Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

C's Party:Entry #4

Invites

Once we figured out the theme, we had a hard time connecting the wording for a milestone birthday party and camping. We struggled with it for awhile, while trying to decide when to get the invite out. Usually I recommend 6 weeks, but over a holiday weekend the more notice the better. I started asking for input from friends-- because the more heads the better! I love it when people have great suggestions!

One friend suggested the wording for the invite-- to connect the theme.  Her suggestion made us laugh out loud-- so we used it! (see below-- my husband's name is Christian.) Thanks Kim!

Another friend suggested that we use pingg.com to manage the invites and RSVPs. Since I wanted to design the invites and personalize it more than e-vite will allow, I am trying out. I'll be sure to give you my full review after the party! Thanks Bri!

Early on I found some inspiration images on Etsy that I liked for the invitation.

I liked this.

And this-- especially the colors.

And this is super cute.

Obviously, I liked the hand drawn look.

In the end, my sweet husband drew and made the invitation for his own party. And he did an amazing job. Take a look.

Cute, huh?

I ended up sending the invite out via email this past weekend-- about 7 weeks before the event. So just a week earlier than typically scheduled.  Keep your fingers crossed for a good response!

To see Entry #1 click here

To see Entry #2 click here

To see Entry # 3 click here

Until Next Week! xoxo EventLucky

Bow Tie Invitations

 

New Bow Tie Invitation Series from Sendomatic. Featuring: Halloween Bow Tie, Black Tie, Flower Bow Tie, Zebra Bow Tie, Christmas Bow Tie & Menorah Bow Tie. With Sendomatic Online Invitations, you can track RSVPs, sell tickets online and promote your event on Facebook. Send email invitations in minutes!

Party Box Design Invitation Giveaway

I love to throw all types and sizes of parties, and I'm quite obsessed with invites. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, it sets the tone and gets your guests excited!  If you haven't heard, I would like to introduce you to Party Box Design, 'Anything And Everything Party'. Her shop is filled with incredibly fun party collections for every occasion. Check out my faves from her hot new Halloween line, just in case you are working on your upcoming holiday soiree...

Perhaps you just need some inspiration for the next birthday party or shower you're hosting? Head over and check out her blog, it's chockful of great party planning ideas and tips! To help you get your party started right, Jessica is giving one of my lucky readers their choice of a PBD invitation in the form of an E-invitation!

Once you choose an invite and customize your text, you will receive a high quality JPEG file which you can
a. go green and email to your party guests
b. print out as many copies as you need from your own computer or favorite photo lab

And psst...you can purchase all kinds of other custom party goodies to go with that snazzy new invite....maybe some cupcake toppers, or stickers for treat bags. And don't fret dearies, your prize is good for ONE year, so you have plenty of time to plan.

Interested?  Of course you are, who isn't interested in free party invitations!  Come visit my blog for a chance to enter, but don't waste time, it ends September 14! Not Just A Mommy!

Pirate Party Tutorial : The Invitations

I come from a family that likes to honor random holidays. You know the ones that no one really knows about, but are fun to celebrate anyways? Well my sister loves Flag Day (June 14th) and I love Talk Like A Pirate Day, which is September 19th. I really wanted to do a Pirate-inspired DIY in honor of this exciting day! Of course you can do this for a birthday, too :-) 

The first thing you need for a party are invitations. So I am going to show you how to make a treasure map invite! Here we go!

Supplies:
Off white paper or light antique paper
Printer
Computer (with a dash of computer savvy)
Pirate Font

Step One:
Open up your computers’ processing software (I used Word for Mac, but most any will do) and type up your parties info in a text box using a stylistic font. I used Blackmore LET that comes with the Mac or you can get this cool free pirate font at Dafont.com  I sized the text box to fit a little bigger than half page so it was a good size, but still fit in my regular envelopes. If I were making more of these, I would probably make them smaller so I can get 2 to a page. That is the beauty of using a text box; very little reformatting if you change your mind! Here is what my invitation said:

There be treasure to be found!
Come to 1224 Main St USA
on
Sunday Sept 19th

to find treasure beyond your wildest dreams!

We will set sail at 2 pm for the adventure of you life.

Any scallywags will walk the plank ARG!

You can have lots of fun with the format, size and info, just make sure it goes with the pirate theme! You could add a secret password to get into the party; everyone could request the right of “parley”, like in Pirate of the Caribbean. Very Piratey.

Step Two:
To add the dashed line for the map part, select the “draw it yourself” tool, usually under the “insert” header. Then scribble to your hearts content till you have the best path that doesn’t distract from your words. Then all you have to do is format the line. I made mine a 6 pt line that is dashed and red. I did the same for the “x”.

 

Step Three:
Print on your paper of choice. In hindsight, I wish I would have used either old book paper or maybe even and old map I have lying around somewhere. So moral of the story, don't limit yourself to what I do, get creative with your piratey self!

Step Four:
Tear the edges of the paper, using your fingers or a flat edge to guide the tears. You definitely don’t want to tear it into your beautiful creation!

 

Step Five:
Now this goes against every fiber of my being, but crumple the paper at least 4 or 5 times to achieve a “distressed look”. This would be an awesome time to get the kids involved!

 

Step Six:
Repeat steps 3-5 as many times as you need until you have enough invitations for your party

Hope this inspires you to create your own rad invites! I will see you guys next week for the next installment of my Pirate Party Tutorial!

