Woodland Door Decor

The first thing your Party Guests will see when they arrive is the Front Door - so it's important to have at least a little sample of what will be inside to greet Party Goers as they arrive.  

For our Woodland Theme Party - I made a duo of Simple Wreaths.

A basic straw wreath form wrapped with torn fabric strips and decorated with felt and burlap flowers. 

 

I couldn't decide if I should keep is simple.....

 

Or add some Woodland Creatures. 

You can read more about how to make this wreath at The Pink Elephant blog here. 

Woodland Party Decorations

I love putting together a themed Party - and I usually handle all the elements myself {invitations, decor, flowers, food, games etc}.  Planning and executing all those details are what I love the most.

What I'm really bad about is:

1)  Taking pictures of all those elements (because I'm usually rushed right to the last second)

2)  Posting and sharing (see above)

I'm playing a little Catch Up on the Woodland Party that we hosted a while back.  Today I'm posting about the DECOR.

The dining table was set with Tree Stumps, Green Glass, Candles, a Mini Terrarium, Woodland Creatures and lots of moss.

You can see the INVITATION that set the theme here.  

 

I found several woodland creatures - each made from grass and twigs at Hobby Lobby.

I nestled them in beside the tree trunks all around the centerpiece.

 I have a big assortment of apothecary jars that come in handy when entertaining.  Usually they hold some sort of snack or desert.  This time I used one to create a miniature woodland scene filled with Mushrooms, Moss, Twigs and Stones.

It sits atop a huge stump and is guarded by a pinecone hedgehog and some acorns.

Another tree trunk supports a mossy pot filled with white and green flowers and the highest stump is used as a holder for a large 3 wick candle.  Keeping it high above the wood and moss ensures there will be no fire like we encountered last year. 

Even though the tree stumps had cured for quite a while - I set them on glass trivets (not directly on the table) so that no moisture mark the wood table top.  Bits of moss and ferns filled in the gaps.  

The table was set Buffet Style - with utensils and plates at one end - and food platters around the centerpiece. 

The rental company even had these fantastic forged iron silverware pieces.  They look just like fiddle head ferns - couldn't be any more perfect for this Woodland Theme. 

In the Living Room I put together a simple wood bowl of seed and twine balls, an old mason jar with more green and white flowers and a large green glass candle holder. 
 

This color theme was very easy for me to put together without purchasing anything New - because Green is my Favorite Color.  All of these things were tucked away in my closet.  I love the impact that a simple color scheme can make when you pull like objects together.  Green + White + Wood = Fantastic Rustic.  

Each of the guest tables had a small centerpiece incorporating the same Woodland elements.

 Moss, green plants and bright red mushrooms. 

 A tall glass vase from the Dollar Store works as a candle holder - with a tree branch and votive inside, and wrapped with jute.

 

The base is a craft store wood disc covered with scrapbook paper (same one used on the invitations) and distress inked on the edges.  Everything is hot glued in place. 

Lucky for us - we live in a wooded area so the tree stumps and branches (and even the moss) are easy to find.  But if that is not the case for you (as it would not have been if we were still living in Arizona)  - I have noticed lately the craft stores now sell raw cut slices of wood to support this current Woodland Trend.  

There are more details of the Woodland Party to share - so I'm off to do more photo editing.  Stay Tuned. 

Tissue Paper Flowers

One of my favorite things to use for Party Decorations are Tissue Balls.  They are Fun to make - Easy and Inexpensive.

This year for Little K's Big Sweet 13 Birthday Party - I branched out and included Tissue Flowers as part of the decor. 

They are even More Fun to Make - and even Easier than Tissue Balls (because they are only half rounds).

I posted a Tutorial over at The Pink Elephant Blog on how to make these Cute Tissue Flowers.

You can find all the details here.

Torn Strip Fabric Wreath

I'm currently editing pictures from the Cream and White Party we hosted last weekend and will be posting all about it soon.

Here is a Sneak Peek of some of the decorations.

One of my favorite things we made for the party were these Torn Strip Fabric Wreathes that greeted guests at the Front Door.

 

 I've posted details on how they were made over at The Pink Elephant for my Project Thursday contribution this week.  

I'm loving all the Neutral Colors and Textures....considering keeping them up for just a while longer.

Woodland Party Invitation

Every year we host a Holiday Party for my husbands staff.  Since he works in retail, we try to plan the party before the crazy fall holiday rush.  

Even though it is a Holiday Party - it's a bit strange to follow a traditional Christmas theme when the gathering is in early November.

Last  year we had a Harvest Party.  You can see more about the party here and here, and more about how we decorated for Fall here and here.

This year I decided on a Fall Woodland Theme for the Party.

I fell in love with the sweet critters on the Cricut Create A Critter cartridge and knew I just had to incorporate them into the invitations (I ended up using them elsewhere too).

Yes - I agree - the invitations are a bit "cutsie" for a work staff party - but I just couldn't resist.   

Plus, I think I ended up making other elements of the party "sophisticated" enough that it didn't end up looking like a childs birthday party.  

The card was pretty simple without a lot of details (other than the layers of the cricut cut squirrel).  I ended up making 18 of them, so after number 10 or so....I was pretty happy the elements were basic. 

I really enjoyed working with the primarily Green and Brown color palette (for the card, and other details of the party).  Even though it looks somewhat Christmasy with the pops of mushroom red - it definitely reads Woodland.  It also helps that my favorite color is Green - so I had lots of stuff already on hand to work with.

