{how-to: gilded party animal cupcake toppers}

. . . quite possibly the most simply chic & ingeniously fun idea ever: a menagerie of plastic animals and candle holders, a drill and a little gold spray paint, and before you know it, it's party time . . .







{you will need:}

plastic animals
plastic candle holders
drill with 1/8″ drill bit
pliers
gold spray paint

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{steps:}

1. use any type of plastic animal you can find, keeping in mind the size of the cake or cupcake you are planning to top; ones with a flat back work best

2. with the pliers, hold the animal steady, and drill a hole straight down, being careful not to come out the other side; the hole only has to be deep enough for the candle holder to fit

3. spray paint the animals in a few light coats, rotating them to cover all sides; note: gold/metallic spray paint will work fine without primer, but if you are using regular spray paint for colour variations, be certain to use a plastic spray paint or a primer for plastic, and always test one first

4. spray the candle holders to match

5. put on your dancing shoes & pop open the champagne

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previous how-to's:

h a i r
* a side chignon
* a classic chignon
* a double-knot

e v e r y t h i n g e l s e
* a braided brass hex nut bracelet
* a sweet nothings garland
* a classic english hand-tied bouquet
* summery ombré napkins

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{additional credits: all instructions [with edits] & images by jenny from hank & hunt for the sweetest occasion}

{countdown to the royal wedding: high tea}

. . . and with the royal wedding merely days away, there is talk of duchesse satin gowns and horse-drawn carriages and happily ever after, and if you're hosting a tea party to mark the momentous occasion, be certain to serve vanilla bean buttercream cake, scones and profiteroles, and vanilla & coconut macarons, of course . . .











{photography by natalie hunfalvay for hello naomi, here & here via 79 ideas}

{always elegant: classic camellias}

. . . have always thought that cake and champagne are perfect anytime, especially for unexpected occasions -- the near arrival of spring, saint patrick's day, or a sunny thursday in mid-march -- and especially if the champagne is vintage and the cake is tiers of pink fondant trimmed with royal icing, beautifully topped, of course, with wonderfully vibrant and beathtakingly lovely camellias . . .

{image: wedding cake with gum-paste camellias via martha stewart weddings}