African Safari

Yesterday, Maddycakes receive a request for another custom party. This posh mom of 2 gorgeous boys asked us to do a custom party for her son in 3 weeks. Normally, we have more notice...especially since we do custom invitations and it takes a while to create. She told us that her son Emory loves animals especially lions. So we decided to do an African Safari theme. I only have one day to get the invitations created and sent. So last night I started working on a passport invitation. I thought that would be really cool. However, it was so labor intensive and took way too long to create one. (Will do next time) So I came up with this boarding pass invitation.
I was able to get three boarding pass invitations on one sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 cardstock. I think they turned out pretty cool after all!

What do you think???

Camp Out

My company, Maddycakes is a children's theme party business. We do custom parties as well as our signature theme parties. Currently, I have 8 signature themes. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working with a really chic and stylish mom named Whitney. She has 3 beautiful children and her son Carter picked Maddycake's signature theme Camp Out for his birthday celebration. So we are off to Camp Carter!
I took these pictures seconds before the guests arrived! So excuse the quality!!
The kids table. The kid's ate hot dogs, chips and juice. There was a smores station as well as a trail mix station. Since here in Phoenix it was still over 100 degrees (and the party didn't start until 6pm) I didn't put out the smores ingredients out because it would have melted.

The kids could make their own trail mix.

The bags for the trail mix.

Here is view of the registration table. The kids come to camp and get their name badges. Then they color their own backpack to keep all of the great gifts they receive throughout the night. Do you like the banner?? I will be showing this as a project in a later blog.

Close up backpacks.

Adult buffet table. Their meal consisted of chicken salad with dried fruit and nuts, assorted cheese and crackers, mini wieners in BBQ sauce, seasonal fresh fruit, smores popcorn and lemonade.

Smores popcorn----yum!!

It got really dark but the kids didn't seem to mind. They received flashlights and had on their glowstick necklaces and were on the hunt looking for glow in the dark bugs!! This was their favorite activity.

Carter's birthday cake. Of course done by our famous baker Jenna!!

Black/White/Yellow candy buffet

I just love the combination of black and white. So many colors compliment it as well. Casara over at Majestic Pink has done it again. I love how she added the color yellow with the classic combo. The picture is from her latest candy buffet she displayed at a bridal show in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio! I love the yellow colored water in large vase- nice touch!!

Photograph by Iyana Whitehead

Candy Trees

These candy trees are a quick and easy DIY project that I found on allyou.com. You can purchase the cones at any craft store and hot glue candy on. You can match any color decor by using matching candies. I'm not a huge fan of the traditional orange and black for Halloween so I will try this in something next week....stay tuned.

However, I have used these cones in a similar way- I put vanilla icing on the cones and stuck cream puffs on by using toothpicks broke in half (so you can see them). Then sprinkle powdered sugar on them - like snow.

80's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Thanks to Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday. This is my second week participating. Last week, I did a colorful Asian dinner theme and this week I'm doing a colorful 80's theme. So you don't think that I only do bright and colorful things- next week I'm going to do something dark and gloomy!

Here is a tablescape that I did for my birthday this year. I had an 80's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun party. I was chosen to be a SPEAKER at The Special Event this year - oh did I mention that on yesterdays post- anyway this party was not only to celebrate my birthday but to showcase that you can have a great party on a small budget! My class at The Special Event is titled Parties for Pennies so if you are going to the convention please come by my class and show some love!

My centerpieces glasses were bought at the Dollar Tree and so were the daisies. I mixed a few drops of acrylic paint in water until I got the desired color. Since the 80's were all about neon - I used neon color everywhere. I tried to make it more on the elegant side than the tacky side.

A close up of my place setting. I used ring pops as napkin rings. Do you remember those? I found the glass plates from Goodwill - I really love them.

Albums that I purchased from Goodwill served double duty, they were chargers and my menus.

Also, found the cassettes at Goodwill and spray painted them in neon colors. This took many coats of paint. Then I used a paint pen to write the names and used as namecards. I liked using items that were common in the '80s and repurposing them.

I used lanterns all of the time. They are inexpensive, come in every color and pattern and instantly colors and fills a space! Plus you can reuse over and over again. I originally bought these lanterns for a luau party.
I just bunched them together and hung with fishing wire from my dining room chandelier.

I bought these jelly bracelets from Oriental Trading Company but when I got them they could only fit my daughter (she is two). So I decided to throw them on the glasses. I think it turn out cute. When you have lemons make lemonade.

These awesome pictures were done by the most talented Marry Jordan! I am so blessed to have her as my photographer for my business and as my friend.

Candy/Popcorn table from 80's Party

I'm finally getting around to posting my pictures from my 80's birthday party - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! I had a few of my girls over for an afternoon of reminiscing and reliving our youth! Can you believe that 80's fashion is back in style? I never thought I would see neon again! I really enjoyed this party and the company.
As many of you already know - I was chosen to be a SPEAKER at the THE SPECIAL EVENT in New Orleans this January!!! YEA!! (I may mention that about a hundred more times until my class) So in preparation for my class (Parties for Pennies), this whole party was done on a budget!!

All of the glassware was found at my local Goodwill. What they say, someone else's trash can be your treasure! Boy, did I score! The popcorn and most of the candy came from local companies- huge savings there's no middle man! Buy directly from the factory.

Had to have nostalgic candy. Do any of you remember Pop Rocks? I believed that myth that if you ate Pop Rocks and drank a soda - your stomach would explode!

