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Back to School Party Planning Ideas
Back to School is almost here (or here for some of you)! Why not throw a fun back to school party for your kid’s and their friends? I put together a bunch of really cute, easy ideas that I found on Pinterest to help you with your party planning! A lot of these ideas could also be used by teachers in welcoming your kid’s back to school on the first day of class.
Speaking of the back to school, have you checked out my editable & printable first day of school signs yet? They are super easy to edit and can be printed within a matter of minutes for you to use to document your kid’s first day back!
Now on to the party planning ideas! I found all of these on Pinterest (just click the photo to head to its original post). These were some of my favorite ideas for throwing a Back to School party!
Grab your first day of school signs and let’s get started party planning for your back to school bash!
Why do we send out Graduation Cards?
Graduation is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning those announcements & parties! This year I opted not create a whole collection of pre-made graduation announcements but I am taking on custom orders starting today!
A little bit more about graduation announcements:
Why do people send out graduation announcements?
- Your parents are proud of your accomplishment and want to share with family & friends
- Your friends and family genuinely want to know about a major life event
- It’s tradition, among others like save-the-dates, birth announcements and holiday cards, your graduation announcements are the perfect place to start building your contact list.
- It’s a keepsake, like above with save-the-dates, birth announcements and holiday cards you will keep it for years to come.
What do you write on a graduation announcement?
A graduation announcement is not an invitation so the only things you need on there are:
- your name,
- the school you are graduating from,
- class of (year)
If you want to add more things to your announcement some popular ones are bible verses, quotes, and/or where you are attending college (for high school graduation announcements).
Who should you send them to?
You should send graduation announcements to anyone your family would send a holiday card to. This is a great time to start building your own list that will carry on with your for further life events you want to announce.
- Parents, Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, Extended family members
- Friends and family friends
- Favorite teachers and tutors
- Co-workers
When do you send them out?
Graduation announcements should be sent out at least two weeks before the event if you are including an invitation to a graduation party or the actual graduation ceremony. If they don’t include an invitation, you can send them up to six weeks after the event.
Custom Graduation Announcements
So now you know the reasons why people send out graduation announcements, what to write on them and when to send them out… let’s get started on your custom card!
Just head to the shop and fill out the form to get started!
Party Planning: Kentucky Derby Party Ideas
It’s been a hot minute since I have written out a blog post! Life got crazy busy but I’m back with (hopefully) regular posts from here on out.
One of my favorite weekends is just around the corner and that is the Kentucky Derby & Cinco de Mayo! This year they both happen to fall on the same day… so why not throw a party?!
I have been doing a ton of Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and even a combo of the two… “Cinco de Derby” invitations these past few weeks and I have been loving it!
Today I wanted to show y’all some of my fun Kentucky Derby Invitations plus some great ideas I found on Pinterest because there is still plenty of time to put together a fun get together with friends with this theme!
Check out some of these fun & easy ideas for your party:
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Will you be planning a fun Kentucky Derby get together this year? How about Cinco de Mayo? Both? Let me know in the comments below!
How to print your own invitations when you buy a printable file from Etsy
I always get lots of questions on how to print when you purchase printable invitations. While all the invitations in my shop are printed options, I do have an Etsy shop with printable options (in case you didn’t already know!)
Printable invitations are a great way to cut costs and get your invites quick! There are three different ways to get your files printed.
The first option: Local Print Shops
I personally always recommend sending the files to a local print shop in your area for three reasons:
I personally always recommend sending the files to a local print shop in your area for three reasons:
- They are much easier to work with than larger stores such as Office Depot, Staples, Kinkos…
- They are typically less expensive and are flexible as far as timeframes
- And, the most important you are supporting a local business plus they will make sure the job gets done correctly!
I’m not knocking the corporate stores and they are a great option especially if you can’t find a local print shop but I personally haven’t had great luck when I get invitations printed for myself or for an order (there have been times where I have gone to a corporate place such as office depot or staples and paid a fortune for prints that ended up being wrong because they printed it incorrectly and they still made me pay —not great customer service!)
The Second Option: Online
There are also some great online options as well like mpix.com or vistaprint.com where you can upload your image and order the quantity you need! These take a couple extra days since they are shipped to you but it’s worth how easy it is and it’s one less errand you have to run (you can order the envelopes too with them too!)
There are also some great online options as well like mpix.com or vistaprint.com where you can upload your image and order the quantity you need! These take a couple extra days since they are shipped to you but it’s worth how easy it is and it’s one less errand you have to run (you can order the envelopes too with them too!)
