polkadots & pirates {the blog}

Avery's Par-TEA!

2010-12-31T01:56:00.000-06:00

Hello peeps! Did you miss me? I didn't think so. =)

I thought I'd pop on over here since we hosted a successful birthday for my daughter Avery yesterday. Here's how the year-in-the-making party evolved...

The thought of a tea party actually started when my mom and sister and I were in a little shop up north two summers ago and found little plates shaped like teapots. My mom said, "That would be a cute theme some day when Ave is a little older!" The planning for her party for last year was already well underway at that point.

I loved Avery's birthday last year...the decorations were everything I love about parties. Loved the flowers, loved the colors, loved everything. So at that party my sister and I decided that she would use the same goods for my niece Finley's party. I fixed everything up right away so that Finley could use it...but that only made me like it even more.

As I've said before, now that there are also 5 grandchildren on each side of our family, birthday parties seem to come so often so we've started to combine parties where we can. At that party of Avery's last year I decided that Tate and Avery should probably have a family party together in January this next year instead of each having a separate one so my family could save on driving. Long story short, I decided it would be perfect if I had a kids party for Aves right at her birthday time and then a family party later, which allowed me to REUSE her last year's decorations!! Avery and I discussed a tea party theme {which turned into a par-TEA thanks to a great idea from my friend Heidi. Thanks Heidi...love you!}.

I started collecting little things right away...in fact when I pulled it all out this past weekend my husband said "Haven't you had that for like a year?" Well, yes, actually, I have.

Okay...talky, talky, yada, yada...onto the party.

First, the invitations...

We also decided somewhere along the line {probably about the time we decided to buy Ave an American Girl doll for her birthday} that we needed a twist, so we decided it would be a "dolly & me par-tea" instead, which could not have worked more perfectly. Guests were asked to bring their favorite doll and to wear a dress or skirt.

The invitations were inspired by last year's flower theme and invitations so we could incorporate them, but also the biggest inspiration for the party: this Michael Miller fabric which just so happened to coordinate with the paper and fabric from last year perfectly. Sometimes the stars just align. Can you say that when you're talking about fabric? Well, I just did. So there.

Onto the actual party...we decided to have the party over lunch time so that we could incorporate a little lunch into the day. The guests arrived at 11:00. First the girls did a little running and playing in Avery's room. This also allowed me 5 minutes to snap a few pics of the decor that I meant to take way earlier that morning, but you know how time flies and I was lucky I was dressed when the guests arrived! I didn't even have time to put lipstick or jewelry on. =) I did manage to get Avery and her dolly Hadley into their dresses.

Most of the decor I put in our dining room for the tea party. I also used a long table that I put on tubs on the floor so it would be the right height for the girls to sit by in our living room to do projects for the day.

When all guests had arrived, I settled them down by letting each girl color their own teapot coloring sheet {which I designed and printed with each girl's name on it...except for Avery's! She said, "Mom, don't I get one?!" Oops!! A couple seconds of designing and pushing print and we were all good!"}

When they were all done coloring, they each had a chance to make their own necklace with my favorite beads...if you have a daughter I would seriously suggest going and buying these...HOURS of fun!

These are two of my favorite photos from the day:

Paige showing me her jewelry and Ava's reflection in the mirror as she checks herself out...

After all guests were well adorned with necklaces, bracelets, and rings, we decided we better use the opportunity to get a group photo before anyone ate and got dirty. So we put a hat on everyone {including their dolls!} and got a few pics.

Since our littlest two guests wouldn't pose for a pic with Avery because they were too busy trying to retrieve the beads their moms told them they couldn't have, their little bums will have to do.

Then it was time for tea! The menu consisted of deli sandwiches, fruit kabobs, macarons, and tea that strangely tasted something like apple fruit punch. =)

The girls were so dainty and polite. I loved every second of it! While I cleaned up the table and got ready for cake my sister Kara painted the girls' faces.

Then is was time for the singing and cake,

After a quick round of gift opening, it was already time for the girls to go home. They each brought home the teacup and saucer they used at the party, the necklace/bracelet/ring they made, and some candy.

I was disappointed that as the girls were leaving the mailman showed up with the box of crayons that I had ordered for the girls to color their teapots with. =( They are adorable and I am so sad to send them back.

Overall it was such a great day. We were tired and happy people when the girls left!

Happy 5th birthday, Avery Elaine! Love you girl!

...................................

Vendor details...

Avery's dress: *golden*

Doll dress: Dressurdolly2

Teacup ring: My Little Red Wagon

Macarons: Sparkle's Kitchen

Cake: My BFF Tracie

Cake topper doll: Lollipop Workshop

Poms: PomLove

Teapot plates: Plates and Napkins

Grass mats: Heart to Heart

Name card holders: beaucoup

Polka dotted tea sets: Constructive Playthings

Teapot crayons: Gaddy Nipper Crayons

All paper decorations and invitations were made my yours truly!

If you see anything else that I am forgetting, let me know...glad to give a shout out where one is due!

Beckett and Jack's Monster Bash

2010-09-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today is my son Beckett's 3rd birthday. We actually celebrated over a month ago with his cousin Jackson. Jack's birthday is at the beginning of August and Beckett's at the end of September, but since all our family comes to town we thought we'd save them an extra trip and celebrate together somewhere in the middle. It worked great that I could get the celebration done before school started, too.

But then school started and I never got it on the blog! So in honor of his real birthday today, I figured I better get it done!

My sister Rach and I decided on a theme around Christmas last year when Beckett and Jack really started playing well together...and together they can be little monsters. I also love Ugly Dolls, which Beckett calls "his little monster", and one of our favorite books also features monsters, so monsters it was!

I found the perfect paper and drew some similar images on my computer to match and created the invitations from there.

Of course I enlisted the help of my friend Rachel at *golden* to make the boys some shirts, which NEVER once disappoint. Ever.

We had the party at my sister and B-I-L's house. Of course guests were greeted with a door sign, but this year thanks to my sister Kara, we kicked it up a notch...now I don't know if we'll be able to go without sidewalk chalk greetings as well!

We found the perfect place to set up the party goods at R & B's house as well. We just cleared off their buffet, covered the large picture that hung above it with coordinating fabric, and set our goods out on display!

Two of those inspirations I mentioned were on out on diplay...the Ugly Dolls, and copies of the book Tickle Monster, which also doubled as guests books.

While we were waiting for people to get there, I snapped this pic of my brother in law Brad trying to keep the kids calm while Rach and I finished up the details...love it!

To keep the kiddos occupied during the party, I also had two activity buckets ready to go. One was "Doodle Monsters" where kids could use monster stickers, markers, etc to draw a monster picture. The other was "Monster on a Stick" where kids made monster puppets with various art supplies. Their favorites were of course googly eyes. Who doesn't love a nice pair of those babies {or three?!}?

For afternoon snacking we had some candy and these PERFECTO cookies with fondant toppers from Two Sugar Babies, who are all the rage in the party world these days. Beckett carried a set of 4 of these fondant toppers around in wax paper for days ahead of time, showing everyone who came to our house. I was glad they didn't come earlier or they would have all been a little more "looked at" than I would have liked!

Everyone had a good time both eating AND playing with the monster cookies!

After a crazy round of gift opening {having two kids opening at the same time is WACKO! Good thing we had our two sisters taking notes for us as the paper was flying in every direction!} it was time to eat.

My favorite thing we did as far as dinner was concerned is that we made a "kids table" by keeping the real table legs locked on our folding table and instead using some sturdy totes as legs. It made it the perfect height for the kids to be able to sit right on the floor...I just put down some round placemats as "chairs" and voila! I will definitely do this again...saves on the amount of folding chairs you have to find!

Then it was time for cake. I usually have my BFF make my cakes, but she had a two month old {remember that "tweet" baby Aubrey?} and had foot surgery 10 days prior, so I thought I better give her a break. I asked a friend who has taken cake classes with Tracie to make me a cake...I almost died when I saw it! Beckett could NOT get over it!

We couldn't eat those monsters. They looked too real. Rach kept them on her counter for a week and half just admiring them. Nina, you're the best!

Instead of regular hats I made monster hats just for fun. They were also a hit. A sister pic with hats on has become tradition as well...

I love this one...

All in all, a great day. The kids were worn out by the end, so the birthday boys decided to put their new pajamas on that they received as a gift that day...

Don't my older kids do a great job of picking out gifts that fit the theme of the party?! Ha. My favorite part is Beckett's dirty feet!

Happy 3rd birthday, Beckett James! Your family loves you!

A summer of running...

2010-09-15T09:32:00.003-05:00

Hello there, you patient friends and fans. I know its been a while.

I've been...let's say...RUNNING. On so many levels.

Last year was rough...pretty hectic. I was trying to work full time, run a side business, not to mention trying to be a good mom. I realized once I had 211 people on my waiting list that I was taking on too much and I stopped taking names. I started 2010 just taking orders for friends and family.

By June, I was happy to just have a steady stream of projects to work on without having to stay up until 4 am to get them finished. I had finally emerged from what we call here at the Newman household as my "Etsy Coma".

After I wrote my last post on June 21st, I decided that this summer I was going to only be the best mom I could be. I needed to give my kids back some time. Don't get me wrong...even during the Etsy Coma I still feel like my kids and I did a lot, but not as much as we could have if I had been more awake and present. So I decided to give up blogging here for the summer.

We "ran" somewhere pretty much every day...to the beach, to grandma's, to the pool, to the cabin, to the fountain park, to the library, etc, etc. I also started running again {literally} and am feeling so strong mentally and physically. So now that we're here, I decided I can blog again! My posts will be further in between than they were in the past, but I'll be around.

Thanks so much for all your kind Facebook and Email inquiries as to where the heck I've been. I'm still here...just slowing it down a bit for now. Don't count me out just yet...we've still got big plans for this biz for SOMEDAY. A whole DIY store that's been sitting ready to go for well over year, but that I am too scared will turn into a monster when I do. Dreams of a real space to work in. Dreams of a book. Dreams of employees. But that will have to be saved until my kids are in school full time. For now I'm happy that they are happy and healthy. It is the job I've looked forward to the most for my whole life and I don't want to look back with regrets.

If you even still reading and want to keep up to speed with the Newmans on a personal level, you can check out the friday five, our family bloggity blog. Otherwise I will be back with a post or two here sometime soon...Beckett's monster party, the annual ice cream party, DIY canvasses, etc, etc, etc!

Cute, fun, and twenty one!

2010-06-21T23:44:00.004-05:00

I know I've talked about the fact that I have three sisters before. I've probably talked about the fact that they are my three best friends in the whole world. I probably have even mentioned that there is a bit of an age spread between me and the youngest (12 years, to be exact).

I think that's what makes it so fun...Rach and I are the "big girls" and Kara and Kasey are the "little girls." My mom has always referred to us that way...but it doesn't quite seem right when the older of the "little girls" just turned 21! So hard to believe...

Kara is nothing short of adorable. She is funny, dramatic, and a complete social butterfly. To surprise her at midnight on her birthday {we were all home at my parent's farm} we hung and banner and got her a cake. She was delightfully surprised...

We are so excited to have BOTH our "little sisters" living in Shakopee this summer. Kara is living with Rachel and Kasey with us. It is the first time since I was 19 we have all lived in the same town. One more reason to LOVE this summer!

A delayed thank you...

2010-06-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Can we just pretend this is a month ago as planned? Okay...that's my first thank you. Thank you for pretending. =)

Many thanks to everyone who helped made Tracie's shower so lovely. Most of the decor {banner, cupcake toppers, sign, you know, the usual} I made myself, but there a couple other thank yous to send as well...here is the linked list in case you want to get a hold of any of the goods for your own party!

{bib, onesie, and blanket} *golden*
{poms} PomLove
{mini nests, tree tag holders on the food table} beaucoup
{custom birdie stickers} Sticker You
{paper products} Plates & Napkins
{Are You My Mother? used a guest book} Barnes & Noble

I have had two emails about how to make the canvas I made that matched the decor...leave a comment if you want me to do a DIY tutorial on the blog. They can be used for any party theme or even just in your child's room. Tracie saved hers for the baby's room.

