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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

African Safari Party Coming Soon!!!

As most of you know, in September, we will be styling an elaborate African Safari party for my 9 year old son!  I say "we" because, my son ~the artist~ is helping me plan every phase of this party.  He is so knowledgeable on African animals---I am so impressed and proud of him!  : )

Here is a sneak peek of our African Party Favors...
Safari Party Favors
African map, toy rifle, safari stickers and zebra pencil

So pleased with how the African Safari party favors turned out, I had to give a sneak peek. My son and I made them. He wants to go with an "old world" safari theme, and he's only going to be 9! That's my sweet baby boy! ; )

This is our "PARTY ON A BUDGET," so let's see the materials used and the cost...
Safari stickers:  $4.00---$1.00 each pack
Pencils:  $3.00---$1.00 each pack
Maps:  Free---printed from computer 
Bags:  $1.00
Twine:  $2.00
Rifles:  $1.16---.29 cents each pack ---Bought at Mary Lou's Party World--Greensburg, PA

The stickers, pencils, and twine were purchased at Micheal's Stores www.michaels.com

Total cost for 14 safari favors:  $11.16--About .80 cents each!!!
That's pretty good, I think! 

Map image is from www.thesafaribook.com  --I have printed this maps for personal use and do not sell these favors to the public.  Image rights to The Safari Book 2011


More to come!!!





Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Let's Plan a Party!!!

Safari Party ~ The Beginning

My son's birthday is coming up at the end of summer.  We have already began preparation for his African Safari Party!


My son is an amazing artist and will be helping me with the planning and artistic features of the party.  I am so excited to work with my baby boy and share his God given talents.  He has already drawn the sketch for his cake.  : )


Someday, maybe, I will plan a party with just a cake, ice cream and a few balloons, but for now...
We are PARTY PEOPLE!!!
We enjoy the planning and creative time together! 
We want to make it fun for the birthday boy and his guests, but unlike my daughter's Lalaloopsy party this past April, we will really strive to work on a fixed budget!


I'm really blessed to have creative kids who enjoy working with me! 

~Party tip:  Let your kids help in all phases of the birthday events.  It makes to day so much more meaningful!

Here is what we have been working on so far...

~So to save money, we decide to use the card stock we already have and draw on our animal print with markers and crayons.  We can use these for fold over labels with our candy and safari trail mix, food labels or tags.  You can buy animal print paper at a craft store or check out Piggy Bank Partie's Zoo Kroo Collection...



Make your own animal print paper!
Zebra:  White card stock with black stripes. 
Cheetah:  Yellowish brown card stock with various sized and mishaped black dots.
Leopard:  Black mishaped dots in a circle pattern with brown crayon in the center.
~Be sure to look off of a picture to get the spots just right.~

My son Joe made the leopard paper! 


We are collecting paper towel rolls to make rain sticks!  Tutorial coming next month!  Rain sticks are a cool African item that the kids will love.  Have the guests make or decorate them at the party.  We will be filling them with inexpensive items such as rice and peebles from the yard.
I may purchase zebra striped duct tape to wrap around them.  We will see if it fits in the budget. 

Our $3.00 find at K-Mart...
Rhino salt and pepper shakers---couldn't resist!



More "Safari Party" to come, so check back!

Some zoo shots we took!   Can be used for the party in various ways, such as the invitations, labels or other party decor.
African Ram



Water Buffalo

Zebras

The Safari Boy


Watusi

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ice Cream Party! ~Edited


Ice Cream Party!
Hire your local ice cream truck to attend! It's the perfect way to kick off the party! There will be a fee for attending in addition to the cost of ice cream.

Gee's Ice Cream
Reserve an Ice Cream Truck to make your next event special!
724-547-2954~Gee's Ice Cream




Ice Cream Party Games...
*Stack the Ice Cream *Pin the Cherry on the Ice Cream Sundae
*Make your own sundae *Decorate party hats & bags *Ice Cream coloring sheets
*Ice Cream Cone Relay Race *Ice Cream eating contest *Ice Cream Pinata




Set the Scene!
Create an ice cream shop as a background for the guest of honor
to open his or her gifts. Use an already made scene setter like this one
or create your own. This scene setter was for a 50's themed party.
It made a perfect, old-fashioned ice cream shop.
After the games, presents and cake...
Put on some dance music and twist & shout!







Ice Cream Party Games...
*Stack the Ice Cream: Purchase an ice cream cone stacker game like, "We All Scream For Ice Cream," made by Zwiggle games. It could be an early birthday present for your child and then be part of the party fun!

