DIY Party Mom

Wonderland Photo Booth Printables

I totally LOVE the Photo Booth trend in parties right now. So I had to add one to our Alice in Wonderland birthday party tomorrow.

There are many different photo booth props that you can purchase for a Wonderland theme. These are the ones that I found on Etsy:

MaroDesigns

LittleRetreats

JoosyCardCo

It's nice when you are in a time crunch to just be able to go and buy them already made, but we all know that I never seem to go the easy way. So I searched out a few of the characters and photo shopped their hats and faces, or designed a few of my own if I couldn't find a good picture.

So that you don't have to do that...I'm sharing the printables that I plan to use. Just print them out on card stock and attach to a dowel or shishkabob stick.

Cheshire Grin

Mad Hatter Hat

Queen of Hearts Crown

White Rabbit face.

(Although, I admit, it looks more like the rabbit from the cartoon Foster's Imaginary Friends if you ask me....oh well.)

I am also going to use the glasses and mustaches from the Little Chef Party photo booth. You can find them HERE.

Find more Alice in Wonderland Party Ideas here:

Wonderland Desserts

Our Alice in Wonderland party is only 2 days away and I still haven't gotten everything done. In fact, with all the BIG 'how do I do this' projects going on in this party, the hardest thing for me so far has been the food! Is that not crazy?

I just can't envision this part of the day in my head. I don't know what's causing the brain block here. i have a few idea, it's just not "solidifying" in my mind yet.

So in the midst of ALL the CRAZINESS that is my life today (TONS of kids' activities to be dealt with), I finished up my buffet table design. Hopefully, now that this is done and I can see it, the food will work itself out.

This is an old double dresser that's been in my family for YEARS. In fact, I remember having it in my room when I was "Mini Me's" age. It was passed down to all my brothers and sisters (I was the 2nd eldest of 9) and then made it's way to my own children's rooms. It's now "Mini Me's" dresser.

We emptied it out and spray painted each of the different drawers and sides a different color.

I had thought this old dresser would be just the unexpected surprise in the middle of the garden tea party.

I had originally planned to paint it a more "boy" color to fit in his room when we are done with it, but he LOVES it just the way it is. Especially since I used chalkboard paint on both sides. Now he can sit in the corner of his room and draw.

So now that I have the buffet down, I can start laying out my dishes and planning what I'm going to put on them. (Strange how my mind works, but I go with it.)

Just so you don't think I'm TOTALLY leaving the food until the last minute...I have started work on some of these items:

Cheshire Cat Cupcakes

Candy Eat Me Jars

Sandwiches cut with Cookie Cutters

Brownie Flower Pops

Cheshire Cat Tails

and I'm also hoping to make some card guardsmen out of little Debbie snack cakes (couldn't find a picture and the one in my head won't work for you.)

Do you think that's enough? The party is for 3 hours, so I plan to have LOTS to drink and want to make sure there are enough snacks to much on throughout for the kids to much on. Do you have any suggestions? I'd love to have ANY and ALL help on this.

I did purchase this set for a customer this week, but am not sure if it will arrive in time to be able to "Oreo Up" the table too. Totally wish I had thought of that sooner! It would have been PERFECT!

Well, I'm off to drive another Kiddo somewhere...hopefully the food will stew in my brain for the next hour or so. Got at least one more Walmart trip tonight in me.

Alice in Wonderland Croquet on a Cheapskate's Budget

You can't have any Alice in Wonderland party without offering Flamingo Croquet!

But I've looked everywhere for a cute (CHEAP), easy (CHEAP), fun (CHEAP) croquet set that I can either remake or up-cycle into a flamingo with no luck.

I certainly have seen some cute ones...

Party Dreamers Party Doers

Party Wishes

Perfect ParTeas

I Met A Possum

Party Ideas Galore

I will tell you that I am not good with wood...I don't have the skills (and Hubby won't let me near a saw after the Cheese Grater Incident.) I couldn't find any croquet mallets that were in my budget (which is almost 'nil.) And the only flamingos that I could find were at Dollar Tree and really small.

So I was stuck....what do I do?

Forgo the Flamingo Croquet?

No!!!

So I made mine own.

I can't tell you for sure if they work since we haven't played yet...but after having my kids walk around "wacking" everything they could with it...it seems to hold up pretty well.

I don't know if you can get the complete idea that it's a pink flamingo from Disney's Alice in Wonderland version, but the idea is there.

And the great thing is...they were in my budget.

Each mallet only cost me $1.30 (ish).

This one is only the prototype to see if it would work or not. "The Perfectionist" wants me to add some feathers to the back. I don't know if we'll do that or not. What do you think?

You can find the directions HERE. Or, I've since made an easier set that uses a set from Amazon. You can find the directions for those HERE.

Find more Alice in Wonderland Party Ideas here:

Alice in Wonderland Tea Pot Chandelier

When I first saw this beautiful Tea Pot Chandelier on Must Have Cute, I knew I wanted one for my Alice in Wonderland birthday party. But trying to track it down (I think I found one on Etsy somewhere), I found it was WAY out of my price budget. (I think it was several HUNDRED dollars...sigh.)

So I decided to try and make my own. I admit I had no idea what I was doing when I started...and still am not sure it's done and "perfect." (I keep it hanging in my living room to look at and try to figure out what else it needs.)

But what do you think?

I think it still needs some bling..so you might see a few changes when the party photos show up. But this is the basic chandelier...and it was pretty easy to make over all.

