Showing posts with label Parties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parties. Show all posts

Friday, November 26, 2010

cupcakeMAG: Home Edition with Anders Ruff Custom Designs! (something free is included!)

Thanksgiving is now behind us and everyone around has their mind on the fabulous holiday season! Since the entertaining season is in full-swing we were eager to share with you Anders Ruff Custom Designs -- they are all about custom printable invitations and coordinating graphic party accessories! 


We just had to share the latest "Winter Wonderland" Design Collection with you. Everything in their printable Winter Wonderland Collection was used to personalize and accessorize this dessert table that is well, simply fabulous! 



This printable collection could appeal to anyone celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah.  A focus on silvers, blues and whites makes this table feel both elegant, festive and light.  With silver being a very popular tone at this time of year, this collection is both versatile and something that will be in style for years to come.




Here is all the info on everything about their latest collection from Maureen Anders and Adria Ruff, founders and designers for Anders Ruff Custom Designs! 
Accessories/Decor:



- Our backdrop is a white on white striped fabric with silver woven threads which we adorned with mica glittered snowflake ornaments.  We used silver stripe wrapping paper to cover the walls to the left and right of the table to add interest.
- The focal point of the table is a glittered pine cone tree, to give off the look of a fresh snowfall.
- We used various silver wrapped gifts to height to the desserts at the back of the table.  
- Smaller gift boxes that were layered with patterned paper and silver sparkly ribbon sat in front of each of the “height” boxes.  We wanted the table to feel like it was full of gifts, while displaying the desserts in a clean and classy manner.
- Silver serving platters with rhinestone edge detail were lined with our patterned papers to bring in the blue tones from the collection.
- The back row of the dessert table held square dishes with “ric rac” edging.
- Wine bottles bottles wrapped with our printed favor tag/label were embellished with silver cording and logos from our collection. 
- Miniature chocolate bars were wrapped in our printable mini candy bar wrappers.
- Modern glass VOSS bottled waters were decorated with festive printable wraps.  (We loved the silver lid to those bottles!)
- We printed a “Let It Snow” banner and wove through silver ribbon and pale blue ric rac.
- We also show a photograph of the table with a unique favor or gift item from Persona Gift Pail.



Food & Desserts
- Snowflake Sugar cookies from Allyson Jane and Scrumptious Swirls were placed on silver and rhinestone serving platters lined with printed patterned papers.



- Sugar Crystal frosted donuts from Dough A Deer were stacked and printed flags were placed in the center of each stack.
- Cream Cheese Cupcakes were adorned with beautiful Sugar and Wafer Paper Snowflakes from Sweet Petal Bakery.
- We make white chocolate covered pretzel wreaths and then drizzled them with white chocolate going zig zag to give more of the “snow” affect. (This is a DIY project)
- We made light blue white chocolate snowflakes to place on top of cupcakes as well. (This is a DIY Project)
- Non Perils, Snowflake Lollipops, Wrapped Mini Chocolate Bars and Lindt (light blue/silver wrapped) truffles were served.



About The Graphic Design Collection
This is a printable design collection that will offer any host or baker the ability to personalize items used and presented at a winter or holiday party.  Several light blue tones are incorporated throughout the collection, making it easy to coordinate with any blue, white or silver party ware that a hostess might be using.




All the Sources! 
- Table Styling and Printable Graphic Design Package by Anders Ruff Custom Designs
- Sugar and Wafer Paper Snowflake Cupcake toppers from Sweet Petal Bakery 
- Snowflake Sugar Cookies by Allyson Jane Designer Desserts
- Snowflake/Bell/Polkadot Cookies from Scrumptious Swirls
- Cupcake Liners from The Cupcake Social
- Gift pail from Persona Gift Pail  
Anders Ruff is offering 50% off the printable DIY collection until December 15th! ($10 instead of $20!)

The Printable Winter Wonderland Design Collection can be purchased at their etsy shop! They are also offering a FREE printable set of designs that coordinate with this collection.  Included are party logos, recipe cards and food tags. Check them out here. 


All things Anders Ruff



We just LOVE pretty things! 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Courtney Dial Inspires!


