Next week my friend Amy Atlas‘ new book, Sweet Designs hits the shelves. It’s a mega-manual of sugar and crafts that will help you create beautiful dessert tables like this one from the book called Honey, I love you.
Just looking at this photo has me buzzing with excitement. Dessert tables bring smiles and designing one is a great way to tap into your creativity. Plus, you’re playing with sugar so what’s not to like.
When you work on one, it’s very easy to get caught up in the crafting and design behind each dessert. You’ll experience a constant flow of ideas and won’t want to stop. Or at least that’s how I feel. Here’s a Super Bowl dessert table I helped my friend Julie with a while ago and we had the best time watching it all come together. I think we could create dessert tables everyday and never get bored. They are so visually appealing and full of yummy treats – I wish I could keep one on display at all times – magically replenished with desserts. That would be sweet.
Here’s a few extra shots from the full table. I zoomed in a little so you could see more of the detail.
…because the website just isn’t wide enough to do this entire spread of sweets justice.
Sweet Designs has more than 175 projects with tons of pictures throughout.
That means it’s huge… 374 pages huge.
Candy math… tools of the trade… candy index… the book is full of information to get you started on your own table designs.
And if dessert tables aren’t your thing, that’s okay too.
The book makes it easy to find individual recipes and projects from each table to bake or craft if you just want to start out small.
There’s also handy overviews in each chapter. Shop it. Display it. Switch it.
But I think my favorite is Find it. Thank you Amy for a detailed listing of all the items you used. Your book makes me happy happy!
You can pre-order Sweet Designs right now from amazon or look for it in stores next week.
But, you can also win one here. Signed by Amy. Yay!
Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Amy Atlas’ Sweet Designs.
- To enter, leave a comment on this website post and just answer the following question.
- What theme do you think would make for a fun dessert table? (baby, owl, circus, safari, super hero? Nursery rhyme? Dinosaur? Dancing with the Stars? I don’t know – get creative…the possibilities are endless.
- Deadline to enter is Friday, April 20th at 5 p.m. ET. SORRY, TIME’S UP! Winner Announced below.
- One winner will be chosen at random and announced on this post sometime Friday evening.
Good luck – and now I need to go clear off my dining room table.
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We have a winner – and we have a lot of incredible dessert table ideas. Take a look at some of the comments for inspiration.
And the winner is:
Comment #1154 Michele M! Congratulations. It sounds like you’ll get some good use out of the book. Send pics of your table after the party.
Being British, I kinda love an old fashioned tea party theme. I’m only 16 so people my age don’t really do them (and they’re a lot of effort) but loads of people did them on the royal wedding day. Cake stands filled with miniature desserts… Yum :) Could adapt it a bit to a Parisian theme, or maybe even a Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter’s theme.
i think a great gatsby theme would be fun and really unique with pearls and champagne. i just love the 1920’s feel!
I’d go with Harry Potter. I’m a huge fan of the books and movies so anything Harry Potter themed would be amazing!
Harry Potter of course- the descriptions of the dessert tables in the books were heavenly. to have a whole dessert table inspired by the over indulgence of harry potter would be awesome!
I’m going with a Rainbow and Unicorn themed party for my daughter’s next birthday! Everything will be rainbow colored!
I think that a “Bachelor” theme would be fun!
A table I would love to do would be Legos for my son….or a princess tea party for my daughter….or fishing for my hubby ….oh the possibility ….
My 3 year old son is a huge fan of pinguins (don’t ask me why…) so an ice floe theme would be fun for is next birthday: huge iced cake with pinguins marzipan on top, snowflakes cookies, white cotton candy…and he’s born in the middle of August: would be refreshing!
The hubby would love an owl table but I don’t think there is anything better than BEES!!!!! My 40th is coming up and this post is giving me ideas. I think I need this book.
I would love a dreamy french romance theme- like Marie Antoinette – piled with macarons and madeleines and financier pastries!
I’m in love with the baby bookworm theme for a baby shower!!
Under the Sea!
For a cancer awareness event, a dessert table around the title of Fran Drescher’s book, “Cancer Schmancer,” with the Komen pink theme. I would look at the beautiful presentation and think “I can do this!” , especially with a cupcake!
Have a going away party and a baby shower
coming up. Need this book to show off.
Thank you for giveaway. Love ,love ,love you.
I’m a girly girl with a bit of a wild side ; ) I’d do all things girly (Pink, white, and black color scheme with a few animal prints thrown in…….pearls, sexy strappy shoes, handbags,…..etc) sexy but classy!
