Budget Week~Party Frames

If I ever get stranded on a desert island the main supply I would need is my hot glue gun (of course my magical island would have an electrical outlet)! I am a warrior with my glue gun and have many burned blistered fingers over the years to prove it! I love using frames in my party decor. I use them for so many things not just displaying photos. You can display your menu, place cards, list your items on your buffet, thank you notes, etc... Come to think of it~I even use one in my bathroom for guests...I will let you in on that one in a later post. So here is my Dollar Tree frame. Here is a sample of the frames that I am working on for my Sweet 16 party (which is next Saturday- YIKES). In this case, I am using them for pictures of the birthday young man and putting them on the candy and popcorn stations that Maddycakes is doing. A few weeks ago my FABULOUS photographer Amy Fraughton did a photo shoot of him at a carnival (the party is Cirque du Alejandro). The photos turned out amazing. I will have the pictures throughout the venue in various ways. I spray painted the frames gold and hot glued the masks on that I got when I was in New Orleans for The Special Event Convention. Remember when I was a speaker at TSE!! Okay, I had to through that in one last time!

I have hot glued every imaginable item to frames for various events! A few examples: pacifiers and bottles (had ultrasound photo adhered inside bottle) for baby shower, small ornaments for Christmas party, silk hibiscus flowers and drink parasols for luau parties...you are only limited by your imagination!

Holla back now!

Budget Week~ DIY Serving Dishes

I have many crafting staples for my many party/entertaining projects. One item being E-6000 it is fabulous and a must for adhering glass and other items. So this quick DIY is so simple but you need E-6000 which can be found in any craft store for around $4.

Was at Dollar Tree today and picked up some great glass pieces.

Plate meet ice cream bowl... Combine some E6000 to the bottom of the ice cream bowl I think it's a really cute serving or cake plate. Since the bottom is open you can insert matching flowers or items to go with your other table decor/theme. Pretty glass bowl with taper candle holderAdd some E6000 to the top of taper holder and Viola!

A close up of the "crystal" like bowl.

So a quick, easy, no crafting skills required, $2 per project and will look great as serving pieces on your tablescape/buffet.

Budget Week~Paper Towel Flowers

Budget week continues with this fabulous find from Made by Nicole. This fabulous crafty momma made these flowers from paper towels, burlap and stuff found in her craft storage! Now that is what I call thrifty fabulocity!! These one of a kind flowers can be used in all sorts of ways for parties~ napkin rings, favor embellishments, glue to frames, unique gift wrap to name a few. Did I say these were made from paper towels???? Unbelievable! Nicole sprayed paper towels with various colors.

To create this~

Initially when I saw the pictures I thought that making this would be way out of my league but after checking out the tutorial it looks quite easy. Check out her blog to get tutorial! I went to thrift store today and found my "muse" for my $60 party. Got home too late to take pictures so will post tomorrow.

Budget Week~ Snazzy Votive Candle holder

I found this copper looking scouring pad in a package of 3 at Dollar Tree. What can you do with a scouring pad to use in your tablescape? Snip one end of it....unroll it and (in my case) add a drinking glass I already owned and a candle.

Slip the glass into the scouring pad sleeve, put excess sleeve inside glass (can cut down if too much) and add a candle. Sorry for the pics...I need to learn how to work my camera!! However, you get the general idea....imagine a bunch of these on your tablescape instead of a plain votive candle holder. Of course scouring pads come in silver as well. I saw some ones in colors but they were plastic. So wouldn't use those for candle holders but would make a great "vase" for flowers.

