Gala Girl

Chic and unique party ideas for today’s kids

Wild West February 25, 2009

Filed under: Wild West — Caroline Kingsley @ 2:33 pm
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Calling all cowboys and cowgirls. The western party is easy to throw and so rustic chic!

Invitations

These boot invitations are so cute. They swivel open to reveal the invitation, and a magnet on the back makes it easy for guests to tack it onto the fridge. Looks and convenience all in one package!

Costumes

Encourage guests to come in their finest western gettup. Or dress your guests upon arrival.


Decorations

Use straw bales instead of seats around the party table. Use these fabulous top stitch brown plates and napkins.

Crafts and Activities

Kids can paint their very own horses to take home. Have a horse show after and award horses for the most beautiful, original, etc.

Have a horseshoe toss and gunny sack and 3-legged races for more old-fashion fun.


Treats

Serve up hot dogs and hamburgers from the grill, and for dessert, serve a horseshoe cake! Serve drinks out of plastic cowboy boots.


 

Roaring Twenties September 16, 2008

Filed under: Roaring Twenties — Caroline Kingsley @ 10:30 pm
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If you’re looking for a party that is both glamorous and kick-off-your-shoes fun, consider a roaring twenties party.

Invitations

Go high class with these string musician invitations. They exude elegance and style and are so flapper-chic.


Costumes

You gotta go in style. Flapper costumes are available in both toddler and child sizes. For a grand party, dress up the guests, too. In this case, put the birthday girl in pink so she shines like the flapper star she is, and put the others in black. Dress the young gentlemen in 1920′s gangster costumes.


Decorations

The All that Jazz kit has everything you need to recreate the twenties. Get the whole kit or parts of it to create a personalized look to suit your needs.

To further the mood, play music from the era.
Crafts and Activities

Teach the Charleston dance and then hold a contest.

Listen to jazz music.

Watch a movie set in the 1920′s, such as Chicago, Chaplin or The Great Gatsby.


Treats

Serve sparkling cider in clear champagne flutes and elegant finger foods, such as cut fruit on skewers and shrimp cocktail.

 

Cinderella September 15, 2008

Filed under: Cinderella — Caroline Kingsley @ 4:24 pm
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A magical pumpkin, glass slippers, a handsome prince who whisks a girl away from servitude to castle – it’s no wonder Cinderella is such a favorite among little girls. For this little girl birthday party, roll out the red carpet for an event to remember.

Invitations

For a truly special and memorable invitation, choose a customized invitation that shows off what a princess your daughter truly is.


Costumes

The birthday girl should be the belle of the ball by wearing a Cinderella princess gown. Encourage her friends to come dressed in their own (non-Cinderella) princess gowns. It will be a royal ball, after all.


Decorations

Use red butcher paper to create a red carpet entrance to the birthday party.

Have royal ball music playing. I think this Great Waltzes cd is perfect and you can download it right off the internet.

Use blue and white streamers, balloons and tableware to decorate. Stick scene setter pictures of princesses “attending the ball” on the wall. Oriental Trading sells scene setter pictures of Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora and Belle.


Crafts and Activities

Have all the little princesses decorate their own princess pillowcases to take home! They’ll remember the party for months or years afterward every time they go to sleep at night!

Afterward, play Cinderella Dreamland Bingo.

Treats

Even novice bakers can make an amazing looking princess castle cake with the right cake pan. Serve with ice cream and a choice of “royal” sprinkles for decorating their own ice cream.

 

P.J. Party September 15, 2008

Filed under: P.J. Party — Caroline Kingsley @ 12:21 am
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Pajama parties are casual and easy to throw and yet are one of the most memorable events in a child’s life. Don’t even wait for a birthday or for a child to be old enough for a sleepover to throw one! They can begin and end at any time of day and can be held any time of the year.

Invitations

Here are some really cute invitations for a perfect pajama party girls night out. And here are some great invitations for a perfect pajama party boys night out.


Costumes

Have everyone come in their pajamas and (optional) favorite stuff animal.


Crafts and Activities

As soon as all the children have arrived, have them decorate brand new white socks with fabric markers. I like the Crayola fabric markers because they look just like the regular markers kids are used to using.

While everyone is busy working on their socks, I like to walk around the table and paint stars and moons on the temples of all the children with face paint.

As soon as everyone is finished with their artwork, throw the socks in the drier for 30 minutes to set the die, then hand them out to their respective owners to wear for the remainder of the party! This is a fun activity for all ages.

