Easy Halloween Ideas From Our Shop

Brittany

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October 26, 2022

My Ideal Halloween

My ideal Halloween is playfully spooky, crafty, and (above all) easy, and there’s no such thing as too many easy Halloween ideas. If you’re looking for a fun, simple way to celebrate the season without turning your home into a Spirit Halloween storefront, read on for easy Halloween ideas!

Easy Halloween Decorations

This Haunted House makes a perfect Halloween centerpiece and conversation starter. You’ll make it from recycled cardboard boxes, which is a win for Planet Earth, and it’s beautiful enough to come back year after year, which is a win for you! Check out our blog post on it here.

Garlands are another classic when it comes to Halloween decor. Try this fun new Halloween garland featuring the Halloween shapes you’ve been missing. If you love the spooky aspect of Halloween, check out this Vampire Teeth Garland. It’s creepy without being too macabre, and oh so easy.

Another slightly spooky and impeccably easy decor idea is this wooden transfer plaque template! I’m all for riding the line between pretty and creepy at Halloween, and these really fit the bill. Find the tutorial here.

This painted pumpkin face template makes for such a fun, easy DIY! Give your porch some whimsy this Halloween by painting these sweet characters on your pumpkins. Read the tutorial here and get painting!

How many times can you say “pretty paper pumpkin project?” Whatever your answer, you should check out this template for rainbow paper pumpkins, along with this tutorial blog post. These make a beautiful, refined, seasonal table setting, they’ll look great for all of Autumn, not jus Halloween. A Thanksgiving comeback, anyone?

If you’re in a pinch and looking for quick decorations, don’t forget this post about last minute Halloween decor!

Easy Halloween Costume Ideas

There’s something to be said for a super intricate, detailed costume for sure. But even if you don’t have the time and energy to become a perfectly accurate storm trooper, dressing up doesn’t have to be out of your reach. Lots of our costume templates just require some simple clothing, some paper, and a prop or two. No professional costuming degree necessary!

Our Ruth Bader Ginsberg collar is maybe our simplest costume for adults. Just cut it out (a cricut or other cutting machine is helpful here), put it over a dark dress, and pull your hair back. Voilà! You’re ready to advocate for your sisters.

If you’ve been a Lars reader for more than about a minute you’ll know that I love flowers. So of course I wanted to dress up as a bouquet! Ha! Practice making some paper flowers for this Sweet Pea Paper Flower Bouquet costume (and read the tutorial here).

Group costumes are always so fun, so pair your bouquet costume with greenhouse garb for a friend! This greenhouse costume uses cardboard and iron-on flowers, and is sure to turn heads. You can find the tutorial here. Speaking of group costumes, you really don’t want to miss our Andy Warhol Campbell’s soup can team costumes, or our Wild Things costumes. They’re some of my favorites, and they’re great for any size group!

Another cute Halloween costume for a pair of friends would be our beehive and picnic costumes. Both use an iron-on technique to make easy halloween costumes that are as cute as a bug. Find the tutorials here.

This constellation costume with iron-on stars is absolutely dazzling. Honestly, you might as well break it out all year round because it’s that beautiful.

For a subtle Halloween look, just print off our Pumpkin Crown and wear warm autumn tones.

Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids

Brand new this year are our classic Halloween costumes for kids! We give you options for a witch, bat, and pumpkin. Not only are they simple to make in a pinch, they’re adorable and you’ll be glad you tried them out. One of our most glamorous costumes with templates in the shop is our sun, cloud and rainbow set. This makes a great baby and mom costume, because you can add sun rays to a baby bonnet. I love how our model matched the baby’s outfit to her sling! With this costume you can invest as much or as little as you want. Just want the Sun and Rainbow headpiece? No problem. What about the Cloud Bag and Cloud Earrings? Done. Just want a sunny baby bonnet pattern? Your wish is our command. Make the costume just how you like it with this tutorial.

This Giving Tree costume is another easy Halloween idea that you could make in a flash. And who doesn’t want to reference a classic children’s book in their costume? Find the tutorial here.

If you have a gaggle of children to costume, consider our Three Blind Mice baby costume pattern or our Crayon Hat template. Both are simple to put together and oh so sweet. For more kids costume ideas, see this post!

Halloween Party Supplies

Even though gathering in big groups for Halloween parties is starting to look less and less likely (again 😔), you can still throw a Halloween party for your family, roommates, or pod! This Halloween Party Suite includes printable invitations, placemats, party tags, and place cards. Talk about easy Halloween ideas!

