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Editorial Staff
Gemma Touchstone - Founder/Editor-In-Chief Elva McLaughlin - Executive Editor Jeanette Dianda - Photography Internet Manager - Anthony Mesaros Content Manager - Isabell Romero Sales Manager - Helena Richardson
Regular Contributing Editors Capes & Crowns Lillian Hope designs Events by Kate Forever Your Prints Sweet Treat Stands
Special Thanks
to everyone who makes Party Style Possible with each issue, and sharing your style with us !
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Brotherly Love Pg. 9
Hearts of Gold pg.12
Love letters Pg. 19 Fashion Frenzee by KoKo Blush and Co. Pg.27
Sweet Exchange Pg. 31 Lettuce & Co brings the mod-
ern out on Pg. 35 Debbie Kennedy features a real party with Always Alison
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Pg.55
Capes and Crowns gets frisky with the crazy love of Jessia &
Roger Rabbit on Pg.58 Full interview with Kara of Kara’s Party Ideas and she shares her super styling in her kissing booth theamed party on Pg. 63 Get ready to rock this Brown Sugar Cookie recipe on Pg.
Love Potion party mixed up
llots of party idea’s on Pg.45 T he anticipated 40th birthday party feature by Confettie
Fair on Pg. 50 and the Top 10 Stylist from Australia share
there style begining on Pg.98 Milk & Cookie valentine
to inspire Pg.76 Camera Party by Party Style Studio Pg.85 Dino’s Roar Birthday Party
Pg.88
The 2014 crazy cool things gifts to go gaga for guide Pg.93
Pg.79
Alice & the Quessn costumes visit us online - www.ilovepartystyle.com
e-mail us - PartyStyleMagazine@gmail.com
call 949.324.0347
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Who doesn’t love spots? as told by the lovely ladies and Lettuce & Co “Our latest little client, eight year old Poppy most definitely loves spots, she loves red too.. so what better idea than to combine the two for her 8th birthday? Concept, Design and Styling & Stationery Lettuce & Co Style. Eat. Play, Cake and biscuits Cakes & Biscuits by Lisa, Sweet Desserts Sweet Empire, Photography Willem-Dirk du Toit, Selection of Partywares (lolly bags, red buckets, glass milk jars and apothecary jars) Little Big Company, Cake stand and Balloon emerald + ella”
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What a scent-sational party theme, sweet for Valentines Day. I love this idea for bridal showers and sweet 16 birthday parties aswell ... Think of all the ways you can add your own personal style to this fun and inovative occassion. 44
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I like cookies with a lot going on. Chips of chocolate, swirls of peanut butter, butterscotch morsels, chunks of nuts, stuffed with caramel, and other delightful candies. Sprinkle cookies, chocolate chip cookies, frosted cookies – the more stuff going on, the better. But not all the time. Sometimes I prefer a pure, simple cookie. And ladies and gents, today’s recipe is just that. It’s full of one of my favorite flavors: brown sugar. Moist, molasses-spiked brown sugar in every single bite. Soft, chewy, and kissed with cinnamon. These simple brown sugar cookies are undeniably impressive. PARTY STYLE Magazine
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They’re not at all “plain” – rather, today’s cookies are exploding with flavor. You’re going to start with some melted butter. Most of the cookies I make call for creaming softened butter with the sugars. However, sometimes I prefer to use melted butter instead of creaming it. Melted butter, when paired with the correct ratio of dry ingredients, increases the chewy factor in the baked cookie. Since you are using melted butter, you don’t need a mixer for this cookie recipe! You’re also going to use only brown sugar in this cookie recipe (except for the rolling… more on that below). 1 and 1/4 cups of dark brown sugar bring so much moisture to these baked cookies, as well as a modest molasses flavor. Light brown sugar may easily be substituted here! Please note your cookies will be lighter in color if using light brown sugar. In the original chocolate chunk cookie from which this recipe is adapted, I call for 1 egg and 1 egg yolk. Today, you just need 1 egg. 1 egg and less flour than the original recipe. Don’t worry, these cookies are still just as chewy! You’ll also add a touch of cinnamon to the cookie dough. The cinnamon is completely optional, but the pronounced brown sugar flavor paired with the slight kiss of cinnamon spice really takes these cookies to the next level! http://sallysbakingaddiction.com
Ingredients: 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (use 1 teaspoon if you love cinnamon) 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, melted 66
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1 and 1/4 cups (250g) dark brown sugar (light brown is OK) 1 large egg, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar, for rolling Directions: Toss together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium size bowl, whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together until no brown sugar lumps remain. Whisk in the egg. Finally, whisk in the vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a large spoon or rubber spatula. The dough will be very soft, yet thick. Cover the dough and chill for 2 hours, or up to 3 days. Chilling is mandatory. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and allow to slightly soften at room temperature for 10 minutes if you had it chilling for more than 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 325F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside. Pour the granulated sugar into a bowl. Take 2 Tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball, then roll into the sugar. Bake for precisely 8-9 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently press the top of the cookie down with the back of a utensil or even use your fingers. You’re trying to obtain a crinkly top. Place back into the oven for 1-2 more minutes. Cookies will be puffy and still appear very soft in the middle. That’s ok. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for ten minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies stay soft and fresh for 7 whole days at room temperature. Cookies may be frozen up to 3 months. Rolled cookie dough may be frozen up to three months and baked in their frozen state for 13 minutes.
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Buttery, crisp and classic vanilla, these sugar cookies are ideal for decorating, snacking, tea-time or gifting. If the steps are followed, they will keep their shapes well and won’t expand while baking.
