kilt cupcakes

Some orders I get are very specific and to be honest, some get me very nervous. Nervous that I won't be able to create what the client has in mind. Last week, I had a cupcake order to fill for a wedding shower tea celebrating the marriage of a Scottish gentleman and his African bride. The place where Andrew, the groom, works hosted the event and asked that I make little kilts to top the cupcakes. Not only was that challenging enough, they also asked that the plaid be the specific tartan to his family. Yeap, I was nervous. After it was all said and done though, I think they turned out great. Whew!

xmas in july :: simple dessert trays

This is a dessert tray I quickly put together for my husband's office last holiday season. Mini cupcakes and macarons... Even though they are simple desserts on a simple platter, I think they look pretty tasty. When entertaining during the holidays, make your presentation easy so you can enjoy the party, too!

martini glasses and cupcakes

We recently had a fun request for serving cupcakes at an upcoming event.... Serve them in martini glasses! Fun, right!? We provided several different options for the details/embellishments. To show all the possible options at their tasting, we made a display of four different versions and the clients choose the details from each cupcake they liked. I was happy with the final presentation. (You might recognize the face topper from awhile back; it represented the option of using the honorees photo as a topper.)

leap day :: frog cupcakes

(via The Party Animal)

Happy Leap Day! 

I think these frog cupcakes are perfect to spotlight today. Too cute right!? Anyone have big plans for this "extra" day? I'm playing catch-up; especially catching up on computer to-do's. I finally have the internet back!!!! It took WAY longer than it was supposed to - my love/hate relationship continues with my phone company. Anywho, I'm back up and running and will finally be able to post regularly again.

Just because I think it is so cool, I have to ask. Any readers have a leap day birthday? If so, how old are you?

why didn't i think of that series :: cupcake carrier

Things are super busy here at A. Party Style. As it does every year, October gives me a run for my money! So, while I make some headway on my never-ending to-do list, I wanted to share this gem of an idea I saw via Real Simple via Pinterest.  I fits perfectly in the "Why didn't I think of that series"... With as many cupcakes as I transport, really, why didn't I think of that!? A lot of the times I even carry them in shirt boxes. I will be taking it one step further now with this brilliant idea. I own actual cupcake carriers too, but I never seem to have enough. This is perfect!

Image and idea via Real Simple

happy summer

Well, the summer season is now officially upon us.  Here's to drinking lemonade, lounging on the deck, watching baseball games and visiting the beach.

Speaking of beach, tomorrow I'm doing a little cake decorating with my daughter's kindergarten class.  This should be interesting! :)  They are each going to be making a simple little beach scene atop their own cupcake.  I made a mock-up for the kids to look at and sharing it seemed appropriate on this summer solstice day.  

cinco de mayo :: margarita cupcakes

Margaritas (my favorite drink, by the way) are obviously synonymous with Cinco de Mayo. So what do you get when you mix my favorite drink with my favorite food group (frosting, ahem!)? Margarita cupcakes, of course! I have always wanted to try and make some, but just haven't gotten around to it. (What's the hold up, Anne!?) Anyway, check out this round-up of pretty 'rita's!

(via a dozen eggs)

(via more via evnets by candace via two become one)

(via ray makes do via created by diane)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Now, I'm off to make a batch of margaritas - It's five o'clock somewhere, right!

april shower cupcakes

Well, Ella's party was a lot of fun!  I'm pooped though.  With two large events in the last 10 days and a sprinkling of other little jobs too, I'm playing catch up.  So, let me catch my breath and then I'll show you some pictures.  I am so excited to see the photos my friend/photographer Kate Panza took of the party.  She is very skilled behind the lens and I know she captured some beautiful shots!  

In the meantime, look at these precious rainy day cupcakes.  So cute.  So clever.  (I really thought about doing them for Ella's April Showers party - they would have been so perfect!)

Imagine via Bake it in a Cake

q & u wedding cupcakes

I am really swamped right now (I'm sure you've picked up on this with my infrequency of late). Some upcoming events, my daughter's birthday party, teaching cake decorating classes, amongst other things... One of those "other things" was a quick little task for my daughter's kindergarten class. I think this idea is so original, and I just had to share. I had never heard of it anyway.

