Favorite 15-- Book pages

Have you all seen this pin?? I just love it. I think the simplicity of the dark, light and greens are just beautiful. I wish I would have seen these before my wedding and shower. It's a new favorite decorating style that seems so cheap!

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My suggetion: Keep the pages in the same quality--- I would have used all yellowed pages.

To save money: Buy a new book for $1 at the Dollar Tree and tea or coffee stain the pages yourself!

The event: Bridal shower, baby shower, back to school bash, birthday party, wedding, graduation party, or a book group party

Branch out: Use all pages from Dr. Seuss books, Golden Books, science books, love stories, etc... Make it themed to match your party.

Splurge: make wreaths from pages of a book or into pommanders, have a typewriter or library index card guest book, give book mark favors, use quotes or phrases from books on your invitation and in your vows, title tables after favorite books, use a book as the ring bearer pillow, etc.

 

Happy Planning!
Krista



Going Away Party

I got to host another little shin-dig, but this one wasn't for a happy occassion... Ok, maybe I'm selfish, but it wasn't happy for me....   I very very very very close to friend is moving away.... We had her bachelorette party two weeks away and then realized how soon she would be moving, so we had to have one more "girl's night" before she loads up her car and moves to The Sunflower State. 

We had a pitch-in for tacos and desserts. I threw together some directions at the last minute to make it fitting. I think everything cost me $5. I bought 4 bunches of sunflowers at the Dollar Tree, two poster boards 2/$1 and used a free map I found in my car.  I did also use those glittery clothespins that I made for the bachelorette party and didn't get to use, as well as black streamer that I bought and didn't hang.

Map and Sunflower centerpiece

Her state information

I framed a ton of pictures of all of us girls around my living and dining room

Each girl got a picture from the bachelorette party and driving directions from here to there.
She got directions from there to here. :)

I didn't get a good picture of it, but I also made a banner with "We Will Miss You" cut out from map and glued to poster board triangles. I used Dollar Tree jute string that I already had on hand.



One of the girls said during our goodbyes that it's not a good-bye... It's an "until next time."


That's what I keep telling myself.... she's not moving to another country or leaving us forever....
Until next time....
Krista
Happy Planning!





Favorite 14- A love for Ombre

Anyway else loving all of the ombre goodies out there. From hair to wreaths, dresses to curtains... Ombre is taking over the fashion world. When I saw this Martha Stewart centerpiece, I fell in love!

Source   Are you surprised that it's Martha Stewart?? We shouldn't be, right?!

My suggetion: Make the colors fade a little better. There seems to be some variation in the darkest shades of pink. I think I would try to make the blend better.

To save money: Buy artificial. Your flowers don't have to be real and expensive to get different shades. Look around for full flowers that don't have colored centers.

The event: Bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, wedding, book group party, family dinner, Mother's Day, church luncheon.... This would be gorgeous for any occassion!

My spin: I don't think I would change this.... L.O.V.E. IT!

Branch Out: Imagine all pink or blue ombre for a baby shower.... how sweet! Also, you don't have to worry so much about matching those shades of pink/blue (they NEVER match) since you're hitting almost every shade!!! Use all white dishes, table coverings, vases, etc..

Splurge: Make ombre table coverings.
Serve an ombre cake.
Make ombre invitations.
Wear ombre attire.
Use tissue paper poms in graduating shades of your color of choice.
Create ombre backdrops from different shades of sheets/material sewn in large ruffles. (When I think ombre for a party, I think ruffles....anyone else?!?!)

Happy Planning...

The Grand Exit

That moment when you exist the church and run through the crowd of guests to the getaway car is one you'll never forget. There are so many ways to ask your guests to help you make a grand entrance!


Birdseed (rice is bad for the birds)
Bubbles
Biodegradable Confetti
Rose Petals-- natural  not artificial/silk
Applause
Clappers
Sparklers (night wedding)
Natural Lavender
Bells
Tiny Poms (must be cleaned up)
Ribbon Wands
Leaves
Miniature Beach Balls
Paper Airplanes
Butterfly Release
Balloon Release (check laws and ordinances in your area)
Fake Snow (probably needs to be cleaned up)
Glow Sticks (night wedding)
Ribbon Pulls
Silly String
Whistles
Fireworks (night wedding

Whatever you choose as your grand exit, make sure it is displayed in a beautiful way. Using the cardboard box that the bubbles came in isn't very attractive..... Use bushel baskets for a fall wedding, galvonized buckets for a barn wedding, decorative baskets from a home store.... the display is important!

