Fun With Frosting

Decorate your own cupcake! Kids LOVE this fun party activity. Start with a selection of cupcakes, either homemade or from a mix. I like homemade frosting the best. You can easily add a little food coloring and extract to make mint frosting, and many other flavors besides traditional vanilla. Find fun toppings such as mini chocolate chips, raspberries, candies, and colored sugar... there are so many options for cupcakes right now! You can have your guests simply spread their frosting or try piping with a cake decorating set of frosting bags and tips. Great for a baking party and more! 

Extra Halloween Candy?

I bought way too much candy to give out for Halloween this year! What to do with all that extra Halloween candy? Save individually wrapped candy for your next party! Use them in favor bags. I froze some snack size chocolate bars and placed other candies away for our next party in a month or two. The question is... will they last (without getting eaten) until the next Birthday party?

Tissue Pom-Poms

Have you seen the beautiful tissue paper flowers blooming at fancy parties? They are very easy and inexpensive to make. Customize your next party with a few of these beauties! Inspired my Martha Stewart's tissue pom-pom tutorial, I made my own. Here's how I did it...

supplies: 1 pack of tissue paper (9 sheets), a pipe cleaner, scissors and some fishing line.

Step1: Fold all 9 layers of tissue paper accordion style into 1-1/2 inch sections. Fold in half.

Step 2: Twist pipe cleaner around center fold. Round edges and trim.

Step 3:  Pull gently to separate layers. Working on opposite sides each half to shape.

Step 4: Tie a piece of fishing line to your pipe cleaner, and hang from your ceiling, viola! 

Love this idea for birthday parties. Pick colors to match your theme and experiment with different sizes! To see Martha Stewart's Tissue Paper Pom-Pom's How-To http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to.

   

Squeaky Clean Favors

Here is a cute party favor idea! This is actually quite easy and you only need a few supplies. First, find tiny toys that match your theme, and then purchase some glycerin soap at your craft store. They sell soap making kits and plastic molds if you want to get fancy. Otherwise, mini muffin pans will do!
Step 1: Insert toys into mini muffin tin.
Step 2: Melt glycerin pieces in a microwave safe container and pour into muffin tin.
Step 3: Cool.
Step 4: Pop out and place in a cello bag and tie with brightly colored ribbons.
A fun, inexpensive and unique favor. Bonus, encourage kids to wash their hands!

Paper Lantern Party Decor

Paper Lanterns are great for birthday parties! They are inexpensive and reusable. Simply choose colors that match your theme and decorate. Another fun idea is to hang them using colorful ribbons in patterns, stripes or polka dots! Use them indoor or outdoor in various colors and sizes. Have fun!

Simple Photo Tips

My family took tons of pictures at my last party and they are a wonderful collection of memories! Photos are so important and can help your children remember their best birthdays!
Here are some simple tips to try:
1. Designate a party photographer! If you are the one cutting the cake, it is hard to squeeze in time for taking pictures too. Maybe a relative or big brother/sister can help.
2. Child's perspective! Take pictures from your child's perspective. Take a knee and get down to their level for portraits of your little guests.   
3. Lots of Levels! Stand on a chair, sit on the floor. Take one of the entire party scene and then zoom in.
4. Details, details, details! Take close-ups of all your party elements: cake, decor, table and presents.
5. Candid camera! Sometimes the best photos are taken when no one is looking at the camera!
Say cheese...

Simple Party Punch

Instead of serving lemonade or soda, try punch instead! It makes any day feel like a special occasion. This is my go to recipe for a quick and easy punch:
Ingredients:
Cranberry-Raspberry Juice
Lemonade
Directions:
Mix equal parts cranberry-raspberry juice and lemonade. Serve on ice. My favorite alternatives are cran-grape-lemonade and cran-pomegranate-lemonade. The kids love this, so have extra to make a second batch!