Zoo Babies Baby Shower

Zoo Animals Baby Shower

Used in This Package:

*15 Pce. Flag Banner with Polka Dot Ribbon

*Party Favor Baby Shoes

*Baby Zoo Animal Centerpiece Pokes
*Party Favor Bags

Sugar and Spice Baby Shower

Sugar and Spice Baby Shower #1

Used in This Package:

*Flag Banner with Polka Dot Ribbon

*Pedestal Tops with Matching Paper Ribbon

*Party Favor Baby Shoes

*Party Favor Baby Blocks 

*Centerpiece Pokes

   

Let's Get Started

I am kicking off 2012 with a new and wonderful event concept.  For years, I have been planning events for corporate clients. Company picnics, ice cream socials, covered wagons for Western themed events, 500 pumpkins for a portable pumpkin patch brought directly to you...even a good size haunted house for Halloween and  live reindeer during Christmas with the arrival of Santa in a horsedrawn sleigh for holiday parties!  I will continue to plan these wonderful events throughout the year, but I am now adding something new, and I am SOOO excited to share it with you!!   

Polka Dots and Parties Sweet Treats & Party Favors! 

All event planners look for unique and fun favors to add to their events.  I can provide exactly what you are looking for and personalize with your information or a company logo.  I use good quality papers in a beautiful array of colors and themes.  A pallet is chosen for you, then emailed or text directly to you for your approval prior to designing your party package.  If you prefer to shop for you own paper quantities and color pallets, your pricing will reflect that choice.  Themed Party Packages will be added  to my blog each week. Go through each party, pick out the pieces that most interest you and create your own 

Polka Dots & Party  Package!! 

 Contact me  for information and pricing. 

   

Holiday Christmas Party at The Country Club

For the past 8 years Party Connection Events and I have planned a Holiday Party for 250 families at a country club in a suburb of  Chicago.  It's been so much fun bringing in live reindeer, horse drawn sleighs, Santa, Mrs. Claus and of course refreshments to these families on this very special day. This year was no different, well Santa's reindeer were getting ready for their Christmas Eve flight and didn't attend, but two beautiful horse drawn carriages took our guests on a "jingle all the way" ride through the community.  Holly, one of our favorite balloon twisters brought a fellow twister and they made some fabulous balloon characters for each child.  She also created holiday balloon critters as centerpieces for each table at the Gingerbread Bakery...I can't begin to tell you how cute these little guys are, take a look for yourself!

After visiting with Santa, each family stopped at the Gingerbread Bakery for a Christmas Cupcake and a Hot Chocolate.  The entrance way to our Bakery this year was something new.  It was a sure hit as everyone used it for an opportunity to mingle and visit with old friends.  Many neighbors were seen taking pictures around it.  Lots of smiles and laughter were shared that afternoon.  Even Santa strolled through the bakery chatting with families along the way.  

After refreshments, the kids ran downstairs to the craft area where they met Holly and her sidekick in their festive, but crazy hats!!  Lines were long, but well appreciated as each child was able to have their own balloon favor made right before their very eyes!  Holly is always a hit at our special events!  Three new stations were added to our workshop this year. At the Spin Art Station, the kids created their own colorful picture by squirting streams of paint onto a spinning piece of art. The kids loved it and Elf Scarlet was able to help more than 175 kids create their masterpieces.

Then there was Elf Nicole, who helped the kids make a Pucker Powder tube of crazy holiday colors.  Of course this was a HUGE hit with the little ones...the more sugar the better!!  Watch the blog for more ideas using Pucker Powder Straws as we turn them into GREAT party favors at Party Connection Events Polka Dots and Parties. Lastly, the kids made a craft ornament  of Santa's face each piece was carefully cut so all the kids had to do was glue it together. 

   

The day was a huge success and everyone had a GREAT time.  The Holiday Event is already in the works for next year, complete with Santa's Workshop and many more pieces to add to the Gingerbread Bakery.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  

  

Fill it up!!

