Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Style

With all the Christmas preparations happening it is easy to leave NYE planning until last minute…but now is the time to organise what you need  – so to help you get organised I’m sharing some NYE party supplies early to ensure they will arrive in time!

New Year’s Eve celebrations are one of my favourite – there is something special about a new year beginning and celebrating with close family or friends!

 

 

 

Our little ones are still quite little however for those of you with slightly older kids it is a perfect chance to organise a gathering that doesn’t centre just around the kids!  It’s a chance to get together with friends and family, letting the kids stay up a little longer than usual before having a slumber party on the floor, and then it’s all about letting the adults relax into the New Year with a more adults only style occasion (aka, champagne!).

When I look back at all the many amazing new trends in themes we’ve seen this year, there’s one in particular that I’ve been saving for NYE and just screams sophistication and ‘Happy New Year’ to me, and that’s the classic black and metallics with a touch of marble. Adult opulence at it’s best!

So if like me, you’ve had a big year of parties filled with flamingos, doughnuts and unicorns and are just craving something a little more grown up, I’ve sourced the perfect pieces from our LLC Vendors to pull together the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration for the adults (and kids, until bedtime!) so you can start your planning now, and have something to look forward to after the Christmas ham is finished.

 

New Year’s Eve Decorations

Whether it’s a backyard BBQ, seafood buffet or canapés after watching the fire works, this theme looks stunning in the evening as the metallics shimmer and glisten when styled with plenty of candles, and black or metallics make a great backdrop for these to pop against in the evening.

So start with black as your base, and build on it with hints of metallic (either gold or silver) and marble accents for depth and interest. Use your marble kitchen bench top, a black trestle table or one covered with a table cloth for a more polished look, and create drama and interest with varying heights of stands and platters to serve your food, or set an opulent dinner table complete with candle light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why not take cues from the countdown and incorporate giant helium number balloons.

 

 

Or mix and match decorations with a mix of black, white, gold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For real wow factor, a gold sequin tablecloth creates the perfect setting for a gorgeous New years eve dessert table!:

 

 

Don’t forget the confetti at midnight! This would also look great scattered down the centre of your dining table.

 

New Year’s Eve Tableware

Whilst it’s always nice to bring out your best dinner set (you know, the one you received for your wedding that’s still in the box ?) no one wants to be washing dishes on New Year’s Day – so opt for some stylish disposables instead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How gorgeous are these Kate Spade coasters?

 

 

 

 

 

New Year’s Eve Sweet Treats

Finish the year off with a bang and start your diet resolutions the following day – it’s time to eat cake! Nothing beats a glass of champagne and delicious dessert now, does it? Here’s a sample of what LLC partners in the Directory can create for your event!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the kids are a part of the NYE celebrations – why not setup a cute table setting for them complete with colouring, board games or other activities to keep them entertained? You can hire some stylish children’s table and chairs from LLC partners around Australia – here is a sample!:

 

 

 

How great are these take home bags? Perfect for the kids who would have missed out whilst they were sleeping!

 

 

Another fantastic idea are these labels for mini wine or champagne bottles for your friends:

 

 

Attach these tags to any take home gift for your NYE guests for instant NYE style!

 

 

Like all celebrations, New Year’s Eve is a wonderful excuse to get your nearest and dearest together and get creative with your styling. So say farewell to another big year by going bold, and celebrate the prospect of new opportunities, milestones and adventures together in style – cheers!

 

Going Bananas: Tropical Party Theme Inspiration

If I was to do a poll on the most popular party themes for 2016, Tropical would be one of the clear winners by a mile. Not a day goes by without spotting another beautifully styled, colourful tropical party on my Instagram feed. What’s not to love about bright colours, cheeky fruit, sunglasses, flamingos, palm leaves and inflatable pool toys? Bring on Summer!

 

 

With so many new and tempting partyware options available for this theme however, it can be hard to know where to start, so I’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up a few supplies and inspo ideas from our LLC Vendors to get the party started.

 

 

Tropical Party Invitations

When I think of a tropical party, the vibrant colours of summer fruits and lush green palms always spring to mind. So use this as your inspiration for colour and design in your invitations, and have some Rio Carnevale style fun by adding some pink flamingos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely keep sake idea is a custom print recording all the special details of your child at the age they are at the moment! This fun tropical themed custom print would be perfect for this theme:

 

Tropical party decorations

You can literally go bananas (pardon the pun) decorating with this theme. Go bold with lush foliage or create your own palm or Monstera leaves using large pieces of paper, include plenty of fruit and florals as props, and don’t forget a flamingo or two for a bit of fun!

