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.
Funny you should ask because I have triplets graduating in 2 weeks. My oldest graduated last year and everything was purple and grey – school colors. The one request this year was that there was no purple. We are having a graduation luau! It has been so fun planning this and I’ve taken lots of inspiration from many of the party planning sites including Amy Atlas.
Harry Potter! Especially since there are already chocolate frogs and every flavor jelly beans to be bought and it would be fun to create your own version of some of the other treats mentioned!
Me gustaría un tema de vestidos y zapatos de tacon (vestuario femenino)…..;D
I’m planning on a circus theme for my son’s first birthday in a few months.
My nephews are in to legos these days… I would like to do a lego dessert party!
I think a jewlery theme would be amazing!
We just had our first child (a wee lass) just over a month ago and are slowly being overrun by cutesy animals. My favorite are the the pink and purple owl pillows she has in her crib – so we’d probably build off those.
i’d totally go for a 1920s inspired dessert table. ah those good times…
So excited for the book!
I’ve been wanting to do baseball dessert table for a whir! San Francisco Giants to be exact:)
Gotta get the book to learn how to knock it out of the park!!!:)
I am not nearly as creative as you ladies, but I’d say a frog theme. I love frogs. :-)
What a great concept to help get a concept across in a fun way! I have a vision of what could be done for Earth Day or for a fundraiser supporting animal rescue!
An awards show of some sort, like the Oscars or Grammy’s. Beautiful book!
My daughter is turning 10 and wants a tye dye theme. I haven’t the slightest clue how to make that happen.
I would love to do a vintage carnival themed dessert table.
CUPCAKES! EVERYTHING CUPCAKES!!!!!!!
I’d love to do a Downton Abbey theme (not to be confused with Downtown Arby’s).
baby dinosaurs!!
paris… more specific eiffel tower.. my 10 year old is fascinated by it.
Sesame Street theme for my little one, of course! Or maybe a Welcome Home theme for military personnel! That would be neat. :-)
i would do a TV Dinner themed table:
everyone gets a miniature aluminum
tray with 3 sections. platters of “salisbury steak” or
“chicken nuggets & fries” and the candy
peas and carrots! and then you can custom
print “lids” and guests can box up trays as
take aways!
Cherry Blossoms and pink ruffles theme!
I think a disguise theme would be fun… Cotton candy wigs and mustache cookies!
Gold Rush
Not very creative, but I love anything with an island theme!
I think a camping theme would be fun! We are big campers, and love the outdoors. I am imagining something s’more related…black bears, trees, tents/campers, leaves, animals.
I think I’d do baby animals for my friend’s new baby boy. =)
A summer-y dessert table would be fun!! especially since I can’t wait for the warm weather, sun, pool, beach, watermelon, ah, just EVERYTHING summer!! haha
I’m going to plan a mermaid dessert table for my daughter’s 4th birthday party in December! It’s for her but I have always loved mermaids so it’s a little bit for me too :)
I have two boys who are very into superheros, specifically the Avengers. My youngest has a bday right around the time the movie comes out, so I would LOVE to be able to do a whole theme around that.
Rubber Ducks would make an adorable theme. Especially for a baby shower with lots of sweets.
Pirates!! ARGGHHH!!
Dancing With The Stars?!?!?! That’d be too funny!
My 2 favorite TV shows would make awesome themes: American Idol or Survivor!
80s theme would be fun!
How cute would a Gerber daisy themed table be!!
Also would like to do “it’s a small world” too
Thanks
I would love to see a Candy Land theme, adapted from the board game:)
A fun design would be for a nursing school graduation party.
The beach.
Etch a Sketch!!!!!
I’m dying to do a vintage circus themed table! Lions & tigers & bears, oh my!
I loved the bee theme you pictured! Maybe I’m not being very original but now that it’s Spring I just keep thinking “Flowers”. I think that would be a pretty theme :)
Dessert pizza theme! So good!!
