Poppy Bouquet

Oh My Gosh.....I am so proud of my Poppy Bouquet. I have been working on this for a couple weeks, cutting, measuring, redesigning, gluing, more redesigning...and now I am happy to say that my flowers are just perfect; just the way I dreamed they would be.  This bouquet is great addition to my Pretty Poke Cake Pop Centerpiece.   As you look through the photos you will realize why the name Poppy Bouquet is appropriate for this piece....it's filled with all shapes and sizes of POPS, anything on a stick is considered a POP in my book! In these first couple photos, please be aware that these Cake Pops are PROPS...made from wood beads on sticks!  It's just easier for me to use props in my centerpieces when I am creating and designing, but they are the same size as regular Cake Pops and look good enough to eat, right?
  

  
So I thought I would give you some tips and tricks I used when coming up with this piece.  At first I started thinking this bouquet was going to be JUST for Cake Pops...but guess what?  You can use so many different candies, mini cupcakes, cookies and of course the famous Cake Pops in this centerpiece!!  I had some wonderful large, sugar coated, Gum Drops from Whole Foods, left over from Easter.  I just poked a toothpick into the bottom of them and added them to the center of the flower.  In some flowers I used 2 cupcake liners of different, coordinating patterns.  The sugar coating on the gumdrops remind me of glitter. (Yeah, already coated with BLING)!

I also tried Tootsie Pops and Blow Pops by TOOTSI ROLL. (did I mention that Tootsi Pop called me last month because they saw a centerpiece I made using Blow Pops on Pinterst? They loved them...whew...I thought I was in trouble!) Use bright colored flowers for a childerens' party. One stem for each child, so everyone gets a treat and they can take home a flower too.  

The next thing I tried was Fanny May Candy as the center in a Martha Stewart Mini Cup Cake Liner! Who doesn't love the Martha Stewart Craft line?   I love, Love, LOVE everything Martha!! (As a matter of fact, my son-in-law calls me Margie Stewart...<grin>!!) Check out her line of cupcake liners.  They are sooooo pretty.  They really make this centerpiece pop!!  Her colors are just "DELICIOUS"!  They mix and match perfectly and the scalloped edging is a nice touch for the floral center.

I have to say, it always takes me a while to come up with my designs.  I see something in my head, but building can be a task for me...I guess that's half the fun, right?  I like a clean look, meaning lots of white and a pop of color.  Sturdiness is another important part of my building. I once took a centerpiece to a client and it collapsed, I had a quick remedy, but it could have been very embarrassing, lesson learned!   So even though these look pretty simple, the engineering part is a tough task for me.  Hahaha...I now wear an "engineering hat"!!
These last two flowers do not have anything edible in the center...just a button, but even that is cute!!  

Lastly, to answer a few of the questions I received last week.  "Do you sell your party pieces?"  YES, I DO sell my pieces.  I am an event planner so I love when I can add party pieces into my special events, birthday parties, and bridal/baby showers.  But you too can order anytime. Another question, "Do you use Cricut Cartridges?"  The answer...sometimes yes, but I have a TON of SVG files too and also cut my own patterns. This particular design was created using my Cricut Flower Shoppe Cartridge.  
So friends, it's time to call it a day.  I hope to blog a bit more mid week, I am working on something VERY EXCITING that happened over the weekend, and I can't wait to share it with you! Until then... Thanks for stopping by!!  Leave a comment...would love to hear from you!!


Happy Crafting!!
Margie
           

  

Bow and Babes~Once Upon a Time

Hi Everyone,

What a beautiful weekend in Chicago.  We went from the dead of Winter to a beautiful Summer afternoon...I even have the air conditioner on, can you believe it?  This is nuts, but I am not complaining...just lovin' it!  