 

 

 

 

How gorgeous is this floral chandelier by Hanging Pretty?

 

This garland would make a fun backdrop or centrepiece!:

 

 

These hand painted water colour decorations by ELK Prints are perfect for table settings or the sweets buffet.

 

Of course what’s a party without balloons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The use of natural or artificial flowers is also a great idea, and I love how Kirei Handmade has used them on giant letters.

 

You can also hire a foilage wall such as this for a tropical feel backdrop:

 

 

Flamingos or pineapples? Can’t decide? Go for both!:

 

 

 

Giant honeycomb balls in abundance and a selection of bold colours also looks fabulous.

 

 

 

 

Can’t go past these flamingo pinatas for some fun or decoration:

 

 

 

Tropical party tableware

Is it getting balmy in here yet? Let’s turn the heat up a notch with the perfect table setting for guests to sip on tropical punch and enjoy sweet fruit treats.

You’ll find an abundance of bright tableware perfect for this theme, including these fun finds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fun lemonade stand from Tiny Tots Toy Hire (Sydney) is perfect for a cool drinks bar at a hot tropical party and seen in the below tropical setup:

 

 

 

 

Hire some flamingos for extra decorating fun!:

 

 

 

 

 

Tropical cakes, cookies and desserts

With a theme that takes it’s cues from food, it’s fair to say that your sweets table will be the centrepiece of this occasion. Think cakes and desserts decorated with tropical flowers or fruit, and cookies shaped as exoctic birds, monstera leaves and tropical fruits. Don’t forget the real thing either!

Here is some of what has been created for this theme from LLC vendors around Australia who you can order from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tropical party favours

From fruit inspired cookies to whacky flamingo foam glasses, your guest will go home feeling like they’ve been on a tropical holiday with these finds and packaging!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the little guests head home – why not have them stamp their fingerprint on this unique guest book idea! This ceramic hand painted tile will make the perfect keepsake for after the party!:

 

 

With so many partywares available, you can see why the tropical theme is just so hot right now, and a really easy one to pull together. I hope this has helped narrow the search down a little for you and provided the inspiration you need for your next occasion!

 

Gymnastics Party Theme Supplies

Do you remember going to gymnastic classes as a child? So much fun!

Tumbling, jumping and climbing make it a popular choice of extra curricular activity for lower primary school aged children, and the perfect party option for this age group too.

For the full experience (and safety of your household items) many gymnastics venues offer party packages on the weekend, making it a great option for catering to larger numbers too. You’ll find many provide a room or separate area (and sometimes tables and chairs) for you to set up and bring your own catering, and they’ll take care of the rest. Too easy!

Here is some inspiration to get you started!:

 

 

Regardless of where you host your gymnastics party, we’ve done a little search of our LLC partners for some inspiration and general partyware you might need to help bring it all together for you.

 

Invitations

Get your guests excited with a fun and creative invitation that will have them bouncing with anticipation. I love the idea of including a photo of the birthday boy or girl as a gymnast!

 

 

 

 

 

Decorations

If hosting it at a venue, you may be limited to the decorations you can bring in and the allocated time to set up, so stick to some fun balloons and coordinated tableware for a quick and easy set up and clean up. Or if at home, go all out and let your imagination run wild! Choose bright primary colours, pink and gold or even metallics just like a gymnast’s leotard!

A styled table with customised cookies, wrapped chocolates or cupcakes with toppers is also an easy way to achieve your look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cake and Desserts 

Although it is hard to find Gymnastic specific partyware and decorations, theming your cake and desserts to match a Gymnastics theme is a fun way to bring the theme out :

 

 

Tableware

You know I love a coordinated table – whatever the occasion! This theme allows for plenty of play with creativity, choice of colours and degree of detail, so here’s a few finds to get you started. How cute are these individual boxes?

 

 

Here are a range of fun and colourful options for tableware depending on what colour scheme you go for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favours

When all the gymnasts have tumbled themselves tired and it’s time to go home, what better way to say ‘thanks’ and reward them for their outstanding ability, than to award them all them with their own gold medals or trophies! Kids go wild for these and they’re easy enough to find and be added to a goodie bag with a customised cookie, treats or other personalised gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is such a fun party theme for both boys and girls of all ages, and with a few small customised touches, an easy one to style too. Have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Batman Party Supplies

Ka-Pow! Splat! Oooff!