Ingredients 6 cups (750 g) all-purpose flour, sifted 1 teaspoon (8 g) salt 2 cups (454 g)(4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened for about 20 minutes at room temperature 2 cups (400 g) sugar 2 large eggs, cold 1 tablespoon (15 mL) pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 mL) pure lemon extract Instructions In large bowl, sift together flour and salt. Set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until fluffy and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Add vanilla and lemon extract and blend. Remove 1/2 of dough from bowl, make a ball, and place on a large piece of plastic wrap on counter.Wrap the sides of wrap over the ball, then press down with the palm of your hand and make a disc about 2” thick. Finish wrapping the disc with the plastic wrap. Repeat with 2nd half of dough. Chill both discs of dough for about 45 minutes. Remove one disc and remove plastic wrap. Place on top of a large piece of parchment paper (I use a silicone rolling mat underneath to ensure it doesn’t slip while rolling, but you can even dampen counter so the parchment sticks a bit.), then place two 1/4” wooden dowels on either side of your dough, then another sheet of parchment paper. Roll dough (this will require a bit of elbow grease for the first few minutes until it softens up a bit) so it’s flush with dowels--they will ensure that your dough is even thickness. Preheat your oven to 325° F. Slide your parchment paper and dough onto a board, then place in refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Remove from fridge, and cut your shapes using the 70
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cutters of your choice, placing them on a baker’s half sheet lined with a silicone baking mat (or parchment), with 2” clearance around each one and the edge of sheet. Place sheet with cookies into freezer for 15 minutes before baking. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Cool sheets on wire racks for 10 minutes, then gently remove cookies and place on wire racks to finish cooling. Notes *May be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. They also freeze well. (I use Silpat Mats and clean Nordic Ware aluminum bakers half sheets, and I reserve the half sheets for cookie baking only, to keep them pristine.) sweetapolita.com
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If you have boys then you know dinosaurs are a big part of life for them! My twins wanted to have a dinosaur party for their 6th birthday and I wanted to make it a little different than what had already been done. I wanted something simple but to still have an impact. I contacted a good friend of mine, JoAnne from Oh Goodie Designs and we bounced ideas off of each other. I wanted gold glitter, burnt orange and army greens with mixtures of burlap, plants, and wood. I started with the dessert table and wanted a simple background so I choose to make a fabric bunting to hang. From there I purchased two large letters from Hobby Lobby and spray painted them the orange and green. I found gold glitter spray and topped the letters off with that. I also purchased the pieces of tree stumps and drilled holes into them to hold the cake pops. I did this to a wooden stool I purchased and spray painted as well and placed the lollipops in it. All of the dinosaurs used throughout as decor where spray painted to match the theme and some where topped with a layer of the gold glitter spray. I wanted to keep with the rustic feel so most of the trays that the desserts sit upon are various wooden serving trays and cutting boards purchased at Home Goods. Just by chance I found wooden tiered spice racks and that is what the cupcakes are displayed on. The desserts consisted of candy apples dipped in caramel and rolled in crushed butterfinger, volcano brownie pops, dinosaur cake pops, cream cheese frosted cupcakes, fondant topped chocolate covered oreos, lollipops with some having edible images, mini chocolate dipped donuts, nutella filled macarons, crunchy brigadeiros, and matching soft sugar cookies. The party favors consisted of bite size dinosaur cookies bagged and ready to go along with mini mason jars filled with rock candy. Each lid of the jars had a miniature dinosaur attached and painted. We also had party horns with mini dinosaurs glued on the ends. The children’s table was covered with cream canvas fabric and a burlap runner. The centerpiece was a glass vase and filled with sand, dirt and rocks, along with faux fern placed in the center. Each placemat was a 12x12 scrapbook paper with a bamboo plate and some rock candy for fun. I painted the ends of the wooden spoons and forks with mod podge and sprinkled with gold glitter. Each were tied with burlap ribbon. The drinking glasses were empty Starbucks containers that I wrapped with birch and 80
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twine. A felt dino tail was attached at every chair for each child too! I used kraft colored berry baskets and filled each with a snack of fruit in a bamboo cup and a sandwich in a kraft french fry box. There was also vegetables placed in bamboo cones for an extra crunch. For the acivities, each child got to dig out their own dino that Oh Goodie designs created just for this party! Each child got to pound each dino dig with a mallot and pull out their dino. We also set up three metal tubs filled with play sand and dirt, then we hid skeleton dinos throughout. The children got to use some really unique wooden scoops I found at Home Goods to dig out the dinosaurs. Mini paint brushes were available to brush off each find. The party ended with a huge dinosaur pinata and lots of candy to go!
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Top 5 Party Shops in AUSTRALIA 1. Little Big Company – all in one shop full of all types of unique party excessories. www.tlbc.com.au 2. hipp – amazing store that donat to charity and sells a beautiful banded line www.hipp.com.au
Top Party Stylists in AUSTRALIA
1. Sugar Coated Mama – www.facebook.com/sugarcoatedmama 2. Sharnel Dollar Design – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharnel-Dollar-Designs/114843805219386?fref=ts 3. Red Wagon Events www.facebook.com/redwagonevents 4. Styled by Belle www.facebook.com/StyledByBelle 5. Ashdown & Bee www.facebook.com/ashdownandbee 6. One Lovely Day Events https://www.facebook.com/OneLovelyDayEvents?fref=ts 7. The Butcher, The Baker, The Stylist & Creator – www.facebook.com/butcherbakerstylist 8. Once Upon a Table www.facebook.com/onceuponatableevents 9. Sooti Events www.facebook.com/sootievents 102
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3. Inviteme – full of one of a kind designs exclusive to Invite me www.inviteme.com.au 4.