The Third Option: Print at Home
Printing at home is always a great option too! You can easily print out the invitations, cut them and they are ready to go. For this option, you just want to make sure you have all the necessary and proper tools such as quality ink (and enough ink), a thick cardstock to print them on, either a cutting machine or a sure way to make sure you are cutting them all straight.
Printing at home is always a great option too! You can easily print out the invitations, cut them and they are ready to go. For this option, you just want to make sure you have all the necessary and proper tools such as quality ink (and enough ink), a thick cardstock to print them on, either a cutting machine or a sure way to make sure you are cutting them all straight.
I hope you find these tips useful when purchasing printable invitations online. Of course, there is always just the “I don’t want to mess with any of this” option and just have me print them for you… in that case, click here to head to the shop of printed invitations designs and let’s get started!
“Some Bunny is Having a Baby” Easter Themed Baby Shower
Spring is almost here! Last week I blogged some of my Easter themed party invitations as well as some decorating ideas from Pinterest. I recently created a fun new invitation perfect for an Easter-themed baby shower (also can be used for a birthday party)!
Spring decorations are always so fun and colorful that makes it easy to plan your party around. Check out some of these wonderful ideas from Easter themed parties I found on Pinterest that would go great with this invitation!
My Current Favorite Podcasts
I have recently fallen in love with podcasts. I will admit I do not listen to them every day but I do try and listen to a couple throughout the week.
A little fun fact is that this is actually not my full-time job! I work an 8-5 job Monday-Friday and commute about an hour each way (it’s actually not that far mile wise but traffic is a whole different story). So on an average week, I have about 10 hours worth of drive time which is where I started listening to podcasts!
I do love my music so there are days where I don’t want to think just drive so that is a Spotify day. Lately, though I have been trying to get in a couple episodes of podcasts here and there throughout the week.
I really like the creative business ones because they really motivate me, I will seriously have a list of things I want to do by the time I park my car. Those I try and listen to in the evenings because if I listen to them in the morning on my way to work I just get bummed that I can’t jump in and start implementing these plans!
I also love a good murder mystery one! I have finished serial (season 1) and have been recently listening to up & vanished and my favorite murderer. I have always been fascinated with murder mystery stories /cases & courtroom drama. Another fun fact: I originally wanted to go to be a lawyer… but I just really didn’t want to do three more years of school (haha).
Some of my favorite podcasts (so far) are:
The Goal Digger Podcast
The Ellechat Podcast
The Creative Empire
Serial
My Perfect Murder
Up & Vanished
Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favorite?
My personal party party planning tips & tricks
It’s no secret that I LOVE hosting parties, especially when there is a theme in mind. There is something so fun about figuring out how to decorate, what food items to make and setting up the decor that if I could… I think I would host a party every month (my husband probably would not approve lol).
Today, I’m sharing my personal party planning tips & tricks as well as my process! The first thing I do when planning a party is figuring out a date and then I always message a couple people with a heads up saying something like “I’m planning on having a party for “x”, will you be in town that weekend?”
I know that it is very rare that a weekend will work for everyone on your party list, but it’s nice to give people that you know you want there a heads up as well as give you an idea of if the date you are thinking works or if you might need to move it up a weekend, etc.
Next, I pick my theme and work on my guest list. I typically only do a theme for birthdays, holiday parties, baby showers, and if we are hosting a football/sports related party. From there I work on my guest list.
After my guest list is done I pick an invitation and print them or if I am in a time crunch I upload my design to paperless post and e-mail them out!
Tip: Always have an RSVP on the invitation. This ensures that you know how much food you are going to need. It’s never fun having so much extra food after or party and it’s even worse not having enough! I always plan for a little extra than how many people RSVP. For example, if 30 people RSVP, I plan for 35-37 people.
As you know, Pinterest is my go-to place for party planning so after the invites are sent I get started on how I want to decorate. Now I never go overboard with decorating but I do like to add a couple fun touches to make it a little more fun! I always create a board with ideas I like then go from there.
Tip: I have that may be pretty obvious but I am still going to share it is that take inventory of what you already have! I always look around my house for items that I can incorporate into decorating or serving items.
For example, I took this wooden tray I had and used it as a serving platter for a burger bar last month for a baby shower. Easy, and I already had it and didn’t have to go buy something new!
My next item is to plan out your menu, are you going to get it catered? Are you going to cook? The earlier you get this planned out, the easier it is to make it happen!
Tip: If you are going to cook, meal prep is key! Try and cook as much stuff as you can the day before the party. There is nothing more stressful than setting-up, cooking and cleaning hours before the guests arrive (been there!)
