{Cupcake Monday} Mini Cupcake Stand Tutorial!

Happy Monday everyone! We spotted these adorable Mini Cupcake Stands on HWTM made by Jessica at Modern Moments Designs, we knew we had to share with you! Super adorable and simple to make. Just the way we like crafty projects!

Here is what you need:

1. Mini 3″ Candle Sticks made by Lara Crafts $2.99 for a set of 4

2. 3.25″ Wooden Unfinished Circles $0.29 ea. at JoAnn’s Craft Store

3. Wood Glue (Any brand will do.)

4. Spray Paint (pick a color, any color), Rust-Oleum from Home Depot $3.44 a can

Jessica purchased the Mini Candle Sticks online from New Image Group. They carry this brand of wood at Michael’s and other craft stores, but her local Michael’s didn’t carry this particular item. Take one candle stick and one circle. With a little wood glue, place it around the rim of the candle stick and adhere the circle in the center. Just eyeballed them. You could take the time to measure them, but Jessica didn’t think that was necessary. Let them dry for 24 hours before you handle them. Jessica said that she dropped hers several times and they are all still in tackt. That wood glue is some serious stuff!

Then, Jessica spray painted hers {well, her hubby did}. He did four coats and used just over one can of spray paint. They are fairly covered. Jessica said there were a few areas that could use some extra paint, but she thought it made them look a little distressed and that was perfect.
Let them dry and enjoy!

Seriously, that’s it. So, for just over $1 each, Jessica made 20 adorable cupcake stands. You could adorn them with ribbon, add some fancy paint job, vinyl the tops, etc.

Get creative!
We would love to see photos if you make them!

{Cupcake Monday} Pretty Little Red Velvet Cupcake from The Coffee Shop!

I met my friend Jami at The Coffee Shop {Gilbert, AZ} last week for lunch and a cupcake, of course! This pretty delight was a holiday red velvet with cream cheese frosting! Naturally, I had to snap a photo before I devoured it! Yum!

The Coffee Shop won the Food Network series, Cupcake Wars last season!
Very cool to have a FAMOUS local shop!

{Cupcake Monday} Gorgeous Snowflake Cupcakes by Glorious Treats!

Could these cupcakes be any prettier?! Seriously!
I "met" Glory of Glorious Treats last year around this time when I was looking for inspiration for my best friend's daughter's Snowflake Party! I asked Glory permission to use the photo below in my inspiration board! Glory is such a talented baker and now party/baking blogger! I was so excited to see her new PINK snowflake cupcakes featured as part of her Vintage Pastel Dessert Table on Hostess with the Mostess last week, that I had to share with you today!

Not only does Glory bake up beautiful delights, but she also shares instructions, recipes and tips on how to make them yourself!

For more details, visit these posts by Glory:

Vintage Pastel Christmas

How to Make Royal Icing Snowflakes

Glory's Frosting Recipe

Glory's Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

Thank you for sharing these gorgeous photos with us, Glory!
I'm sure they taste as good as they look!
Happy Cupcake Monday, readers!

{TomKat Studio Holiday Gift Guide} Fabulous Gifts for Cupcake Lovers!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Over the next week or so, we will be highlighting all of the fabulous collages featured in our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide! I will be introducing you to our fabulous contributors and sharing all of their fun finds! I thought I would share my collage first...Gifts for Cupcake Lovers! I had so much fun "shopping" for items to incude in this collage!

"Gifts for Cupcake Lovers" includes:

Cake Shop Cupcake Kit

Cupcake Thank You Notes

KitchenAid Pink Mixer

Cupcake Courier

Cupcake Apron

Keep Calm Journal

Pink Cake Plate

These items are perfect for anyone who LOVES pink & sweets!

You can view our full guide by clicking below:

{Real Parties} Blue & Orange Whale Baby Shower!

