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Archive for the ‘Ideas’ Category

How do you Set a Budget for Your New Year’s Eve Party?

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

Champagne and Fireworks InvitationsIf you’ve decided to have a New Year’s Eve party, you’ve probably already given some thought to a budget for your party. Not having a budget or going over budget on your party can cause significant financial strain and stress and put a damper on your festivities.

Your goal is to throw a great New Year’s Eve party but you do not want to go into considerable debt to do so. The best way to have a successful New Year’s Eve party is to set a budget based on the amount of cash or credit you have available and work within that budget to create the most spectacular New Year’s Eve party possible. Once you have set your overall budget, you can set individual budgets for each element of your party.

Some individual elements to consider when planning your New Year’s Eve party are invitations, location, decorations, entertainment, food, beverages and incidental items. Prioritize your list to determine which elements are most important to you so you will have an idea of how to distribute your available funds.

For example, you may consider the New Year’s Eve invitations to be important as they set the tone for your event and a fabulous invitation entices guests to attend your party. If your invitation doesn’t impress your guests, your turnout could be less than spectacular.

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The Top 7 Tips to Help you Plan a Surprise Birthday Party

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Geezer Surprise Birthday Party InvitationPlanning a surprise birthday party can be very fun and enjoyable for all of the people who are involved. And, if you and your co-conspirators can keep up the charade until the party happens, then you can have one very surprised and happy guest of honor.

Even though the secret of your surprise party depends on all of the people who have been invited, there are some simple things which you can do to help ensure the best outcome possible.

Here are seven tips to get you started to planning a surprise party which your friends and relatives will be talking about for years to come:

1.  If the surprise birthday party is for someone other than your spouse, find out from your guest of honor, or even better from their significant other, what their schedule is like within the time frame you are considering for the surprise party. Use this valuable information to set the date for your surprise party.

2.  Enlist the help of someone who can devise a fictitious activity for the guest of honor to partake in on the day of the party. The closer to your home this activity is, the easier it is for your helper to “have to stop in at your home for a moment” on the day of the party.

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How do you clean dusty candles before a party?

Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Holiday Candles and Cones Invitations

Holiday Candles and Cones Invitations

I have lots of candles I use for decoration and I never intend to light them. I’ve noticed that they get dusty and dull looking.  How do I clean them? Here’s a few ideas:

  • Rub them with pantyhose.
  • If the candle has designs, use a cotton swab soaked in water to clean the grooves.
  • Use a lightly damp cloth to wipe the candle clean.
  • DO NOT use cleaning products as most are highly flammable and can soak into the wick.

What type of candles should you burn? According to Care2.com, beeswax.

“Beeswax candle fuel is the only fuel that actually produces negative ions, which not only helps remove pollution from the air but increases the ratio of negative ions to positive ions, the ideal and necessary scenario for clean air.” In laywoman’s terms, this means they cause charged gunk (dust, pollen, odors, toxins, etc.) to fall from the air onto the floor via static electricity.”

As we come into the holiday season, be sure to safely burn all candles.

Fabulous Harry Potter Halloween Costume you just have to See!

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Harry Potter Costume for Halloween Party

Harry Potter Costume for Halloween Party

This was so great, we had to share this post from CostumePop from Debi Olsen, Fort Collins, Colorado:

“Over the years my son has received numerous comments on his resemblance to Harry Potter. Unfortunately, he has never wanted to be him for Halloween because it wasn’t scary or cool enough. Well, this year we came up with a way to solve those problems!

We started with a rolling backpack, extended the handle and attached a hanger to the top. The neck was made from a plastic food container that was painted and attached to the hanger. We hung a shirt on the hanger and stuffed it to make a body, added the sweater vest, tie and robe to complete it. The jar is from Sam’s and was originally filled with cheese balls. The hands were from Halloween decorations. After adding the glasses and wand, Harry was now complete!

(Well, not exactly complete since he is missing his head!) He simply strapped on the backpack, put his head in the jar, closed the robe under his neck, and off he went. His costume was a hit everywhere he went although it scared quite a few little kiddos!

Note:  Of course, if you don’t look like Harry Potter, you’re going to have to add a mask to pull off this costume!”

Shop all our Halloween Invitations for kids, adults and Halloween Birthday Invitations.

Dinner Party Invitations set the Tone from Announcingit

Monday, August 30th, 2010

How do you get guests to come to your dinner party? First, send a great printed invitation. Custom printed invitations let guests know that you really are having a party and you are serious about having them attend.  An off-hand remark when you saw them at the grocery store or a casual email invite just doesn’t have the same impact as an invitation received in the mail.

Use your dinner party invitation to the tone for the party. It lets guests know if they are attending a casual barbeque outdoors, a themed party or a formal sit down affair.  Here are just a few of our favorite new invites.

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Placesetting and Floral Blooms Dinner Party Invitation

Placesetting and Floral Blooms Dinner Party Invitation

Placesetting on Twisted Vines Dinner Party Invitation

Placesetting on Twisted Vines Dinner Party Invitation

Legs Formal Party Invitation

Legs Formal Party Invitation

 

Tailgating Guide and Football Invitations from Announcingit

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Food Ref Tailgating Party Invitation

Food Ref Tailgating Party Invitation

Tailgate parties are all-day food fests and tons of fun with great friends and food and some good natured bickering about who will win the game thrown in.

