Busy Bee Lifestyle » Birthday Parties

Over the Top Ribbon Wreaths

Host Bee — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:44:19 +0000

Look What I Found: Ribbon Wreaths by Polka Dot Market!

One of the many festive items sold at Polka Dot Market is called the “Front Door Party Wreath” and the name is perfect! Handcrafted from yards and yards of polka dotted grosgrain ribbon, these wreaths are made to your specifications! You can select ribbon colors to match a party theme, the arrival of a baby boy or girl, a seasonal holiday or favorite sports team.

These wreaths are unique and promise that a fun time waits behind your front door! This site also offers a wide array of decorations, party supplies and much more. (Polka Dot Market, Front Door Party Wreath, $60 to $68)

Adorable Sock Monkey Party

Host Bee — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:21:01 +0000

Adorable First Birthday Parties: Part II – A Sock Monkey Party

This birthday party plan is all about sock monkeys! The party is a more unusual twist on a first birthday than the Sweet Pea Party in Part I, but the colors are bright and festive and the motif is totally on trend! Once again, the plan works for either a boy or girl and starts with a basic set of paper goods and party supplies from Birthday Express. The special touches can be added as you wish depending on just how much you fall in love with this theme!

Sock Monkey First Birthday Party Paper Goods

Paper Goods – Head to Birthday Express to select the cute party necessities that are exclusive to this retailer. The package offers plates, cups, plastic utensils, fill in the blank invitations, ribbon, crepe paper, candles, centerpiece, balloons and party hats. You’ll be able to choose the quantity that you need and add any additional items. (Birthday Express, Sock Monkey Deluxe Party Pack, 8 place settings on sale for $44.99)

Adding Special Touches: This is where you can make your celebration stand out!

Sock Monkey Themed Personalized Invitations

I love the fun pennant detail on this cute sock monkey themed invitation. (Etsy, Personalized Sock Monkey Invitation, PDF file on sale for $12.00)

This Esty invite adds a fun personalized angle featuring the birthday child’s photo. (Etsy, Photo Birthday Invitation, on sale for $12.00)

Balloons and a VW Bug make this cute sock monkey invite a bit more unique. (Etsy, Personalized Sock Monkey Invitation, on sale for $15.00)

Carry Your Sock Monkey Theme Around the Table: Here’s where you can add some standout touches to your table decor!

Monkey Tablecloth - The perfect, funky monkey tablecloth! If you were to buy just one item from the “special touches” list – this is it! (Amazon, Monkey Tablecloth, on sale for $25.95)

Retro Striped Straws – Red and white striped paper straws add an up-to-date touch. (Shop Sweet Lulu, Red striped straws, on sale for $4.00)

Vintage Milk Bottles – Tuck the straws into milk bottles for a vintage, but totally trendy look! (Shop Sweet Lulu, Vintage Milk Bottles, on sale for $30.00)

Personalized Party Hats - Personalized party hats will add a finishing touch to your sock monkey theme and look great in photos! (Etsy, Monkey Party Hat, on sale for $6.75)

Sock Monkey Birthday Party Menu Suggestions

Banana pudding or yogurt
Sliced fresh bananas with dip
Banana chips
Monkey bread
Bottles of Coke that match the color scheme

And of course, with a monkey cookie cutter, foods as simple pizza or PB & J can become perfectly thematic! (Copper Gifts, Monkey Cookie Cutter, on sale for $12.95)

Sock Monkey Themed Party Favors

Monkey Tails – Too cute funky monkey birthday tails – tie them on for the party and send the fun home! (Home a la Mode, Monkey Tail, 6 on sale for $24.99)

Fabric Treat Bags – Perfect for filling with the little ones’ favorite snacks and kids will enjoy stuffing them with their own little trinkets after the treats are gone! Animal crackers would be a fitting choice! (Home a la Mode, Monkey Treat Bags, 6 on sale for $18.99)

A Sock Monkey Book - Author Cece Bell has written a number of books about Sock Monkey, a toy actor! The series is well reviewed and a book is favor that would please parents too! Wrap books in brown paper tied with red grosgrain ribbon! (Amazon, Sock Monkey Rides Again, on sale for $24.00)

Sock Monkey Ornament Kits – For older children at the party, consider these sock monkey ornament kits! (Oriental Trading, Sock Monkey Craft Kit, 12 on sale for $6.25)

Also for older children, sock monkey bottle cap necklaces make a fun party favor for girls. (Etsy, Bottle Cap Necklace, on sale for $3.25)

Sock Monkey Party Decorations

Monkey Birthday Banner – This funky monkey birthday banner will complement the tablecloth above perfectly! (Amazon, Sock Monkey Banner, on sale for $28.00)

Specialty Balloons – These brown and white polka dotted balloons are perfect! (Amazon, Polka Dot Balloons, on sale for $6.99)

Sock Monkey Themed Photo Clips – For the perfect sentimental touch, set up a small clothesline and hang month by month photos of the guest of honor from tiny clothespins trimmed with sock monkeys (Etsy, First Year Photo Clips, on sale for $10.00)

Guests will love swinging by for a bit of monkeying around! Please excuse the double pun!

