Swooning over this romantic, illustrated Valentine’s set from Rifle Paper Co. Don’t you love the vivid colors and vintage feel of the calligraphy? The set includes 3 of each design: perfect for sending sweet nothings to all the loves in your life. Check out the Rifle Paper Co. site for lots more paper delights to lust after, year around.

How brilliant are these gift boxes filled with all the fixin’s for a custom cocktail? Photographer Victor Sizemore whipped these up for his bourbon drinking buddies, and I can’t wait to adapt the idea as luxe favors for a multitude of parties. How about Mimosa-themed boxes filled with fresh citrus fruits & champagne for a brunch bridal shower? Or a Hot Toddy theme for a cozy holiday fete? The handwritten recipes add a chic and personal touch. Let the toasting begin!

*Spotted via Project Wedding

Happy New Year’s Eve, my dears! Ring in 2010 with a party dripping in sparkles & shimmer. Using stars as a shimmery theme running through the invitations, decor, & glittery dessert buffet sets a glamorous tone. A soft color palette of peach, gold, and pale pink is such a romantic way to watch the ball drop. Let the countdown begin!

I don’t know about you, but I am drooling over those Valentino peep-toes pictured above. Hope you have fun getting all decked out for NYE!

*Images: Martha Stewart Weddings

Today’s inspiration board is a toast to the New Year in shades of silver, slate & sapphire. A sophisticated palette is lightened with touches of whimsy: celebratory party blowers, curly cue ribbons & a jingle bell that hints at magic. The midnight countdown is marked by numbered champagne flutes, and festive music is accompanied by sounds of popping corks. Wear something sparkly (like this dripping-with-glamour clutch) and revel in an evening that’s all about fun.

Images: {Row 1} Favors & Party Blowers, Martha Stewart; Champagne, coco+kelley {Row 2} Champagne, Dress, Design, Decor; Trees & Clutch, coco+kelley {Row 3} All from Martha Stewart {Row 4} Table Numbers, Style Me Pretty, Tabletop, Dress, Design, Decor

I’ve been a bit obsessed with chic interpretations of S’mores this year (remember these darling favors I featured earlier this month?), and I’ve stumbled upon yet another sweet and simple packaging idea for this classic winter favorite.

This project is beyond easy, and the team over at Nice Package shared the step-by-steps so we can all make it at home:

Supplies:

• Cellophane bags, Michaels or Party City
• Glassine bags or parchment or wax paper
• Baker’s twine, nicepackage.com
• glue stick or double-sided tape
• large round punch or any object that you can trace to make a 2″ circle
• pens/markers

This kit includes 9 marshmallow pieces, 1/2 bar of hazelnut chocolate and 1/2 bar of milk chocolate, 9 large pieces of graham crackers and 9 wooden skewers.

From Marichelle: We used a mixture of cellophane and glassine bags to repackage all of the items. If you can’t get your hands on glassine bags, you may also use parchment paper or wax paper to create a protective sleeve/band for the chocolates. The crackers I purchased came with two ready-packed bundles!

The labels are simply punched out of kraft paper using a 2-inch circular punch, embellished with a red dotted border (super fine red sharpie) then attached to the packaged goods using a glue-stick.

Enjoy, and Merry Merry Christmas Eve!

What could be more festive for a holiday party than a grand dessert table, overflowing with nostalgic candies, fun-shaped cookies, decadent pastries, & tiny tartlets? In addition to satisfying sugar cravings, a dessert buffet serves as a dramatic focal point for decor. I always encourage my clients to offer “to-go boxes” that allow guests to take home sweets to share with little ones & enjoy later. Hope you all enjoy these fun templates for a French-inspired favor box and coordinating sign that encourages guests to help themselves!

What you’ll need:

• Avery Labels #5164
• This downloadable template
• 4″ square white boxes (I like these from Big River Packaging).
• Red grosgain ribbon

Instructions: Download the template and print onto labels compatible with Avery #5164. Stick one label on each side of the box, line with a square of red tissue paper, & tie it up with a pretty red ribbon.