I’d love to see a New York Yankees Baseball themed dessert table!
I would love to do a theme around primary colors – everything bold and fun!
I’d say an oldschool comic book theme!! POW! BOOM! ZAP! lol :)
I’d go for an Italy theme
I would do a Blessing theme…to thank those in my life that have supported me in the fight for my life. I would make individual sweets that reflected their part in my fight. And of course, in their favorite flavors. I think it would be a great way for each of them see what I see in them & share with each other. Who knows, maybe there will be some new life long friends in the making.
Under the Sea! I love the ocean and i think desserts could be really creative :)
Cowboy!
My son would say anything to do with Anime. Those big eyes and weird cartoons would make for some good craty stuff.
I think I’d like to make a table that looks like a fresh garden. I’m thinking: Terra Cotta pots with pudding and oreo crushed to look like soil, flower cookies, carrot cookies, bugs and garden tools.
my nephew will love a Titanic theme birthday party.
How about an Olympics theme, in honor of the upcoming London Games?
tropical beach house style would be absolutely gorgeous!
pineapples, coconut, dark wood cake stands, shells…
TItanic theme for a 10 year old boy!!!!
I would love to do a table that grownup and sophisticated, but with stuff we loved as kids: Rice Krispy Treats, tons of candy, Oreos, cotton candy…
I would go for a Navy theme. Dad was in the Navy in WWII and Memorial Day was always revered by him. He participated in ceremonies at our local fallen heroes monument and at the WWII monument he helped to build in our town. It would be so fun to do!
I have a brother and two sisters-in-law is turning 50 this year (one is my husband’s sister). A 50 theme would be fun. Maybe even serve 50 different desserts. That would be a challenge!
For my nephew’s second birthday we did a Lightning McQueen cake and the Mater Cupcakes you showed here! We had mini donuts as Luigi’s leaning tower of tires. I think an extension of that would be fun!
I’m working om a candyland theme table for my daughters’ bitrhday party!
I would say zoo theme. I took my little girl to the zoo recently and she loves animals now.
ooo themes are so fun! I’d love to see a “Gold” theme. Everything shiny!
Hello, i think a “Seven Sins” theme would be great ! With a color for each sin, like in this fanart for example : http://www.mediadump.com/hosted-id170-the-seven-deadly-sins.html
(i hope to win this extraordinary book even if i live in France !!!)
A Carnival theme
princess theme
My daughter’s a dancer and my goddaughter is following right along…so I think it would be all pink and frilly with a few tutus!
polka dots!
Super cute book! Hmmm….what would I like to see? I think an ice cream sundae theme and if I could pick a second one, vehicles of any kind for my son’s 2nd bday in a month:o)
I’ve been wanting to do a Hungry Caterpillar or a Rainbow table. But I think my latest craze that I can’t wait to try would be a Nancy Drew Mystery Table.
A Willy Wonka themed table would be soooo much fun! It would take me weeks to plan though! haha
I would love to do a beach theme! I’m currently at school in NY and I live in LA, CA so all I’m thinking about is going home- including the beach!
I think a Once Upon a Time theme would be cute for a dessert table. You could go in so many different directions with that one.
I think an Alice in Wonderland theme would be super cute and fun!
How about all pink flowers for mother’s day?
Disney Princesses!
I would love to host the ultimate english tea themed dessert party!
I love your bee design and since my son raises bees. I think a take-off on the bees would be great for my granddaughter’s birthday.
I Think a space theme would be very interesting, alien cake pops, moon cupcakes, star cookies, YUM!:D
I think a nursery rhyme theme would be really fun!
Trains, trains and more trains. I have two young boys and they request this for every birthday.
I am planning my sisters bridal shower and I decided on a french theme…so a french themed dessert table would be superb:)
I think Star Wars would be epic fun. Imagine: “lightsaber” popsicles, Millenium falcon sugar cookies, “Sands of Tatooine” cookie mix jars, Death Star cake balls…
Death Star cake balls. Going to the kitchen RIGHT NOW.
I would do a spring theme, can’t go wrong with that! Would be fun to make flowers with birds and bees.
I love Teddie Bears….This is what is on my counter now with the honey pots and the three little bears came out so so cute with yellow candys! Gummy bears cute !! Would love the book!! Thanks, Have a wonderful day!
My daughter told me to put a Minnie theme!
