Vintage Train Birthday Party {Customer Parties}

This past weekend we took our son Gabriel to see Thomas at Heritage Park here in Calgary. It was a a beautiful Spring day, and we had so much fun being outside, riding on the trains and meeting Thomas.

Due to his love of trains, I designed a train themed party package for Gabriel's 2nd birthday back in December. I still have to post the photos from his party, but today I'm excited to share these photos from one of my lovely customers. Meridith put together this fabulous birthday party for her son Harrison's birthday.

I love the train track going around the snack table, such a cute idea!

Here's a look at some of the decor items from the vintage train party package, including a personalized welcome sign, water bottle labels, cupcake toppers and favor tags.

My favorite detail from the party are these train sugar cookie favors, designed to match the train from the printable party package!

Looks like both the kids and adults had fun riding on the train!

Happy birthday Harrison, thanks for sharing your special day with us!

{Vendor Credits}

Cookie Favors: The Traveling Tea Party, LLC
Printable Party Decorations: Haute Chocolate
 

Mallory's Winter ONEderland Birthday Party {Customer Parties}

I'm excited to share this adorable Winter Wonderland themed first birthday party with you today! Amanda first contacted me about an invitation for her daughter Mallory's birthday party. She wanted a Winter ONEderland theme and loved this invitation design from the shop featuring a lavender & aqua color palette and delicate little snowflakes.

She also asked me to design and print some custom coordinating party supplies for her - I love how everything turned out! I created custom water bottle labels, favor stickers, blank food labels (which Amanda then filled in herself), a welcome sign, and thank you cards.  Here are some pics from the pretty party!

Amanda served a variety of desserts and had set up a hot chocolate bar - a must-have for any winter themed birthday party!

The guest of honor was the main focus of the party (as she should be!) with all kinds of photos and her favorite items featured throughout the party decor.

I love how Amanda created this circle garland banner from photos of Mallory's first year and strung it across the fireplace. Amanda just used a round cookie cutter and exacto knife to cut out the photos, punched a hole at the top and use ribbon to string up the banner - any easy DIY with lots of sentiment!

For party favors, Amanda created instagram magnets of Mallory and placed them on a large display board so that guests could grab one on their way out - a sweet idea to celebrate the birthday girl :)

Thank you Amanda for sharing the photos of Mallory's party! You can check out Amanda's blog - where she writes about her adventures in cooking - Cooking at Home

Crushing on Coral + Gray

It's a cold and dreary Sunday here in Calgary, but I've been working on bridal shower orders all day to keep the blues away. One of the hottest colors for Spring/Summer 2013 is coral. Our most popular invitation right now features coral chevron with delicate gray lace details. Today I was inspired to put together a wedding board featuring these pretty colors!

{Photo Sources}

 Ombre Coral Ruffle Cake via Wedding Bells | Coral & Gray Chevron Invitation via Haute Chocolate | Coral Bouquet via Wedding Chicks |  Clutch via Style Me Pretty | Coral & Gray Drink Straws via Bab's GiddyGappers | Coral & Gray Macarons via Confectioner's Counter

The invitation also comes with several coordinating printable items to help you plan the perfect bridal shower!

{Find all the Coral & Gray Chevron Bridal Shower Printables in the Shop}

Printable Bridal Shower Recipe Cards

I have received several requests lately for printable recipe cards to match our bridal shower invitations. I love the idea of including a recipe card with the invitation and asking guests to fill out their favorite recipe to bring to the shower to create a collection for the bride-to-be.  What a great way to start of married life with a collection of tried and true recipes from your closest friends and family!

Due to the number of requests I have received for recipe cards, I decided to add several in the colors & designs of our most popular invitations. Here's a sample of the chevron recipe cards to match our most popular invitation design right now!

  

Get the Recipe Card

Get the Invitation

Get the Recipe Card

Get the Invitation

Fun & Easy Easter Treat Bags

I can't believe it's Easter time already!  I plan on taking a few days off over the Easter holidays to spend some much needed time with my family.  My little guy is 2 now, so this year we will be starting family traditions such as egg decorating, baking traditional sweets, and our first annual easter egg hunt!

I'm hosting Easter dinner this year, and while I don't have all the details worked out yet, I wanted to share a quick and easy Easter Treat Bag idea with you today. We have a few little cousins coming over, and rather than buy everyone a chocolate bunny, I decide to make some smaller treat bags filled with jelly beans, chocolate eggs, stickers and gum. I know, they're not the healthiest thing, but it is Easter after all! The bags are on the smaller side, so you can feel good that they are not getting too much candy and the kids will love opening these colorful little bags!