Paper Eskimo – simply stylish entertaining www.papereskimo.com
5. Lark – offers unique pieces and inspiration for any event. www.larkstore.com.au
How long have you been in the business? I have been in event management and party styling for longer than I can remember however I only started Confetti Fair in November 2012. What inspires you? My son, other stylists, nature, magazines, a song… there are so many things in everyday life that I come across that inspires me. It could be the way a new font is used in an advertisement that makes me think about new elements for the fair. What do you love about your job? That I wake up every day and get to explore and share things that make people smile. Everything about Confetti Fair is about celebrating
How to you think party trends differ between the US and AUS? To be honest I don’t think there is a huge difference, or if there is it doesn’t take long for Australian stylists to catch on. Something that is huge in America is the barn venues, which is a bit harder to find here in Aus-
tralia so it is only things like that are different between what we are doing here and what is happening overseas.
What is really on trend in AUS now?
Industrial chique, elements of hard materials such as metals being mixed in with softer vintage pieces. I can also see the use of antlers/deers slowly creeping in, so enchanted woodland with a slightly twisted element to it.
What do you think of social media and what do you think it has done for your business? I love social media, without it Confetti Fair wouldn’t be where it is today. It allows people to connect to one another instantly, for ideas and creativity to be shared. The only downside, I feel, is that you can very easily lose ownership of your work with others copying or just directly reusing your images, which is a shame. Do you think our industry needs a certification for stylists? Personally, no. To me you can’t teach someone to be a good stylist, you can teach them ground rules, and details like that but you either have an eye for it or you don’t. Just because someone is certified doesn’t make them a good stylist. It goes for any type of design; graphic design, interior design, the person may have the qualifications and ticked all of the educational boxes but they lack the passion and the eye for design.
How do you think becoming a certified Party Stylist would benefit a professional in the event industry? I am not sure that it would. Of course it would all depend on who the teachers were, who the people are that say yes you can be a stylist. If those people lack credibility and respect in the industry then the certification is just a piece of paper.
About your Big 40 PARTY! I have often found that I have a conflict of personalities; the very strong take no nonsense me and then the very soft, girly side of me so I wanted something to represent that for my 40th, a milestone celebration. The antlers coming out of a bed of flowers not only showed the type of person I was but it was a very fun design to work with.
I used a colour theme of pink, mint green and lilac with accents of gold and the décor included storm shades with handmade gold antlers and flowers, lots and lots of hanging bottles and jars filled with flowers and fairy lights, vintage velvet lounges and wooden crates. I love the whole enchanted forest feel but wanted it to be a little bit more mysterious and grown up so I used a lot of fairy lights but had them on ground level so it threw the light around. The dessert table consisted of chocolate covered Oreos with an edible print of the emblem used on the invitations, cookies and cream Oreo cake pops in splashes of pink, mint and lilac with a dash of gold, vanilla, salted caramel and strawberry Macarons with gold highlights, three tiered cookie stacks with gold antlers or flowers, strawberry mouse and vanilla pudding in little jars with gold deers sitting atop, chocolate bars and the showpiece gold cake with antlers and cascading flowers. To keep with the enchanted woodlands feel faux grass was laid, a black chalk board feature wall was painted and the walls under the benches were also painted black to help throw the light and to give the illusion of depth to a smallish area. Brushwood fencing was used as walls to enclose the open space.
Credits: Concept, styling, décor, backdrop and stationery – Confetti Fair www.facebook.com/confettifair Cake, cake pops and oreos – Minnie’s Sweet Creations https://www.facebook.com/Minniessweetcreations?fref=ts Cookie stacks – MaR-valicious Bites https://www.facebook.com/marvalicious.b?fref=ts Macarons – Sweets for Me https://www.facebook.com/ sweetsformesydney?fref=ts Furniture (lounges, chairs, jars, trestle table) – Ashdown & Bee www.facebook.com/ashdownandbee Furniture (gold lounge) – Something Borrowed Vintage Hire https://www.facebook.com/somethingborrowedvintagehire?fref=ts Photography – Haven Lifestyle Photography https:// www.facebook.com/HavenLifestylePhotography?fref=ts
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DIY Bunting Tablecloth Patty Smith - Party Stylist and Custom Party Decor Sweet Treat Stands www.facebook.com/sweettreatstands www. SweetTreatStands.etsy.com
www.SweettreatStands.com When styling our lil’ guy’s Vintage Donald Duck County Fair Birthday Party I fell in love with this DIY bunting tablecloth I came across online. I have a thing for tablecloths! They have to be different. I’m always thinking up ways to try and make a tablecloth stand out. I haven’t seen any tablecloths like this which makes me like it even more! This tablecloth is one of two that I made for the party. One of the things I like about this tablecloth is that it doubles as a picnic blanket. It’s also a tablecloth that I feel is definitely a keepsake for our lil’ boy and that we can use every year for his birthday. This bunting tablecloth is beautiful, colorful and eye catching. It can be customized with just about any color and fabric prints you like. It’s also available as a custom order in my Etsy shop.
