Buckets of Ribbon!

If I had to pick one or two things that were my go-to party decorations it would be glass containers and ribbon.  Glass containers are so versatile and you can re-invent a use for them from party to party.  But ribbon - excuse the pun, can tie a party theme together.

I use ribbon on everything!  For Ethan's party I put ribbon on the galvanized tin cupcake tower, on the re-purposed drink caddies and of course on all of the glass containers for the candy table. 
 



Last night, as my husband was cursing at the Packer game (because you know, Mike McCarthy can hear all those arm chair quarterbacks across Packer land), I was starting to prepare for the Halloween party - adorning all my great printables and dollar aisle finds with coordinating ribbon.  At least it got my mind off of the terrible 2nd half of the game!

I mentioned in a previous post that the Halloween party is for kids so I am avoiding a spooky theme.  Instead, I'm going with orange and black polka dots and stripes.  I found lots of coordinating ribbon at Hobby Lobby, Michael's and my favorite online Ribbon store, The Ribbon Retreat.  They have every kind of ribbon, including groupings of ribbon made to match various themes. 

I used my theme-centered ribbon to adorn these Target dollar aisle jack-o-lantern tins.

In a previous post, I featured the Anders Ruff printable Halloween collection.  Here is the Trick or Treat banner put together with my ribbon.  (I apologize for the dark photos.)

 Here are some of my other favorite party bloggers' uses of ribbon:

The backdrop for a candy/sweets table:

Amy Atlas Designs

A more subdued version:

Amy Atlas Designs

A chandelier:

Kara's Party Ideas

Custom Table Coverings:

Kara's Party Ideas

(I LOVE this!!!)

Napkins:

Amy Atlas Designs

Maddycakes Muse

Kara's Party Ideas

Treats:

Maddycakes Muse

Save the Date for Cupcakes

Favors:

Kara's Party Ideas

I better stop there.  I could get carried away...  If you have other ideas for ribbon, I'd love to hear from you and see your ideas.  Contact me at the link above or post your link in your comment.

This weekend we are off to Door County for my Grandma's 90th Birthday Bash.  My cousin has fallen ill so send your good thoughts her way so she can join us!  Can't wait to post pictures from the weekend!

Buckets of Table Ideas

A huge craze in party planning land is candy or sweets tables.  In fact, there are blogs dedicated just to these ideas.  Check out Save the Date for Cupcakes for awesome inspiration.

Party planners are now taking the idea of the sweets table and inventing other ways to use this concept.  One of the neatest ideas I've come across is this Trail Mix Bar from Cari at Socially Circled.  When I was younger, my mom was famous for making what we called "Chex Mix."  She always had it on hand and when my friends came over, they always had to have her Chex Mix.  So, this particular table struck a special place in my heart.  Cari designed this table for a camping themed party.  But you could use it for so many other things - a party for your child's sports team; a back to school party; end of the school year party; Fall celebration - the ideas are endless!

Love these Mason Jars to put your trail mix concoction in :)

Here are some other spins on the "sweets table:"

Favor Tables:

Courtesy of Send In the Clowns

Ice Cream Buffets

 

Courtesy of Kara's Party Ideas

Cereal Buffet Bars

Wouldn't this idea be great for a pajama party or a brunch!

Courtesy of the Purple Pug



Check out the Fruit Loop Garland!

I hope I've inspired your creativity!  I may need to have more kids just to use up all these ideas!  Now my husband is supportive of my party planning fetish, but not so sure he's that supportive!

My bucket can't take this :)

So if Saturday was an exciting day for Buckets of Grace, Sunday has been the "bees knees" (to quote Charlotte from Princess and the Frog.)  Not only was Ethan's Cars Party featured on Catch My Party!, but one of the most coveted and notable party blogs also featured the party - Pizzazerie.  Here is a link.  I am absolutely shocked and honored.  Courtney wrote the nicest things about the party:

Finding fabulous boy’s party ideas can be a bit more challenging. When Melissa Thiel Collar submitted this Disney Pixar’s Cars Birthday Party she threw for her son, Ethan, I knew I had to share it with you because I love it.  It can also be challenging to use a commercial party theme, but she did so with lots of unique ideas and PIZZAZZ! Thanks for sharing, Melissa! Such a great job.

The kids made fun race cars out of cardboard boxes and had a blast racing each other. You can see more details and lots of additional pictures on her site, Buckets of Grace.

This isn't like just arguing a case before the Supreme Court, it's like arguing and winning!  Thank you Courtney! 

My bucket runneth over - part deux!

Today is a big day for Buckets of Grace!  Two of my parties (yet to be posted here) were featured on Catch My Party!  If you've never checked out this party blog, it is a must see for anyone needing ideas for any kind of party - not just kids' birthday parties.

