Are you single, have great friends, and love Valentine’s Day? Then you should be throwing a Palentine’s Day (or Galentine’s Day) party instead of a Valentine’s Day party! It’s so much fun, and it’s a great way to commemorate the love you have for your besties. [Read more…]
Whatever you need for printing, they have it. A-Line Printing has you covered, whether you need kids party invitations, Sweet 16 invites, Bar Mitzvah invitations, birth announcements, 50th anniversary invitations, note cards or personalized stationary. If you are a bride, they cover everything from engagement announcements, bachelorette invitations, save the date cards, rehearsal dinner invitations and, of course, wedding invitations and programs. They even do personalized napkins.
It’s finally happened. He asked the question, she said yes and the date is finally set. Now, you get to pick out invitations!
But wait, where do you go to find stationary that captures the essence of your love? It would have to be a place that offers a wide variety of unique and gorgeous options making your invitations as singular and special as you and your fiance. It would have to be a place willing to work with you and help you design an invitation that will fill you with pride. If you’re in the Springfield, IL area, you want The Paper Boutique.
Do you have the perfect theme in mind for your wedding, party or event? Those prepackaged, store-bought invitations just won’t do. You need the Boutique. They will build on your inspiration and provide you with the perfect announcement. Be it whimsical or elegant, upbeat or stately, they can design gorgeous invitations to fit any need. Their exciting options include:
But what do you do after your successful wedding, event or party?
You’ve taken all these fabulous photos and captured all these unforgettable moments, but now what? You head over to The Paper Boutique, of course! They have the latest in scrapbooking supplies, storage and more! Their inventory is updated regularly, so you’ll always find fresh, new merchandise and ideas with which to play. So don’t let those special memories languor, showcase them in a newly designed scrapbook!
And you never have to wonder if comfort will be a problem when you shop. They have a magnificent crop room you can use for free as well as a beverage bar, library of scrapbooking magazines, hands on crafting classes and a host of other events and promotions.
If you’re looking for unique and well designed invitations as well as a great place to enjoy some scrapbooking time, you’re looking for The Paper Boutique!
It is difficult to believe, but summer is coming to an end and most schools will be back in session in less than a month. This presents the perfect opportunity to entertain your student and let him or her reunite with friends or welcome new students into the neighborhood. Especially since everyone has gone in so many directions during the vacation break and may not have seen each other at all. So, a back to school party is the perfect opportunity to get everyone together.
THE INVITATION
First off, figure out how many children to invite. 8 to 10 children are a manageable number. The more space you have the more children you can include. Past 10 have another mother or two join you and help to supervise.
Once you’ve figured out how many to invite, you can decide on invitations. Be sure to find some cute party invites that are school themed. Also, don’t forget to include the date, time and place. If the party requires certain clothes, let the parent know when sending the invitation. A swimming party or a bowling party is an example of a party that might require certain clothes or shoes.
THE VENUE
There are many venues that are ideal for a back to school party. You can host this party anywhere from a swimming pool to your very own backyard.
Swimming parties are popular this time of year because of the heat and children tend to make their own fun when in the water. Be sure and hire a lifeguard or two or hold the event at a club or water park where lifeguards are provided as a part of the fee.
If the weather is predicted to be pleasant and you have space, an outdoor party is a great way to let the children blow off steam with outdoor games such as croquet, wiffle ball, and bocce. These old-fashioned lawn games are easy to set up and even those children who are non athletes can participate. I like to set up a timer and ring a bell so that the groups can switch games when the bell is rung. Don’t forget about the refreshments, they’ll definitely need something refreshing about these exciting games.
THE REFRESHMENTS
The most basic and easiest recipes satisfy most children. A few items I like to serve are pigs in a blanket and fruit sorbet. These treats can be made ahead and served at intervals. Pigs in a blanket are hand-held food and really don’t require a plate or even a napkin. Don’t forget to serve the fruit sorbet in colorful bowls with fun spoons. Both recipes follow.
Another idea is to set up wash tubs around the lawn or pool and place iced down bottled water and some juice drinks to keep everyone hydrated.
Let children learn something new by placing garbage cans in strategic locations, which becomes a lesson in recycling by labeling the can with signs that say “plastic” and “cans”. Within the refreshments, you can have some tasty snacks and even a learning activity.
Pigs in a Blanket
Adjust recipe according to group size. Four of each would satisfy most children. Each recipe makes approximately ten pigs.