Bunting Tablecloth Supplies: Store bought tablecloth: I purchased a white tablecloth from Home Goods. They run about $10 - $15 approximately depending on size of tablecloth. This tablecloth was for a table that seats 6-8 people. Variety of colored and printed fabrics: I purchased my fabric from Joann’s, Hancock’s and a local quilting fabric store. I used (7) different prints of fabric. This gave me either three or four triangles of each fabric. I used about 1 foot or slightly less for each fabric print. Grosgrain ribbon color of your choice: You’ll need approximately the diameter of your tablecloth. I used a 5/8” ribbon and about 7 ¼ yards. From Home Goods. They run about $10 - $15 approximately depending on size of tablecloth. This tablecloth was for a table that seats 6-8 people. Variety of colored and printed fabrics: I purchased my fabric from Joann’s, Hancock’s and a local quilting fabric store. I used (7) different prints of fabric. This gave me either three or four triangles of each fabric. I 104 www.ilovepartystyle.com
used about 1 foot or slightly less for each fabric print. Grosgrain ribbon color of your choice: You’ll need approximately the diameter of your tablecloth. I used a 5/8” ribbon and about 7 ¼ yards. Wonder Under: Also known as double sided fusible web. I used about 4 ¼ yards. Thread color of your choice: Thread to match bunting fabrics and/or ribbon. I used shimmery red quilting thread for all of my stitching. It was recommended by a couple of employees at the store.
Directions for Making Bunting Tablecloth 1. Make a triangle template any size you want out of card stock for the bunting. I used my Cricut Expression machine to cut out the triangle. I cut it at 9 inches. My triangles are 9 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide across the top. 2. Iron the Wonder Under onto the backside of fabric. 3. Trace the triangle template onto the Wonder Under paper backing. 4. Cut all the triangles/bunting. I used (25) of them for my 6-8 person tablecloth. 5. Peel the Wonder Under paper backing from bunting. 6. Iron the bunting onto the front side of the tablecloth. Don’t worry about exact placement, “the more random the better!” 7. Placement of the ribbon: Place the edge of the ribbon right above the edge of the top of the triangle/ bunting. It’s up to you if you want to pin the ribbon in place. Use the same color thread as the ribbon and start anywhere. 8. Sew the ribbon in place. Lay ribbon flat on your fabric or on some areas you may twist and turn the ribbon as you’re connecting the bunting. I sometimes twisted the ribbon for a whimsical look and to add variety. I did sew the ribbon flat on the areas I twisted and turned so that the ribbon wouldn’t pull or tear. 9. I also suggest sewing each triangle so that it doesn’t start lifting after a few washes. You can use matching colored thread for each fabric color/print or just one color for all. Using one colored thread will help save some time on changing out the thread and bobbin. (Be sure to follow the washing instructions.) 10. Sewing the ribbon on might seem harder than it actually is. Don’t fret; it’s easier than it looks!
Voila! Your beautiful tablecloth/picnic blanket is all done and ready to use! Tablecloth, cake stand and photography: Patty Smith of Sweet Treat Stands, www.facebook.com/sweettreatstands and www.SweetTreatStands.etsy.com Photography: Wendhy Jeffers Photography (see watermarked photo): http://wendhyjeffers.com/blog/ Resources: http://seasonsgredings.com/2012/07/ bunting-tablecloth/ and http://www.u-createcrafts. com/2012/08/bunting-tablecloth-tutorial-by-seasons. html
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Meet Kara Allen of the Hit Blog Kara’s Party Ideas
would search all over the internet for party ideas and could never find a place that had it all when it came to party inspiration, descriptions, recipes, vendor lists, party supplies, tutorials and good party images (I’m very visual, so seeing the parties in front of me instead of just reading about them was really important to me).
How have you grown over the years? How has social media affected your business? Over the past 5 years, Kara’s Party Ideas has grown from a small personal blog to a full-blown top Google ranked website. Only a few months after creating my blog I started getting comments from people who loved my work. Those comments turned into viewers and clicks from across the globe. I didn’t know where they were all coming from! Social media, especially Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram have also played a huge part in helping to get the word out about KPI.
What is your favorite part about your business? Styling parties of course! Tell us about Kara Allen! Where you’re from, Who’s on the Kara’s Party Ideas team? My team consists of myself, my assistant (and bestie) what you love and your family. I grew up outside of Salt Lake City, Utah and now I live nearby my hometown. I am the mother of three little boys (7,6, and 2) and wife to a wonderful, supportive husband. I love spending time with my family, decorating my home, traveling around the world, and of course, planning parties!
What was the inspiration behind Kara’s Party Ideas? How long have you been in business? I wanted a fun place to post and showcase all of the many parties I styled so people could get ideas and inspiration from them. I am also a secret computer nerd. I took HTML classes way back in high school when the Internet was brand new. I have always loved computers and web design. I started KarasPartyIdeas.com five years ago when there were hardly any party sites or blogs out there. I 106
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Amber Pugmire, and my assistant (and sister) Kimberlee Wilford. My loving husband, Ben, also plays a big role (outside of his full-time job). I then have a wonderful customer team behind my shop.
What are your top six go-to party supply must haves?
Cake stands are number one. A cake stand can dress up any dessert table or party! My other go-to party supplies are banners, linens, backdrops, jars / containers, and ribbon. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your business and experience it’s brought you so far? I don’t know if I could narrow it down to just one thing. I have had so many moments that I’ve ask myself, “is this really happening?” I will say that it’s so exciting when “bigwigs” and major brands recognize my work and know me by name. I feel so incredibly
blessed. The support and recognition means so much and truly motivates me to keep going and keep dreaming.
What advice do you have for party planners everywhere?
Start planning ahead so you give yourself ample time to plan your event. Not only does it save a lot of money, but it makes the process fun and enjoyable, cutting out a lot of the stress. Also, remember to have fun because planning a party can be so rewarding. It’s also very important to have a good attitude, especially on the day of the event. No matter how hard you have worked on the party it seems that there’s always something that goes wrong or something that doesn’t quite turn out like you had planned. This is okay. Know that something like this will happen and just roll with it! Your party will be a huge success no matter what because of all the hard work you put into it!
