I love birthdays. We try to make birthdays in our family really special. For each of my kids birthdays I let them pick out a cake they want me to (attempt) make. Each of my three kids have picked out some really fun cakes that fit their personalities. A few years ago I came across this website and thanked my lucky stars for Karen Tack. She is the genius that wrote Hello, Cupcake and What's New, Cupcake? Take a look at some of the cakes I've made. Keep in mind I'm a cake-making novice.

Morgan's purse cake


Nate's monkey cake

Morgan's pizza cake

Andrew's horsey cake

Nate's space ship cake

Nate's sail boat cake


Andrew's snake cake

Ta dah! A darling birthday wreath. My kids love to put this on the door when it's their birthday. I learned how to make this from a wonderful woman named Carleen Tanner. It only takes about an hour to an hour and a half to make. This one is being sent to my sister (if she's nice).

Take two balloons and secure them with a floral pin. Bunch the balloons close together so they look like this:

Pin the balloons all the way around the wreath. Then to add a little pizazz, add some curling ribbon.

Curl about a yard of each color of ribbon and pin with a floral pin. How cute is that?!

You could do all pink or blue for a baby shower, all white for a bridal shower etc. etc. the possibilities are endless. Get creating!

Guess what I can make with a straw wreath,
about 300 twelve-inch balloons,
colorful curling ribbon,
and about 150 floral pins?
You'll find out soon!