A Sweet Pea 1st Birthday Party

Host Bee — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:35:40 +0000

Adorable 1st Birthday Parties Part I: A Sweet Pea Birthday Party Theme for Boys or Girls

After writing so often about cupcake birthday parties, I thought it was time to explore some new themes for that very special 1st birthday celebration! The three themes I’ve chosen to highlight are bright, fresh and work equally well for boys and girls. Here is the first, a sweet pea first birthday party theme for boys or girls! You may also like to take a look An Adorable Sock Monkey Party. Come back soon for an owl themed party plan, too!

Sometimes it’s just easier (and a bit less expensive) to go with a pre-made set of paper products, and I love the pretty shades of green featured in these sweet pea themed paper products! Birthday Express has the basics covered with invitations, paper products, streamers and a cute pea pod balloon! (Birthday Express, Peapod First Birthday, party for 8 on sale for $39.99)

It’s Easy to Add Special Touches to a Basic Set of Themed Paper Products

If you decide to go with a bulk package of invitations and paper products, you can make your party more unique by adding a few especially attractive touches. The overall effect will set your table apart and you won’t break the bank doing so.

Continue Your Sweet Pea Party Color Scheme Around the Table:

These green and white striped paper straws coordinate with the sweet pea color scheme and are right on trend and fun. (Shop Sweet Lulu, Striped Paper Straws, on sale for $4.00)

If you decide to order the straws, definitely consider the farm style milk bottles for serving beverages. The milk bottles and striped straws are an eye catching combination (Shop Sweet Lulu, Petite Glass Bottles, on sale for $30.00)

And for a little more excitement, fringed tissue paper garland is an easy and inexpensive way to trim the table – perhaps in green, white and yellow? (Etsy, Tissue Paper Garland, on sale for $4.00)

Sweet Pea Birthday Party Favors

For adults, consider this adorable salt and pepper shaker set that will always remind guests of the big day! (beaucoup, Two Peas Salt and Pepper shakers, on sale for $2.85)

For Kids, these Sweet Pea Cookies are just too sweet! (Redbud Cookies, Sweet Pea Cookies, on sale for $5.00)

Or another idea is these Sweet Pea Hankies (a set of paper tissues). I love when my party favor gives the last nod to my overall theme and these hankies are both thematic and practical. (Celebrate Express, Sweet Pea Hankie, on sale for $1.49)

Sweet Pea Party Theme Decorations

This adorable hand-cut wooden sign is a perfect decoration and then a lasting keepsake for baby’s room! (Etsy, Sweet Pea Wooden Sign, on sale for $69.00)

Another cute option is this set of 4” decorative wooden letters spelling “sweet pea!” (Etsy, Sweet Pea Wooden letters, on sale for $18.00)

I love the impact of oversized, perfectly round balloons! For this party, consider the lime green and white polka dotted version! You’ll be surprised how these up-to-date balloons will really give your party a sophisticated feel. (Shop Sweet Lulu, Polka Dot Balloon, on sale for $7.00)

Very best wishes for celebrating this milestone first birthday with your little sweet pea in a fresh, new way!

Birthday Party Themes for Girls and Boys; Kids Parties

Host Bee — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:03:32 +0000

Choosing the Perfect Birthday Party Theme: Fun and Easy Ideas for Fabulous Birthday Parties for Kids

For each party theme, Busy Bee offers clever ideas and an easy to follow start to finish party plans including ideas and resources for invitations, decorations, party serve ware and supplies, menus, crafts, games, party favors and more! Busy Bee’s unique party plans offer choices ranging from DIY to the convenience of on-line shopping and can be adapted to fit your budget. Start planning your perfect party now!

Birthday Party Themes For Girls

A Sweet Pea Party – Perfect for a one year old girl or boy
Little Chef’s Birthday Party – Perfect for 5 – 7 year olds
Almost Sleepover Birthday Party – Perfect for 9 – 11 year olds
Cupcake Birthday Party – Perfect for all ages, even adults and fun for a first birthday!
The Icing on the Cake – Taking your Cupcake Party to the next level! Perfect for all ages!
A French Poodle Tea Party – Perfect for 6 – 8 year olds
Spa Themed Birthday Party – Perfect for 8 to 12 year olds
Disney Enchanted Princess Birthday Party – Perfect for 3 to 8 year olds
Perfectly Easy Pizza Party for Kids – Perfect for all ages, anytime, even adults!
Apple Themed Party – Perfect for all ages and not necessarily just for a birthday!