The total cost for one candle holder: 60 cents

Scouring pads 3 for $1

Candle ~ 25 cents

glass ~ I already owned

Budget Week~DIY Party Hats

This week is going to be BUDGET week. No matter how much money I make ~ I believe in being a good steward with my money and not being wasteful. So this whole week I will be showcasing various things done on a major budget and feature a complete party done on a $60 budget that I mentioned yesterday.
So to start off the week is a simple DIY for your kiddos birthday party. I think that having the cone party hats are so cute. However, I find that the kids keep them on for an average of 1 minute! (if your lucky) I still want them for Maddy's upcoming birthday party. I found some really cute "boutique" style hats on ETSY but really didn't want to pay that much. Plus many of the really good quality ones are made of fabric and can be used year after year. However, that wouldn't work in my case; I don't want to be locked on a color or pattern. So I went to??? you guessed it Dollar Tree and found these sports theme party hats 8 for $1!
I had a lot of paper left over from Maddy's Easter party. So decided to use it until its gone and mix it up with other colorful patterned paper. Maddy's party is a Crayola theme so you can't go wrong with any colors you choose! I opened one of the sports party hats to use as a template. I traced the pattern on the back of scrapbook paper but cut off the tab and cut up to the part where the tab enters the slit. I'm lousy at tutorials....should have made pictures of each step! Put craft glue on the scrapbook paper and put onto the sports cone. If the top or bottom isn't perfect...it doesn't matter you will be embellishing it anyway!
Then to finish it just glue on your pom pom to top and marabou to bottom. You can use marabou or just glue pom poms across the bottom. You can get a huge bag of larger size pom poms for under $3. You can get a smaller size pom pom at Dollar Tree.
You could continue embellishing using either coordinating scrapbook paper or felt putting the birthday child's age, initial or the theme (such as a cupcake-using your Cricut or stickers)
I figured the total cost of this revamped cone party hat is about 67 cents (as shown) The other great thing is the string is already attached!
8 cone hats = 13 cents a hat
scrapbook paper = 33 cents (sale 3 for $1.00)
pom poms = 6 cents (2.99 bag of 50)
marabou = 15 cents (2.99 long enough for about 20 hats)

Sunday Sharefest

My fellow party girls Chris from Celebrations at Home and Kelly from The Party Dress sent me 2 fabulous parties that they whipped up! Just in case you haven't seen these on the party circuit! -

Modern Safari party from Celebrations at Home

This Modern Safari party was created for her monthly ladies night gathering but would also be grrrrrrrrreat for a bridal shower or birthday. (get it grrrr ~ animal growl-Safari)

I am so loving that Chris put the drinks inside a suitcase with monkey charms. Details makes all the difference and thinking outside the box. There are so many more amazing pictures and details of this wonderful party so go to her blog to check it out from the party hostess herself.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Need a cute boy party~check out this amazing Thomas the Train party here! Description from Kelly:
A custom Austin & Friends logo from WH Hostess was used throughout the party - from invitations, to decorations and party favors - it truly set the tone and color palette for the party. Some of our favorite decorations included the use of 3 foot balloons for a modern statement and simple centerpieces that consisted of blumebox eco-friendly vases, shredded tissue paper, and custom centerpiece sticks. The dessert table was truly the shining star of the party. The table was styled with two cupcake stands, plates of sugar cookies, jars of aqua and red candy, and a chocolate cake (from Costco, as requested by the birthday boy himself!). Two Sugar Babies created monogrammed fondant toppers for the cupcakes and sugar cookies, and a 3D train to top the cake. WH Hostess created coordinating cupcake toppers to add another touch of style. A custom banner hung above the table, truly defining the space - the whole thing had a very colorful and happy vibe! Make sure to check out Kelly's blog for more wonderful pictures and party details!

I love my fellow party girls and being apart of this wonderful party and entertaining blogging community. Thanks ladies for sharing with MM!!

Mother & Daughter Tea Party

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Mother's day is quickly approaching and I found this cutest mother and daughter tea party. It was for a little girl's birthday but would make an awesome Mother's day party as well. This creative mom Chelsea from Life Frosting searched Goodwill's and HomeGoods for tea cups and saucers. A girl after my own heart!

Here is a description of the activities in Chelsea's words:

As soon as the girls and their moms got to my house, they started to decorate little hats and purses with flowers and ribbon. Then they came over to the living room and I started to tell them a little bit about tea parties. As I did, Elle handed them white satin gloves and a pair of pearls so they would be really fancy for the pictures. Then the moms and daughters got their pictures taken in the little booth. (a hung up flowery sheet and another one on the floor with a white chair).

Description of food decor:

(most everything was cut in flower shapes and topped with a fancy toothpick-with a paper butterfly of flower at the top) I made different cake plates to hold the food using a china plate glued to an upside down dessert cup. They were all different heights.

