Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

Budget-Friendly & Time-Savvy: A Whodunit Mystery Party

I took a bit of a leave of absence these past few weeks, but I'm back and ready to share another awesome party idea that is both budget and time friendly!

A child's birthday party completely planned and written out for you step-by-step and emailed straight to your in-box is pretty time friendly.  But who wants to plan your entire party on a budget you can afford?

Dramatic Fanatic, that's who!

Dramatic Fanatic puts your child and her friends in the starring roles of whodunit mysteries. 

And the best part for you?  You don't have to plan a thing.

Dramatic Fanatic provides you with an already written script and easy to follow instruction, so your party and mystery run smoothly.  Simply mail out the invitations along with each guest's role description.  On the day of the party follow the script by having the guests act out their provided scenes, play the mystery-related games, follow the clues, view the evidence and solve the mystery!  

It's really that simple and you'll have plenty of time to shop for food.

Even better, it's really budget-friendly too because each kit costs less than $40.

There are seven whodunit kits to choose from, including Mystery at the Mall, A Movie Star Mystery, and A Slumber Party Mystery. 

Dramatic Fanatic also sells invitations for their mysteries! If I've said it once, I've said it at least 2 times before (here and here) already designed digital file invitations that you can just print and send out are a great way to go!  They're the perfect invitation for the party host that wants a little bit custom and little bit money saver and just a little bit DIY all rolled into one.

So they next time your little star is in need of a celebration, head on over to Dramatic Fanatics for a fun-filled, budget-friendly and time-savvy party experience!

 

"The game is afoot,"

Nikki

 A Yummy Mummy on a Pink Park Bench

get lost....

picture source

may 23, 2010.
if you are a die hard lostie like my husband and i, this date means only one thing.

its the air date for the final episode of lost.
waaaaah.

its bittersweet end to a 6 year journey that began on September 22, 2004.

we watched in horror as oceanic flight 815 broke apart and crashed on to a mystical, tropical island in the south pacific. a smoke monster, whispers and a polar bear.
there was no turning back.

we’ve been hooked ever since.

what better way to say good bye to our beloved flight 815 survivors than to throw a huge party in their honor?!

you have about a month to start planning.
here are some fun, inexpensive ideas to make the party memorable.

wish you were here


send out post card invites with the ominous black background and white "lost" letters printed out on the front. you could also do post cards with a beautiful island scenery. hand write the party info on the back side and drop it in the mail. 
bonus is that postcards only cost .28 cents to mail.

better yet and better for the environment: send an evite.

the staff over at the popular online invitation site is ON IT!
there is actually a lost finale viewing party evite all ready for you to fill out and send off.

picture source



dharma initiative food

picture source

what better way to feel like you are stuck in the middle of the pacific than to bust open a can of dharma initiative potato crisps or quench your thirst with a bottle of dharma water?

picture source

visit max pictures’ blather’s site where any and every dharma food label you could possible need is available in pdf form for you to print in the comfort of your own home! i recommend printing the labels directly on to full 8x11 inch sheets of label paper and then cut them out and place them on store bought water bottles, potato crisps and soda.
you can also print it on regular printer paper and apply with double stick tape.
everyone will go NUTS for your dharma food!

max...we love you for single handedly making our party look amazing!

you can also go a little upscale with some shrimp and chicken skewers on the barbie with mango pineapple salsa.
just depends on your crowd.



doomed flight 815 cupcakes

picture source

ummmm....how perfect are these??
make your favorite cuppy cakes for the party and top them off with toy airplanes and palm trees.

genius.

mr. cluck’s bucket of chicken

picture source

this is a must have after watching this past season!
pick up buckets of clucks from your local fried chicken restaurant.
take red wrapping paper or craft paper and tape it around the bucket. print off a mr. cluck chicken image off the web and glue it on.
you could also buy or make the chicken sans bucket and just make a sign to place in front of the platter of fried goodness.


smokey
now what would a lost party be if the smoke monster didn’t make an appearance??