Wishing you crafty success, 

Christine JustLoverly

p.s. I made this eye patch while listening to The Decemberists. Definitely good for an adult pirate party! You can check out their songs on Playlist.com

Jason Naylor Invitations

New invitation designs from edgy Jason Naylor on Sendomatic.com. Create an invitation, announcement or e-greeting with a design from his collection. View collection here and send an e-card or invitation now!  

Throw a Lobster Feast!

Throw a lobster feast! Create an lobster online invitation from Sendomatic.com.

 

Decorate your table with fantastic lobster butter warmer & lobster bucket from Crate & Barrel.

 
  
Don't forget old time lobster bibs from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Deck out your space with a Thomas Paul Linen Lobster Pillow from 2Modern. 

 
 

Bubbles Birthday Fun

My BFF (of the Fishing Party and Inspiration board fame) is preparing for the 1st birthday of her daughter.  She was thinking a bubbles theme-- a great idea for a baby- so I put together an inspiration board for her. I also threw in few other theme ideas for fun!

Bubble Fun!

Invitation: These colored circles prepare guests for a bubble theme! Or, even better, write the party info on inflated balloons, deflate them and send them to guests.  Even better if you use the clear latex balloons!

Decor: Lanterns and clear latex balloons give that bubble feeling where ever you look! I saw a few suggestions to use bubble wrap, but I can't imagine that is cute--unless used in strips like this party.  I also like this runner of different colored circles-- with coordinating hats. There must be hats! Fun polka dot napkins that coordinate with invites really add. And don't forget the cake!

Activities: The bubbles-- its all about the packaging. And have you seen these colored bubbles? Amazing! Also, if you add tempura paint to bubbles, the older kids can make some fun pictures to take home. Bubble wands also look like fun. And don't forget the bubble gum! That offers bubbles galore!

I love the bubbles-- but here are some more ideas just for fun.

How about a princess and the pea party?

How about a "one" of a kind party?

And I love, love, love this flower birthday! So sweet!

So many choices!

See you next week! xoxo EventLucky

Parvez Taj Featured Designer on Sendomatic

 

Parvez Taj is a featured designer on Sendomatic.com. Enjoy his artwork on your invitation, announcement or e-greeting. To become a featured designer, please contact Sendomatic.com.
  

  

Bicycle Party

Happy Tuesday everyone! EventLucky here to share some fun in sun ideas!

I love bicycles.  I don't ride one myself (unless it's a beach cruiser), but I always think the women that ride them in city are so cool. They just seem so capable and confident. Sure, the men, too, but especially the women. And lately, I have seen bicycles everywhere-- and not just on street.

I've seen them on fabric

and gifts for her and him:

I thought it would be fun to put together a bicycle party. I recently read the women that ride bikes are capable and confident-- and stylish.  Let's promote bike riding through a party theme!

How cute are these invitations? {photos from here and here}

Download your own bicycle invite here.

And you can decorate with these  stanchions,  tabletop bikes, and fake cross stitch...

and signage with bike images.

And of course the activities should involve bikes!

This party had the group caravan to the next venue.

And this party tied good wishes to the bike.

And, of course, the favors choices are endless.

This custom notebook is cute.  And you can order custom notebooks here.

And a CD and candy packs are good for kids.

Don't forget the cake!

Never underestimate bicycles for getting great pictures!

Do you ride a bicycle? Would you have a bicycle party?

Have a Happy 4th of July! xoxo EventLucky

Splashy Poolside Baby Shower

Hello and Happy FRIDAY!  AFS here.  Many of you know that my husband and I are expecting a baby girl in August.  To honor the coming of our little one, my friends offered to throw me a baby shower, and, of course, I eagerly accepted.  True to form, my friends threw an incredible party, right down to every last fantastic detail.  I just had to share with you their beautiful success!

Since the temps in Memphis are already SO HOT, they knew that a poolside baby shower would be the perfect theme.  The invites set the stage for the poolside par-tay.  Here are the perfect parasol/ beachy invites that they used to announce the event (from tinyprints.com):

My friends used our baby girl's nursery colors (aqua, orange, and pink, as found in the Target Liberty of London crib bedding) as the color scheme, and this awesome tutorial (found at hostessblog.comwas the starting point for their entire decor scheme:

 
Here is their final product: 
Pretty snazzy!

They used a Cricut machine to make monogram labels for everything...from the banner between the topiaries, to the drink tags featuring her monogram for the Izze drinks. 

The food was perfect for an outdoor event.  Melon was served in a watermelon baby crib (built by one of the hostesses' husbands!), and kabobs, pasta salad, spinach salad, and to die for guacamole rounded out the lunch.  Cupcakes with baby girl's monogram were a perfect sweet ending to a fresh and delicious meal.

Everyone was invited to bring their bathing suits, and almost everyone swam after we opened gifts.  It was the pefect "not-your-traditional-baby-shower" activity, plus the kiddos could play, too!

 We sat in the shade to open gifts, and orange and cherry push pops were handed out so guests could keep cool.  Even the incredible diaper cake tied in perfectly with the theme!

All talk of decor, drinks, and gifts aside, this was a wonderful way to welcome summer and hang with the girls on a Saturday afternoon!

 
If you have a summer baby shower, why not consider a poolside party?  The water does wonders for relieving the expectant mama's sore feet, back, joints, etc. (I can speak from firsthand experience on that one!), and there are plenty of party goods and ready-made decorations to take your shower from snoozy to splashy!  Hope you enjoyed this poolside parasol baby shower!

Diving boards and divas,