*Pin the Cherry on the Sundae: Create a large ice cream sundae or cone out of card board, then make a cherry for each guest (with their names on it.) Then blind fold, spin and pin on the cherry. You know the game. *There are so many variations to "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," for pretty much ANY party!

*Make your own sundae: Of course you need an ice cream sundae station at your ice cream party. Set up a wide variety of toppings, bowls spoons, napkins and cute decorations like...
-colorful candy sticks in jars
-cotton candy
-ice cream sodas with colorful straws (center piece idea-described below)
-jelly beans scattered
-ice cream parlor hats (also make a great favor)
-retro ice cream dishes
-straws in old fashion straw containers The possibilities are endless!
*Decorate party hats and treat bags: Have plain hats and bags(with names.) Have a table with glitter glue, ice cream stickers and other crafty supplies. Let the kids make their own favors. They love to be creative!

*Ice Cream coloring sheets: Available online. Have crayons and coloring sheets available at the craft table.
*Ice Cream Cone Relay Race: Use the cones and ice cream from the game or other play food. Break the kids into two teams and line them up. Have them scoop, run and deposit their ice cream into a basket about 2o feet away; as a relay race.
*Ice Cream eating contest: No explanation needed. Try it if you dare! Warning-mess and hyper activity will occur. : )
*Ice Cream Pinata: Fill with ice cream candy treats or the kid's favorite candies. Let the younger kids go first. Whack it and fill up those treat bags that the kids made.

Ice Cream Party Decorations...

A perfect centerpiece-- Take a large fluted glass vase and use a large, colored foam sheet to line the bottom part (inside.) Stuff with newspaper or tissue paper. On top, stack white fluff or cotton balls. Paint stripes on a paper towel tube for a straw and insert. Decorate with sprinkles or jimmies and top off with a large red gum ball as the cherry!

Table Scape--Refer to the section above under Make Your Own Sundae. Make it cute!

Streamers in ice cream colors: When I think of ice cream, the colors I invision are -white, -pink, -chocolate, -mint green, and -red. 


Balloons, ice cream palor hats, ice cream cone covers, glass sundae dishes, ice cream inspired candies, ice cream trucks and old fashioned soda-shop decor, are other ways to decorate the party. 

Cake: Ice Cream Truck, Ice Cream Cone, etc.






Cakes by Samantha's Sweets:  www.samanthasweets.blogspot.com
Party by S S Party Theme/Samantha's Sweets 
Ice Cream Truck:  Gee's Ice Cream--- 724-547-2954 ---Mt. Pleasant, PA and surrounding areas

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Custom Banners and Treat Bags Currently on Stock

Custom Banners and Treat Bags Currently on Stock ~~ For Sale!!!















Email me to order any of these, or a custom banner of your own design!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Americana Tablescape

I just love Americana decor...  so I set up this tablescape for our summer get-togethers with friends. 
Enjoy your summer...
~Hot Dogs, Baseball and Apple Pie~
          Fireworks in the Sky!!!

Americana Vintage Raggedy Andy Doll

Americana Vintage Raggedy Ann Doll 
Quilt by the West Overton Quilt Shop, Scottdale PA

My $1.00 find at Gabes!

Samantha's Sweets Cupcakes with quilted fondant stars

Samantha's Sweets Cupcakes with quilted fondant stars

Image made by me on Design and Print program

Americana Tablescape with lemonade, apple, straws by
www.shopsweetlulu.com
Sweets by www.samanthasweets.blogspot.com --me

Gotta have peanuts and pretzels!




Samantha's Sweets cupcakes and my Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies

Edible fondant quilted stars~Satin Ice
www.rolledfondant.com




Menu for Americana themed parties...
  • Hot Dogs  (Have a Hot Dog Bar with a wide variety of toppings)
  • Cheese Burgers
  • BBQ Ribs
  • Lemonade
  • Apple Pie
  • Cherry Pie
  • Blue Berry Cobbler
  • Apples
  • Peanuts--Roasted
  • Pretzels
  • Birch Beer or Root Beer
  • Root Beer Floats
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Smores
  • Vanilla Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone
  • Funnel Cakes
  • Hot Sausage
  • Corn on the Cob
  • Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad
  • Red, White and Blue Jello
  • Popsicles like Bomb Pops
  • Watermelon
  • Strawberries and Whip Cream
  • Blue Berry and Lemon Muffins

S S Party Theme Americana Treat Bags

Americana Thank You Notes
Feel free to save and print

American as Apple Pie
Feel free to save and print!