peter pan!!!

I don't know if I can handle all of the brilliant kiddie parties this week! This FANTASTIC one came via Brooke (thank you!), and I am eating up every little detail. The very talented (illustrator) Merrilee put together this fantastic shindig for her son's 3rd birthday. I want to get on her party mailing list ASAP! For more pictures and details see here and here.

can't get enough of...this Jedi birthday party!

Thank you to Melanie Lantin for sending me this AMAZING 2 year old 'Jedi Knight Training Academy' Birthday party! I can't enough of it.

Some details:

...handmade Jedi tunics for all the kids

...inflatable light sabers

...Jedi packs for the guests

...Jedi Knight training session

...sprinkles cupcakes

...Jedi issue bottles as party favors

If you want more (and there's lots more!), visit Melanie's site and blog. 

photos by...ja tecson

Melanie, I hope you'll plan my next birthday party!

reader question of the week

Question of the week:

"We are having a Saturday night cocktail party for my husband's upcoming 34th birthday. I was trying to think of ways to make it a little more fun then your typical standing-around-for-drinks thing. I am clueless- help! Also, is it okay to have plastic cups and plates? What's the rule there (we don't have enough glass ones to cover the guest list)? Thanks! -Catherine"

To submit your query for question of the week, email me at: hickspapergoods(at)yahoo(dot)com

thank you, joslyn!

I was so honored to be asked to compile a 'blogger's favorites' list for one of my favorite blogs, Simple Lovely. Thank you, Joslyn!

On a personal note... I've got a really, really full week coming up and anticipate my posts will be fewer and further between for the immediate time being. Don't give up on me, though! I will be back in full force soon.

cute cupcake + lollipop topper

Speaking of cupcakes, Gen just sent over this cute Valentine's Day cupcake picture. Yes, a tad late...but don't so many of us feel our brains are still trapped back in February? I can hardly believe it's almost April- the year is moving fast. Anyway- I think the idea of using a lollipop as cupcake topper is pretty awesome. 

+love+

I'm sure Chelsea knew I wouldn't be able to resist posting a link to her find on Sam's Notebook! I'm in love with this children's party, even if it was staged for a photo shoot.

rad cupcake liners

I'm really digging the vast selection of patterned cupcake liners in LayerCake's shop!

felt garland

I've pretty much banned all felt products from my house because the material tends to pick up every stray dog hair, but I've long coveted Fred Flare's felt garlands. On sale now, they're hard to resist!

everything old is new again

Yet again- I've spotted something this week that I though was a 'new' concept, but has in fact been around for decades. A cupcake tower/cake spotted on a 1960's cookbook- who knew?

pretty paper fans

on etsy

mmmmm

I'd like to take a big bite of this cookie cake!

...donna hay via imprintables

current blog obsession

I love the pretty photographs and journal-y (a made up word?) entries of Jane Cumberbatch's 'Pure' blog. These brownies look particularly delightful.

gift toppers

I'm in love with Denise's collection of silver gift toppers.

money, honey

If the current economic crisis and credit freeze is getting you down, you can get this easy money (chocolate version) at The Chocolate Vault.

verrry cute

from jordan, of course!

ode to vera

I think if I ever decided to collect something, it would definitely be Vera linens. She made the most lovely napkin sets and tea towels in to-die-for color palettes! The color combo above is all-time favorite for me. I spotted this beauty on ebay.

vintage dog party

Who ever thought that birthday parties for dogs were a modern notion? (I did.) I love this vintage picture of a doggie birthday discovered on flickr.

birthday party ideas

Parents magazine currently has a feature on their website called '8 Fantastic Party Themes.' For those short on inspiration, look here.

2nd birthday

Cute second birthday here.

reader question of the week

question of the week:

"In April, I am hosting a book club meeting for a bunch of 3rd grade girls. This is their first meeting, so I want to make it fun and special. Any suggestions? It's a late afternoon party. Thanks! -Dawn"

to submit your question, email me at: hickspapergoods(at)yahoo(dot)com

vintage wrapping

Pretty vintage wrapping paper here.

powder sugar stencils

These look like a great way to spice up a standard cake!

floral display

I love this floral display idea from Donna Hay. A single bloom partially submerged in a pretty glass jar is so simple, yet gorgeous!

derby

Whitney and I were honored to be asked to design a collection of invitations for the official Kentucky Derby party website this year. It's the first time we've ever collaborated with another company, and it was fun to do something a little different. 

The party website is chock full of great tips for throwing a Derby party, if you've got one planned. Lemontree paperie has the full collection of 'official' invitations, including ones that incorporate this year's Derby logo. 

so lovely

I'm all about supporting the smaller letterpress guys out there, but I can't help but really like this wedding suite from Paper Source. The typography is quite lovely.

in case you missed it...

I love everything about this wedding posted on OnceWed.