I’d do a peacock theme! Oh how I love peacocks…
My favorite theme I have done was my daughter’s Sweet 16 “These are a few of my favorite things…” Red licorice for jump rope, cake ball soccer balls, ocean blue colored dip, and so on…..
omg wow, until now i was only seeing the cover, didn’t know the book was THIS thick! i sure would love to win one.
a theme that would make for fun dessert table: i’m curious to see something on the lines of Aladdin, you know … Arabian-themed table :-)
I love garden parties. Everything is flowery and delicate, and pastel colored. I would do a garden party themed dessert table, and of course I would have my favorite desert there, petit fours!
Well, of course Disney! I don’t know if anything could be more cute than that honey theme though.
I think an Alice in Wonderland or a Hunger Games theme would be amazing!!
Ooh gardening . . . so want this book!
My first thought was a sundae shop. Ice cream, candies, sodas and sprinkles . . . lots of sprinkles!
I’m thinking a mermaid dessert table!! I could use some of Amy’s advice and I bet the book would be a huge resource for ideas.
I think I would go for a jazz theme.
There are so many cute ideas out there….I’m thinking of a camping theme for my son’s 6th birthday and for my hubby’s 40th birthday a party designed around Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” song….lots of red and cups filled with goodies!!
I would like to do a Peter Pan & Lost Boys party for my boys! They could dress up too.
A tropical flower/flora theme! :)
The book looks beautiful, thank you for the chance!
We have been remodeling our kitchen since Feb. and want to have some kind of revealing party to let family and friends see the new results…so what would we call this party…Kitchen Reveal …The Remodel is over…This Kitchen is Open…I know your talented will come up with something Fun. Thanks
Camping theme! I can imagine a s’mores bar in there :)
I would have to do a arctic theme with lots and lots of penguins!!!! (I’m obsessed with anything penguin)
A pajama party theme
Disneyland Theme :)
I think a great theme would be Paris! Think of all the gorgeous pastries and cookies you could put on that table. Pink and black! Oh no now I think I will have to force my almost nine year old to have a Paris themed birthday party just so I can set one up! That’s ok. I don’t think I will have to twist her arm very much since she is obsessed with the Eiffel Tower!
I’d love to do Around the World theme! What a great book, thanks for sharing.
I just love colors, but I’m helping my friend with a Lego theme and I’m super excited for it!
Lady bugs, butterflies, ooh. And a farm!!
I would love to do a sprinkles theme dessert table. Sprinkles sprinkles everywhere! The colors would be amazing!
Because I am going to become a grand ma real soon it is all about Babies for me…..pretty in pink babies!
Ice cream social… but uber-masculine.
I love the idea of an “American Idol” theme!
I SO want this book! I am doing a sparkly pink & gold dessert table for my sister’s wedding shower. I also love the ideas of 80s theme & soda fountain theme! Dessert buffets are just fun in general!
I would love a Brambly Hedge themed table.
A carnival theme! There are so many fun treats that could be put on that table.
I think a “Scrapbooking” party theme would be fun!
Halloween
RAINBOWS!!
a gnome/woodland creature theme
I’m trying to decide between a moustache or monster theme for my son’s 2nd birthday, complete with cake pops of course!
Geek themed for a mans birthday.
I love everything vintage, so a vintage candy theme would be perfect for me! :)
Candyland Theme would be fuuuun!!!
I would have to say Star Wars as my entire family is obsessed with it!
A wonderland theme.
We are holding a little family get together at our home soon and it would be so cute to create a little ‘grilling and barbecuing’ dessert table!
A candy chevron owl theme! It’d be a HOOT HOOT of a party. hehe :)
Thank you for this giveaway. You are the BESTEST!
I would do an Oregon Ducks Theme for next season’s College Football kickoff!
I am in love with the dessert table idea!!!! I am thinking stiletto shoe lovers table, even wine party with sweet red cabernet cupcakes, grape shaped cake pops, vines and Wine, big beautiful citrus laced Sangria pitcher, even an “under the sea” in all shades turqouise and aqua.. My mind is racing!
I think a Candyland theme dessert table would be awsome! I grew up playing the game and my daughter is as well. I think kids, and adults a like, would love it!
A beach theme would be fun since summer is around the corner!
While I am sure its been done a million times, I think a summer farm stand would be lots of fun. (or a fall apple themed one would be really cute and easy)
I would do a carnival theme……cotton candy, cupcake icecream cones, all colorful, and fun!
Marie Antoinette! Super cool old world French style!! Lots of macaroons and chocolate! Yessss!!!
OMG, not an easy one :) . At the moment I love circus, rainbow, sunflower, nautical, barbecue, dinosaur, woodland, frog, Paris, cute as a button themes. I can’t stop, lol. I could write a novel. To try to be a little original, how about old book or music sheet theme? I love anything vintage, so I think will look great.