The younger crowd will have fun doing a parachute teddy bear toss. Have everyone hold onto handles around a parachute, place a teddy bear in the middle of the parachute, then have the children try to toss the bear off the parachute by waving the parachute up and down. If the children have brought their own bears and stuffed animals to the party, give each one a turn in the parachute.

Throw a huge heap of pillows and blankets in front of a t.v. so the kids can snuggle down for a movie. Make sure there’s plenty of room for everybody and maybe add extra chairs on the sidelines for those who might like a little extra personal space.

Treats

Pizza is the perfect p.j. party food and is oh so simple. For a creative and extra fun twist, have the children make a pizza. Individual pizzas can be made using english muffins.

 

Out of Africa Safari September 8, 2008

Filed under: Out of Africa Safari — Caroline Kingsley @ 2:03 pm
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Take your child on an exotic tour of British East Africa without leaving the comfort of your home or backyard.

Invitations

Here are some really cute safari invitations.


Costumes

No one wants to be improperly dressed for a safari. Provide your guests with a safari hat and binoculars for the special activity to come.


Decorations

Decorate the walls or fence with removable animal decals and place animal print balloons throughout the party area.

Top the party table with a tan table runner, animal print candles, and zebra print plates and napkins.

Crafts and Activities

Send the kids on a safari! Hide plastic animals throughout the party area. Hand the kids animal print bags and send them to find animals (just like an Easter Egg Hunt) and they get to take home the animals they find! Don’t forget the binoculars.


Treats

Top the green-frosted birthday cake with animal cake toppers. Serve gummy worms, banana chips and shelled peanuts.

 

Somewhere in Time Tea Party September 3, 2008

Filed under: Somewhere in Time Tea Party — Caroline Kingsley @ 9:00 pm
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A romantic twist on the classic tea party, the Somewhere in Time Tea Party infuses a sophisticated flair for a sophisticated birthday girl.

Invitations

In the movie Somewhere in Time, the protagonist Richard Collier is mysteriously given a pocket watch by an old woman who bids him to “come back to me.” Through self-hypnotization, he travels back in time to 1912, where he meets the woman as a young woman and they fall in love. Later, he is forcefully returned back to his own time when he discovers a 1979 penny in his pocket.

Make invitations with pretty cream colored paper stamped on one side with a pocket watch. Write or stamp beneath the watch, come back to me. On the other side, print:

You presence is cordially

requested at the

Somewhere in Time

Tea Party

for

[child's name]

at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.

Enclosed is a penny

for your safe return.

Enclose a penny in the envelope.

Costumes

Have guests come in their prettiest party dresses and provide a pretty tea hat (often found at dollar stores in the spring) and gloves upon their arrival.
Decorations

Play music from the fabulous Somewhere in Time soundtrack. Dress the party table with a faux lace tablecloth, topped with a romantic rose runner, matching plates and a mossy tea hat centerpiece. Roll pretty ivory damask napkins in dainty beaded flower napkin rings and mark each place with cafe chair placecard holders. Use plastic silverware that looks like stainless steel silverware. Shop ebay, discount stores and antique stores for tea cups and saucers for a fun mix and match tea set.

Crafts and Activities

Have children paint their own miniture ceramic tea set. Afterward, have a real tea party at the stunningly decorated table.


Treats

Fill a large plate or tray with a variety of quartered triangle sandwiches. Fill another tray with scones and yet another (afterward) with a selection of small desserts. Provide lemonade along with, or instead of, tea.

 

Pink Poodle September 3, 2008

Filed under: Pink Poodle — Caroline Kingsley @ 2:05 pm
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For the girliest girls, the Pink Poodle party is tres chic!!

Invitations


Costumes

Make a long pink tutu for the birthday girl and black tutus for all her friends. Or make pink and black tutu striped tutus for everyone by alternating pink and black tulle.
Decorations

Everything in pink and black! Announce the party with a yard sign and balloons. Cover party table with a pink or white tablecloth and tie black boas around the chairs. Decorate the room with pink and black streamers and balloons.

Crafts and Activities

As the guests arrive, have them start making a cute pink poodle bag. After all the guests have arrived and made their bags, it’s pamper time! Everyone gets their nail painted with pretty princess nail polish and lips painted with lip gloss. And the best part is, they get to take their cosmetics home with them!


Treats

Serve cotton candy and pink lemonade. For a special touch, have a chocolate fountain using white chocolate died pink with red food coloring. Serve with strawberries and marshmallows.