And for a party favor, try these printable poppers or printable Halloween candy gift boxes.

These Halloween coupons make a fun halloween activity for your family. They’re a great way for parents to get their kids to relinquish some candy in return for fun activities.

These illustrated Halloween cards are another great party favor because you can attach them to treat bags, trade them, send them as cards, or just hang them up.

If your party is more freaky than funky, you might like this elegant invitation and Halloween dinner menu.

Party Food

Real talk here: what’s a party without cake? Use these printables and templates to make your Halloween cake extra fancy. The Spooky Town printable cake topper set is quaint and just a bit creepy, while this Black Birds cake topper is decidedly Hitchcock-approved. Red velvet cake makes it even more dramatic!

If your fall party isn’t so Halloween-specific (or even if it is!) this Fall Leaf cake topper will add elegance and fun to the celebration.

More Inspiration

Looking for more cards, costumes, and decor? Search for Halloween on our blog! You’ll be blown away by the years of great, easy Halloween ideas and DIYs. If you’re interested in many of these ideas (who wouldn’t be!?), you can check out our E-Book, The Halloween that Lars Made. It’s a one-stop shop for easy Halloween ideas, DIYs, and projects. Also, for more festive ideas check out this post on how to get into the Halloween spirit this year!

Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Brittany

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July 2, 2022

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Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Fireworks and the Fourth

Can we all agree that the best part about the Fourth of July is fireworks? I am always mesmerized by amazing firework shows–the colors, the lights, the sparkle! I could do without the loud noise (not to mention stress of toddlers and babies around fire!) but there are pros and cons to everything. Well, if you’re like me and are not so crazy about mixing real fireworks with your kids and their all-too-eager hands, these paper cake topper fireworks are for you. It gives you a beautiful, festive display without the noise or the worry!

Perfect for your Fourth of July celebrations, these red, white and blue fireworks are a stunning scene when arranged atop a cake. All you’ll need to make the magic happen is colored paper and some skewers. Cut them on your cricut maker or by hand, these little beauties will be the stars (or should I say fireworks?) of the party this Fourth of July.

How to Make Paper Cake Topper Fireworks

I love how easy these paper cake topper fireworks are to make. They’re the perfect solution for a last-minute craft that definitely doesn’t look it. Here’s how to make them:

First, cut out the firework templates using scissors or a Cricut Maker. We use our trusty Cricut Maker for everything!
Next, layer the larger fireworks to give them some dimension and glue together. To recreate our cake toppers, see the photos for reference!
Now glue a skewer onto the back of each firework. Vary the heights of your skewers.
Last, arrange atop your cake and enjoy the view!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper fireworks and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! Try this other variation of our cake topper fireworks for the Fourth! Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

Rainbow Cupcake Toppers

Brittany

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May 31, 2022

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Rainbow Party Favors

As you know, we have a whole host of cake and cupcake toppers. We even have a rainbow cake topper, which you can find here, along with a whole suite of rainbow-themed decorations.

Well, we’re excited to share our new rainbow cupcake toppers with you today! They’re the perfect solution if you’re short on time but want a cute pop of color for your June celebrations. All you have to do is buy some store bought cupcakes and pop these little rainbows on top and you’re done! (If you have a bit more time, you can make this colorful rainbow cake and turn the cupcake toppers into cake toppers).

How to Make Rainbow Cupcake Toppers

First, download and print the Rainbow Cupcake Toppers PDF found here. Print off as many copies as you need for your party! There are six different rainbow variations to choose from.
Next, cut out the rainbows.
Now you’ll simply attach the rainbows to striped straws or toothpicks with a dab of hot glue. If using straws, we’d recommend trimming them down a bit so they’re not as tall when you stick them into the cupcakes.
Last, pop your completed rainbow cupcake toppers onto your cupcakes. Done!

We love how versatile these little cupcake toppers are. You can even transform them into other decorations by sliding them onto some string for a garland. You can also tape them onto a wall for a simple little rainbow backdrop. The options are endless!

We’d love to see what you do with your rainbow cupcake toppers. Let us know in the comments!

More Inspiration

Looking for more rainbow crafts? Try these add-on rainbow buttons or check out Brittany’s rainbow office (and order a rainbow calendar of your own). Also, make this fun rainbow sun hat, these rainbow earrings, or try some rainbow weaving.

