Valentine's Soiree {A Children's Party}

Last year about this time my girls and I hosted a sweet Valentine's party for their friends. With both of my daughter's names beginning with the letter "M," I decided on a "M & M Sweet Shoppe" theme. A week or so before the party, we hand delivered some lollipop style invitations, with "M & M Sweet Shoppe" on one side and the invitation information on the other. We attached them to lollipop sticks, wrapped them up in cellophane and added a little ribbon to dress them up a bit. It was a fun way to let their guests know that something special was in store.

By using almost all store-bought baked goods and snacks and sprucing them up a bit, the party was relatively simple to put together and easy on the budget, too. I had set a budget of $100, and came pretty close to that figure in the end even with the crafting supplies added in.

I made the cupcakes and cake myself, which saved some money as well. It was my first experience using marshmallow fondant, and I have to say, it wasn't all that difficult, even for a newbie, and it tasted great! I've heard horror stories about the "cardboard" taste of fondant, but with this recipe, marshmallow fondant makes a pretty tasty treat. I made my own rice crispy treats, too, but added a little melted white candy coating and sprinkles to the tops for color.

I used Oreo cookie sticks and Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies and covered those with white chocolate candy coating and sprinkles as well. The pudding parfaits were a combination of store bought pink (cotton candy flavor) pudding and some vanilla pudding tinted red that I made at home. I added a little whip cream on top and put the parfaits in champagne glasses which, of course, the girls loved.

Using various red and pink candies in jars and adding some sweet labels really dressed up the dessert table, as did the pink and red poms that I made from tissue paper to hang over the table. A few M&M's, some Hershey's kisses and some marshmallow twist lollipops I bought at Walmart rounded out the treats.

After a few snacks, the girls were ready to begin crafting. I created a simple project for them and had all of the supplies ready and cut out before the girls arrived that day. Each child had a small terra cotta pot filled with green tissue paper, and they were to make their own Valentine's rose bouquet to take home with them. I used white, pink, hot pink and red felt and cut out circles for the roses. Then on each circle I drew a spiral from the outside edge, circling around until I reached the center of the circle. Then I cut each spiral out.

It was a little time consuming since each girl needed 6 or 7 roses to finish the vases, but it was a simple task that I worked on while watching TV one night. And I have to say, if you're going to have crafts with kids, it's always worth the extra effort to have the craft supplies ready to go at party time. Then it's just a matter of a few easy directions and a few steps for the kids, and they've created their own little masterpiece.

It was such a wonderful party and so nice to have a little "girl-time" with my kids and their friends. I hope it inspires you to throw a little girly soiree of your own!
Linked to: Craftomanic, Skip to My Lou, Making the World Cuter, Blue Cricket Design, Tip Junkie, Life as Lori, My Delicious Ambiguity, House of Hepworths, Craft Edition, Today's Creative Blog, Crafts Keep Me Sane, Under the Table and Dreaming, Funky Junk Interiors, Tater Tots and Jello, The Girl Creative, Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Kids' New Year's Party Tablescape Challenge!

This last fall, just as I was opening my Shindig Parties TO GO shop on Etsy, I decided to join a FABULOUS team of designers in a NEW YEAR'S EVE Children's Party Table Challenge. It was EAST against WEST....... a great group of party planners and designers from all around the country playing a fun little game of "Who's party table is better?"

Living in the heart of the South, it felt a little odd to be called an EASTIE, but once I started receiving some of the photos of everyone's work, I was elated to be a EAST Coast girl. Kristy, from The Purple Pug, was our team leader, and somehow miraculously organized all of these women and all of their designs into these amazing tables. Kudos to our "Purple Leader" -- she did a FANTASTIC job!

I wish I could have had time to post these great photos before New Years, but I think they will provide inspiration for all kinds of parties, from kids' parties to adult parties.... just take a look.

Our theme was Black & White with Comics and Bling all over

It all starts with a great invitation.... it's so important to every party to give

your guests a little glimpse of the fun in store.

And we used these fabulous little glitter chandeliers -- did you see them for only $2.50 at Target last Halloween? They were selling out as soon as they got them out of the box and on the shelves. Kristy from The Purple Pug added a little of her glittery magic to the "drops".

And now for the food......

