The One & Only Kim of The TomKat Studio plus a giveaway!

Oh Kim. How we love you? Let us count the ways. Yes, we absolutely adore Kim of The TomKat Studio. Let's be serious here....how could you not?

Kim Stoegbauer doesn't need an introduction. But, for those who aren't familiar with the name - Kim is the amazing & talented Designer and Editor of  The TomKat Studio. Kim is also one of the sweetest ladies we have worked with and we are truly thrilled to share our chat with you + thanks to Kim - giveaway a $50 shop credit! If you have never browsed The TomKat Studio - it is sure to be a favorite now. We guarantee it! 

{Read all about Kim here.}

{1} Tell us about how you started The TomKat Studio and where the name came from. 

In December of 2008, I made the decision to leave my real estate career to stay home with my two little ones. Staying home allowed me more time to focus on creative projects and crafts. We decided to turn an empty room in our home into a craft studio for me to play in. Shortly thereafter, I decided to start a blog to share decorating, crafts, baking and party projects I was creating. I called the blog "The TomKat Studio", named after my kids Tommy & Kate. It quickly gained a loyal following and before I knew it, my readers were asking me to sell the party items that I was making for my own kids' parties! I opened up the Etsy shop in March 2009 and it has continued to grow and grow. I couldn't be happier working from home, doing what I love and also being there for my family. 

{Kate's Fairy Garden Party}
{Vicki Lynn Photography}

{2} Your blog is filled with amazing ideas, parties, designs. It is just so pretty to look at - great eye candy! Do you have a favorite party you have worked on so far? Favorite collection?

Oh...it's so hard to choose! I have been so lucky to work on over-the-top parties for my own children, as well as styled photos shoots for designers, magazines and HGTV. I would have to say my favorite party would be my daughter's 3rd birthday, which was a Fairy Garden theme. The colors were so vibrant and fun. It was first fully styled dessert table and the response from our readers was incredible! 

{A beautiful theme inspired by Barbie}
{Vicki Lynn Photography}

{3} Could you share with us a few must-know party tips? 

1. Choosing a Theme :: When planning your child's birthday party, always take a cue from what he/she loves. Choose a color scheme or theme based on your child's favorites. If your child is old enough to have an opinion on what type of party he/she wants, decide on the theme together. You can create a beautiful elements for any theme, even if your child prefers a certain character. For example, my daughter wanted a Barbie party this year. She chose between a fashion theme {inspired by Fashion Fairytale} and a mermaid theme {inspired by A Mermaid Tale}. She picked the fashion theme and so we went with a pink, black & white French theme. The only actual Barbie elements were the cake and the music!  

2. Make Lists :: While you don't need to write down every little detail {the party should be fun for you, too!}, keeping lists of tasks that need to be completed, shopping that needs to be done is very helpful during the planning process. Don't wait until the day before to prepare everything for the party. Do as much as you can in advance! 

3. Create a Timeline :: Have a general plan of the order of events, to keep things moving along during the party. Be sure to come up with a couple fun activities to keep the kids busy in addition to serving cake and opening gifts. 

{LOVE these Free Printables Kim designed for Kate Lander's post over at Layla Grayce}

{See the post + download them now}

{4} As a mom, how do you balance work & family? 

I believe that balance is an ongoing process. I do my best to give my attention to my family when they need it, and to my business when it needs it. Both seem to be constant! I have come to realize that I can't do all by myself. I have help with my business {three amazing assistants} and plan on adding help with my household duties soon. On a sidenote, one thing that can go the wayside is adding "me time" to that balance. Allocating time for myself to relax and enjoy is one of my priorities right now. As working mommies, we need to take some time out to rejuvenate and refresh. 

{DIY Party Project: Mini Cake Bunting Tutorial & Free Printable Alphabet Pages}
{Image by Laura Winslow Photography}

{5} What party trends do you see for 2011? 

1. The Full Package :: Most of customers are inspired by the parties they see on our website. They want to recreate the party they have seen showcased and therefore want the entire party package along with resources for everything from the desserts to clothing. The TomKat Studio aims to provide all of the vendors so that our readers can easily access the amazing vendors we use. 