Valentine’s Day Activities

Brittany

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January 28, 2022

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Galentine’s Day Activity Ideas

As you are probably aware, Galentine’s Day has a special place in our hearts. What started out as a classic Parks and Rec joke has since become an iconic tradition for women all over. And is it really that hard to see why? Everyone should be cherished and loved for who they are, whether they have a significant other or not. Galentine’s Day is a special opportunity to share the love so it’s not a glum holiday for anyone who won’t spend Valentine’s Day at a fancy restaurant, staring dreamily across the table at their significant other.

We’ve done a few different things with Galentine’s Day in the past, like this and this. We also wrote a post a few years back with lots of fun Galentine’s Day activities, which you can read more about here.

Here are a few more suggestions we’ve dreamt up since that last brainstorm post of ideas:

Craft Night

A craft night is the perfect thing to do with the gals on Galentine’s Day. It’s fun, interactive, and you get to bring home some lovely memoirs, too. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of easy DIY valentines, like our valentine face boxes, that are just the thing for a Galentine’s Day craft night. Another absolutely adorable and timeless valentine we recently made and are obsessed with are our Hand and Heart Love Tokens! You won’t regret adding them to your list of Galentine’s Day activities. Also, try wrapping a candle or chocolate bar to send home with the gals.

Speaking of making DIY valentines, why not make this sweet little valentine box to put them in?

Spa Night

We could all use one, right? Galentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to stop putting it off and actually make it happen! Here are some must-have spa items you’ll want to stock up on:

Game Night

We wouldn’t say no to a night of games with the gals. Try our printable Valentine’s Day song bingo, or our Valentine’s themed tic tac toe. Or here’s an assortment of a few different printable table games!

Party Favors

Send your ladies home with a sweet little package of party favors! Some of our favorites from the shop include these heart hair ties, ombre spiral hair ties, these wooden heart clips, valentine’s themed pins, and these adorable Valentine’s Day stickers.

And here are some other sweet little party favors to include!

Valentine’s Day Activities For Kids

We don’t want your kiddies to feel left out on Valentine’s Day. I mean, aren’t they the most precious of all? In our post where we listed Galentine’s Day activities, we also mentioned some great ideas of things to do with your kids from the team here at The House that Lars Built.

Crafts

Obviously crafts make it onto every list of activities we ever make. As with Galentine’s Day, we think this post of easy DIY valentines is great for all ages, kids and adults alike. Sit down with your little ones and help them make valentines for school with these sweet cherry tootsie pop valentines or paintbrush valentines. Then help them decorate their own valentine box!

Printables

If you’re looking for a craft that doesn’t require too much time and energy but is still perfect for Valentine’s Day for your kids, check out our little food pun valentines! Eggs, Frogs, Veggies, there’s something for every kid. Oh, and don’t forget about these cute as a button valentines or these other clever pun variations.

Games

Speaking of printables, we have some fun valentines games that are perfect for little ones available in the shop! We love these coloring placemats for a variety of ages, as well as this assortment of table games–just print them off and you’re ready to play. It includes bingo, tic tac toe, would you rather, and those sweet coloring placemats.

Write Love Letters

Encourage you kids to write little letters to those they love! Don’t worry, you don’t have to scare them off the dating scene in the 3rd grade. Have them write notes to siblings, parents, grandparents, teachers, or friends. For those who are far away, print off these little love postcards to send. And see our shop for endless options of printable valentine cards your kids can write their notes on.

Bake Together

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that baking always tends to be a big part of Valentine’s Day activities. Get together and make some conversation heart sugar cookies to put in these little conversation heart cookie boxes. If you’re in the mood for cupcakes, these and these are both great options for some sweet little cupcake toppers. Or, go all out and bake a Valentine’s Day cake. Complete it with this lovely cake topper! For inspiration, can you believe how intricate and delicate these beautiful cookies are?! A few years back, Arlos cookies was kind enough to collaborate with us to make the valentine cookie magic happen.

More Inspiration

Loved this post on Valentine’s Day Activities and need more valentines-related ideas? See our gift guides for men and women and get some gift ideas for your S.O. this year.

Becoming Loria Stern

Brittany

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August 4, 2021

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In 2011, Loria Stern started attending adult education classes entitled “Medicinal and Edible Plants” where she learned about foraging and the power of plant medicine. She started combining her culinary skills with the knowledge she was learning about botanicals. All the while she was posting her bespoke creations on Instagram. In 2016 her work was highlighted in Vogue Magazine and she received over 30,000 followers overnight. Fans were asking where they could purchase her treats so she started selling them on her website. The first day she posted her treats, she received over 20 orders. Since that day, her business has grown into a successful baking operation where she employs 4 helpers with living wages. She’s still growing her business, writing a cookbook and pitching a TV show. Exciting things are in store for this hardworking woman!