Think outside of the box!

I saw photos from a wedding in a neighboring town where the bride and groom put rose petals on the ceiling fan blades. Just as the bride and groom kissed, the fans turned on and tons of red petals came showering down. The looks on the faces of the guests were priceless!

Imagine walking under a bridge or balcony as guests toss petals, leaves or confetti from above!


Pair your exit with a unique getaway vehicle--- vintage bikes, a carriage, a classic car, golf cart, tractor and wagon, lawn mower, four-wheeler.... Think about what is meaningful to you two.... Make sure you will be able to enter and exit the vehicle in your dress and that you won't catch it on fire with the engine!

DIY Glittered Clothespins

If you read my "A Night for the Girls" post, then you read about how I didn't get to use these gorgeous things. I was very bummed, but they are still so pretty and so easy that I have to show you how to make them. I made mine black and clear just to match my party, but imagine these things pink, white, brown.... with festive sparkles or girly glitter. The possibility are endless. You could also decoupage them with paper to match your theme, but I've never tried it.

Please don't judge my photography. My sister is the photographer, not me. I have a point and shoot camera and I'm lucky to get good pictures from that. I've never studied how to know what kind of ap. to use and f/200 blah blah blah thingy to choose. I usually shoot on Auto and look for the green hand to pop up and tell me it's clear! haha I was also painting these at night and had zero natural light until the next day when I got the pics below....

ignore the dirty window and sill! yikes!

What I started with

Black paint and a sponge brush (14/$1 at Michaels on sale)

How I started

NIGHTMARE! By the point of trying to get into nooks and crannies, I was thinking that buying glittered clothespins would have been a better idea!

I ended up holding each clothespin and jamming the sponge into each crevice to try and get as much paint as possible on it. My left hand was covered in paint

When they were painted and dry, I covered them with craft glue and rubbed it in with my finger.



I already owned the paint, glue and glitter (I'm pretty excited that I have enough craft supplies in stock that I can actually say that!) That tacky glue I have had since 2004-2005. That stuff never runs out!



I sprinkled the glitter on, rolled the paper up and dumped the excess back into the tube.

When I decided to make more, I hooked all of the clothespins to a dowel rod and SPRAY PAINTED them..... oh my goodness ya'll, I can't even tell you how much easier that was! I then repeated the glue and glitter process.
Please don't hand paint yours...BIG mistake! Spray paint is the way to go!


Planning to make these for your party? Please send me a picture of how they turn out for you!

A Night for the Girls

A dear friend of mine isn't getting married until June 2013, but is moving in one short week and will only be home TWO times before her wedding. One trip back will be for Christmas and the other to be another wedding (and we're squeezing in her bridal shower in that same trip), so we decided to have her official bachelorette party this summer! We are all going to have a big sleepover at my house (be sure to look for pics of THAT party next year) the night before the wedding, but this was the party for the games, dancing and naughty decor.


WARNING! This page is for Adults ONLY!
Please exit if you are NOT over the age of 18!



























Besides the price of the room and the food that we bought, the price of the party was only about $50! This is the 5th bachelorette party we've had in our group, and we've not thrown away much. I keep totes in my basement of all of my party supplies with labels. The Bachelorette tote just keeps expanding!

We had ONE HOUR to decorate and be across town to pick out bridesmaid dresses. It wasn't nearly the amount of time that I was prepared for and not everything got done, but it was still fun.

I made these little babies, and didn't get to use them. Tutorial soon!
Ignore my dirty window. I was trying to get the glitter to look pretty and the natural light helped.

Kiss kits for each attendant. Tutorial soon!

Favor pack for each attendant. 12 boxes for $1 at the Dollar Tree. Designed the tag and printed it on cardstock.(I did trim up the edges, but forget to take "after" photos.) Painted the clothespin and glitterized (that is SO a word!) it myself. 

Mock up at home

Have to throw in a little zebra at EVERY bachelorette party

This was purchased for my party and it leaks horribly, so it just gets used for decor!



Ignore the spacing--- it wasn't straightened yet. We had an hour to do everything,
so I was snapping pictures when I could.
This was made with $2 of posterboard, $3 of ribbon, $1 diecut letters and about $2 of tissue paper.
This was made to be hung on the curtains (with those gorgeous clothespins!), but with the layout of our suite, it wasn't practical because the window was in the bedroom, which was on the other side of the bathroom from the living room part of the suite. Luckily I bought tiny Command Hooks for $3. No damage to the walls!



balloons, zebra material, paper lantern and blindfold. The paper lanterns are left from my bridal shower.
I tell ya, I'm a party supply hoarder.