Speaking of that baby...

Aubrey Grace Groshens
Born 5/30/10

They are all adjusting wonderfully and are such a cute little fam.
Mom is already back in her skinny clothes. Puke me.

Excuse me...what I meant to say is that I am so happy for her! =)

And in other news, school's finally out here, which means I am free to roam about the country and blog as I wish!

Consider her feathered...

2010-05-10T22:09:00.007-05:00

Tracie and I have been friends since Kindergarten.

I used to stay at her house and we'd use an Easy Bake oven.
Fast forward 25 years and she has graduated to being the cupcake QUEEN.
She is responsible for all my kids birthday cakes and cupcakes & all my PDP photo shoots.
They aren't only cute, they're delicious.

We dream of one day quitting our jobs and opening our own store.
So now that she has finally decided she'd like my kiddos to have a playmate
I couldn't wait to start planning her baby shower to pay her back for all her delicious cake art.
She kind of thought I was crazy since she was only about 8 weeks pregnant at the time.
Sorry Trac, that's how I roll...

As I said in previous posts, Tracie decided she'd like to announce the sex of the baby with the invitations and therefore loved the little birdie "feather her nest" party that I suggested. {invitations here}

After lots of planning with Tracie's sister Lisa, we decided to get together Friday night to decorate Tracie's house.

We talked out the majority of where things would go & decided to finish the rest in the morning.
When I came back the next morning, the decorating was finished.

Tracie, Lisa, and their mom Kathy had finished decorating themselves.
Normally, this would be cause for an extreme stress on my part.
I admit it. Sometimes I can be a party control freak.

There, I said it. Happy now? =)

But the girls took everything I had brought and put it in places I never would have thought of.
It was fabulous. They have wonderful taste, so I should have expected nothing less.
Tired of my jibber jabber? I thought so. So, the details...

As usual, I missed a lot of pictures I wish I would have had.
I forgot pictures of the napkin rings, but I'm sure you can imagine.
I also forgot to take a picture of the guest book...one of my sisters' and my favorites from childhood {which just happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!} The Best Nest.
There were other things, too, but you'll just have to imagine them all.
There were 40 ladies in attendance...getting around to get pictures was not as easy, both because of space and because I talk too much!

All the vendor details later this week...lots of thank yous to pass around!

Love you, Trac! It was such a fun day. Can't wait to meet her!

{Winner} : Sticker You

2010-05-03T20:27:00.002-05:00

After a wonderful but crazy weekend of baby shower, family staying at our house, and traveling half way across the state for a confirmation, we have a winner!

According to Random.org, our winner is comment #27!

Congrats, Katie! Email me for details!

{Get the Goods Giveaway} : Sticker You

2010-04-26T22:56:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago Erica contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing a giveaway for her company on my blog. She works for Sticker You, a company that allows you to create and purchase your own stickers. "High-quality, removable, vinyl stickers - the really good ones. Get started with our artwork, or upload your own – it’s easy. Your stickers will be printed, die-cut, and shipped to your door in about a week."

As I looked more into her product I was beyond interested. I told her I didn't want to promote any product I hadn't tried first, so I ordered some birdies for Tracie's shower. The process was VERY easy, even with my own custom art work. They came last week and adorable!

Ready to try your own?

WIN 10 FREE SHEETS!

Can I win my own giveaway? I can't remember. =)

Okay, but for reals...here's how to win:

1) Simply leave a comment telling me that you visited the "Sticker You-niverse" (stole that from Erica) and what you think.

2) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment!

3) Become a fan of Sticker You on Facebook. Leave a comment!

4) Follow pdotsandpirates on Twitter.

5) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

U P D A T E D : Deadline to enter is Monday, May 3rd at 5:00. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted on Monday night. Good luck!

Feather her nest...

2010-04-21T22:00:00.002-05:00

I am in full swing preparing for my high school BFF's baby shower next weekend. After discussions about many different themes, she ultimately decided she liked the little birdie motif the best. Tracie found out she was having a girl at her ultrasound, but wanted to keep it a secret until the invitations went out. Lord knows I LOVE being in on a secret! =) The theme worked perfectly for this..."a little birdie says Tracie's having a girl!!"

I have done a birdie theme for birthday parties before, but was excited to make the bird a little more adult and sophisticated for this party. I drew a new bird based on some fun paper that I found.

As for envelopes, I've been wanting to try wrap around labels ever since my friend Bridgett of Perideau Designs did it for her daughter Kendall. Remember this project?? I don't think I ever linked to Bridgett's pictures of that party, either...they really are adorable...you should check them out! Anyway, thanks Bridgett for the inspiration on the labels...

They are one long strip of label with the guest's address and your return address all in one (I added a pattern that matched my theme in between) and you just wrap the around the invitation. I found that they were actually super simple and had great design impact. Remember that the label is the first inkling to your guests about what you have up your party sleeve!

Lots more of this party in coming weeks!

Seaside Sand Dollars

2010-04-14T22:00:00.001-05:00

If you've been following this blog a long time, you may remember these welcome cards I did for my sister's friend Darcy for her destination wedding to lay on everyone's bed for when they arrived. Another of my sister and Darcy's friends, Alyssa, wanted to get some for her best friend's wedding along with a banner and door sign for the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

Here is the inspiration that Alyssa sent me. Her friend Caitlyn chose "flame" (halfway between red and hot pink) and gold as her colors and sand dollars as her theme for her ocean wedding...

After being worried I wouldn't be able to find any paper that would be "flame" I found the perfect match...

Congrats, Caitlyn!

{Around the Web} Birthday Blowout from Parents Mag

2010-04-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

I got my newest issue of Parents Magazine in the mail on Saturday...I have to admit I am more than a couple issues behind, but I couldn't put this one in the "to be read" pile. It was the "open me right now" kind of issue that I get once or twice a year when they feature all their favorite new birthday party ideas.

This year, they focused on animals, games, and school subjects that your kids may love as their themes. I think that a Bingo themed party is somewhere in the Newman family's future. I mean seriously cute!

You honestly could spend hours if you go on their website just looking at party ideas alone...lots of planning posts and theme ideas. A couple of other favorites are Birthday Traditions to Start Now and Easy Birthday Cakes. Thanks for the inspiration, Parents Magazine!

**All photos in this post are courtesy of www.parents.com**

it's a BOY!

2010-04-06T13:40:00.003-05:00

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen these pics that my friend Rach from *golden* has posted over the past few days. First she posted another pic of her daugher Kylie in the tutu that I had made her for her birthday. She paired it with the new name shirts she has listed in her shop. How CUTE is she??

Rachel is pregnant with her second baby. She is very creative in the ways that she announces big news, usually in some uber adorable shirt she's made for Kylie. This time she wanted something different, so we made two mini mini banners (smaller even than my banner minis!) that would fit perfectly across her belly on the day that she got her ultrasound. After her ultrasound yesterday we got to see which one she'd use...

...hooray! Now...what to do with that "it's a GIRL!"?!

Monkeying around again...

2010-03-29T20:42:00.000-05:00

No, I really haven't been. Its parent-teacher conference time around here, which means lots of extra nights spent getting papers and reports ready and some late nights at school talking with parents. Spring break in 4 days...whoop whoop!

Here's just a peek at a party I did a couple months ago...the same monkey theme as you've seen me do plenty of times before, but with a new color spin.

Brooks' mom Missie is a teacher, too...she's promised me some pictures after she gets done with her parent-teacher conferences. Can't wait to see them!

Teaching them to be thankful...

2010-03-15T22:00:00.001-05:00

Now that Tate is six, I thought it was important that he wrote his own thank yous for his parties. He needs practice writing and I want him to really be appreciative for all he has. Turns out this year that wouldn't be hard, because he honestly LOVED every gift. It kind of cracked me up actually how he kept saying he got everything he wanted and that he has such an awesome family.

I did a little redesign before his party to my thank yous...I personalized them with his name and made them easy for him to fill in. It only took him two sittings to get them done, which was fairly painless!

I made similar thank yous for T's best friend's party as well, so stay tuned for those and the rest of his dino party goods later this week!

The PomLove Trade...

2010-03-14T22:50:00.005-05:00

So as you know, I was very lucky that some of the sellers I bought things from for Avery's flower party were willing to do a trade. Kirsten of PomLove and I hit it off right away and she had the perfect event to enlist me to help with. She was throwing her sister's baby shower in February. When we first started talking all she knew was that her sister wanted pink and brown and that she was planning on using lots of poms. So we ended up going with polka dots highlighting the baby-to-be's name!

So fun working with you, Kirsten! The first of many projects together!

Back from Breck and a winner...

2010-03-01T21:56:00.003-06:00

My husband and I went to Breckenridge this past weekend with our best friends.

It was the first time any of us had gone skiing in more than 10 years.

And I have to say...I think I'm going to be in the Olympics in 2014. =)

Okay, so maybe I wasn't that good.

But I didn't fall and it sure was fun. We laughed A LOT.

It definitely won't be 10 years before I go again!

And as for that winner...

A fellow party girl! Check Dawn's blog out here!

{Get the Goods Giveaway} : Hey Yo Yo

2010-02-24T22:01:00.004-06:00

As I said in my post yesterday, one of my favorite things from Tate's party was the vintage striped paper straws I've had my eyes on forever, just waiting for the right time to use them. Anyone else like them? Well, today you're in luck!

Enter Amanda of Hey Yo Yo...

"I spent 4 years working for Martha Stewart Television as a recipe developer (pastry) before starting to sell on Etsy. I lived out East for a number of years while going to culinary school and got the Martha gig right out of school, worked for her for 4 years and then moved back home to Wisconsin to figure out what to do next with my life. That's when I started making cupcake pincushions for my first Etsy site, Smarmy Pants, and then eventually started selling cupcake supplies on Hey Yo Yo. Now that's going so well that I don't have much time to sew anymore!"

Now Amanda has 25 of her blue striped straws as seen at Tate's birthday party up for grabs for one lucky PDP reader! Whether you're planning a party or just sipping on a Saturday afternoon...these are so fun!

There are several ways to enter...leave a comment for each to get multiple entries! Please leave all extra entries in the comments here on the blog, not on Facebook or Twitter so I can keep track of them!

1) Simply leave a comment telling your favorite item in Amanda's shop.

2) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment!

3) Follow pdotsandpirates on Twitter.

4) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

Deadline to enter is Monday, March 1st at 5 o'clock. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted on Tuesday morning. I'll be back with a winner then. Have a great weekend!

A FIN-tastic birthday!

2010-02-23T23:09:00.006-06:00

I am combining two parties into one post since the decor for both parties was much the same. This may be a huge mistake because there are LOTS of pics...look at them in a few installments if you must! I am warning you...LOOOONG.

We will start with "the family party"...

As I showed you last week, the left pic is of the invitations...I made invitations for both parties exactly the same except for the date and times. I could kick myself for forgetting to take a picture of the labels for the envelopes before I sent them. I like to try to make an envelope really fun to get since the mail is mostly bills or junk these days. The right picture is of course the door sign...used at both parties.

And by now I am sure you know the basic setup of my house and decorating space! Of course I have to have a banner in the middle and lots of balloons. I am not sure you can see it, but a few of the banner circles have "shark bites" taken out of them. Tate loved that part!

Then to dress up the serving trays, buckets, and paper goods...

We made a small candy bar for some early party snacking, I think I still have a sugar high from all the Swedish fish I consumed the past two weekends! (YUM!)

As I said in my "peek" post...I had to make 14 hats this year! So fun to have so many kids hanging around. We also had to continue in the tradition of taking a pic of my sisters and I in the party hats. I am not sure who had the idea of making it a little crazier this year...maybe it was that we did have so many hats sitting there...but what I do know is that it was a little later, we were a little sillier, and Avery had to get in on the double hat craziness!

I will spare you the gift opening and meal pictures since this post is incredibly long, but maybe I will post those on the Newman family blog (which hasn't been updated since October...eek.) We'll skip to that ever delicious cake, made by my high school BFF, Tracie.