My Rubix Cube cake done by my talented baker Jenna Jensen from Sugar Coated Bakery. In these pics it looks like my bottom layer squares are off- just know that I had to pick it up and my party was in August- I live in Phoenix! It's only about 115 degrees outside so I think it held up pretty good under those circumstances.

I used cassette cases to label the flavors of candy and popcorn.

Inside of these colorful bags were 2 small bags of flavored popcorn with a personalized thank you - didn't get that picture! Sorry! The outside colorful bags I got from Big Lots 10 for $2.00. Just punched two holes and ran ribbon through and added tag.

Printables!

I am in love with printables! If you haven't heard of TomKat Studios then you are in for such a treat! Kim is the designer extraordinaire behind it all! I posted some of her latest Halloween printables but check out her Etsy store here...she has many themes and they are all so cute. Then to top it off--I found out that Kim is my homegirl. TomKat is located right here in the Phoenix area! Girl, we got to talk!

Clothing Swap Parties

So you look in your closet and your clothes that you don't wear are looking at you too! It is a constant reminder of your bad judgment.
Let's be for real, that miniskirt is never going to fit you again. Why hold on to it?? It is time to have some serious closet therapy! Just in time for fall, why don't you throw a swap party? Unload clothing and accessories that you don't wear anymore (or never did) and get some new ones.

Here's how: Have a party with a bunch of your girlfriends and have everyone bring in gently worn items and accessories they don't wear anymore. Make sure to state on the invitations: The items should be clean and in good condition with no major damage. Announce the event and make the most of your style-swapping extravaganza. Send out invitations and set the mood at the party by creating a theme. You could create a theme such as Sex in the City where your friends must bring in attire or accessories that the fab 4 may wear.

Make sure to play music while everyone "shops" and set up the room like a boutique and serve finger foods. You must have a full-length mirror, which is an essential part of your party and have a bathroom available to change in for any friends that may be shy.
It is best to have guests pick a number as soon as they arrive, in the event there are some really good items that more than one person wants.
The best part is that you'll have your girlfriends there to approve your pick and give you their opinion if your choice is a good one for you. Whatever is left, just pack up and donate to a charity such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a woman's shelter. Like in the picture at the bottom of post, a nice detail is to make a personalized shopping bag to reflect your theme for your girls to put their "new" items in.

Here is a stunning example of a swap party! I want to be this girl's friend!!! Christi has such attention to detail - just beautiful. Here was her inspiration piece-an ottoman. I always have that one main thing that inspires me too!
Hung the numbers for friends to pick on tree...matching the ottoman...brilliant!

Changed her kid's playroom into a boutique atmosphere.

Personalized shopping bags.

Pumpkin Carving Party Invite

I am not a fan of fill in the blank invitations. However, many of them you can take and with a few steps can make it look like a custom handmade invitation. This is a Martha Stewart invitation I got last year from Big Lots. All I did was print the wording and matted it on black corrugated cardstock.

A close up of invite.

It reads

Ghosts and witches and creatures of fright,

Don't miss the call of pumpkin carving night.

Come one, come all in the threads of the season,

If you miss this bash, 'tis an act of treason.

Be here by eight and meet your fate.

Bring your own pumpkins

And your tastiest date (and kids).

I think it turned out nice. It was so easy and took only minutes.

Asian Dinner Party/Introducing Tablescape Thursday

I am new to the blogging world so I thought that I was so original by starting Tuesday Tablescapes but I found this awesome blog that has tablescapes every Thursday on Between Naps on the Porch. I have decided to join in the fun so please check it out! Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch has been doing and featuring Thursday Tablescapes for quite a while so there are so many great tablescapes to see.

The inspiration piece! I found this fushia and orange puffer ball at Dollar Tree ($ tree) and I just loved the color and texture and knew that I had to use it for party decor. So this is what I came up with. Here is a tablescape for an intimate dinner party. I love to change things up. So no chairs for this dinner you sit on the cushions. The place settings are actually placed on my ottoman that is in my living room. It is just the perfect height for such a theme. Plus what is easier than ordering your favorite chinese dishes from a restaurant!! I found the plates 2 for $5 at Big Lots and got a box of fortune cookies at $ tree. I had the black placemats - got them at Marshall's 4 for $8. I thought it would be a nice touch to add the bamboo as a namecard. Guests can take it home and put it in water. Just used orange cardstock for tag added the chinese symbol for love stamp and letter stickers for names.A close up of the fabric that I found for $9 at the Ikea as-is section. It is actually a duvet cover. I don't sew so I am always looking for things that require as less work as possible.My inspiration piece is being used in the centerpiece. You can use anything in clear glass containers. If you keep following the blog - you will see me use various things from time to time. I just love the texture and color of the puffer balls. I was going to use fresh flowers but then was at $ tree and saw these and could not resist. Perfect match!

The red votive holders wer 88 cents at IKEA. They need some bling so I just used self adhesive rhinestones that I found for a $ at Michaels.

This is a cd package found at $ tree. You got 3 for a $. Great deal- I would put a cookie inside wrapped in matching tissue. I wrapped it in orange ribbon with flower that was used in centerpiece. I put the chopsticks in favor so guest can use then keep.For another favor, I found the red Chinese take out boxes at $ tree and used the same orange ribbon and flowers as cd favor.

I found these orange mesh laundry bags at $ tree and knew that it would be perfect for a no-sew cover up for my beige cushions. All I did was put the cushions inside, closed drawstring and duct taped the bottom so it would be smooth. TADA- no sew and matches my color scheme!