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How To Print Your Own DIY Invitations

I am in full party planning mode for my daughter’s upcoming 6th birthday. Since she is in love with all of the I Can Read Fancy Nancy books, we decided to host a Fancy Nancy theme birthday party for her this year. It is going to be one posh party and I can’t wait!

My friend told me that she saw cute Fancy Nancy invitations on Etsy, so I headed over and checked them out.

Oh la la! The perfect invite was found by Party Invites, designer printable event decor & more.

How it is possible I have not used Etsy before for party planning, I am not sure. The options are amazing!

When I ordered it, I was sent two files by the seller, a .JPG and PDF to download with our invitation for printing.

I had never printed my own before so I put it out there on Facebook to see what you party savvy mamas have done for printing, and the response was so helpful, I thought I should do a post on it.

By the way, if you don’t already “Like” TO on Facebook, you really should. My mommy readers are soooo helpful!

Here is how you print your own DIY invitations:

1. At Home – Several mamas suggested printing on matte photo paper or card stock at home, with your printer set to the highest quality setting.  Another said she printed on card stock, and mounted on another card stock. C’est chic!

2. Costco – One mom mentioned that they give free envelopes with invitations, worth inquiring.

3. Target – Another person mentioned the same thing about free envelopes. But I found out they only print on photo paper. Just FYI.

4. Zazzle.com – You can order on matte paper if you order through Zazzle.

5. Snapfish.com

6. Staples – But one mom warned when printing in store, they did not come cut and there was not a cutting option. Hmmm…

7. FedEx Office (formerly Kinko’s) – We have one of these super close to us, so I chose this route. I called the store and they gave me an email to send it to. I emailed the PDF, which was 2 per page, and they turned out to be super reasonable. But I did spring the $10 they charged me to cut them. Worth it!

Anyone have any other DIY invites tips?  Do share!

Eco-friendly Party Ideas

Welcome to my fourth post in the SCOTT Naturals™  series celebrating Earth Month and the little changes all of us can make to live a little more green. Today’s post is on how to throw an eco-friendly party for your little one!

Have you ever thought about how much trash and waste goes into a birthday party? Why not give your next party an “Every Day is Earth Day” theme? This green theme is a ton of fun and there are so many ideas you can play off of. Here are a few to get you started…

Invitations:

Of course the most eco-friendly invitation is one that is paperless.

Create an emailed invitation for your eco-chic party on a site like Paperless Post or Echoage.

Brainstorm on invitation wording like a party that will be “Out of this World.” Or “Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice. Join us for an Earth Day Birthday Party for…”  Or, “The Best Friends are Sustainable Ones. Celebrate with us at an Earth Day theme party for…”

If you want to take the idea further and reduce the waste associated with gift wrapping, Echoage allows you to pick a favorite charity (you can opt for one focused on environmental projects) and guests can make a donation in lieu of gifts. This is the greenest giving of all! 

Decor / Supplies:

Playing on the Earth Theme, pick a color palate of browns, white, green and blue for a global-flare.

Use cloth tablecloths and SCOTT Naturals™  hybrid napkins and paper towels.

Opt for reusable plates and silverware versus paper.

If that isn’t practical, consider purchasing party supplies from Susty Party, an eco-friendly party supply company that sells items that are compostable and biodegradable.

Food / Drinks:

When going eco-friendly, think local when it comes to your food. Shop your favorite farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Make your own mini organic pizza crusts, and let kids top theirs with a choice of toppings (including local organic veggies and cheese.)

Serve homemade lemonade with fresh lemon slices in reusable cups.

Activities:

* Have kids first make their own pizzas so those are ready to pop in the oven when the time comes.

* Planting Station: Buy mini terracotta pots and paint them with chalkboard paint ahead of time.

Set up a table with colored chalk so kids can decorate their own pot to take home. In center of table set up soil and seeds, and help kids scoop their own soil into their pot and then plant their flower seeds of choice. Send their decorated pot home as their party favor.

* Make your own binoculars.  Let kiddos make and decorate their own set of binoculars out of SCOTT Naturals™  hybrid bath tissue rolls to take on their nature scavenger hunt.

