I was featured & AWESOME Night Owl Pajama Club Party

My birthday 80's theme Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun party was featured today on Creative Party Place....yea!! I am very happy that it was featured and love looking at Shannon's blog for real parties.
Speaking of real parties do I have a absolutely gorgeous party to share today! DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS!! Jamie from Giggledust parties is amazing!! She is a fellow children's event party planner- you know I love that!!! I love nothing more than a unique party! This girl is super duper talented. Here are some pics of her wonderful party and description from her. Please check out her blog....her pictures are bigger- I can't get them the same size!! Boy, I really hate being technology challenged!! The inspiration for this party came from several things: my daughter’s wish to have a sleepover party, an adorable stuffed pillow I saw at Target, and the fabulous “bed” tables from Jenn at HWTM and Donna at Party Wishes.
This party was hosted in the evening from 7-9pm and the girls came dressed in their favorite PJs. The activities of the party centered around the girls becoming members of the “Night Owl Pajama Club:” Night Owls love to stay up late, dance in the dark, hang out with their friends at the Night Owl Clubhouse and dine on their favorite snacks: cupcakes and ice cream sundaes!
The “bed” was designed from two twin comforters that were sewn together to act as a tablecloth. I used a coordinating sheet set for the pillow cover and bed sheets that were visible at the head of the bed. The plates and mugs were from Rosanna, Inc and I found the brown chargers on the fall closeout aisle at Target. They really were a perfect match and made the plates pop! The napkins were sewn by my Mother using material we found at a local fabric store. And, last but not least, my hubby made me the headboard and foot board that completed the bed table!

My favorite element of the party was the Night Owl Clubhouse. I mean really, how cool is this! A girly retreat with pretty fabrics, plush comfy pillows, and your best girl friends to chat with! This was the clubhouse that I always tried to build myself as a child but was never really able to pull it off with the dining room chairs and various knitted afghans from around the house.

I had so much fun designing the sundae bar trying to channel the “Amazing Amys”: Amy Atlas and Amy at Eat.Drink.Chic. I used a shower curtain from Target for the backdrop, various containers from HomeGoods to hold the toppings, and the Soda Fountain Cups from Rosanna, Inc. Not bad for a first try!
More importantly, the girls loved it and really enjoyed making their own sundaes!

What talent....thanks for letting me share your party Jamie. I'm looking forward to being one of your new BFFs!

Gingerbread House Party

Here is the Gingerbread house party that was won by Amy from the Momszone.org contest. Amy has 5 beautiful girls and the whole family was just so sweet and fun to be around. All the girls were great and I really enjoyed this party.

Here are some of the girls mixing their icing. If you have worked with royal icing before - you know it's like cement. You can't make it ahead of time or it will become a hard rock. While the girls took turns making their icing- the others were doing Christmas crafts.

You can make your own gingerbread houses- I have the house pattern cutters and an easy recipe. However, it is so convenient just to buy the already made boxes. I just add extra candy. Plus, I like to have out some boxes so the girls can see gingerbread houses to give them "muses" for decorating theirs.This picture needs no explanation.

This picture is priceless!! This little one was so patient and really was proud of her beautiful creation. I love my job- I get to share in the joys of children.

Take home boxes for the gingerbread house masterpieces!

Santa favors filled with candy!

Of course, the cupcake creation station! Kids really love decorating their own cupcakes!!

I have 2 more events this week then I am taking a "party" break to prepare for my speaking engagement in New Orleans for The Special Event in January! I am still going to do a daily blog and I want to start featuring "real" parties from you so please send me your pics or link to your blog.

Some photos courtesy of Billy Siegle-thanks Billy!

Dollar Day Creation #6 and a good buy!!

I had so much of the $ Tree blue yarn left over from my Dr. Seuss Thing 1 and 2 party and didn't have a clue what to do with it!! I thought and thought and finally last night it came to me- make a tree! I had a cone that I bought at $ Tree as well. I had some red berries (but you don't have to use) and glue. I simply started at the bottom with glue and wrapped the yarn around until I got to the top. I glued the top as well. I cut the berries leaving on some stems and just stuck them into Styrofoam. So easy and took me only minutes. You can use any yarn or even twine. It would really look great to have several of these in various heights! Plus you don't need to add the berries- I just did because I have so many plus I like these colors together.

I have a couple of great buys to share. The first is this tray that I got a yard sale for 50 cents. I'm so glad my husband has learned to never say- What are you going to do with that? I cleaned it up and spray painted it white. You can practically spray paint anything and make it look new! The next great buy are these beautiful beaded cones that I found at Goodwill for $6.50 for both! I think they are totally stunning and looks like I spent much more dough than I did!

I put them with my newly spray painted tray and added snow from $ Tree and fresh cranberries.

I tried to finish my tablescape before it got dark - it was a toss up between finishing tablescape or feeding Maddy. Maddy won! (smile) I have a gingerbread house party tomorrow for a mom who has 5 little girls. I will be sure to post pictures.

Right Left Christmas game

I love to play games at parties and give out prizes. One of my favorite Christmas games is Right Left game. All you need is for guests to get in circle and pass around a wrapped gift when cue (right/left) words are said. Whoever is left holding the gift wins it! I have also done this for large office parties- just break groups up and put in circle and pass more than one gift in each large circle.