Without proper care, food poisoning can be an uninvited guest to your tailgating party. Here are some tips to keep guests and food safe:

  • Choose items to pack that don’t need to be put on ice or kept cold.
  • Keep raw foods separate from other foods in their own cooler, if possible.
  • Keep your cooler temperature to 40º with ice or ice packs and during hot weather and put your tightly closed cooler in your air conditioned car instead of a hot trunk.
  • Keep items in the cooler until they are needed and for grilled items, only take them out when you’re ready to throw them on the grill.
  • Don’t worry about looking macho, use a meat thermometer to make sure meat is thoroughly cooked before serving, especially important when cooking on an unfamiliar portable grill – Hamburger to 160º; chicken to 170º.
  • Don’t let food sit out more than 2 hours, 1 hour if the outdoor temperate is over 90º
  • Any food that can’t be kept cold until you get home with what ice remains in the cooler should be thrown away.
  • Cleanup with anti-bacterial towelettes and use hand sanitizer liberally.

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What about the Rest of the Family on Birthdays?

Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Birthday Numbers Invitations

Birthday Numbers Invitations

Birthday parties are special days for the guest of honor, but what do you do with the rest of the family?

Siblings:  If there is a younger sibling you need to decide if you will buy a small gift for them or tell them that they will have their own birthday and they will be the stars on their day.  You may want to make plans to have Grandma or a babysitter be in charge of them so you can concentrate on the birthday child.  If there are older siblings, you may want to have them invite a friend and then enlist their help with other party guests and games.

Pets:  Party time is a good time to schedule your pet for grooming or let them visit a neighbor. If your animal doesn’t mind, you can put them in the garage or the laundry room, but don’t let them spend the time howling or barking. Don’t forget to put fish, hamsters and lizards in a safe place, too.

Get everyone involved in the action and have a great time!

Shop all our Kids Birthday Invitations

Baby Shower Invitations and Games

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Are you hosting a baby shower for a mommy-to-be? We’ve got some fabulous baby shower invitations for girls, boys or unisex. If you are looking for some ideas on how to keep your guests entertained, try a few of these baby shower games!

The Tray Memory Game:

  • Before the game starts you put 15 to 20 small items associated with babies, on a tray. These can be a bottle, pacifier, baby sock, safety pin, etc.
  • Give each of your guests a piece of paper and a pencil to write down their answers.
  • To start the game bring the tray into the room and place it where all the guests can see it but tell them not to touch, leave the tray in that position for one minute and tell the guests to memorize the items that are on the tray, then remove the tray from the room and give the guests five minutes to write down on pieces of paper what all the items were.
  • The guest who gets the most items correct is the winner.
Green and Brown Baby Laundry Baby Shower Invitation

Green and Brown Baby Laundry Baby Shower Invitation

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Halloween Invitations and Brains on a Cracker Appetizer

Sunday, August 1st, 2010
Frankenstein Lives Halloween Invitation

Frankenstein Lives Halloween Invitation

How about adding your own scary food concoction to the party?  Fill a plastic brain mold with a pretty pink shrimp dip for the ultimate gross-out grub on Halloween. This “smart food” will serve 100 guests (if you can get anyone to eat it!)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup(s) mayo plus 1 tablespoon
  • 1 can (10 ¾-oz.) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 package (8 oz.) of cream cheese, softened
  • 1 envelope of Knox unflavored gelatin, dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1/2 cup minced scallions
  • 1-1/2 lbs cooked bay shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch salt
  • Cocktail sauce

Directions:

  • Use 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise to grease a 6-cup brain mold or a bunch of mini brain molds; set aside.
  • Pour contents of soup can in a medium saucepan and heat over medium until warm.
  • Stir in cream cheese until melted.
  • Stir in dissolved gelatin with water until blended.
  • Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
  • Remove from heat and pour into brain mold.
  • Chill until firm.
  • Unmold on to a platter, top with cocktail sauce and serve with crackers.

Enjoy!

Halloween Invitations and Gross Brain Appetizers

Halloween Invitations and Gross Brain Appetizers

Shop all Halloween Party Invitations
Shop all Halloween Party Favors
Shop all Party Invitations

Kids Birthday Traditions to Start with Your Child

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

It’s never too late to start a birthday tradition with your child. Do you remember something fun from birthdays when you were a child? Why not start a tradition you and your child can look forward to year after year.

Fantasy Cake Kids Birthday Invitation

Fantasy Cake Kids Birthday Invitation

  1. Let them pick out their birthday party invitations, decorations and food to be served, even if it’s just a party with family as the guests.
  2. Let them help make or decorate their birthday cake or cupcakes the night before their birthday.
  3. Wake them up by singing “Happy Birthday” and throw in some hugs and tickles to start off their special day.
  4. Fill their room with their favorite color balloons (make sure they are old enough for the balloons not to be a hazard.)
  5. Create a treasure hunt for little birthday goodies you’ve hidden around the house or in their room.
  6. Let them choose their favorite breakfast. If they choose something besides cereal, put candles in it if possible.
  7. Let them choose their favorite restaurant or dinner for the whole family to enjoy together that night.
  8. Put a special note or birthday card in their school lunch.
  9. Give them a few “love coupons” that entitle them to something they love – popcorn and an extra half hour of TV before bed; pancakes on a Saturday morning; extended play date at their favorite little gym or the park.
  10. Plant a tree or a plant.
  11. Create a time capsule. Ask your child several questions, video tape their answers and then store the tapes away in a special box to be opened later, maybe at their 21st birthday. (You might want to transfer to DVD to survive the years.)
  12. Make a scrap book of birthday cards they receive every year.

Do you have a favorite birthday tradition? We’d love to hear from you.

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