Birthday Party Themes For Boys

Indiana Jones Birthday Party – Perfect for 5 to 8 year olds
Beach Themed Birthday Party – Perfect for 4 to 6 year olds
Pirate Themed Party – Perfect for 5 to 8 year olds
Perfectly Easy Pizza Party for Kids – Perfect for all ages, even adults!
Cupcake Birthday Party – Perfect for all ages, a fun choice for a first birthday!
Apple Themed Party – Perfect for all ages!

Birthday Party Planning and More Fun

Circus Party Theme – Circus Party Ideas

Host Bee — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:48:37 +0000

It’s a Party Under the Big Top!

Your Easy Guide to a Circus Themed Birthday Party!

A circus themed birthday party is terrific in a lot of ways: it can work for a boy or girl, stretch across quite a range of ages and comes with a built in color scheme! And now for the “greatest party on earth!”

Invitations

Photo Invitation - this invitation incorporates classic circus elements with a photo of your child! (Etsy, Circus Birthday Invitation, on sale for $14.00, pictured top)
Personalized Invitation – with a polka dotted border, big top and Ferris wheel, this colorful invitation from Fine Stationery is perfect for this theme. (Fine Stationery, Circus Carnival Party Invitation, on sale 10 for $33.00)
DIY:

1. Purchase tin cookie cutters in circus animal shapes like an elephant or lion. (Off The Beaten Path, Animal Cookie Cutters, on sale for $1.19)

2. Print out this adorable (and free!) red and white cardstock invitation from Pumpkin Petunia. (Pumpkin Petunia, Printable Water Labels, free)

3. Purchase a roll of “admit one” carnival tickets. (Oriental Trading, ‘Admit One’ Tickets, on sale for $5.00)

4. Hole punch both the card and a carnival ticket and attach both to the cookie cutter with a red ribbon.

Decorations

A Tent

Use an actual tent – If you’re lucky enough to own a tent or have nice neighbors who do, plan to set it up in your yard or even in your living room.
Bunting – Without a tent, create the feel of the circus with red and white paper bunting from Oriental Trading. (Oriental Trading, Big Top Bunting, on sale for $2.50)
Ceiling Streamers – Or improvise by draping red and white fabric or streamers from the ceiling, keeping your efforts focused on the food or favor table.
Tabletop Tent - Purchase a Big Top Tabletop Tent (Oriental Trading, Big Top Circus Tent, on sale for $50.00)
Big Top Canopy – Or a Big Top Canopy (Oriental Trading, Big Top Canopy, on sale for $50.00)

Balloons

Red and white balloons are a must and a lot of them!

Paper Goods

This deluxe circus party kit from Make It Mine Parties has it all! Personalized party hats and favor tags, cups, napkins, cupcake picks, elephant ring toss centerpiece and more! (Make It Mine Parties, Personalized Party Package, on sale for $119.00)

Fabulous Table Cloth

I might have to have my own circus themed party just to buy this tablecloth! The bright colors and fringed hem make this a stand out! (Uncommon Goods*, Big Top Tablecloth, $68)

A Soundtrack

Try Under the Big Top: One Hundred Years of Circus Music (Amazon*, Circus Party Soundtrack, on sale for $10.99)
Circus Music from the Big Top – The Greatest Show on Earth (Amazon*, Circus Music from the Bigtop, on sale for $12.00)

Activities

Traditional carnival games are perfect for this party and consider giving out tickets at each game booth to be redeemed at a prize table!

Ducks in a small wading pool
Clothespin drop
Ring toss onto bottles
Face painting
Clown costume relay using two identical sets of clown accessories

What To Serve

This menu will be a breeze and definitely kid friendly! With many of these suggestions, consider renting or buying a machine. Over the years, I’ve picked up an old-fashioned

popcorn popper and a hotdog roller and have been amazed at how often they’ve been used!

Hot Dogs
Cotton Candy
Popcorn in striped bags
Snow cones
Soft pretzels
Candy Apples
Cracker Jacks

Dessert

1. Cupcakes served in:

A Big Top Cupcake Stand (Oriental Trading, Big Top Cupcake Stand, on sale for $8.00)
A Fabulous Cupcake Ferris Wheel (Neiman Marcus, Ferris Wheel Cupcake Holder, on sale for $75.00)

2. Ferris Wheel Cake (Parents, Ferris Wheel Cake, pictured)

Favors

Candy Buffet – Set up a candy buffet including boxes of Barnum’s Animal Crackers, licorice, gum balls, lollipops, pixie sticks and so on. Arrange the candy in clear glass container and stack the boxes of animal crackers pyramid style on a large tray. Just for fun, include a large jar filled with red, foam clown noses! (Amazon, Red Clown Noses, on sale for $4.08)
Circus Themed Containers – Consider providing thematic containers for the candy such as striped popcorn bags or these terrific red and white “tent” boxes! (Etsy, Circus Tent Favor Boxes, on sale 5 for $20.75)
Circus Themed Cookie – If the idea of all of that candy is too much, send guests home with one delicious and cute cookie, individually wrapped in cellophane bags! (The Flour Pot, Clown Face Party Favors, on sale for $4.00)