Star Power

I love the idea of decorating from the ceiling down.

Check out these paper star lanterns from asianideas.com that make a major statement without taking up any table space and without costing much money.

The same concept can be applied to any shape of lantern, including those with lights. For your next event, start with the ceiling first and you'll amaze yourself and your guests with your "star power."

Jingle Bell Rock

These centerpieces literally Rocked! A music teacher requested low height arrangements that could be placed in the center of the dinner tables she had set up to serve a holiday meal and thank you party to her favorite students and their parents.

Inspired by the music, I filled clear round vases with jingle bells and found beautiful gold ribbon with music notes to tie bows around the silk flowers. I kept all the tones in the neutral family and let the jingle bells "ring and sing."

Thankful Gifts

I am so pleased at the way these "Thank you" arrangements turned out for an upcoming Christmas party. The gentleman is thanking all of the people who have helped him throughout the year, and requested 10 table arrangements and two tower arrangements.

I wanted to ensure the table arrangements looked great from all views of the round table and I tied them together with the tower arrangements by incorporating cinnamon scented pine cones. The scent also helps to bring the silk arrangements "to life."

The plan is for 10 lucky people to take home the arrangements. I wish I could go just to keep one for my own home!

And while we're being thankful, thank you to everyone who made this year such a success. Here's to an even more prosperous 2010!

Friday the 13th AND Turning 40

My latest event was a surprise 40th birthday party, that was happening on Friday the 13th. The birthday girl is also a HUGE Purdue fan, and it was the night of their opener for basketball. What to do?

Utilize some of those Halloween decorations, put a fun twist on the "over the hill" concept and do it all in black and gold.

Here it is, black and gold glittery skulls with bones to match. I also added levels throughout the table and made a glittery runner to cover. I arranged the skeletons I glittered with the bones and balloon bouquets for a look that was equal parts fun and festive.

The best part is the party was a complete surprise. Happy 40th Birthday, Marina!

Personal Touch

When I'm designing a party, I always like to throw in a personal touch, something that will make this event different from any other party people will attend. That's why I'm crazy about this personalized cupcake tree my friend Katie did for an NYC engagement party.

She took a few different photos of the couple and created little logos in their color scheme. Then she adhered the photos and logos together around toothpicks and created fancy little toppers. It had the guests talking all night and was the perfect personal touch! Congrats Lindsey & Aaron!

Crafty & Cute

I just finished my first craft show. What an adventure! Someone should make a movie about the personalities of crafters. I experienced first hand how territorial they can be!

In my spare time? I make Carrier Cushions. They are wraps for the handles of the infant car seats that look fun and save the forearms of whomever is holding the baby. Practical & sassy, I just love it! Enjoy these photos of the craft show and display. And shoot me an e-mail if you'd like to order one for your own bundle of fun or for upcoming baby showers or push presents. lauren.stiglich@gmail.com

Before You Pop

I am in love with these containers and can not wait to introduce them at the next baby shower I throw. Cute and modern and totally fun, these are perfect for even the most discerning mom-to-be, and who doesn't love a good tub of popcorn?

Barbie's 50th Surprise

A VERY special client, my Mother, turned 50 recently and I was put to the daunting task of throwing her party. Once the cocktail and hos d'oeuvres idea was set, I came up with the idea of a glamour Barbie theme. Barbie is turning 50, and so is Mom. I designed these invitations which set the color theme for the evening.

The rest of the decorations were done in hot pink, silver and black. I glued and glittered three cardboard chandeliers and used submersible battery operated pink tealights to add some flare to the crystals in the vases and the table arrangements.

And there were two cakes. One for the "fifties" and one for that little princess still lurking inside, a Barbie doll cake made with the 50th anniversary doll.

The party was made even more perfect by the look on the birthday girl's face. She had a fabulous glamour-filled party, better than anything ever thrown in Barbie's dreamhouse!

Oktoberfest Fundraiser

Despite the wind storm (it is Chicago after all), we were able to pull off a beautiful and successful Oktoberfest themed fundraiser. Special thanks to Dollinger Farms for their donation of the fall decorations.

I painted the pumpkins to welcome the crowd to the pavilion. You can do this at home on your own front porch.

Mums were placed on each table with sponsor signage hugged into floral stem holders as the centerpieces.

We did a mixture of high and low tables and even added some torpedo heaters to fight off the chill.

But perhaps the biggest hit of the night was the hot pretzel bar, complete with various dipping sauces. Special thanks to Duke's Catering for all of their hard work.

Congrats, Joe. And don't forget to vote..in 2011!

Sports Pumpkins

Happy first Birthday,Cole. This little guy (his parents, really) wanted a sports and cornfest themed birthday party. What to do? Pick a bunch of pumpkins, stick these mini "We're #1" foam fingers into slots of the pumpkins and paint them matte black to give them an edge. The foam fingers were a hit with the kids. They ran around with them on their fingers and the point got across..Cole, is #1. Happy first Cornfest Sports Birthday!