She actually made identical cakes for both weekends. I used the same shark fin and cake topper that I made for both parties and added some extra long candles in between.

We sent all the kids at this party home with a squirting shark. I loved these because they would be fun for every kid at the party from babies to 6 year olds! Tate also brought them to school as his "birthday treat" because they can't bring food as treats to his school.

Then on to the "friend party" held this last Saturday, which was T and I's actual birthday. This is the first party for little people only that we've ever had and I think it lived up to both of our expectations. The trend is definitely to go somewhere for a big party these days, but Tate and I both decided it would be fun to stay at our house and play shark-y games here!

I got to decorate our dining room...we always use this room for parties, but I don't usually decorate it since people are kind of sitting all over the house and we do more of a buffet style with that many people. But with 8 kids it was perfect to set the table, personalized for each guest...

My favorite new thing that I've been dying to use for a party is these vintage paper straws. After an idea I talked about with another one of my friends named Tracy, I made each straw personalized with the kids names that were great for the little soda bottles the kids drank out of. (Here you go, Runchey! "Tracy straws" they are!)

You can also see in the back of the picture on the right I covered the pictures that are normally on my wall with cardstock. I knew the images that are normally there would bug me in pictures, so I decided that for a very minimal cost I could cover them with paper and make them part of the design!

After the kids arrived we played several games and made a craft...

(The sharks for the game are SO easy to make!)

The theme song from Jaws is great for musical chairs! The only game we didn't get to at the party because we ran out of time was to play a "Sharky, may I?"... a version of this game I used to play as a kid. We even had this shark hat to wear! We have had a chance to play it as a family since then, though, and it is great for kids of all ages. Even Beckett loves it!

Again, I will skip the pics of gift opening and eating...onto the cake!

The boys were on their way home by noon...

We had a great time and then I spent the rest of the day with my family (I even got a much needed nap in!).

Happy birthday, Tater Tot. Love you!

A few "peeks"...

2010-02-22T22:39:00.003-06:00

Well, sort of. All these "peeks" are in one pic, though...just a bunch of eyes that say it all! I just spent 2 hours going through all the pics from Tate's party but now I need to organize them into a post which I have no energy to do still tonight. I did find this gem in the bunch and it makes me giggle...

What is even more amazing to me is the fact that this year there were 14 hats to make for the kids at the party. They didn't even all fit in one pic! When T was born, he was an only lonely child. I think of this every year on his birthday...how blessed we are to have such a wonderful and growing group of little people who our kids now call friends.

Tate and I both had a wonderful birthday weekend and we both decided we are happy to be one year older...we are both in such a different place in life than we were on our birthday last year. Makes me wonder where we'll be next year at this time. Thanks to everyone who sent us a birthday message or left a comment over the weekend. We love you!

The rest of the birthday post tomorrow night. Cross my heart.

One down, one to go...

2010-02-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

As you know, my son is in Kindergarten this year. This has been his long awaited year that he gets to have a "friend party" in addition to our regular family and friends party. The family party was last Saturday...normally I would be posting pics, but since much of the decor will be used for both parties, I think I'll save it all for next week.

Need a sneak peek? Let's just say it is pretty shark-y over here...

I am almost ready for 8 boys to invade and plan to have lots to show you when its done. Give me a few extra days, though...if you remember it's not only T's birthday is this Saturday, but also mine! A relaxing Sunday may be in order after all this six year old partying!

Little Sweet Pea

2010-02-10T22:00:00.002-06:00

When my friend Molly contacted me to help design her friend's daughter's first birthday I couldn't say no...they wanted to do a "sweet pea" theme which I've always wanted to do AND she loved a lot of the colors and papers from Avery's party which I love.

And because I adore this picture of little Sophia I have to show the invitation a little closer up...isn't she adorable??

Happy birthday, Sophia!

As the football season comes to a close...

2010-02-08T22:00:00.000-06:00

...I thought I'd share these football party invitations and boxes with you! We weren't all that interested in the game on Sunday here at the Newman household this year...we were still bummin' that our purple team lost in over time the week before. =(

I made these invitations last month for a friend's son who is turning 6. He, too, loves the Vikings but his mom wanted to keep it more football themed than purple and gold (woohoo Amy...you're my kind of lady!)

So first the invitations...

Amy had seen the boxes I had done for Beckett's birthday and thought they'd be perfect to send all the goods home from Noah's party in as well. I really do LOVE these boxes...so functional and are big so they pack some design punch!

Now, bring on baseball season! We're huge Twins fans over here, too. Remember my nephew's 2nd birthday party from a few years ago?

I have the first of my son Tate's birthday parties this weekend...lots to do and show you in the coming few days!

{Happy Customers} : Donovan

2010-01-28T21:38:00.003-06:00

I've said before a hundred times that I could honestly stay busy just between my own kids, my friends' kids, my sister's kids, and my sister's friends' kids. I'm serious. I think I could have a project all the time. So here we go with one of my sister's friends' kids...cute little D. I wish I had a better pic of the cute bib from *golden* and the tee from Persnickety Me...I promise they were both adorable!

Bigger pics along with all our PDP cuties over at {happy customers}! Thanks, Gina!

For Kate...

2010-01-26T20:00:00.000-06:00

Lots of grading for report cards going on over here...almost finished. Looking forward to my real job slowing down a little bit and getting back to actually TEACHING kids instead of testing them! This post has been almost finished for almost a week, but it wasn't one I was just going to throw out there with little thought.

Maybe you've heard of her. Maybe you pray for her every night. You may have seen her on other blogs. You may have even seen her on Dr. Phil.

Photo compliments of Oh So Posh Photography via The TomKat Studio

I'm talking about a little girl named Kate McRae. I first heard of Kate through my friend Kim of The TomKat Studio. Kim became aware of her story because she lives in the same town as little Kate. Last summer Kate's mom was trying to take her kids to the pool to cool off one afternoon but decided to stop at the doctor's office because Kate's hand wouldn't stop shaking. Their lives were forever changed when they found out Kate had a massive tumor in her brain.

Reading Kate's story was so heartbreaking to me on so many levels...its hard for a mom to not think of her own kids when hearing of a story like Kate's. She is only two months older than my Tate...I just can't even imagine it. I hope I never have to. It turned out that Kate's 6th birthday was the day after Christmas...and as you know my own little Ave's birthday is the 23rd of December. Kate's celebration this year, though, would be far different than ours. She was in the hospital receiving chemo.

TomKat Kim decided she had to reach out to this family and on her blog asked if anyone would like to help her make Kate's birthday as pleasant as possible. Of course I was in, although I wasn't exactly sure how to help because Kim and I both make party goods...so I offered Kim a tutu because I knew she already had a shirt and a hat for Kate from other donors. Kim gladly accepted and asked if I would make Kate one of my banners as well, to which of course I said yes!

Here are a few pics of some of the items donated for Kate after Kim set up her hospital room, including the banner and tutu I sent...

Photos courtesy of The TomKat Studio

I could try to recap the rest of story about how the goods were delivered, but Kim tells it much better herself. If you are one of the few people who reads my blog but has never been to Kim's, you should (for more reasons than I can mention...so stylish and fun!). Click here to read her post about Kate and all the wonderful vendors who pulled together to try to make a little girl's birthday a little brighter. If you want to follow Kate's story, you can visit her site as well. As heartbreaking as it is, I find it equally amazing to read the faithful words of Kate's parents Holly and Aaron...they stay so positive through it all.

Pray, people, pray. Hope for a miracle. And hug your kids a little tighter when you put them to bed tonight. I know I will.

The PomLove winner is...

2010-01-18T23:25:00.002-06:00

Congrats, Jayme! Email me!

Thanks to everyone for playing...I think I like hosting giveaways more than entering them! We'll do it again soon.

{Get the Goods Giveaway} : PomLove

2010-01-14T00:07:00.003-06:00

One of my favorite things from Avery's party was the tissue flowers I got from PomLove on Etsy.

They are seriously so so pretty. You can hang them from the ceiling. You can set them on a table. You can group them. You can hang one single pom. You can use them for a party. They can hang in a bedroom, living room, or office. I am honestly crossing my fingers that my BF is having a baby girl so I only have to wait a couple of months to use the ones I have again. If I'm being honest, I haven't even taken them down from Avery's party yet just because after a long day at work it makes me happy to see them hanging in the living room.

Kirsten, creator of PomLove, is offering one lucky PDP reader a three piece pom set!

There are several ways to enter...leave a comment for each to get multiple entries! Please leave all extra entries in the comments here on the blog, not on Facebook or Twitter so I can keep track of them!

1) Simply leave a comment telling your favorite of Kirsten's pom sets or favorite colors.

2) Become a fan of pomlove on Facebook. You can also leave a comment for an extra entry here if you are already a fan!

3) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Again...already a fan? Leave a comment!

4) Follow PomLoveOnEtsy on Twitter.

5) Follow pdotsandpirates on Twitter.

6) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

Deadline to enter is Monday, January 18 at 5 o'clock. Winner will be chosen and posted on Tuesday morning. I have some other projects I am working on and then taking a long MLK Day weekend away, so I'll be back with a winner then. Have a great weekend!

Little Red Rocket

2010-01-12T23:51:00.003-06:00

I loved working with this mom after doing her son Carter's 1st birthday last year...remember those luggage tags? Some of my favorite things I've done. This year she wanted to do a "Little Red Rocket" theme.

I have actually seen the pics of the party and can't wait to share them someday soon...just need to get some photographer permission first...but I can tell you that it looked like "a blast"! =)

{Happy Customers} : Grayson

2010-01-07T22:48:00.002-06:00

I am once again getting a little backed up on my {happy customers} entries...thanks to all of you who have sent something and I promise I am going to catch up!

When Colleen sent me pics from Grayson's party I was so impressed...she made life-sized replicas of the tent on Grayson's shirt from Persnickety Me and the elephant that I use on all the circus party goods. SO SO adorable!

Hop on over to {happy customers} to see the pics in greater detail and read about Colleen's PDP experience as well as checking out all our previous little cuties!

Have a great weekend!

Oh how she's grown!

2010-01-05T22:58:00.006-06:00

Hard to believe my baby girl is 4. I know people say it is amazing and that time just flies, but it really is true. I had so much fun planning Ave's party this year...she has gotten to be my little PDP apprentice and is so into the details. E took the kids out of the house one day so I could start getting decorations in order. Her face was priceless when she walked in. It made every minute I spent worth it!

So as far as inspiration {as I said in an earlier post} came from some paper I found and loved. From there I made these invitations {also posted earlier!}

I decided very early on to use the pettiskirt that I had bought for our family pictures and a scallop shirt and scallop "a" hair clip from Em Tanner paired with my very favorite Babylegs for her outfit. The scallop was very flower reminiscent and I loved the fonts and knew I had them and could use them for the rest of the decor as well.

I made close to all of the decor I made myself...you know the usual stuff...the pics from the actual party are not great...it was so dark and I didn't have my camera set on a good setting for night pics. I took some pics earlier and some after during daylight hours, but the ones from the actual party aren't wonderful...but you'll get the overall idea!

A sign to greet everyone (I had to brave -20 degree temps to get this pic!)...

Some flower cupcake toppers to top the always pretty AND delicious cupcakes from my BF Tracie...

(Stands are from Crate and Barrel...thank you to my Mother-In-Law for borrowing hers so that I could have a matching set!)

Napkin Rings...

(Paper goods from Plates & Napkins of course!)

Hats and a crown for the birthday girl...

Flower Lollipop Favors for each child to take home...

I always try to look for something fun to do as a guest book. I took a shadow box that I had here and lined it with some of the paper I had to match the party, stuck Avery's invite in the middle, and had the guests sign flowers that I made to give Avery birthday wishes. They just attached them with a glue dot. I am going to keep it up in Avery's room...a fun reminder of the party throughout the year...

I did not go at this party completely alone though...I found a fabric line designed with the same prints as the paper I already bought, so my girl *golden* hooked me up with an awesome table runner (no name or age so that it can be used for many years and birthdays to come!) and some napkins that had "4"s and "A"s with flowers on them that we used for serving food and under lamps in the living room...