To make this, I found a basic chandelier at Goodwill for $3.99. I have also been scouting there and at local garage sales for tea pots, cups, and saucers. I have found a few, although not near as many as I would like (sorry..side frustrated note there.)

My husband helped me to cut out the wiring and I dis-assembled it.

Then I painted all the pieces different bright pastel colors. I also painted 5 white teacups in matching colors to fit on each of the arms.

(I did decide I hated the orange and purple one...so I repainted it in a flower design instead of stripes.) I think painting the cups was the hardest part because I couldn't decide on a cute random fun pattern.

I used a 1/2 inch glass tile drill bit to drill holes in the bottom of my tea cups so they would fit on the arms. If you are a newby to this type of drilling, be careful doing this. Go very slow and use eye protection. It's also REALLY helpful for you to get a mask to keep yourself from inhaling the glass powder. (Yea, I was didn't...total hypocrite.)

I also found out the hard way to make sure you drill your cups and pot after you paint them. Or be sure to wipe down the ceramic VERY good to make sure you get all the powder off so it doesn't make the paint job all "bumpy."

I wanted to use saucers under my tea cups, but no matter what I did, they kept breaking. I don't know if it was the thickness, the material, or what...but it didn't work. I finally just cut circles out of that thick poster board type stuff (can't remember it's name...but I will go find out and post soon) and spray painted them. I cut holes in the center and placed them below the tea cups.

I used E6000 glue to glue the faux saucer to the bottom of my tea cup and then the tea cup to the chandelier. Each of my chandelier arms had a little notch that fit perfectly inside the bottom of the tea cup. I then put a bunch of glue inside the bottom around and in the hole to secure it.

I replaced the big metal ball in my chandelier with a tea pot. I was lucky to find a tea pot that fit just perfectly to allow me to do that. It was pretty 70s looking at first, so I painted it pink to match the color scheme and added some silver swirly stickers that I purchase in a pack from the scrapbook area at Walmart.

I'm really pretty happy with it so far, but sitting in my living room looking at it...this chandelier might even get a little more glam before the big day!

See all our Alice in Wonderland Party Ideas

Summer Daze Winner

I am so excited to have been a part of While He Was Napping's Summer Daze Giveaway event. It was a wonderful week with lots of new friends added to our blog and facebook page. I'm thrilled to hear all the things you like in my store. (I admit, when things are hard...I like to look and see that people do like what I make, and it's just the economy stinking, not me.) Thanks so much for all the WONDERFUL comments!

Now, I want to announce the winner of our Personalized Whirlypop Lollipops.

Drum Roll.....

It's Natalie who said "I like the pops with the photo design! The personalized ones are always a favorite of mine!"

Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn't win but still want to enjoy our Personalized Whirlypops (or candy bars or oreos) at your next party, here's a 15% off coupon off ANYTHING in our online store!

Use code:

SummerDaze15

(Coupon is good until June 31, 2011)

Thank you for all the suggestions on the parties to add. I am excited to start thinking and working on them. I will try and do my best to give you some great products and ideas to work with as you plan your next party. In the mean time, I have made a pin board for most of the party suggestions. If you are into Pinterest, (if not...you are missing out!), then you can Follow these boards for some great ideas as I find them!

Star Wars Party Idea Board

Strawberry Shortcake Party Idea Board

Dinosaur Party Idea Board

Cars Party Idea Board

Farm Party Idea Board

Outer space Party Idea Board

Hello Kitty Party Idea Board

Carnival Party Idea Board

Pokemon Party Idea Board

Pirate Party Idea Board

You can check out all my party pins on Pinterest HERE. And if you're not a Pinner, then drop me a line and I can send you an invitation so you can start pinning today!

Shout Out Sunday

A few sweet ideas for your summer parties from fellow bloggers I LOVE...

Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line shared how to make this AMAZING Golf Wreath for Father's Day. Isn't it amazing? What a great wreath this would make for a golf party...or what about a Graduation wreath for a high school golfer? Or maybe a retirement party? So awesome. I wonder if you could even change the golf items out and put in items for other sports? Or maybe flowers for a spring wreath? What a great idea!

Munchkin Munchies shared these awesome Corn Dog Cookies. Don't they look so cool? These would be perfect to serve at a backyard BBQ picnic or summer party. They look so real and fun. You can't help but not to want one...or two... or more. And as easy as they are to make, you can make that many too.

Pittypat Papperie shared a fun Soda Bottle gift container. Have you ever tried to find a way to wrap that unique sized gift? Or tried to find a fun way to give your gift? How great would it be to receive it in a up-cycled bottle with some serious "bling" to it? So fun and original! The recipient will LOVE it!

She Wears Many Hats shared this recipe for Cherry Limeade. I don't like soda. I don't like carbonation, but I do love a good Sonic Cherry Limeade every now and then. And I think my hubby could drink one every day of the year...and twice on Saturdays if I'd let him. Fortunately our Sonic is WAY across town, but I think if I can find some of the Cherry juice listed in the ingredients...I may just have one of these waiting for him when he comes home from work. And wouldn't it be great to have this at a summer cookout? Yummy!

Come Together Kids shared her PVC Pipe Sprinkler. I LOVE this idea! If you've read my blog at all, you know I love to make things out of PVC pipe (that's what I use in my backdrops and photobooth backgrounds)...so I love how easy and perfect this is for a sprinkler system. I actually can't believe I didn't think of it! "Mini Me" wants to have an ice cream and water party for his bday next month, so I love that I could make this and add it to my 'water wonderland'.

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