Meet Loria Stern

What do you consider yourself? Example: Artist, designer, illustrator, maker, baker, business person, educator, etc.?

Well, I consider myself all of these things but more so one than the other depending on what day of the week we’re talking about. I would say I started out as an artist and maker, and then became a baker and now my daily tasks are more of a business person and educator.

Where did you grow up? Were there aspects of your childhood that have influenced what you do now?

I grew up in Ojai, CA, a small quaint town nestled in between large mountains but just a 20 minute drive to the beach. The town had a lot of nature–my childhood neighborhood streets were lined with tall oak trees. There was and still is a huge element of health consciousness and spirituality in Ojai and I think those elements absolutely influenced what I do now and the person I’ve become.

What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?

Of course I wanted to be a professional tennis player! That dream ended around 14 years old and then I wanted to be an artist. I guess that dream has come true except through a different medium (culinary arts vs. the visual arts).

Is there a person who has been influential in your chosen career path?

Not really one single person, but more so a number of different friends who loved eating the foods I cooked and baked for them and encouraged me to follow this path.

What sparked your interest in edible flowers?

I’ve always loved flowers (who doesn’t?!) but it wasn’t until I started learning about the medicinal properties of botanicals in my 3 semesters of the adult education classes that my love for combining edible flowers + botanicals with cooking and baking, really opened up an entire new craft for me.

What are three words to describe your style?

Creative, happy and cool.

What is your educational background and how has it shaped or changed your current career?

I graduated with a BA from college and spent my last year painting and drawing. I was in an art show in my final year of college and sold several pieces. As noted earlier, I also took 3 semesters of adult education classes post college– “Medicinal + Edible Plants” and learned a lot about treating ailments naturally with wild, edible plants. I also attribute my dedication as a competitive tennis player to my strong work ethic, which I think is the most important aspect of my current success.

Have you ever made a big career switch? If so, what prompted that? Are there aspects of a prior career that you incorporate into what you do now?

I did not really have a career after graduating college in 2006–I more so worked a bunch of odd jobs to pay the rent–teaching tennis, nannying, working as an assistant, etc. It was not until 2010 when I worked my first job as a prep chef that I really learned my love for the culinary arts and that I wanted to make this a career.

What inspired you to become a baker/florist/gardener?

My love for nature, working with my hands and discovering new alchemic combinations.

What is one piece of work that you are especially proud of and why?

I love making tall tiered wedding cakes and delivering them to the venue. It is always so rewarding.

Where do you find inspiration for new creations?

In nature first and foremost.

How do you make social connections in the creative realm?

Many via Instagram, I’ve met some of my best friends and have found a beautiful, supportive community of my work there.

What artists and creatives do you look up to, both historical and present?

Gah, there are so so many! Truly too hard to just pinpoint a few.

What books, movies, shows, or music are making you excited these days?

My father was a jazz clarinetist and music pervades much of my childhood. I love all types of music and have found there is a time and a place for every genre of music. I love documentaries and listening to podcasts. But I try to stay away from negative media as it definitely affects my mood.

What is a piece of advice that you have carried with you and who is it from? Do you have a personal motto?

Work hard and always do your best. Hold yourself and others accountable. Treats others how you’d want to be treated.

What is your workspace like? Has it changed at all since the beginning of the pandemic last year?

I moved to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara just one month before the pandemic began. I had to find a new commercial kitchen and employees within that time and it was extremely difficult to say the least. Looking back, I feel so grateful for the commercial baking space and my LA helpers.

How do your surroundings influence your work?

So much. I realized I am creatively motivated by my physical space. I love natural light and need to be close to nature.

Describe some habits that keep you motivated and productive. How do you climb out of a creative slump?

Exercise is always a good idea and I have found it to be the number one cure for all sorts of slumps.

What is a typical day like for you?

I enjoy waking up early. I drink coffee first thing in the morning, then I’ll mosey around my backyard garden with coffee in hand. I’ll stroll up to my home office, check business and personal emails, and then the day is off and running. I usually pick edible botanicals from my garden then meet my team at the bakery. We start cranking our baking orders and then before I know it, it’s 6pm! Then I’ll come home, meet up with my boyfriend and we’ll cook dinner and watch a show.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-teach a new hobby or skill?

