{party envy} beatlemania!

July 20th was a pretty popular day in history - ok not really, but some pretty cool & history defining things happened on that magical day:

B-E-A-T-L-E-M-A-N-I-A

Teen girls crying & the world absorbing British pop culture was in full force in the 60s. July 20, 1964 - The Beatles released their "Something New" album in the US.

Here's some Beatles' inspired party details to celebrate that day!



These birthday invitations by 45wall design are AMAZING! The fab four would be proud :)
It is so sweet that her 3 yr old has a case of Beatlemania! Check out her party details - they are just as great as the invitation! John was my dad's favorite too. . . 




Suzanne of SHEPAPERIE (an amazing talented woman!) created this groovy party for her cute-as-a-button twins: Elle & Liam - aren't those just adorable names?!?

The party invites included 14 Beatles songs in the wording! Mad skills.... Love the photo booth touches with Beatle-esque mustaches and the classic round, Lennon glasses.

“The Ultimate Beatles Fan Bag” party favors included:

- a set of Beatles mustaches
-rock star sunglasses
-"I Want To Hold Your Hand” clappers that lit up
-”Kaleidoscope Eyes” (a kaleidoscope)
-hippie beads
-a microphone
-a “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” ring (Ring Pop)
-“Penny Lane” (a roll of pennies)
-rock star candy
-and Beatle Juice (a juice box)



She found records at the thrift store and printed new labels and used them as plate chargers. Great idea to use "Ticket to Ride" tickets as napkin rings - this would be a great idea for a Circus/Carnival themed party too!

"All You Need is Love & Sweets" station:

The dessert table incorporated many Beatles references such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” sugar cookies, Marmalade Skies Jam, Apple Records, Marshmallow Pies, and “Yellow Submarines” made from Twinkies, Dot Candy and straws.  
I'm digging those DIY record stands she made & those guitar pops - too cute!

Food Stations:

Menu
– I AM THE EGGMAN deviled eggs
– LET IT B-L-T bites
– HERE COMES THE SUNchips
–YELLOW SUBMARINE sandwiches
– SGT. PEPPERoni pizza
– THEY SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY cake

 Drinks
- “FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. SPRITE”
- “SGT. DR. PEPPER”
- Custom BABYMANIA wrapped labels.

To top it all off, there was a salad bar: "Octopus' Garden"  - Smart idea to serve the toppings in cylinders with tongs: adds height & helps control cherry tomatoes from rolling around :)

There are tons more pictures and details over at SHEPAPERIE & The Hostess Blog - check it out & get your Beatles' fix.

Beatles fact about me: My middle name is Michelle after the Beatles' song: "Michelle"


Peace Out! 


Amanda

{party envy} red, white, & wagon

Hope everyone is having a safe & happy 4th!
 
While you are enjoying your BBQ & brew, here's a little birthday party inspiration that is in perfect harmony with today's color scheme: red, white, & blue!

Vintage Red Wagon Birthday Party 



This darling vintage party caught my eye over @ Kara's Party Ideas where it was featured as the "party of the day"!

First of all, I am 100% in love with red & aqua as a color scheme! Also, Radio Flyer's are such an icon of childhood (& remind me of USA too - perfect party to feature today!). One Stone Events did a phenomenal job with all the elements of this 1st birthday: country, gingham touches, grass tablecloth, mini pies, and the ever-so-popular pinwheels.

Favorite Tablescape Details

1. What a great way to incorporate store bought goods into your theme; these apple pies are just perfect!  
2. Love the simple topper(s) on the cake: paper & ribbon fixed onto skewers.
3. Two of my all time current faves: glass bottles & striped paper straws.




Great idea to use crates to create multiple levels on your drink station. The banner & photo bunting in the background are just darling!




Totally crushing on bamboo cutlery for use at parties right now! Love how the napkins are tied in gingham & burlap, and stored in an old sifter :)



A great spin on a guest book/words-of-wisdom, very age appropriate!

Take home treats are just as cute!
Paper sacks with chalkboard labels, tied with bakers twine, and stamped with the party's main design inspiration: a red wagon. Classic Cracker Jack is an extra surprise sweet with a sock monkey keeping guard thanking the guests with the take-home-goods!


Keep on celebrating our independence! 

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} sundae baby shower

I really enjoyed this Ice Cream Sundae baby shower by Jordan @ Polka Dot Prints featured via Bump Smitten.