1 package of puff pastry
1 package of ten bun size polish sausage with cheese
1 egg
Poppy seeds
Thaw puff pastry. Do one sheet at a time. Gently roll out pastry. Add water to beaten egg. Egg wash pastry with pastry brush. Cut pastry length wise in thirds and then again in thirds. Cut sausages in half and roll each in section of puff pastry. Egg wash tops and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Place on a cookie sheet prepared with cooking spray. Can refrigerate at this point but bring to room temperature before cooking. Bake at 425 degrees for approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
Watermelon Sorbet
This recipe makes one quart. I think 1/2 cup is a generous serving size.
1 1/4 cups of sugar
1 14 cups of water
1 quart of cubed seeded watermelon
4 tbl. fresh lemon juice
In a medium saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer without stirring until sugar is dissolved. Place in a bowl and cool to room temperature. Put watermelon that has been cut into chunks into a food processor and puree. Press mixture through a mesh strainer and combine with cooled sugar syrup. Chill for at least one hour. Pour mixture into frozen bowl of ice cram machine and mix for 25 to 30 minutes. Place in an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours.
THE FAVORS
Instead of giving each child that attends a favor, I like to ask each child to bring a school supply to be donated to a charity. In your invitation, include the message “bring a package of pencils” or “bring notebooks” and explain to them that these items are to be donated. The children will feel that they have contributed in a big way and such a great alternative to favors.
This back to school party is simple and a fun way to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. Including new students into the mix gives them the opportunity to meet other students in a fun environment. Although the preparation for this party is simple, it allows freedom for all the children to have fun and be involved in team activities that provide an avenue for practicing communication skills. Everyone will enjoy this party!
The old saying goes: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s never more true than when sending a printed invitation. If the invitation is neat, well made and exquisite in every detail, you draw a similar conclusion about the affair. The right invitation sets the tone before the party even begins!
And that’s what you get when using Invitations by Beth!
Invitations by Beth uses only the finest papers, card stocks and inks so you are guaranteed to get the best quality invitations available. They have a tremendous variety of styles, colors and sizes to choose from and their workmanship is of the highest quality. But Invitations by Beth is more than just words on a page. They offer a myriad of design options that take the concept of the invitation to new heights! Check out their website to see what Invitations by Beth can make for you!
Want a card designed to look exactly like a bottle of wine? No problem! Looking for old-fashioned parchment tied with ribbon? Easy as can be! Invitations by Beth gives you what you want, and they have the experience, skill and versatility to make it brilliant! Whether you are looking for graduation, wedding, birthday party or social event, Invitations by Beth will exceed your expectations.
Invitations by Beth doesn’t just do invitations; they provide many different printing options. They can create customized napkins, wall art, personalized iPhone cases, party favors and much more!
When you have your next soiree, contact Invitations by Beth for all of your printing needs.
Here at Wedding and Party Network we want to give you inspiration for your wedding and party details. The details are what sets your wedding and party apart from anyone else. The colors, theme, detailing and style all creates your wedding day style and conveys your party theme. So, today’s Inspirational Friday will focus on invitations.
Invitations are the first impressions to any party. It tells your guests what’s in store for them. This is the time where they’ll decide whether your party will be an absolute blast or an absolute bore. Invitations are the time when you can show off the theme of your party, as well as color scheme. It’s also a time to tell them the important details or if they need to bring anything. So, make a great first impression with your invitations.
Planning a party has so many little details that goes into it. You have to pick a theme, party colors, food, decor and invitations. All of these elements are important when planning your party. It details everything about your party and tells the theme throughout each item. One important aspect that gives the first impression of your party is party invitations. They let your guests know all the important details and gives the first impression, so they have to be chosen wisely. So, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few tips when picking out your party invitations.
Your party invitations give off first impressions, and how important are first impressions? They are definitely important within anything, including party invitations. They show off the theme to your guests and gives them an immediate vibe on if the party is going to be fun or not. Keep in mind whether you are throwing a formal or casual event when searching for invitations.
Also, pick out a design that reflects the theme of your event. Choose from whimsical, fun and colorful give the vibe that your party is more casual, while contemporary, sleek and neutral colors give the vibe of a more formal affair. Invitations should also give off the details of the party, like if you’re hosting a casino night, your guests know to expect casino type games and theme or if you’re throwing a luau, they know that leis and tropical themed outfits may be appropriate. Invitations are the beginning of a great party.
Along with the design, you also have to include important details about your party. So, what is great to include? First off, start with a name. If you are hosting a birthday party, include the name of the birthday boy/girl. However, if you’re having a party just to have a party, include your name. The name lets them know who it is in general.
