Impromptu Parties

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ever.

Kerry — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:14:19 +0000

Great for birthday parties, classroom treats or afternoon snacks!

The past few weeks, I’ve been trying to channel my inner June Cleaver. Every few days I’ll make homemade bread and some sweet goodies like brownies or cookies for my boys to snack on. It’s gone over quite well in our house, as you can imagine, and surprisingly I am thoroughly enjoying the time in the kitchen. Who knew!

While searching through King Arthur’s website for bread recipes over the weekend, I came across a recipe for the absolutely perfect chocolate chip cookie. How do I know it’s the perfect recipe? The entire batch of cookies disappeared within a matter of hours and my boys have continued scouring the kitchen looking for more.

These cookies are the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy and have a wonderful caramel flavor, especially if you refrigerate the dough before baking.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

from King Arthur Flour

2/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, right from the fridge, or at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional
1 teaspoon vinegar, cider or white
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets.

1) In a large bowl, combine the sugars, butter, shortening, salt, vanilla and almond extracts, vinegar, and baking soda, beating until smooth and creamy.

2) Beat in the egg, again beating till smooth. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure everything is thoroughly combined.

3) Mix in the flour, then the chips.

4) Use a spoon (or a tablespoon cookie scoop) to scoop 1 1/4″ balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2″ between them on all sides; they’ll spread.

5) Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes, till their edges are chestnut brown and their tops are light golden brown, almost blonde. Remove them from the oven, and cool on the pan till they’ve set enough to move without breaking. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Do you have the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Share it in the comments below!

Halloween Party Pack

Kerry — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:36:52 +0000

Another summer has quickly come and gone. I can’t believe that my little guy will be starting the second grade next week! Where does the time go? No, really. Now that kids are going back to school, that means Halloween is just around the corner.

This year throw a fun & easy Halloween Themed Party with our Halloween Party Pack. It’s a perfect way to get your friends and/or neighborhood together, without adding to your stress level. So, go ahead and invite everyone over for a little ‘Trick-or-Treat Pre-Party!’ and leave most of the work to us!

Halloween Party Pack

Our fun & whimsical Halloween Party Pack comes with everything you need: party decorations, plates, cups, napkins, party favor bags and much more…

Halloween Party Pack Includes

Favor Bags with Thank You Tag
Dinner Plates
Napkins
Cups
Utensils
Tablecloths
Tissue Paper Fans
Bat Straws
Handmade Halloween Cupcake Toppers
Table Centerpieces
Halloween Party Printables

Order your Halloween Party Pack today!

Halloween Party Pack
$40.00 Add to cart

Bridal Shower Ideas: Bocce Ball Picnic

Kerry — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:24:30 +0000

Spending time outdoors, visiting with family & friends and participating in a friendly game of bocce ball is not only a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon…but it’s also a great idea for a Bridal Shower! We put together the following Bridal Shower Picnic for a client who was throwing a shower for a Bride-To-Be that wanted to something low key and casual.

Printables

We used the Party Mums Printable Collection by Tonality Designs to help keep the shower casual, yet beautiful. The color combinations in the Golden Teal collection really worked well with our decor and the patterned paper came in handy for some DIY pinwheels.

Food & Drinks

The food was kept simple with a large selection of cold side dishes, such as pasta salad, potato salad & taco salad, served with rolls and butter.

The ‘serve yourself’ drink station offered the guests lemonade, iced tea, champagne and orange juice, with instructions on how to make a number of different concoctions using those ingredients.

Also, mason jars were turned into pretty drinking cups with some ribbon and circle tags.

Decorations

The entire area was decorated with small mason jars filled with tulips, snapdragons, mums and white stock. Runners of burlap ran down the middle of each picnic table, while turquoise tissue poms floated from the trees.

Pennant flags from the Party Mum Collection were strung with twine and attached around the perimeter.

Natural wooden chairs gave guests ample seating and provided mobility to move with the shade!

Bridal Shower Games

The main event of the afternoon was the Bocce Ball Tournament. Guests were divided into teams and prizes were given out for winners & most improved player.

Before and after Bocce, guests were able to mingle with friends and family while playing Name That Spice and Words of Wisdom.

Jars of spices were labeled with numbers and answer sheets were printed so guests could see how many spices they could get correct, just by smelling ~ no tasting! Guests could also leave their advice to the bride and groom by filling out pretty note cards & attaching them to the decorated birdcage with a wooden clothespin.

Party Favors

Tiny jars of gourmet mustard were decorated with a circle tag (from the Party Mum Printable Collection) and tissue paper, then placed in a cupcake liner and wrapped with ribbon.