This is a GREAT gift box.  I even made one with kissable, embossed lips.  I love using Archivers papers on most of my projects.  The selection is fabulous...not to mention that the girls in the Naperville, Illinois store are so helpful and friendly!! This pattered paper actually has embossed reindeer and snowflakes  scattered all over it..they ran out early in the season, too many of us crafters eat this stuff up! Stuff these little babies up with candy or cookies.  Remember it's all about the presentation!!!  Enjoy!!

Cute Favors and Picks

As I play catch up, I wanted to post a few of my favorite creations I made this year for special events and personal things too!!  It's just too much fun to not share them.

Just a little something for a private holiday party

Maggie's 1st Birthday

Guess whoooo's turning 1

Great for gift cards

Birthday Ballerina Goodie Bag

Boo...it's Halloween treat boxes!  These were a HUGE hit...thanks My Scrap Chick for sharing this great pattern!

  

This is our little Maggie

This is our first Grandchild, Maggie.  She is truly the apple of our eyes!!   Maggie turned a year this summer.  Wow, time really flies!  We can't wait to share Christmas with her this year.  Lots of pictures will be shared.   

Gingerbread House Contest

Two years ago, at Christmastime, we had a Gingerbread House Contest between my family.  My oldest daughter, Jennifer and her husband Kenny were the first contestants, the second was my daughter Lisa and her husband Jack, the third was my youngest daughter Katelyn, my husband Chet  and myself....unfortunately Kate, Chet and I dropped out before the contest started.  So the battle of the sisters was on. I should mention...this was the second contest of the year between siblings...we did a Pumpkin Carving Contest as well.  Oh what fun we have at home!!

I had my best friend, Mary and her husband Phil come judge our Gingerbread Contest.  We thought it would be a couple hours of fun but it turning into a little more stress than we had anticipated...8 hours later!!  Now we can look back and laugh.  Needless to say, we have not done it since, but we can laugh at it now. I think Jack and Lisa were the winners, complete with electric in their house.  But, I actually think they BOTH won...both houses were beautiful!!

Many More Party Favors

I decided just to add all my favors on one post so I can play catch up and get LIVE with my blogging.  So here goes...lots of things I have made this year.

This was my Cookie Exchange from December 2010 at my home with family and friends.  Unfortunately, this year we did not have another...seems it just didn't fit into our schedules.  Hopefully we will do one for next year.  I was actually thinking of doing something at Easter to celebrate Spring.  

Lots and lots of cookies to share!

 So pretty!!!

Good friends and family!

I Love my flaky friends!!

Guess who I met today?

You will never believe who I met tonight...the very famous Debi Lilly, Event Planner to Oprah Winfrey at C.O. Bigelow in Woodfield Mall!!  We had a wonderful conversation and I am honored to say, she asked me to help her with two events she has coming up in early 2012.  You can not imagine how excited I am right now.  What a night...I am still on cloud 9!  Thanks Debi...can't wait to get started on those party favors!

Snack Wand

Hey check this out...it's my newest creation!  A Walk Away Snack Straw!! It's made using a long straw and threading the goodies right through a couple donuts and add a sugared candy to the top.  Kids can walk away with it, eat the gum drop and drop the straw right in the milk and drink!! Make them for all seasons.    Oh yes, I did make the little bear too.  It's fun digital art...my other passion. Enjoy! 

Lollipop Jungle

So this week, I am playing catch up.  I have been so busy with my special events that I haven't been able to keep up with my blog.  After the holidays, I will try to add new things on a weekly basis.  Ok, getting back to the Lollipop Jungle.... 

My friend gave birth to adorable twin girls back in September, so I helped both Grandmothers with the baby shower; cutting and building favor bags, tags, welcome banners, and centerpieces wands. The theme was Lollipop Jungle to match their bedroom decor.  The Dotted Swiss Cardstock was the perfect "girly" choice for the favors.  The quality of that cardstock is gorgeous and the colors are vibrant and fun. I love to search for digital art that matches  my cutting files and creates a nice themed package for my events. A high end photo printer does a beautiful job on the tags too, making them crystal clear and high gloss.  Each bag was filled with hand cream and body spray from Bath and Body Works.  