Then I tried two new Etsy girls I've had my eyes on FOR.EV.ER. They did not disappoint and I was even able to trade products for some of it which is always fun and a money saver!

First PomLove...

These pics don't even really do them justice to how pretty they are and what a design punch they really add to a space. I used them both on the sides of the banner I made and then after seeing this on Party Perfect (via Design Sponge) I made a small cluster of poms and lanterns and made some garland from the matching paper to wind in there as well...

Then maybe one of the cutest things ever came from Lollipop Workshop...

I found through a friend and knew I wanted to do one for Ave if I could...meanwhile they started popping up all over the place. After seeing one on Bakerella here, I got the idea to make her her own little PDP banner...

This is where Avery almost passed out. It was her favorite thing at the party...her own little dolly with her own little banner! She says she's going to use it for her dollies to have birthday parties. =) That's my girl.

So after pics were taken of everything, it was time for cake...

Three screamers out of nine kids...not bad. Kids LOVE my hats, I tell you. Then just a couple other cute pics from the party...

Happy birthday, Aves! I love you!

A sneak peek...

2010-01-05T01:28:00.003-06:00

After editing and editing and sorting through pics, I have all the pics ready to put into a post tomorrow that I don't have time to write this second...but until then I used a few of my favorite pics to give you a peek at Ave's party from Saturday:

Stop back for lots more explanation, detailed pics, and vendor info tomorrow!

Another Avery...

2009-12-30T10:25:00.007-06:00

Mrs. Monson comes very close to celebrity status at our house. She is my kids' preschool teacher...T had her for two years and Avery has her now. We're really hoping she can hold out for 6 straight years of Newman kids.

Last year Mrs. Monson had a baby. It just so happened she named that baby Avery. Both Tate and Avery are pretty convinced it is because of our Ave...and I just let them believe it. It kind of puts her in my celebrity category too. She's so nice, understands and loves my kids, is a teacher, and names her baby one of my fave names in the world...how could I refuse when she asked if I could squeeze her bday party into my schedule??

Little Avery Monson turned one mid December...here are a few pics of her party and "A little birdie told me..."partyware:

Thanks for the pics, Emily, (contrary to the kids belief she does have a real first name besides Mrs.) and happy birthday Avery!

Better late than never?

2009-12-29T09:58:00.003-06:00

My rule is to send invitations out exactly a month to the day before each party. So let me say I am NOT proud I am sending the last of Avery's invitations out today. Yes, the party is Saturday. Again, the state of affairs around here! Everyone does KNOW about the party, they just haven't received their formal invitation.

The funny part is I designed these invitations right when we got our professional pics back from our lovely photographer Kristi in October. So really no excuses to why they couldn't have been out. Oh well...here we go, your first sneak peak at Avery's "Oh how she's grown..." flower party...

I have had lots of practice doing this theme this year...I bought the paper last February when Avery said she loved it and I keep ordering more because I keep getting requests for this theme. I did find some new paper for Ave's birthday to add to the mix and I was so excited when there was exact fabric designed to match. Can you see a *golden* product in our future? Why yes you can. More later this week!

Dying for a new post?

2009-12-28T10:33:00.003-06:00

This summer before I went on vacation I was frantically trying to get posts ready for when I was going to be gone. My mom asked me why I was doing that. She said "No one will die if you don't post for a week." But I didn't believe it. I kind of thought you might die. Or maybe I thought I might. =)

But then this fall hit and it might be a bit of an understatement that I was quite overwhelmed keeping up with it all. I kept repeating to myself "No one will die if I don't blog." Turns out I didn't die and neither did you. I lost a few readers, but I'm okay with that. Hopefully some day they'll come back. I am hoping in the new year to have a little more time to hang out on here since I am cutting way back on business. Hoping to spend some more time with my fam, a little more time sleeping, and a little time learning to play the guitar I got for Christmas. I'm hoping for a little more relaxed 2010...knowing you will be here when I write but won't die if I don't!

This is a little late, but that seems to be just my speed these days...

Avery's birthday party is this weekend. Lots to make...lots to clean...lots to blog! Be back tomorrow!

More on Whooo's turning 2!

2009-12-07T00:16:00.005-06:00

Here is more of the party that I posted invitations for a couple weeks ago! I made items for Ellen's cupcake 1st birthday last year. This year her parents fell in love with this dress and decided to do a woodland creatures theme that matched it.

So here are the rest of the goods...a banner, hats, crown, cake topper, and a door sign.

The party was last night...can't wait to hear how it went and see pictures, Cyndy!

And the winner is...

2009-12-05T00:32:00.002-06:00

Congratulations, Raquel! Please email your choice of boy/girl penguin and size to goldenshoptalk@gmail.com!

Thanks for playing, everyone. Another giveaway coming soon!

{Get the Goods Giveaway} : golden

2009-12-02T00:08:00.007-06:00

While I am busy just trying to stay caught up on orders, my friend Rach over at *golden*shop has been busy designing. Majorly designing. She has 16 new holiday designs available on tees and bibs for both boys and girls. I think she'd make you some bloomers to match as well. Ask any one of my clients or friends who have used Rachel and they will tell you the same thing I will...she is THE BEST on Etsy at what she does. A.MAZ.ING.

Check these out...

It gets even better...she's shipping these designs in about a week, which pretty much means she is over in her little sweat shop working around the clock like a little elf. And just because she's cool like that she's going to give one away!

Our little penguin friend can be will be made in whatever size you wish and can of course be made in boys colors as well. It will be perfect for the holiday season but last you through the whole winter as well!

There are several ways to enter...leave a comment for each to get multiple entries!

1) Simply leave a comment telling your favorite of Rach's new holiday designs.

2) Become a fan of *golden* on Facebook. You can also leave a comment for an extra entry here if you are already a fan!

3) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Again...already a fan? Leave a comment!

4) Follow Polkadots & Pirates on Twitter.

5) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

Deadline to enter is Friday night at midnight. Winner will be chosen and posted on Saturday morning.

I will be making tutus next week to match all *golden* holiday designs if you need a perfect holiday outfit! Check out all the designs up close in Rachel's shop.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-30T00:25:00.003-06:00

I hope you all had as good of a Thanksgiving weekend as I did. I kicked off the long weekend last Wednesday by being at the hospital with my sister, her husband, and my mom as my niece came into the world. In the days following there was of course lots of turkey and time spent with family.

I made my own little turkeys some hats to wear for our celebration here at my house on Saturday. I asked each of them what they were thankful for and wrote down the first thing they said...

I had to give Beckett 5 choices because he didn't quite get it...but of course he picked Dinosaurs...no surprise there.

Avery immediately answered cookie dough, which made me giggle but its so true. That girl has a little too much of her mama in her. Poor thing.

Tate said his family...he has such a sweet heart and is growing up so much.

We guessed milk for 2 day old Finley. When my sis gave her some she sure seemed thankful.

My nephew Jacks immediately said "baseballs" on the day I made the hats. By the time we wore them this weekend, he said "Jess, I am thankful for HANDS, not baseballs. HANDS." Okay Jack, whatever you say! =)

Hope you had a fabulous weekend and took time to remember all of the blessings, big and small that we have each day.

It's a paw-ty!

2009-11-25T00:45:00.004-06:00

Here is one that has been sitting in the file for a while! They are accumulating, I tell you.

I did Kate's 1st birthday last year so I was thrilled when Mom contacted me this year to do a second birthday party for Kate as well. Much in contrast to the hot pink and orange party for Kate last year, dalmatians were the theme this year! Little Kate is sort of obsessed with them and has started quite a collection.

Mom wanted the 4 foot stuffed dalmatian to be the guest of honor, so she didn't want a literal interpretation of the theme, rather black and white patterns with a little red added in as well. Here is how SOME of what I sent Kate turned out...

I also made napkin rings, favor stickers, and a crown...but in a haste one night accidently "made room" for some other pics by erasing those! Hope it was a fun paw-ty Kate and Pam!

Whoooo's turning two?!

2009-11-12T23:40:00.003-06:00

Just a sneak peek of a party I am working on for my little friend Ellen (check out her first birthday party here!)...

Parent/teacher conferences got done today. Looking forward to having a few extra nights to get my work done so I can post some more! More of this party and others coming next week!

Emmaline's Flowers

2009-11-05T23:30:00.002-06:00

I have done a few flower parties in the past (like Grace's here and Jozlyn's here) and loved them all. Avery always loves when I am working on those orders, too, and decided a long time ago that she wanted to have a flower party for her birthday this year as well. This ended up working out perfectly since Megan had booked me months ago to do one for her daughter Emmaline. I got to design a few items that I plan on using for Avery's birthday, too!

Here is how it all turned out...

Can't wait to see pictures from the party, Megan!

{Happy Customers} : JJ

2009-11-03T22:28:00.005-06:00

After seeing a post for Beckett's monkey party somewhere in blogland, Amy contacted me to do a similar party for her son JJ. It was so fun to remake some of those items...I had so much fun doing Beck's party that I gladly did it again!

I love making those first year picture banners...so fun to see them grow! Head on over to {happy customers} to read more from Amy on the party and to check out all the PDP cuties there!

Halloween 09

2009-11-02T07:10:00.004-06:00

Happy Halloween a couple days belated! I've been both busy working and not busy laying on the couch with the possible flu all last week. I should have put all these pics into a collage to shorten this post, but I am trying to pop it off quickly before I go to a 12 hour work day for school and parent teacher conferences so I don't have time. I don't want to wait another day to post, so bare with me, people!

First, my kiddos on Saturday night...we had SO much fun this year. They are all old enough to understand it AND they can all walk themselves around and up to doors....woohoo!

Then a few pics from school on Friday. First, my teammates and I as the 3 Blind Mice...

And a snap of my "25 other kiddos"...

Then on to the real stuff! I worked on two Halloween birthday parties this year. They were both clients whom I did first birthday parties for last year, so it was super fun to do them again! These are shots from both parties...banner, door sign, and cupcake toppers from Zoe's party and a table sign, bucket tag, favor tags, and birthday boy hat for Jackson. I made these invitations for both birthday kids, too!

Hope you had a fun Halloween! Lots more coming this week!

Find It! : Paper Products

2009-10-22T00:52:00.002-05:00

Some of you may remember that I asked for your opinion on your favorite party sites at the end of the summer. Well, you sent about 100 of them. And they were all good. So I didn't quite know how to go about that, so I decided to wait. Then school started, and...well...ou know how much I've been around since then!

I WILL be featuring some of those party sites starting next week...but not in the Find it! section of my blog...I have a different way I'm going to go about that. For my first Find It! you are going to get my one of my favorite places for party paper products. In fact, I've ordered my kids last 4 parties from here!

It turns out this is great timing, but only lasts through Friday, so go now! The friends and family discount gets you 20% off your entire order!

Happy shopping! I better follow my own advice and get Avery's (and maybe Tate's?!) paper goods ordered right now! =)

Grace and other things...

2009-10-14T00:33:00.003-05:00

I am kind of feeling like a foreigner on this blog...it seems like its been ages since I visited. As I said last week I am taking a tiny break from blogging to try to remain sane this fall. But between working on my orders and correcting papers the computer stares at me. So I am going to quick post this pic of little Grace that my friend Judy sent me.

You may remember this family birthday banner from earlier in the year. I made names for each of the kids (and as of last Friday I have a fourth name to make...congrats on baby Ethan, Judy and Rob!) that could be easily interchanged and used year after year.

Grace was the first to get to use it...

A very "green" option...gotta love that! That and a few other ideas got me to thinking...how many of you have a banner I've made you in the past year and a half that you would like to swap in for store credit or for another person's banner? Leave a comment if you're interested. I am totally up for replacing names and organizing it if there is interest! Save money and the earth at the same time.

Stay tuned...I'll be back soon, I promise. Dalmatians. Circus. Woodland creatures. Flowers. Pigs. All coming soon. But for now...sleep. =)

{Happy Customers} : Collin

2009-10-07T23:09:00.004-05:00

I got an email from a client today telling me that she will cry soon if I don't put the pics she sent me of her son's party up here. Talk about a guilt trip! Truth be told she is one of probably about 10-15 people waiting for the same thing. I am having a hard time keeping up with life right now and trying to prioritize a bit. Needless to say, my blog has suffered.