To learn as much as you can about the hobby / skill. There is so much readily available information that one can learn online that school is not necessary as long as there is curiosity, dedication and a strong work ethic.

Do you have a secret talent? What is one skill that you are working on?

I’d say tennis is my secret talent for those who are just meeting me now! Otherwise, I’m working on learning how to surf but it’s extremely hard!

Nobody likes to talk about it, but can you share any advice regarding financing your business?

Gah, I am still trying to figure that out. I have not accepted investment from outside sources however am currently looking into it to grow my business!

Is there anything more you would like to “become?”

I’d like to become more well-traveled. I want to visit Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Sweden, and the list continues! I want to visit these places and learn about new ingredients and cooking techniques and share those with an audience so that they can live on and evolve into our current day’s food.

What do you hope to accomplish within the next 10 years?

First and foremost, I hope to remain healthy! Secondly, I hope to open up a physical commissary kitchen with a retail space, classroom and on-site edible flower garden so that I can teach my botanical infused culinary arts to the greater community. There is so much information that I find so inspiring and interesting, I am sure others will as well.

Can’t get enough of Loria Stern?

We don’t blame you! Follow Loria’s work on her Instagram @LoriaStern and don’t forget to check out her website, where you can buy her delicious, beautiful creations!

Years ago we wrote a post about using edible flowers, and I hope that this interview with Loria Stern makes you even more excited to incorporate beautiful botanicals into your meals (like this edible flower pot).

Read more Becoming interviews here to keep the inspiration flowing!

All photos are courtesy of Loria Stern.

Birthday Cake Topper with Brother

Brittany

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March 18, 2020

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As you can probably tell by now, we can’t stop talking about how much we love National Craft Month. It’s the perfect time to celebrate your creativity and get to work crafting up all of the amazing things you’ve been thinking about. If you are feeling like you are in a bit of a craft funk we have teamed up with our friends at Brother to bring you a sweet yet impactful project to get you out of your slump and on your way to crafting town!

Using the Brother P-touch ELITE we created these colorful flag cake toppers inspired by our newest line from Abby Low found in the Lars Print Shop. You may know by now that we love celebrating and since we are already celebrating craft month we figured we may as well celebrate anyone and everyone out there with a March birthday with these adorable birthday flag cake toppers.

Birthdays are so very special and we tend to go bananas decorating and that’s part of the reason we love using the P-touch ELITE because of how easy it makes it to create personalized ribbon! Think up your birthday phrases and print them on ribbon (the P-touch Embellish ELITE prints on tape too!) so you can create the perfect phrases, specific for your birthday queen or king!

Here’s how you do it!

Directions:

Pick your color palette
Paint your skewers to the colors you have chosen. We painted three skewers of each color and used 21 skewers and six colors (the more the better in our opinion)
Set aside to dry.
Paint the wood beads in the same palette, three of each color in all six colors.
Set aside to dry.
Download the Ptouch Design&Print app to your phone!
Select “Create your own label”.
Select “text” and add in whatever you want the ribbon to say or even a graphic!
Once the text is in click “Done”.
Adjust the “Taper length” depending on how long your message is.
Scroll to the left to find “label alignment” and align your text to the right”
Once your text is in and the alignment is correct click “print”
Set your ribbon to the side and begin building your flag frame.
Attach a piece of wire around the dried painted skewer by wrapping it around the top.
Once the wire is attached, measure the length of the wire against the length of the ribbon and cute wire accordingly.
Using the glue stick apply glue to the back of the ribbon.
At the mid point on the ribbon place the skewer there and fold the ribbon in half so the wire is in in between the two halves.
Attach a painted wood bead to the top using a hot glue gun.
Place completed flag in cake!

We love using the Brother P-touch ELITE it is the perfect easy-to-use ribbon and tape printer that you can use to create any and all of the exciting crafts you have planned for this Craft Month! We can’t wait to see what you create!

The green polka-dot background is from our Lars Print Shop. Thank you @glweddingcakes for the lovely cake!

A trend we love “cherry” much!

Brittany

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February 21, 2020

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Trend Alert: Cherries!

Some of our favorite cherry inspired projects from Lars past are our paper cherry wreath and our tootsie pop cherry gifts! So of course now that cherries are majorly on trend WE ARE HERE FOR IT.

Click here to learn how to make your very own cherry wreath!