Kiss the Stud was $3 from the party supply store. I mixed it up by having the girls wear BRIGHT RED lipstick from the Dollar Tree to kiss him instead of just using the lip stickers. It was hilarious!

Bachelorette party cup left from another party, pencil caddy and ribbon to hold favors, $.50 of scrapbook paper (bought on sale!) favor box used for prize, paper lantern and a leopard scarf to cover the base of the lamp.

We couldn't find anywhere to stash the phone, so it stayed out.
I threw out a zebra necklace, another pencil caddy of suckers, paper lantern and a $.20 black boa bought on clearance after Halloween.

We had a "Panty Line" but because we couldn't hang ribbon across the curtains, we didn't have anywhere to hang the line, so they just stayed on the back of the couch.
Each girl brought a pair of undies similar to what they would wear. The bride had to guess who brought which pair. Our bride did HORRIBLY! haha

You always have to have naughty game, right?!? This was my budget breaker! It cost about $15 at the adult store, but we had a lot of fun with it!


Shopping List:
Clothespins $1-- glitter and paint were already in my stash
Balloons $4
Banner $8
Paper supplies $5 from the Dollar Tree (in purple!) and Target (zabra)
Favors: $10
Ring Toss $15
Prizes: $4

I already had: paper lanterns, zebra material, 2 bachelorette banners, naughty straws and cup, bridal tiara/sash/beads/etc, sketch pads, crayons, blindfolds, scarf, pencil caddies, fishing line, tiny clothespins,

I had about $10-15 in supplies that I didn't use--- streamers, balloons, more table cloths, etc.



Because this is the 5th Bachelorette party for the same group of girls, I had to dig pretty deep to find games we hadn't played multiple times.
We played:

I hate sex because:
I had all of the girls think of their least favorite household chore. They then wrote down why they hated it, without wordy details. They then had to say aloud, "I hate sex because" and finish the sentence with what they had written. We had answers like "because it makes my back hurt" and "because it takes so long and it gets dirty so fast." We were laughing so hard at this one! It was a great mood setter!

Chick Flick Quotes:
We had started the party by watching Magic Mike, so I thought adding a movie themed game might be fun (and we hadn't ever played this one). I found 15 quotes from famour chick flicks that had to do with love, weddings, friends or naughty things. The girls had to match the quote to the movie.

Name that Drink:
Our group of girls do not drink... so what better than having them name naughty drinks! haha
I found the names of the naughty drinks and found synonyms for each of the words: intercourse on the sand, azul spheres, burst my fruit, etc. It was difficult because we don't drink, but we had a good laugh at all of the names!

Mad Libs:
This game is a favorite, but I had to get creative! We had done the "free printable  bachelorette mad lib" a couple of times, so I wanted to mix it up. I found another naughty one as my base and made it a little dirtier. The girls wrote down words as they gave their cue "1. verb, 2. adjective, 3. room in the house" and then I had a posterboard with the mad lib written and the blanks numbered. Each girl read aloud. The bride had tears running down her face from laughing so hard!

Price is Right:
This is another favorite. I printed off the pictures and description of about ten items from the website of a local adult store. The girls each wrote down the price as I played my best "price is right beauty." After each item was described and prized, I gave the actual retail price. The girl with the closest price without going over won a point for the game. The girl with the most points won the game.

Pictionary:
Our group plays pictionary almost every time we are together, so what better than to play bridal pictionary. They broke into teams of 3. Each group had a huge sketch pad. We took turns alternating who picked the clue from the stack of wedding words. I showed the artist on both teams, said "go" and the first team to guess correctly got a point. Team with the most points won.

Ring Toss

Kiss the Stud

We watched Magic Mike, played games, ate, and then went dancing. It was a great night with the girls! Be looking for more posts with tutorials of the clothespins and kiss kits!

Favorite 13--- Don't judge a book by its cover



Thoughtfully Simple



My suggetion: Mix centerpieces of books, apples, vintage school supplies, flowers, and chalkboards. Stand some stacks of books up with pretty bookends, or lay them out flat and turned to a favorite page.

To save money: beg and borrow...  Have you heard me say that before?? It's my motto. Don't be afraid to ask around. Teachers, parents of young children, novelists....ask around to different types of people based on your theme. And as always-- hit up used stores and yard sales!