That being said, I don't need Kristen crying. So here you go, Kristen! Sorry they took so long but I'm glad you are still a {happy customer}!!

More details here!

I promise I will try to be better next week. Thanks to all my loyal supporters during this busy transition time. You are the best!

Mod for Kendall

2009-10-01T22:08:00.003-05:00

Bridgett and I became cyber friends last year when we worked on a few birthday projects together for a mutual client's party. I ended up making her this banner for her daughter Kendall last year. Bridgett has a very distinctive super clean, mod style and I adore it. It is a little more modern than I usually do for kids' parties, which is why it was so so fun to do this year's project!

She is focusing on the colors yellow and gray and sent me these pics of the invitations she made for Kendall's second birthday...

I decided to use mostly solid colored papers to keep it super clean looking, then added the fonts that it looked like Bridgett used on the invitations and envelopes...

For the hats, Bridgett requested that the 15 guest hats would be gray and the birthday girl would be yellow. I found some geometric yellow paper to accent the hats and mixed in both fonts...

These pics actually make me go kind of batty looking at them. I took them so late and the exposure is totally off, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do in order to get them in the mail on time! Can't wait for lots of pics of the party from Bridgett next week.

In the meantime, check out Bridgett's super fun shop: Perideau Designs. Thanks Bridgett!

{Happy Customers} : Kylie

2009-09-30T00:09:00.004-05:00

Well...it is possible that I am biased since Rach and I have worked so closely and become such good friends over the last year...or maybe its that I actually got to meet this little "nutball" as Rachel so affectionately calls her...but in any case I love these pics from 3 year old Kylie's popsicle party. She is a totally hilarious and smart little girl. I just wished she lived in MN so her and Avery could play together more often!

Basically when Rachel and I make something for each other's kids' parties, we give the other one the basic concept of the party and let the other run with it. Rachel sent me a pic of some popsicles she liked and the fabric she was using for the party and said "make me something."

In the end, she did request a few things, but I just basically made her whatever I wanted...so I sent her a banner, cupcake toppers, and the tutu I have been promising Kylie since I visited them in February. After seeing the kids lunch boxes from Beckett's party (and knowing that I had 90 left over!) Rach asked if I could whip some up for her as well. Rachel is of course responsible for Kylie's shirt and bloomers...

For a closer look or to read Rachel's gushfest about me =) (love you Rach!) head on over to {happy customers}...lots of other cuties there too!

BOO! Zoe is turning two!

2009-09-28T00:29:00.002-05:00

I have a few clients this year working on Halloween birthday parties. I LOOOVVVEEE getting the kids dressed up for Halloween, so this has been totally fun for me! I designed some invitations for Beth (my repeat repeat repeat client!) for her daughter Zoe's second birthday.

Of course I snapped some pics of them before I sent them off to California to eventually get up on this blog, but my pics are usually done quickly before I send or late at night. To my delight, Beth sent some pics of the invites once she had gotten them all ready to send out. She made labels, stamped the envelope, etc, not to mention getting a much better shot than I did in the first place!

Beth says that Zoe loved them, too!

More matching partyware for this shindig coming later this month.

{Happy Customers} : Darrian Round Two

2009-09-24T23:33:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you all remember Darrian's circus party from last year. It was the first time I was featured on HWTM and inspired my entire Circus Collection after the demand for that banner went crazy!

Michelle started emailing me about Darrian's second birthday in January and his party was last weekend! We had plenty of time to go over every detail. Since the theme was kind of midevil prince and princess with a cute dragon as the focus, I designed a banner and crowns for all the prince and princesses at the party.

Head on over to {happy customers} to check out the pictures in greater detail and read Michelle's kind words. Check out all the PDP cuties while you're there!

A wild time at the zoo...

2009-09-23T20:53:00.002-05:00

These are possibly some of my favorite invitations that I've made to date...

Donna of Party Wishes (check out her blog!) asked me to make some invitations for her daughter's 9th birthday party being held at a zoo. She already had an idea board all made up with the banner she had already purchased included (check it out here). The banner is adorable...giraffe print backed in lime green, magenta, and orange. LOVE the banner. So I came up with these invitations to match...

So girly and fun for a 9 year old. You know that nine is the new thirteen, right? =) Can't wait for the pics, Donna!

Pirates x 2!

2009-09-21T07:20:00.003-05:00

I was so excited when Shelley, a client from last year got on my schedule early this year! This time she was having a second birthday party for Harper with her little friend Jacob, also turning two. She loved Tate's pirate party, so we had to find a way to make it suitable for both boys and girls.

First I designed an invite and ordered some pink pirate paper that complimented the red paper I already had from Tate's party. Here is how it all turned out...

Invitations and sign to hang on the grounds where the party is being held

Favor tags, banner, beverage signs, and cupcake toppers

Thanks, Shelley! Glad you love it all. I can't wait to see pics from the party!

Bedtime for Baby Recap

2009-09-17T21:17:00.003-05:00

So a while back, before I got totally consumed with being back at school, I told you about the baby shower my sister was throwing for her friend Darcy. As a refresher...here were the invites:

And here are the rest of her matching items:

The mommy-to-be showing off one of the many new books she has for Baby Hempel's library...

If my sister and her friends keep crankin' out the babes, I'll be in business for a long long time. =) Congrats Darcy and Joel!

Fun, food, family, and friends!

2009-09-11T00:15:00.004-05:00

Last post about Beck's bday...I promise! Here are a few more details about the 4 Fs from the party...fun, food, family, and friends!

1. Fun...

Our big fun was the hayride I showed you on Wednesday, but we had a bunch of other smaller things to entertain everyone throughout the day as well.

I purchased a bean bag toss game for the kids to play...I think they played it more the week before the party at our house than they did at the actual party, though! We also had a "horse on a stick" as it was called in the store for the kids to ride around. It was so fun to see them galloping around the yard. My sister who is 6 months pregnant even took a ride. Nice, Rach.

The kids chose from pigs, cows, horses, ducks, sheep, and chickens and adorned their body with temporary tattoos. I have yet to meet a child who doesn't love a good tattoo!

The toy tractors that I used as part of our centerpieces entertained the kids quite a bit as well. When Beckett walked into the backyard that afternoon he immediately ran to a table and started playing. When I say he is obsessed people, I really mean it! When they would get sick of playing with them I would just place them back in the middle of the table where they were.

I ordered cow and pig suckers (they probably tasted awful but were adorable and cheap so I couldn't resist!) The kids loved them. They ate them at the party and got to take one home with them too!

Who knew straw could be so much fun! The kids honestly played with the bales for hours. They picked it out of the bales and made piles to jump into, they threw the bales off the rack, and even used the bales as a slide.

There were the usual things we enjoy at the farm as well...Grandma and Grandpa's swingset...the new playhouse...the hammock...they all make for an enjoyable afternoon spent with friends!

2. Food...

As I mentioned yesterday, I had an adult menu and a kids menu. The adult menu was bbq pork sandwiches, salads, chips, pickles, and no farm party would be complete without sweet corn! Perfect timing...they took my dad's field a couple days after the party. The kids lunch boxes included Uncrustable PB & J sandwiches, grapes, carrots, and a juice box. A few kids had corn on the cob as well!

Every party needs a good round of cake and ice cream...Cousin Addie got some good practice blowing out the candles for her party thisi weekend. I am sure that Beckett will return the favor! =)

3 & 4. Family and friends...

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who drove out to the farm for the day. We had so much fun and we are all so blessed to have you in our lives.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to my mom and dad (pictured lower right) for hosting the party and for all your help. Your house and farm are a place my whole family considers one of our favorites on the entire Earth. We love you!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Beckett James!

Beckett's Farm Decor

2009-09-09T21:11:00.006-05:00

As I've said before...we are so used to having MN winter birthdays, which means we have to have them inside. It was so fun to be able to decorate and have the party outside...a TOTALLY different ballgame!

I had a door sign-turned-garden sign as the guests walked up to the front of my parents house, but the majority of the decor was in the backyard. I used a pyramid of straw bales to backdrop the banner, which I again hung with shepherd's hooks...works perfectly for outdoor parties!

I now own almost every color of fabric to use as table cloths...my husband is SUPER THRILLED. I am sure you can sense my sarcasm! I just hate using the plastic ones and throwing them away...these look so much nicer and can be reused. I am sure I will get lots of use out of them in coming years. Just need hot pink and my collection will be complete! =)

I found small straw bales at Michael's for centerpieces and used the Ikea frames that I am using in Beckett's new bedroom to frame some of the pictures I took when I was getting a pic for his invitation. I used small toy tractors we already had to complete the centerpieces. I framed one of Beckett's invitations in a striped frame for the drink table...wish I had snatched some more of those up when I found them...it was so perfect with the paper I ended up using!

Last year a client did brown bag lunches for the kids since they usually don't like all the food the adults do anyway...perfect idea (thanks Michelle!)! I purchased gabled boxes and made coordinating labels. They were so easy to throw together and set on the table so the adults could get right in line for themselves instead of having to get the kids all set up first. We saved the empty boxes after the kids ate and they took their favors and goodies home in them. I no longer feel bad in having to invest in 100 of them to get a good deal...I know I'll be using them in the future!

As always, I purchased my plates and napkins from platesandnapkins.com...they always have the best selection and fun things to coordinate with any decor! Added a few napkin rings, threw them in a nice bucket and we were set!

It would not be a PDP party without some party hats and a crown for the bday boy. I drew the animal images on my computer that I used for much of the decor. I consider Tracie's cakes decor as well...I wish you could taste it through the computer. Yumm. And yes, I forgot the candles. And my camera. And the plastic cups. But you make due...in this case two partially used tea lights...ha! They were not as cute as the ones I had purchased of course, but what is a farm girl to do? No Target store a mile away, that's for sure.

Each of our tiny guests went home with a new tractor to play with...green of course. If you're not a farm kid, you probably don't know the difference, but there are red tractor people and green tractor people. We are green tractor people. Great Grandpa Merle sent the message that he is a red tractor person by wearing his bright red shirt. Very funny, Grandpa!

One more set of pics to post tomorrow night!

The Hayride!

2009-09-08T20:32:00.006-05:00

Well, I survived the first day of school...I actually forgot how much I love teaching the first day of school. The kids are so excited and fun. I didn't, however, forget how much work teaching is. So in an attempt to stay sane (not to mention get through these 400+ pics from last weekend) I am going to break Beck's party up and make him last all week. If this annoys you, don't check my blog again until the weekend...ha!

Beck's party started at 3 o'clock...we had a few activities (more on those another day) and then went for a hayride at 4. It was so fun for all the kids (age 2 to 77!) I just LOVE the farm in the fall!

Decor pics tomorrow night! :)

At the farm...

2009-09-07T22:41:00.002-05:00

Give me one more day to edit all the pics, but we had a great time celebrating Beckett's 2nd birthday at the farm.

Lots more pics very soon!

The Future Mrs. Lytle

2009-09-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

Last weekend was kind of busy for my sister and all her friends and relatives. Pretty much this entire week is business drummed up by her! Thanks Rach!

Rachel's friend Gina threw a bridal shower this past weekend for her SIL to be. She sent me these invitations so I could match the decor...

So I made this banner...

and these wine charms to match!

Wine charms were a new thing I had never made before, but once I bought the right tools they were fun and pretty easy! I think I'll have to start making them for some of my own parties and family gatherings!

Miya's 1st Birthday

2009-09-02T07:06:00.003-05:00

My sister's niece Miya celebrated her first birthday last Saturday. Her mom Melissa was going with a bright summery feel and said she might use some flowers and butterflies to decorate. She wanted me to make a tutu she had seen here and ordered the bloomers from *golden* as well.

You can tell she really loves her crown, right? =) It is hard to see in the pic above, but the banner's letters have polka dots to match the material on her bloomers...

Hope you had a happy birthday, Miya!

A Baby Surprise...

