{Real Party} All Wisconsin Boy Sports Party - Football and Baseball

For the most part, this party was entirely dreamed up by my all Wisconsin boy, Ethan.  He is a sports fanatic.  He's even more of a fanatic about his Wisconsin teams!  He loves his Packers, Brewers and Badgers.  It probably doesn't help that we live in the shadows of Lambeau Field, are lucky enough to have season tickets to the Packer games, and mom is a Badger alum and bleeds red and white :)  Dad is a huge Brewer fan.  So it's now wonder that Ethan loves his Wisconsin sports!

 

When Ethan decided he wanted a Badger, Brewer and Packer party, I have to admit, I was a little intimidated.  Not only did I need to combine two sports into one party, but I also had to work with three teams - three team colors, three team logos, etc.  And, I am not a fan of over-commercialized parties. 

I was able to find the amazing team spirit printables from Amanda Parker at Amanda's Parties to Go.  She was kind enough to customize the printables for each of Ethan's favorite teams.  The result was perfect!  This party had so many fun parts that I'll have to break up the posts.  This post is a few sneak peeks.  Stay tuned for more posts.

The Birthday Boy!

Ethan's shirt - This Pretty

 

Favor Table

Sweets Table

The Wisconsin logo mash-up

All Wisconsin sports activities

Can't wait to share more of this awesome party!

{Real Party} Strawberries and Cream Neighborhood Ice Cream Social

We hosted our 3rd annual neighborhood ice cream social at the start of summer and it's taken me until the start of fall to get the post up!  Where did the summer go!  Thankfully, this party was featured on Kara's Party Ideas and Hostess with the Mostess so at least it was out there on time :).

Our neighborhood has started a tradition of holding an ice cream social on the Friday of the week that school ends. See our previous two parties here and here.  It's a great way to reacquaint yourself with your neighbors - especially where we live where the winters are long and cold!

This year's theme was strawberries and cream. Unfortunately, the Spring weather did not cooperate and the strawberries were not ready for picking in time for the party so we had to do a little improvising.

Each neighbor brought their favorite topping and I supplied the ice cream and the strawberries and cream treats. While the weather was perfect for the party, the sun was beating on my front porch where the ice cream and treat tables were set up. Sun doesn't make for great pictures.

It was a great party, the kids had a great time staying up, having a camp fire and lighting off fireworks. We are looking forward to next year!

The printables were designed by Carli of Dimple Prints and could not have been more perfect! The tied the party together by giving it a market/vintage feel. The burlap, doily and natural elements were perfect!

 

Welcome!

 

 

Strawberries and Cream Treats

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Cream Treats

 

 

Thanks for looking!  We are already planning for next summer :) 

 

{Real Party} Camp Arts and Crafts - More!

One last post from Grace's Camp Arts and Crafts party.  I get tired just looking at all of the pictures :) 

 

First up is our food table.  I REALLY wanted a beautiful rainbow ruffled table cloth for the party.  Unfortunately, the $$$ price tag $$$ was not compatible with what I wanted to spend.  So I improvised and made my own rainbow table cloth and skirt. 

 

I used one plastic table cloth of each color.  I first cut the table cloth to cover the table.  I then took the leftover plastic and bunched it, adhering it to the front of the table.  This table is actually my husband's work bench, so I used push pins to gather the plastic and give it the full look.  After I had all of the table covered and the front skirted, I took rainbow festooning and placed it over the push pins.  Not as pretty as the $80 ruffle rainbow table cloth, but for $12, it will do.

 

I made the large Kraft paper pinwheel behind the table to keep with our camp style decorations.  The rainbow pinwheels were purchased from the party store.

 

For our camp style serving wear, I took pie plates from the Dollar Store and lined them with natural deli style paper.  They actually worked out very well for sturdy plates.

We served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on rainbow bread :)

 

 

The party favors were fun, inexpensive and them appropriate.  I found the caddies in the Target $1 aisle almost a year prior.  I saved them that long!!!  To personalize them, I used my Silhouette machine and cut out each girl's name.  I found the adorable "Camp Like a Girl" badges on eBay and glued them to the caddy.  Inside the caddy was markers, colored pencils, and crayons that I purchased at back to school time.  The prices can't be beat at that time of the year!  I also found paint can puzzles that I added to the caddies.  The caddies were great for the girls to place all of their arts and crafts in as they headed home.

 

 

 

No party is complete without a photo backdrop.  I REALLY was trying to be cost conscious for this party.  In the past I have purchased fabric for the backdrop. This year, I tried wrapping paper that I found at Target.  The wind was not the friendliest to the paper, but overall it worked - and was a lot cheaper!

 

I borrowed the trees from my Aunt and used zip ties form the Dollar Store to make a garland to decorate the two of the trees with.  The other tree was adorned with a flower garland I found at Target on clearance after Easter.  I used small paper fans to top the trees.

 

The pennant is a printable from Dimple Prints.

 

 

If you've ever purchased a printable package from Dimple Prints, you know how much you get!  There are so many great printables.  This package was no different.  I wanted to be able to use all the clever signs in the package.  I decided to glue the signs to a chevron burlap ribbon and hang them from the ceiling.  They turned out cute!

If hosting 12 nine year old girls was not crazy enough, we hosted Grace's family after her girlfriends had left.  One party in the morning, the next in the afternoon!  I know it's crazy, but it really works - one set up, one take down and getting it over in one day is great.  So in addition to the favors for Grace's friends, I had favors for her cousins.  I packaged the favors in brown lunch bags and used chevron washi tape to adhere the printable.  Super cute!

 

 

And last but not least, my inexpensive table coverings and activities.  I wanted to extend the arts and crafts theme to the tables.  I covered the tables in Kraft paper from the Dollar Store and placed pencils, markers and crayons on each table.  I also placed rainbow colored candy on each table to keep the sugar high going :)  The girls had a blast coloring on the tables.

 

 

 

Thanks for looking!  And Happy Birthday Grace!!!

 

 

If anyone would like more information, I'm glad to help you out.