Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: The City Cradle

My Friday Guest Interview this week brings us over to City Cradle Design where Victoria shares her beautiful handmade crafts and personally styled parties daily on her blog. I’m consistently impressed with Victoria’s careful eye and her intense attention to detail, each and every post honors the unique and special handmade projects that make up her beautiful celebrations (be it for her own family and friends or a client) . The DIY projects are not just pretty though, they are absolutely doable!

In addition to her blog, Victoria is a mom to twins and a party designer by trade, so staying busy but organized is at the top of her list (in fact one of her interview answers includes planning tips, which I love!). A neat discovery is that we also share the same sunny San Diego hometown and find inspiration in similar, unique places .

But let’s get on with the interview! Victoria shares more on her inspiration, design process, favorite trends and reader tips & tricks. Hope you enjoy! Read more »

Holiday Table Challenge Over at The Party Dress!

I’m delighted to be participating in The Party Dress’s Holiday Table Challenge today! Head out to the site for details on my ‘Vintage Christmas’ place setting that was inspired by a simple antique doily.

The Party Dress highlights great entertaining trends daily – and you’ll find inspiring table top ideas now through Christmas from guest bloggers!

Check it out and let me know what you think .

{Deliciously Decorated} Holiday Dessert Tables

There are so many creative {and beautiful} holiday ideas out there that I thought I’d share a quick round-up of a few of my favorite dessert tables.

These buffet-style spreads are full of great DIY projects - from adorable crafts to favors for friends to yummy recipes – that even if you don’t have time to tackle an entire table at your holiday party there’s sure to be an “ah-ha” idea that you’ll love in there somewhere.

For all of the juicy details and plenty of pictures, just click on the link with the theme name to jump out to the original full post.

I love the idea of using a striped fabric or wrapping paper as a backdrop to a delicious spread – and how wonderful are all of the gingerbread details in this “Christmas Candyland” theme design by Bird Crafts and featured over at Hostess with the Mostess?

Below, TomKat Studios shares a whimsical “Let it Snow” dessert table with splashes of bright pink:

Check out the adorable sugar-covered marshmallow men (in the form of skewered pops) on this Christmas Snowman table by Shindig Parties to Go:

Above, WH Hostess (of The Party Dress) shares a “Sweet Treats” aqua and red theme with beautiful feather and tissue paper details.

Below, a “Pink Nutcracker Suite” buffet shared on HWTM by Kate Landers Events makes for a great little girl’s birthday party or even a grown-up girl’s spread before a night out on the town to see the ballet or catch a chick flick!

And that’s the round-up!

Christmas decor is going up in a flurry over here at the Spenla house – I keep wondering what will happen if babe decides to come early (he/she is technically full term now at 37 weeks!) with me amidst rolls of garland, flashing Christmas lights and tiny ornaments as I get the house holiday ready! I don’t think I’d like to come back from the hospital in the chaos that is our living room now…