Shortbread cookies with jam were placed into white cupcake liners, wrapped in cellophane & tied with matching ribbon.

Items were placed into a burlap bag, then decorated with a custom thank you tag and stuffed with a brown coffee filter wrapped with gold taffita.

Vendor Credits

Styling, Crafts & Photography by Impromptu Parties
Cupcakes from Kara’s Cupcakes
DIY Printables by Tonality Designs

Party In A Box: The Answer For Busy Moms

Kerry — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:18:52 +0000

There are some moms that have enough free time to spend months planning every little detail of their child’s birthday party…and then there are the rest of us.

With soccer games, baseball practice, family vacations, grocery shopping, housekeeping, play dates, homework, laundry…oh, and an 9-5 job on top of all that…not many of us have time, nor energy, to put together a kid’s birthday party. Thankfully, there is a way we busy moms can do it all…

Birthday Party Kits!

There are a number of different party supply stores that offer “parties in a box.” They can be found online, in discount stores or your local party store. Party boxes can range from the most basic to crafty & elaborate. Choosing the right party box will depend on your venue, budget and desired level of quality & craftiness.

The Basic Party In A Box

Most birthday party kits out there, whether online or in neighborhood party supply stores, offer the absolute basic supplies & decorations you will need to host a kid’s birthday party.

These kits generally include invitations, paper plates, cups, tablecloths, napkins, streamers and candles and are great for quick, informal parties at places such as Chuck E Cheese or a bowling alley.

A basic party box is perfect for:

a family looking for a kid’s birthday party on a very small budget
not concerned with quality, party details or handcrafted items.
informal venues, such as indoor playground, arcade or bowling alley.

Deluxe Party In A Box

A deluxe party box builds on the basic version by including everyday party supplies like invitations, paper plates, cups, tablecloths, napkins, streamers and candles, in addition to items such as balloons, tissue fans, party favors, cupcake decor, favor bags, games and even prizes.

These kits are perfect for busy moms looking for someone to provide just about everything but the food. Deluxe party boxes focus on quality and detail and may even include handmade items.

A deluxe party box is perfect for:

families wanting a higher-end birthday party for their child, without wanting to hire a professional party planner.
any venue, including neighborhood parks or backyards.
tricking your guests into thinking you spent months planning the perfect, homemade party

Our Impromptu Party Kits are a great example of a Deluxe Party in a Box. Our kits come with everything you need, including crafty details and handmade items:

Invitations/Thank You Cards
Dress Up Items
Tableware – Tablecloth, Napkins, Cups, Dessert & Dinner Plates
Decorations – Banners, Tissue Fans, Balloons, etc.
Games & Prizes
Party Favor Bags
Toys & Candy
Handmade Utensil Sets
Cupcake Kits – Baking Cups & Picks
Candles
Handmade, Custom Cupcake Toppers
Party Printables – Food Labels, etc.
& more!

We offer a number of different party themes, such as Fairytale Princess, Pirate Birthday, Western and Big Top Circus.

Whether you need just the basics or are looking for something more inclusive, a party in a box can help you plan the perfect birthday party. Go ahead and show your guests, YOU CAN DO IT ALL!

Please Feed The Animals: A Zoo Themed Birthday Party

Kerry — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:43:04 +0000

A few months ago, a friend of mine asked me to style her son’s first birthday party. As a busy, working mom, her life is insanely hectic. She had zero time to plan any sort of event, let alone a kid’s birthday party AND the party was just a couple of weeks away! She needed help, and FAST. The first item on the agenda was picking a theme! Since their family had just enjoyed a fun-filled day at the zoo, we thought that a zoo themed birthday would be the perfect theme for the big family celebration.

The Setting

The large zoo party took place at their home, both indoors and out. A jungle themed jumpy house placed outside kept the little ones entertained, while the adults enjoyed socializing. A buffet table was set up indoors with all sorts of zoo themed goodies and for those hungry hippos jumping around in the jump house, a little snack table nearby with bottled waters & animal crackers.

The Decorations

A zoo themed first birthday can go a couple of different routes when it comes to decorations. You can go more safari with animal prints & peacock feathers or you can go with pastel colors & baby animals. I decided to do a little of both. My goal was to have guests feel as though they entered a small family owned zoo, complete with handmade details and fun zoo themed treats for the kids.

I designed custom printables using some animal print details & made the centerpieces, planters and animal cages all out of craft wood sticks. A number wild animals were made out of paper plates & hung all around the party, including the buffet table. I also attached butterflies everywhere, including the utensil sets. And a zoo birthday party just isn’t complete without a handmade zebra print birthday hat, adorned with real feathers!

