SA Book & Challenge Lovers discussion

Hey everyone, so some of you might know this, but I like to organise kids parties for my cousins kids.

Next on my list is Nina, who turns 5 in July (26) and her party is the Saturday before that.
Her theme this year is Story book or Fables.
Her party is usually a joy to me, as my cousin as a braai ares of about 10m x 4m, and two sides of it are not wals, but windows... so I decorate the party in there. So here are some ideas I have:

There is a fireplace on one wall, I'm going to make bricks out of brown paper and stick them around the fireplace to make it look like an old fireplace you'd find in the witches house (by the way, I'm the evil witch and the kids are characters they choose). Then on the other wall I'm going to stick the whole wall full of brown paper and then paint a huge gingerbread house on there, with the sweets on the roof and everything, then I'm making a path out of cookies that I'm painting, some lollipop flowers and Ice cream trees.
The roof has beems in it, so I'm going to use that to help me cover the whole ceiling with ivy. I'm also going to make beautifull silver spiders and butterflies out of wire and buttons and hang them here and there, also haning some fresh flower buds from there and candy apples and lollipops. I'm bringing in some wood to place all around the edges of the room to make it feel like the forest and some yellowing autum leave for the ground. The table will be covered with natural cloth and red checked cloth. The kids will dress like red riding hood, goldie locks, the 3 bears, 3 pigs, hansel and grettle etc.

I just want your input if you know how I can improve on this more?

I love it! I don't know that you can really improve on it!

I know you like giving out gift bags, how about putting a small story book in each one? I don't know if it will be too expensive though?

Thats a great idea!
Maybe I can go to the second hand store in town and get a few, like jack and the beanstalk, little red riding hood, I might even have a few at home.

Thanks Lu! And for the partypack it self I still need a cool idea...

Yeah, and Nina always loves to help me decorate the day before, and she'll stand there and tell me how pretty everything is, she's so cute!

We want to see pictures!

I'll post them when the party is done...
How do I ad a picture on a thread?
I'll post you some of my ideas then

Thats going to take some explaining. I'll mail you later :)

Oki doki :)

But please, if anyone has any ideas for party packs, let me know?

What about a pale? Like a bucket? But not a bucket... do you know what I mean?
I just dont want to make something I already made, 2 years ago we used plastic bucket for them, with flowers on...

I love the book inside idea, what about I make sticks with little parcels attached in red cloth?
Or baskets! Like the baskets Little Red Riding Hood and Grettle would carry? And pales for the boys? Like Jack and Jill?

Hmmm, I love a bit of party planning myself. If we are talking story books, why don't you make the party pack (I would do a littl box) actually look like a story book! Then they all have a book to carry around.

At second hand antique stores you can actually buy those wooden books that open (like a little box) and that can then be a spell book or a story book!

OR what about pouches? In the olden days they used to have those little velvet pouches which they carried around? That could work as well?

BUT whilst we're on the subject, I am looking for some ideas for a party as well. I am hosting a denims and diamonds themed Reunion in September and I am looking for ideas for table decor and centrepieces??

Sonette, you are fantastic!
I love the book or pouch idea.
And I'm not to shabby with the needle and thread, so I'd be able to make it for them.

We're going to bake gingerbread men for the kids and decorate them with sweets. My cousin is having a gingerbread house baked for Nina, or a castle, dont know.

Thanks for the inputs you guys!

Sonette wrote: "BUT whilst we're on the subject, I am looking for some ideas for a party as well. I am hosting a denims and diamonds themed Reunion in September and I am looking for ideas for table decor and cent..."

Sparkly things all over! :P

Maybe a little crystal attached to their place cards? The cards can have a denim theme with little crystals attached somehow?

Will think of more :)

Thanks Lu! Am mentally blocked about the decor in this one, can't even decide on the colour of the tablecloths. I think its because its my own reunion as well and I know all the vindictive and envious girls from school are gonna have so much to say about everything. I want it to be above reproach! Hehe! Funny how, even 10 years later, one still has so many feelings from school left over!

Oooh Lu, on your facebook you have these pics of I think its servietes that are shaped into flower things, you should send Sonette those pics, they would look so cool!

Mmmm Sonette, denims and diamonds, well for serviette rings get some bendable wire, thin, and then you put sparkling crystals and beeds in the wire and then tie it around the serviettes.
For a centre piece, well this is something that just popped in my head, but get a dried piece of tree branch, spray it silver and hang crystals from it, also you could get some denim material and tie them on there to, and drape fairy lights over everything.

Cover a place card totally with denim and you could just print the names of every person in black on white and paste it in the middle.

You could also get denim material and make bows for the chair with it.

I'll think more but hope that helped a bit

Do the tablecloth in black with a denim square in the middle. Your colors could be Black, Denim and silver... just put crystals also everywhere, you can usually get them from any craft store, and craft wire is AMAZING! I love the stuff, its so easy to work with.

What you could aslo do to cards are punch in brads like your jeans have sometimes? Hope you know what I'm talking about hehe

Yes I think I understand. Hehe! No I do. The biggest questionmark for me at the moment is white denim and bling or black denim and bling? But I like the black and silver with Bling idea!

Yeah I think if you did white denim that would clash to much with the bling and crystals, it would end up looking bland really you know?

I like the dark with the sparkle... :)
I'm sure its going to look fantastic! And your of course going to send us loads of pictures :)

Niecole wrote: "Oooh Lu, on your facebook you have these pics of I think its servietes that are shaped into flower things, you should send Sonette those pics, they would look so cool!

Mmmm Sonette, denims and d..."

I'll send you a pic of serviette flowers i make Sonette:)

They are really beautiful Sonette, you should do something with that, they are so cool for decorations

Thanks Lu! Wow you guys have definitely gotton my creative juices flowing! That is why I love brainstorming with other people! Especially such nice and creative ladies as you guys! Hehe!

I am definitely going with the black tablecloths then, denim overlay (if I can find this) DEFINITELY going with the sprayed tree branches and the crystals. Definitely going to do the place cards and table settings in denim motif with crystals attached and I'm thinking of maybe getting some feathers and bubbles in there somewhere??

I'm going to look out for the flowers Lu! I love doing all pretty things! Am actually also hosting a wedding party in November and I bet you flowers will work perfectly for that as well! You guys are such stars!!!

Oooh yes bubbles would look so amazing with everything.

Sonette, if you cant find denim overlays, try to buy some cheaper denim material. Then you can always use it again. :)
I know denim isnt always cheap, but thinner denim usually is.

Feathers are also a great idea! And they would look great with your theme. I love it already! I can see the whole thing in my head, Sonette, everyone is going to love it!
Wow your are super creative. :)

You can never go wrong with feathers and bubbles!

I know, I'm going to use bubbles at the kids party to :)