To properly celebrate my sister Krista’s 40th birthday, we planned a festive cocktail party at the fabulous art deco California Clipper Lounge. Guests saddled up to the (gorgeous) art deco bar to enjoy 1940s-style (get it?) cocktails such as Tom Collins, Gimlets, Rusty Nails and Grasshoppers. Plus it’s the only bar in Chicago with grape soda “on tap.”

When I saw this creme and gold metallic 1968 calendar dinner plate – Krista’s birth year – at a Wisconsin antique store during a recent fall weekend getaway I immediately snatched it up. Not only have I been utterly obsessed with linen calendars since 2001 but I’m also a total sucker for making new things out of leftovers. Add one super easy recycled cake stand tutorial on Design*Sponge and voila! The whole project took less than 20 minutes (!) and turned out a gem of a party accent.

Precious mini cupcakes baked by Rose at Simran Bakehouse added the perfect retro touch. Architect-by-day and talented baker-by-night Rose makes wonderful pies, cakes, cobblers and other yummy treats. She ran with my direction for “retro” and “non-traditional colors” and designed green, cream and mauve vanilla-almond buttercream skinny swirls and large dot sprinkles on top of mini dark chocolate cakes.

The cupcakes were a *huge* success. People raved about them and we handed them out to strangers at the bar too. Nothing makes friends faster than yummy chocolate goodness.

Supplies:

• Plate
• Planter, vase or candlestick
• 5-minute epoxy glue
• Chopstick or Popsicle stick
• Old newspaper or magazine
• Mini cupcakes

Spread out your supplies on sheets of newspaper or an old magazine. Place the plate face-down on the paper. Next, follow the epoxy glue package directions and quirt out some glue into a mixing vessel (I used the disgarded packaging). Stir the glue with a chopstick until mixed.

Spread the glue on the top of the planter/vase/candlestick. Try not to use too much and be sure to work fast before the glue starts to set. Place the planter in the center of the plate.

Open the cute package of cupcakes, plate, and pass around. Happy birthday, big sister!

Comments (5)  | Permalink  | By Kathy on 11/18/2008  |