The birthday girl gave a small copy of Tea for Ruby (which I found in cereal boxes...so I have a ton of cheerios at my house) and said goodbye to her little friends.

I just love that so much !!! Things do not have to be expensive to be wonderful. I love when things come from the heart! I didn't even know wonderful stuff still came in cereal boxes. When I was a kid that was the best part seeing what neat stuff you would get from the cereal box!! That was my Toys-R-Us...hee hee!!I get tons of emails from readers although I can't post all your parties, I really enjoy reading them and appreciate the time you spent sending them to me. I received an email that really touched my heart. A mom of three, one of her daughter's birthday is approaching and she has a total of $60 to spend on the entire party and wanted some super duper budget tips. Sarah, I will do one better~ next week I will feature a party that I will put together only spending a total of $60. So stay tuned!

Life Size Pictures

Ever thought about having a life size custom cutout picture of your birthday girl or boy? Check out Life Size Custom Cutouts. Their prices are reasonable and they have free shipping. Plus their quality is great!! That's what I was doing today ordering life size posters and custom cardboard cutouts for a Sweet 16 event. They can do any custom photo cutout from a tabletop 18 inches to 8 feet!

They make high quality custom cardboard cutouts right from your photos! The background is removed and you get a free standing detachable easel; your cardboard cutout stands up all on its own! Wouldn't this be great for a photo station at your next party?

UPDATE: Life Size Custom Cutouts is giving Maddycakes readers a special discount on custom cardboard cutouts! Just enter coupon code MaddyCakes to receive your 10% discount. Thank you LSCC!

If your doing a theme party and want a large wow piece to add to your decor, check out their sister site Movie Cutouts. This site has all sorts of cutouts ~ even some with sound. They are currently having a sale buy 1 get one 1/2 off. Of course the hot thing now is the new Disney movie ~ Alice in Wonderland.

76" x 36" for $29.99

Super Grover Rave

I have never featured this many kids parties in one week but when I saw this Super Grover Rave...I put aside what I was planning to post and HAD to post this one! I really don't know where to begin on this super fabulous party! Kristy from The Purple Pug has created the most detailed and creative party! She has 4 posts on the party but seriously my peeps you should get your cup of coffee..(coke in my case) and curl up and enjoy each and every picture. There are so many details that I have gone back several times already today and trust me I never do that! When asked Kristy could I post ~she replied for me to pick out my favorite pictures. That is IMPOSSIBLE!!
There are so many that I LOVE that I would have 4 posts like Kristy did so I'm posting a few pictures to wet your appetite but you need to go to her blog and check it out!!!!! Tell her Maddycakes sent you~ you will be glad you did!

Dessert Buffet

I have seen these silver cases before...it never clicked in my brain to use as favor bags!

Lunch line for the kiddos....love, love, love!

On top of all the amazing details and handmade items...she even made superhero capes for every child...including babies! SICK!! That's my new word for super awesome!

If you aren't the crafty type but want a super duper party like this one...your in luck because Kristy (The Purple Pug) also has a store here, (She is on a hiatus until May but can be reached via email)

Kristy, thanks for letting me share your fab party. I pray for your continued success and happiness.

Blessings!

Posh Pirate Party

Another awesome party from the talented Mom Angie who did this party, remember?? I really think Angie should go professional. She is simply AMAZING!! Here is the invite to Mason's party. I just love how she has photos of him in the party theme. You must know this fact (which puts Angie in Party Superhero category) Angie's family went to a Pirate Fest 4 hours away ~THE WEEKEND OF THIS BIRTHDAY PARTY! She found the Pirate festival and thought it would be neat for her son to experience it! She got home on Sunday just in time for his party! HUH???? I work up until the second of guests arriving....how in the world did she pull this off being gone the whole weekend and came home in time for a party!! I told you Party Superhero!!

Iced hook cookies and pirate face cake.

A photo banner of Mason with pics from his 3rd-4th yr of life...a name banner below made using Cricut (I love my Cricut)

The ship table with mast she made using wood, stain and a sheet. I really love this!!

What can I say but Love, Love, Love.

