All Things For All Parties

The Sailboat Napkin Fold

 

Photo by Napkins with a Twist by David Stark

Sail Away with this Sailboat Napkin Fold - these will definitely make a splash at your next summer gathering!  I love that you are able to use something you use every day to decorate your table in a new way.  This festive little boat would be great for any summer soiree or perfect for your little sailor's. Great for that nautical inspired tablescape. 

Here are the easy step by step instructions.

Step 1: Fold the napkin. Lay the cloth napkin flat on the surface you are using and fold the napkin in half horizontally. Fold it again vertically so that you have a square that is the fourth of the size of your original napkin.

Step 2: Rotate the napkin. Turn the napkin so that it is in the shape of a diamond with the open edges of the napkin on the bottom.

Step 3: Crease the bottom of the napkin upwards so that you have a triangle. Fold both the left and the right points of the triangle until they touch in the middle of the napkin.

Step 4: Turn down the flaps. There will be two small flaps on your napkin. Fold them under so that the front looks like a triangle again. This time fold them with a line down the middle.

Step 5: Take the left and right points and fold them towards the back until they meet. As this is happening, crease the fold.

Step 6: Pull the flaps. There will be four flaps inside of the triangle you have formed. Pull these flaps out until they look like the sails of boats.

These instructions were found on ehow.com.  They can also be found in Napkins with a Twist by David Stark.

 

Summer Tablecloth Weights

 
I found this both practical and adorable idea in Country Living.  What a great way to anchor your tablecloth!  Fill Pails with Posies or other gorgeous floral bouquets and skip the store-bought weights.  You can easily make your own by filling tiny buckets with the flowers of your choice and a half inch of water. Just suspend the bouquets from your tablecloth using a clip and fishing line or skinny ribbon. Tie and knot one end around the handle of the bucket and the other around the clip. Not only are these useful but they are the perfect summer table decor.  Thanks for the great idea Country Living. 

Throw a Tropical Zen Dinner Party

 

 
photo by HWTM & Chambord

I love summer entertaining!  It’s the perfect time to take advantage of the warm summer nights and host an outdoor soiree.  Backyard parties are simple and a great way to create a fun, carefree environment that’s perfect for summer parties.

Don’t be afraid to mix themes like we did for this Tropical Zen Party – We mixed our Asian Affair with our Luau Party to create this tropical get together that incorporates a zen vibe with a contemporary feel that’s a little different than your typical luau – it gives guests a new and different ambience to enjoy.

Use your theme as inspiration for selecting and creating party décor.  Tropical elements such as exotic florals, palm leaves, coconuts, sand and tiki torches mix well with Asian-inspired details like bamboo, zen gardens and paper lanterns.

Use vibrant shades of green and orange with fuchsia accents for your color palette.

Invitations definitely set the tone of a party. Use your theme as a starting place then add elements and designs that work with your theme.  I like to add fun embellishments such as bamboo or faux orchids than mail them in small boxes. Flat inviations with contemporary orchid silhouettes or palm trees are also perfect for this theme.

For lighting, give the party a festive feel with white twinkle lights, tiki torches and candles to put guests in the party mood.

Opt for outdoor eco-friendly bamboo dishes to help keep breaks at bay and avoid party fouls.

Create chic centerpieces with a zen tropical feel.  For this party, I suggest using bright orange and fuchsia hand fans to dress up your place settings.  Roll napkins and tie with natural raffia than embellish with a tropical flower or a few stems of bamboo to give your table that zen feeling.

Don’t forget the votives – line the table with river rocks and votive holders filled with sand and colored tea lights (I think I am starting to feel relaxed just thinking about this tablescape).

I would keep the food simple and serve festive finger foods and casual dishes such as chicken teriyaki skewers, fish tacos, fruit platters and various restaurant sushi rolls.

If you really want to make it simple and stress-free than order take-out and just focus on your ambience and food presentation.

 

Festive 4th of July Ideas

 
I just thought it would be fun to share some 4th of July party ideas that are sure make your get-together a sparkling success! 

Sandra Lee from Semi-Homemade shows us how to show our patriotic pride this Fourth of July by setting a spectacular stars-and-stripes-theme picnic table and serving an all-American menu that is sure to please any palate.

Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with these adorable patriotic cones - Fill them with a mix of beet and blue-potato chips. Yum!

There is nothing like the scent of a hundred barbeques filling the neighborhood air that lets you know it's time to celebrate the 4th of July! Get your Block Party on with our Red, White and Blue printable party set, perfect for an entire neighborhood of guests and all you last minute party planners.