I think doing a breast cancer pink ribbon theme would be fun!
My son has already told me he would like an Under the Sea birthday – it would be so fun to do a dessert table themed for it!
Pink, purses & shoes, bling – girl time for sure.
I would like to see a Diamond Jubilee theme. Have a party to celebrate the Queens 60 year reign.
Would love a Paris themed party!
A Summer Vacation-themed sweets table would be fun (for year-end class parties).
Or a Mad Men theme!
We are having a dessert table for my daughter’s 11th birthday next week! Our colors are pastels in yellow, green and pink. We are doing a candy theme along with plenty of other sweet treats!
My son just enjoyed a Lego party for his 6th b’day. From primary colors to pastels- major mental adjustment! :)
Thanks for this opportunity- love Amy Atlas!!
Maybe an Italy theme…
Or for kids a playground theme!
Oooooo! Cherry blossoms and song birds!
My daughter is going to be born in a few short months and that’s the theme I going with for her room.
I can just imagine all the beautiful brown and pink desserts!
A farm scene – especially with cows!
I think Mardi Gras would be very colorful…………or how about celebration of life ?
This book looks amazing and i’d love to win a copy! I’ve been wanting to host a winter party. All blue and white, lots of hanging snowflakes, and glitter. I can see it now….lol!
When I have a kid one day, I’d like to do a Strawberry Shortcake dessert table. Hopefully I have a little girl!
I think a fun theme would be a “finger food” dessert table. Stuff that you can grab and eat, nothing too messy, like Jello Gigglers, all sorts of candies, cake pops, whoopie pies, carmel corn, etc. The possibilities are endless!
I would love to design an Easter dessert table! There would definitely have to be eggs filled with candy that the guests could crack as a surprise!
i LOVE the nursery rhyme idea! I could picture it now… SO CUTE! Id have to say flower themed, arraged to look like bouquets of flowers… its so… springy :)
“We’ve got a Groovy kinda love” theme.
I would love a butterfly/flower theme..my daughter loves both..
I’d love to make a Paris theme! That would be so much fun!
Animal themed! Cats, dogs, horses, birds, etc!
A sugar and spice baby shower!
I’m a big Sci-Fi fan so robots, space ships, planets, and comets would be an ideal fun theme for me!
I would love to do a Kentucky Derby themed table, lots of roses and mint juleps!
I would love a HOLIDAY THEME with rainbows, sun, beach motives, ice pops etc… infinite number of possibilities :)
I love the idea of taking a children’s book and doing a theme. I’ve seen some cute Dr Seuss party ideas.
Because it’s the season, I think a baseball theme would be really fun! I also think something for Mother’s Day could be really cute!
i’m obsessed with “draw something”… i think that would be a fun theme for kids… and adults! kristinmik at gmail
This will be a wonderful book to win :) …. Kids tables are fun add bright colors as an accent, if you want everything in pastel. I will definitely take classics with patterns, color, and personalization.
I’d LOVE to do a nautical theme, complete with anchors, buoys, and seagulls! We found would last week my sister and her husband are expecting a baby boy in September – I’m determined to buy him as many anchor/stripe outfits as humanly possible :)
Rainbows! Definitely a rainbow table for a teacher appreciation.
“What theme do you think would make for a fun dessert table??
Hmmm… how about The Big Rock Candy Mountain?? That could be so awesomely fun!! My kids would totally love it, especially since candy is a rare treat in these parts!
I think a waffle dessert bar. The best after school treat at day care was waffles with ice cream and chocolate sauce.
LEGO star wars would be a big hit at our house.
I would love to do a patriotic/red, white, and blue theme for a 4th of July party.
I’d love to see a geek themed dessert table! iPhone cookies, cupcakes with little nerdy glasses… Ahhhhh-DORBLE.
There so many fun themes for dessert tables! I’m doing a Golden Books theme dessert table next month and in June, a safari animals themed one. Can’t wait to read her book and get more great ideas!