Simple touches... like filling a stemmed water or wine glass with colorful candies  create a festive look  to the tables.  Add a scalloped table topper to the piece or by poking a few double sided  themed wands into the candy filled glasses creates really cute centerpieces. I looked everywhere for pink candies with no luck.  Personalized candies can be ordered online...or grab a few extra bags in February, for Valentines Day.  Lastly, I add a colorful, sugared gumdrop to the top of a long straw which gives a fun, festive look to each wand.  

  

Cute little monkeys hung from the welcome banner and off the pedestal table toppers.

I like to explain to the Moms to Be, that the centerpiece wands can be disassembled and added to their scrapbooks.  As a matter of fact, my gift was  a cute, Doodle Bug Scrapbook!  They come in a few different sizes and the colors are gorgeous and bright.  Another idea is to personalize the first page of the book using the same digital art used for the shower favors....just a nice added touch.  

Now don't throw away that banner!! Most of my Mom's to Be, use them in the nursery.  I try to keep them small, though this one is a med size, but how could you not love those cute little monkeys hanging off the polka dot ribbon? POLKA DOT RIBBON?  YES!!   I try to use polka dot ribbon in all my creations... Polka Dots always make me smile!!  I have to say, this was really a fun baby shower to build.  Can't wait to hold those "little monkeys"!  

Letters from Santa

I know it's a bit late for this year, but very good information to remember for future years to come,  thanks to my friends at One Charming Party for a  great blog post!!

Personalize a letter from Santa and get a special North Pole postmark! Follow a few simple instructions and your children will receive their very own letter from Santa, via the North Pole.

• write a sweet letter, seal it and affix the correct postage to addressed envelopes and cards
• pack them in a larger envelope, box, Priority Mail or Express Mail package
• send them to:

North Pole Holiday Cancellation

Postmaster

4141 Postmark Dr.

Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

To ensure delivery by Christmas, all requests must be received in Anchorage, Alaska by Dec. 10. The service is provided at no cost, but each card or letter must have the correct amount of postage and be addressed.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hi everyone, I finally have a little break from my events, so I thought I would post a few things I found while reading some other fun blogs I follow.  The past few weeks I have been working on a Christmas Party for 250 children and 2 sweet baby showers for friends.  I promise to post pictures this week, but today I am taking a little break to add some "holiday" to my home.  Tomorrow, out comes the sewing machine, the photo printer, my computer and a couple cutting machines...while Santa's Workshop continues at www.partyconnectionevents.com to build a grand piece to add to POLKA DOTS AND PARTIES. 

This Strawberry Christmas Tree is something I created for our Cookie Exchange last year. Each year I try to use something within my many wonderful collections of my Moms', whom I lost 5 years ago.  This beautiful vase was a treasure of hers and has now found it's new home as my dining room table centerpiece.  

I just couldn't pass up these adorable Strawberry Cheesecake Santa Hats.  How cute is that?  I bet they are just as yummy too!! Look up the "how to's" and enjoy making them and of course eating them too!

And lastly, I found this adorable hot chocolate and marshmallows gift idea.  OMG, who wouldn't love to get this hostess gift?  I have these edible food markers, so I can't wait to give it a try.  
Until next time...enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  

Happy Thanksgiving Friends

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!  This centerpiece was created for a country club story hour.  Each feather is skewed on a paper straw complete with a sweet treat of  2 mini donuts, and a Thanksgiving straw hugger.  Take the entire straw and place it right in the mini milk carton and you have a "walk away snack" just big enough for little hands!   I drew Mr. Tom Turkey's head and cut it out, added a few skewers to his neck and poked it right into a large melon.  I loved the way it turned out.  

Family Showers

Last year we had many family events.  Both our oldest daughter and our middle daughter were married in 2010.  That made for a wonderful bridal shower and even a baby shower.  Oh...what fun, you know how I loved that!  So take a peak at our showers and get to know a little about the passion I LOVE...PLANNING SPECIAL EVENTS!

Do you LOVE these Balloon Twists as much as I do?  My good friend, Holly, will be joining us at Polka Dots and Parties as she WOW'S us with her wonderful talents!!