For the sign: print this downloadable template onto white card stock, cut to 5″ x 7″, and place in a modern lucite frame. Enjoy!

Today’s board is dreaming of a white Christmas in shades of snow & evergreen. Perfect for a classic holiday dinner or elegant engagement party, the look is soft & warm…a welcoming refuge from the chilly temps! Tie up packages in rustic paper with whimsical ribbons, embellish a buffet table with a bay leaf garland, & cast a magical glow over the entire fete with lacy luminarias. End the night on a sweet note with meringue cupcakes topped with billows of “snow”.

Images: {Row 1} Bay Leaf Garland, Martha Stewart; Rosemary & Rustic Packages, Grey Likes Weddings via Style Me Pretty; {Row 2} All from Dress, Design, Decor {Row 3} Meringue Cupcake, Erin Quon {Row 4} Luminarias, Style Me Pretty; Flowers, Petals Edge Flowers; Candles, Martha Stewart.

Happy Friday! And not a moment too soon…December equals total craziness in the world of event planning, and this weekend marks the end of holiday party season for me! Speaking of parties, Coley joins us today for our weekly dose of Cocktail Chic with a treasure trove of festive little clutches sure to add sparkle to any holiday attire. So slip into something stunning, grab one of these scarlet beauties, & enjoy the weekend!

Coley here, from One Simple Addition! It’s a week before Christmas, so this week’s cocktail party accessory comes in shades as red as Santa’s suit. And what could be a more festive addition to a holiday dress than the perfect little clutch?

How to turn up the style:
Pair a vibrant clutch with a simple, neutral-colored dress. From your favorite LBD to that rehearsal dinner dress that you’ve been wanting to pull out again, this accessory will turn it up a notch for the holidays. Want to go a little crazy? Try pairing with a gorgeous purple dress or sequin pumps. Merry Christmas!

Credits: Etsy’s Drika B’s $28, Etsy’s Toon Design $8, Etsy’s Briana Edelman’s Design $67, Etsy’s Tiana CHE $87, Nordstroms Franchi Feather Frame Clutch $148, Neiman Marcus Christian Louboutin On Sale, Ann Taylor Satin Bow Clutch $115, Aldo $19.98, Etsy’s EmmaGordonLondon $58.50

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, celebrating with family & friends, & yes, the occasional party snafu. Even the most seasoned party hostess (and guest) among us has tripped up a time or two, so I thought it the perfect time for a few etiquette reminders from some of my favorite tastemakers:

Colin Cowie says honesty is the best policy:

If you’re unable to attend a party, be up-front and honest. We all keep busy schedules, and it’s not possible to attend everything. The main point is to RSVP as soon as you get the invite. Hosts need time to plan accordingly.

Jonathan Adler weighs in on taboos:

Sex & politics are the only things that should be discussed at a dinner table! Polite conversation is a bore.

Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti on the crowd:

Start with the guest list. The key is to invite friends you’re always comfortable with as well as one unexpected guest with a spicy personality. Break the ice with a fun drink. Think caipirinhas.

Kate Spade weighs in on the toast:

Short, personaly, & humorous is always welcome. Long, grand, and too personal is usually embarrassing and always boring!

Now put on your favorite party dress, and remember: being yourself & having fun are really the two unbreakable party rules!

Adapted from InStyle.

Images: Kate Spade; coco+kelley; Dress, Design, Decor

Today’s inspiration board is pure holiday decadence: pretty pastries, spun sugar, & bon-bons in shades of crimson, cocoa, & cream. I originally created this as a concept for a client’s holiday party dessert buffet, and I can’t wait to see it come to life. An assortment of nostalgic cookies next to a towering croquembouche of cream puffs set a vintage tone.; Snowy coconut cupcakes & ruffly roses are pure romance. Ah, Christmas…it really is the sweetest time of year!