Want to make these lovely painted antlers? You can at DIY Wildwood Boutique. Mount your painted masterpieces to an old piece of barn wood or use them as a centerpiece.
November 09, 2015
April 13, 2015
Party Boxes
Planning a children’s party? Looking for a clever, affordable solution for party food? This is the answer!
Last time I took my three year old to a birthday party, the food table was groaning. Despite some redistribution, it was still groaning at home time! Food can be one of the biggest costs involved in hosting a children’s party. But the fact is, small children really can’t eat as much as you think they can eat. They can’t even eat as much as THEY think they can eat.
Beautifully laid out dishes of crudités and expensive, freshly prepared fruit platters are guaranteed to be ignored. Toddlers can’t really get their heads around a buffet arrangement, favoring the approach that what is near me is mine. For this reason, my son glanced up, saw the bowl of party rings right in front of him and promptly emptied them all into his plate. He did his best to eat them all, but there they remained, before being unceremoniously dumped into a bin bag at the end of the party.
To avoid this scenario, serving the food in individual party boxes, each with a portion of everything inside, is ideal for young children. These are available from many online retailers in a wide range of colors, themes and styles, or you can get plain ones and decorate them yourself.
Get Prepared
With individual lunch boxes, you can portion more accurately, avoiding excessive waste.
- Try to picture how much each child is likely to eat
- Think about the amount of ingredients needed per child, then scale it up to suit your numbers
- Now sit down and write a shopping list – this will really help you not to overspend
If you are worried that there might not be enough, you can always stick a couple of extra plates on the table with a few more bits so those with a larger appetite can help themselves.
Get Inspired
“Oh goody, sandwiches!’ said no small child ever. A cheese hedgehog, on the other hand, will have them chomping, no questions asked. Try using a variety of biscuit cutters to add to the fun! Keep it simple with cream cheese, ham and cheese in your sandwiches. You could opt for popular pitta bread or wraps.
Not sure what else to put in?
- For savory snacks, try cheese cubes, cocktail sausages, breadsticks, a few crisps, a handful of popcorn, or carrot, cucumber and pepper batons
- Sweet treats might include fruit leather, a box of raisins, jelly cups, a small bunch of grapes, or a biscuit
- When it comes to the cake, you can’t beat cup cakes for ease. Decorating each one with sweets to create funny faces is a fun idea and goes down really well with little ones
Get Ahead
Wrap the portions in cling film to stop foods such as sandwiches from drying out. Cup cake cases make a colorful, effective way to separate different unwrapped foods. Fill the boxes with the contents before the party starts, and pack them into a large container. Find a cool place to store them, out of the way of your marauding guests until it’s time to eat. You can keep them fresh by nestling a few freezer blocks between them and covering with newspaper.
Get Creative
Got plain boxes? Decorate them with stickers to jazz them up. Children love the idea of something that is theirs, so why not write their names on too? You could put a party popper, mask, hat or badge in there to add to the fun.
Get Organized
Labeling them with the guests’ names means everyone knows where to sit. For a joint party, you can make sure all the birthday children are seated together ready for cake time! With several groups of friends brought together to celebrate their birthdays, you can organize your boxes so that everyone ends up sitting next to a familiar face.
Another bonus of individual boxes is you can cater for any dietary requirements or allergies that your party-goers may have. You can relax, knowing no one will be served anything they shouldn’t eat.
So, be imaginative and have fun!
Tutorial by Alice Hanby
Party Box image and DIY instructions by Raphaele
February 09, 2015
Easy Thumbprint Valentine's for Kids
My 4 year old daughter and I had to make 38 Valentine's over the weekend for her preschool friends. We came up with this easy and sweet idea that she did mostly herself.
Directions:
- Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to trace hearts on pink paper.
- Cut hearts out of paper.
- Using your thumb or finger, finger paint a heart on the paper.
- After paint dries, glue on eyes.
- With a pen add feet, wings, hats, eyelashes, etc.
Enjoy!
