{Party Planner Thursdays} Futuristic Robots

I'm helping a friend of mine create a robot themed birthday party for her soon-to-be 4 year old.  This is such a fun theme and you can really get creative with decorations, food names, games and activities.  I wish  I had a picture of a 5 foot robot I built back in 6th grade for a class project.  My mom had to drive me to school and since the robot was so tall we had to hang him out the sunroof of the car! 

{Sources: Robot Craft, Boy's Shirt, Robot Decor, Pinata with directions, Invitations, Tablescape, Futuristic Decor}

{Sources Finger Puppet, Tablescape, Food, Robot drawers, Wall Art, Cupcakes, Lollipops,  

Robot Costumes, Funnel & Gas Can}

Decorating for this party is lots of fun!  Use aluminum foil as table runners and scatter nuts, bolts, and washers on the tables (for the younger crowd you can use kids' plastic ones found in their tool boxes - see my invitation picture above; I borrowed Luca's toys for the photo shoot!).  Slinkies and coil tubing found at the hardware store would be great too!  

Go to your local auto body shop and pick up oil funnels and gas cans.  Serve beverages out of the gas cans (cleaned, of course!) and make up fun names like Out of this World Punch and Robotic Fuel.  In lieu of traditional paper hats, give earch child an oil funnel as their hat.  You can create fun robotic costumes for your guests with cardboard boxes, silver spray paint, paper plates and cardstock.  Or, you could create the basic robot structure and allow each guest to decorate their own!

Use a projector, posterboard and paint to create giant robots, cogs, and gears.  Afifix them to walls and  hang from the ceiling or chandeliers.

Place Chex Mix in a bowl or individual baggies and label them nuts & bolts.  Cheez-its or SunChips can be called computer chips.

An empty metal paint, found at hardware stores, can hold favors such as a robot finger puppet or lollipop and other goodies.  

If your party will be outside, consider making large yard props of cogs and gears from styrofoam, wood, or foam board.  Scatter them throughout the yard and call it the 'Junk Yard'

{Party Planning Thursdays} Leprechaun Hunt

I received an email from Cassidy who is looking to host a St. Patrick's Day party for the children in her son's preschool class.  She made it very clear that she did not want paper shamrock cutouts or the glittery party supplies that are everywhere.  In her email she described how much her son enjoyed being in the backyard and discovering trinkets of twigs, rocks, and bugs.

Aha!  The idea was born!  Enjoy this Woodland Leprechaun Hunt Inspiration Board!

 

{Sources  Potato Wreath, Tulip Arrangement Photography by Adrian Briscoe for Elle Decoration UK Edition, Woodland Ornament, Potted Shamrocks, Tablescape, Cauldron, Cupcake with recipe, Terraniums}

A Potato Wreath greets your guests at the door, hinting of the rugged and woodsy feel that lie ahead.  Create a tablescape with burlap table coverings, containers of moss and wheatgrass and miniature leprechaun homes made from bark, twigs, rocks, and assorted natural materials.  Use tree stumps as seats for your guests for a wonderful outdoor feel.  Hang clear ornaments with moss, twigs, and berries to hang from trees, chandeliers, and ceilings.  Guests can create terraniums to take home.  For an alternative to candy or toy favors, send home shamrock plants in terra cotta pots for the children to take of.  

Onto the Leprechaun Hunt!  The hunt can be modifed for indoors or outdoors depending on the space you have available.  Create a path of flat walking stones with woodland leprechaun houses, woodland creatures,  and miniature leprechauns scattered about.  Ultimately, the path will lead to none other than the leprechaun with his pot of gold!

{Party Planner Thursdays} New!

I've decided to add a new feature here at Belleza e Luce. 

Are you planning a party and have no idea where to begin?  No time to think up ideas?  Every week I will take 1 or 2 of your party ideas and create inspiration boards, menu &  favor ideas, and how-to's so you can have a sensational soiree!  

Send me your party ideas and include any details you want me to keep in mind while creating your inspiration board.  

{Inspiration} It's Time to Relax ...

 

  

  

I don't know about you, but it's been crazy and hectic around here.  Unfortunately, my 'Kick off my 30's' Super Bowl Party had to be canceled.  I never realized how many friends and family go to Super Bowl Parties (Me being single and not into football, I'm perhaps a bit oblivious to this!)  I'm in the process of designing an additional 6 product lines, and completing orders.  Keep your eye out for these in the upcoming weeks!

I am in desperate need of pampering and a trip to the spa!  

I love the idea of spa parties, and they can easily be done at home with a female family and friends.  Bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, or just a girls' night out are perfect excuses to do this at your next party.

Inspiration Board

 {photo credits left to right} Facial; Powder Puff Beauty Invitation at my shop;  

Bath Salts; Crudite; Sorbet; Towel Display

Planning your At-Home Spa Party

Invitations

 

I created these powder puff beauty invitations last spring for a bride who wanted to treat her bridesmaids and close female relatives to a day of pampering for all their help in assisting her create the wedding of her dreams.  This extraordinary invitation features a metal tin where a white powder puff sits.  On the lid, the circular invitation is adhered.  This invitation is now available at Belleza e Luce!  Customization, of course, is always available - changes in color, design and more!  An additional tag may be attached to the powder puff with registry or other pertinent party information.

Color Scheme

The spa party is versatile in color schemes depending on the mood you want to create.  Think grass green and browns for a serene environment or shades of aquas and white for a calming, water-type feel.  Choose a bold color combination such as turquoise, hot pink, black and white to create a chic and swanky atmosphere.

Decor

Simple is key.  You want a relaxing and calm environment.  Lots of candles with river rocks with a single orchid bloom creates a quick and easy zen-type centerpiece.  Float flowers in your pedicure baths.  Tall cylindrical vases filled with water and a submerged orchid stem or wheatgrass in galvanized trays good choices as well. 

Activities 

You can hire licensed beauty and nail technicians, and massage therapists for your party or do your own.  Provide stations for the different services - manicure and pedicures, facials, massage, etc.  If you will be having massages, consider an area that is at least semi-private for this.

Food

Light and refreshing finger foods and snacks are the way to go at your spa party.

Crudite with zesty dips

Fruit Display

Cheese & Cracker Display

Tea Sandwiches  such as:

•Brie with chopped walnuts and watercress
on white bread
•Salmon and herbed cream cheese on white bread
•Rare roast beef with sharp cheddar and
tomato on rye bread
•Cream cheese and mango chutney on
white bread
•Herbed cream cheese and cucumber on
white bread
•Chicken salad with chopped cashews on
wheat bread

for dessert - sorbet

Beverages

Cucumber Water

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Make-over Mimosa (a twist on the traditional Mimosa)

Pour ¼ cup cranberry juice and ¼ cup pink grapefruit juice into a Champagne flute or a thin glass. Top with your favorite Champagne or sparkling wine. Serve immediately and keep the juices and bubbly chilled for refills.  Makes 1 mimosa.

Favors

We all know what candy bars and dessert bars are.  Well, why not a beauty bar!  Create a multi-dimensional tablescape with apothecary jars, cake pedestals, and trays to showcase the various bath and beauty items.  Some possible items to include: bath salts, lotions, bath gels, travel foot soak, pumice stone, nail polish, bath bombs, body butter, and fresh cut soaps.  You can coordiante the bar to your party color scheme or offer various colors and scents to your guests.  Provide glassine bags or take-out boxes with tags for your guests to fill up on their favorites.

Contact me to plan your next spa-rty for children, tweens or adults!