2009-08-31T23:13:00.005-05:00

I know you've seen surprise birthday parties on this blog, but this was a new one. My sister Rachel is pregnant...I just may have mentioned this before...with her second child. When her son Jack was born her friends were spread about the country and never threw a shower for her, so they decided that a small surprise shower would be in order this time around.

I kept asking Rach what she was doing this weekend and she was SO clueless...she was actually throwing her friend Darcy a baby shower at her house on Friday night (pics of that in the coming days!) and was so busy that she never suspected a thing. So Saturday morning Darcy asked her to stop by her house, only to find a baby shower waiting.

They were keeping it low key, but thought Rach deserved a banner for her baby room like she has had made for all of them. Rachel and Brad are going to let the sex of the baby be a surprise as well, but I couldn't help throwing a little pink in there, too, in case this is her last baby. Cross your fingers its a girl or I'll be making a new one. =)

{Happy Customers} : Jozlyn (Round 2!)

2009-08-26T10:10:00.003-05:00

I can't believe its been a year since this {happy customer}'s last birthday. That means my baby will be two in no time. You may remember Jozlyn from previous posts...I've already written about her first bday, then a happy customers entry for that, and her second birthday gear that we got ready back in May. I've also professed how much I have come to <3 href="http://www.persnicketyme.etsy.com/">Persnickety Me. It turned out so stinkin' cute, Abby!

Head on over to {happy customers} to see the pics in better detail and read Heidi's kind words.

On a personal note...this is going to be my last post for a few days. I was going to try to do it all, but life is a tad overwhelming right now. I am trying to get my classroom in order and mentally prepare myself to leave my kiddos again, not to mention getting Beckett's bday party together for next weekend and finish orders that need to be done before I go back. I will hopefully get a few posts ready for next week. Thanks in advance for being so patient and supportive over this next crazy month! I will be back!

Monkey Business

2009-08-25T09:20:00.002-05:00

It was exactly year ago that I sent out invitations almost identical to these for my own baby's first birthday. I can't believe how time flies...now I am about 10 days away from birthday #2 for my baby! Sniff...=) I had a custom request from one of the clients on my schedule to make a party pretty identical to Beckett's monkey party. She had little JJ's pics taken with his own monkey to use for the invitations. I LOVE his pic...don't you want to squeeze those cheeks?

Lots more of this one coming next month!

Noah's Cars

2009-08-21T08:10:00.004-05:00

Earlier this summer I did made this banner for our cousin's son Noah who was turning three. Noah LOVES cars, so Abby wanted to do something with lots of bright colors and some images of cars that she had seen on my blog before. We started with one bright paper that I use for my circus collection that she loved and went from there.

Abby also wanted to get Noah a matching tshirt and she knew I had just the lady to do it! She told me to take care of the details, so I got to work with my fav girl Rach at *golden* to make Noah's tshirt as well...isn't it cute?? She took the exact image I was using on the banner and made it into a shirt, and per my request even sewed Noah's name in the window...just as Rachel's logo says...sew cute!

Have a good weekend...lots to show you next week before I am back to school!

{Happy Customers} : Baby Miller

2009-08-19T09:45:00.003-05:00

I guess Baby Miller isn't really the happy customer here, but since the party was in his honor, we're going to go with that! Krystle threw her friend a baby shower totally decked out in baby blue and zebra for the baby boy that would soon make his arrival!. I love that twist...I've definitely seen pink and zebra, but I love love love the blue!

Click here to get a closer look and hear what Krystle had to say about her PDP experience. Lots of other cute parties to check out over on {happy customers} as well!

Forty and Fabulous!

2009-08-18T07:39:00.003-05:00

One of my previous clients enlisted me to help make some cupcake toppers for a 40th birthday party she is throwing in a few weeks. She was planning the party decor around the paper goods that she purchased, shown here:

Fun, right? Very fun to have to match to! So here is what I came up with...

Hope you love them, Jodee!

More Baby Showers...

2009-08-14T09:44:00.004-05:00

I have been doing quite a few baby showers lately! My sister is preggers, and her and her friends are all at that age where everyone is pregnant!

Rachel is throwing a shower with some friends for Darcy...you may remember the bachelorette items I made for Darcy last summer or the welcome cards I did for her last fall. Now they are ready for baby #1 due in January.

Most of the decor will have to stay off this blog until after the shower just in case in between being completely exhausted from being pregnant, moving into a new house this week, and getting ready to go back to school (Darcy's a teacher, too) she actually checks my blog. Doubtful, but just in case!

I can however, show the invites and the inspiration, since she knows about both those things already. They are doing a "Bedtime for Baby" theme so I used much of the same layout as I did for the shower invitations I showed you a few weeks ago, only changed the colors. Here is the bedding that Darcy and Joel have picked out...

Photo Courtesy of Restoration Hardware

And the invitations...

On another baby shower note, I woke up this morning to an email from my friend Shannon of Creative Parties and Showers saying that my Babycakes shower was included on One Pretty Thing's post this morning! If you need some baby shower inspiration, there are TONS of good ones over on OPT today...go check them out!

Photographing Your Kids Parties

2009-08-13T08:55:00.004-05:00

I wish I were a professional photographer, but I am not. I practice as much as I can, but I am often still disappointed after my kids parties that I didn't get the pics I was looking for.

One thing I have learned since my oldest child's first birthday is that if I depend on myself to get all the pictures at the party I will surely be disappointed, so now my mom and my sister take pictures the whole day so I don't need to worry (I do it for her, too, for her kid's parties...works out perfectly). I also take some decorations pics about an hour before everyone arrives. I am always looking for great tips on how to take better pictures...since we spend so much time preparing we may as well have some good memories when its over, too, right?

Photo courtesy of The Vintage Pearl

The other day when I was on Twitter (follow me here!) I noticed a tweet from my friend Julie of On The Dot Creations. It was a link to a great article she found from Digital Photography School, a website with simple tips to help digital camera owners get the most out of their cameras. This particular article was titled How To Photograph a Child's Birthday Party. There are some really good and simple tips to getting better pics of the party. Read it before your child's next party!

Photo courtesy of The Vintage Pearl

You can also subscribe to get email tutorials containing beginner tips to making your pictures better. Just remember to send me a copy of your pics after your party is over!

Sneak Peek of Beckett's Party...

2009-08-11T22:05:00.005-05:00

So like I said...I am in full swing over here planning Beckett's 2nd birthday. I decided shortly after his party last year that I wanted to have this year's outside on the farm that I grew up on. (Did you know I could throw bales and milk a cow?) His birthday isn't actually until September 27th...but for three reasons I decided to have his party on Labor Day weekend this year.

1) The weather in MN at the end of September is pretty iffy...could be pretty cold.
2) My Dad will probably be in full harvest mode by the end of Sept.
3) I wanted to get the party over before I start school.

So, we thought Labor Day weekend would be good because both of my college aged sisters will be able to be home from school. Since we were going to have the party on the farm, of course it will be farm themed. But because I actually grew up on a farm I need to tell you a few things...

We will not be wearing overalls to the party. Most farmers don't really wear those, you know. Nor will we be chewing on any straw, or yelling "yee haw" or any similar phrases. When I first went to college my best friends dressed up like farm girls for Halloween. I didn't know whether to laugh or spit in their face. =) CJ...you know what I am talking about.

I digress...back to the party, so anyway, the main inspiration is that all three of my kids are obsessed with going to the farm. They love playing outside, riding in the tractor (or any equipment for that matter), and exploring Grandpa's shop.

One afternoon I took Beckett to the farm to get a few pictures that might work for his invitations. He was in a very good mood, which is always helpful. Just a few of over 100 that I took that day...

As you can see, I enlisted *golden* to help me out with a tee for his party. If you've never visited her shop...it is a must.

After I took the pics, I made the invitations...here is a sneak peek at the invites and some of the paper and goods I have collected for the party...

On a side note, after my dad saw their invitation last night he called me and in his most sarcastic voice he asked why he had shined his tractor if I was going to use the picture of Becks on the smaller (and unwashed might I add, although can you tell? Absolutely not.) tractor. I reminded him that the picture was supposed to be of his grandson and not of his tractor, so I had to pick the best smiling pic of HIM. I also reassured him that I would be using some of the other pics at the party as well. But just for fun...

So Dad...I sent out only 19 invitations, but over 500 people will read this tomorrow. Do you feel better now?

Sailing through her pregnancy...

2009-08-10T14:10:00.004-05:00

My sister's friend Carissa enlisted me to make some decorations for her SIL Erin's baby shower. She sent me to Erin's blog to see the bedding they had picked out from Pottery Barn Kids (if you love it and are expecting it happens to be on sale right now!) And I have to admit that while I was on there I kind of wanted to puke...because that girl is one of those people who are CUTE during pregnancy...you know totally skinny with a little bump on the front, even now at 36 weeks...one of those girls I WAS NOT. And Erin, if you are reading this...I really do mean that as a compliment. It is complete jealousy you are reading here. =)

So anyway, here is the bedding that Erin and Josh picked out for their little boy to be which I was to match to...

Erin had pictures of her completed nursery on her blog as well, which was so helpful in planning the banner and door sign. I drew a little sailboat that was kind of a mix of all the ones on the quilt and added it to both the banner and the door sign. Her shower was finally this weekend so I can post pics without spoiling the shower decor! Carissa was nice enough to send me pics this morning of the banner hanging in the baby's room after the shower and the door sign on his door.

Thanks for sharing the photos, girls! I think Little Carter will be one lucky kiddo!

{Happy Customers} : Julia, Erik, & Emma

2009-08-06T10:53:00.003-05:00

You may remember these projects I did a while back for my great friend Tammy's kiddos...three of her four kids celebrate their birthdays within about 6 weeks of each other.

We combined them all into one entry...for a closer look and for all to see all our cuties...head on over to {happy customers}. Can't wait until 'Lil Frank's bday, Tam! =)

Going out today...

2009-08-05T15:39:00.003-05:00

I have been working like mad to get Beckett's invitations done...this will be the official start of the Newman party season. With birthdays in September, then December, then February it is an almost constant thing once this time of year rolls around!

His invitations are in the mail today...once everyone gets their invite I can post a sneak peek of the party goods next week...but here's a sneak peek of the sneak peek. Ha. That's all you get for now.

SUPERJACK recap!

2009-08-03T07:00:00.006-05:00

Its hard to believe my nephew Jackson is already three...but I guess I say that every time one of my kids turns a year older, too. Time just flies!

Last year Jack's baseball party was at our house because Rach and Brad's condo wasn't quite big enough for the amount of people that were coming. We loved it, but we were all overjoyed this year when they were able to sell their condo and buy a home (which just happens to be less than a mile away from our house =) in order to make room for Baby #2 coming in November.

We had a great day...here are some of the details...

Here is Jack and I...LOVE his cheeseball smile...and Jack's banner.

And then some party details...

1. First the cake...made by my high school BF Tracie, who always makes our cakes...they're so darn cute and delicious.

2. I made Jack's crown and hats for my kiddos to match. Rach bought superhero masks from Superfly Kidz on Etsy. Get them here!

3. My mom made Tate, Avery, and Jack superhero capes last year. Beckett was too small at the time, so she got one done for the party so they could all be superheroes for the day. Thanks a million, Mom!

4. I didn't get a very good picture, but Rach got plates, napkins, and silverware in coordinating colors from my fav online paper goods store, Plates and Napkins.

Time for cake!

I had designed a SUPERJACK logo for Jack's invitations (check them out HERE) which Rachel had used to make shirt for him. Then she asked if I could make logos so she could make T, A, & B their own shirts to wear to the party. They all looked so cute together!

My sisters and I always take a picture in the kids' hats. I am really not sure how this all started, besides the fact that we look for any excuse to take a picture together. =) So we decided this weekend that when we're old and we've all had kids we're making a book of all our pics of us in our kid's party hats. Total nerds...we realize.

Thanks, R, B, & J for the great day. Happy Birthday, Jackson Pete!

Elizabeth's Piggy Party

2009-07-31T13:48:00.003-05:00

One month from today I'll be back at my "real job". I kind of laugh at that term. Reality is kind of setting in today. =( I am going to miss being home with my kids like mad.