I would make a Harry Potter themed dessert table!
I love candy/sweet parties! I just had a Rainbow party for my daughters 5th birthday. I think a Pirate party would be tons of fun. I am all ready in the plans for my boys birthday party in October. It will be a Halloween theme of course! if I don’t win this I am running out to buy it!
Strawberries!
i will do a theme with horses my little girls love horses
leather and lace. :) A little country and a little fancy.
I’m dying to get my hands on this book! My ultimate dessert table would be a Versaille-theme. So elegant!
I think a flower theme would be so fun. Real flowers, edible flowers, flower cupcakes, flower candy… how pretty and fun and springy would that be?! Would love to win the book!
Oh I would say an Ambulance theme, since I am a paramedic. Or hero theme…EMS, police, fire. How fun that would be.
I think a fun theme would be picking your favorite musical. Like a Wicked themed table or a phantom of the Opera.
Beachy shark theme :)
A Wintery Wonderland!
Ooh that’s a tough one. I’d have to say a beach theme – crushed graham crackers for sand over icing; mini pretzel sticks and fruit leather strips held in place with chocolate for lounge chairs; Nilla wafers for beach hats … oh so fun!
a rainbow theme!
I’d do a friendly monsters theme. Because scary monsters are no fun.
My husband is a huge James Bond fan, so a Bond inspired table for a guy would be awesome!
This book looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to do a rustic/woods/camping themed table. I live in the Lake Tahoe area and lake season will be here before we know it!
how about a flower fairy theme using Cicely Mary Barker designed fairies?
Everything is super cute!! I would love to see something with trees or forest like
How about a mosaics theme?
I’d love to do a peacock themed dessert table!
I think ‘Cirque du Soleil’ would be a great theme!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s would be a delightful theme.
I think it would be great to do an outdoor BBQ-themed dessert table … oh the possibilities are endless!
I love the bee table! I did a bee shower for my sister’s baby shower, I made that same beehive cake and made bee cake pops for favors.
I think a good dessert table would be a fashion theme with little shoes, clothes, hangers, sewing stuff, a mini runway….or a knitting theme with yarns and needles. I really want this book!
Right now I’m thinking Lego’s because my son’s birthday is coming up…
Lego Ninjago! My son would flip!
Why, zombies, of course!!
I think it would be cute to do like a bakery theme. There are so many things you could do with it.
One that has probably been done many times before, but chocolate is always a great theme!
I would really enjoy doing a 50K Ultra trail run birthday party for my husband……mountains,birds,trees,BEARS!!!! Oh my!!
Luau theme for my daughter’s 9th birthday!
Oh my… My HS class reunion is coming up this summer and would love to do a dessert table using the school colors of red and black and the mascot: Felix the Cat!! My creative juices are flowing!! I must have this book!!
I’d love to see a Nintendo theme-my boys would love it!
I would do a Mermaid theme, I just love them! Once we did a Vintage Luau theme. It was so much fun collecting all the decorations. My Sister and I did a Vintage Picnic theme for her 9 year olds birthday last year. Just the best fun!
Alice in Wonderland Tea Party…The Avengers…movie night…endless possibilities.
Pumpkins! (I know its not the season, but I can never wait for fall to try out all sorts of pumpkin recipes!)
Lego….my son’s birthday is next – and he LOVES legos!!!
This looks like such a fun book! I want to an up up and away theme with hot air ballons and clouds…
My boyfriends mom is an artist. I think it would be wonderful to incorporate her art into a dessert table- definitely edible art!
I’d do a super hero theme.
This book looks absolutely amazing! I love the bee theme!=)
If I were to do a themed party, I would probably go with a fairytale… maybe Alice in Wonderland or Snow White?
I think a woodsy, lodge theme would be fun.
Under the Sea theme. My daughter loves the little mermaid right now.