The Food

The hostess was serving DIY submarine sandwiches for the adults & pizza for the kids, so the buffet table contained sweet treats and healthy snacks, all with a wild animal theme, of course. I placed Cheez-It Snack Mix into brand new dog bowls that I found at the Dollar Store, which became the perfect container for the ‘Lion Kibble.’ I also drizzled melted white chocolate onto store bought brownie bites & turned them into Zebra Treats. Then I filled paper cups with ranch dressing, carrots & celery sticks for a quick, easy & healthy snack for the kids.

The Cake

The adorable monkey cake was for the birthday boy to enjoy all on his own & believe it or not was picked up at the local supermarket. He was a little scared to dig in to the cake at first, but once we took off the plastic details he was all over it! The rest of the guests enjoyed individual cupcakes, which is a great way to serve cake at a large birthday party. Cupcakes are much easier to serve, as you don’t have to worry about cutting & plating each piece and your guests will appreciate not having to wait ages for their plate to be passed around!

Another Impromptu Party

Unfortunately, not everyone has time to spend months planning ever last detail for a kid’s birthday party, especially overly stressed, working moms. This zoo themed party is a perfect example that you can still have a stylish party, without a lot of prior planning. It just takes a little creativity, some hot glue & a few pre-made items with some added handmade details.

I absolutely love styling crafty homemade-looking kids’ birthday parties, but when you do it all within a two week time frame, it’s even more amazing when everything comes together so perfectly!

Want More Zoo Party Ideas

Check out our Zoo Themed Party Ideas Pinterest Board for more great ideas on decorations, party favors, food, games, etc.

Printables, Styling, Food, Decor & Photography by Impromptu Parties

Circus Party Ideas

Kerry — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:33:51 +0000

Give your child the Greatest Birthday On Earth by throwing them a Circus Themed Birthday Party! The tickets, carnival games and silly dress up items are guaranteed to make for a fun-filled, memorable day. All you need are some simple decorations, some big top themed snacks, a few activities and the perfect cake.

No need to stress over the details. We’ve done the all the research for you and put together the following guide to help you plan the perfect Big Top Circus Birthday Party.

Circus Party Birthday Cake

Source: thisismeinspired.blogspot.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Forget the expensive cake from the neighborhood bakery! Make your own circus themed birthday cake with this simple to follow tutorial by Girl.Inspired. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to create your own beautifully striped circus cake, just by using boxed cake mix and premade frosting!

Then, for an even more finished & festive look, top off your pretty cake with custom edible fondant letters by Edible Details. This site also has a number of adorable fondant circus characters to add to the top of your homemade circus striped cake, like elephants, lions & seals. So cute!

Source: edibledetails.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Circus Party Cupcakes

Having a Circus Themed First Birthday Party? Make a small cake for the birthday boy or girl to enjoy all on their own & provide individual cupcakes for your guests. You can surround your personal birthday cake with these cutie clown cupcakes. They’re super easy to decorate: just slap on some premade frosting, attach some Trix cereal, a gummy worm smile & a Skittle nose and you’re done!

Source: ivillage.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Carnival Games & Activities

It’s important to have plenty of activities planned to keep the little ones entertained through the entire birthday party. Carnival games are a great way to keep your little clowns busy and helps continue your party theme.

Source: marthastewart.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Source: impromptuparties.com via Kerry on Pinterest

This Clothespin Drop Game is a simple & cheap game for a Big Top Birthday celebration. Have the kids line up and take turns dropping clothespins into a milk bottle or glass vase. It’s probably best to choose a container with a large opening for the younger guests, while a smaller container can challenge the older crowd.

This Hook A Duck Game is also another great carnival themed game. Fill a large galvanized bucket with water & insert the package of floating ducks. Have kids take turns using the magnetic fishing pole to see how many ducks they can hook. Give them a prize ticket for each duck they can catch. For the older crowd, have a timer handy and see how many they can get in 30 seconds.

Make your carnival party games even more authentic by passing out carnival tickets and setting up a prize booth!

A Coloring Station is a great way to entertain arriving guests. Decorate a small to medium sized table with circus themed coloring sheets and place crayons, markers and gel pens in old tin cans wrapped with colorful ribbon. Then, once all guests have arrived, you can thank everyone for coming & officially begin the festivities!

Circus Party Candy

Don’t forget to load up on lots of fun candy for your circus crowd. Set up a candy bar or carnival booth with all sorts of different carnival themed candy, such as cotton candy, Red Ropes, Cracker Jacks and more! Here are a few more candy ideas for your circus themed party:

Circus Peanuts

Old Fashioned Candy Sticks

Rainbow Gumballs

Circus Party Decorations

Of course you’ll need the perfect decorations and tableware to match… as well as party favors…and dress up items for your guests. Before you start hyperventilating and pulling all your hair out, take a deep breath and check out these all inclusive, deluxe party kits.

