Halloween Inspiration - A Feast of Treats!

When we lived in America, my kids adored the fun of Halloween. Changing their minds every day for weeks beforehand about what they were going to dress up as. Deciding who we would trick or treat with and where to go - you can get candy anywhere but we used to love visiting friends in the historic Capitol neighbourhood of Olympia, Washington where every year we would marvel at how everyone was even more creative than last year in decorating for the annual spookfest. Our favourite was the dentist's house with an enormous and elaborate display of carved pumpkins every year (including all the American Presidents) - he of course used to put toothbrushes in all of the kid's treat bags!

Now back in Australia, we still trick or treat shamelessly - it is a tradition for the kids and it is really a great chance to have a spooky celebration, complete with the fun of dress ups and sweet treats. Of course it is not much fun on our own, so we have gradually roped in neighbours and friends since moving back 5 years ago.

This year I am loving all the Halloween happenings in blogland. The roundup below should give you a few ideas for working on a spooktacular soiree of your own. Make sure you visit each of these talented party people to see all the detail they have dreamed up!

Loving this Pottery Barn Kids styling for Halloween - even if you don't have a party you can make your living room boo-tiful!

image via Pottery Barn Kids

Then there are the amazing dessert tables, many with their own printables that are available for purchase.

The TomKat Studio has two themes this year - traditional Halloween for a get together of little ones, showcased here in this fun table created by the clever Glory of Glorious Treats

image via Glorious Treats

and then this glamorous table suitable for a grown up gathering with a more sophisticated palette including purple and green and some glittery bling.

image via TomKat Studio

Sweets Indeed have done a table inspired by a vintage gothic motif (with that gorgeous purple cake!) and they also sell the most amazing Sweet Skewers at their etsy store -they have different themes throughout the year.

images via Sweets Indeed

This clever "Pink-O-Ween" table styled by Pizzazzerie, with printable paper details from Anders Ruff, gives us a new twist on traditional colours while supporting a great cause! Very cute!

image via Pizzazzerie

Anders Ruff also have another more traditional suite of Halloween paper printables (I have bought these and can't wait to use them!)

image via Anders Ruff

I think you'll love these two amazing Halloween printables from Gwynn Wasson Designs that she is offering for free - enjoy!

This one in black and yellow - love the ghoulish ghostly cupcakes -

and this one Eerily Elegant in shades of green and pumpkin.

image via Gwynn Wasson Designs

Then there is the fabulously frightening food that haunts the foodie sites at this time of year.

My favourites are Martha Stewart's ghost cake (you could spend hours on Martha's Halloween pages),

image via Martha Stewart

vampire cake pops from Bubble and Sweet,

image via Bubble and Sweet

and Mummy Oreo pops from HowDoesShe?

image via HowDoesShe?

Of course if the thought of all that printing, cutting or punching makes your skin crawl, we have some spooky details that are ready to go!

images via Details, details!

Happy Halloween!

Sharing the Love

Wandered over to Eat Drink Chic tonight where Amy whispered in our ear about her adorable download and DIY tutorial for Message in a Bottle favours currently featured at Once Wed.

What a sweet idea for sharing the love, both a message to your lovely guests and a way for them to send their very own message of love to the happy couple. Grab all the instructions and your free download here. (No weddings on the horizon for us but these are too darn gorgeous to resist!)

They would also fit in beautifully at a baby shower, naming day or Christening with Love Letters for the newborn and their family.

(Images via eat drink chic and once wed)

Another fabulous outing for these cute little bottles too! Love it!

In the window: What's the Buzz?

So, you'd be forgiven for thinking the windows might be a little dusty around here.

Truth is we've been busier than ever filling the store with new releases and old favourites and would love for you to press your nose up against the glass and take a look - we promise not to make you sneeze!

Hip Inspiration: Sweet Paul Magazine

From the pages of fashion catalogues to backyard parties all around the country, Circus inspired creativity is taking the world by storm.

With such a whimsical combination of fabric `details' and simple, creative food ideas, these party pages from the first edition of Sweet Paul Magazine go to the top of our list for inspiration.

Sweet Paul is a New-York based stylist and writer of one of our favourite blogs. Here you will find beautiful food and creative craftiness all styled up with an incredible eye and fab photography - ready for you to devour, dream about and recreate. The new online magazine is a very exciting extension to the amazing work of Sweet Paul and feeds our addiction quite nicely, thank you.