The event: Bridal shower, baby shower, back to school bash, birthday party, wedding, graduation party, book group party

My spin: depending on the event--- make the stacks of books themed (Golden Book, Dr. Seuss, Poetry, love stories, research). A set of encyclopedias would provide many books that are all about the same size. Many of them are trimmed in gold or silver and would make pretty centerpieces. If you can't find enough books in your theme or that have a pretty cover, wrap some in brown paper and stamp the spines with words or titles.

Branch out: Use books as the centerpiece for your Beauty and the Beast party. Pair them with tin can vases for a vintage party. Use only books of photography or art for a dramatic art show. Use all children's books and decorate with a 'bedtime story' theme at a baby shower or child's birthday party.

Splurge:
You can take the whole book idea in a few different directions.... Use the whole "school theme" or make it more like a library/den.... or use research books for a wedding of a scientists or mathematician.
--- pair the books with alphabet letters, flash cards, pencils, crayons, composition books, school lunch, lined paper, etc. Vintage or Modern--- you decide. Also throw in some stuffed animals that match the book characters.

--- make wreaths from pages of a book or into pommanders have a typewriter or library index card guest book, give book mark favors, use quotes or phrases from books on your invitation and in your vows, title tables after favorite books, use a book as the ring bearer pillow, etc.
--- Send library card invitations
--- Having a party for adults? Decorate part of your home to look like high school lockers and let guests doodle and decorate them.

--- Rent or borrow a giant chalk board like coaches use and allow guests to write messages in your new 'photo booth' area.
--- Cover the tables in chalkboard paper and use chalk to label seats for place settings, or allow guests to doodle.
--- Buy or borrow an apothecary table or library index cabinet for your guest book table, cake table or dessert display.
--- Set the mood at your party with a den/library feel. Use large bookcases, leather chairs/sofas, lamps, and coffee tables to create seating areas.


Happy Planning!
Krista

Favorite 12-- Diamond Rings

First of all---if you haven't checked out Kara's Party Ideas, you really need to. What an amazing site! While I was looking for ideas for a bachelorette party and bridal party breakfast, I stumbled upon this picture. I've also seen it floating around Pinterest! Tell me, how C-U-T-E are these?!?! Unfortunately, the Etsy seller has quite a pricetag on them. They are $36 for 24 of them... $1.50 for diamond cutout plus the price of donuts.... THAT is a bit out of my price range for a home party, but I love the idea.

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 My suggetion:  Try cutting out a diamond on your own....or... print a picture of a diamond outline in a pretty outline color to match your party, adhere it to a toothpick and voila! You might also ask around for Cricut cartridges... one might have a diamond design?

The event: Kara's theme was Jewelry. I plan to use it for a bridal party breakfast. Also try it for an engagement party, bridal shower, jewely party (Lia Sophia and Premier), Girl's birthday--- princess, dress up, etc.

My spin: I think this could also work for full sized donuts. Not as delicate, but it might still be cute.

Favorite 11- Take me out to the ball game!

Baseball season is in full swing! (no pun intended! hahaha) Baseball themed parties (and showers) are all the craze lately!

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My suggetion: ditch the figurines...Unless it's a party for a kid, keep the decor simple and classic.

To save money: beg, borrow and steal... OK-- maybe not steal, but beg and borrow. Ask local sports enthusiasts what baseball equipment you can borrow. Use the empty space trick to save on fillers--- use a jar inside of a jar or place a large object in the middle and pour the filler around it. Use green moss in bowls or vases for grass.

The event: Fourth of July, baby shower, bridal shower, wedding, birthday party

My spin: Love the peanuts... How about some centerpieces with cracker jacks (or popcorn) as well?? Or use the same idea with a long vase and filler, but add a small Louisville Slugger bat laying on top of it?

Branch out: Host a full outdoor sports themed party with golf, football, baseball, soccer.... Keep green as a common color (grass) and make centerpieces and decor out of all of the equipment and balls. Add pennants, whistles, ref jersies, etc.         Switching gears---- the peanut filler would be great for a circus themed party, as well!

Splurge: You have to set the tone of the party with a invitation that memics a ticket to a ball game. Name your house the __________ Field. Have guests sign a ball, bat or jersey. Dress up your tables with miniature bats, or even use them to spell out words or names. Serve baseball cupcakes complete with red 'lacing.' Buckets and wheat grass can be planted and grown before the party. Create a concession stand with hot dogs, pretzels, beer (if appropriate), popcorn, coke and candy. Send guests home with big league chew and cracker jacks! (If it's a shower you're hosting--- send guests home with pancake batter with a note saying "Hey batter batter!")

Happy Planning!

Krista at Sweet T Events

Favorite 10 for the Fourth of July!