Courtney Dial puts the Pizzaz in Pizzazzerie. Yep, that's right she is basically a party planning genius. Well, not basically - she is a genius!  Not only is she just beyond amazing and so genuine - she is the complete brain behind the one & only - Pizzazerie. We were just thrilled to sit down and chat with Courtney! And by the way - isn't she like the cutest little thing ever! We just want to put her in our pocket. We adore her! Not just because she is a hard working entrepreneur under the age of 25 but she has amazing passion as the creator and editor of Pizzazzerie.com -- all about the art of entertaining. It is your go to place for recipes, ideas and DIY parties - she was even featured on MarthaStewart.com. Basically, she is perfection in a nutshell. 




What is behind the name, Pizzazzerie? 

The word pizzazz means "an attractive combination of energy and style", and I have always loved the French word pâtisserie so I combined them. That's where I got Pizzazzerie! :) It's definitely not a site about pizza to some people's dismay though we did just write an article on a fun gourmet pizza party! 

When you first started the site, did you ever dream it would turn into something so amazing so quick?

Never! I thought it would be something that I did every couple of nights as a fun hobby. I had no idea that within 3 months, I would be leaving my full-time job at Vanderbilt University to manage Pizzazzerie! It's been a whirlwind but a blessing. I am so thankful and honored to have met the amazing industry professionals and readers that I interact with daily. 


When you aren't busy with Pizzazzerie - what can we catch you doing? What other things do you enjoy?

When I'm not busy with Pizzazzerie, you can find me headed to an Auburn or Vanderbilt football game with my boyfriend, outside running, or spending time with my friends over a great glass of wine at one of Nashville's fun restaurants. I always have to find time to get away from "work" as an entrepreneur because it's easy to get caught up in working 24/7. My friends and family are very supportive and love dragging me away to go on a vacation, catch a movie, or even go on a long walk. 



Do you have a favorite party to date?

This is a tough one, the parties I have thrown lately have all been so different (from a peacock themed engagement party to a beer tasting party). I would say my favorite to date would be a Berries & Bellinis party I hosted this past summer for a dear friend. We had a build-your-own-berry-cobbler bar that was so yummy. We had bowls of fresh berries and raspberry bellinis. Delicious! 


If you could help one celebrity decorate and host an event who would it be and why?

Though I helped her a bit with a recent sip 'n see, getting to fully plan an event with Tori Spelling (who is also an amazing party designer) would be my choice! She's such a doll and has been a supporter of Pizzazzerie so I would absolutely love to put our heads together for a fabulous event. Other celebrities I'd love to decorate an event for would be Faith Hill and Alyssa Milano. 

What is your favorite part about having Pizzazzerie?

My favorite party is the creation stage, when the ideas are flowing about a party design. I love pulling together all those ideas to come up with a unique and creative party design. That is where I am the happiest - designing and creating! 

What do you think is your biggest accomplishment?

I would say my biggest accomplishment (besides being interviewed for the fabulous CupcakeMag - so thrilled!!) - would be completing my Masters in Organizational Leadership and being an entrepreneur at 25. Not being afraid to walk away from a full-time, secure job in order to follow my dream

Courtney just styled for the latest issue of Nashville Lifestyles Magazine

10 Things You Don't Know About Courtney

1.) I was born in Texas but grew up in the Carolinas (Charleston & Raleigh)
2.) Prior to Pizzazzerie, I was a career counselor at Vanderbilt University, recruiting engineering companies on campus and helping students find jobs out of school. 
3.) I wanted to be a genetic counselor when I grew up.
4.) My Mom used to film segments about table ideas as well as write for entertaining magazines. 
5.) I am a big Duke basketball fan (my brother went there). I'm a big college sports fan in general. 
6.) I'm addicted to really cheesy Lifetime Movies. 
7.) I love anything banana flavored - banana pudding is the best!
8.) I used to teach ceramics on the pottery wheel in the summers.
9.) In graduate school, I started a custom cookie business called "The Sweets Boutique" named after my 95 year old grandmother, who we call "Sweet". But graduate school demands were tough, so that was the end of the Sweets Boutique :) 
10.) My favorite foods are mashed potatoes, queso, birthday cake ice cream, and chocolate cake (can we say carbs?). 



Connect with Courtney & all things Pizzazzerie