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June 2011

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Visions of Earth

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Machu Picchu at 100

Celebrate the centennial of the discovery of the ancient Inca site with photo galleries, Peru travel tips, and more.

Treasure Hunt

This special edition of National Geographic looks at the creation of ancient riches and our desire to possess them.

Flying Shark Photos

Years of photographing great white sharks leaping above waters has given Chris Fallows a collection like few others.

Map: Colorado River

Use our new interactive map to explore one of the most contested and carefully controlled rivers on Earth.

Are You Following Andrew?

Our digital nomad is back on the road in Ontario. Follow him on Twitter and join the adventure.

"Dreams of Burma"

Download our newest app and take a photographic journey through Burma's awe-inspiring scenery.

Polar Bears

Young and Wired

Cleopatra

Food Ark

Portugal's Park

Photos: New Most Endangered Species

An impish-looking primate is among species recently deemed critically endangered—although researchers also found a species bounding back.

Photos: Ancient "Solar Boat"

Locked underground for millennia, an ancient Egyptian sun-god ship found near the Pyramids is slowly making its way to the surface.

New Comet Nearing Earth

There's a newfound comet closing in on the sun, and when it gets here in 2013, you may be able to see it with your naked eye, experts say.

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The Latest from Bird Crafts

Styled Shoot: One Party, 2 Styles - Rustic Nautical Party

Posted: 29 Jun 2011 01:21 AM PDT

Call it "a stroke of artistic ingeniousness" (hehe) or "designer gone totally bonkers"...because for my newest Nautical Party Collection, I decided to style the same printable collection, in two distinctive party styles: Rustic and Preppy!

It worked out better than I thought I must say, and I hope it shows how versatile printables are! AND how one printable party theme, can suit any decorating style you choose! Check out the details of the first rendition of this fun little project: A Rustic Nautical Party (also featured on Pizzazzerie last week - Thank you Courtney!!) :)

The inspiration was our local fishing ports and marinas here in the French coast, with their "old" sailors and "vintage" boats! And the fabulous, bespoke party wreath from The Knock Knock Factory really helped to bring my ideas together! It's such a unique piece and it also inspired the styling in a way.

I wanted to style this shoot in a way that would appeal to both a child's or adult's party, (maybe for a 4th July Party too!) with a relaxed outdoors feel. A small get together over some yummy, sweet treats - Perhaps after a day in the sun, having fun! So water bottles (embellished with our printable wrappers) are off course a must as well as cupcakes for their practicality.

Cupcakes were vanilla sponge decorated with Italian meringue frosting and some were topped with fondant toppers (homemade again). The sailboats cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers and sails are also part of the Nautical Printable Collection.

Other sweet treats include some yummy decorated cookies from Whatever Whimsy, which were based on the printable designs!

I used a lot of informal design elements to create a rustic, mini-desserts table with plenty of cushions for all the guests to sit and relax. The items used for the decor also retained a rustic, nautical charm with the use of seashells, sailor's lantern's, home-made star fish (from salt dough: tutorial coming soon), nautical rope and re-purposed food can as favor "boxes" decorated with the "bottle wrappers" from the Nautical Party Collection - Full of sweet treats for guests to take home!

Hope you too feel inspired for your next shindig! :)

Tomorrow I'll be posting our second styled party using the same Nautical Party Printables, which you can buy in our shoppe here.

Party Credits:

Party Styling, Photography and Printables: Bird's Party

Fondant Nautical Cupcake Toppers: By Bird, tutorial coming soon

Decorated Cookies: Whatever Whimsy

Party Wreath: The Knock Knock Factory

Cool Customers: A Minnie Inspired "Bow-tique" Birthday Party!

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 06:45 AM PDT

Maylene from the fabulous Malu Boutiques has been not only a sweet friend, but also one of our fabulous blog sponsors for a while now, and when she contacted me for a Minnie-Inspired Polka Dot Party; I knew we were in for a treat!!

Malu make the most stunning, handmade, party creations and has actually used some of our pink polka dot party printables, for this fabulous Minnie Inspired "Bow-tique" Birthday Party!! Check out the all cuteness below...