I'll be back to share more details of the Party soon.

School is a Hoot - Back to School Breakfast

We were happy to host another Neighborhood Back to School Breakfast this year.

Although we cheated a little bit....

....and had it a week later - instead of on the First Day of School. 

Everyone was a bit more relaxed and over their first day jitters.

The morning started with a group of cute little Owls set up to greet the guests.

Yep - made from Toilet Paper (and Paper Towel) rolls.

Painted bright colors.  Embellished with dotted cardstock Wings, Bows and of course Google eyes.

The Owl Theme started when I came across these great free printables from  Delightful Designs.

The "Going Back to School is a Hoot" framed art is the front cover of a mini book (part of the free download).  I just enlarged the cover page and used it in a Frame. 

The polka dotted matte was made at the same time we were painting the TP Owls using foam daubers to create dots on a plain white matte.

I found these lightweight plastic frames at Michaels and added another copy of the same (enlarged) Art Print and hung them on the front door with a green ribbon. 

Little K and I had so much fun making these owls.  There was an entire army of them lining the table and counter tops.

We just couldn't stop. 

The bookmarks were also part of the Delightful Designs free download (find it here).  I mounted them on colored swiss dot cardstock and added a glittery ribbon and some iridescent glitter glue embellishments.

 I thought about adding more google eyes - but decided that would make the bookmarks too thick. 

Each of the kids place settings had their Name and another personality filled Owl.  I used the Cricut Hoot n Holler cartridge. 

On the inside of each of the Name Cards was a silly school Joke.  I used the pages from the mini book download from Delightful Designs and cut them apart so each child had a different joke to tell. 

Nothing funnier than a bunch of budding comedians and the breakfast table.

These Owl Snack Bags were made using the Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge.  The head is one of the scalloped frames folded over a cellophane snack bag.  Yellow and white punched circles for the eyes,  google eyes in the middle of the circles and a bright beak.

Inside they were filled with a tropical granola mix.  The brightly colored fruit bits worked perfectly with the colorful owl theme.  

I wanted to add a few bows, but ran out of time. 

In keeping with our annual tradition - we took pictures of all the kids (and the moms too).

I planned on using large paper mache numbers (painted in the tropical theme colors) for each of the kids Grade Numbers, but I couldn't find ones that were big enough.  So I modified and used a wooden heart, painted and embellished with a Cirucut cut Number.

Would you believe we already had this glass owl flower vase?  The perfect finishing touch to our Back to School is a Hoot theme.

I hope the first Days/Weeks of school are going great for you and the kids.  We are off to a great start - looking forward to a wonderful year ahead.  

Rainbow Spa Birthday

Pre-Teen - Tween - Teeny Bopper

Whatever you call it - I've got one.  

Little K turned 11 recently, so I guess there is no denying it.  We are full blown into the Tween Years. 

Her actual birthday was at the beginning of March, but trying to coordinate schedules meant that she wasn't able to have a Party with her school friends until last weekend.

This Years Theme:

Rainbow Spa Sleepover

Here is the invitation that I showed off earlier:

Made from Paint Chips (with very little help from me).

The SPA table was set up in the Kitchen Nook, so I used the buffet to layout snacks and sweets.

Rainbow Fruit Kabobs

There had to be some healthy options as well...after all it is a Spa Party.  Rainbow Veggie Tray.

I wanted to make paper cones to hold the caramel corn, but couldn't find any paper that was cute enough, so instead I folded Rainbow Polka Dot tissue paper into a clear cup.

Gum Balls (that I thought would be just for decoration....but they ate nearly half the jar), and Rainbow Twizzlers in fun fruit flavors.

Cake Pops decorated with Rainbow Colored sugar and drizzle.

 Jars of flowers lined the center of the Spa Table.  Paper Zig Zag Streamers and a Rainbow Balloon Swag that was planned to hang over the front door, but it was wet and windy and I was afraid they would PoP so we moved it inside.

There were 7 girls that attended and each one of them was assigned one of the 7 Colors

(notice how the Tween Girl Rainbow includes Pink)

At the Spa Table there was a basket of beauty supplies, and a Robe for each of the girls in their Color.  The Rainbow Rugs (from the seasonal bins at Target) were too cute to pass up.   

 They applied home made beauty treatments including:

Warm Lemon and Mint infused Towels (to open up the pores)

Oatmeal Scrub (to cleanse)

Strawberry Astringent (to tighten the pores)

And Lastly - an Avocado Mask with Cucumber Slices (to hydrate and moisturize).

Don't they look so Relaxed and Happy?

Everything was going great - until we discovered one of the young ladies was allergic to Avocado!

Yikes! 

It was a bit scary - but after we removed the avocado and let her rest with a clean cool towel over her face - the hives cleared up and the itching stopped. 

Thankfully her mom came right over with some Benadryl and she was able to get back to the Party Fun. 

They made some Jewelery.  Painted their Nails. Played Truth or Dare. Talked - Whispered - Giggled. Watched a Movie and got a few hours sleep.

I premade some Body Scrubs using essential oils and Sea Salt for each of the guests to take home. 

Her Cake was layers of vanilla frosted with plain white buttercream.  

Adorned with a sweet  Rainbow Flag Topper.

I'm kind of obsessed with these little flags.  I though they were so cute - it was the only decoration the cake needed.

Except for the "11" candles.

Did I forget to mention I added a little color to the inside of the cake.

Rainbow - of course!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Little K.