Next, the date. This is important because it lets guests plan their day out. They will save the date and plan to come or they may have something planned. Time is also important, this lets them schedule their day accordingly.
Location lets them know exactly where it is, how far in advance they need to leave to make it on time and lets them make plans on whether they need to look up directions. One of the most important things for you and even them is contact information and RSVP. When guests RSVP to your event, you can get a final head count, which helps plan for food and how many items you may need. Contact information also lets your guests get a hold of you for any questions they may have, which they will definitely be appreciative of.
These are just the basics when picking out your party invitations, which is all you need to know in order to make your party give off a great first impression.
This post is brought to you by Miami Party Invitation Suppliers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find party invitations near you!
When planning a party, you keep up with the latest trends. Even within events and parties, trends change. This includes party invitations. There are really some fun ways that you can invite guests to your party that is creative and truly out-of-the-box. Invitations are such an important part of your party since they immediately show off the theme of your event, therefore, they must be special. Wedding and Party Network has got some great party invitations that are definitely on trend.
Invitation & A Gift – What better way to get your guests more into your party than with a gift? It doesn’t have to be big, just attach something small to the invitation. Small paperweights, bookmarks or even a cd with a few songs that conveys the theme of your party are all wonderful gifts to include with the party invitation.
Video Or CD – A creative way to invite guests is to send them a little DVD with a movie on it inviting them. This is really creative and such a fun thing for your guests to pop in their DVD player and watch. This will definitely grab their attention and get them extremely ready for the party. Find a videographer to help you create your own little video montage.
Make sure it goes with the theme. However, if you can’t go with the video invitation, think about creating a CD. You can create a song montage with your speaking or even do a mash-up of songs to let them invite your guests over, that may be a little bit of work but so fun to listen to that your guests will listen to it a few times.
Food – If it’s a smaller party, think about hand delivering your invitations, which makes it great when you are hand delivering cupcakes or cakes. Write out the details on the cake or spell it out with cupcakes. Your guests will find it truly delightful when you show up on their doorstep with some freshly baked goods and a party invitation. However, remind them to write the details before the eat it all up.
Flowers – Again, if this is a smaller party with not a lot of guests, consider delivering them flowers as part of their party invitation. Make sure the flowers match your party’s color scheme and even the design. Having you show up on their door with fresh flowers will truly make their day. They’ll definitely be attending your party!
However, pick the party invitation that best fits your party budget and style. Invitations make impressions on your guests and makes them excited for your event.
This post is brought to you by San Antonio Party Invitation Suppliers.
Not in Louisville, KY? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find party invitations near you!
This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 3, 2011 and lasts for 15 days, which are full of celebrations. This special holiday is filled with lots of vibrant colors, unique decorations and tasty foods that can kick off this new year. Would you like to incorporate this holiday into a party theme? Well, let Wedding and Party Network help with these 3 party tips that will help you begin your Chinese New Year Party!
The Chinese New Year is different every year since it depends on the lunar phase. It is also based on a mythology beast called Nian, that would come out and eat people on this day until a man conquered this, which in turn people began to celebrate. This is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
It lets them honor their household and hold remembrance for their lost ancestors. However, it has evolved into a big celebration that brings family members together. This celebration lasts for 15 days and has a certain day devoted to family members and ancestors. It ends with a big festivity and their lantern festival.
There are lots of ideas you can use when creating a Chinese New Year themed party. From the colors, invites, decorations and food; you’ll celebrate in true custom ways with a fun themed dinner party.
Invitations: Create red and gold lanterns in honor of their lantern festival, you can easily make this on your own or find something at your stationery store. Also, go with the Chinese zodiac sign that is being featured this year, which is the rabbit. However, you can also stick with all zodiac signs like the tiger, rabbit, snake, dragon or monkey. These items go great with this celebration and all you need to include is the basics.
Festive Colors & Decorations: Stick with reds and golds for your party color scheme. Place paper lanterns, Chinese good luck symbols and zodiac symbols out for party decorations. During this holiday, there are flowers that represent this holiday. Plum blossom, bamboo, sunflower and eggplant are what you can use for a Chinese New Year flower arrangement for your party. Stick with Chinese traditional symbols, signs and flowers to create a themed look.
Asian Style Dishes: Of course, when you are trying to figure out what type of party food you need to serve, go with Asian influenced dishes. This should be all about their culture, especially what type of food they serve. Spring rolls, dumplings, lettuce wraps, stir fry, orange chicken, tangerines, oranges, fish and long noodles are some of the dishes that can be served during your festivities.