Very Cherry Statement Pieces

Cherries can make a statement in literally any area of your life, as you’ll see below! We found cherry inspired fashion, decor, stationery, art, and more! As the weather warms up, usher in spring and summer with some fun nods to this current trend.

Imagine a cherry 🍒 themed party?! Hang this garland, lay out these napkins, and you’re on your way! These cherry gift balls from Meri Meri are hiding fun party favors, and these clips from Ban.do make perfect party gifts too! Here are some of our favorite unique ice cream sundae flavors that will literally be the cherry on top of your party.

Cherry pillows are such a fun statement item! Find the grown up version here for your living room, or the kid’s version here!

Lars Exclusive

Our newest design in our exclusive wrapping paper line features this trend! And it is on sale right now!

Originally made to be valentines, our tootsie pop cherries can be given as gifts all year round! Think birthdays, teacher appreciation, and random acts of kindness to brighten someone’s day!

New York Cake Topper

Brittany

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February 18, 2020

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New York Cake Topper and Confetti

We love all the components of this cake topper. It really is the essence of New York on a cake! You could also make cupcakes and top each one with a different New York scene.

Materials:

Instructions:

Print out the templates on heavy-duty white card stock.
Cut out shapes using scissors.
For the cake topper, place a bamboo skewer in the middle of the back side of each NY shape and adhere with hot glue.
Stick each NY shape into the cake and artfully assemble.
Decorate the table with some confetti and your cake and celebrate!

Make sure you snag this book to plan for your next NY trip! Tag us with #larsmakes so we can see all of your New York creations!

Valentines Gift Box with Arlo Cookies

Brittany

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February 5, 2020

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Printable Valentine cookie box

When Luna (creator of Arlos cookies) agreed to work with us we were ecstatic! We knew we wanted to create a box to put the cookies in but we needed them to be just as lovely as the cookies would inevitably be. With our task at hand we set out to make the most beautiful Valentine gift box worthy that would be carrying the elegant cookies.

To say we love the cookies and the box designed to carry them is an understatement! Wether you are putting Arlos Cookies in these boxes or any other Valentines treats they are bound to amplify your valentines gifting this season! Get your Valentine Cookie Box here!

Be sure to tag us with #larsloveslove so we can see how lovely your valentines gifts turn out!!!

Find Arlos Cookies

Website of Arlos Cookies
@arlocookies on Instagram

How to throw the garden party of the century

Brittany

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July 7, 2014

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How to throw the garden party of the century

Are you ready for some oooos and ahhhs?! Natalie Norton did an amazing job at capturing A Midsummer Mingle and I’ve been dying to share the pics with you.

If you’re just joining me, I threw a garden party with Sarah Jane Studios, Mer Mag, One More Mushroom, Sycamore Street Press, Caravan Shoppe. It was a way to say thank you to all the people out there who support us because we couldn’t do what we love and without you. It turned out to be a party much bigger (and better!) than any of us intended, but we couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out so we’re boldly calling it a success. I’m dividing the photos into two parts–they’re just too lovely not to share all of it with you. It couldn’t have happened without the support of many, many people–especially Cricut— so stick with me as I attempt to thank them here.

I learned so much from this event so I thought it might be helpful to share some tips on what to do and what NOT to do.

You might also be interested in these Midsummer posts

You can see midsummer party part 2 here and part 3 here and the video here

We also made a playlist here and have made several crafts like this cake topper, baby mobile

How to throw a garden party

To do #1: Throw a party! But only do so if you’re totally committed to throwing a party. I initially texted everyone and said “how about a stress-free party to celebrate midsummer?” That “stress-free” party turned out to be anything but, and of course, the timing was horrible for everyone involved. I think had we known what we were getting ourselves into, we may not have done it, but we committed to throw it and make it the best we could for the sake of a beautiful event with lovely people.

To do #2: Involve other people. I originally thought of throwing a Midsummer party by myself. I suppose I could have done it on my own, but it wouldn’t have been as good, well-thought out, and meaningful had I not invited other hosts to come on board. By bringing on others, we grew closer, relied on each other, and helped bring creativity and loveliness out into the world, which is ultimately our end goal.

To do #3: Involve sponsors who believe in what you do. Sponsors like Cricut and Save-on-Crafts, Atly, Land of Nod, and Blickenstaffs and many other raffle and swag bag sponsors and vendors made the party possible. When you work with people who believe in what you are doing and mutually get something out of it, there ain’t nothin better! And tell you what, these sponsors have been so supportive and generous. We couldn’t have been more humbled by the support. PLUS, they helped make the party look good!