* Nature Scavenger Hunt: Let kids explore around the backyard or take a walk around the block as they search for various items found in nature.

* Go Green Story Time: Read a favorite eco-friendly children’s book.

Dessert:

Playing off the nature theme, have the kids make their own earthy “mudpies” using homemade organic chocolate pudding and toppings with such as whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, pretzels, gummy worms, smashed up organic chocolate cookies, etc.

Thank You’s:

Take a picture of your child with each guest and send them a sweet emailed thank you with a sentiment like “Thank you for being a sustainable friend.

As you can see, you can have a ton of fun with this green theme. And events like this can spark many teachable moments about the Earth and our care of it.

And while we are thinking green, SCOTT Naturals™ invites you to take the 4 Week Test Drive during the month of April.

Simply go to scottbrand.com and pledge to switch to SCOTT Naturals™ for four weeks and try their selection of hybrid products.

When you make the pledge, you will enter in your zip code, and the state with the most pledges can win $50,000 towards local forest and land conservation efforts to preserve America’s great outdoors. Click HERE and take the pledge!

[Disclosure: SCOTT Naturals™ is compensating me for my time and participation in this campaign. All of the above are my honest opinions, as always. I have made the switch to SCOTT Naturals™ and have taken the 4 Week Test Drive pledge! I hope you will too!]

Resources: Paperless PostEchoageSusty PartyHomemade Pizza Recipe, Homemade Lemonade Recipe, Fruit Cake Recipe on Family FunHow to Make Paper Tube Binoculars, How to Make Terracotta Pots with Chalkboard Paint, Eco-friendly Children’s BooksOrganic Chocolate Pudding Recipe,  Worms in the Mudpie Recipe

Photo credits: Forks from Susty Party, Fruit Cake from Family Fun, Terracotta Pot from Scissors and Spatulas, Worms in the Mudpie from Raspberri Cupcakes.

 

Sensitive Sweets Decorating Parties

Sensitive Sweets, a dedicated gluten-free, nut-free bakery in Fountain Valley is now offering special decorating parties!

As a mom of a daughter with a milk and egg allergy, Sensitive Sweets is a God-send to moms like me who have kids with food allergies. Her goodies are made with NO gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts or tree nuts. And they are amazingly good! 

I keep a stash of Sensitive Sweets cupcakes in my freezer, so anytime we go to a party, I have a special cupcake for Morgan on hand so she doesn’t have to feel left out at cake time.

Sensitive Sweets is now offering extraordinary decorating parties at her darling bakery, perfect for a birthday party or even a Girls Night Out! She even has special take-home kits (if you call 24 hours ahead), so you can do your own decorating party at your home.

Here are her in-bakery party offerings:

Sensitive Sweets Cupcake Party (ages 4 +)

Each guest gets 2 cupcakes, one to eat and one to take home, sprinkles, toppings, and a cupcake box. 60-minute session, max 12 guests. $12/guest.

Ultimate Sensitive Sweets Cake Party (ages 6 +)

Each guest gets a 2 layer 4″ round cake, frosting, sprinkles, cake decorations, and a cake box. 90-minute session, max 12 guests. $24/guest.

Sensitive Sweets Cake Challenge Party (ages 12 +)

Teams will compete with one another on a themed cake challenge. Participants will start with 30 minutes of demonstration and then break into teams with 1 hour to assemble ready-to-use items. Items include ready-to- ice cakes, cupcakes, frosting, fondant, rice crispy treats and a multitude of other decorating supplies. The winner will receive a Sensitive Sweets gift set. 90-minute session, max 12 guests. $29/guest.

[Details: Ask about additional items of your party including drinks, aprons, chef's hats, invitations and goody bags. Minimum of 6 guests per party, max 12. Deposit is required at booking (non-refundable.) Activities are for paid guests only. No outside food allowed. Prices subject to change.]

Visit www.SensitiveSweets.com for more info or call 714.968.9169.