Also, when thinking about what food to prepare, think of what they mean in Chinese culture. Chicken & fish symbolize happiness and prosperity, oranges represent good fortune, noodles means longevity and duck means fertility. You’ll have a prosperous new year.
Even though desserts are not too popular during this holiday doesn’t mean you can’t serve up some for your party. Create a tangerine sorbet, mandarin orange pie or Chinese almond cookies. Traditional desserts include a Chinese sticky cake. This is pretty much a rice cake and is served to the kitchen god to ensure good luck for the upcoming year.
However, if cooking is not your strong suit; order Chinese take out. This may be frowned upon in their culture, but it may be just as good to you. Another alternative is hiring a caterer. They will always make sure they serve up traditional Chinese New Year food for your party!
Thanks For Coming: Another tradition that they do is giving gifts in red envelopes, mainly money. So, say thank you to your guests with a red envelope filled with fortune cookies and chopsticks. Such a simple party favor, yet it goes perfectly with this theme!
These are the 3 main party tips in making your themed party a success. However, there are so many more ideas out there. You can have everyone dress up in traditional wardrobe too! This party theme is such a fun and festive event that all your guests will enjoy. It’s a time to reunite ties and create a feeling of togetherness.
This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find party caterers near you!
Chinese lantern festival photo by Michael Caven via flickr.
While the freezing weather has yet to hit us, lets all enjoy being outside while we still can! Being outdoors is a great place to enjoy memorable times with friends and family and to host unique parties. For the Fall weather, host a small get together that is warm and cozy. What better way to do this? Host a dinner and a movie party! This is a great setup to share with close friends and family and will give you a few hours to relax and take a break from everyone’s hectic lives. Here are a few ideas & tips to help you along the way.
The Smallest Details Create The Party“It’s all in the details,” is so true. Even the smallest details can give your party an extra punch, so make sure to go all out and not miss a step. This party theme should be for close friends and family members — a smaller get together. It’ll give you guys time to relax and catch up on the details of their lives. First is first:
Invitations: You’re sure to find themed invitations at your local stationery store so these won’t be a problem since there are invitations for every party theme out there. If you’re crafty, create them yourself.
A cute popcorn bucket, ticket stub or even a miniature movie screen would be ideal for this affair. Use the words featuring, which should be the movie title, and co-starring should be all the details of the party. Setting the theme from the beginning is a must.
Movie, Time & Location: Pick an oldie but goodie, those movies never go out of style and everyone still enjoys them. Think of a movie that you could watch a million times, but never get tired of. Timing is a big part of this party. It should be dark enough to give it that movie-setting feel and where you can actually view the movie outside.
The time will all depend on when the sun goes down at your house. Finally, the location should be outside in your backyard since there is so much fun stuff you can do. However, bringing the party inside won’t slow you down either.
Party Props: Create a movie poster featuring all the details of the party and point them in the right direction is such an easy task. However, it will just add that much more to your party theme. Since Fall is here, so are hay bales. Are you thinking of it? Yes, a great movie seat! Set a couple blankets out with them and voila, there you have it.
A great movie seating arrangement. You could even throw big pillows and blankets around to make it even more cozy. A movie outside requires a white sheet or screen and projector to play the movie on. However, if you don’t have these items, you can always bring the party inside. Such fun party props to complete your dinner & a movie theme night.
Movie Theme Decorations: Since it’s an outside party, think rustic. You have the bales of hay, now just add little details such as pumpkins of different colors and sizes and simple flowers. You don’t need much, just keep it simple and cozy with your party theme decorations.
Oh My, Party Food: Of course, you need a concession stand. Get a wagon or a table to serve the food. Popcorn is a must and should be served out of popcorn bags or even brown paper bags. Think of oldie but goodie candy. Tootsie rolls, Hersheys, Twizzlers or milk duds will be a great. Serve them out of paper bags too. Tie stuff up in twine, it will keep with the rustic vibe. Such cute and yummy party food!
Even get creative with your beverages. Serve your drinks out of mason jars. You can even create a hot chocolate bar to warm your guests up with chocolate shavings, sprinkles, whipped topping and marshmallows. Mmm, delicious apple cider would be a great way to warm up too.
This party is a fantastic get together to plan with friends and family. Enjoying each others company with this fun and cozy party theme is a great time for the Autumn weather.
This post is brought to you by Baltimore Party Food providers.
Not in Baltimore, MD? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network’s handy party planning directory to help you find a party food supplier near you!
Hot Chocolate Photo, Apple & Hay Photo & Movie Photo are provided by Je l’ai fait!, methyl_lives & Kid’s Birthday Parties via flickr.
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