What do you think is trending for 2014?
I see confetti + paper fringe (used for banners, balloon accents, cake toppers, tablecloths and more), customized piñatas, shimmery table linens and gold accents becoming evermore popular in 2014!
Where can we get more of Kara’s Party Ideas?
KPI is constantly growing! Beyond the KarasPartyIdeas. com website, you’ll find more in my book, Kara’s Party Ideas, on my various social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+), and at my upcoming Australian, Brazilian, and U.S. tours where attendees will be able to spend the day with me as we talk party styling, desserts, food, event planning, blogging, marketing and more! SITE: http://www.KarasPartyIdeas.com SHOP: http://www.KarasPartyIdeas.com/Shop BOOK: http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1462111041 APP: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/karas-party-ideas/ id522964347?is=1&mt=8 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KarasPartyIdeas
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“Love Letters” By Forever Your Prints
Party Printables: Forever Your Prints www.foreveryourprints.com Decorative Sugar Cookies: Katies Creative Baking https://www.etsy. com/shop/katieduran Candy for candy bar and truffles: Stieber’s Sweet Shoppe www.stiebers.com
Description....As told by Megan Hodapp – Stylist Inspiration for this party truly did come from the heart. What’s not to love about Valentine’s Day? We all LOVE love! I wanted to create a rustic elegant vignette, in a beautifully romantic space. Smith’s Flat House provided the perfect venue for the rustic romance feel that I wanted to achieve. The deep red hues in the sweets, floral, and glassware were used to offset the textured backdrop of the stone cave walls. By introducing some vintage pieces, silver accents, and warm tones to a seemingly cold space, we were able to transform it into something warm and inviting. The space quickly became cozy and comfortable with the addition of candlelight, and a lovely fur throw. Rustic romance for Valentine’s Day? Yes, please! Event design, styling, furniture and decor rentals: It’s all in the Details-Megan Hodapp Designs www.meganhodappdesigns.com Event coordination: Obsessed Events http://www.obsessedevents. com Photography: Nephesh Photography http://www.nepheshphotography. com 108
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Cake: Sugar Rush Cakes, Etc. Terrie Stromberg terriessugarrush@gmail.com Photo Shoot Location: The Smith Flat House www.smithflathouse.com Floral arrangements: Placerville Flowers on Main Www.placervilleflowersonmain.com Red Heart Paper Straws/Bottles: Via Blossom http://www.viablossom. com Candy Apples: Roni’s Sugar Creations http://www.ronisugarcreations.com/ Candy Apple Straws: Green Party Goods http://www.greenpartygoods.com/ Model : Kat Boston Makeup and Hair for model: Morgan Merrill www.morganmerrillartistry.com
“Sweet Exchange” by Petits Plaisirs Chocolata Treats
Valentines day is not only for the romantics but for the littles ones that celebrate the love they have for their friends. For this year’s Valentines day sweet table, I created a theme where the kids can come over and exchange cards with one another. I went with the typical colours for Valentines day: Red, Pink and Purple but I added touches of grey to the sweet table. I hand made the flower backdrop. Let me tell you the work that went into these babies! There’s a great tutorial online with the template if you’d like to make them yourself. Very easy, but just time consuming. Make sure to set aside some time before the big party to make there. Once I knew the colour pallet and details to my party, I asked Anabella to design some printables for me. Boy, did she ever! She did such a great job, and was even able to incorporate the grey into them. I was literally jumping up and down in front of my computer screen when I saw them! Roxy always does a great job with my cakes, that is why she is my number 1 go to girl for cakes. She made 3 mini cakes, all with different designs, but was perfect for the table. They were so cute, no one wanted to cut into them. I added macarons, cake pops, cupcakes and cheesecake bites. All in kid size portions. Thanks to Hoopla Events, the kids can take home some of the sweets and their cards in pink and white treat bags. When it cake to exchanging their Valentines Day cards, Ariana and Evan were a little shy. But once that was over, dessert was their reward!
Vendors: Styling, set up and cake pops by Petits Plaisirs Chocolata Treats http:// www.chocolata.ca Photography by LaurelGrace Photography http://laurelgracephotography.com Mini cakes, cupcakes http://www. roxysdesigns.ca Printables by Curious Princess Couture www.CuriousPrincess. com Party Supplies by Hoopla Events LLC http://www.hooplaevents.net Macarons by L’Ange du Macaron http://www.langedumacaron.com
“Love Potion” By
S is for Sweet When you think of Valentine’s Day you think of LOVE, CHOCOLATE,PERFUME and sweet gifts. Things that girls love. A great idea for a Valentine party is to do an interactive station such as perfume making. WE call this one LOVE POTION! Girls love perfume and what’s even cooler they can make their own personalized favorite. Lots of sites have perfume packages that are especially designed for parties. I ordered a kit that came with droppers, bottles, a variety of fragrances and measuring tools. If you are looking for fancy pefume bottles they can be found at home stores. I found some cute ones accented with their own pearl and charm necklaces and glass stoppers that look like diamonds. Who doesn’t love diamonds! A cute matching clipboard can be used to write down all ingredients on a personalized perfume card. Each guest has their own station with a cute ribbon tied box to take home
all of their goodies. I made a LOVE POTION sign out of Valentine paper and ribbon. For my Valentine heart garland I did the same. A black feather bouquet added to the centerpiece. I displayed perfume bottles on a diamond accented cake stand and black framed glass mirrors. I used an antique chicken wire and rustic painted frame to attach my Valentines. The glass droppers and perfume bottles got and extra special touch with little sparklie ribbon. Strings of pearls and crystals adorned the trays to add more glam. This is the perfect little table for your sweet Valentine. Concept and Design: S is for Sweet Photography: Patrick C Photography Perfume Kit: Vetiver Perfume Bottles: HomeGoods Decor: S is for Sweet
“For the Love of Fashion” by
Koko Blush and company all styles avalible on
http://www.kokoblushandcompany. com/
“Red Spotty Love” By Lettuce & Co - Style. Eat. Play
with passion, expertise, professionalism and a touch of spunk, lettuce & co is a full service events company specializing in creating the perfect style for your event. we know that it is not just a theme and decorations that you want – it’s an occasion. M: 0403191129 or 0438055133 E: hello@lettuceandco.com.au Who doesn’t love spots? Our latest little client, eight year old Poppy most definitely loves spots, she loves red too.. so what better idea than to combine the two for her 8th birthday? Concept, Design and Styling & Stationery Lettuce & Co - Style. Eat. Play, Cake and biscuits Cakes & Biscuits by Lisa, Sweet Desserts Sweet Empire, Photography Willem-Dirk du Toit, Selection of Partywares (lolly bags, red buckets, glass milk jars and apothecary jars) Little Big Company, Cake stand and Balloon emerald + ella
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“Hearts of Gold” Costumes and By Events By Kate Models
Our beautiful model dressed in a simple vintage style white lace dress was simply breathtaking. From hair design to makeup, she inspired love. Braving the cold, she made our shoot complete by showing what a true “Heart of Gold” is.