Ooooh… a Mad Men theme complete with gum cigars!
I would love to see a dessert table with an “Alice in Wonderland” tea party theme!
Lady Bugs – I just love them for a little girl’s party.
Definitely a beach theme!!! :)
Disney!
How about a breast cancer awareness theme? Everything pink and pink ribbons everywhere!
Since I’ve got the fever, I’d go for a BRAVES BASEBALL theme! Go Braves!!! :)
It would be way fun to do a Project Runway dessert table for a finale party–talk about a ‘Make it work’ moment.
I would love to do a frosted cupcake theme! All colors, all flavors for every taste!!!
SuperHero theme! Trying to work on that already for my almost 6yr!
My kids would suggest a Lego’s theme.
Spring or Summer theme would be fun!
A Provence theme!
I would love a Candy theme. All kinds of candy in different candy dishes.
I am hoping to do a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme for my twins 1st birthday in October. I have tons of ideas and have found lots on Pinterest. Can’t wait to have them dressed as a little Mickey & a little Minnie :)
I would love to do a dessert table that has a spring-time theme!
Donuts. All sorts of donuts, donuts on skewers with fondue, big randy’s donut sign as the backgroud prop the possiblities are endless and it would be even better on National donut day. Cause who doesn’t love a donut?
Hollywood Glam!
I would love to put together a Mardi Gras themed table sometime!
Super Mario Brothers theme for my son’s birthday, he’d love it!
I love Halloween so I think something spooky, I would pull my inspiration from one of my favorite music videos of all time…Thriller. So fun!!
Willy Wonka! A childhood dream…
Banana split theme!!
Hi signing up gor the contest ànd i would love ladybug and flower them
My sister’s having a bird themed baby shower next month. So excited to make birds next cookies and pastel colored cake pops.
Candy Shop or Dr. Seuss. Thanks for the chance to win Amy’s awesome book!
I think an under the sea or pirate/mermaid theme would be completely awesome.
Rainy day theme!
My pick would be gardening!
My 5-year-old really wants a zombie birthday for his 6th…so a zombie theme would be AWESOME – quite frankly, I am a bit tired of the pretty dessert tables – how about something edgy for a change? ;)
I love elephants, so I would love an elephant themed table with influences from India and the east asia. Love the bee table as well!
I’d probably start with a colored dots theme and go a little nuts… lol Once that was over, ladybugs or bees with flowers might be cute. Really, there are sooooo many possibilities!
A castle as a cake centerpiece and then all sorts of knights, dragons, princesses, etc. for support items … would be such a fun theme!
I’m planning a Superhero birthday party for my son & think that would be a great candy bar. ;)
I’ll admit it… I’d totally love to see a Star Trek themed dessert table…
Alice in Wonderland would be neat!
A Bubble Gum Theme!
You could have bubble gum flavoured cup cakes, icings, bubble gum balls on a stick, or shaped into other treat, etc. There could be all kinds of pinks and pastel colours!
I’m planning a Pirate themed party for the school’s 6th grade party. I’m trying to come up with pirate food that 6th graders would eat.
Arts & crafts themed! With tubes of paint oozing frosting and blank cake on which you write on with chocolate pens!
I did a black, purple and gold pin up girl theme for my best friends bridal lingerie shower back in November and it was fabulous! I made all the desserts with the exception of a purple corset cake that we ordered. I made purple french macarons, black and gold whoopie pies, mini blueberry pies, lemon squares, purple cake pops, purple and gold jello shooters just to mention a few. I had a martini/champagne table with a purple martini mix in a large glass infusion jar, and all the glasses were rimmed with gold sprinkles. I decorated with gold christmas ornaments. We had a large pin up girl poster behind the dessert table, with tissue paper pompom accents. We also had a fondue station. Behind the drink table was a gold glitter curtain that we made by hand. I got most of my inspiration from Amy Atlas when planning this. I adore her work!! I will soon be planning another one of these showers for my other best friend and will be doing a sexy animal print theme… I can’t wait to start planning!!!