Nicki from Vitalic Photo recently shared this GORGEOUS baby shower she hosted for her photography partner! Nicki was inspired by our blog, as well as Amy Atlas and we are so happy she shared this beautiful event with us! Simple, sweet and perfectly lovely! I love the serene color scheme of blue and orange with a hint of green. The triangle banner frames the dessert table beautifully and is so easy to make! The girls also set up a fun photo booth for the shower! Aren't they so cute!?

Photos by Vitalic Photo

A big thank you to Nicki for sharing this baby shower with us!

Beautiful job!

{Cupcake Monday} The Savvy Moms Guide Display at Cupcake Camp!

Meet Bri & Amy of The Savvy Moms Guide! They recently participated in Cupcake Campe IE to support the Susan G. Komen foundation. I have been chatting with Bri for the last couple months about printables for their frequent "play date" photo shoots and I was happy to help them with this event! We made a few changes to our free Pink Ribbon printable party circles and these crafty mommas did a beautiful job displaying them at their booth!

Photography by Racz Photography

Cupcakes by Kolby Kakes

Tutu's and Aprons by Sweet Things Kids

Info about event: Bake It Pretty

Visit Bri & Amy's blog, The Savvy Moms Guide!

Here is their intro on the blog {how sweet!}:

Welcome to The Savvy Moms Guide. We are Bri and Amy 2 average moms who enjoy making the EveryDay SAVVY. We find ourselves starting this new adventure filled with ideas; some good, others great and many that are just plain silly. So here we sit, 2 girls putting our creativity out into the Blogging world in hopes that we may one day be featured on Amy Atlas, organize with Martha Stewart, or work with The TomKat Studio to style a party.


See why I love them?
Have a great week getting ready for Thanksgiving!!

XOXO,

Kim

{Cupcake Monday} Seriously Delicious Cupcakes from Modern Cupcake!

{photo by Laura Winslow Photography}

Happy Monday, friends!

Today for Cupcake Monday, I would like to introduce you to Jill from Modern Cupcake! She's the new kid in town baking up seriously DELICIOUS cupcakes here in Chandler, AZ. For all of you Phoenix locals, I'm sure you'll be hearing more about Modern Cupcake soon....rumors of YUMMY cupcakes spread fast! Sweet Jill contacted me a few weeks ago to introduce herself and offer up some samples. Never one to say no to cupcakes, I accepted and had her whip up these Vanilla Bean ones for my segment on Sonoran Living on Friday! I also had the luxury of tasting her Red Velvet with Cream Cheese frosting at the Believe Boutique last week! YUM.

{photo by laura winslow photography}

Jill seems like such a genuine person, and she's friends with my friend, Rebecca from Fresh Chick Designs...so she must be cool. Rebecca designed her adorable logo! I would love for you all to say a little prayer for Jill. She was telling me about a devastating car accident (not her fault) that happened right before she was ready to launch her company. She is extremely shaken up but with the encouragement of friends, she moving ahead with her new business. Keep moving forward, Jill! I would love for you to give her some encouragement and love on her Facebook page.

I love this photo. Isn't it awesome?
{photo by Mary Lessig}

{photo by Mary Lessig}

Check out the fabulous Modern Cupcake website!
Be prepared to drool!
Have a fabulous week, my sweet readers!

*A big thank you to Laura Winslow for the fabulous on set photos at Sonoran Living!*

{New Collection} Wizard of Oz Party & Surprise Giveaway with Kate Landers Events!

This is a very exciting day for us! Kate of Kate Landers Events and I recently collaborated on this fabulous Wizard of Oz inspired party! We have been talking about this project for months and it is so rewarding to see it all come together beautifully courtesy of Kate's styling talent. Kate & I had the opportunity to meet in September at the Martha Stewart Blogger's Night Out in NYC. She is an absolute doll. I'm so glad to have gotten to know her while we worked closely on this project together. I can tell you she is nothing sort of perfection. Always sweet as can be and so detailed in everything she does, she is a truly a class act. We are both so thrilled that the photos debuted yesterday on Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas! Today, Kate & I are both sharing more photos and details, along with surprise giveaways!