Décor
The beautiful and romantic ambiance of the rustic barn was perfect. Drawing from a gorgeous warm gold pallet, I brought an eclectic vibe to our shoot. There was something about the simple weathered boards, the cold winter snow, and the elegance of our display that felt inviting. Welcome to “Hearts of Gold”. While styling the shoot, I wanted to incorporate some warm brown tones with our gold. Using simple props like suitcases and a vintage radio, we brought warmth to our event. Gold accents like the table, lit candles, and frames were matched with black paper goods.
Sweets & Eats
My main sweet treat for the display was the chocolate cupcakes. Nothing says romance like the sweet taste of cocoa. With gold liners, and beautiful DIY glittered heart and “gold” toppers, these cupcakes were a simple way to draw attention. The beautiful golden trifle featured layers of golden cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream and golden sparkles a top. White wine in simple flutes completed our display. As you can imagine, the chocolate bars were the final indulgence for our shoot.
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Styling Team 1. Styling & Concept by Kate [Katelyn Meekel of Events by Kate] 2. Photography by [Aspect Arts Photography] 3. Cupcake Artistry by [Sweet Spot Cupcakes] 4. Vintage & Rustic props by [The Rusty Nail Home Décor] 5. Hair Design & Makeup by [Alora Harper (Heart of Gold Model & Professional Hair Stylist)] Contributors Website Information 1. Events by Kate: www.eventsbykatelyn.com and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eventsbykate1540 2. Aspect Arts Photography: http://www.aspectartsphoto.com/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ApectArts 3. Sweet Spot Cupcakes: http:// www.sweet-spot-cupcakes.com/ and Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/pages/Sweet-SpotCupcakes/162571013776862 4. The Rusty Nail Home Décor: https://www.facebook.com/rustynaildecor
HOW TO MAKE “GLITTER
HEART Cupcake toppers” Supply List
1. Thick goldcard stock 2. Black sharpiepen 3. Scissors 4. Gold glitter 5. Toothpicks 6. Glue (Regularand hot glue) 7. Hot glue gun Directions 1. On your goldcard stock, either draw or use an outline to sketch a heart. Cut out yourheart shape with scissors. 2. Cover yourheart with a thin, even layer of regular white glue. Quickly cover the gluewith gold glitter. Shake off excess glitter once it is completely covered. 3. Use your hotglue gun and attach the toothpick to the back side of your glitter heart.Make sure to leave at least 1 inch of toothpick so you can put the glitterheart into a cupcake. All done! Add to cupcakes and show your friendshow crafty you are!
HOW TO MAKE “GLITTER HEART Cupcake toppers” Supply List
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Thick goldcard stock Black sharpiepen Scissors Gold glitter Toothpicks Glue (Regularand hot glue) Hot glue gun
Directions 1. On your goldcard stock, either draw or use an outline to sketch a heart. Cut out yourheart shape with scissors. 2. Cover yourheart with a thin, even layer of regular white glue. Quickly cover the gluewith gold glitter. Shake off excess glitter once it is completely covered. 3. Use your hotglue gun and attach the toothpick to the back side of your glitter heart.Make sure to leave at least 1 inch of toothpick so you can put the glitterheart into a cupcake. All done! Add to cupcakes and show your friendshow crafty you are!
HOW TO MAKE “Golden sparkle Trifle” (Made for a group of 12 guests) Ingredients 1. Golden cake(Prepared and baked as instructed on box)-1 box 2. Whip creamprepared (Either homemade or store bought) 3. Chocolatepudding prepared-2 boxes 4. ½-1 cup of chocolatechips 5. Glittersparkles (Edible) Directions 1. Prepare thefirst three parts to your trifle (Cake, pudding and whipped cream). 2. Now the funpart: Layer your cake, pudding, whip cream, and repeat once over. Use apiping bag for your top layer of whip cream and make a decorative design.Gently toss your chocolate chips and sparkles on top to complete yourtrifle! All done, enjoy with guests!