Sensitive Sweets is open Tuesdays-Fridays 10am – 6pm, Saturdays 10am – 5pm. After hours parties may be available. Bakery is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Photo credit: Sensitive Sweets.

Lovely Paper Craft Parties

I love a great party idea which is why I am so excited to share with you a local OC company called Lovely Paper which offers craft parties at your location in Orange County or LA!

Owned by Patricia Aguilar, an artist and teacher who married her two passions, Lovely Paper is a company that celebrates teaching people to unleash their creativity through whimsical crafts.

Parties by Lovely Paper

Do your children LOVE doing crafts? I know my oldest daughter could spend hours working on art projects, so I can only imagine the fun she would have at a one of these parties!

Parties by Lovely Paper are geared towards ages 7 – 12, but she can do younger if your child is old enough to sit and craft OR even for adults! Think how fun it would be to have a craft party for a baby shower or moms’ night out!

Lovely Paper will come to your event and put on a fun craft party which includes:

* 2 hours of crafting with 5 crafts per participant. Parties are $250 for up to 10 participants, each additional is + $20. Mention Tiny Oranges and book your party before June 1st, 2012 and you will receive 20% OFF – Yippee!!!

* All supplies, drop cloth for the floor, table and tablecloth if needed, and a small treat bag for each of the participants.

You can choose from one of her three most popular themes:

Princess for a Day

This girly-girl sparkly craft party includes bejeweled crowns, fairy wands, castle photo cards, paper jewelry charm bracelets, and a wish box for the party celebrant.

Whimsical Wonderland

This bright colorful craft party includes masks, paper flowers, flower photo frames, paper weave bracelets and a wish box for the party celebrant.

Funky Diva 

This superstar craft party includes an animal print jewelry box, a jewel and animal print paper mirror, an “autographed” photo card, a paper purse with bejeweled ribbon handle and a wish box for the party celebrant.

Or maybe you have your own theme in mind?  Lovely Paper will work with you to create a customized craft party with crafts to fit your theme. Prices will vary due to supplies, call them for a consultation.

And, for extra convenience, for an additional cost Lovely Paper will provide light snacks, appetizers, paper cups, paper plates, and napkins in matching theme colors. Click HERE for more details.

You can also visit www.LovelyPaperParty.com and their online retail shop that includes wonderful products by independent designers and click here to follow Lovely Paper on Facebook.

[Disclosure: Lovely Paper is a Tiny Oranges sponsor. Check out their darling ad in the right column!]

Birthday Party Bootcamp Event

Hey party people! If you are a lover of birthday parties and cute ideas  you will not want to miss the Birthday Party Bootcamp Event coming up March 4th at the oc mart MIX!

Saige Nicole’s baby and toddler boutique along with The Pantry wedding party boutique are hosting the first “Birthday Party Bootcamp” with the assistance and creative direction of Lemonade – An Event Company.

This innovative and lively party trio has brought together over 10 of the best OC party vendors to share their secrets, expertise and ideas on how you can create a birthday party kids will love and one that makes the mommies gush!

Attendees will enjoy workshops which include…

* DIY demos
* Yummy pastries and treats
* Info on how to capture the perfect party pics
* Ideas for creative decor
* How to choose a theme that will WOW
* Birthday party fashions
* Paper goods and design…and more!

Sounds like SO much fun – I think I might have to check it out myself!

Event is FREE, kids are welcome, RSVP’s are helpful, but not necessary. You can RSVP on their Facebook event page or here at Saige Nicole’s or here at The Pantry.

Birthday Party Bootcamp

Sunday, March 4th, 2o12
12:30pm – 4:30pm
(workshops every hour starting at 12:30pm)
oc mart MIX in Suite C
3333 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa 92626

Participating Vendors: 

Saige Nicole’s

The Wedding Pantry 

Lemonade – An Event Company 

Darla Marie Designs

Push Cakes 

Dez and Tam Photography 

Sensitive Sweets 

Bubba Sweets 

Dolly’s Sweet Dreams Cotton Candy 

Sweet Lucie’s Ice Cream and Treats 

Connecting Moms.CA