i thought long and hard for a safe and LEGAL way to make this happen.
you will need an oscillating standing or desk fan and a roll or two of black crepe paper.
don't make the strips too long, you don't want them to sag when the fan is on.
tape one strip of the black crepe paper to the front grill of the unplugged fan.
once you have one taped on, turn the fan on to see if you have lift off.

if its at a length you are happy with unplug the fan and continue taping on the strips until the grill is full. place the crepe-ed out fan somewhere obvious like next to the food table. make sure you make a cool "smokey" name card to place in front of your smoke monster fan.
turn it on and watch smokey go!

cheesy? yes.
but your die hard lostie guests will appreciate the effort and the kitschy-ness of it.

lost hall of fame

picture source

can i just say i LOVED this moment? go hugo!!

i have to give a shout out to my all time fave lost blog dark ufo.
its a great resource for recaps, info and tons of pictures.
they have a whole page dedicated to screencap pictures.
print out some of your faves and place them in frames you already have on display in your home for the party.
scatter them around the food table and in the viewing room.
they are great conversation starters.

get your lost on...

picture source

how well do you and your guest know the show after watching six seasons??
do you everything there is to know about all of the characters present day, flashbacks and flash forwards? how about what they do in the sideways world?
you can find some great lost trivia on this site.
copy and paste the questions you want to use into a word document.
renumber then print the questions out and you are good to go!
give a prize to the winner.
maybe lost season 1?
or this lost name and number t-shirt

picture source

have fun fellow losties....oh and don't forget the tissues.
if you are anything like me, i know i'm gonna be bawling my eyes out!

until next wednesday!

I'm a Barbie Girl...

Happy Monday! We hope that everyone had a fabulous weekend.

Food is always one of the best parts of any party, even if you are not a foodie. For Rissa’s Barbie Party, we decided to do a full-on dessert bar with all kinds of tasty treats that everyone could enjoy.   

 

Desserts ranged from popcorn-filled cones to a deliciously rich chocolate cake from Layers Bakery here in Las Vegas, NV.. 

With apothecary jars filled with delicious marshmallows, M&Ms and delicious animal crackers covered in pink and white icing, this dessert bar was a major hit with all of the guests. 

Cake Pops (recipe courtesy of Bakeralla.com) were a delicious extra for the candy bar. They were also fun treats to make. These pops are something that anyone can make for any occasion. We highly recommend them. 

A framed quote was on display for all guests to see completed our candy bar.

 

We set up a photo booth where guests could take pictures with pink and black boas, crowns, black gloves and other items. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed taking photos in the booth with Ken and each other. Below are just a few takes of the guests and the fun that these girls had.

 
Thank you Ciara for taking all of these amazing photos for us! To see more of Ciara’s work, please visit her Web site at www.ciararosephotography.com.

{ jacqueline, rissa, tara & traci }

 

Kickin' Kentucky Derby Party Ideas!

In the South, the Kentucky Derby is a big deal.  Whether you party with the infielders or sass with the high class, the Derby provides the perfect excuse to don those summer frocks and throw a great spring bash! 

  

This year, the Derby is Saturday, May 1st.  If a Derby party is your thing, you still have time to plan!

Derby Invites:  These darling invites can be ordered and shipped within 2-3 business days!  ($30 for 20 invites - itsy bitsy paper shop on etsy.com

 

Derby Decor:  Anything with wide-brimmed hats, red roses, mint julep cups and horses is a winner!  At your local garden center, grab a flat of mint.  Using mint julep cups, plant the mint in the cups, and add these adorable sterling herb markers to let guests know that they can add an extra mint sprig (or two) to their own cocktail.

 

(Set of 4 herb markers - $22 - Monkeys Always Look on etsy.com)

Roses can be expensive, but even just enough for one focal point will make a statement.  

(photo courtesy of here)

Scour eBay, yard sales, and thrift stores for horse figurines or even horse bookends.  It's amazing what a coat of glossy white spray paint can do!

 

(photo courtesy of here) 

Finally, don't be afraid to take the party outside!  Cover folding tables with white linens, hang chandeliers or the ever-popular Martha Stewart poms from the trees, and bring a little drama to your backyard! 