You girls are amazing, you inspire me a lot. I would love to win a sign copy of this gorgeous book!!!
Paris in Spring…I see Eiffel Tower Cupcakes…!
mini theme…mini size everything.
hopeless romantic here…hearts, hearts, and more hearts!
With mustaches all the rage now I think this would be a very fun and popular theme!
Berry themed…yummy rasperries
In Kentucky, nothing would be better at this time of year than a Derby theme for a dessert table! The first Saturday in May brings great inspiration – the “run for the Roses”, colorful jockey silks, spring flowers and pastel colors, horses, beautiful women’s hats, mint juleps and Derby pie. What could be more perfect?
Blown away by the sheer number of comments in such a short time. Here’s to continued success for you and Amy.
Diamonds – a girls best friend for a bridal shower
You can never go wrong with MickeyMouse with kids! I love the red with white polka-dots!
I love this book! In a world of Walmart designed lives, we need something to help us break the “merchandising” cliche. I would love to see a Fourth of July theme or even “craft” theme. Thank you, Ladies, for making our world personal and handmade!
The possibilities *are* endless!!! A rainbow dessert table would be fun…a friendly forest theme would be cute, too, with all the adorable little critters you could create…I also loved your friend Julie’s candyland Christmas party!!! I love parties, designing, crafting, and baking…so this book sounds like a perfect one to add to my collection! :)
Thanks!
-Erica
Garden theme
i think a beach theme would be cute! i would also love a butterfly/flower theme
I think a caribbean theme will be fun
Ohmygosh!! I could spend all day doting over every detail of every table in that book!!!
Some ideas that I think would be fun for a dessert table, hmmmm…. probably a garden party because you could do a TON with flowers & bugs, or maybe something technology themed with mini-computer cookies or little “mouse” cookies!
Always enjoy reading your blog, Bakerella! Thanks for being awesome!
My son is VERY in to dinosaurs right now. I would love a T-Rex themed dessert table! Of course the Dinosaur cake pops that I made for his birthday would be incorporated :)
I think willy wonka would make a great table! Fountains of chocolate yum
I have a boy so something boyish…he’s into Army Guys, Marvel Superheros and Dragonball Z. I think a Dragonball Z themed table would be cool! It’s definitely hard to find great “BOY” themed party tables!
I like bugs and flowers….
Shoes!!!!!!
I think a dessert table focused on a big sports rival would be fun! I’ve always wanted to do one for a Super Bowl party.
I love this book; I want to do a giraffe theme!!
A Tea Party!! It would be perfect for mother’s Day !!
Well… for my nephews 1st Birthday we did Cookie Monster and it turned out super cute i bought all sized cookie jars and filled on with chocolate chip cookies another on i used for the cards he received. I also made cookie monster cupcakes it was so much fun! If anyone needs ideas i can email you pictures. my email is auntcupcakes@gmail
Polka Dots – they make everyone happy!
Candy Land would be fun! Or Willy Wonka!
Robots, Superheroes, Star Wars, pretty much anything could be made into a fun dessert table!
I’d do a Harry Potter theme and include a bunch of the goodies from Honeydukes. Now I want to make that table!
Would like to see an “Alice in Wonderland” not the Disney version!!:)
I think an art themed party would be fun! You could also incorporate rainbow themes/colors as well…
I would love to do a Disneyland Theme.
I think a flower garden theme would be so cute!
Looks like a great book, I would do a Halloween theme!
I would have loved to have this when I did a dessert table for a baby shower in a monkey/jungle theme! It was kind of sad and pathetic compared to Amy’s!
I would love to see a Monet’s water lillies. What a great idea for a book!!!! I love your blog, you are part of the reason I started my own.
Check it out when you have time.
http://eventbanterblog.blogspot.com/
I bought your book and hope to be a Pop Star one day soon.
Best,
S. Katherine
I think a monster theme would be a fun dessert table!
I’d like an Olympic games theme
DISCO DISCO BABY!!! :)
I love the honey I love you theme! This book looks fantastic!
My son is a sports fanatic, so a sports theme would be a good one for me.
I’d love to do a “school’s out” theme.
Hmm, I’d love to do a handprint theme.
A Tragedy and Comedy (theatre arts) theme would be fun!
I would choose a sweet shop bakery theme with lot of freshly baked goodies just over flowing!
