Tea Party Breakdown

I had so much fun getting everything together for this party that I thought I'd go through it all here for posterity.

I started off the decorations with these giant tissue pom poms I first saw on Nothing But Bonfires with instructions by Martha Stewart:



Martha's instructions turned me on to the matching plate decorations. Hers are napkin rings, but with no cloth napkins, I just prettied up the plates with them.



For the placecards, I printed the girls' names and a vintage teapot from The Graphics Fairy. (Who, by the way, posts a new vintage clip art every day and they're all pretty darn awesome. I highly recommend subscribing.) I added a sparkly piece of patterned paper across the top and punched out a few butterflies from the same paper.

I also used a tea cup from The Graphics Fairy and patterned paper for the invitations. Some of the leftover solid color cardstock from the recipe binders came in handy for the invite and its envelope.

I laid the bracelets on the table so the girls could wear them during the party. I strung these together with beads from Michaels, memory wire and some finishings I stole from a jewelry kit that Nana had bought Cheeseball a while back.

For refreshments, I wanted everything to be tiny and girly. As the decor and plans evolved, I seemed to be leaning toward a garden theme. So I made sandwiches with cheese, orange marmalade and peanut butter & nutella (not all together) and cut them out with flower and mushroom shaped cookie cutters.



I made chocolate cupcakes and orange cupcakes, both were recipes out of books from the library and neither were particularly special. I really like the idea of orange cupcakes and will have to tinker with a recipe until I can make that orange flavor really stand out.

I used pearl dust, edible glitter, sprinkles and a small star tip for the various cupcake decorations. The muffin cups came from the cutest little online store - Bake It Pretty. I had so much fun with these that I really want to work on my piping and get the hang of a few frosting flowers and other techniques.



I printed these cute tea cup note cards from Creature Comforts on cardstock for the girls to color.



I wanted to make a bingo style game with tea party clip art but I spent an hour that morning reinstalling drivers to get my printer to work so I didn't get a chance. :( Maybe next time!

Linked on Brag Monday on *The Graphics Fairy* and Making the World Cuter Monday.



Technorati tags: tea party, DIY, kids party