shopping for party decor

I Always make sure I shop holiday aisles for bargains once the holidays are over. You can find geat deals on lights, floral arrangements, and holiday ornaments that can be used for decorations at all types of parties.

Toyland/Toy themed Party

Use a toyland theme for your next birthday party! This theme does not need to be reserved for holiday parties! Use your child's favorite toys or vintage toys as decorations, centerpieces,etc. and pull your color theme from the toys themselves. Table settings and invites can be solid colors,stripes,polka dots,balloon or other very traditional birthday party designs.A mix of patterns would be exciting.   Allow the guests time to play with the toys and include old fashioned party games as the activities. This would be a great theme for younger children for whom  more difficult,involved games and activities would be too complex.  This is also a very economical party to host. It can look very elegant and put together if done right!

Call Party EZ for assistance!

Happy Holidays!

Just a quick note wishing everyone Happy Holidays!
Party EZ will be back blogging in 2012!
I'm looking forward to working on a toy themed party for January.
All of the holiday shopping has inspired me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Pizzeria Party

Pizzeria Party

Thinking of serving pizza at your next event?  Turn it into your party theme!
Have the kids make their own mini pizzas. You can buy premade crusts or make your own and let the kids roll out their crust with child size rolling pins. Another activity such as decorating an apron can take place while the pizzas are cooking.

Decor can include red and white checkered tablecloths,pizza boxes,pans,or baking stones, garlic braids, decorative containers of parmesan and red pepper flakes, wooden spoons, spatulas,and rolling pins for an authentic pizzeria feel.  Other props can include stick on mustaches purchased at a costume shop and chef hats. The hats,aprons,and mustaches could double as party favors.

On Pointe!

Party EZ is offering a ballet themed party for 8 guests. Table and Room Decor, tutu craft, "dance lesson ", dress rehearsal, and "performance" included! 2 - 3 additional party games/activities are also included ( number of games depends on how long the craft and performance takes ).  $175 for a 2 hr party.
Party EZ host will arrive approximately 45 minutes before the guests for set up.

Call for details.

Undercover!

I'm thinking about a spy themed party today!  The party goers would need to complete "missions" to defuse a bomb or save the world!  Black, red, and white would be the color theme.  Please contact Party EZ if you are interesting in a spy party! 

Cool and Classy!

Call Party EZ to book a Penguin themed party for 8 guests!  Tableware, decorations, games, and activities provided by a Party EZ host.
$150. 
1.5 hrlong party (please allow 30-45 minutes set up time before guests arrive-included in the price).

The Cat's Meow

Party EZ introduces it's Cat themed party package. The package includes tableware,themed decorations for the party area, party favors, and hostessing services for up to 8 children.   3 themed games /activities and 1 craft such as making a cat collar are included. Party EZ provides any supplies needed for the activities. The cost is $150 for a 1.5hr party. 30 minutes of set up   time (prior to the guests arriving) and 15 minutes to dismantle is needed. This is included in the price.

Barbie Party

Party EZ can host a Barbie themed party for your fashionista! The party includes table ware and decorations in a "vintage" Barbie pink and black color theme.
Activities include custom  "designing" and decorating of a Barbie fashion and coordinating t shirt for the  child,mini manicure,and make up session.

The cost for this event is $225 for up to eight children.$20 for each additional child. Maximum 10 children.

Call Party EZ to book a Barbie Party!!

 

Fitness Party

I am working on a fitness party theme for older children. It's a take on the Little Gym, Gymboree, and gymnastics theme parties that younger children can have.  I am working with local gym franchises to see
if they would accomodate a rental and trainer for a"workout" theme party for older children. Stay tuned for updates and call Party EZ if you are interested in this type of party!

Peacock Party for Teens

Wow! I have been inspired by a dinner party theme I came across at Catch My Party.  A peacock themed party would be great for tween or teen girls!  You could decorate with peacock plumes and jewel tones!
I even seen some really great, low cost arrangements at Walmart that could be utilized. Food could be Indian inspired in honor of the India Blue Peacock.  Activities could include "featherlock" hair piece from Claires or a person who can come to your venue. A visit to a nearby salon that offers that service would be fantastic too. You could even see if a salon would allow you to decorate and have a party there!   