Fabric pennants made with ribbon a 3 pirate fabrics and hot glue. My kind of project since I can't sew. She used scrapbook paper on bottle waters to coordinate.

Party Superhero Angie (I will have to think of a cool superhero name) took one large piece of plywood and cut in rectangles. Spray painted them black and painted with skulls and treasure hunt checkpoints. (I accidently deleted this photo) Sorry!

A 6 foot inflatable pirate with bucket of treasure maps was the starting point for the treasure hunt. They spray painted the entire yard with dashed lines to resemble treasure map for kids to follow. UNBELIEVABLE!

Each child got dress up pirate gear to include tattoos, sashes, pirate hats, eye patches, bandannas, skull necklaces.

She made a giant cupcake stand~ loving how she personalized it with photos of Mason for cupcake picks and the large 4.

Large favor table with skull treat bags decorated with a treasure chest on top with treasures falling out.

To top of this positively posh pirate party...the whole family dressed in pirate gear! Once again Angie your the best! Thanks for sharing and keep those parties coming!!

Earth Day is April 22nd

I have parties for just about any reason I can find and holidays but haven't yet had one for Earth day! (LOL) However, it's a great day to educate our children on nature and our wonderful planet. I believe that every little thing you do whether it is to conserve, recycle, or reuse items~all help. I am very big on reusing items. For instance, I find that using yogurt cups are great for putting paint in for Maddy's works of art!
Here's a cute Earth day treat to make with the kiddos~ Earth Day Rice Krispie treats.

Make the classic crisp rice cereal treat into an Earth Day celebration fit for kids, with the help of a little bit of food coloring. To make this recipe even healthier, substitute in natural food colorings like those from India Tree. To find stores near you that carry India Tree colors, see their website here. India Tree natural food colors only come in three colors, red, yellow and blue, so let your kids be "colorologists" and make the green themselves by combining the yellow and blue.

It’s important that our children and grandchildren learn to take care of animals and plants and to recycle. Our planet is getting more contaminated every day and they will be taking care of it some day, so it is never to early to learn to appreciate the Earth now.
If you live near a Pottery Barn Kids, they are having a special party filled with fun activities, earth-friendly giveaways for them and story-time throughout the day on Earth Day.

Earth Day’s goal is to bring the environment to the forefront and make each of us realize that we need to do our part to improve our environment. It is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of caring for our environment to our children. A good book to read your child regarding this day is It’s Earth Day by Mercier Mayer.

Pretty Princess

Today Maddy and I went to a Princess party of one of my friends two gorgeous girls who are one year apart minus one day. How neat is that? Shelia (the mommy) goes to school and works and somehow found the time to have such a beautiful party full of wonderful details. There was so much eye candy so I had a hard time picking out my favorite pictures.
Here is the cake table.I am in love with these frog cupcakes and the adorable frog prince flags.

Check out the added rhinestones and crowns to store bought cupcake wrappers. What a great way to add extra dimension and WOW factor to them.

Lollipop stand made of cardboard boxes with wrapping paper and embellishments. The suckers came from Walmart and Sheila added the ribbon and embellishments to coordinate perfectly to the theme.

Loving the pink damask ribbon but wait....check out the cake pillars...this talented mommy even put pink sand and pearls inside them! Some may miss these little details but you know I'm all about it!Did you notice that the little princess cupcakes have dresses made out of the pink damask cake ribbon?? Oh my, I am outdone with all of the details! Love, Love, Love! Loving the melamine plates.

Even the punch got blinged out with rose petals, crystals, fresh strawberries and lemons! I thought I was really doing something when I made the race car pretzels from candy melts...well Sheila made these! Ridiculous!! (by now you should all know that's my word for awesome)

Even I can't get over that she even created these fab glasses for the adults!

Just thought this pic was too cute of one of the birthday girls and her fairy Godmother (her Auntie).

Here is the most creative and talented Sheila with the gorgeous birthday girls and daddy. What a beautiful family.

Here is my princess...you know I had to throw in a picture of her! Also, have a question for you my peeps...Princess Belle told Sheila that her gown is a thrift store find and she dyed the lace yellow. How is that done...anyone know?? I'm dyeing to know! Get it ...dyeing to know. Okay, I'll keep my day job!