After seeing my little friend Olivia's piggy party, this mom knew she wanted some invitations just like Olivia's. She decided to purchase some stickers and a banner as well .

She had seen some paper I had used on another project that she loved, so i changed the colors in the invitations to match the paper we decided on.

For the banner, Sue decided to leave the pig off and purchase both her daughter's names so that she can change it out for each of them and use it from year to year.

Her last request was some stickers to put on the favors that she was sending home with guests...

My nephew's super hero party is the weekend, so pics of that coming on Monday! Have a great weekend.

30th Birthday Barbeque

2009-07-30T18:45:00.004-05:00

Okay...last load of laundry in the dryer, only 38 more emails to respond to from when I was gone, and hubs is home from work....we're getting there!

It is so funny...I swear the only adult birthday parties I have done are for people turning 30...which I guess makes sense because people find me because they have young children celebrating birthdays and it leads to thinking about what you can do for other parties as well! It would make sense that a lot of parents of little ones are all the same age.

A past client enlisted me to make a banner for her husband's 30th birthday barbeque. She wanted to incorporate a picnic-y looking theme without making it to "hokey" and using the colors red and blue.

I found the red gingham paper she wanted and paired it with red and blue subtle dots and a fun font.

Happy birthday to all us 30 year olds this year! =)

We now return...

2009-07-30T08:56:00.002-05:00

to our regularly scheduled programming, already in progress.

Thanks for your patience with lack of posts for the past two weeks! With our ice cream party, trying to finish orders, and packing for vacation I didn't get as many posts ready for when I was gone as I had planned.

But we're back from up North...a little more rested, probably a little fatter, and feeling a whole lot more ready to tackle the Fall that we have coming for our family.

I promise to get a real post in today somewhere in between unpacking and washing 10 days worth of laundry. =) Promise.

Kamree's Ice Cream

2009-07-28T08:36:00.003-05:00

After I throw a party I usually offer the banner that I used at a discount and I just reprint it to fit the customers needs. That way I don't have a million of my kids banners sitting around here and a customer gets a great deal on a banner.

The ice cream party banner was no exception...worked out wonderfully, actually! A reader of mine happened to email me and tell me her daughter was having an ice cream themed 3rd birthday party in August. I mentioned that I was having an ice cream party and the rest is history. I repurposed the banner and made some matching cupcake toppers inspired by these that she saw on Creative Parties and Showers that she loved.

Should be there soon, Jodee!

Featured on CP & S

2009-07-24T09:19:00.004-05:00

I decided to submit my Babycakes Shower that I threw in January to a few party sites because it is any easy and fun theme to throw together so I thought it might be worth sharing. Today my girl Shannon over at Creative Parties and Showers featured the shower. Thanks Shannon!

I've featured CP & S on this blog before, but it is worth retelling that if you have a fabulous party you'd like to share with others or if you are just looking for party inspiration, it is a party must. Shannon has used a lot of my pictures for the buttons on her site, which I just love! You might see a few cuties that might look familiar. =)

One of my favorite (and very repeat) clients Beth submitted the baby shower she threw for her friends...now she's thinking of becoming a party planner herself! Beckett's lil' monkey party was also featured a while back. If you are a PD&P reader and gave me a shout out on something you made yourself that was inspired by PD&P a big thank you to you as well!

Head on over to Creative Parties and Showers and check out hundreds of ideas for your next party!

Bedtime for Baby

2009-07-22T21:30:00.002-05:00

One of my previous clients enlisted me to make some invitations and a banner for a baby shower she is cohosting using the bedtime story theme from Hostess with the Mostess.

Rebecca sent me a picture of the bedding Dana was using for her baby girl to be to use as inspiration for colors and style. They are planning the shower around the bedding...

So to match the theme, I tried several different ideas for the invitations, but decided I liked the one of Baby Millie's bed the best, and Rebecca loved it too.

Then designed the banner to match...

Sweet dreams...heading to bed!

Ryan's First Year

2009-07-20T22:00:00.002-05:00

About the same time I was working on the picture banner for my little sister's graduation, I was asked to make a picture banner that matched my Polkadot Collection for little Ryan, who is having his first birthday party this weekend.

His mom sent me pictures from when he was three days old all the way to his 11 month picture, and plans to add the 12 month picture herself.

Ryan's mom knew she wanted something like this for his birthday, so she took a pic of him in a diaper each month sitting on the same chair with the same stuffed animal so you can really see how he changed over the months...such a great idea!

I really love these banners and plan to add them as a regular item to my list!

We all scream for ice cream!!

2009-07-16T23:42:00.005-05:00

Wednesday we held our annual ice cream party in our backyard for all our neighborhood kiddos and friends. I made these invitations and we hand delivered them all (except for the people who don't live in Shakopee, of course!)

I had a master plan of where I would set up all the goodies and how I would decorate...but of course no one can plan for the weather! The actual temperature and conditions were wonderful...it was the wind that was not so friendly. I had to scale down decorations and move the entire ice cream table to the one spot on the side yard where the wind was relatively calm.

So first the set-up...

Gotta love plastic and metal tubs. You can reuse them and reuse them...they're easy to clean and really brighten up a space as well as being functional. Start collecting a supply. I promise you won't regret it! A lot of these I've picked up a long the way and used over and over in different ways. I also used shepherd's hooks...the ones you usually hang plants or bird feeders from...to hang the banner. Makes hanging banners outside a cinch!

Before we let them get into lines to get cones, I got our annual pic on the steps of all the kids. 6 of the kids who ended up coming later are missing, but here are 22 of our attendees!

So then it was on to to ice cream...thanks Stacy and Jen for helping scoop and all the other moms and dads for organizing them into strawberry, chocolate, and mint chip lines and helping "sprinkle". As you can see from the pics, everyone enjoyed their ice cream...Beckett and Grant definitely were both fighting for the title of messiest with chocolate ice cream (not to mention the sand from the sand box they mixed into it!)...

I was going to buy cute napkins to match the ice cream theme, but realized that they would all be more than a little

so I stuck a tub of baby wipes in one of my colored buckets...worked so well!

Then it was time to play in the water, on the swingset, and in the sandbox. The line for the Slip N Slide was always long and there were lots of giggles coming from over in that corner of the yard...

Even our smallest guest who couldn't eat ice cream or go on the Slip N Slide enjoyed the party!

When the cones were all gone no one wanted the party to end...Beckett resorted to eating spilled sprinkles off of the patio after I put all of the ice cream away...

Each family took home a goody bag of "cones to go" for their entire family...just add ice cream!

Thanks to all our little friends who came to play. We had such a good time and feel so blessed that our kids have such nice friends...can't wait 'til next year!

Almost ready...

2009-07-15T12:27:00.002-05:00

More ready for some things than others...

The kids' ice cream party starts in 2 1/2 hours. I'm pretty much ready for that, just need to do some setting up, but since we have 30 MPH winds right now I will wait for the last second. Just a taste for you...

Now just waiting for 33 excited kiddos to arrive!

NOT so ready to leave on a 10 day vacation on Sunday. I mean mentally...YES...way overdue. But this is the list of things to still make and ship before I leave...not to mention I haven't started packing yet...

Some of you Moms would enjoy this: My husband hands me a list of things to pack. My list seems very short compared to his. But my list goes something like this... 1. Pack the kids 2. Pack the food. His list goes something like this... 1. Golf Clubs 2. Slalom Ski 3. Fishing Poles 4. Tackle Boxes 5. Baseball Mitts 6. Baseballs 7. Frisbee 8. Bean Bags 9. Tow Ropes 10. Tube 11. Air Pump 12. Water Toys 13. Goggles etc etc etc. See the problem here? 10 days worth of everything a kid needs to survive vs. man toys. I think I wanna trade lists. =)

Happy 4th of July??

2009-07-13T08:50:00.003-05:00

I had saved this banner so that I could post it on July 3rd so it would be up all weekend of the 4th. Oops! Totally slipped my mind and I found it when I was going through some pictures last night. I guess today will have to do...its at least still July!

I made some invitations for Addison a while back. She was having her party at the lake on the 4th of July along with her cousin Cale.

And since the party already took place, might as well include a picture of the birthday cutie!

Happy birthday Addie!

I Scream, You Scream...

2009-07-10T07:23:00.003-05:00

Lots going on over here at the Newman household...my sister moved into a new house yesterday and we painted almost every room on the inside of her house yesterday. I am also busy getting ready for our annual ice cream party.

Ice Cream Party 07

Because none of my kids have summer birthdays two years ago I had a party for all my kids little neighbor friends to come over and have ice cream and run through the sprinkler. Then last year I was so busy starting my business that it just didn't happen. So this will be the second of our annual minus one year ice cream party.

Lots to do before next Wednesday!

Hudson's Monkey

2009-07-08T16:26:00.004-05:00

I've done quite a few monkey banners in my day, but mostly with the same monkey. This time my husband's cousin Dana already had a certain monkey that she used for her invitations she made so she sent him on over! She was so helpful because she actually sent me samples of the paper she used for the invites and I was able to find a bunch of them to use for the banner as well as a few other coordinating ones.

I am actually putting this in the mail tomorrow, so I am not sure if it is a good idea to put it on here as it is ALWAYS better to have the client see it in person first, but since I know her so well I think it is pretty safe. Hope you like it, Dana!

SUPERJACK!!

2009-07-07T00:07:00.005-05:00

First, I need to clear up a couple things that I made confusing last week...

1) I AM NOT QUITTING. =)
The funny thing is that for ME, nothing changed in the past few months as far as business plan, its just that a lot of you hadn't looked at my schedule and realized I was booked out as far as I am. Again, I apologize (I mean, kind of...it is a blessing, too!) that I am booked so far out and can't accommodate more people.

2) YES, EVEN IF YOU ARE A PAST CLIENT YOU SHOULD GET ON THE WAITING LIST FOR 2010 IF YOU THINK YOU'LL WANT TO ORDER.
I wish I could take on everyone, but honestly, I KNOW I won't be able to. So come November 1st I am going to decide how many projects I will take on, make a calendar, and start at the top of my list until all spots are filled. That is the only fair and sane way to work it.

Thanks so much for all the emails I got last week. It was fun to hear from some of you I haven't heard from in a while! :)

Now, on to SUPERJACK. You may remember my nephew from his baseball party last summer. Jack is a fun little busy guy who I happen to adore (as do my kids, unless they are trying to kill each other, of course.) Jackson is classic for climbing on anything and everything in sight and has some impressive jumping skills as well. I suggested to my sister a few months ago that he have a superhero party since they are kind of the thing to do these days and he was always pretending to be one superhero or another anyway.

After finding some fun paper, I designed a logo that is Superman-ish only with an adjustment in color and style which my sister made into a tshirt. My mom has made all of our kids capes as well. Rachel ordered all the kids masks from someone on Etsy (I'll get the name and link it when I recap the party...not sure what seller it is at the moment). Put it all together and I had one fun night of picture taking with little Jacks.

I have to admit that I returned to my house and told my sister "There are a few cute ones, but I am not sure I got it." Then sometimes when you aren't expecting it (like standing in the driveway telling someone that you DIDN'T get it), you might get what you were looking for.

Isn't that funny? Man he cracks me up. So I took that pic and made these...

Lots more of Jacks party coming soon!

{Happy Customers} : Caiden

2009-07-03T09:19:00.003-05:00

This was such a fun circus set to work on because it was for the nephew of Adam...a photographer I got to know through my friend Darcie. He is so fun and was a huge help during our Made to Match shoot.

Little Caiden has the cutest grin ever! I mean, really, you should check out the pics that Adam took of him for his one year session and the pics he took at the party.

To read more and see the pictures closer up (and a whole lot of other cuties!) head on over to {happy customers}.

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

How perfect is this?

2009-07-02T09:55:00.006-05:00

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I kind of adore Em Tanner and all of her designs. She even has my kids on her site (wanna see?) But just recently she came up with a line called "Me 2 a Tee" in which you can make a character look just like you right down to the accessories! She has one product that I thought all of you just might adore as much as I do...

Perfect for a bday or what?

