DIY birthday party for H + Crafty song!

Our recent 25th birthday celebration was chock full of DIYs and crafty skills maximized to good use. With the help of my chef sister G and my baking friend Pauline Bakes combined with the rose making skills of my friend P & H, we ended up with a birthday we'd remember for years to come!

The crepe paper rose tutorials we've been seeing online gave me a great idea for a party decoration. Rather than gluing them onto paper lanterns and using them as lighting!

Here is the finished glued product. My dog Olive is in the shot because she thinks this is one giant ball for her to play with. I had to hang it off the window to get it out of her way.

These are the lanterns in effect! I made them in white, dark pink and white pink. Tip: Crepe paper was cheapest from Walmart at $1.25 for 160 feet for crepe paper.  The white lanterns look like roasted marshmallows yummy :)

One thing I definitely wanted to have was a dessert bar and with the amazing help of PaulineBakes, I was able to have a variety of delicious goodiness!!

The center two cake stands are a DIY project made from two candle stick holders and plates that were thrifted. The candlesticks are also thrifted as well. The bouquet of flowers are just IKEA vases for $2.00 with black satin ribbon tied on with an arrangement of flowers from ACMoore that were on sale for 40% off!

Chocolate covered pretzel sticks in assorted pink and white sprinkles to match our party theme of black white and pink!

Mini carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Moist and delicious!

The pom poms on the side are from Martha Stewart tutorial. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of time to give it the round poufy effect but still came out looking like giant peonies so it added a great effect.

This is the dessert bar before it was attacked!

Chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting and an Eiffel Tower chocolate mold :)

French macarons with nutella filling!

And a birthday party isn't complete without a cake! Carrot cake :)

This is a close up of the centerpieces. I used foam from walmart to help get the flowers in place.

Damask paper napkins from party city added a nice touch and tied it into the theme.

Tip: IKEA has great resources for plates/dishes. I was able to buy a set of 2 dishes and a bowl for $2 per person. Greatest deal I've found. The water goblets are from Walmart and cost $5 for 4 cups for $1.25 a person!

G's stuffed flank steak stuffed with spinach, feta cheese and assorted veggies.

Sorry about the half eaten food. In our excitement, I forgot to take the pictures pre eating! String bean salad. G's specialty! so yummmms.

So this is our party! In the following days, I will post up the cake stand tutorial as well as how we went about making the paper lanterns covered in crepe paper roses.