New Ideas....

I visited the Norfolk Children's Festival today and walked away with a great idea! There was a Alice in Wonderland display/play area that had a walkway and play area made by using the small, short garden or edging iron picket fencing. They choose a slightly gothic designed fencing in keeping with the Alice in Wonderland theme.  What was a simply wonderful addition was that small strips of tulle netting were tied around the pickets on the walkway! That little, inexpensive touch added so much to the theme!  I'm looking forward to using these ideas for a Party EZ event!

Night Owl Sleepover

I am loving the adorable owl themed party and office supplies, clothing decals and appliques, and home decor items that I am seeing all over town and the internet!  What better use for them then to create a "night owl" themed sleepover.  Typical sleepover activites can still prevail, but using the owls to decorate would add a really nice touch and make the party more cohesive!

I hope my readers and client can use this idea for their events!!  Have fun!

Rainy Day Blues..

I'm feeling a little lackluster lately. I think it is due to all of the rain we have been having. I hope this weekend is the end of it for awhile. Usually sharing ideas about parties will perk me up, but for this posting I want to talk about Halloween costumes. My girls want to be a kitty cat and an old 1800's man. That 1800's man is my teenager's wish. She has a group of friends that want to dress up with fake mustaches and top hats. We are going to scour the thrift stores and costumes shops for things we can use and make over into great costumes.  I didn't plan on doing much sewing this year, but my little one tells me that she want's a cat costume that doesn't look clothes" you wear during the day". hmmm.. guess i trip to the fabric store is in order!!!!  I've come across a few great places for upscale costumes.  Try Glitzy Kidz and Chasing Fireflies for outstanding and unusual costumes. 

Have a good weekend and write back and tell me what the desire Halloween costumes are for this year!

    

Magical Unicorn Theme Part III

I am not a big fan of popular character themed parties. However, with most basic party themes a few references to a specific character can be added.  This usually satisfies both the parent and child quite well!
The Unicorn theme could be adapted to include princess characters, knights, or a medieval themed element such as Lord of the Rings . Harry Potter could also be included.  

Keeping that in mind, menu choices can range from from tea party, finger food type fare to hearty sanwhich fixings or chicken and turkey legs more in keeping with a medieval affair.

  The activities mentioned last week could be slightly amended to re-iterate a character theme.

 My research shows that The Teeny Tiny Farm with "dress" one of their ponies as an Unicorn and give rides.
They serve Hampton Roads (757 area code ). You may also wish to incorporate a magician or wizard as party entertainment.

Magical Unicorn Theme Part II

This posting will consist of a list and description of themed activities for this party.

Unicorn Race: Using manufactured stick horses or unicorn the children can have a race with a prize going to the winner.

Pin the Tail or Horn On the Unicorn : self explanatory

Mane or Tail Race: Children are divided into teams with equal numbers. Each child is given a piece of streamer with a strip of tape attached to one end. The child race to an unicorn poster place there streamer on the unicorn's neck or hind quarter, race back to the starting line, tag a team member and repeat until one team is finished. The winning team members get a prize.

Horseshoes : Self explanatory

Making Unicorn horns and tails: Take sturdy paper or posterboard, roll into a cone, cut off excess paper and affix into place with glue or staples.  Cut a small hole or slot on each side and run a thin elastic strip thru knotting after it is in the slot. This will keep the horns in place on the head. Think of a traditional birthday party hat to get the concept.  Allow the children to decorate their horns with glitter, colored glitter paint or glue to look like spirals, stickers, or anything you would like to offer for decorating.
Tails:  cut a piece of kite string long enough to circle a kid's waist. Tie long pieces of yarn to the center back of the string. Tie around the child's waist to form a tail in the back.

You can have a parade of unicorns once this is complete.