I would love peter rabbit theme!
a Paris themed one for sure!
This might gross people out…but I’m a pre-med student, so I think a medical themed table would be fun :) I could have all of my pre-med friends over for dessert, haha.
Old Hollywood, with black and white desserts.
I want to see a diamond/gem theme!
I’d go for a royal, Indian theme! There would be cake/cupcake/cookie designs inspired by Indian fabrics and henna patterns and lots of pretty gold and deep colors to go with it!
My son is into Skateboarding & BMX bikes. So I think it would be cool to have that kind of theme. Also, Angry Birds. haha. He loves Angry Birds.
I think a garden/tea party could be really lovely, with antique tea cups and lots of flowers
how about a zelda them? my husband loves that video game and it can be quite beautiful to watch.
I am a huge old-school video game arcade nerd, so I would do Tetris, Frogger, Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong….everything!
i would love to do a tea time in paris theme!
I think Strawberry Shortcake would make a cute theme.
I want to do a color-blocking theme. I’m loving mint and red/coral and grey.
A 21st birthday theme. My sister in law is turning 21 soon and I would love to plan one for her.
The next theme I would do is a sister theme. I have two girls and would like to do a buffet with both their silhouettes on cookies, on a cake and with their silhouette pictures hanging in the backdrop. That would be stunning!
I see the display in pinks and blues and black!
They love each other more than anything and this would be a great dessert display to show their affection!
Softball/baseball for end of the season parties coming up next month.
Under The Sea! Cute starfish and seahorse sugar cookies. Tropical punch. Swedish fish. Cupcakes topped with clownfish, dolphins, whales, etc. Jellyfish cake (How cool would it be to make a cake appear translucent?) or shipwreck cake? Options are endless!
I’d love to see an Olympic themed party. Perfect for this summer and you could stretch different parts of it over a couple of weeks and recycle the idea every two years.
I would really love to do a tea party theme for my little sister :)
A relaxing summer beach theme~
I think a tropical/caribbean theme would be great. Or a Pirates of the Caribbean theme!
Well, right now I’m terrified about my neice’s upcoming birthday for which she wants everything to be pink kitten themed. Pink Kitten is my chosen theme!
I would love an ocean theme!
A fun dessert table? How about disco? My son loves disco music and I think the bright colors of candy would be perfect for that theme.
I always love that old time country fair / carnival type theme with cotton candy, bright colors, lemonade, popcorn, etc.
I would love to see an elephant themed desert table! Grays and pinks + my favorite animal = amazing!
A Dinosaur Themed table would be great for a little one’s birthday. Adding little dinosaurs around the treats will finish off the table theme.
A Popping Theme
I am doing a “She’s Ready To Pop” baby shower for my little sister next Saturday so I guess it is on my mind. It’s been really fun!
Come check out my blog toadlygood.com the Sunday or Monday after and I will have a post all about it!
I would love to see a spiderman theme table since that will be the theme for my sons birthday this year :)
I would love to see a City Skyline theme! Represent your city with a sweets table! :)
I would love to do a Halloween-themed dessert table, or a Love/Wedding-themed dessert table
A Zen theme: with a smiley buda, a rocky fountain with some bambu leaves and candlelights :-)
Taylor Swift Party :) The book looks fantastic!
Birthday / Reflection table that celebrates someone -having corresponding treats to events in their life, treats that represent the different periods they have lived thru, treats that represent their favorite things, etc.
Dinosaurs! I am a little bit of nerd so I love them!
Oooh! Fairy Tales! I’d love to see what could be done that.
I think a circus theme would be so much fun… or a carnival! :)
An astronaut theme with a lot of sparkling things for the stars!
The bee theme is perfect!! I’m actually having a “Bee” Day party for my daughter’s 2nd birthday next month!