Kate & I discussed ideas for the paper goods designs. She loves the silhouette collections that I have done in the past and asked about including a Dorothy silhouette. Of course, I loved that idea and enlisted my friend, Jessica of Pen 'N Paper Flowers to work on the silhouette for me. I sent her the two costume photos for inspiration and she blended them perfectly to create our own signature Dorothy for the party!

Then the fun really began! I created a full collection of items using Dorothy along with her famous blue gingham pattern. Cupcake toppers, favor tags, cake topper, welcome sign, banner, fancy labels...everything you need to embellish this party! One of the first things that Kate mentioned was getting sparkly ruby red slippers for each of the girls. I used hints of red throughout the designs, and hand-glittered Dorothy's shoes and accents! Look at the glitter on these cupcake toppers!


Kate & I discussed fabulous vendors that we wanted to have involved in the shoot! One of the most fun parts of this business is discovering talented women creating amazing products. You'll notice both some of my preferred vendors along with Kate's favorite vendors in the photos! (full list at end of post)



Kate took it from there! She planned and executed the party perfectly! She styled a gorgeous dessert table filled with goodies, including many variations of cookies, cupcakes, cake pops & cake!

Kate also styled a sitting table for the girls! Complete with aprons for each girl (with personalized tags!), fabric bunting, ruffled table runner & hats, custom place cards and cupcake centerpieces!

A would like to give a huge THANK YOU to Kate for dreaming up this wonderful collaboration!
It was a pleasure working with you and I can't wait to do it again soon!

I would also love to thank all of the fabulous vendors involved in this project!

Kate Landers Events, LLC : party design & styling, ruffle fabric party hats, custom aprons
The TomKat Studio : printable party designs
Queen of Tarts Cakes : custom dorothy cookies with TomKat graphics
Sweeties By Kim : custom white chocolate covered oreos
Hope's Pantry : strawberry pineapple jam in mini jam jars as favors
Two Sugar Babies : fondant toto and rainbow cupcake toppers
The Cookie Jar : yellow brick, badge of courage, lollipop, hot air balloon & basket cookies
Sweets On A Stick: ruby cake pops
Sweet De Ja Vu: poppy cupcake toppers

Jaime Mancilla: custom fabric bunting
Banner Boutique: custom silk flower & other glam hair accessories
Uncommon Fabrics: custom ruffle trim gingham table runner
Dream Spun Kids: custom pettiskirts {4}
Strawberrie Rose: custom posh petti tutu {1}
Pen N Paper Flowers: collaboration on silhouette
Hailey Rose {brydferth}: custom gingham & other fabric flower hair accessories
Open Shade Studios: photography & studio

The DOROTHY Printable Party Collection
will be available in THE SHOP soon!

ONE MORE THING....

We're hosting a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY sponsored by Kate Landers Events!
Kate is offering our winner a Custom Party Design Consultation! ($150 value)

Kate will work with you to develop a perfect plan for the party theme you are dreaming of!

Here is how to enter:

1) Leave a comment with what your favorite detail is from the party!
2) Become a fan of Kate Landers Events on Facebook! Come back and let us know you are a fan.
3) Become a fan of The TomKat Studio on Facebook! Let us know if you are.

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

Winner will be chosen on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 11:00pm (MST). Any entries received after this time will not be considered. Winner will be chosen using random.org.

Be sure to visit Kate's blog post to hear about all of the details in her words and ENTER TO WIN a $50 shop credit to The TomKat Studio!

UPDATE:

The winner is..........

COMMENT #36 Cortnieb

She said "How can I possibly pick one favorite detail?? I loved every teeny tiny detail!!!! From the bails of straw on the dessert table to the ruby slippers on the girls!!! If I had to pick one it would be honestly.....The dessert table in it's entirety (is that a word or how it's spelled??!!) I LOVE how every detail of the movie is spelled out in cookie or cupcake form...like LOVE!!!!! AMAZING job ladies!!!!! You inspire me to go forward with my dream of being a party planner...THANK YOU!!!! :)"

Congrats and best of luck to you! Please contact toni@thetomkatstudio.com to claim your fabulous prize!