I Get By WIth Help from the Web- Retirement Party Decor

I was very excited to be asked to provide decorations for one of my aide's retirement party. Mrs. C worked as an aide at our school for about 30 years. She is beloved, beloved, beloved. As much as we would have liked to throw her a party at the swankiest place in town, we knew that to really honor Mrs. C we needed to celebrate at school where everyone could be included.So I am in charge of making our school library look extra special for this wonderful lady.

After reading dozens of party blogs for years I have found that most focus goes to birthdays and showers. The retirement party is all but forgotten. I guess most people do not celebrate at home.

I had many ideas for pretty decor. I have wanted to make cake plates like these for years! They were made by Leanne at Organize and Decorate Everything. Still, I was scratching my head for some cohesive idea. Not a "theme" exactly, but a design focus.

Then, like magic the power of the blogging/web community has lead me to a perfect plan- and on a dime!

Fist I saw this amazing doily garland made by Laura Ingalls Gunn on Decor to Adore. Laura used food coloring to dye the doilies. Our library has floor to ceiling bookshelves. These would be easy to make and easy to hang! In fact, I think I can have the kids at Craft Club help make the garland. It would be nice for the kids to have a hand in the decorations anyway!

Later I saw a cake store that had eyelet style cake wrappers. They were gorgeous, but cost about $1 each and that would blow my budget in no time flat. I wasn't worried though because I just knew that someone out there in blogland had blown to cover off of high priced goodies with a tutorial! And, I was right! A quick search for "cupcake wrapper template" lead me right to this sweet picture!

This comes from Alamo Sweets via Cake Central. Not only do they have an awesome idea for doily cake wrappers, they make some gorgeous cakes! Check out this cute cupcake display idea. I may have to copy that too!

Now I have a theme design focus!  So, I cleverly rushed to the stores on the 31st to beat prepare for my April moratorium on purchasing craft supplies.

As luck would have it, I didn't find a single plate that I wanted at the thrift. No worries, I have a bunch of lids from the tins I used to make the PB Inspired Snack Tower.  What inspired me to use the tin lids? Little Brown House's Dollar Store Cake Stand made out of burner covers. That's what!

This post is starting to remind me of the book- If You Give a Mouse A Cookie. Or maybe the Song That Never Ends? If you give a blogger an idea...it just never ends! I am so thankful for all the creative geniuses out there who share so much! You really do bless me!

What's inspiring you lately? What are you up to? If you have any great links, please share them in the comments!