They featured Grace's Rock Star/HSM/Hannah Montana 6th Birthday Party as well as Ethan's Cowboy/Western 2nd Birthday.  I have to say I'm truly humbled! 

 

My job (that pays the bills) is an attorney.  When I was in law school, the big "prestige" thing to do was to get an article published in your law school's law review.  I frankly wanted no part of that.  Now that I'm an actual attorney (although some days I think I'm just playing one on T.V.) you've truly "made it" when you've argued a case before the Supreme Court or have been published in a law journal.  While I've won a share of my own cases, I've never "made it" as my cohorts define "making it."

So, despite the lack of my "professional" accomplishments, my making it is being featured on this fabulous website!  I may never argue a case before the Supreme Court, but I'm satisfied to know my parties were featured on a notable party blog!  I truly am so honored (and shocked!) 

I hope to have these two parties posted here sometime in the near future.

"Ta Da! It's My Birthday Party!" - Ethan

At least that's what Ethan said to Grace as she walked into the garage after school to see "his party" preparations.  He was so excited to show off his party to her!  His excitement was worth more than anything to me.  The weather turned out to be much nicer than predicted, but in the end having the party in the garage worked out great.  I don't think I ever could have been ready had I needed to set up on the party day on our patio.  And, as my friend Rebecca said as we were both planning our children's parties for the same day and commiserating about the weather, at least my theme fit a garage setting.  (Not so much for her Alice in Wonderland theme.)

Not to sound too much like an acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, but I really do want to thank everyone who helped me plan this party, my husband for putting up with me and only occasionally getting mad at me when he attempted to calculate in his head the money I was spending, all the inspiration I've gathered from the various different parties on everyone's talented blogs, Betsy Pruitt from Belly Feathers who has been so kind and helpful as I've adventured into party planning blog land and the same to Michelle Burt of Maddycakes Muse.  Also, a big thanks to Jessie Warner who graciously agreed to come take pictures of my lil' ol' party and making me look so good!

Thank you for looking and reading my blog.  I'm so grateful and honored!  This post is a picture overload!  I'll try to include all the sources of the various items, but if I don't feel free to email me. 

The Invite

The Candy Table

Candy Labels - Posh Pixels

Banner - Gwynn Wasson Designs

Checkered Flag Banner and Table Skirt - Race Party Decorations

 

 

More Yummy Treats

Cone Holders (re-purposed Drink Caddies) - Pottery Barn

Cupcake Stand - Pottery Barn

Party Hats - Make It Mine Parties

Race Car cupcake toppers (not the McQueen or Mater) - Meri Meri

Fillmore Organic Fuel Labels - Belleza e Luce

Rust Eze Medicated Bumper Ointment Labels - Belleza e Luce

Sally's Cozy Cone Cups - Birthday Express

 My own attempt at making a McQueen cake for Ethan!

Happy Birthday Banner - ScrapEm Easy on Etsy

Cars banner in backdrop - Meri Meri

  

Turning a Frog into a Prince (a.k.a. A Garage into a Birthday Bash!)

Ethan was my little helper the day before the party.  He was so fun!  Ever since my neighbor Tina mentioned the "lollipops" after seeing the picture on the blog, he has been asking for a "pop!"  I've held out on him but on Friday he was so good and so sweet, I couldn't resist any longer.  Note to you moms out there worried about stains -  the black and white lollipops make a mess, but it comes out of clothes like a charm!

(For pictures of other signs used at the party, see my previous post here.)

Race Sign - Race Party Decorations

Cupcake flower centerpiece - inspired by How Does She?

Racing Party Favors

Bubbles - Gwynn Wasson Designs (not currently on her Etsy shop, but email her and she is great to work with!)

Racing Trophies - Oriental Trading

Custom Labels - Belleza e Luce

Crayon Rolls - Tamis Cozies, Etsy

Crayon Roll Thank You Tags - ScrapEm Easy on Etsy

Checkered Flag Favor Bags - Oriental Trading

Favor Tags - Designer Favors, Etsy

Fun and Games!

These race car boxes are supposed to resemble Lightning McQueen and The King.  Who knew a cardboard box could be so much fun.  The kid had a blast with these boxes for the entire party - racing their aunts and even grandmas.  By the end of the party they had been so used and abused, I had to recycle them.

I stole the idea of the tire toss game from Betsy at Belly Feathers.  Again, who knew an old, free racing tire and some bean bags would provide so much entertainment.  The kids had a blast with this game!

This was my homemade "Pin the Tire on McQueen" game. 

The Birthday Boy (and his sister too) (and his mom and dad!)

Ethan's custom Cars shirt - eBay (no longer can find it on there).

Grace's Dress - Lil Sweetie Boutique on Etsy

Again, thank you all for looking.  It makes me exhausted thinking about this party again - but Ethan's reaction and sincere look on his face and enthusiasm throughout the party made it all worth it!