In Lieu of a cake, top pink frosted cupcakes with poodle candles.

 

Polar Express September 2, 2008

Filed under: Polar Express — Caroline Kingsley @ 10:05 pm
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All aboard a ride on the Polar Express. Take the birthday child and his or her friends on a magical journey on a cold winter day or night.

Invitations

Make boarding pass invitations that read:

This is your boarding pass to join

[child's name]

aboard the Polar Express

Destination: North Pole!

at 6 p.m. Saturday, December 16

Costumes

Have the children come dressed in their pajamas.
Decorations

Decorate the walls to look like a winter wonderland with a scene setter. Play music from the Polar Express soundtrack. Decorate one room or area to look like the North Pole. Since you probably already have a Christmas tree and Christmas decorations, this will probably be the easiest part. Place railroad crossing balloons around the room.


Crafts and Activities

As children arrive, have a designated “conductor” take their tickets and escort them to the craft table where they can make pictures with rubber train stamps. Once all the children have arrived and had a chance to make a craft, have the children line up to pull the train pinata strings. Children can then munch on their goodies while watching the Polar Express movie. Later, after the cupcakes are eaten, have the children form a “train” by standing in a line and placing their hands on the hips of the child in front of them, with the birthday child in front. Lead the train to the North Pole room or area and have the birthday child sit in a special birthday seat to open presents. Have the first present be a small bell, like in the movie.

Treats

I am in love with this railway cake pan from Williams Sonoma. Use your imagination to decorate it beforehand, or let each kid decorate a car or two at the birthday party and then they can eat their creations!

Favors

Either at the beginning or end of the birthday party, give each child a engineer cap-filled goody bag.

 

Candyland September 1, 2008

Filed under: Candyland — Caroline Kingsley @ 9:09 pm
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Imagine every kid’s favorite game coming to life. A life-size board game + candy and other yummy treats = a recipe for an unforgettable birthday.

invitations

Enlarge and photocopy the picture cards from the Candyland board game onto cardstock and print or hand write the invitation on the opposite side.


Decorations


Place a huge candyland arch at the entrance into the party and hang candy cane cutouts from the ceiling.

Cover round slices of styrofoam with brightly colored cellophane and twist both ends to create giant candies.

Candyland tableware can be found here.

Crafts and Activities

Make a life-size candy walkway with colored cardstock paper and pictures from the board game blown up and copied onto cardstock paper. Have the kids use the real game cards to move down the walkway. Set up booths or areas set up along the walkway. When the children reach the first booth, they get a banana split without the fixings. At the next booth – King Kandy – they get a selection of candy to add to their splits. At the next booth – Gloppy the Chocolate Monster – they can add chocolate chips and chocolate syrup and anything else chocolatey you can think of. At the next booth – Gramma Nutt – they can add nuts. At the final booth – Princess Frostine – they can add whipped cream. For a lot of fun, ask friends to man the booths in attire to match the character.

For another fun activity, give the kids all the ingredients to make simple and yummy “gingerbread” houses using graham crackers instead of gingerbread.
Treats

Gingerbread houses and banana splits, of course. In lieu of a cake, add birthday candles to the birthday boy’s or birthday girl’s banana split.

 

Pirates and Pixies September 1, 2008

Filed under: Pirates and Pixies — Caroline Kingsley @ 12:28 am
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Ahoy Matey! A perfect party for both those pirate and Tinkerbell fans alike.

Invitations

Send a skull and crossbones message in a bottle along with some enclosed pixie dust.


Costumes

Boys will get a kick out of wearing pirate hats, scarves and eye patches while carrying swashbuckling swords. The pirate hook should be reserved for the birthday boy. Girls will love decorating their own pixie wings and carrying wands for dust sprinkling.


Decorations

Decorate the tables with blue tableware topped with a twig runner and treasure map placemats.  Top the runner with coconut candles and sage fabric petals. Create ambiance with a ready-made ocean mural and the Peter Pan soundtrack.

Crafts and Activities

Beforehand, make a pirate map leading to a chest brimming with treasure, and have the kids follow the map to their loot – chocolate coins and beaded necklaces. Be sure to provide bags so kids can take their treasures home. Afterward, kids can create their own treasure maps.

Treats

Chocolate coins

Goldfish crackers

Swedish fish

Instead of one big cake, have the kids decorate their own cupcakes with coconut, pixie dust sprinkles and other candies.

 

 
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