The last thing I do is a couple days before my party I double check that I have gotten all my RSVPs, purchase food and decoration items and make sure everything with my location is in order (typically I host at my house so I make sure everything is clean, that I am stocked up on paper towels and toilet paper, etc.)
Tip: If you are hosting at home, I always start setting up little by little a couple days in advance. Whether it’s gathering all my plates and napkins together, serving platters set-up, hanging banners, etc. This helps to make sure that you have everything you need and that you aren’t throwing everything together last minute!
The reason why I implement some of these tips & tricks because hosting a party is not meant to be stressful, you are celebrating loved ones and it’s supposed to a fun night for everyone including the hosts!
Have you gotten your free party planning printable yet? Grab yours here!
Personalized party add-ons to match your Invitation!
Did you know that I can create various coordinating products to match your invitation design? I’ve created everything from matching thank you cards, to favor tags to welcome signs! While I’m in the process of adding some of these to my shop (I’m starting with the most popular party themes and working my way through the list!) you can custom order anything to match your invitation!
When you order an invitation design off my website (or getting a custom invitation designdone), at the time I send you the digital proof you are presented with optional add-on items to choose from.
All the options are presented in either a printable file or printed options! And as always, I am open to suggestions or custom requests if you have something specific in mind!
The most popular add-on items are:
Thank you cards
Favor Tags
Sticker Address Labels
Welcome Signs
What are some of your favorite party add-ons? Do you like to print them yourself at home or have someone else do the printing?
Ideas for your kids spa themed birthday party
Another popular theme lately has been my Spa Day party invitation! This is one of my favorite themes for a girls birthday party. I even had a spa day party one year when I was younger, we took a limo to the spa and got our nails done then went to lunch and I can easily say it was one of my favorite birthday parties ever!
I have recently been working on adding printable party packs to my shop as well so that you have coordinating options to go with your invitations (separate blog post on this coming super soon)!
Here are some fun coordinating items I have custom created for recent orders:
Spa Party Ideas:
Are you planning on hosting a spa themed party? Grab your invite here!
Easter birthday Invitations & Some Party Decoration Ideas!
Can you believe that today is the LAST day of February?! We are about to start a busy month… St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break & Easter are all coming up (quick)! There is still plenty of time to plan your Easter party for this year. I have a couple of fun themed invitations in the shop and I gathered up some easy decorating ideas that I found on Pinterest!
Invitations:
Easter is a fun theme because you can do a number of different things. Peter Rabbit themed, Bunny themed, Spring themed, Easter Egg Hunt… the list goes on! Whether you are hosting an annual Easter brunch after church or throwing a birthday party I have got you covered on the invitation side! Need something custom? No problem!
Easter is a fun theme because you can do a number of different things. Peter Rabbit themed, Bunny themed, Spring themed, Easter Egg Hunt… the list goes on! Whether you are hosting an annual Easter brunch after church or throwing a birthday party I have got you covered on the invitation side! Need something custom? No problem!
Decorating Ideas:
Courtesy of my Pinterest research, I have found some fun & easy Easter party decorating ideas to go with your themed event!
Courtesy of my Pinterest research, I have found some fun & easy Easter party decorating ideas to go with your themed event!
Do you have any Easter babies? Do you throw an annual egg hunt or Easter brunch? What are your favorite ways to decorate? Comment below!
The most popular Party themes from 2017
Last year, I sold over 500 party invitations! I have been having so much fun seeing what are the most popular designs and themes that have been purchased in my shop.
I put together a list of the ten most popular theme invitations that I have sold over the last 12 months (these are in no particular order):
No. 1: Holy Guacamole
No. 2: Dump Everything
No. 3: Golf, Hole in One
No. 4: Crawfish Boil
No. 5: Water Guns & Summer Fun
No. 6: Farmers Market
No. 7: Spa Day
No. 8: Let’s Taco ‘bout some Fun
No. 9: Monster Truck
No. 10: Stop, Drop & Roll 
A couple of these are already making the list for 2018! Can you guess which ones?
Winter Ice Skating birthday invitation and party planning ideas
I know that spring is just around the corner (I can’t wait to share some of the new invitations I have been working on) but it is still very much winter in areas of the country! This ice skating invitation has been quite popular lately and is such a fun party theme. When I was younger I always wanted an ice skating themed party but living in South Texas it was not possible (now there are some indoor ice skating rinks down here though!)
I searched on Pinterest and found some great ideas to match this party invitation and it makes me want to throw an ice skating party just for fun!
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Have you ever had an ice skating party before? What is your favorite memory from it?