Modern Calligraphy

The Save the Dates for Katie & Keith turned out even better than I expected. I designed two versions- one for guests who are invited to the destination & local receptions and one for the local reception only. I love how the picture I took is framed by the trees, and the Sepia tone has an old-world feel.

Katie loves the look of cursive curly letters, which we incorporated into the design, but for the outside envelope, I used more of a modern calligraphy, a look that I think suits the couple perfectly. Congrats, you guys!

Brunch Delights

Consider this the breakfast alternative to the ever-popular tower of cupcakes. That's right sweet freaks...for your next brunch, don't sweat over dessert. Instead, do what I did, and turn those cake plates into a towering, mouth-watering, lip-smacking, finger-licking mound of sweet rolls for inhaling. Your guests will marvel in delight and no one will be able to pass this up. make sure you have dessert plates ready for the smart guests who won't wait to come back to the buffet.

Kiddie Cocktail

This is seriously one of my new favorite ideas, and I can't wait to make it happen for one of my client's events. Move over candy, cookie and popcorn bars, there's a new sweet treat in town, and it will please all audiences any time of the year...Bubble Gum cocktails!

Much like the adult-version, you mix up flavors to make the concoction you desire. Buy several flavors of bubble gums In all shapes and sizes) and display them creatively on a table.

I plan to offer several different flavors of nostalgic gums for clients to mix and match as well as small recipe cards for suggested pairings.

Make a "Shirley Temple" by mixing cherry gum with Bazooka bubble gum and a piece of berry fruit. The possibilities are endless, but definitely one you (and all your guests) will want to chew on!

Table Number 16- The Patio Table

This could possible be my new favorite concepts at weddings-naming the tables after something significant to the couple.

I do have to admit, this practice started out on a bad note. It's difficult to find the "Biel Street Table" when you're walking into a 300 person reception and have no clue where Biel Street might be in relation to "The Cheescake Factory."

But lately some brides, like my friend Rebecca, have perfected the practice by numbering AND naming the tables. Genius! No longer do the guests feel like mice in a maze, and it still gives them some fantastic insight into the relationship and the love they've come to celebrate.

At Rebecca's wedding, we gladly sat at Table 16-the Patio Table, and very much enjoyed learning about how the couple like to grill out, sip wine and relax on their patio when they're at home. Although, I do have to say the Pottery Barn Table (appropriate for their love of the store and desire to live in the pages of the catalog) was calling my name from across the room.

Why Pay More?

I'm in the midst of designing my sister-in-law's Save the Dates for her destination wedding, and we really wanted a magnet option WITHOUT the magnet prices. What to do?

Two options actually. First, we can buy a roll of magnets, stick them on the cardstock, stuff them in envelopes and mail them away....or, if you have a color printer, you can print them directly onto magnet paper! Who knew they made this stuff? A very cool option and cheap! Your refrigerator will never look the same again.

Turning 30 With Class

So I was once again charged with creating 30th Birthday centerpieces-this time for a guy & gal who were sharing the fun of turning the big 3-0h together. We decided on a martini theme, so I whipped together these fun centerpieces- in both his and her hues. They are funky and fun yet classy, just like the couple. Happy Birthday you guys!

Cheers! (and never lose your cup again...)

Why didn't anyone think of this earlier?!? Sure, they have cute jewlery for wine glasses so you can mark your stem, but ultimately after a couple of glasses you end up wondering..was I the martini or the cherry?

In these days of swine flu, one can never be too careful...

Now there are these fabulous cups that take you back to your days playing with an etch-a-sketch, and they are good for all beverages.

Get creative and use your nail to etch logos, names or pretty much anything you can imagine. reasonably priced in bulk qantities, these are a steal (available on many web sits, including amazon.com). Plus, the company now sells just the labels, so you can stick it on any surface and etch away. Cheers!

Never Forget a Fork Again

If you're anything like me, you make it all the way through the buffet line with no utensils, or only a select two, before realizing you'll most definitley need a fork, knife and spoon to eat all the yummy deliciousness that awaits on your plate.

So this silverware wrapper from Plum Party (http://www.plumparty.com/) could be the buffet's best friend. Plus as a hostess, it sends your guests off with a nice little greeting that is sure to make them smile.

Pick these up for Labor Day, a Backyard BBQ or really any event where your guests are lined up around the corner!

What kind of centerpiece do you make for a guy's 30th birthday party?

I decided to throw my husband a big birthday party. It wasn't a surprise, so we worked together on many of the details. He handled the food, venue and music, and I, of course, was in charge of the decorations. What do you do for a guy's 30th birthdya party? I kept pondering over and over in my head.

Then I had my ah-ha moment. My hubbie, big into politics locally, has been elected a few times. Who on the guest list hadn't had one of his yard signs on their lawn?

Mix in a little humor..and you get a pretty good looking centerpiece.

Try this at home for those guys who like golf too. Just substitute a tee and a ball for the mini political sign!

I used farm fresh sod cut to size, wet floral foam and galvinized containers bought at the local craft store.