How cool were the pop culture Batman comics back in the day? Like all good Superhero’s, he’s morphed over time but never really gone out of style, making a Batman party a popular choice for children’s birthday parties of all ages, and an easy one to source and style for.

 

 

 

 

Whether you choose the bold and bright colours of the comics as your inspiration, or colour blocked black and white or yellow, the options are endless with this theme, as are the supplies available to pull it all together. So we’ve rounded up a few finds from our LLC vendors to give you a head start.

 

Batman Party Invitations

When I think of Batman, his iconic bat signal instantly comes to mind, as does a lot of black and the comic book speech bubbles. Of course not everyone is expected to be Batman, so you can also  extend the invitation to all Superhero’s (or Villains) with a more general superhero invite:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Batman Party Decorations

Pick your colour palette and have some fun decorating your space with plenty of punch (pardon the pun!) and props for the Superhero’s to act out their alter egos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a little batgirl instead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This cool batman pinata also doubles as a great decoration:

 

 

 

Perfect for the younger ones, a pint sized Bat Mobile!

 

 

 

Tableware

To ensure Batman plays the lead role in his own show, keep the tableware to a minimum of two colours, or use coordinated plates, napkins and cups for the comic book effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cake, cookies and toppers

If you’ve predominately used block colours to decorate, cake toppers, the cake itself and custom cookies are a great way to incorporate the Batman logo into your theme, and likewise if you’ve chosen the comic approach, as it will ensure Batman is still in the spotlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cookies make a great take home gift too when wrapped in cellophane and tied off with black ribbon or twine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favours

Keep the excitement going well after the party with these great finds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, for our mini Batman fans – this post would not be complete without a costume! Perfect for first birthday photos, smashing into their first bite of cake. Too cute!!

 

 

Phew! With so much to choose from for this theme and so many ways of interpreting it, I hope this post has taken out some of the leg work out of it for you!

 

See you next time at the same Bat time on the same Bat channel…..(couldn’t help myself!).

 

Let’s get pampered spa party theme

I can remember some pretty fun parties as a kid, with many of my favourite themes still being reinvented these days, which brings back some memories!

But if there’s one theme that I so wish I had thought of when I was 10, it’s a pamper party theme.

Perfect for double digits but just as easily adapted for younger girls, the pamper party or spa party theme is quickly becoming popular so I’ve done a quick whip around our LLC vendors to provide you with a little inspiration!

Now of course I am all about keeping things fun and age-appropriate when it comes to this theme. I think there is a way to keep this party theme light hearted and just a bit of fun for the girls without mum’s having to stress about creating a truly adult-like spa or pamper experience.

 

 

I love this glamorous take on the theme, incorporating a fashion parade at the end!

Or why not make it a slumber party, complete with individual tents and TV trays for a DIY makeover before bed?

 

 

You can use one of the hire companies on the Directory to set up a cute setting for the girls:

 

Invitations

Dependent on the age, your invitations and colour palette can be anything from pretty pastels, to pink and gold, or black, white and hot pink for the older girls.

Give your guests a taste of what to expect with these gorgeous examples and matching printables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorations

Of course every great spa has a relaxing ambience and stylish decor, so prop your room with individual foot spas, hand bowls for manicures, cute chairs, towels and flowers ready for a little TLC.

Then add pops of fun with balloons, hanging decorations and table arrangements.

A printed backdrop such as this one can be used for a dessert table or a photo backdrop:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tableware

Rather than setting a table for a seated party, opt for a table filled with bite size sweets and savouries for the kids to nibble on in between treatments, styled with coordinated tableware.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Treats

A party wouldn’t be a party without a few sweet treats, but best make them bite size to prevent ruining wet nail polish!

I love the idea of high tea stands stacked with finger sandwiches, macarons, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and themed cookies that double as take home treats. Oh, and cake. Always cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How great are these chocolate moulds for manicure sets, lipsticks and hairdryers?!!

 

 

 

Love this fun pamper party cake!:

 

Party Favours

Let the guests take home something special in these favour bags

 

 

 

What do you send your pampered little guests home with to top it all off? Nothing less than a personal mirror of course!

 

This is also a super sweet party favour idea:

 

 

Of course for those who don’t have the room at home or the time to organise it, many venues and roaming entertainment providers are now offering pamper parties as part of their theme repertoire, making them a great options for larger groups too.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps I need to relive my childhood and plan one of these myself…especially being pregnant at the moment I think I’m due for some pampering!

I hope you’ve found some great inspiration for your child’s spa pampering party.