Scenes from the Vintage 40th Birthday Party for Larry

Theme: Vintage

The Old Shed just after being cleaned up and paper banners and clear lights hung.
The banner is made of black and brown construction papers, and beige papers that were printed with pictures of Larry's vintage snowmobiles on them....all stapled onto black ribbon.

Tables: were covered with a beige sort of burlap fabric with black felt and rust scrapbook paper placemats it the center of the tables. There were old time canisters filled with vintage candies. Candy cigarettes, photo confetti, and old games (magic 8 balls, wolly willy) were laying on the tables. Also had a couple candles sitting on the tables.

This is not the best picture since it was taken after is was all messed up!

Menu: Chili, Beer Bread, Corn Salsa and Chips, Kettle Corn, and Old Time Sodas.

Kettle Corn was served in Vintage containers purchased from Hobby Lobby.

Napkins were wrapped and sealed with a "Celebrate Larry" "Vintage 1968 Model" Themed papers that were personally designed by me.

The Birthday Guy:Party Date: September 20th, 2008

Bridal Show and Popcorn

Well today Kelly and I went to a Bridal Show. I can't say that either of us had a very eventful day there. In order to sign up for the door prizes you had to be a bride to be, which neither of us are. So we looked around, got a few decorating ideas for parties, and that's pretty much it. But that's ok.
I set up a table at the local food fair today and sold 26 bags of popcorn!! Only came home with 2 bags left. That's exciting! I was not at the food fair except for the last 1/2 hour and even in that short time I was able to visit with a few people about my Party Business, so I am happy about that. It takes time for things to fall into place, but I guess eventually they do. I just need to be patient and that's ok too.
I did purchase another container today for my collection of candy buffet glassware. Eventually I will have enough to advertise them for rental.
Next plan is to get at least one party-to-go together and up for sale. And hopefully get some good pictures taken so I can do justice to the package. :)

New purchases

I did some after Christmas shopping and I do wish I would have bought more. The prices were amazing. I always 2nd guess my purchases and then later wish I would have bought more. One thing that I DID NOT buy and SHOULD have was sets of White with silver or gold trim Dinnerware . Each box had a 4 place setting and was marked down to $7.50. I thought I'd wait and see if I could get them just a bit cheaper. Well they went cheaper, the next day...down to 75% off which would have made them like $4 a box. They were gone when I got there. :( Shopping stresses me out!
I found this glass container at TJ Maxx for $8. It is filled with glittered balls, but I plan to use it for a Candy Buffet. Once I feel I have enough containers I will be putting them up for rental. Need to get a few more yet.
Lights...oh my goodness, I could have bought a ton of them. Of these I bought 3 packs at $1.99 each.

And these swag ones were just $1.99 each too. Got 3 sets.
And Dazzle Drape. I love this stuff. I used gold as garland on my tree this year and red as a tablerunner for Christmas eve. It is so pretty and easy to use. I think these were 1/2 off at $3.50. Only bought 3 and they are all different colors. Would really have liked to get more of each color but they were all gone.

And these!!!! Chargers. I love them. I got them at Walmart. They were 1/2 off at $3.00 for a pack of 4. Got 4 packs....16 silver chargers. Here I go again....I SHOULD have bought the gold ones too! :) These will be so nice to use. Glad to have them.

I found these crown napkin rings at Target. I took all the had. 10 of them. They were 75% off. $1.24 for a 2 pack. They will be very nice for a Princess Party. :)

Amy also found me a beautiful Punch Bowl. It was originally 39.99 and I got it for $9.99. Even though she thinks my party thing is crazy...she was shopping for the deals for me too. :)

Blog it Forward for a great cause!

Let’s Eat Cake, an amazing fundraiser hosted by the equally amazing Melissa Margarita-DiStefano, is coming up quick: Tuesday, February 17th at the Plaza Paramount Hotel! Let’s Eat Cake is a cake decorating competition with all proceeds going to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Learn more about the fundraiser right here.

In an effort to make sure we get the word out to everyone (and raise money), we are starting this chain-blog (Ok, not sure if that is correct terminology. But it’s like a chain letter so let’s just go with it, shall we?)

Here’s what we need you to do…Repost this post (or create your own new version) on your blog and ask others to post it on their blogs. Melissa will donate one dollar to the fundraiser for EVERY BLOG that posts on Let’s Eat Cake this week! With the power of the blogosphere, that can QUICKLY add up! Let’s make Melissa Pay! Once you have reposted it, leave a comment letting us know that you posted it along with the url to the blog. It’s for a great cause and it will be fun to see how far it will go! So lets do it… Lets blog it forward and raise money for a great cause!!!

**Kudos to Unique Designs for creating this fun chain-blog effort!**

P.S. Ok, Melissa… time to kick in another $1!

P.S.S. If any business wants to help out with a matching challenge, Melissa would love to hear from you!