Mystical Gem Treasure Hunt: Buy marbles or glass beads and hide them in various places. Give each child a small pouch ( often found at dollar stores or craft stores, but can be easily made if you can sew ) and have a hunt to find the gems. Each child keeps their pouch and marbles as a party favor.

Pinata: self explanatory             

Magical Unicorn Theme/Part 1

Envision a magical, enchanted forest. This is the look of Party Ez's Unicorn Theme Party.  Decorating pieces include real and artificial plants and trees, topiaries, ivy,and piles of draped tulle and netting in soft colors, Table settings include pre-printed paper unicorn decorated supplies, but also coordinating solids. The feeling is one of an etheral,magical place.

 A few rainbows will be present in the form of wall decals, balloons, table runners, and centerpeices.   

Chairs will be covered and decorated with coordinating bows. Swags of tulle will hang from walls,ceilings, or tent and canopy tops if the party is held outdoors.
The party entrance will be marked by "red carpet" .  Castle themed decorations can be utilized as well. 

Come back next week for Magical Unicorn Theme Part II

September Theme

Next week I will begin to explore and share ideas for a Magical Unicorn Themed Party.

Please call or email Party EZ for custom planning services which include decorating plans, activity plans, and shopping and decorating services!

Elements of the Bollywood Party

I've added a few close ups and general photos of a few of the props, pillows, and fabrics that will be used in the Bollywood/Indian themed party.  I will create a mock up of the actual party closer to the early-mid November event date. Please check back for photos of the mock up and of the actual event.

    Since this is a party for teenagers we will be offering henna hand stenciling/temporary tattoos.
The other activities will be watching themed movies in the newly Indian/Morrocan decorated "parlor".
Dinner will be served buffet style with the girls sitting on floor pillows at a low table to eat.

Food and More Decorations for Bollywood Party

We will purchase a few of our favorites from  local Indian resturant. However, I will supplement it with some food I make. I find the local Asian and Indian grocery stores ecomonical places to find commercical made sauces and curries that can be made by adding meats and veggies. Trader Joe's is another great place to shop for authentic and economical pre made sauces,chutneys and for naan.
I plan to serve the food on colorful,bright dishes.

My latest plan is to arrange several panels of fabric from the ceiling of the dining room so  as to mimic a tent ceiling.  I am also looking for interesting fabrics to use as runners and table coverings. And I cannot forget to add some Indian Elephants and Bengal Tigers to the decor!!!!  I may do that via fabric.    
I want this party to be vibrant and bold so I am thinking of really rich and jewel tones.

Stay tuned for photos of the fabrics collected.


Dont' forgot to call or email Party EZ for children's and teens party planning needs!!

Inspiration...

Inspiration can come in many forms!  The Bollywood/Indian Party theme is fueled by my daughter's love of Indian food. She has introduced several of her closest friends to this type of international cuisine and they are now fans. Further inspiration has come from some home decor items we have found at our local Marshall's and TJ Maxx stores. We have been able to purchase some discounted hand blown glass and pierced tin lanterns, indian/morrocan detailed throw pillows, and various decorative items.  They are going to be perfect for the party. We can also possibly use some pieces in our home, garden or other outdoor living areas should we not be able to use them for another party. Some pieces will lend themselves well to an Aladin/Jasmine/Arabian themed party for younger children's party.

 I always try to use items we already have or durable pieces that have multiple purposes.

Stayed tuned for more ideas on this theme and for photos of the things we have been collecting for this party!

Indian/Bollywood Themed Party

With only 3 months until my daughter's birthday I am beginning to make plans for a Bollywood/Indian themed event.  3 months you say? That's plenty of time. Not true when this is an entirely new theme for me. I've got a few ideas in my head.
Stay posted for my next update of ideas! 

Welcome to Party EZ of Hampton Roads

Party EZ of Hampton Roads has been providing custom children's party planning since 2002. We are a full scale party planning business.

We specialize in Glamour and Tea Parties, but will customize based on your theme and budget!