Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Show and Tell - Favorite Party

Y'all know how much trouble I have with picking ONE of anything, so today I"m sharing two of my favorite parties.

First up is a Kindergarten Kick-Off dinner that Shay and I hosted last August.

We have a fantastic group of girlfriends who we've "done life" with since before babies.  There were LOTS of us with babies about to head off to Kindergarten and so Shay and I thought it would be fun to do something to celebrate them.

Monday was the night!  The dining room at the Ranch clubhouse was closed - so it was the perfect spot for our crazy crew :)

We hosted the event at one of the country clubs in our neighborhood and had the best time.


I LOOOOOOOVE decorating for "Back-To-School" and I had so much fun using some really simple decorations to make a fun little table as the kids came in...



We put out note cards - and everyone wrote what they thought each kindergartener was going to grow up to be as well as a word (or two) to describe them.  When the cards were filled out, they dropped them into the kids little bags.



This is a chalkboard that I made for my classroom - and it is actually a piece of "art" that I bought at a thrift store for about $2.  I covered the glass with paper, taped it down and spray painted the frame yellow.  After that was dry I peeled off the paper/tape and painted the glass with two coats of chalkboard paint. Easy!




On the table, I wanted the kids spots to be super cute and bright, so I bought a package of 12x12 primary cardstock and used them as place mats (I used the same cardstock to create their little nameplates as well).

I picked up three Fall garlands at Hobby Lobby and placed them down the center of the table and then brought my faux apples from home to mix in.






I was in charge of decorations and Shay was in charge of cupcakes and OMG they were fabulous!!!









I took no pics of the kids eating, but all us mamas had Cobb salads (and yes.... that's my green tea lemonade... hahaha) and all the kids had pizza and fries.



My favorite part of the night was when we took these pictures :)  They already look SO much older than they did back in August and it kind of breaks my heart!



I have a feeling that 2027 will be here before we know it!!


Next is a BIG 'OL birthday party that I threw for all three kids last April.  It was a "Monster of a Party" and I had the best time planning it.  It ended up being the one and only "group birthday" and it was a fantastic one to boot :)

I picked Monsters because it was bright and colorful and fun - without being too gender specific.


And the monsters from the invitation were the same monsters I carried throughout the party...


I made the cupcakes that year and then made the cupcake holders out of coordinating scrapbook paper...


The toppers I made (I had them printed on photo paper, cut them out and taped them to toothpicks).

The boys one request was LOTS of sprinkles and I pulled through for them :)

 




I decorated the table with lots orange tulle, and lots of pics of the kids in colorful frames.


I like to use "layers" when I do tables (just like when I get dressed - hahaha), and think the more levels, textures and layers you can have the better.






I totally forgot about the banner until about 11:30 p.m. the night before, and I just threw it together (hence the staples) at the very last minute.  It wasn't as elaborate as I had planned, but it served it's purpose :)

Monsters totally have feathers, right????? :)

  

The giant balloons were so so fun!  They were tied with ribbon, and then I used boas to add another texture and mimic monster fur :)



Setting up and decorating and all the prep is lots of work...  but watching their little faces when they walk in the room always makes it worth it.

Doesn't G look so pumped about the party??? :)
  
I made their shirts as well and I don't remember if I ever posted about how I made them.  It was lots of different fabrics and felts with fusible interfacing and then embroidery floss and buttons.

   
They were ready to party!!!



When kids came in I had them pick a monster (I drew them, copied them onto card stock and cut them out) and decorate it and then we attached it to their bag...


Pin the eye on the monster...

Bean bag toss!!!  Two pieces of wood from Lowes that I painted and then my dad cut the mouths out...



When kids came in they decorated monsters to put on their goody bags...


Luke and his BFF Lincoln.  These two are inseperable at school and the party was no exception :)

No one should be surprised that this kid spent most of his time eating.... off his plates, his friends plates and the food table.

Sweet, sweet friends!!!


We read The Tickle Monster after the kids ate...



And Dave surprised the kiddos with the tickle monster gloves.  The pci below is TERRIBLE of me... but Carter's face was too priceless not to share. hahaha




After the story we made slime...

.... well.... I attempted to make slime :) hahaha  
My practice slime worked at home, but this batch never really "firmed up" and when it touched the table cloth it pretty much adhered to it instantly.  I had visions of every single kid leaving in ruined clothes so I had to let the kids touch it with one finger and then immediately trash the whole station.  I was bummed.... but it is what it is. Party must go on!

They played monster toss...

Pin the eye on the monster...

and then it was time for cupcakes!!!



A few of the finished party bags ready to be filled up with goodies before the kids left!

And in case you're looking for more party fun, here are links to a few more we've hosted :)

Sir Mason's Knight Party
Luke's Minecraft Birthday
Griffin's Cupcake Decorating Party
   

43 comments :

  1. Your back to school party looked so nice with the vintage touches! How long did you plan the monsters party? Your attention to details is amazing! Love, love the monster party!

