The big conductor train engineer turned 34, two days later.

The party invitations promised train whistles and caps for all, and we delivered. Bandanas, too.

My idea for the table was to create a forest in the center with train tracks all around, and little bits of scenery. The cats destroyed my maiden hair fern centerpiece almost immediately though, so I went to a big box store for more plants and found the selection lacking. I ended up with a rubber tree plant, and I used the moss I had leftover from making my terrarium to fill in as shrubbery.

We had the usual party decorations up too, and pretty packages all wrapped up for giving.

The Marimekko tablecloth on the table was the one I’d written about last year. I didn’t buy it at the time, but I thought of it when I was trying to find something that would suggest a landscape for the table, and I was able to find one on eBay. We had a birthday cupcake train, led by Thomas. The cupcakes were from a bakery, and Eleanor and I made the flatcars out of graham crackers, mini Oreos, frosting (from a tube, used like glue), and wafer cookies (as axels, for stability).

It was a good day, with no confusion or delay.

Happy birthday(s), my loves.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Eleanor’s Third Birthday Party | 45 comments

It was originally published in 1951 and though it is now out of print, it’s easy enough to find used copies for sale. I ordered one from eBay (a first edition copy!) with plans to use some of the illustrations inside for our party invitations. The title page had the perfect layout, so I scanned it, cleaned it up, and based our invitations off of it.

I printed them on cream colored paper and rounded the edges with a corner punch, then paired each invite with a burnt orange envelope.

I’ve created a free blank version, available for download below. You can print them four to a page (the second link has them laid out for you already), and the invitations will fit perfectly in an A2 envelope (like these).

• Train to Timbuctoo — Individual Blank Party Invitation

• Train to Timbuctoo — 4 Blank Party Invitations to a Page (4-Up)

These are for personal, non-commercial use only, falling under the Fair Use Copyright Act.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Train Party Invitations (Free Printable) | 55 comments

Yesterday, we saw my take on an Easter table. Andrea has been celebrating neon for the past week over on her style blog, For the Love of…, and today she’s sharing some crafty ideas for bringing a little neon to the table for the holiday.

I’ve loved neon for as long as I can remember, and am thrilled to see it make a resurgence, in a very updated and modern way. While neon may be most used in the style world, I wanted to add a touch of it to the home, and so created an Easter table setting infused with subtle touches of neon.  I like neon best in small doses and when displayed back to neutrals, so set against the rich wood of a farmhouse dining table the bright colors pop, yet the overall feel isn’t overpowering.

I began by focusing on using things I already owned as key parts of the table setting. These include pieces from my milk glass collection that belonged to my Grandmother, a couple of plain white Easter bunnies, simple white napkins and placemats, and my never-ending supply of mason jars.

I began by spray painting mason jars first in a coat of primer, then with a couple of coats of neon and plain white spray paint. I wrapped some neon and white twine around each jar, held in place with a spot of hot glue. I also added a coat of spray paint to some adorable little ceramic bunnies I had found at Michael’s. The ceramic absorbed the spray paint beautifully.

I took fabric paint and plain white napkins, and simply added polka dots in a random pattern using a round sponge brush available at any craft store. The trick to working with neon is to just focus on 2-3 colors at a time. Anymore and it starts to look a bit dated.

The last thing I did was add a few eggs, first brushed with neon paint. Once dry, the eggs were coated with standard craft glue, then dusted with Martha Stewart neon glitter. Placed in a hobnop candy dish, for me it’s the perfect blend of vintage modern.

By using a mix of pieces I already own and love, and creating some easy and inexpensive DIY’s, I’m thrilled with the results of my modern neon table setting for Easter.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as An Easter Table With a Neon Twist | 39 comments

Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post.

Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it.
#coolwhipmoms

As I mentioned, I spent the weekend painting the ceiling in the dining room. I had intended to do so years ago, but I’d never gotten around to it until now. I chose a dark color to bring the ceiling down a bit, and the effect contrasts nicely with the living room’s higher ceiling and lighter paint color. It’s a trick that Frank Lloyd Wright used a lot; I just borrowed it.

Everything in Chicago is greening up and Easter is almost here, so I set the table with a nod to spring. Corals and pinks, plus the requisite eggs, chicks, and bunnies.

The sequined animals were from west elm, several Christmases ago (they were part of a line to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital). The dishes and bowls were also from west elm, the napkins and silverware from Crate & Barrel (from nearly eight years ago when Brandon and I got married), the glasses from CB2, and the runner by Chilewich. It reminded me of eggs. And speaking of eggs, the egg cups are vintage melamine.

I usually stick to white for dinnerware, and I still do like it as a foundation, but those coral bowls are so cheery.

Cute place settings, colorful dinnerware, and a little fresh paint. The dining room is feeling good, and all set for spring. Have you done anything to freshen up your dining room lately too?

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as The Dining Room, Set for Easter | 51 comments

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Happy Valentine’s Day | 17 comments

(more…)

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as August’s First Birthday Party | 77 comments

We had beautiful weather over the weekend, with highs in the mid-forties, so we decided to see the Zoo Lights at Brookfield this year. August is sick, so Brandon stayed home with him, but my Uncle Ray was able to join me and Eleanor. Brookfield Zoo bills themselves as having the largest light display in Chicagoland and after having visited, I don’t doubt it.

The wind was chilly, but we popped in to some of the indoor exhibits to warm up every so often. Then Eleanor rode the carousel before leaving, and everyone ended the ride with a joyous exclamation of “Happy Zoo Year!”

It must be odd as the ride operator, having to shout that hundreds of times in an evening. It made our ride feel special though, which was appreciated… Especially after waiting in line, realizing I had to get in a different line to buy tickets, and then waiting in line again with tickets in hand. Happy Zoo Year, indeed.

But then hey, we did get our photo taken with some furries. So there’s that.

Happy new year!

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Happy New Year! | 14 comments

The kids have a new favorite toy, and so do I. And Santa filled our stockings with fun things. (I forgot to show you this little part of our home, all decorated for Christmas. There are brass deer.)

My Secret Santa was good to me too. I still don’t know who it is though! Another package arrived, this time with a set of personalized colored pencils nestled in more pink tinsel. Eleanor has been decorating the tree with the sparkly pink garland.

And then, a separate shipment arrived. Is it from my Secret Santa as well? It came directly from the shop, so no packaging to tip me off. It’s from someone who knows me well though — I wrote about wanting one of these camera straps a while back.

Santa is very thoughtful.

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as Santa Visited | 20 comments

I received some Christmas Fairy Peppermint Powder last week (contains: Christmas spirit, fairy magic, North Pole snow, red #3…), all wrapped up in sparkly pink tinsel. Cute, and I think it will be delicious in hot cocoa! But I have no idea who to thank. See, Mrs. Limestone arranged a blogger Secret Santa group.

4 Men 1 Lady • Brooklyn Limestone • Bryn Alexandra • Emily A. Clark •
House of Smiths • The Inspired Room • Isabella & Max Rooms • La Dolce Vita • Lovely Little Details • Mustard Seed Interiors • Pure Style Home • Save the Date for Cupcakes • Ten June • Thrifty Decor Chick • You Stir Me • Young House Love

Who do you think is my Secret Santa?

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as My Secret Santa | 17 comments

I still wish our tree was a little taller. We have the 6′ tall version, but it’s a bit dwarfed by our 9′ tall living room. I noticed a new, lighter pink tree is available this year! Kind of makes me want to sell this one and get the other in a larger size, but I do love our little pink tree.

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as Pink Christmas | 27 comments