 

(photo courtesy of here) 

 

(photo courtesy of here) 

Derby Dining: Your guests will thank you for a proper Derby dinner.  Whether you prefer fine fare or down-home delectables is up to you.  Either way, the only proper dessert is the Kentucky Derby Pie.  Go here for a fantastic, tried and true recipe! 
 

Derby Drinks:  The Mint Julep is a must:

 

Mint Julep
From the Kentucky Derby

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Whiskey
Silver Julep Cups

Directions
Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.

Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of whiskey. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Derby Digs:  Don't forget that hat!  Make sure your guests know that appropriate Derby attire is a must.  Offer prizes for the best and/or most creative hat.  

(photo courtesy of here)

Girls should wear summer frocks, and gentlemen should don classic seersucker or khaki suits.  Bow ties get bonus points!

Fabulous Extras:  Provide all of your guests with current Daily Racing Forms and set up your own betting pool to add to the excitement of the day. 

And check out these great photo props!  Smitten Sticks - le papier studio on etsy.com ($35 for 8 sticks)

  

Want some more inspiration and tips?  Check out the Kentucky Derby's official party site! It is chock full of ideas, recipes, fashion suggestions, and decor designs!  

Whatever your Derby plans are for the day, the most important thing is to have fun!  Happy Friday!

Horseshoes and Derby Divots,

 

Say it with a Banner

hi everyone...hope you are having an spectacular week so far.
i'm kim-erin from living eventfully. i am an event planner in orange county, ca.
i will be sharing tidbits of party planning info with you every wednesday.
holla.

one of my most favorite and inexpensive pieces of party decor is a personalized banner.
its festive and sweet and can also be a great source of vital information for your guests....for instance: pointing them in the direction of where the candy buffet is located.
very, very vital information. ;-)

this banner was outside the front door welcoming guest to a baby shower....

thanks to ms. martha stewart, i found this great free template set up over on her site.
you can print the template on to card stock or even regular ole printer paper.
i then use a large 3" round craft punch to punch out the letters.
you can also use scissors or a circle cutter.
with a small hole punch, place two holes about one inch apart from each other at the top of each letter.
string your letters on yarn, string or thin ribbon and hang.

i have also cut circles out of magazine pages then free handed the letters with a sharpie.
i love the color that the magazine pages add and gotta love the recycling aspect.

your guest of honor will be thrilled to see their name up in "paper" on a happy birthday banner.
you will be thrilled with the price tag: free.99.
you pretty much have all of these items available to you in your home right now.
if you don't, just improvise.

the possibilities are endless.
add glitter, make a ruffle backing with crepe paper, print it on to scrap book paper. go nuts.
so get to it!!

until next wednesday....

Party Name Centerpiece

 In February I hosted my daughter's 2nd birthday party.  I have not gotten around to organizing the pics from the photographers yet, but I thought it would be fun to post a how-to blog with one of my handmade decorations.  I made this custom name stand for the buffet table, and it was very easy.  I started off with cardboard letters I bought at Hobby Lobby for $1.75 each.  I also purchased a package of wooden dowels and a package of wooden circles(both found at hobby Lobby). They were about $2.50 per pack.  The circles have a hole in the middle that the wooden dowels fit down into. I painted the letters with regular craft paint, two coats.  Then, I hot glued the dowels into the circles.  Next, I took the letters and hot glued them to the dowels in various heights and angles for a funky effect.  I found an old glass shelf in my garage, but you could easily use a scrap piece of wood or even a sturdy piece of cardboard, and I hot glued the circles to the shelf. 

To give the centerpiece a little more height I set the shelf on top of 2 hurricane vases filled with colored confetti paper.  Finally, to cover the dowels and to give the name a floating feel, i used a scrap piece of purple tulle and fluffed it around the base of the letters.  It turned out to be a great focal point to the buffet, and after the party I set it up on a shelf in Catie's bedroom.

 

This would be an easy decoration for a wedding using the word LOVE on the cake table or candy buffet, or the word THANKS on a favor table.  Instead of painting the letters, you could trace them onto pretty scrapbook paper and decoupage them onto the front.  There are lots of ways to customize any words you like!

