Party Swap Friday {Featuring Party Activities & Book Swap Ideas Needed}

Don't forget we have this amazing giveaway from Stella + Hodge going on, there is still time to ENTER HERE!

Last week on Party Swap Friday, there was a request to help with ACTIVITIES for a 4 year old birthday party in late November. Here are some of the fun ideas suggested:

• sticker scavenger hunt (hide stickers that match your party theme and have the kids find them)
• pass the parcel, this game looks super fun!
• plan simple crafts that match your theme
• have the kids bake or decorate cookies or cupcakes

Mariah from Giggles Galore shared some of the activities she planned for her daughter's incredible Strawberry Shortcake Party. Seriously, you must gander over there to oogle for a few moments. 

The kids made strawberry freezer jam, decorated strawberry buckets,.went on a strawberry scavenger hunt, and finished with a bean bag toss complete with strawberry shaped bean bags!

Giggles Galore, thank you so much for letting me share your adorable party. This talented mommy HANDMADE aprons and party hats, the birthday girl's party dress, strawberry bean bags, and personalized the scavenger hunt buckets. I am still in awe. 

This week, I am the one looking for help!  I am throwing my first BOOK SWAP play date party for 10 kids ranging in age from 3-8. Have you ever done a book swap? Any suggestions for me... snack ideas? Activities?  Books I should read the kids?

Party Swap Fridays is now open, feel free to share a BOOK SWAP suggestion -OR- :

• ASK for party help (maybe a question about a choosing a theme, dessert, or invitation)
• Showcase a great party TIP you have
• Share a favorite Pinterest PIN
• Share a LINK to a great party you've thrown
• READERS helping other READERS- chime in and share with us

My Amy Atlas Moment!

You can find me HERE today! 

Someone please pinch me...

Amy Atlas is someone that inspires me daily,

her passion and creativity take party planning to the next level. 

I am honored to be featured on her site today. 

Thanks to anyone new visiting my site today, I'm an Etsy loving, Pinterest pinning, party planning mom of two bugger boys. I prefer homemade, except when it comes to me in the kitchen. I like to create fun, simple, and budge friendly crafts and parties and this is my place to share them. Here are a few of my favorite projects...

April Showers Party

Paper Straw Garland

Rain Puddle Cupcakes Tutorial

Golf Wreath

Vintage Super Hero Party

{Surprise a Friend} Summer Breakfast

I am super excited to share my first project on Whisker Graphics today. I decided to surprise a new mommy and bring her baked oatmeal with fresh fruit. I always include the recipe and some extra napkins as well.

Materials:

• Whisker Graphics Brown Sugar Divine Twine
• Whisker Graphics Aqua Striped Bitty Bag
• Harvest tags from Paper and Cake 
• Napkins
• Quart Size Wood Berry Boxes 
• Baked Oatmeal and recipe card
• Wood skewers
• Tape
• Serving Tray (optional)

Directions: Bake oatmeal according to recipe. Print and cut circles. Cut skewers in half. Tape circles to skewers and tie with divine twine. Place skewers right into the oatmeal. Add labels to fruit boxes and wrap with twine. 

Tuck napkins inside bitty bag and seal with a party circle

Print recipe and include.

...and breakfast is served!

Linking to:

Stella and Hodge Giveaway!

{This giveaway is now closed}

Meet my newest Etsy crush, Stella and Hodge. They sell all sorts of fun items ranging from handmade jewelry, custom silhouettes, personalized stationary, bookplates, cards, and prints. I will take one of everything please.

{ Giveaway Time }

Stella and Hodge is giving away a set of 

custom bookplates to one lucky reader!

Let's make this super easy, just visit visit Stella and Hodge, oogle for a bit and tell me what your favorite item is. I'll pick a winner using random.org on  Monday, August 1st. Extra entries if you feel like sharing the love on Facebook or Twitter.

Party Swap Friday {Camping Features & Request for Party Activities}

Last week's Party Swap Friday, I asked readers to share some camping ideas. Randi from Dukes and Duchesses has FIVE kids and has thrown every type of party (and ridiculously cute ones at that)-- including camping!

Camp Dukes Campout Party

Party Highlights: 

• Party invitation in the shape of a tent
• Great use of out door materials such as wood, pine cones, & rocks
• Camp fire cupcakes
• Camp Dukes just has a nice ring, doesn't it? I love all the Camp Dukes signs

Thanks for letting me share! For more party pictures and details, visit Dukes and Duchesses blog

Melanna of Rhapsody of Cacophony shared her latest party as well. 

This Teddy Bear Picnic Party is so super cute!

Party Highlights:

• Loads of activities from a paw print hunt, crafting bear ears, ball pit, parachute games, and ribbon pull bee hive pinata
• Picnic style lunch
• Adorable Invitation in the shape of a bear
• Tons of teddy bear party decorations and foods

Melanna, your party is SO inspiring and fun! Thanks for letting me share. For more party details, visit Rhapsody of Cacophony 

Speaking of activities, our next party swap Friday feature is all about ACTIVITIES!  A reader is looking for party activities for her 4 year old in late November. So please share some ideas in the comments below. I'd love to feature YOUR ideas next week!

Party Swap Fridays are now YOUR day to:

• ASK for party help (maybe a question about a choosing a theme, dessert, or invitation)
• Showcase a great party TIP you have
• Share a favorite Pinterest PIN
• Share a LINK to a great party you've thrown
• READERS helping other READERS- chime in and share with us

Camping Cake & Rustic Stand = Perfect Match

Last Friday's Party Swap brought on a challenge to find camping party ideas for Stacy from She's {kinda} Crafty.

Bonus points if it involved ribbon.

This cake caught my eye. Perfect for a camping party. Then I realized that I had just the stand for it. I found it in the clearance section for $5.  It was bright fiesta colors, but it had a beautiful glass top. So I wrapped it in twine and added some fabric ties. Much more rustic and natural looking now. 

Don't they make a lovely couple?

Find Me Over on Southern Belle's Charm

Grab a sweet tea and stop by Southern Belle's Charm where I am guest posting today!

I am a huge fan of Southern Belle's Charm and was so thrilled when Natalie asked me to share some party ideas on her site. The super talented Natalie is an event stylist with her own party shop on Etsy. She is responsible for some seriously trashy parties. This is one of my favorite parties, ever! 

Hope you stop by and say hello!

Summer Time {Freebies} Printables Round Up

It's been awhile since I've shared some freebies,

here are some fun SUMMER printables

 Emily Jones Company Beach Tags guest post on House of Smiths

Ice Cream Tags by Eat Drink Chic

Summer Time BBQ Collection

Offered by Lauren McKinsey for a limited time, so hurry over!

Pinwheel Gift Tags from Draw Pilgrim

Complete summer party set from Shindig Parties To Go

Summer Print from Wonderful Joy Ahead

And last but not least, because my smallest bugger loves picking dandelions,
this adorable freebie from Kind Over Matter

Summer in Pictures

I can't believe how fast summer is going.

Now that I've dipped my toes in the ocean, I can officially call it summer...

The boys picked these for me yesterday at grammy's house

I collect milk glass, I love every piece. Do you collect anything?

I enjoy just looking at all the possibilities, 

the airmail twine is going to be quite fun

Boy's first MLB game, they loved the peanuts

Fishing time with daddy, there's a whole lot of camouflage there