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My suggetion: DIY your table cloth. Buy an inexpensive plain tablecloth and paint your own stars and stripes, or buy a painter's dropcloth. Use painter's tape to make off your stripes and stencils for stars. Really crafty? Sew on some stars!

To save money: Same thing--- DIY and buy paper products like they did. Easy clean up and bold colors-- two pluses!

The event: Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Flag Day

My spin: Switch out the dark vases for white or silver boxes, vases, or containers for a more modern  approach. Paint the stripes in a darker red and tea stain the 'white' for an antiqued flag.  Also, I would create different favors.... perhaps the firecracker licorice that is all over Pinterest. I also think I would ditch the flags in the centerpieces--leave them simple.  Maybe switch the chargers for something with a little more sparkle?

Branch out: Add bandana and make the colors darker, and you're on the verge of a cowboy party! Replace the containers with jars, toy wagons, hats, boots..... So many options!

Splurge: Host a full Americana party. Serve punches in red, white and blue. Provide popcorn in white and white striped bags. Dip pretzels in chocolate and sprinkle and themed sprinkles. Wrap silverware and adorn with a small flag or sparkly tassle. Add a flag cheesecake or cherry delight to your dessert table. Use bandanas as napkins. Fill vases with white roses, hydrangeas, or peonies. Create pennants and banners from textured and printed scrapbook paper or fabric scraps. Throw in pies, sweet tea, red and blue fruits, ice cream, lanterns (paper and real), hot dogs, tissue poms, wooden crates, and buckets... And you've got an all-American backyard barbeque!

Planning...Planning...Planning

Party Season is in full swing... I am currently working on three parties! I cannot give away too many details for obvious reasons, but I am planning a hotel bachelorette party, a shabby chic birthday party and a winter lodge party.

Bachelorette Party:
Pink, Black, Purple and Zebra!
Naughty Games
Sparkle
Lips/Kisses
And of course some unmentionables....

A dear friend has poured her heart into bachelorette parties for 5 of her friends, including myself. She has made them so much fun and spent a ton  of her own money on favors and decor. She deserves something amazing! Check back in July to see what I planned for her....and all on a budget!

Gender Reveal Parties

Has anybody else noticed the Gender Reveal Party craze??!? It's crazy how popular it has become to announce the baby's gender months before its birth and in a party form! I think the idea is adorable! If you're planning one, here are some ideas....

Always have guests vote!

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Guests can vote simply by marking a tally or writing their name under a gender, by wearing a colored pin, or by wearing the color the represents what they think the baby will be.


How to reveal!?!?

I've seen the reveal as simple as the parents announcing the baby's name.... Cute!

Or, you can go a bit bigger....

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Some parents are creating surprise lanterns filled with confetti of the gender color.
You could have a lantern for each guest, or just one fo the parents to pull.
(I would hate to clean up the confetti from 10-20 lanterns!)
I guess you could do the same with a pinata.



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Many parents are filling a box with helium-filled balloons!
The parents could already know and just surprise the guests...or...
have the ultrasound technician write down the baby's gender and develop the
information to the store for the balloons to be done and the parents to pick up later.
I personally like that the balloons are hooked to the bottom of the box. Makes a cute cluster for the photo.

I think the parents above may have also used leis to represents their vote... another cute (and budget friendly) idea.
You could also use mardi gras beads, boas, stickers... there are so many ideas!



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Tint the filling or inside of the cupcake. (This source used natural dye instead of artificial.)
I think you could do this reveal at least 3 different ways:
1) The parents know, take a bite and reveal to guests.
2) The parents don't know, take a bite and reveal to guests.
(The sealed gender results from the ultrasound tech would be delivered to the baker.
3) Have a tinted cupcake for everyone to eat-- parents could know or be surprised as well.

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This party used cookies to reveal. You could do it the same way as the cupcakes above.
The link to how to make the cupcakes has been closed though :(

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Same thing as the cupcakes... parents know or don't know...

You can have the baker decorate the top with phrases like
"What will it be? Open to see!" or "Pink or Blue... We love you!"

Got a bigger budget??

I saw where one couple passed on their sealed envelope to a firework company and the whole party was surprised with color specific fireworks!

You can plan a whole themed party...

Waddle it be? Duck themed.... all yellow

What's it gonna bee?   (This was actually the first gender reveal party that I saw online almost 2 years ago!)  Bumblebee themed with yellow and black

Whooo wants to know?  Owls fill the party with this idea!

Whatever you decide to do... I'm sure your guests will love it!