This Big Top Circus Birthday Party Kit comes with all your decorations, tableware, cupcake liners, party favors, birthday candles…and yes, even dress up attire for the guests and birthday boy/girl. The kit also comes with invitations/thank yous, party games, face paints, carnival tickets, some candy AND fun prizes!

The great thing about this party box is half the party’s already done for you! Just add the circus striped cake, those homemade clown cupcakes, maybe some Animal Cracker boxes and popcorn and you’re ready for the Greatest {Stress-Free} Circus Birthday Party on Earth.

Now that you’ve got everything covered, go ahead and send out those invitations and get ready for a circus birthday party your child will never forget!

Western Themed Party In A Box!

Kerry — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:45:16 +0000

Yeehaw, it’s almost summertime!

Summertime is a great time for a kids’ birthday party. You don’t have to worry about rain, you can host everything outside (for easier clean up) and there are so many different fun themes you can do…such as a pool party, big top circus or an ice cream social.

A summer afternoon is always a perfect setting for a Western Themed Birthday Party.

Our Western Rodeo Party Kit is the perfect solution for busy moms and dads looking to throw a fun & fabulous Western Themed Party! With our party in a box, there is no need to stress over finding decorations, party favors or activities to keep the kids busy…it’s all included.

The kit includes everything you need to host 7 Little Cowhands and 1 Birthday Cowboy or Cowgirl, or add on additional guests to match your special guest list. Plates, Utensils, Party Favors, Dress Up Items… We’ve got it all covered! Just open the box, add some food & you’re ready for the Wild West.

And with our Western Rodeo Birthday Party Ideas, you’ll find party games, activities and food ideas to make it the best party this side of the Mason-Dixon Line!

Fun-Filled & Stress-Free

Buy your Western Themed Party today & stop worrying about what you’re going to do for your child’s birthday. With our deluxe party kit, you’re guaranteed to throw a fun-filled, stress-free and memorable birthday for your special little cowboy or cowgirl.

Pirate Party Ideas

Kerry — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:12:25 +0000

Trying to find ideas for pirate themed food & party games can be almost as time consuming as finding all the party decorations & favors. In an effort to help you plan the perfect Pirate Party, with the least amount of stress possible, we put together the following list of fun ideas for your little bucko’s birthday party.

Pirate Party Ideas: The Cake

Source: bettycrocker.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Impress your guests with a homemade pirate themed birthday cake! Don’t worry. This adorable Pirate Cake by Betty Crocker is super easy to make & decorate. With just some cake mix, pre-made frosting, some candy and Betty Crocker’s template you’ll have an adorable homemade cake for your special birthday captain.

Pirate Party Ideas: Fun Activity

Source: befickle.blogspot.com via Kerry on Pinterest

We just love this idea for digging for treasure that The Fickle Pickle came up with for her son’s birthday. This activity is sure to be the party favorite & is somewhat easy to set up. Just a quick trip to the hardware store for some sand & maybe a few galvanized buckets and you’re ready for memorable treasure hunt.

Pirate Party Ideas: Treasure Map

A Pirate Party is not complete without a Treasure Map! And you don’t have to be crafty like Martha Stewart to make your own. Just cut off the bottoms of leftover paper grocery bags & then cut down one of the sides. Crumple up the paper as much as you can, then slightly burn the edges with a lighter. To give your treasure map an old, rustic look, spray paint the paper with Design Master 12-Ounce Glossy Stain Aerosol Spray, Glossy Wood Tone.

Pirate Party Ideas: Dress Up Attire

In addition to a Treasure Map, another requirement for a Pirate Party are PIRATES! You’ll need some sort of dress up item for the birthday captain and crew. Pirate Captain’s Hat, Bandanas, Eye Patches, Pirate Hooks & Mustaches are all perfect items to have available for your guests to change into upon arrival.

Make sure to have a designated area for guests to get into character, such as a large cardboard box decorated as a Mystery Cave. Have guests change into their pirate garb inside the cave & tell them when they walk out they’ll be a real, live pirate. You can even use our printable pirate sign to decorate your mystery cave!

Pirate Party Ideas: Do-It-Yourself Party Kit

These Pirate Party Kits are perfect for busy parents looking to throw a memorable birthday party for their child. The kit contains everything you need to create a crafty, homemade looking party, without all the work! Your guests will think you put it all together & will be impressed you even had the time & creativity to make the items yourself {wink~wink}. Check out our Pirate Party Packs for more info!

