Cherry on Top!
I recently participated in a collaborative photo shoot styled by Dream a Little Dream Events for Life's Little Celebrations brand new online magazine, Celebrating Little Ones. Photographed by Nikki Duncan from Love Her Photography this Cherry Themed Kid's Birthday Party is distinctive with it's monochrome illustrated backdrop and pops of bright pink and red cherry goodness.
That acrylic signage, by Communicake it, provides an awesome pop of cherry red colour.
Leanne from Dream a Little Dream Events worked closely with Alex from Ruby Rabbit Partyware, who supplied all the fabulous partyware, to create this theme inspired by old school "Peanuts" cartoon style illustrations.
The backdrop was a crucial element of getting this theme to jump off the walls and for guests to feel like they had stepped into an old school milk bar with a contemporary twist. I am honoured to be part of the creative team who helped make this happen. I loved creating all the custom illustrations that formed the main focal point for which all of the elements of the photoshoot were set against.
Each of the illustrations were created originally as ink drawings by ELK Prints before being digitised and printed out to make the photoshoot backdrop.
Creating the illustrations was fun and a bit of an exciting challenge, as it involved equal parts creative output and math. I was careful to consider all the physical items that would be placed within the photoshoot and how they would fit once the drawings were scaled up to actual size.
The retro soda pop shop vibe combined with the brilliant pop of cherry red makes for a unique theme. The stylists opted to keep the colour combinations to a minimum – monochrome and lots of white space creating a perfect contrast for the splashes of cherry red and pink.
Colours were carefully kept within the red spectrum and were set against a clean black and white ink illustration backdrop by Elk Prints.
As with all my illustrations, meticulous attention to detail was an important component of the creative process. Each backdrop initially started out as rough pencil drawings that were refined and edited in consultation with the styling team before the ink drawings were created. Then each illustration was carefully scanned and redrawn as vector artwork so that it could be printed in crisp sharp focus to form the backdrop design.
May I take your order, please?
The favour boxes by Glitter and Glue designs featured a miniature version of the shop scene illustration.
The illustrations that I created were also used for the main invitation as well as on the uniquely designed lollipop holders and favour boxes. Daniella from Eve & Co. Stationery used the illustration I created of the front door of the milk bar as the base to build her invitation up in her signature layered 3D style. Isabelle from Glitter and Glue meanwhile also used the shop illustrations and cherry illustrations to create the lollipop holders and favour boxes for guests to take home and remember their sweet party adventure.
My custom ink illustration were also used as the main design for the invitations. Take a look at these inspiring invitations by Eve & Co. Stationery.
The ink illustrations were also used for all of the sweet labels.
The lollipop holders are a signature creation of Glitter and Glue designs and this version uses my ink illustration to encircle a cherry flavoured Chuppa Chup.
I love it when people end sentences with "cherry on top", be it a request ("Pretty please, with cherry on top?") or a statement ("She delivered the designs I asked for, with cherry on top"). It's a little bit of a sweet touch and who couldn't resist a delicious cherry cake!
That cheeky and scrumptious cake is by My Petite Sweets.
It also means that a small but very special detail is added to something that is already wonderful to begin with, in order to improve its quality. For me, it means going the extra mile and delivering a richly detailed result for my clients.
Love that that custom balloon that says "Please please? with a cherry on top".
Collaborating with this exceptionally talented team was a remarkable experience. I particularly loved seeing how many of the vendors took my initial designs and have added their inspired metaphorical cherry on top to improve on my illustrations and produce this beautiful photoshoot. We all had a slice of cake, with cherry on top, for a job well done.
CREDITS LIST:
Photography: Loveher Photography
Styling: Dream a little Dream Events
Partyware: Ruby Rabbit
Cakes and Desserts: My Petite Sweets
Custom Illustrations + Backdrop Design (used throughout): ELK Prints
Red Aryclic Signage and cake toppers: Communicake it
Invitations: Eve and Co
Lollipop holders and Favour boxes: Glitter and Glue Designs
Custom balloon stickers and coke cans: Dream a little Dream Events