Backdrop Poster : VIP Party
“Brother Love” by Enjoli Bennett Sugar Shack Crafts
http://www.sugarshackcrafts.com Photography and Backdrop by Jei-Angel Digital Design - http:// www.jeiangel.com Party Printables, Cupcake Wrappers, Cupcake Toppers, and Styled by Sugar Shack Crafts - http://www. sugarshackcrafts.com Red Velvet Divine Cupcakes and Strawberry Parfaits by Cupcakes, Boom! - http://www.cupcakesboom. com Flowers by TI Events - https://www. facebook.com/TomasInternational Free Kisses Sign, LOVE Burlap Banner, and Heart Cupcake Toppers by Vanessa Grant Events - http://www. etsy.com/shop/vanessagrantevents White Ruffle Table Cloth by Candy Crush Events - http://www.etsy. com/shop/CandyCrushEvents
Sequin Table Cloth : Candy Crush Events Cake : Gourmet Gals Cakes Cupcake Stand : Fabracadabra Designs https://www.facebook.com/FabracadabraDesigns Oreo & Macaron Stand : Little Loves Boutique https://www.etsy. com/shop/LittleLoviesBoutique Macarons : Indayani Baked Goods https://www.facebook. com/pages/Indayani-BakedGoods/486089088094682 Hand Painted Cookies : Emma’s Sweets https://www. facebook.com/pages/Emmas-Sweets/388650154573184 Quote Cookies : Sweet Baketique https://www.facebook.com/SweetBaketique Covered oreos : Les Pop Sweets https://www.etsy.com/shop/LesPopSweets Cake Pops & Carrot Cake Ups: Tunky Monkeys Cupcake Toppers : Story Book Bliss https://www.facebook.com/StorybookBliss?fref=ts
“Jessica Rabbit” BY Capes & Crowns
Photography : Danielle McCann Purple Curtains: Lushes Curtains https://www.etsy.com/people/LushesCurtains
Painted Letters : Cali Dreamin Hand Painted Letters https://www. facebook.com/Calidreaminofart Jessica & Roger Cutouts : CS Cute Crafts https://www.etsy.com/shop/ CSCuteCrafts?ref=ss_profile
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“Milk & CookieValentine” By Dimply Sweet
was plentiful! To drink we enjoyed organic strawberry milk placed in mini milk jugs, the perfect fit for those little hands! To tie it all together, our sweets table was adorned with cupcakes and some of the most stunning Chevron heart decorated cookies and Milk jugs from Natsweets! We loved the final look to our Valentines “Will You Be The Milk to My Cookie”, however, we can customize any of our themes to fit our client’s needs, just contact Dimply Sweet.
Fabulous Vendors:
After having my sights set on styling a “Cookies & Milk” party for some time, the thought of combining a Valentines shoot seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so! The idea of exchanging decorated heart cookies in place of Valentine cards seemed like the perfect fit! With this our theme was born, “Will you be The Milk to My Cookie” a perfect twist on a Valentines Cookie exchange party! Lately my Love for all things Sparkly has been overwhelming so the thought of combining our traditional Valentine colors with a gold sparkle twist and a touch of chevron seemed to be the perfect fit for a Modern and contemporary Valentines Party! Although our inspiration was to keep this design Contemporary, we could not help ourselves but add a touch of heart doilies for that overall traditional Valentines day look. The Cookie Decorating table was adorned with heart shaped doilies and heart shaped dishes. Various cookie decorating sprinkles to choose from along with cookie icing 112
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Concept and Styling: Amy from Dimply Sweet (with the help from her lovely assistants Sony and Arlene) Photography: Maria Healey Wedding Photography Models: Zachary and Jocelyn All Printed Party Decor: Dimply Sweet Designer Cookies from NatSweets
“Always Alison” By Debbie Kennedy
Always Alison Bat Mitzvah This Bat Mitzvah was filled with sophisticated colors like cream and chocolate with beautiful Rhinestone enhancements. We chose a quatrefoil pattern of brown and cream which complimented the patterns through the moroccan style resort. The candy table really set the tone for the rest
of the event. We draped it with a magnificent curly willow tablecloth which gave it a more elegant look. This table was filled with Cream and chocolate candies to make the table pop. Each Candy jar had its own unique look with variations of Flowers, feathers, Ribbon and Rhinestones buttons and brooches instead of the normal candy tags. For the escort cards we decided to do popcorn escort boxes decorated with brown ribbon and layered with different shades of paper tags with the guest names. Then we placed them on risers to showcase them better. We added some beautiful floral arrangements and a fun sign telling everyone to POP over to their seats which was a fun welcome for the guests. The adult tables were decorated with stunning chandeliers with hydrangea and rose arrangements. The kid’s tables had hydrangea lollipop arrangements that were wrapped in quatrefoil pattern paper that was also used for the custom candy bars. The kid’s place setting each had an Always Alison Card that told them fun facts about Alison. The adult tables had a beautiful layered menu’s with rhinestone buckles and ribbon. There was also a Allie-Tini Signature drink served butler style for the kids to enjoy which included dry ice, cranberry and ginger ale. To end the night a doughnut station and hot chocolate bar was opened up for everyone to enjoy. This included different types of chocolate chips, whip cream and marshmallows. Vendors: Event Planner/Designer/CandyBuffet: www.debbiekennedyevents.com Chandlier Rentals: www.debbiekennedyevents.com Venue: www.montelucia.com Printables: www.squaredpartyprintables.com
Chair covers & Candy table Linen: www.wildflowerlinens.com Flowers: www.ajsfinefoods.com Photographer: Thompson Image Photography www.thompsonimage.com Entertainment DJ: http://www.h2htpe.com Debbie Kennedy Debbie Kennedy Events & Design Debbie@sugarplumit.com ph: 602-228-3639 www.debbiekennedyevents.com “
“Kissing Booth” By Kara’s Party Ideas
Vendors:
Event Styling, Invitations, Dino Shirts, Fabric BuntingWhimsically Detailed Photography- Pagette Callender Photography Dino Tails- Bone Head Studios Dino Digs, Party Horns, Palm Tree Stirrers- Oh Goodie Designs Berry Baskets & Kraft Food Liners, Straws, Bamboo Cups & Cones- Cute Kids Food Box Dino Wreaths- The Knock Knock Factory Mini Glitter Name Buntings- The Purple Pug
Desserts:
Candy Apples, Volcano Pops, Macarons, Mini Chocolate Donuts, & Cakes- MJ Occasions Brigadeiros- Simply Brigadeiro Dino Cake Pops- Maskipops Lollipops- Vintage Confections Cookies- Artfully Delicious Fondant Cupcake Toppers & Fondant Topped OreosLove & Sugar Kisses
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope all of you, my fabulous fans and readers, have a truly wonderful day filled with love. I’ve been so excited to showcase my latest celebration with you on this special day. This sweet KISSING BOOTH VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY was so much fun to style and execute. We had a blast with this party in the KPI studio. The set up was just how I imagined it, the children were absolutely adorable, and the party was a huge success! Party Styling/Design- Kara’s Party Ideas Photography- Kara Allen Striped Valentine’s Girls Clothing- Mustard Pie
“Roar” By Miranda Konieczny
Whimsically Detailed
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Themed Party Fashion By Patty Smith - Party Stylist and Custom Party Decor Sweet Treat Stands www.facebook.com/sweettreatstands www. SweetTreatStands.etsy.com
www.SweettreatStands.com Party planning isn’t just about the party anymore. It’s also about custom clothing to match your party’s theme. Just for kids? Nope, Mamas and Daddy’s too! Custom outfits to match a party’s theme are all the craze. It may be as simple as a matching top to as elaborate as dressing up from head to toe. Depending on the theme, costumes may be appropriate. But lots of times it’s full tilt trendy and fashionable. Polyvore. com can be a great resource too when trying to go with more of a fashion statement. Girls, boys and parents alike are joining in on this fun trend. We deck out our parties making sure we cross every “T” and dot every “I” on décor and details but party planning doesn’t stop there. Boyishly cool and girlishly charming apparel + party décor meet eye to eye. I, myself, love to dress up to match the theme of most of my lil’ boy’s parties. Many of our guests bring their kids to our parties dressed in attire to match the theme and sometimes the moms do too. It’s fun! It’s a magical time to immerse ourselves in the party’s theme. For the grownups, it’s a time to allow ourselves to be kids again. After all, what’s a themed party all about?
Vintage Donald Duck County Fair Birthday Party This party was all about the Duck, Donald Duck! The setting was a vintage county fair. My boy’s wore custom designed shirts by Christine of The Baer Essentials to resemble Donald Duck’s suit. The birthday boy’s custom designed shirt had a suspender look to lend a vintage flair along with the paper boy hat he wore. Our baby boy also wore the cutest shirt with a bowtie and vest to coordinate. Did you see the wooden Donald 114
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Duck buttons? Too cute! I wore a lovely 1950’s striped full pleated dress from Vintage Frocks of Fancy for the birthday party. For the birthday photo session I wore two lovely dresses from Michaelann’s vintage shop! I also wore a really cool handmade vintage style Donald and Daisy Duck romantic silhouette charm bracelet from Ellen of Gears Jewelry. Even Daddy participated in the birthday photo session. The birthday photo session was lots of fun! Some of the photos even remind me of one my favorite movies, “The Notebook”. Perfect for Valentine’s Day! Concept and Styling: Patty Smith of Sweet Treat Stands, www.facebook.com/sweettreatstands and www.SweetTreatStands.etsy.com Beautiful Photography: Chelsea with Hazlebury Photography, http://hazleburyphotography.blogspot.com/ The Baer Essentials: www.thebaeressentials.etsy.com Gears Jewelry: www.gearsjewelry.etsy.com www.polyvore.com: from casual to dressy trendy and fashionable outfit ideas.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Birthday Party From our baby boy’s name, memories of reading the book in junior high, and thoughts of a relaxed summer setting, the party theme was set and the party planning began. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn bring thoughts of overalls, boys playing and being mischievous, the Mississippi river and more. Footloose and fancy free! Our lil’ boys wore the most super-duper cutest overalls I’ve seen! Rhiannon from Little Orange Shop custom designed these “A Good Day OVERALLs” for our lil’ baby boy’s birthday photo session and birthday party. Big brother donned a pair of these awesome overalls too. They fit so nice and look great! They even have a cute bounce when you walk. I love the names of the fabric colors too, Blueberry Linen and Mud Puddle Brown. The overalls are darling! I LOVE the birthday hat! Gorgeous! It fit our lil’ baby boy perfectly and it matched perfectly too. Janet with Dainty Couture designed the birthday hat and this is one item that I didn’t specify at all how I wanted it designed. The style, colors and design matched to the “T”. I love the burlap and colors she used to create this birthday hat. I provided her the theme, colors and photos of the overalls and she designed it beautifully. Concept and Styling: Patty Smith of Sweet Treat Stands, www.facebook.com/sweettreatstands and www.SweetTreatStands.etsy.com Beautiful Photography: Dana with Urban Vision Studios, www.urbanvisionstudios.com and Wendhy Jeffers Photography (see watermarked photos), http://wendhyjeffers.com/blog/ Little Orange Shop, www.littleorangeshop.etsy.com Dainty Couture, www.daintycouture.etsy.com
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