More Pirate Party Ideas

Still looking for more ideas? Check out our Pinterest Board for more Pirate Party Ideas, such as games, party activities & easy to make recipes.

{Tutorial} Nautical Flag Centerpieces

Kerry — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:42:47 +0000

As I mentioned in our previous post, we recently had the pleasure of styling a nautical themed charity event for a local organization. It was so much fun creating a classy & sophisticated atmosphere with touches of nautical decor, despite the venue’s very restrictive rules regarding decorations. Since we were not allowed to hang or attach anything, anywhere, we knew we were going to have to be a bit creative in bringing in any nautical details. One idea ~ large Nautical Centerpieces.

These festive centerpieces added a bit of sophistication to the room, while at the same time adding color and interest to the otherwise large, bare room. They were also VERY easy to make & quite inexpensive as well.

To Make Your Own, You Will Need…

2 wooden dowels – 3/16 x 36″
hot glue gun
twisted cord or thin rope
nautical flags
white linen fabric
clay pot or small container
floral foam
burlap

Step One: Assemble Mast

Place the wooden dowels into the shape of a “T” and hot glue into place. Wrap twisted cord or thick twine in a figure eight pattern where the dowels intersect (where the bottom of the T, meets the top part), making it secure and sturdy.

Step Two: Attach Flags

Take pre-made nautical flags (either made from cardstock or fabric) and attach to either ends of the “T” by placing a dot of hot glue and wrapping ends of flag around the dowel. Once you have each flag hanging off the top of the mast, attach the bottoms in the same manner, being sure to pull taught in order to bend the top of the “T”. Then, cut out a sail using white linen and hot glue to the top of the mast, covering the intersection of the “T”.

Step Three: Stick In Container

Place floral foam into your clay pot or small container, then stick your mast into the foam. Cover container, if necessary, with burlap or white linen and secure with twine or cord.

That’s it!

Now you have a festive centerpiece that’s perfect for any nautical themed party, whether they’re for dining tables at a nautical themed wedding…or just decorative details for a nautical themed birthday party!

Princess Party Ideas

Kerry — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:41:16 +0000

Thinking of throwing Princess Themed Birthday Party, but have no idea where to begin?

Coordinating a child’s birthday party can sometimes seem overwhelming, but like any big project, when you break it down into smaller sections it becomes a lot more manageable. We’ve put together the following list of ideas to help you throw the perfect Princess Party.

Princess Party Ideas: The Cake

Source: glorioustreats.blogspot.com via Kerry on Pinterest

This adorable birthday cake is perfect for any princess and best of all, it’s very easy to make! Glorious Treats made this birthday cake for her sweet birthday girl and explains it was quite easy to execute. Using a technique described by My Cake School as a Petal Effect, you too can create this boutique-looking cake with just some frosting, a pastry bag & a small spatula. Top it off with butterflies & birthday candles and you have a homemade cake fit for any Royal Party.

Princess Party Ideas: Games & Activites

Source: impromptuparties.com via Kerry on Pinterest

A girl’s got to kiss a toad or two along the way to find her Prince Charming. Entertain your party guests with this printable ‘Kiss The Frog’ Game. Using the same idea as Pin The Tail On The Donkey, have each guest try to pin a kiss on the frog while blindfolded. To make it even more challenging, try spinning them around a few times before planting their ‘kiss’ on the frog.

Source: fantasyjr.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Keep arriving guests busy with these princess themed coloring pages. Cover a small table with a pink tablecloth and place crayons, markers, glitter pens & stickers in tin cans spray painted lavender. This will serve as a perfect craft area to keep those little princesses preoccupied while you wait for everyone to arrive.

Princess Party Ideas: Dress Up Attire

Dress up the birthday girl in this beautiful princess dress that actually twinkles! The ivory dress contains fiber optic lighting inset into the skirt that ensures she will sparkle & shine at her princess birthday party.

Princess Party Ideas: Tablesetting

Source: impromptuparties.com via Kerry on Pinterest

Check out our previous blog post on how to set a beautiful princess themed table by using color, flowers & a few themed items from around the house.

Princess Party Ideas: Do-It-Yourself Party Kit

If you don’t have the time to plan the whole party, check out our Princess Party Kits. They come with tableware, decorations, invitations/thank you cards, dress up attire, party favors, cupcake decor and much, much more! Perfect for busy parents looking to throw a crafty, homemade looking party.

More Ideas…

Still looking for more ideas on food, games & crafts? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for more Princess Party Ideas!