The touches of natural and baby elements in the printed goods & decor definitely made this party summery & sweet!



The dessert table included lots & lots of toppings: cookie dough, marshmallows, nuts, and sprinkles - to name a few! Love the styling of the sprinkles in brown paper bags and presented in an Asian steamer.




I really like that the invitation has different images/patterns in each letter of baby shower - very whimsical & fun. The labels are attached with mini clothespins; a great touch for a baby shower.




Love the pink lemonade in glass bottles along with the wooden spoons. I'm really digging the galvanized touches to this party as well!

This frozen treat of a baby shower is delicious eye candy!
Great job Jordan!

*****Don't forget to enter the Flair Designery Giveaway this week*****

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} ice cream party - printables!

We all scream for ice cream!

One Charming Party created such sweet party inspiration & included the printables too!





Get the party started with all the sweet party details with these pastel delight invitations!

Don't forget to let your guests know how much you appreciated them with the "cherry-on-top" thank you notes.




Of course we can't forget the cake! Want to add that extra special cool element to your cake? Add chocolate ganache, an ice cream cone, and of course sprinkles to make it look like melted ice cream. All the kids will love it!  :)



The guest of honor needs to stand out! This is a great spin on a party hat - ice cream style!

The tutorial is available by the girls of OCP.



Package their take home favors in an ice cream container filled with goodies & topped off with the FREE printable, and tied shut with ribbon & a spoon.

***Don't forget to enter the Flair Designery Giveaway this week***

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} preppy graduation party inspiration shoot

Congrats to all of the recent & soon-to-be graduates!
You definitely deserve it! All the hard work & assignments the past 4 years has finally paid off!

*Special shout out to my Lambuth Alpha Gam sisters :)

Celebrate your recent accomplishments with a graduation party!

Loving the Preppy & Vintage style of this inspiration shoot by Tinywater Photography featured on Wedding Chicks.









This shoot is full of houndstooth & argyle - true patterns of a collegiate! The elements of keys (unlocking wisdom), book page flowers, apples, books, and typewriters play up the academic notes & undertones.

This would also be a darling engagement party theme for a teacher or college sweethearts!

Grab your "Yay" pennant because this party graduates with honors!

Check out Wedding Chicks for more inspiration shoot photos.

Enjoy!

Amanda

{notions and notes} cinco de mayo

I am a little late to get on the Cinco de Mayo train, but I wanted to do a quick MEGA post of all things that put me in a "fiesta" mood!

Printables



These muy caliente printables are by Kim @ TomKat Studio.

The FREE collection includes cupcake toppers/tags and invitations. Love the bright colors!




I just discovered Annika's blog: Cakes Likes a Party. Instant love!

She made a Cinco de Mayo FREE & Awesome ;) printable banner to share. Thanks!



How About Orange's compliment bunting came up in my Facebook feed a month ago, and I have been looking for the perfect occassion to share it!

This would be so fun to put up in one of your co-worker's cubicle to brighten their day.




Definitely one of my go-to sites for printables: Catch My Party! 

This collection by Brady @ 9 to 5 Mom includes: a 5×7 invitation, party circles, drink flags, water/beer bottle labels, and a “Cinco de Mayo” banner. Essentially everything you'll need to throw one great fiesta!


Crafts & Tutorials



These mini pinatas by @ One Charming Party have been the Cinco de Mayo crush of blogland!

What a perfect craft to do with your kids (or a festive party favor) to celebrate the 5th of May.




Chelsea @ Lovely Indeed shared this DIY Papel Picado tutorial @ The Sweetest Occassion.

This is perfect if you want your "Mexican Bunting" to say just the right words or have the perfect design.

I'm thinking some chevron details?!?




This would work great for a fiesta & a luau!

The Paper Parasol Topiary tutorial is by Craft Stylish and was found via the Hostess with the Mostess' daily blog.




What's a cake without mini-bunting?

The tutorial by Jenna @ EatDrinkPretty featured on A Subtle Revelry (recent blog crush...) that shows you how to do it "Cinco de Mayo" style.



Food & Parties



Cinco de Maia!

A 1st birthday south-of-the-border style!

Kelly @ WH Hostess created this festive party and it was Kara's Party Ideas winning feature. Congrats & gracias for sharing the party!!!




The Sweet Adventures of SugarBelle never disappoints!