I just may have this shirt sitting here waiting for Ave's flower bday party (in December!)

(Never hurts to order early, you know. :)

And if that isn't enough...here are a few of my other gift giving or bday faves from EmT!

1. My new FAV gift to give Me 2 a Tee! Water Bottle
(my friend Kelley just told me that this was her 5 year old's favorite gift from his party!)

2. Ahoy MA-TEE! Tshirt (wish this one had been available before T's pirate party)
3. How cute is this Me 2 a Tee! Lunchbox?
4. So many options to personalize your Me 2 a Tee! Tshirt...need one for your princess?
5. Show everyone her age with the Quirky Circle Clip
6. Or how about just an initial she can wear everyday? Ave may need a Scalloped Quirky Circle Clip to match her tshirt!

I was going to link all these, but really, its more fun to just click around on Em's site. There is waaaay more than I could ever show you here.

Looking for the perfect gift to give yourself?? After I bought this for myself for Mother's Day, a bunch of my friends wanted one for themselves, too! It has been a lifesaver with schedules (now that my 30 year old brain doesn't work as well) and spices up the kitchen, too!

Funky Bubbles Calendar

If you want to become Em's Fan on Facebook, she has a coupon code she listed this morning. Plus, this girl will crack you up with her updates. While you're on there, become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates, too! I know there is also an EmT coupon on Tot Trends Weekly, another great site you should check out. Happy shopping!

Happy Birthday PD & P!

2009-07-01T00:08:00.003-05:00

One year.

One year ago today my dreams of a little shop on Etsy came true. I wrote this post, only the second ever I had written on this blog. I honestly had NO IDEA at the time what this would turn into.

This little company took on a life of its own. In fact, at times it has taken over the life that was my own. There have been moments when I was ready to hire an army and make this big. Then there have been moments when I have a reality check (also known as Eric Newman:) and I have pulled back a bit.

After 6 months of doing mostly custom work...all of which I loved, but that was eating into my life for practically no pay...I wrote this post. I stopped doing customs on Etsy, but continued to do them for friends and family. I launched 3 product lines. I launched a clothing line with some pretty amazing girls. I got to take a really fun trip. I have "met" a ton of wonderful moms, aunts, and grandmas who wanted to make their little one's birthday special. I have also "met" a lot of other really cool party girls in the business. I have had SO. MUCH. FUN.

So what's next?

Well...as I did at the six month mark E and I have had discussions about how things are going...both family AND business wise...and where we want things to go from here. Out of necessity I will be returning to my job teaching third grade (I really do LOVE teaching) this fall. I will miss days home with my kiddos, but I know they will probably adjust better than I.

As many of you have noticed on my schedule, I am currently booked through the end of 2009 for outside orders. My Etsy shop is currently closed...and in all reality I don't know if it will ever reopen. I have developed a little following here on this blog (THANK YOU ALL MY LOYAL READERS) and for quite some time I think I can stay busy by word of mouth...that is until the day I am ready to GO BIG on a huge website of my own. Please don't read this as I'm closing altogether, just closing Etsy!

I have a waiting list of sorts started for people to contact after November 1st when I decide how much work I will take on next year and whether or not I will hire help. If you want to get on that list, email me at polkadotsandpirates@gmail.com. It does not require any payment at this time.

In the meantime...I will be here. Blogging. Working my tail off after my kiddos are asleep. Twittering (follow me!). Answering your emails. And working on something that you may be interested in...especially all you DIYers...

I have a HUGE new project in the works. From the topics of emails I get almost daily I am guessing you're going to like it. I need a little more time to iron out all the details of a all out announcement, but I'll give you a hint...

Interested? More details coming soon. Promise.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support of this party girl. Sorry for the super long and maybe boring post. I promise back to the party tomorrow.

One year.

One stinkin' awesome year.

Gonna go throw some confetti at myself now. :)

XOXO,

Jess

For the bride-to-be...

2009-06-30T15:49:00.004-05:00

These invitations were inspired by the bride-to-be... described by her friend Amy as a girly girl who is all put together ALWAYS. So of course, that's where the pink comes in. Her wedding is in September and her color is cinnamon, which was described to me as a rusty orange, so I threw in the burnt orange and brown.

Amy also wanted an enclosure for guests to bring along with them to the shower giving Heidi some marital advice, so I made some coordinating cards as well.

I actually ended up using the advice card template to make my sis some Change of Address cards this afternoon in a different color scheme, which turned out cute as well!

Big birthday tomorrow. Any guesses?

Little Cupcake

2009-06-29T08:49:00.004-05:00

I found Erin and The Vintage Pearl through my friend Tammy. Then Erin helped me set up my blog originally when I started this whole thing a year ago. She makes jewelry, is an awesome photographer, and is the mom of four. Her blog chronicles daily life around their house, as well as showcasing some of her jewelry.

Let's just say I may fit into the "blog stalker" category. I told Erin that last year I was on vacation with my three sisters (one of which fits into the same category) and it just happened to be the weekend her daughter Eden was born. We were talking about what she had named her, etc. and finally one of our other sisters said "WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" because we were talking about them as if we knew them.

That trip must have been a year ago last weekend...*golden* and I coordinated to make Eden's birthday outfit and a few other items. Erin's pics are too good for me to shove in a collage, so you get the full sized ones today!

And because I can't resist a good cake smashing pic...

And a couple other things for Eden...

Thanks, Erin, for the pics and for the peek into your daily life with your beautiful family!

Over the Rainbow

2009-06-26T09:55:00.004-05:00

I had another project I was going to blog about today, but then last night *golden* sent me over the pics of the tutu I made to match a pair of bloomers she made for a client and I couldn't resist posting this instead!

I enlisted Rach to make bloomers for my Made to Match collection, but she loved making them so much that she now makes them to match any of her bibs, hats, and tees. This client just happened to pick one of our favorite fabrics and it was so fun to match to. Need a pair of bloomers? Check out Rachel's shop!

{Happy Customers} : Jacob

2009-06-25T09:33:00.003-05:00

Check out this little cutie! I made party decor for Jacob last winter for his snowman 1st birthday party. Funny thing is, the whole time I made it I DID have enough snow to make a snowman...but little Jacob lives in Texas and it was 70 degrees on the day of his party!

You know I always love coordinating with Rachel over at *golden*...this was no exception! I drew snowflakes like the ones she used for Jacob's bib and used them on everything from his door sign to his chandelier picture snowflakes.

To see the pictures in greater detail, read mom Courtney's kind words, and to see all our little happy cuties, head on over to our {happy customers} page!

Baby Bling

2009-06-23T15:57:00.003-05:00

This client was actually from Georgia, but she was coming into town to throw a baby shower for a good friend right here in MN. I know I am not technically "doing" custom orders for people I don't know, but I have a weakness when we are celebrating my home town girls! So I agreed to do it, but since my schedule was booked I had to make it last minute and we had to meet at a local mall to get her the goods. It's fun to see my actual clients...you are all usually just out there as phantom emailers with no face. :)

The theme for this shower was "baby bling"...inspired by this party on HWTM and this party at Social Couture. She wanted lots of sparkles...

...and although I looked like the glitter fairy threw up on me when I was done (yes, picture it people!) I think it turned out exactly as she wanted it!

Off to celebrate my anniversary with my hubs...date night! Woot woot!

This party was jumpin'!

2009-06-18T21:42:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we got to attend a party that had been in the works before the smallest guest of honor was even born! Our closest friends have a son that is four months younger than Tate and a daughter that is 4 months older than Beckett...add Avery to the middle and it is quite the mix of 5 little ones when we're together. Kelley decided when she was pregnant with Brielle that a bouncy party would be perfect for her kids (whose birthdays are less than a month apart) when they were turning 2 and 5.

These are the people that we moved into our neighborhood because of, but since moving into this neighborhood, we've met a lot of other really good people, too. And they were ALL there. The party for these two jumpin' monkeys lasted over 12 hours and saw about 40 kids through the jumper they rented.

A totally fun day.

Not to mention so fun to make stuff for...

Happy birthday, lil' monkeys!

Kasey's Graduation

2009-06-17T09:12:00.005-05:00

Last week I was out of town celebrating my littlest sis's graduation from high school. She has made several appearances on this blog in past months, but this was one of the most fun projects to work on with her!

Kasey is a girl who already has invented something in her head before she knows if it is even possible. Totally cracks me up. We planned her entire graduation around my favorite pic of her growing up:

Luckily I was able to find great paper that made what Kasey had envisioned in her head a reality! We decorated the garage and tent where her party was held with a banner, a photo banner of all her school pictures growing up, and vases wrapped in coordinating paper. We cut out bigger circles and attached bigger images of her favorites throughout the years as well as hanging some of her favorite tap dancing outfits and volleyball memorabilia as well.

Despite the fact that it POURED throughout the entire party and graduation (thank goodness for that tent and a heater!) it was a fabulous weekend. We are so proud of our sis and valedictorian of the BLH class of 09! Love you Kas!

For more detailed pics of her invitations and banners, check out this post.

Remember this??

2009-06-15T22:10:00.004-05:00

I blogged about this Sesame Street project last week...

It was actually something I worked on for Nancy O'Dell for her daughter Ashby's 2nd birthday. I worked with Jayneoni Moore of The Breakfast Club Mommies and Jenn Sbranti of Hostess With The Mostess to come up with a bright colorful backdrop for the Sesame Street theme. Jenn did most of the styling and knocked it out of the park as always!

Pictures are all courtesy of the fabulous Gina Lee Photography, who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in LA in February. She photographs mostly kids and families and has some mad fabulous ideas!

Here are some of the pics she took on Saturday...

For all the pics, check out the album on the HWTM Facebook Page and Jenn's blog later in the week!

Baby Blue and Zebra

2009-06-12T08:40:00.004-05:00

A while ago a client asked if I thought I could come up with something for a baby shower she was throwing that centered completely around baby blue and zebra print. She decided that she wanted the banner to say the baby's last name since the mom and dad know they are having a boy but aren't sharing names.

I can't wait to see pics to see how the rest of the shower came together!

For the Twins...

2009-06-11T14:39:00.003-05:00

These are the last of the "birthday box" packages that were my big project last week. I had two sets of twins to make boxes for, so I needed to keep the colors bright and fun while making it appropriate for both boys and girls.

If you have any more favorite birthday sites for our first Find It! feature get them in by the end of the day tomorrow...I want to post them on Monday! Thanks to all of you who have already sent them in!

Birthday Box for Boys (Round 2)

2009-06-10T15:51:00.005-05:00

Most of the birthday boxes that I worked on for my big project I started showing you last week were either a boys version, a girls version, or a twins version (watch for those tomorrow!). I had to make one special boy version, though, because two of the kids I was making them for were brothers and couldn't give them both the same one! So Mason got his very own special box.

As I said before, I tried to keep them very neutral so they could be used with lots of themes...basically just stuck to a set of colors.

Birthday boxes for twins coming tomorrow!

Find It!

2009-06-08T16:10:00.005-05:00

Hello from the farm, people! I am at my parents' house all week after celebrating my little sis's graduation. I will post some this week, but I don't have access to my pictures or my computer.

I have been working on this idea for a while, but I want some help from all of you! I get emails every day asking where I find this or that. So why not get together a list of the best places to find party related goods and ideas, right?

I have a list started, but I would love if you have your own favorite sites to send them my way. This week I am looking for sites that feature general party ideas and inspiration. Depending on how long the list is, I will not be able to feature ALL the sites in one post, but I will revisit topics as I find the need to share more inspiration or good products with you all. If you have visited a great party site or if you have one of your own, email me at polkadotsandpirates@gmail.com.

Let's Hear it for the boys!

2009-06-05T02:17:00.002-05:00

So apparently yesterday I was dreaming of Friday and said I'd be back with these on Monday. Another day, another blog!

For the boys birthday boxes, I needed something that could be tied to many universal themes and with lots of bright colors. Same went in these boxes as the girls' version...cupcake toppers, hat, and personalized banner...

LOVE how those cupcake toppers turned out!

Okay, people, now I really won't be back until Monday. Have a good weekend!