "Tweet Holiday" because of the sweet little birdies included on the designs! These are whimsical and fun with a little twist on traditional Christmas colors!

More photos coming soon of the the "fancy border" gift tags & placecards that are included in the collection!

Get your set HERE today!
Introductory Special TODAY ONLY ~ 50% off ~ $5.00

{Kate McRae} Sweet 6th Snowflake Birthday Celebration!

If you read this blog, you know that I've been moved by Kate McRae's story. I follow her mom, Holly's blog but often wait a few days between reading because it upsets me so much.

Kristina from Modern Frills emailed me offered to create a custom shirt for Kate's upcoming birthday. Kristina's email sparked the idea of contacting Holly to see if I could help with Kate's birthday celebration. I had always wanted to reach out to Holly, but I really never knew what to say. Holly accepted my offer and without trying to be overbearing, I offered to do whatever I could...decorate, cupcakes, a special outfit, photography, gifts, anything to make Kate's day special. I sent her links to my most popular parties, and Kate chose the Red/Aqua Snowflake party! It is likely that Kate will be in the hospital for her birthday. I will just follow Holly's lead with how she wants to celebrate. If she wants to wait until she is home, or do something to celebrate in the hospital.

In the meantime, Kristina with Modern Frills designed this PERFECT snowflake shirt for Kate. Isn't it gorgeous? The quality is exceptional and Kristina was so efficient and a pleasure to work with on this. Visit her SHOP to see more of her adorable designs!

I have several other offers to help with the party, and I will post more as things progress!
If you would have an item you think would fit with this theme, or would like to send a birthday gift for Kate, please email me at kim@thetomkatstudio.com!

Thank you, Kristina for this wonderful idea.
I hope we can help make Kate's birthday celebration her best yet!

Martha & Me: Great Minds Think Alike! :)

Martha and I are on the same wavelength this holiday season!
I couldn't resist picking up her latest issue, with the aqua & red cover! LOVE it!

This issue is FULL of great holiday ideas! Pick one up!

See....two peas in a pod, Martha & I.....
My aqua & red snowflake party inspiration post!

hee! hee! :)

Also, did you notice my aqua & red Etsy finds in my sidebar?!
Super cute stuff for this theme!

{Cupcake Monday} Sweet Holiday Cupcake Ideas!

Good Morning, my lovelies!
Happy Monday!

Today I'm sharing the prettiest holiday cupcake decorating ideas I could find around the web!
Gorgeous holiday cupcakes on a gorgeous tiered stand....
what's not to love?

{via FanPop}

How about this little snowman cupcake? Isn't he sweet?
I love how she tied a bow around the cupcake liner!
I'm going to have to try that trick!

{via Asa ~ Hello Sugar on Flickr}

While the two above may be a bit difficult for your average baker, this next one seems to be much more user-friendly! M&Ms, frosting, ribbon....ladies, we can handle these!

{via Taste.com.au}
Get the recipe & instructions HERE!

and don't miss...
This fabulous collection of holiday cupcake ideas from Jeanne Benedict of Celebrations.com!
This candy cane cupcake idea she shared would be really easy to create!

{via Celebrations via Wilton}

Hop over to see more great ideas from Jeanne!

Have a great week!