As with all kindergarten curriculum, my daughter's class has been learning the letters and their sounds for fundamental reading skills all year. But this past week was a very special week... they did two letters - Q & U. And they got married!!!!!! Isn't that adorable!? (Give me a tissue!) Since almost all words beginning with Q are followed by a U, the "wedding" is a great learning tool for the children. Q & U - together forever. I bet the kids don't forget it! So, of course with a wedding comes a reception, right!? I made the wedding cupcakes. Mr. Q sporting his bow tie and Mrs. U all white and sparkly - both atop fondant hearts and paired together in rows as they walk down the aisle. :)

Anyone else have any Q & U wedding stories? Wish my kindergarten teacher had been this creative.

flip-flop mini cupcakes

This past weekend, I had a beach themed wedding shower dessert table.  Here's a little sneak peek...  I think I like these little mini cupcakes because they remind me of the spring / summer months that are right around the corner!  Here's to wearing flip-flops again soon...

boat party

I am working on several inspiration boards right now - a few of them are new and exciting!  One that I'm working on is for a surprise 30th party and another one is for a beach themed shower. The two of them together got me reminiscing about my own hubby's surprise 30th, so I thought I'd share a few photos.

I rented a boat for a sunset cruise around the Thimble Islands here on the coast of Connecticut.  It was a lot of fun!!!  Since you have to bring everything on the boat and set-up in 30 minutes, I kept it all very simple.

A couple of details worth pointing out...

I wrapped all the utensils in blue napkins and tied with white nautical rope (which I found at a local boat shop, but you can find it at any hardware store).  I burned the ends so they wouldn't fray - just like the sailors do!

Again, for simplicity sake, I just made cupcakes with blue "waves" on top.  Then I detailed them with a little life preserver and a Swedish Fish candy.  To make the them personalized, I wrote my husband's initials (JHP) on the top and the roman numeral for 30 (XXX) on the bottom.  I made the preservers out of fondant and cut thin strips of Foot Roll-ups for the red strip detail.

An east coast boat ride wouldn't be complete without a lobster roll, right!?

And finally, I just had to include a couple pictures of the houses out on the Thimble Islands.... WOW!  

salon cupcakes

I recently had a cupcake order that I thought I'd share.  As the owner of her own business, my client wanted to celebrate her shop's first birthday.  So she had a birthday party, of course!  She owns Tantrum, a salon for children here in Hamden, CT.  (Isn't that just the cutest name for a kids salon!?)  It is such a cute place and she is always busy.  The salon has a playhouse, a tv at each cutting station, and glitter and glamour party packages available.  (You might remember, I made a cake for one of those parties.)   This is just some of what makes Tantrum so special for the kiddos. 

So anyway, back to the cupcakes... She asked for the cupcakes to be "bright, cheery and colorful".  I used the shop's logo for color inspiration.  Jazzed them up with color coordinating sprinkles and made little birthday hats and "1's" for the toppers.  Here are some pictures thoughout the process and the final display. 

cakes

I know I shared this cake with you guys a couple posts back, but after looking at my pictures again, I found a shot that shows the "glitter and glamour" a little better. (Click on it to make it bigger) The flash reflected the iridescence pearl dust, edible glitter and sugar sprinkles. In person, you could see it a lot better. The diamond pattern pieces were covered in pink sugar sprinkles - that was no small task! Anyway, I just didn't want you guys to think I'm loco - it did sparkle!



Moving on... here are a couple cupcake jobs I've done lately...
Piggy Cupcakes - look at these "girls" all ready to party with the birthday girl!




Deservedly so, parents of my daughter's pre-school organized a teacher appreciation lunch. I decided to make cupcakes. Small token of my appreciation. The toppers spelled out "Thank you NMS teachers". NMS stands for Neighborhood Music School. Hence the musical elements on the other cupcakes.


Thank you Serena, Christine and Denise. I only hope teachers that follow will be as talented as you!

A fun cake order for a 6th birthday! Hello Kitty will never grow old.