Wondering what to serve?  How about one of these delicious strawberry and blueberry parfaits...So Patriotic!  WowZa! 

Whatever you choose to do - Don't Stress about it!  After all, it's summer and it's time to kick back and enjoy the warm weather. 

 

 

Strawberry Lemonade Birthday Party

 
Today's post comes to us from the very talented Kristina of Modern Frills.  Check out more pics and the details below for this adorable party.

 
Strawberry Lemonade is a favorite of the birthday girl so it was an easy choice for the party theme.  Stefanie of Anne and Blue Paperie took my ideas and created a perfect vintage inspired birthday invitation along with party printables to coordinate with the theme.   
 

DIY Wedding Invitation Sources

  
Image by Wedding Paper Divas

1.  Do-It-Yourself-Invitations.com - This site has free templates, card making instructions.  Custom templates from $10.

2.  Minted.com - I love this site!  If you don't have time to Do It All Yourself than thisis the site for you...Pick out your invite, font, quantity and place your order.  What's super cool about this site is that Minted is a global community of independent graphic designers and an online store that prints and sells the best of their designs.

3.  Paper-Source.com - I am not biased but I did my wedding invitations through Paper Source and I still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them.  They offer a colorful range of papers for the DIY-er and how to videos, as well as custom wedding stationery.

4.  MyGatsby.com - They have great paper supplies kits for DIY invites.  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 17 different kits, including blank stock invitations, outer envelopes and enclosure cards, starting at $1.59 per invite.  80-110 pound paper stock.

5.  WeddingPaperDivas.com - This is definitely one of the best sites for stylish, budget friendly invitations. They are considered one of the the premier online wedding stationery boutiques for couples of any style or budget. They carry all styles from the hottest new wedding themes and inspirational ideas to the most popular hues for this year's celebrations. 

6.  LCIPAPER.com - Wedding invitation papers, precut cards, vellum and craft supplies.

7.  ED-IT.com - ED/it's - The Complete Wedding Publisher software, $29.95, offers options for almost any type of wedding stationery; invitations, RSVP cards, menus,  programs.  Has a try before buy download option.

8.  InvitationsbyDawn.com - They offer an impressive selection of wedding invitations produced with the highest quality printing. They have a huge selection which includes save the dates, ceremony programs and wedding stationery for every popular wedding style.  They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee if you are not happy with your order they will take it back and on orders over $175 you get free shipping. 

9.  EarthInvitations.com - This Eco-Friendly invitation site offers Lotka DIY wedding kits with recycled tree-free, vegetable-dyed papers.  The seed-embedded overlay paper can be printed in your home ink-jet or laser printer.

10. Envelopperinc.com - This site is a great paper and software resource.  They have a wide range of invitation styles and 18 different pocket folds, 3 gatefold styles and pochettes.

Say "I DO" with a New "UP DO"

 When I was getting married I combed the internet and fashion magazines looking for that perfect "up do" hairstyle and since I was having a destination wedding I searched even more for easy DIY tutorials so I wouldn't have to hire an out of town stylist.  Well, if you are anything like me than I have found just the the thing for you...I found three amazing Martha Stewart Wedding videos from the “I Do My Do” series sponsored by Pantene. Each one is a simple hairstyle how-to focused on a particular hair type (fine, curly, or medium-thick) perfect for weddings, bridal showers, summer parties, etc.  You definitely have to check them out NOW!  I hope you enjoy them as much as "I DO."

 

Fun Bridal Shower Themes

 

If you are a bridesmaid and have been racking your brain trying to figure out what kind of shower you want to throw for your bride than you can stop panicking and start planning with some of our favorite shower ideas we have put together for you.  These will definitely get your bride (and possibly groom) excited!!!

Couples Shower – I recently went to a friend's "Couples Shower" and it was really fun...it was actually more like a party.  I think more women are opting to do a couples shower and are opting out of the traditional “women only” shower! For this shower you have so many options, now that it's summer you could keep it a little more casual and host a backyard barbeque or throw a Mexican fiesta!  I have always loved a “stock the bar” theme for a couples shower since both the bride and groom will be excited about these gifts. These parties tend to be a little more lively so create a dance floor and play some good music so everyone can start to warm-up for the big day! 

Bridal Tea Party – I had a Bridal Tea when I was getting married and I absolutely loved it...it was so girly!  My bridesmaids hosted a tea at one of our local hotels but there is no reason you can't host this one at home as well. For your centerpieces, fill tea tins with beautiful floral arrangements. No tea would be complete without finger sandwiches, salad and petit fours. Use heart shaped tea strainers s placecard holders and party favors for guests...This is a trifecta!  You can use them to help guests find their seat, serve their tea and take home to use for later.  Send guests home with a bundle of your bride’s favorite tea!