January 03, 2015
DIY Rope Table Runner
I love this super easy DIY rope table runner via Ruffled. Easy to make, super customizable & could be made with different color rope or ribbon twisted throughout. I have listed the supplies below, but here is the tutorial.
Supplies needed:
- yarn
- 3/8″ manila rope
- scissors
- pom-pom makers
- cardstock
- hot glue gun
December 05, 2014
Holiday Table Setting Stationary by Kelli Murray
Illustrator, blogger and graphic designer Kelli Murray created these awesome stationary, holiday printables & they are free! Look how gorgeous they look on this tablescape.
Here is the DIY tutorial for this holiday table setting stationary and the links for the digital downloads from the Free People Blog.
For more holiday tips and event inspiration follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & Facebook!
August 21, 2014
Wine Pairing Guides for All
Having an end of summer soiree? Or maybe you just like to drink wine, with everything. Here are a few wine pairing guides that might help you with planning your event or spice up your daily routine. Personally, the second one is my favorite...who wouldn't want to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies and drink a bottle of wine.
Source: Whole Foods' Dark Rye Magazine
Source: The Juice. Club W
Source: Indian Wine List
Source: The Juice. Club W
For more party or event inspiration follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & like us on Facebook!
August 12, 2014
Quick Tip! How to Properly Set a Table
Here is a quick tip from Brunch At Saks on How to Properly Set a Table. This should come in handy for all the upcoming holidays.
For more party or event inspiration & tips follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & like us on Facebook!
Visit us at Sendo to create custom online invitations, announcements or Ecards
July 19, 2014
Edible Flower Chart, Recipes and Tips
Edible flowers can be a beautiful addition, but make sure they are super fresh and not wilted or they can be unpleasant. Here is a simple, yet helpful chart, a few recipes and other useful information on adding edible flowers to your food.
Edible Flower Chart by Sugar and Charm
Edible Flower Angel Food Cake with Sour Cream Glaze Recipe from Good Housekeeping. This link also includes tips on finding and buying, cleaning and storing & how to use edible flowers.
Lillet Spring Rose Cocktail Recipe from Martha Stewart
Edible Flower Spring Roll Recipe from Once Upon a Plate
Edible Flower Ice Cubes, photo from Lucy Says I Do
Herb and Cheese Canapés w/ Edible Flowers Recipe from Vegetable Gardener
For party or event inspiration follow us on Pinterest, Instagram & like us on Facebook!
Visit us at Sendo to create custom online invitations, announcements or Ecards
March 03, 2014
Online Treasure Hunt Ideas "Liam The Leprechaun"
Wake up sleepyhead
You've been sleeping all day!
I came over to trick you and tease you today!
I knocked on the door but
You just slept right through it
Now I dare you to catch me
But I bet you can't do it!, St. Patty's Day downloads, leprechaun hunt, leprechaun ideas, St. Patty's Day treasure hunt
Make this St. Patt'ys Day the most magical St. Patty's day ever with this super fun, super clever "Leprechaun Hunt"! The morning starts when each child finds the above note from Liam the Leprechaun on their pillow--they then follow ten clues chasing Liam all over the house and trying to catch him! This was inspired by my granddaughter who leaves Leprechaun traps every St. Patty's Day to try to catch a leprechaun. Why should she have all the fun--every kid should get to try to catch a leprechaun (and be teased by said leprechaun all along the way!). To download this amazing "leprechaun hunt", all you have to do is CLICK HERE
October 29, 2012
Halloween Party Theme "Eyeball"
I see you and I know what you are doing!
This all-seeing party theme will surely keep your guests spooked.
Your guests can enjoy colorful eyeball bottle labels,
party favors and an cake-pops made to look like eyeballs.
You can download the free ideas, print and party.
Halloween Party Theme "Eyeballs"
Visit our blog for "Eyeball" dinner ideas.
Included in this packet is a recipe for eyeball cake pops, instructions, pictures and printable centerpiece label...
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