The chips & guacamole are actually cookies & icing! How fun! These would also be perfect as a sweet trick on April Fool's Day. Visit her site for the complete tutorial.



Don't fret! This smore station is just one of the drool-worthy images from the Mexico Inspired Wedding Shoot featured on Style Me Pretty.

The style & inspiration behind the shoot is classic Mexican with vintage & rustic touches.

So beautiful....

I hope I haven't put you into inspiration overload!
I am on my way now to make "Churro" cupcakes, wish me luck!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} classic school themed baby shower

Here's another beautiful school themed shower that I found featured by One Charming Party.



The invitation is modeled after a vintage flashcard, darling! The snippets to the right are FREE printables that you can use to throw your own school themed party.





The pretty pastel color scheme works so well with all of the classic books and shabby chic fabrics. The flashcard bunting is soooo cute.




Vintage school cards are held up by flower frogs to label the vegan party spread.




What a simple touch that just adds so much! I heart the baby pencil :)

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} A+ teacher baby shower

Staying with the teacher theme, this baby shower by Whitney @ The Smith Family gets an A+!



The mom-to-be is a teacher and Whitney played off of that to create a breath taking baby shower.

Above is the invite *swoon*. Makes me think of flash cards and writing tablets

**This party was one of my first blog finds when I discovered the wonderul world of blogs last year**



Lunch consisted of salad, tomato bisque, and chicken salad sandwiches served true cafeteria style. The guests ate off cafeteria lunch trays - what a great touch!

Love Whitney's homemade bottle wraps and rickrack runner.




After a full day of school, everyone needs an after-school snack! Chalkboards were used to list out the goodies, and I really like that the snack included childhood classics such as PB&J and cookies.

PS - I hate using my handwriting as well! Chalkboards were waay worth it!



Covered books were stamped with different subjects and stacked as part of the party decor.



Favors: paper lunch snacks filled with hot tamales and a note from "mom"!

Party features that I really liked:
*Flashcards hung above the tablescape
*Giant chalkboard listing the "schedule" for the day
*Handwritten advice from the mom-to-be's students
*Personalized composition book to keep the party details in

Get the visual over at her blog!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} goldilocks and the three bears birthday party

I have had this breathtaking party starred in my Google Reader for far too long!!!!

The design concept behind the party by Paula @ Frog Prince Paperie was to make it feel & look like being at the bear family's house. You were a guest celebrating baby bear's birthday.
As Goldilocks would say, "This party is just right"



The dessert table definitely keeps up with the “bear” theme, everything is bear shaped or related to something that Goldilocks or a bear would eat.

Crates, trays and tiny dollhouse chairs displayed "bear-tastic" desserts: baked porridge topped with maple frosting and cinnamon, marzipan acorns, honey cupcakes, chocolate covered bear pops, bear sugar cookies, and all natural lollipops. Paula has graciously supplied the recipes for many of her sweets featured at the party.



Here's a close up of one of my favorite desserts at the party, marzipan acorns.

Look at that presentation!?!
Loving those mini chairs - it is hard to not love something when it's itty-bitty!


Perfect place to dine? A bed of course!

A twin, four-poster bed from Craigslist was converted to the perfect kid-sized table with a little paint and plywood. Ribbon and tulle was tied to the back of each chair with little bears that had each kid's names on them. A "sheet" tablecloth and wooden bears from goodwill dressed up the table even more.



Each guest had their own boxed lunch with a strong warning for Goldilocks to leave the lunches alone! Pre-packed lunches makes meal/snack time a breeze....




Paula made "3 bears" themed art as decor for the party. Chairs, porridge, bear silhouettes, and of course you can't forget Goldilocks made the perfect subject matter for this party!



What's a party now-a-days with out a photo booth?!?

Photo props included: papa bear’s bowler hat and big floppy tie, bear ears, mama bear’s apron, and a chalkboard to write sweet notes to the birthday boy. This was a great activity for kids and grown ups!



Of course you can't forget the parents! The last little detail of decor outside was “Just Right” for mama bears and papa bears.

Bear labeled beer & wine fit in with the scheme perfectly - if I do say so myself!
This post is just a sample of all the "beary good" inspiration and tons of visual yummy-ness found at this party. Take a look at posts I, II, III, IV, and V for more deets and resources.

Enjoy! (I sure did)

Amanda