Lingerie Shower – This popular bridal shower theme should be used for more intimate groups of friends which is why we hosted a lingerie shower during the weekend of the bachelorette party. It was perfect you had all of the bride's closest friends and family there and people that had travelled could now be a part of two events verses only one.  Use lingerie-shaped inspired invites to set the tone of the day and for your parting gift send guests home with lingerie laundry bags, drawer sachets or a pair of Hanky Panky Underwear!

Wine Tasting – If you are trying to figure out what wine you want to serve at the reception...have your guests help you decide.  Invite a few of your closest friends (wedding party) over for a wine tasting theme. Plan the party yourself by selecting 3 red wines & 3 white wines that you would like to serve at your wedding then cover the wine labels for a true blind tasting and let your guests sample away. Number the bottles and have guests write down on a piece of paper the wine they enjoyed the most then add them up and find out what wine most guests liked.  Don't forget to serve food, try an accompanying cheese for each bottle and little pizzas, and make sure guests have a way to cleanse their palates between samples! Send guests home with a cute wine stopper or mini bottle of wine!
 

Honeymoon/Travel Shower – Help the bride and groom prepare for their honeymoon with this bridal shower theme. Invite guests using postcards that feature the honeymoon destination, serve food indigenous to that location and use luggage tags as place cards! Guests should bring gifts the couple can use on their honeymoon, including gift certificates for a restaurant or massages. Passport holders will make unique bridal shower favors!
  
 
Around The Clock Bridal Shower - is a theme that your grandmother may have had as a bride, and it’s such a fun shower theme, that today’s brides love it too! This shower theme is a great way to help avoid getting many gifts that are the same, like five mixers or piles of handtowels. The shower highlights different times of day, and guests bring gifts suitable for that time of day. The hostess or hostesses designate a time on the clock of each invitation, and the guest purchases a gift relating to her assigned time of day.  Use various housewares as bridal shower favors...a kitchen timer is always a good parting gift for guests.

Spa Shower – Who doesn't love a day at the spa?! Relax and unwind by bringing the guests to a local spa or having aestheticians come to you! From facials and massages to a yoga class and healthful lunch, a spa theme is sure to create a day of unforgettable pampering and fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day Party Ideas

 
I am always looking for new ideas for parties and with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend celebrations just around the corner I have been combing the internet looking for fun, unique ideas to share with you...I am excited to report that I think you will love some of the ideas I found on Her Royal Heinous, Queen Bee by Alm Chandler and Emily from Magnolia Creative.  So adorable and very patriotic!!

 
Colorful tin buckets can double and triple as place settings, place card holders and party favors.  So easy to make something so simple look so festive just by adding some colorful ribbon, tags and American Flags.

 
Wrap good ole fashioned coco-cola in patriotic wrappers!  Nothing says America more than Coca-Cola.

 
I love that they kept the food traditional....hotdogs, potato chips, cookies, cupcakes and a Cherry Pie!  Salute...so American!!!  How cute and festive are these hot dogs wrapped in colorful bands and tied with twine...every detail was so well thought out.

 
 
 
To make this adorable and oh so creative apple garland they bought apples (not real) at the local Hobby shop then threaded twine through and added ribbon accents to the end. I LOVE this idea. 

Thanks for the great Memorial Day inspiration!!!  If you are not having a Memorial Day party...keep this party in mind for the 4th of July or other patriotic events.

All Patriotic Party Printables are available at the Magnolia Creative Co!

Cake Pops are All the Rage!!!

 
What could be better than a cupcake?  A cake pop...of course!   Cooking blogger Bakerella, Angie Dudley has turned cake pops into a party extravaganza!!  Moms and women everywhere are going crazy for cute little cakes on a stick.  Starting from just simple decorated balls to more exciting designs such as bumblebees, clowns, farm animals, ice cream cones, and so many more!  

These adorable creations are the perfect bite-sized alternative to cake at any party or get-together. 

Angie appeared on Martha Stewart's show to demonstrate how to make these delicious little treats and now with a little help from her new book you can recreate these amazing treats right at home with her simple, step-by-step instructions and photos of more than 40 featured projects, as well as clever tips for presentation, decorating, dipping, coloring and melting chocolate, and much more!  So if you like to entertain as much as I do...go get a a copy of this adorable book, Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats. 

They are perfect for any occasion - birthday, wedding, bridal and baby showers, Halloween, Christmas...you name it!

Below are a few fun ideas you may find in the book...