Butterflies :)
ALICE IN WONDERLAND tea party!!!!, only I would put in some summer or spring feel to the table! Now that i think about it, I would love a cup of tea and some delicious cakes right now! :)
I think Alice and Wonderland would be the best. It could be tea party themed!
Gone with the Wind!
Pink Dinosaur princess, or maybe under the sea/mermaid for my daughter’s 5th birthday, or for my youngest a cute baby Halloween for her first birthday (which is Halloween).
Surf would be a cool theme :D
This honey table is just amazing!!!
I would love to do a Disneyland themed table.
How about kids in a candy shoppe?
I want an pink/animal print theme party!!!!
I think a WATERMELON theme would be cute for a summer dessert table. Love pink and green!
Something fun for a girls’ night in party – shoes and purses themed. Such cute color and print possibilities with this. Who doesn’t love a great dessert table for a girlfriends’ party.
I’m planning a precious little gender reveal party this weekend for my dearest friend. We are using adorable little baby ducks and soft, lemony yellows and pale greens with our “Waddle It Be?” theme. Superior cuteness!!
rainbow!
A 90’s flashback themed table would be awesome!
I think a fairy/ woodland theme would be fun. You could have flowers and small animals, birds, butterflies and fairies.
For high school grad party – planning on doing colors/logo on various desserts of the college my daughter will be attending in the fall.
I’d like to try a gymnastics theme for my soon to be 8 year old daughter. As she puts it, “mom-gymnastics is my life!”
I am hosting a Mary Kay party for my friend this weekend. A make up theme would be fun!
A Star Wars or Narnia theme… my boys’ favorite!
I would love to see a trip around the world theme…..
I am working on Minecraft pops this weekend!
Bumble bees are my daughters’ room decor and “life theme”, so it’d be hard to stay away from that one. Maybe a garden bug theme, ladybugs, dragon flies and butterflies!
Being from Trinidad and Tobago, I think a Trinbago theme would be awesome featuring the national colours of red, black and white and local sweets and desserts (of which there are many).
This book looks like a must have. Very resourceful but not for Caribbean readers who can’t shop in the States.
I’d love to do a vintage airplane party theme for my son.
Camping
Oh I would love a copy of Amys book! I would love to design and create a The Voice table- Im obsessed with that show!! Microphones, lights, musical notes, records…would be awesome!
I think a super hero table would be fantastic especially with The Avengers being released soon!
I would love to do a pirate theme. My son would love it!
Chihuahuas!!!!!
I think it would be fun to just do “dots” and find as many circle/round type things as possible.
Ever since I first made a rainbow cake I’ve loved the idea of making things rainbow themed. I think you could have a lot of fun making a table like this!
I would LOVE to do an Audrey Hepburn classic (pearls, little black dress, tiara) theme. BUT, I would want edible pearls on the table, maybe sprinkled with a little bit of luster dust. How much fun would that be?! Martini glasses filled with some sort of sweet edible jello designed to look like a mixed drink…the ideas are endless!
Unicorns and glitters would be so fun!
Gorgeous book! I would do a SpongeBob theme for my son. He would LOVE it!
I would love to do a “forest” theme with all the sticks, twigs, leaves, owls, birds, etc.
I love sailor shirts so how about a navy/white striped party?
A TV theme! It could be favorite programs throughout the years, “TV dinner” look-a-likes made of sweets, or my current favorite shows! Bright colors and lights, of course!
I’d like a patriotic theme – to celebrate my soldier husband!
I’d love to do a neon theme for my sisters b-day!!
I had so much fun doing fiesta tables. Since my daughter and husband share the same birthday, I did one for 3 year olds and one for adults last year!
What a wonderful idea for a book. I have a bridal shower coming up in a few months for my daughter, I would love to have some great ideas for a sweets table.
My husband is turning thirty soon, and he loves anything and everything chocolate, so that’s the way I would go.
I’m from the Washington DC area, so a dessert table for the Spring Cherry Blossom Festival would be pretty.
Ooh, so many fun things! I think a Lego theme would be really fun to pull off!
I’d love to do a zoo theme. I love animals.
I’d create a Simpsons table. What a neat thing to see – your favorite TV show turned into a big table of sweets!! YUM! Ring pops can be turned into Maggie’s pacifier, classing pink frosted donuts (Homer’s fav), the possibilities are endless!
Care Bears would be awesome!
I’d love to do a dark themed table, for an adult masquerade ball. That would be my choice.
Funny thing is that i’m throwing a bumble bee themed baby shower this weekend — look at all these new ideas!
Alice in Wonderland would be fun!