Happy Monday!

Wow, we are having another glorious winter day here in Southern California.  Temps in the mid 70’s today. Ahhh, I am starting to feel Spring just around the corner!

I thought I would share a bit of Baby Girl’s 9th Birthday party.  If you have learned anything about me, it is that I LOVE to throw a party.  But also that i do not believe you need to spend hundreds (thousands!) of dollars to have a great looking party.  Trust me, when it comes to kids, do you really think they care that you paid $5 per cupcake or $100 for the cake?  If you have an unlimited budget, awesome!  Call me and I will plan an EXTRAVAGANZA for you!

But for the rest of us, it is about using what you already have, borrowing what you don’t and purchasing inexpensive items that can be “dressed up” to look more fabulous.

One of Baby Girl’s birthday gifts pulled double duty~ A large canvas (gift) on a vintage easel (gift) with a sign welcoming the party guests. I always have a sign, picture, wreath… at the door signal that we are having a party. I like making guests to feel welcome from the moment they come through our front gate.

Nothing makes a party like personalizing the decorations.  Bunting and banners are always a popular and inexpensive go-to party decoration.

Until I have the budget to purchase a Cricut (a machine that cuts shapes, letters…), I think hand-painting the bunting works just as well.  And who doesn’t love to paint? I added sparkly buttons to dress it up. The banner cost around $5 to make.

And you thought a feather boa was just for dress up! Well, here is another use for a boa~ Dress up your chandelier.

Behind the curtains panels is my bedroom window.  I found these panels at Ikea in a 2 pack for $19.  The frame came from Ikea as well.  A family friend has a banner shop and he did the vinyl for me.

Each party guest had a bucket with their name for water, napkin and utensils.  I found them at Ikea for $1 each.  Baby Girl LOVES straws and don’t they look adorable in the mason jars?  Yes, you have seen me use them before (Valentine Cupcake and Hot Chocolate party).  It is an easy go to for any party!

When planning a party, I always come up with a color scheme and use those colors over and over; from the invitation (I need to make another one from this party because they were SO DARN cute! But of course we gave them out and forgot to keep one! Ugh!), to bunting, plates, napkins and candy.  I bought the taffy, watermelon balls and white malt balls in bulk (approx. $20), the labels on the jars were made from leftover paper from the invitations.

I found this idea on Pinterest and just knew the girls would go crazy for it!  And they did.  And so did the teenage boys!  I think Buddy and his friends had as much as the girls leaving the treats and hiding.  I have to admit, playing ding-dong ditch and hanging around to watch the door open was very funny!

The party revelers~They had to have their picture taken at my friend’s house that was our first Ding Dong victim!  I think a new tradition was born that night!

Having a party soon?  Contact me and I can help with styling your event!

Until next time,

Butterscotch Lady