2. Cake Pops :: Everyone loves cake pops, so I think they will continue to gain popularity and become a staple at birthday parties! Thanks to Bakerella for creating such a yummy, festive treat! Isn't it amazing that they are even sold at Starbucks now?

3. Birthday Cakes with Mini Cake Bunting :: This trend is popping up everywhere these days. We created a free printable files with lettered flags in a variety of colors last year and it has been an incredibly popular download!

{The SO Sweet Lollipop Collection}
{Image by Laura Winslow Photography}

{6} Currently, in your Etsy shop, what are you favorite items?

My favorite collection will always probably be our Lollipop Collection. I originally designed the invitation, party circles & favor tags for Kate's 2nd Birthday. It was one of the first collections that I offered in the shop and it was published on many fabulous party inspiration websites including Hostess with the Mostess and Amy Atlas Events. It continues to be our best selling theme.

I also LOVE the our Alice in Wonderland inspired collection. The photos of the collection are from an incredible photo shoot by Laura Winslow, that I styled and featured the party collection in. It was our first of many collaborations and will always be a favorite!

{Pretty cakes from The TomKat Studio's Pretty on Pinterest series}

{7} When you have the time what magazines do you love to read & blogs do you love to browse?

I love to snuggle up with great magazines. I always browse my Martha Stewart Living from cover to cover the moment it arrives. Martha is such an inspiration to me, as both a creative genius as well as a savvy business woman. I adore Celebrate magazine by Phyllis Hoffman. Not only because I was just featured in it {yippee!} but because it is filled with amazing entertaining ideas and gorgeous photography. I recently received a copy of Summer with Matthew Mead and nearly fell over in my chair with the turn of each page. The styling and photography in every feature is absolutely beautiful. 

As far as blogs, I following tons of entertaining blogs, including great inspiration sites like Hostess with the Mostess and Amy Atlas. I also love home decorating blogs like Decor8, HGTV and HomeGoods Open House. To get my crafty fix, I love House of Smiths and Tatertots & Jello. 

{Kim was recently showed off in Celebrate Magazine. Check it out here}

{8} What is up next for your FAB empire :) 

Let's see....what's next? More styling, more party designs and more fun! I have little dreams and I have big dreams. I will just continue doing what I love and I know things will fall into place!

1. I love sweets.

2. But, I've been eating way too many.

3. I love margaritas. 

4. But, I've learned not to tweet after cocktails.

5. I love taking pictures.

6. But, I don't know how to use Photoshop.

7. I love to inspire.

8. But, I hate being copied.

9. I love my work.

10. But, I love my family even more! 

{The Blog}

{Shop on Etsy}

{Facebook}

{Twitter}

{READ ON!}

Enter to win a $50 shop credit to The TomKat Studio! 
{Giveaway has ended! Winner was #52 and was announced on Twitter}

cupcakeMAG LOVES Heather of Chickabug!

When we came across Heather of Chickabug's Party Idea Blog we immediately fell in love with amazing inspiration and beautiful work! Heather's blog is the perfect place for all things party & pretty. 

We are thrilled to share Chickabug with our readers! Enjoy the giveaway too! 

{Heather of Chickabug}

{1} The Chickabug blog is just FAB! You could browse it for hours. What got you into blogging such great things?

Thanks, Casi! That means so much coming from you! : ) I actually started blogging a few months into running my Etsy shop so that I could post pictures of the things I was making. Back then I was so naive that I had no idea that party blogs were such a big deal. I just posted whatever party photos customers sent me, along with random things that caught my eye on Etsy or in the blog world. That's still what I'm doing, actually -- just on a larger scale! I also make sure to include LOTS of party photos and LOTS of details about sources since I now know that's what readers are looking for.

{DIY Easter Candy Celebrations}

{2} When you aren't designing  your uber-cute personalized goods on Etsy, what can we find you doing?