Come On Barbie, Let’s Go Party!

Hello from Las Vegas! We are four girls who love all things parties, weddings, events and design. We are honored to be blogging for Create My Event each Monday and can't wait to share our ideas with you.

One of the girls, Rissa, has a slight obsession with Barbie. We recently threw her a Barbie themed birthday party complete with a pink "Dream House" and living "Ken" doll.

{Barbie's Dream House}

 

{Ken} greeted the guests at the door with drinks.

The drink menu consisted of all non-alcoholic drinks. We used simple recipes that could easily incorporate liquor if desired.

{Dollicios} – Lemon Lime Soda with Cherry Syrup poured over Cotton Candy. The cotton candy instantly dissolves into the liquid.

{Strawberry Blonde} - A milkshake shooter of Blended Strawberry Ice Cream topped with Whipped Cream and Fresh Strawberries.

 

{Pink Lady} – Pink Lemonade served in Pink Sugar Coated Glasses.

 
Guests had a blast at {Barbie's Beauty Bar}, where they gave themselves and each other mini makeovers. Ken even applied temporary Barbie tattoos to anyone who wanted one!

The beauty bar included: eyeshadow and blush in assorted colors, false eyelashes, various shades of pink nail polish, makeup brushes for application, and a lipgloss and a rhinestoned nail file for each guest to take home.

Check back next week for more of Rissa's Barbie Party. We will show you the darling dessert buffet and some fun pictures from the photobooth!

{jacqueline, rissa, tara, & traci}

Extra Special E-Invites

Hello! My name is Erika and I write a blog called Artsy Fartsy Shopaholic. 

Every Friday, I will sharing with you my fave party tips, tricks, and current inspirations.  I would like to start this post by saying that I am so thrilled to be a new contributor to Create My Event!  This blog is one of my favorites, and definitely a "go-to" when I am looking for creative and special party ideas.  I hope that, if you see something that tickles your fancy, you'll share it with others in the comments, too!

Today, let's discuss the ever popular e-invitation.  I know, I know, there is nothing like getting a perfectly scripted, thick card stock invitation in the mail for a special occasion.  We open the lovingly addressed envelope, admire the design of the invite, place it on our refrigerators/bulletin boards, and do our very best to attend.  Paper invitations make the event "real" for everyone, and often provides a hint as to the theme of the party.

If paper invitations are so great, why even consider the e-invitation?  First, e-invites are typically free to send, assuming you have internet access and a computer.  If you are throwing a party on a limited budget, sending e-invites certainly frees up additional funds for food, entertainment, or decorations.  

Second, e-invites are definitely environmentally friendly - no paper trash to toss/recycle after the event is over.  This is certainly a good thing for Planet Earth and your guests.

Third, e-invites reach everyone, everywhere, in an instant.  With people reading email on their phones and PDAs, you don't have to worry if the mailing address you have is correct (or waste the postage).  E-invites also allow for guests to be invited quickly, especially if the party is more of a last-minute event. 

While paper invitations/announcements will always be cherished for formal events (weddings, births, religious events), the e-invitation is definitely an option to consider for other parties.  The following is a list of several great sites which offer wonderful e-invitations.

1)  Evite.com:  I know most of us have heard of and probably used/received an Evite.  Evites are great because people are familiar with the website, and are probably less likely to send an Evite to the spam box.  Evite.com allows you to customize your invitation, import address books from various email providers, and will even let you poll your guests.  Last year, we threw an "Outdoor Movie" party, and prior to the movie night, guests voted on their movie of choice.  The winner? The unexpected and delightful "Viva Las Vegas"!

 2) PaperlessPost.com:  This e-invitation provider is perfect for the traditionalist.   Send the invite, and your guest will click to "open" an envelope personally addressed to him/her.  A lovely invitation slides out of the envelope to invite you to the party.  One more click on the invite, and your guest can RSVP with ease!  This type of invite is great if the guest of honor wants a pretty memento of the invite, but you can't/don't want to send a paper version.