Materials Needed:

• Paper Treat Bags
• Candy or treats of your choice
• Twine or Ribbon
• Favor Tags {you can get the ones I used here}
• Scissors
• Optional - 2" square or circle punch to cut out the tags

Directions:

• Fill the bags with your desired treats and fold over the top to keep closed
• Wrap ribbon or twine around the bag as if you were wrapping a present
• If you have pre-cut tags, thread your twine into the hole and tie into a bow
• If you are using printable tags
• cut into columns and use your scissors or craft punch to cut out
• Punch a small hole at the top of each tag
• attach to bag by tying with ribbon or twine and making a bow

If you don't have chevron or patterned bags, plain white paper or kraft paper bags are a great alternative. You can find them at most craft stores such as Michaels. You can also use cello bags and just tie your ribbon around the top and make a bow to secure the tag.

These are perfect for a little Easter Treat!

Mardi Gras Party Style

Feeling festive today... here's an inspiration board for a glam mardi gras outfit. I say, start with a chic & classy dress and go all out with glitzy accessories! Perhaps it's time for me to get out of my PJ's and bust out some peacock feathers, Happy Mardi Gras!

 {Photo Sources}

Mardis Gras Necklace, Peacock Glitter Shoes, Gold Clutch, Royal Blue Dress, Purple Nail polish

My Preppy Valentine {Free Valentine's Day Printables}

Valentine's Day is almost here! I was fully intending on designing some valentine's day printables to sell in the shop as soon as Christmas was over. Well, January was an amazingly busy month (our busiest yet) and I didn't have a chance to get to the valentine designs until now. So since I'm a bit tardy, and to share the love, I've decided to give a away the collection for free!!

This modern preppy valentine's day set is complete with everything you need for a fresh & fun party. Or, if you're not hosting a party, you can use the favor tags & chocolate bar wrappers to make sweet valentines for your kids and their friends.

My new assistant (aka my little sis) and I set up a little inspiration shoot to give you some ideas on how to use the collection. I hope you enjoy! Scroll down to the end of the post for the download link :) Happy Valentine's Day my Sweets!

Create easy and inexpensive Valentine's Favors by using red & pink jelly beans in clear ziplock bags. Fold over and use double sided tape or staple your favor tag.

You can also use the candy bar wrappers included in the package to create special treats to give out to friends. Simply cut out the wrappers and place around a wrapped chocolate bar, securing at the back with double sided tape. The wrappers are made to fit regular size Hershey Bars.

You can also buy inexpensive candy boxes from the dollar store (or Michael's) to fill with candy. Use twine and the favor tags in the package to create a sweet little package of treats (shown below).

If you are hosting a valentine's day party, print off these water bottle wrappers and use them to add a special touch to the decor. You can also use them as napkin wrappers (just trim them to size) or around milk bottles.

Included in the package:

2" party logos in 4 designs that you can either use as cupcake toppers or favor tags
5" circles in 4 designs that can be used as cake toppers or centerpieces
5x7" Party Signs that say 'Valentine Sweets' and 'Valentine Crafts'
Drink Flags
XOXO Banner
Chocolate Bar Wrappers
Water Bottle Wrappers

{Click here to download the package}

TERMS OF USE: By downloading these files you are agreeing to the Terms of Use. These printables are for Personal Use ONLY. Editing, Selling and any Commercial use of these files is strictly prohibited. All rights remain with Haute Chocolate and their respective copyright owners.

If you would like to share these pictures on your blog, kindly link back to the orignal post on this page for the download.
 
Printing & Assembly Instructions: You will need Adobe Reader (free download) to view this PDF package. All pages are formatted to print on a standard 8.5x11" page. For best results, make sure that you print actual size or 100%, do not scale to fit. Depending on your printer, you may need to use the borderless print option.

For vibrant prints set your printer to 'BEST QUALITY' and use matte photo paper or bright white cardstock to print the banners, party logos & signs. Use brochure paper to print the water bottle wrappers & chocolate bar wrappers.

You will need basic craft supplies such as scissors, craft punches, tape, double sided tape, twine and or ribbon to assemble. If you are making cupcake toppers, use 4" lolipop sticks, which can be purchased at Michael's or Walmart.

If you use the printables, let us know or send us a picture at rachel{at}hautechocolate.ca. We'd love to see what you come up with!

XOXO

Rachel