I am so excited about my Polka Dots and Parties Blog.  Not only am I having a GREAT time making all these centerpieces and favor boxes, but I love sharing it with you too. I have even starting Tweeting a bit!   So far, I am only blogging 1 day a week...Sunday, but hope to add on another day midweek.  I just need to find a extra time...who doesn't need more time, right?  So without further ado let's move to some of last weeks projects.  

I have one Event Designer and 2 brick and mortar stores who are purchasing my pieces so far...hoping for a few more. I will tag them on my blog and post pictures of the pieces they have chosen.     Check out their links...one never knows when you might need something special that they might be able to provide to you.

Last week I created a couple centerpieces for for Bows & Babes in Naperville, IL. Owner, Anne Miller has a beautiful little shop right in downtown Naperville with everything little girls love, lots of pink bows, hair bling, tutu's, dress up clothes...a little girls dream.  Bows and Babes also plan fun birthday and dress up parties for little girls.   So my Pretty Pokes Cake Pop Centerpieces will be a adorable addition to their parties. Cake Pops?  Next week I will have a place for you to purchase those cool new CAKE POPS too!
I thought you might like to see the details on each Pretty Poke.  Now, I am NOT a photographer, so my pictures are NOT great, but promise to work on this too.  I don't think you can really see the dimension of each piece in these photos.  Each are layered 3 or 4 times and are double sided. More details show up in the final centerpiece.  

This Pretty Poke Flower reflects the child's age. 

I wish I would have added a polka dot bow to tie the slippers together.

After adding stitch lines on the green checked fan I added a brad to the center

7 Piece Princess Bunting (missing ladybug)

Ok, drum roll please...My favorite Pretty Poke Centerpieces.  Pretty Poke Ballerina Centerpiece:

You are probably wondering why the wooden cake pops?  Not having yummy cake pops on hand everyday, I made these cake pop props to add to my centerpieces...I actually painted them since I took these pictures and they really do look yummy!!

Lastly I wanted to show you a second centerpiece called Once Upon a Time.

Pint Size Pretty Pokes

Hi All!!  Before I even begin, I want to send out a BIG SHOUT OUT-THANK YOU to all of my friends who have visited my blog!!  My number of visitors has increased from 700 to  over 1370+ in just 7 days...WOW!!! Your amazing!!  Subscribe to keep up with my latest and greatest creations or follow my  Pinterest, I will be tweeting soon! 

Ok, it's been a busy week and next week is looking just the same.  But, I came up with a few new things this week I wanted to share with you.  I was asked to design a few theme favors.  I love using my Cricut files to make these gorgeous boxes, but I am also a big fan of cutting files and SVG's as well.  I also like to create my own unique pieces....you know me, I'm pretty crafty!!  Here are just a few...next week, I will have favors to match my Pretty Pokes.  I think I am most excited about the Pirate Theme!! 

Now on to something real COOL!!  I now have a MINI version of my Pretty Poke Centerpiece...I am calling it Pint Size Pretty Pokes. I apologize for using the same Pokes as last week...but it's been a crazy week!!   Print Size is made specifically to hold up to 12 treats.  Anything on a stick, but the famous CAKE POPS,  Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops look DARLING! This week I actually ADDED Cake Pops from Lilly Cakes of Naperville.  Have you tried them?  If not, you need to go there...they are to DIE FOR!!!    Thanks Kelly, I am glad you liked my Pint Size Pretty Poke Centerpiece and can't wait to see them on your website!!  They come in many, many themes and I will continue to add new themes each week.

Lastly, I want to Thank Tootsie Roll in Chicago for the nice phone call...Yes, Blow Pops do look GREAT in my Pretty Poke Centerpieces too!  I love the colors...they match most themes.  And I can't forgot my friend, Debi Lilly from A Perfect Event for introducing me to Candice from Cacao Sweets and Treats.  Candice was nice to give me a couple of suggestions while building my pieces and now they look marvelous!!  Thanks Candice for your "sweet treat" tips!

  

Eventfully Yours, 
Margie


(Please leave comments...I would love to hear from you!)