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    1. Thanks, Maren! I think I started in January.... so a couple of months. :)

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  2. Love both of these parties!!! Quick question: What sizes are the pieces of wood you used to make the "Class of 2027" chalkboards? I would love to do this for little group.

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    1. They're in my garage now, but if you shoot me an email I'll measure this weekend. They were pre-cut at Home Depot and then I just painted them if that helps at all!

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  3. Andrea!! LOVE the kindergarten dinner!! What an AWESOME idea! It must have been so fun for the kids AND the moms!! :) Have a great day!

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    1. It was so much fun! One of my fondest and most special memories :)

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  4. Really hope your blog is around when I have kiddies Andrea... Or that I can somehow magically inherit your creativity hehe. Can't believe you made all those things! Awesome!!

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    1. I don't have plans to go anywhere :) hahaha Thank you so much for your sweet words! I get a huge kick out of doing parties and making special memories for my kids and their friends :)

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  5. I love talking about parties with you, planning parties with you, going to parties with you, hosting parties with you...I love doing parties with YOU! xoxo

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    1. The feeling is mutual! SO SO SO SO excited about the NEXT party on the calendar! EEEEK!

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  6. Oh, it's hard to believe that kindergarten party was almost a year ago! They all look so big now!! I always love your parties!! You have such a special touch!!

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    1. Right?!?! I feel like their little faces have matured so so so much! And thank you, friend!!!

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  7. Let's just talk about this..."I made their shirts too". Huh? What? I can't even e-mail an invitation properly THAT YOU MADE....and yet you are crafting shirts and painting plywood. Hats off to you my friend. You are QUEEN OF THE PARTY! :)

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    1. Hahahaha You're too sweet and that invitation story for Carter's Little Gym party will NEVER get old :)

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  8. You are a ROCK STAR! Now I know where Mason gets it! ;) I want to come to one of your parties. Not in a weird stalker kinda way. Lol. They look like so much FUN! I can't wait to read all your party posts as soon as I get home from school today!!

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    1. So sweet!!! And I didn't take it in a stalker way at all :)

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  9. You have a knack for putting a special touch on a party!!! Hats off to making the shirts and painting the plywood for the monster toss :)

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  10. Those were two of my very favorite parties!!!

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    1. YAY! And your Easter and candy parties were two of my favorites!!!

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  11. YOU ARE A PARTY PLANNING MACHINE!!!!!!! I love it. I seriously want you to move to PA and become my assistant in all areas of my life b/c I love how organized you are, how many great ideas you have, and how much fun you always have!! That kindergarten party is so professional. I am just in awe of what you guys did - seriously. IN. AWE. You rock, girl!
    Happy Tuesday!
    "The Busy Brunette"
    http://thebusybrunette.blogspot.com/

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    1. TOO SWEET!!! I am HARDLY professional though :) hahaha

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  12. Can I ask where those big balloons came from? thanks--i am hosting a grad party and those would be great.

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    1. I think I got them on Groopdealz... have you checked Amazon? Before you buy them though, get a quote on having them filled with helium because that can be super expensive! I know I was shocked (and ended up renting my own helium tank)

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  13. Love all the great pictures! Sharing this party today! :-)

    Elizabeth
    allkindsofthingsblog.com

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  14. OMG! This is the cutest theme EVER... I can totally have a monster party with three girls, right? No? Maybe?

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    1. Yes, ma'am!!! How fun would it be in girly colors!?!?!

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  15. I loved that kick off to kindergarten party post when you posted it in August! And this monster party looks amazing!! I thought I was crafty, but you've got me beat by a landslide girl!

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  16. Just reading ALL THE DETAILS of your Monster Party made this girl shiver!! Girl you are SO talented it is ridiculous! I know you love being a Math Teacher but you missed your calling on Professional Party Planner!! Love it!

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    1. Thank you so much, Laci! Looking back it was a "little" over the top :) hahaha

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  17. Your parties are seriously the best! And you painted the monster toss boards, Amazing! I love that you threw all the kids a huge giant Monster Bash! So fun.

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    1. Yes ma'am! The monster toss turned out surprisingly well and the funny thing is that the country club has used it for multiple kids parties and it's been a big hit :)

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  18. I love your parties!!! They are so awesome! I need you to come to Missouri and help me out for the next birthday! ;)

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  19. Both of these parties are adorable! The little monsters are my favorite!

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    1. Awwww! Thank you! I love those little monsters, too :)

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  20. You are so creative! I wish you lived closer..or I lived closer and you were for hire! :) Way to go!

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  21. We do a Back to School Feast every year also! Loved your Kinder Kickoff party! So cute!
    The Monster of a Party is such a great theme!! Love all the details!!

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    1. Thanks, Mel! I always think of you as the "Party Queen" so I'm kind of fan-girling right now :) hahaha

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    2. Awwww....you are so sweet, that is such a nice compliment! Thank you!!! :)

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