To do #4: Create a unique focal point to the party. After the success of the balloon installation I did for BHLDN, I’ve been dying to try out another and actually have one that people could see in person. I teamed up with Partyland who graciously came in last minute to provide the balloons. They even introduced me to a machine they invited that creates the twisty shape you see here. It’s called EZ Twist and I’m so pleased with the shapes it created. I’ll be talking more about it in the next post.

Creating something unique for a party means at least one decorative element that you haven’t seen anywhere else. Go on Pinterest for the rest of your ideas.

Catering

To do #5 Delicious food/drinks that fits the branding of your event. Ramblin Rose Cafe catered the affair and it was THE PERFECT marriage. They have a lovely menu of tea and toasts and I tell you, their flavors are unique and botanical and DIVINE. And their lemon lavender tea is out of this world. If you’re local, go see them every week at the Farmer’s Market in SLC. And, AND, they come with the cutest get up including this vintage camper and signage. Everything was perfection (minus running out of cups…oopsies, my bad!)

When selecting food or drinks for your own event think of how you want your guests to feel. Is it a fun and whimsical event? Go with a cotton candy truck. Is it a relaxed, casual event? Go with a food truck. Here in Utah we’re lucky to have so many options.

Signage

To do #6: Signage. No matter how large the party is, signage will always help. We knew we needed lots because we were directing our guests through meandering pathways to discover different “experiences” around the garden. We knew we would need arrows and explanations. Enter Cougar Copy. Local print shop Cougar Copy provided all the printing and they went above and beyond like the banner you see here. I’ve been using them for the past year because they are so wonderful to work with. You just send in your files and all you do is pick them up. AND, they’re prices are fantastic. Karen, thank you so so much!

Color branding

To do #7: Color branding. We settled on some colors and branding that helped set off the theme for the rest of the event. Merrilee Liddiard of Mer Mag did all of the branding and color selection. It helped when adding on sponsors who helped out like Aubry of Hello Maypole graciously provided mini garlands for every attendee and included some garlands for my section of the party, but more on that on the next post.

Dress Code

To do #8: Dress code. Once a dress code is requested, it immediately unifies the group and gets guests more involved. We asked our guests to dress all in summer whites. I hope it wasn’t so much of a headache as it was a fun assignment to go through your closet or find a new ensemble. I found a dress from Danish label Ganni off of ASOS that I love, love, love, and have been wearing it every day since. Turns out they have a ton of beautiful white summer dresses. I would have worn any one of them had I been all Kim Kardashian and changed every half hour.

Entertainment

To do #9: Entertainment. Merrilee arranged to have a Maypole troupe come and perform for us. They were amazing and really set the stage for the event.

We actually tried to get an acting group to come perform a scene from A Midsummer’s Night and some folk dancers to come on board too, but it didn’t quite pan out. We’re not complaining here, but just imagine the awesomeness that could have been!

We also had a ton of crafting going on. Each blogger/company, had their own “station” where they displayed the Cricut project we created for the event and had supplies out so they could display them. Cricut was present with a number of their brand new machines so people could come try them out for themselves. I’ll be talking more about our projects later this week.

Flowers

To do #10: Flowers!

You guys know me by now. Everything, especially a garden party, must have flowers. Flowers can be a large part of the budget but it was so important in this instance to set the mood. Lizy Bowden of Lizy’s Lilies stepped in with the florals and did a smashing job. Aren’t they so gorgeous! She added them throughout the balloon installations too. If you’re budget is not so large, go with less or be strategic in where you place them. Initially we had them everywhere but we had to par it down to a bit in the end.

A very important element to the party was floral crowns for all. Amy Anne, along with some magical helpers, stepped in and created 150 floral crowns! It was insane yet so perfect for the event.

Treats

To do #11: Treats! You must have some little tasty treats that get people off their diets for one night. Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe supplied delicious goodies for the event and they were knock your socks off tasty! They’re located in Utah and Idaho and if you get a chance, go!

Lighting

To do #12: Lighting! The key to the success of this garden party, among other things, was lighting. We wanted to create a magical wonderland for our guests and this could only have been achieved with good and adequate lighting provided by Save On Crafts, my go to source for craft and decor supplies. They have these little lights called Fairy Berries, which the name alone will make you die of cuteness, but they added the perfect amount of delight sprinkled throughout the garden. We also added a TON of bistro lighting throughout as well as tea lights, lights in jars, lights on branches, and a dozen other lighting techniques. Save on Crafts has it all and they are so well priced! I couldn’t recommend them enough.

