Madeline Hatter Birthday Party

{Real Parties}

We're back with another obscure birthday party theme.  Madeline Hatter (from Ever After High, she is the teenage daughter of the Mad Hatter, from Alice and Wonderland,) Painting Tea Party.

Hailey turns 7 and wants to do another tea party, but we've already done that.  How about we paint tea cups instead of drink out of them?

Invitations were sent out asking friends to join us to discover if they are "a royal, or a rebel."

The color scheme mirrored Madeline Hatter's outfit which we re-created for Hailey's costume.  The skirt was ordered from Target.  A golden key and locket were sewed onto her sweater and the adorable hat was made custom by Little Lady Accessory on Etsy.

At Crackpots in downtown Longmont we reserved the Picasso Pick package complete with private party room. The girls there were super nice in helping each guest pick out a tea cup, saucer, dog or cat figurine to paint.  They even gave us a birthday plate which each guest signed as they arrived so that Hailey will have a memento from her party.

Since the theme from "Ever After High" is to "unlock your destiny," we used skeleton keys in many aspects of the decor, including these hung from painted tree branches.  Each girl also made a necklace with a key and a locket.

Our dessert table featured gold glittered cups for Hailey's favorite drink, iced tea with lemonade.  We had brownie bites, black and white cookies, marshmallows and cupcakes with "eat me" toppers.

To continue the purple and gold color scheme we actually found purple cake mix and frosting and gold edible spray paint.  Each guest left with their locket and key necklace, and a gift box with gold candies, a bedazzled compact mirror, "Ever After High" stickers and a ring.

DU Graduation Barbecue Party

{Real Parties}

I am so proud of my baby brother who graduated business school from Denver University this summer. (As well as my baby sister who graduated law school in CA.)  I loved celebrating so many graduations recently!  

We decided on a casual, backyard barbecue theme for 20 of my brother's closest friends and family members.  I used his school colors, burgundy and gold, to decorate.

My brother is a no-frills kind of guy and requested that his favorite restaurant, Wingin' It, cater his party.  From them, we ordered 150 wings that came with celery, carrots and dressing, 7 orders of Mac n' Cheese wedges and 10 orders of fries.  I purchased single serving Kraft Paperboard Food Trays and Paperboard French Fry Scoops, from Garnish, so that guests could just grab their food and walk around with it.  

For the fruit salad, I purchased Kraft Ripple Cups from Garnish, that I embellished with burgundy and gold ribbon, and Wooden Disposable Spoons that I stamped with the words "You Are Amazing." 

I dressed up the fry and mac n' cheese boxes with tags, made some Subway art for an Ikea frame and packaged individual baby wipes labeled with "Congrats Rock On" for saucy fingers and faces.

In addition to a S'more Station that included giant marshmallows, Hershey's bars, Reese's, Nutella, Peanut Butter, Caramel and Graham crackers, I ordered a requested Oreo Blizzard Ice Cream Cake from Dairy Queen, and had to have some "handmade" treats available.

For "diplomas," I tied a Pull-and-Peel Twizzler around a Pirouette Wafer Cookie.  I made "Graduation Cap Pops" with a Reese's Miniature, Ghiradelli chocolate square, red Mini M&M's, the Pull-and-Peel Twizzler and some melted Hershey's chocolate.

Thanks Pinterest!

Congratulations AJ!