3) Sendomatic.com:  This site allows you to customize your invitation to your heart's content.  The email sent can also be sent in an "envelope" that guests click to open.  When using this site, I did not notice being bombarded with advertisements, which may explain why events for more than 10 guests require a small fee.   One feature that I like about this site is that guests can easily sync the event with their electronic calendars - how convenient!

4) Smilebox.com:  Smilebox is a super easy e-invite website.  Users can pay for a monthly membership ($5.99), buy a one-time premium design ($3.99), or use Smilebox's free version which has many of the perks of the premium design, but with ads on the side of the invite.  One thing I really liked was the graphics provided by tinyprints.com.  Smilebox is unusual in that you can add music your own music and can print the invitation to send to those less computer-savvy guests of yours.  Smilebox also makes it easy to post an invite to your Facebook account or a blog.   

I hope you have enjoyed my inaugural post, and that at least one of these e-invitation sites is perfect for you.  I look forward to sharing Fridays with you.  Have a wonderful weekend!

RSVP and Regrets Only,

Super Cute and SUPER Thrifty

So, I got a little bit of time to myself this weekend. What do I decide to do???  Go grocery shopping!!  I know, crazy..  Like most people, I shop at the super Wal Mart right around the corner from my house.  Being toddler free, I was able to take my sweet time. I peacefully walked down the aisles, browsing and enjoying my stress free trip to the mega store....Boy was I glad I wasn't rushed, because I could have missed this great deal!!  In the seasonal aisle I came across these amazing plastic plates.  How cute are they?  You have to forgive the bad pictures, I had to use what I could find....my cell phone.  Now for the best part. They only cost between $1.00-$1.50 each!!   I know!! Pick your jaw up off the floor..These would be great for a spring party or a baby shower brunch.  I suggest you run to Wal Mart and stock up, because I don't think they will last long!!

 
 

Real Party - De Plane! De Plane!

I wanted to share the  recent airplane party, third in the series, I put together for my friend's 2 year old. With an extremely tight budget, I really had to keep an eye out for as many money-savers as possible, which is my party motto, plan, plan, plan! Mom designed the red airplane logo that was on the invite and it became our running motif, I wanted to use it everywhere! The cake was a little 'off', as the designer (who did an amazing job!!!) didn't get the memo that we wanted red planes. That's OK, the birthday boy was wearing a flight suit that Daddy found in San Diego that we just had to have....So back to the party...I scored on packets of tissue for super cheap, and we fluffed and hung up a ton of tissue poms for the bestest clouds...not a pretty shot, but you get the idea. The 'First Class' dessert table was a hit with the kids...who can resist building an ice-cream sundae with a huge slab of chocolate cake? They also loved the propeller pops...yes, I made the propellers from melted chocolate and mini M&Ms. The biplanes are wooden birdhouses I found at Michael's and painted myself. I've been crushing over paper straws and then I won a set of blue ones. I've been dying to use them, but knew they wouldn't be fully appreciated for drinking, so they totally became signage.

Who knew IKEA carried material? Um, not me, since I was there to find containers and totally by accident found the diamond-patterned duck cloth (ridiculously cheap at 3.99/yard!!!) that became our table cover.

Toppings included 'Captain's Chips', 'Bomber Bears', 'Candy Cargo' and 'Cessna Crumbles'; labels were a total score as a download from Eat.Drink.Chic. The lunch counter was decorated like an airport runway...butcher paper is so my friend. The kids' meals were served in the clear containers while the adults grabbed sandwiches and personalized water bottles. Where did I find the containers? Oh yes, the Dollar Store.

Of course there was a craft; guests painted wooden biplanes, another Michael's score for a $1 each.We also had a photo op set up; everyone took photos for their pilot's license...duh, you can't fly a plane without one! Here are some of the best ones... Guests picked up their party favors from Baggage Claim: the candy cloud airplanes treat board is inspired by the great Amy Atlas, a toy airplane, airplane stickers and containers of homemade playdough complete with an airplane cookie cutter. Not Just A Mommy!