It's so basic, but my favorite everyday activity is just walking my dog, Charlotte. Spoiling the heck out of her is one of the simplest joys in life! I also love to cook -- I make banana-chocolate chip muffins that would knock your socks off.

{cupcake water bottle labels, personalized from Chickabug's Etsy Shop}

{3} Do you have a favorite party you have custom designed for?

My all-time favorite party is the Sweet Shoppe party that I worked on with Shelley from How Does She. Not only was the party STUNNING thanks to Shelley's amazing eye for detail, but more important, we became friends through working together. She's been a really positive presence in my life ever since then, and has cheered me on every step of the way. So, the Sweet Shoppe party has to be tops, just because of her!

{Invitations by Chickabug for the Sweet Shoppe party}

{4} Do you have a favorite party you have featured on the blog?

My most recent favorite was the sock monkey party that was put together by Susan Gentile for her one-year-old son, Alexander. I've been lucky enough to work with her on a few parties now, and they always gain a lot of attention thanks to her gorgeous photos! It's really such a compliment to her that people write me and request items straight out of the pictures.

{the cutest sock monkey party!}

{5} What other blogs/sites do you often frequent or just have to read?

Oh, there are SO many good ones out there! For parties, I love Birthday Girl, Kara's Party Ideas, Pizzazzerie, and Kate Landers Events, LLC. 

I also never miss a post by How Does She, Glorious Treats, or Mini Eco. And for comic relief, you can't beat Cake Wrecks.

{TONS of FREE printables on Chickabug!}

{6} Where do you pull inspiration from?

My customers! I've been a designer for a very long time but had no idea how sophisticated today's party scene is when I started creating invitations. So I really mean it when I say that everything I've learned about children's parties comes straight from my clients! Every theme I've designed and every item I offer has been developed on request. There's a story behind just about everything, and some of my most popular themes were actually designed with one specific child in mind -- so for me, it brings back great memories to browse my shop.

{Custom stickers you can find in the Chickabug Etsy Shop}

{7} Do you have any party tips you can share for making it a super success?

Plan well in advance, and plan with your guests in mind. Coordinate a few fun games or activities, and set up little areas so that guests can move around the party and have plenty to do. Adding lots of personalized, special details to the day is important, but it's even more important to make sure that everybody has a fabulous time -- the hostess included! 

{Under the Sea birthday party}

{8} What is up next for Chickabug?

Hiring help, definitely! Right now I work alone, so the next step is going to be finding someone to help out -- even if it's just to to tape up packages for me a couple of nights a week!

All Things Chickabug!

{Blog}

{Etsy Shop}

{Facebook}

READ ON TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY THANKS TO CHICKABUG! 

We are quite obsessed with.....WH Hostess - exclusive interview and giveaway!

We first were introduced to the lovely Kelly of WH Hostess by the amazing ladies at LaunchHER. We had a very special first birthday feature coming up and we knew exactly who could help - WH Hostess! Kelly immediately starting working on our custom designs from everything from beautiful invites to cupcake toppers to centerpiece sticks -- just wait, you won't want to miss how amazing her work is - and her turn around time, is ummm, like 2 seconds - seriously, she is amazing. We also adore how everything comes right to your door, printed on high quality stationary paper and ready to go -- this isn't a printable, this is true quality right to your finger tips. 

Next month we will be showing off her amazing work she did for cupcakeMAG but we have a little peek at the invite above! Isn't it a beauty? The perfect invitation for the shabby chic vintage meets sparkle princess party we are planning. Love right? Yes, we have fallen in love all over again with WH Hostess. Read on to get to know the genius designer herself and to win a $50 shop credit! 

{1} At what point did the light bulb go on to begin WH Hostess? Tell us about your baby & the name.

I have always had a love for all things paper, so now I look back at the path I have taken and say life has pointed me in the right direction.  But....the light bulb truly went off after about 9 months of writing/inspiring on my party-planning blog, The Party Dress.  I was pulling together party inspirations daily and people kept e-mailing me asking me to create or plan parties for them.  Pulling from my background in graphic design, I started playing around with designs and my first few collections were born.