Let's start with the feature of any party table -- the cake. I'm loving this simple but chic cake bunting. This is such a great idea.... have your local bakery make a plain white cake and embellish it with all sorts of fun items to coordinate with you party. Bunting is so simple to make.... a couple of skewers or lollipop sticks, small ribbon, some cut triangular pieces of scrapbook paper or cardstock and wah-lahhh.

And how about this adorable marshmallow treat sticks from Stix-n-Pops - so cute!

And blinged cotton candy cones, too.

Just look at these adorable pop-tart cozies. I love all this creativity..... how you can turn the everyday into something really special with just a few simple touches.

Black and white snack boxes, yummy sprinkled doughnuts, and my favorite.....

shot glasses of milk rimmed with chocolate and nonpareils.

Adorable personalized place settings

Sparkling grape juice rimmed with Pop-rocks, paper comic rosettes

and sweet blinged comic tags on jars of jelly beans welcoming in the new year.

One of my contributions was the cute and blingy clock -- you can't have a New Year's party without a clock. I took an unfinished round wood piece from Hobby Lobby, covered it with glittery silver scrapbook paper and white cardstock, then added circles of the glittery silver paper for the 12, 3, 6, and 9 spaces on the clock. I used purchased clear gems (also from Hobby Lobby) and glued them on for the other number spaces, and I purchased the clock hands and inserted them in the center. Then I used some ornament picks (Hobby Lobby) and made the clock pendulum. It was easy and quick, too.

How fabulous is this menu card?

I love the twist on an elegant dinner party, yet it's for kids.

My 11 year old and her friends would just die to have a party like this.

Fun party hats with frilly comic paper toppers

And a table full of fun for the kids

And another my contributions, a lighted fabric garland. It was pretty simple, although a little time-consuming, to make. I used two strands of Christmas lights together and cut strips (approximately 3" x 19") of fabric in many patterns and tied them onto the lights.

Embellished noise-makers - as if the kids don't make enough noise on their own!

But aren't they perfect for a kids' New Year's party?

I thought Kristy's addition of the Light Bright was ingenious!

And you certainly need some activities to keep those little ones busy....

these coloring sheets and markers are great for all ages.

I was honored to be a small part of this AMAZING team -- it was great fun and money was raised for a good cause, too. If you'd like to see more photos, check out Courtney from Pizzazzerie's post here.

Designers:
Kristy, The Purple Pug {stylist, various projects, lucky leader of the East}

Stacy, Scrumptious Swirls {cookies}

Cari, Socially Circled {beaded napkins, pop tart cozies}

Lindi, Love the Day {Happy New Year sign, black blowouts}

Amanda, Shindig Parties TO GO {Fabric Lighted Garland, Bling Rosettes, Bling Clock}

Staci, Lizard & Ladybug {Glass etched favor jars, embellished favor tags}

Kim, Party Frosting {Silk Screened, Embellished Favor Bags & markers}

Melissa, Truly Chic Inspirations {Custom blinged and embellished party hats and DIY hat activity}

Danielle, A Few of My Favorite Things {tulle pom poms, comics rosettes}

Latoya, Eventruly Yours {star confetti favor bags}

Laura, Brilliant Bash {handmade, glittered ribbon flags}

Kristin, Hatter & Hare {Custom Invitations/ comics lined envelopes}

Elizabeth, StixnPops {Custom Marshmallow Stix}

Nicole, The Party Animal {Black and White Build a Dalmatian Kits}

Kori, Paper & Pigtails {Popcorn Snack Cups}

Jen, Blush Printables {designed printable kid’s dining menu, placecards}

Courtney, Pizzazzerie {embellished blinged out kid’s dining menu and placecards}

Khaliah, The Party Muse {Comics sewn on, blinged snack cones}

Melissa, Adventures in Heels {Sunday comics and glittered banner}

Heather, Chickabug {Custom designed comic strip coloring pages}

Leslie, Mom Planning Parties {comics and bling embellished noisemakers, handmade ribbon blowouts}

Claudia, Tini Posh {tutu}

Joie, Artistic Soul {photographs}

Linked to: Craftomanic, Skip to My Lou, Making the World Cuter, Blue Cricket Design, Tip Junkie, Life as Lori, My Delicious Ambiguity, House of Hepworths, Craft Edition, Today's Creative Blog,Crafts Keep Me Sane, Under the Table and Dreaming, Funky Junk Interiors, Tater Tots and Jello