Here is what you read:

The Wright Family

Christmas was almost here and Mother Right was finishing the Christmas baking. Father Right, Sue Right, and Billy Right returned from their last-minute Christmas errands. "There's not much left to be done," said Father Right as he came into the kitchen.
"Did you leave the basket of food at the church?" asked Mother Right. "I left it right where you told me to," said Father Right. "I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy right. "I don't have any money left."
The hall telephone rang, and Susan Right left to answer it. She rushed right back and told the family, "Aunt Tillie Right left a package for us right on Grandma Right's front porch. I'll go over there right now and get it," she said as she left in a rush. Father Right left the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree.
By the time Susan Right returned, Mother Right, Father Right, and Billy Right had begun trimming the tree. The entire Right family sang carols as they finished decorating. Then they left all the presents arranged under the tree and went to bed, hoping they had selected the right gifts for their family.
Now I hope you have the right present for yourself, because that's all that's left of our story...except to wish you a merry Christmas... Isn't that right??

I didn't get around to making my $ day creation today. I had my little grand niece and we went to see Princess and the Frog- so cute. Except Maddy kept saying go home on the "scary" parts! I will post Dollar Day Creation and a Christmas tablescape tomorrow.

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of my Christmas decor. Here is my living room. I have been so busy that I did not put up all of my trees this year! I just finished the outside today! I am so far behind this month. I decided from today on just to stop adding on and just enjoy the rest of the season with what I have done. I still have so many boxes of Christmas things but there has to be a stopping point or you will be putting up decorations on Christmas day! LOL
Usually, I hang a wreath above the fireplace but used it somewhere else- (will show in another post) I wanted something different and unique to put there but haven't thought of anything yet....anyone have any ideas for me????

Here is a reindeer that I got from Michael's. I put a wreath around it's neck and decorated it with ribbon and feathers. Santa is on the other side. I'm not the best photographer- sorry!

Here is the view of living room from the loft connected to my bedroom.

The display on top of my antique hutch in the dining room.

Fashionista Party

Maddycakes had the pleasure of hosting Isabella's fashionista party today. The whole family was awesome and fun was had by all! Here is Isabella's invitation- her mom was so clever and had it placed in the entryway table. The invitations were another awesome Etsy find from Susan at Cherished Times. Susan was so awesome to work with and fast!!! She has great printable photocards - check her out!!! I tried my best to take more pictures of my decor during this party. I am so used to mainly taking photos of the participants and activities during the party for photobooks or cds that are created for the clients.

Keeping with the invitation colors- this fashionista party was purple and fuchsia. Maddycakes also does a fashionista party with colors of black, white and fuchsia. Although I have "party packages"- I never do the same thing twice. I like to change it up and create something special for each event!

I used the clients table and chairs - by added the boas made her gorgeous table setting not so grown up!

I found these paper dolls on Etsy at Paperglitter and fell in LOVE! They came in blonde and brunette and are so hip and trendy! Just printed and cut out the dolls and clothes on cardstock! Plus they were only $2.50 each. So just pay once and print off as many as you want! How super easy and budget friendly is that!! Linnette is super creative...go check out her site she has awesome printables- many for Christmas as well! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Paper dolls remind me of my childhood. Did anyone else play with them as a child? At first the girls at the party were like..what is this???? Then I showed them how to put on their clothes and they LOVED them. I had a hard time getting them to stop and eat!

An additional table

Cupcake creation station. This is always a hit- kids love decorating their own cupcakes! OOPS! I didn't get pictures but there was also a smoothie station stocked full of an assortment of fruits, juice, milk and yogurt! Yummy and healthy!

True Project Runway challenge, I had the girls design outfits from newspapers. These girls were awesome they really had some very creative designs! The girls paired up and one girl was the model. The winning team won a prize. There was a make up station so the girls had their make up, hair done and put on body shimmer!

Before judging, the girls walked the runway to show off their designs.

Don't you just love the bow! The winning team actually made a hat, shirt, skirt with belt and boots!!

Then they designed their own T-shirt with fabric markers, glitter, paint and stencils.

It was very fun and the girls were truly some fashionistas!!!! So 3 parties in 3 days!! Whew!! Had fun but very tired~ not much rest though I have 3 more back to back again this week!! I love the holidays but I'm going to need a vacation after Christmas!!!

Tropical Spa Escape party

When I started this blog, I wasn't going to show any of my signature theme parties just my custom parties. However, I have received many emails asking for me to share those parties -so I will show them from time to time as well. Tonight, I did the Tropical Spa Escape signature party for the sweetest girl who turned 13!
Spa themes are very popular and could easily be done for a birthday party. This party includes paraffin wax for the hands, manicures complete with polish and nail art and pedicures. The girls make their own natural facial masks and create masterpieces at the cupcake creation station.

The heated foot massage machines are great! For any signature party themes- I don't see the space prior to the party. So I bring a lot of equipment and items with me just in case. Example - if I have a spa party for 10 girls - I will bring 5 machines (the girls pair up and work on each other) but if there isn't room in the home then I will only put out 3 and just have the girls rotate stations. I can always edit according to the amount of space that I have.

If you were having a spa party - you don't need heated massage machines just use a small tub.Each girl gets a basket complete with their personal items for pedicures and manicures. (No pedicure is complete without the thin flip flop just like the nail shops!) The towel is wrapped with a lei that I take off and put on girls. Every one of Maddycakes signature theme packages (except camp out) includes a cupcake creation station. (The camp out theme has a smores station) This is always a big hit with the kids! So rather than decorating your cupcakes prior to the party- make it part of the party.

Tomorrow (Sunday- well actually today- it is 1255!) I have a Fashionista party. I will take more pictures of my decor. Generally, for signature parties - I take more photos of the kids and give to them. Sorry for missing a couple of days this week in posting- I will try not to do that too often!!