Smartie Themed Graduation Party

My sister celebrated a college graduation this summer. She insisted on a casual BBQ, just family and friends, which is what we did - but that didn't mean I couldn't make it special! Since she's a big candy lover, I surprised my sister with a dessert bar complete with her favorites along with bright homemade decorations inspired by those candies. Take a peek! Read More

Candy and dessert bars have become all the rage at just about every party we've been to in the last few years. We created this display of our own for a graduation party that was all about candy! One of the key elements that added a big pop of color and anchored everything together was the paper table runner we crafted. Couldn't have been easier either! Read on for the how-to. Read More

If you want to add a thematic touch to dessert, or if you're a better crafter than you are baker and want to dress up store-brought cupcakes, a great way to do so is with DIY cupcake picks. These designs are for a graduation party we threw, but can be embellished with any design making them a go-to for any occasion! Read More

A great way to add a focal point or decorate for a casual party without spending a ton of money is with this crafty ribbon and cardstock backdrop. It can be customized to fit the theme or occasion, takes very little time to craft and makes a bold statement even on a budget. Read More

The first time I ever made a banner at home it was a struggle. This time around for my sister's graduation party I discovered the key to a successful homemade banner. Read on for a few tips to craft your own banner for whatever occasion you're celebrating! Read More

Vanilla buttercream cupcakes are loved by everyone we know, so it's usually a safe bet for dessert when there's a crowd involved. Our cake recipe is out of a box, but our frosting is homemade, which makes it easy to shake things ups in terms of flavors, but still keeps it simple and inexpensive. Add lemon, mint or almond extract for different flavored buttercream frostings. Read More

I kept desserts as simple as I could for my sister's graduation party. Though they stole the show when embellished with paper toppers and laid out together on a decorated dessert bar, the desserts themselves took little time to make. Keeping it semi-homemade was the key! Check out these 3 easy desserts I made that impressed all my guests! Read More

Sangria has quite a few ingredients, which means if you're not careful, it can get expensive to make. Luckily, summertime is a great time to get fruit for less, which makes it the perfect season for sangria. We've got a secret wine find that also keeps this recipe budget-friendly, so what are you waiting for' Get mixing. Read More