I have nurtured WH Hostess this first year like it is truly my baby.  Although my biggest focus is on designing fresh, modern invitations and party goods, I also wear the hats of research & development, accounting, public relations and marketing, merchandising and quality control!  We have grown into such a wonderful little business in such a short time...I am thankful every single day that I found this new dream.

The name WH Hostess also comes from the blog's full name....The Party Dress ~ Inspirations from the Well-Heeled Hostess.  I have a love for shoes and fashion (and worked as a retail buyer for many years), and when it comes to planning a party one of the first things I think of is "what will I wear?!"  Almost always, my outfit is coordinated around a fabulous pair of shoes!

{2} What is your favorite item to custom design? 

The custom design process always starts with the invitation design for me.  I feel the invitation sets the tone and theme for a party, so it's important to create a high-quality, stylish invitation.

{3} What celebrity are you just dying to work with?

There are many ladies out there that I associate with style-wise....off the top of my head, I would say Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kourtney Kardashian, Tori Spelling, Jennifer Garner, just to name a few!

{we love these ladybug centerpeices}

{4} Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everywhere!  In my fashion days, I did a lot of product development/swatch buying - so I would sit and play with swatches of fabric all day long.  Pulling together patterns, colors, and textures until I found the perfect assortment.  I find myself still pulling from that process when it comes to designing stationery and party goods.  My local fabric store is probably one of my favorite places to "get lost" for a couple of hours when I am looking for inspiration for a party or new collection.  I read a lot of magazines, look at a lot of books and listen to what people ask for....  Pattern plays a big role in all of my designs, so once I have the main concept down - I go back to my roots and start working in an assortment of patterns to compliment the collection.

{5} When you aren't working away, what can we find you doing?

Well, I work a LOT these days!  But when I am not working, you can find me either entertaining friends at home (I love hosting family dinners or small parties with friends), decorating my first house, shopping with my mother, helping my sister plan her upcoming wedding, or spending time with my best friends and their kids - I love being "Auntie Kelly!".

{6} What are your own personal party tips? Most important thing at the party?

1. Brand your party!  Choose a color palette, a style, a pattern and carry it throughout your party....it will make your party look very stylish and cohesive.  
2. Do as much prep work as possible, so once your guests arrive you are playing "hostess" instead of "worker-bee".
3. Mix the high and low: pull out the good stuff (china and crystal) for everyday fetes, and mix it in with your dollar-section or IKEA finds to create a unique look.

{the cutest placecards}

{7} What are you favorite blogs to read?

I have always been a fan of Hostess with the Mostess, and I love following Amy Atlas's blog (especially reading the behind the scenes articles!).  I also love P is for Party, Eddie Ross, One Charming Party, Sharnel Dollar, Style Me Pretty and Celebrate at Home for party inspiration, and Belle Maison, Twig & Thistle and Coco + Kelley for home decorating.

{to-die for dessert table} 

{8} What do you never leave home without?  

My iphone.  I literally run my business and my life on it daily!

{9} So you are quite the multi-tasking queen - you have your biz, your blog & contribute to Project Nursery? Are we missing anything? How do you manage it all?

It's a balancing act and I am still perfecting it!  There are some days I get thru my to-do list, take a deep breath and say "okay!  I can do this!"  and then there are days where I could keep working thru all hours of the night and still not get everything done.  Each month I look back to review what I did well, and where there is room for improvement in the future.  The best part of owning your own business is that you control it's destiny!  I am trying to be better about taking some time during the day for myself.  Whether it's grabbing a quick cup of coffee with a friend, or doing a half hour of yoga, or running thru a local store looking for inspiration - it's good to put the laptop (or iphone) down for a bit and interact with people!

{10} And last, what do you think is the perfect outfit for a party?

I'm always a sucker for a party dress, but I like to be comfortable too!  You can typically find me in either a sweet little shift dress, or a fun, silk blouse and tailored pants.....with a fabulous pair of heels, of course!

Ahh, we just adore Kelly! Don't you? She is pretty perfect! Now, time to have some Kelly in your life - enter to win $50 to WH Hostess now. Read on to enter!