Sunday, November 30, 2008

Plan The Perfect Polka Dot Party

Our favorite Southern hostesses with the most-ess, Miss Stacy, is back with more fabulous ideas for your Polka Dot themed party! Party ideas that are the easiest to execute are the simple ones, which is why we love the Polka Dotted theme for your next children's birthday party.

Invites:
If you’re dreaming of polka dots, Paperlicious.com is your dream come true! For a polka dots party theme, you can find them here in every color on invitations, thank you notes, favor tags and more. If seeing all those spots has you too dizzy to think about party plans, try these polka-licious ideas!

Décor:
Dots can be made of scrapbook paper to match a color theme for your party. You can purchase all sizes and colors of polka dot wall decals at most home improvement stores. We like the ones on www.mygrowingchild.com. Welcome guests with a polka dot path (foot size) leading to the party area. Use paper lanterns to hang polka dots from the ceiling. Ask guests to arrive sporting their best dots or just create a special polka dot ensemble for the polka-princess (or prince). Go to any fabric store and choose a polka dot material to drape over tables for gifts, food, activities, etc. Make a large banner for your event with each letter printed on a separate circle (Example: H-A-P-P-Y on five large circles) Set up a bubble machine out of the way somewhere to spread polka dots all around.

Food
This party menu is limitless. Decide what you’d like to serve and think circular. M&M’s add bright dots of color either placed around the party area in smaller bowls or on a buffet style food table. You can even custom order them with your own words at www.mymms.com. Make your own polka-dot veggie pizza (recipe on www.allrecipes.com) with a round crust and veggies cut into small circle shapes: baby carrots, grape or cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, broccoli, etc. Make English muffin pizzas for the main dish with dots of cheese and pepperoni. You can find polka dot tableware from any party supplier. We love the variety and style on www.platesandnapkins.com.

Activities
All things cute seem to sport polka dots these days. Since polka dot has become synonymous with creativity, let your guests express some of their own with Do a Dot Art. Check out www.learningexpress.com for a variety of kid friendly colors. These are just like old-school bingo dobbers…which raises another great polka dot activity: BINGO. Only call it DOTS-O. You can create your own to match party colors or customize the board to represent the party guests. The game show network’s Bingo show has a program online to print your own custom bingo boards. http://print-bingo.com easy to follow and free to print. Just cut out some polka dots to use as covers for the spaces.

Music
Frank Sinatra’s first big hit in 1940? Come on, anybody know? “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” Several versions are available on www.youtube.com. Another oldie but goodie that kids will also love is Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” Check this one out on itunes. Or introduce the itty bitties at your party to polka music. Go to www.pintsizepolkas.com for a just-released great-priced CD of catchy kids polka tunes. Even if you’re not a polka fan, you have to admit, that hoppin' beat makes you want to dance! A New Jersey children and family entertainer, Ron Albanese aka Polka Dot has a Polka Dot Pals jingle on his site: www.ronalbanese.com.

Just a few ideas to get your started with your polka dot themed party!

Check back soon for more party theme ideas or drop us a line at cs@paperlicious.com with the theme you'd like to see covered!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Owner/Designer Amy Nelson Guest Blogs On The Official Jade Gurss Blog

We recently ran across this amazing charity Operation Happy Note. It's the most simple yet amazing idea. Send a guitar to a soldier at war. What a way to lift their spirits and show them how much we care!

We loved them so much, we have added them to our growing list of charities we support. Now we will make a donation to Operation Happy Note every time someone orders from our Rock Star Invitations line!

Paperlicious' very own, Amy Nelson, has a guest blog
about Operation Happy Note over on The Official Jade Gurss Blog. Jade Gurss is a sports publicity and marketing master and the owner of Fingerprint, Inc. He's directed media and public relations for clients such as Anheuser-Busch and the Budweiser NASCAR program with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. And also, he's cool.

Please hop on over to his blog to check it out:

The Official Jade Gurss Blog


We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!

One more thing... Our new Holiday Photo Cards are 20% OFF for a limited time only!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Bridal & Party Planning Tips

Are you a bride-to-be? Have you noticed that most everything that is even remotely "wedding" or "bridal" like is twice as expensive as something for say, a baby shower?

We have a few cost-saving measures we used to frequent when we were event planning that we thought we'd share with you here.

Contemporary Wedding Invitations- If you are having a lovely yet low-key wedding, or you are looking for an invite that is simple or a bit more casual, try our completely affordable yet high quality Paperlicious Wedding Invitations and coordinating response cards. Like this lovely one here. Samples are FREE so give us a shout and we'll send you the design of your choice so you can see first hand prior to ordering how fantastic they are!

Wedding Favor Boxes- Pretty much every kind of bag, box, or tin can be found online at www.papermart.com and the prices are seriously reasonable. Like this cutie bag right here. Not just for wedding favors either- bridal shower goodies, Quinceniera and Sweet 16 party favors, baby shower gifties. It's all there.

Edible Party Favors- We LOVE www.economycandy.com. The name doesn't do it justice - well, it sort of does- it is inexpensive candy - but what lies inside that website is pure delight for old fashioned candy lovers and modern candy seekers too. This tin of lavender mints is just perfect for an afternoon get together like bridal showers, afternoon wedding favors, baby showers, and birthdays.


Just a few quick ideas to get the ball rolling on your affordable wedding! Until 12/31/08, use code 08ISGREAT for a 10% discount from Paperlicious.com!