To do #13: Cute partyware. For cute party decor details we turned to the go-to party source, Shop Sweet Lulu. They provided the cutest confetti cups and plates and straws for us. (Psst: word on the street is that they are getting a cute site makeover soon!)

Cake!

To do #14: Cake! ME, my baking intern, created these delicious Scandinavian-inspired cakes. Not only are they beautiful, but they were delish. Cake is a must. And cute cake stands like these ones from BHLDN are perfect (and they’re having a 20% off sale right now! Go quick!)

Refreshing Drinks

To do #15: Refreshing drinks. Ours was a non-alcoholic event and being a garden party, refreshing infused drinks were a must. Ramblin Rose Cafe provided some delicious infused waters like watermelon mint.

Create a hashtag

To do #16: Create a hashtag. Hashtags for your specific events are now a party standard. If you’re super unfamiliar to what a hashtag is, it’s a way to archive photos on social media. If you add a hashtag to an event (simply use the # sign and add your phrase after and voila!) then your guests can look through all the photos in one place. Ours was #amidsummermingle and we provided several signs around the venue including this one which lined the back fence of the tennis court.

Hello Hackworths and Natalie!

A big shout out to Sarah Jane and her husband Ken for making the midsummer pole. It turned out so well! And we used fabric from Michael Miller to create the ribbons. Thanks to Carli Randolf for sewing them!

Rachel of Darlybird, above, and her mother Laura of the adorable fabric and knitting shop Harmony in downtown Provo provided earrings for all the guests in the swag bags and adorable lavender sachets.

Hire an awesome band

To do #17: Hire an awesome band! When you can, hire a band! We searched high and low to find a French gypsy jazz band. Turns out, most were in France! But we ended up getting the best of the best with Red Rock Hot Club. I felt like we were in the movie Chocolat and Johnny Depp was playing for us.

Involve Local artists

To do #18: Involve local artists. It just so happened to work out that a couple of local artists were able to provide some artwork to be put on display like Jann Marie and Kev Nemelka.

Blickenstaffs was one of our generous sponsors. They created a sweet experience where you could write notes and stick them in bottles and they’ll be sent out to sea.

Get help!

To do #19: Get help! Though it’s #19 on the list, it should really be #1. Do yourself a favor and when people ask if they can help, say yes! All of these people above played an instrumental role in helping out with the event. They contributed countless hours in making this event possible and I am so so grateful. I’m especially grateful for these two below, Brynn and Kelly, who spear headed the efforts. They worked with my indecisiveness and last minute calls for Home Depot runs. They kept us on track and organized when I was going nuts. Thank you so much.

And last, but not least, these lovely ladies who have been a source of sound advice and strength in recent months. I moved here a year ago and feel so lucky to have such wonderful people by my side. I’ll be talking more about them in the next post.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Cricut (stay tuned for our projects!)

Save on Crafts for the amazing lighting (seriously, they have so many wonderful options!)

Natalie Norton for the photography

Amy Anne for the floral crowns

Lizy’s Lilies for the florals

Ramblin Rose Cafe for the food

atly

Called to Surf and Blickenstaffs

The Land of Nod

Partyland

Cougar Copy on printing

Sweet Lulu for the the party ware

American Crafts for the craft paper

Scenemakers for supplying the tables and linens

Cocoa Bean for the cupcakes

Mend Juice for the juices
Baked by ME cakes
Assisting florals by Amber Dickson

And thank you to our raffle sponsors: Minted, Ban.do, glasses.com, Schoolhouse Electric, Pottery Barn Kids, Alice Lane, Instantly Framed, Harmony, Fuji Film, Michael Miller Fabrics

And thank you to the swag bag sponsors: Darly Bird, atly, Hello Maypole

Brittany

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July 24, 2012

8

How to make an ombre wedding cake pinata

I have to say that this is one of my favorite shoots I’ve done. And there’s a lot more where these come from. ooOOOoo! I did this one for the Etsy wedding blog and talked about creating an interactive wedding favor, hence the fortune cookies inside with little love fortunes. I also thought a wedding cake would be a nice alternative to the couple who doesn’t really do wedding cakes or sugar. But let’s face, the real reason to have a pinata at a wedding is…who doesn’t want to hit stuff? I’m sure it would release a lot of tension for the couple as well as the wedding planners.

Get the full instructions here.

Thank you Amanda Thomsen for taking these beautiful photos!