Pink Noah's Ark Baby Shower

A few pictures of the Baby Shower I am working on.
It's for a girl and the theme is Noah's Ark. They want PINK, PINK, PINK. I wondered how I was going to work with so much pink in Noah's Ark. I think of Browns and blues when I think of Noah's Ark. The party ware that was purchased did have some pink in it....so I was able to work with it and I actually think it's looking very nice with all the pink.
Vases (same ones used at Graduation) this time filled with Animal Crackers

A table setting...Tablecloths will be white

Little favor bags filled with Animal Crackers

Popping on my own

Well I did it. We had popcorn that had to be made and Glen was not home, so that left it up to me. I did fine, that was AFTER I spilled the first unpopped kettle of corn and oil all over the kitchen floor. I was trying to get things stirred up a bit and the cover came off and there went the kettle!! I think I handled it well...just cleaned it up and began. I took my time and was careful from then on. I got 20 small bags done. And they turned out good. Now I know I can do it, just as long as I can keep the kettle on the burner and not the floor. :)

More Popcorn

We've had such good comments about our Kettle Corn that I have gone ahead and ordered 70lbs. of Orville Redenbachers popcorn. That should last us awhile! :) Everyone that has been buying the popcorn has really liked it, so that is good. I guess the popcorn is taking off here bigger than we ever thought. Now if I could just get Glen to stop complaining about how hard it is on his back to stand at the stove and pop.

Order for Lynette

I'm working on an order from my sister (thanks Lynette). She wants alot of gift bags put together. We're going to put some kettle corn, peppermint candy, and snowman soup in the bags.

Here are SOME of the tags I'm working on. I've added 3 little gemstones on the tag. I think it really dresses it up. I will most likely be adding ribbon to the tags. I'm just waiting till I decide which bags I will be getting till I know what will look the best.


And the peppermint candy packages...


And again....photography is NOT my thing. I need Amy!

First Party up for Sale!

I FINALLY have the first party package ready to go. It takes along time to get everything together. I am so bad at taking pictures that I do hope it shows the package to be as nice as it looks here at home. Now I just have to do some personalization to it when the party gets sold!! :)

Popcorn anyone??

We have 20 more bags popped and ready to sell. Glen tired out at the end so I did some popping. I can't do it! It just wasn't quite the same. Gonna have to get him a large popper.

Still don't have my first party for sale on Etsy. I am hoping that tomorrow I will get the pictures of it done and then I can post it. Have to start working on the next party too.

I have figured out the coolest thing!!! I don't especially enjoy stamping. I think it's because it seem so limiting to me. It's one size and it says what it says. Well, I stamped on a piece of paper and then thought, hmmm, how could I get this on my computer so I can change it up a bit. Scan it, Lisa, scan it! It worked and it's really cool. I like it. :) Lots of experimenting to do now.

I'm on Etsy!

Ok, I'm just on there, nothing to sell yet. It's taking me forever to get all my info on my store site. Here's the address. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6454841
I am hoping to get my first party package up there by tonight. I'll post it on here too just because.

First Advertising

I'I went to my first "vendor fair" yesterday. It was a good experience. I tend to want to be more behind the scenes so this forced me to get out there. The popcorn went well. Having samples helped the sales.

This is my table setup:
A sample placesetting:


The popcorn:

And Jackie's table that I helped her get set up. She sells MaryKay.

We have Popcorn!!

We got 21 bags (14") popped and bagged. I am not crazy about the label but for now it will do. I am planning on selling them for $3. each. It took us about 1 hour to do this many. Glen would LOVE to get a large popper. Maybe someday.



And yes...the pictures are not very good.

Whoa!

Ok so I got a phone call last night from a gal that wanted to know if I would come to her Auxiliary meeting and give a presentation on Holiday Decorating. I immediately said "NO". I am a Party Planner, not a Speaker!!! Freaked me out! She said it would just be anywhere from 12 - 30 ladies and they are older so it wouldn't really be that bad. Huh? I don't know, I had a really hard time getting it off my mind last night. Part of me wants to do it. I've thought of many things that I could share. But what if I mess up terribly and cannot even speak for goodness sake! Well, I guess I said no, so maybe no is no. Hmmm......

Stuff going on

Ok so I have purchased lots of stuff to get some party packages ready to sell. I have also just put up an advertisement on www.bismanonline.com offering my services as a Party Planner. Whew! I'm trying to get an www.etsy.com site going too. As soon as I get home I have got to get busy... seriously.
I think I might start posting some of the really cool ideas I find online on this blog. That will help me to keep my ideas together in one place. So much to do.
After shopping yesterday I thought.."I'm not going to buy another thing till I get a party sold, but if I don't everything I need, I can't even put the party package up for sale. Duh, Lisa! I'm going out today to get the FEW last things I need and that's it for now.

Thoughts going on in my head.

Ok so it's just about 4 am and I'm wide awake. And I've been wide awake for awhile. It's frustrating but good too. I have a ton of party ideas going through my head right now. I'm thinking of different party packages that I am going to put together to sell on etsy.com I have decided that I each party I sell will be different, unique, personal. I don't want to just have a generic....strawberry shortcake,disney, or winnie the pooh party or shower. I want it to be special to whoever buys the party package. I've thought of tableware ideas, favor ideas, decorating ideas for a few parties I plan to put together. Over the past few days I've been purchasing some supplies so I can put these packages together. That scares me! It feels like I'm spending alot of money and I wonder if I will get it all back in sales. I guess it's a step of faith. I do feel God has given me the talent of creating and I know that if He gives it, He will provide for it. It will work out. But it does require work and commitment from me, which is fine, because I love doing this kind of thing.
Anyway, that's my thoughts at this time of the night. :)

I have a name!

I went to Bismarck yesterday and I was able to stop by the Capitol and into the Secretary of State office and I put down my $25 and walked out with a certificate that says I am the registrant of the name Personally You Parties! :) I am happy! Now I have to get to work!