Introducing ‘Hanging Pretty’

I have some wonderful businesses advertising on my blog and I’ll be introducing you to them over time so you can discover some of the fantastic items which exist for your child’s parties and celebrations.

I love handmade items in a celebration and if you aren’t one for DIY there are some talented women who can create handmade decor for you such as Michelle – owner of Hanging Pretty. Michelle is based in Brisbane and works from her home studio, which she established in 2012 as a way to work from home while her kids were still little, making handmade prettiness.

Originally making unique mobiles for children’s rooms after not being able to find what she loved for her own daughter’s room a few years earlier she set about making her own bespoke creation and then went on to establish Hanging Pretty.

This beautiful mobile below really shows how Michelle’s business name “hanging pretty” aptly describes her creations!:

Michelle has previous work experience with events/functions so Hanging Pretty gradually transitioned from bespoke mobiles to custom papery for all aspects of events, boutique displays or photo-shoots where Michelle creates prettiness from a variety of mediums which are as unique as the person they are intended for.  As part of this transition Michelle drew on her experience and love of styling to offer styling ideas for boutique window displays, celebrations for any occasion and weddings.

Can you believe these are handmade flowers made by Michelle? Absolutely gorgeous!

Hanging Pretty has a wide range of possible items for your child’s celebration such as: Sewn silhouette garlands, Cake bunting, backdrops, toppers, embellishments for straws and bottles, tassels, favour boxes and more!

Hanging Pretty Services also include (On Location from Brisbane to Gold Coast): Photo-shoot Styling, event planning, boutique window displays, sourcing of products and more!

Michelle is really lovely to deal with and is fantastic at brainstorming ideas for your celebration and designing something unique for your child’s party theme.

If you have an idea and need someone to make it happen then make sure you contact Michelle at Hanging Pretty.
Phone: 0412 965904
Website: www.hangingpretty.com.au
Facebook Gallery: www.facebook.com/hangingpretty
Email: michelle@hangingpretty.com.au

Thanks Michelle for sharing some of your beautiful work with all of us!

 

Real party feature – Iceskating Theme

When this Iceskating themed party arrived in my inbox from Sweet Event Styling by Thanh (based in Sydney) I was looking forward to featuring it for a few reasons!

1. It’s a great theme for a child who is a little bit older

2. It shows how a predominately blue colour scheme CAN be used well for a girl

Thanh based the decor around a wintery icy blue to go with the ice-skating theme as well as her daughters love of this colour!

She cleverly designed the printables including the lolly tags, toppers, placemats and signs.

Lollies were from Professors Lollies online and Thanh made all the other desserts except for Melting Moments (from local supermarket)

 

Love the shape of these bottles!:

Toppers are such a cute and easy way to dress up your treats.

Cake buntings are definitely IN right now! :

Thanks Thanh for sharing your great work. You can get in contact with Thanh & see more photos by visiting her facebook page here.

 

Safari or Jungle Party Supplies

Kids love animals so a jungle or safari theme is always a popular birthday party choice.  It’s an easy party to style – lots of fun and there are so many supplies online or in stores you could use!

You could either style it with very natural tones and textures, or go bright and colouful – browns and greens or add in reds, yellows and oranges. You can incorporate fun animal prints to really help theme this party.

There is so many items online for this them – here are some of my picks for this theme mainly from vendors on the Life’s Little celebration’s children’s party directory.

 

Invitations/Printables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tableware

Some ideas for whether you want to style the party with a more natural feel, or with bright and fun decor or a mix of both!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts and Accessories

 

 

 

 

 

These rustic stands are perfect to put to use for this theme!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Themed Items

 

A few fun items! All the kids would love to be given these at the party. Set up a kids table with all their jungle wear displayed! You could also get other items such as some toy binoculars from a $2 shop etc:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some fun HIRE items you could use for this theme. View the party directory for all the kids party hire companies across various states.

How amazing would these life size jungle animals be at a jungle or safari party? Kids would love them!:

 

 

 

 

 

You can also view the Entertainment and Venues category on the Directory to help when planning this Jungle / Safari party. Here are a few of the vendors you will find:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Party Favours

 

There are lots of jungle theme party favours online and in the shops. Here are just a few along with some packaging options for your goodies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Parties

Need some real jungle or safari party inspiration? View these amazing parties for lots of creative ideas!:

Amazing Jungle safari party by Boo Boo and Bear

Love the jungle decorations and styling by Opulenticity Party and Buffet styling

Lots of fantastic ideas in this Jungle 1st birthday by El Evento

Incredible jungle safari party by Miss Deliciouza

Gorgeous Jungle Safari party by Simple Elegance Melbourne

Fun and amazingly styled Jungle party based around Raa Raa the Noisy Lion by I Heart Table Art

Absolutely amazing Jungle/Monkey party by Piece of Cake Parties and Celebrations. Lots of ideas and inspiration!

 

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Hope you have fun planning this party! Your little ones are sure to love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Tricycle Theme

I thought it was time to do a boys theme and one theme which I really love is that of a vintage tricycle inspired by the printables from Style Me Gorgeous. So I’ve decided to do this post on a tricycle or bicycle theme – a great theme if you want to do a classic traditional theme for a boy =)

You could combine this theme with another item as well. For example on the Style Me Gorgeous printables they are combined with a kite. Other printables combine a tricycle with other vintage toys. I also saw a vintage tricycle and ice cream party. So really anything could work and the vintage feel could tie it together.

I’ve based most of my selections on blues and brown/cream tones and vintage items however I know all of you fab blog readers of mine could make any colour work well =)

Invitations/Printables

These are the gorgeous printables which originally inspired this post! I love the colour scheme and the classic look:

 

If you want to inject some red into your colour scheme, here is another lovely set of printables:

 

These two bring a few other vintage toys into the mix, which I think are just lovely!

 

 

Some classic tricycle invitations:

 

 

 

Who said girls can’t have a tricycle party? Check out this cute vintage invitation for a girl:

 

Decorations

A few ideas in blue and brown tones:

 

 

 

 

 

Tableware

A gingham tablecloth could work in really well for this theme:

Or you could use this jute material for a vintage feel tablecloth:

For paper based invitations this tablerunner in brown would suit – and it has polka dots on the back if you want to change the design!

 

 

 

 

How cute is this – pre-stamped personalised wooden cutlery ! Saves you the hassle of purchasing the name stamp yourself:

 

 

Yes these popular straws now come in brown and white! Perfect with some chocolate milk I think =)

 

Sweet Treats

Use some old fashioned treats to go with this vintage theme:

 

 

 

Some cute options for cake toppers:

 

Love these blue cake stands:

 

 

Special Items

I’ve seen some images where people have used actual tricycles as props at their child’s party, and this one could certainly work into this theme and double as a birthday gift:

You could use a custom nursery print such as this for an extra decoration on your party table and a special keepsake:

 

Perfect options for table risers:

 

 

A few other vintage props and accessories for your party table:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can pick up some cute tricycle props here and there – I even saw a large tricycle planter in Target a while back. Here are two options I found online which are the perfect size for  small prop.

 

 

If you’re in Sydney you can hire this one from Tiny Tots Toy Hire:

Also loving these hire item for this vintage theme!

 

 

Packaging

How sweet is this tricycle favour container?:

 

 

A stylish tricycle favour bag with a vintage feel:

 

A lovely pastel blue to go with this theme:

These jute bags really suit a vintage feel:

 

Cute tricycle favour bags available in other colours too:

 

Top off your favours with some of these sweet tags:

 

 

 

 

Real Parties

The vintage tricycle party by Sarah from Style Me Gorgeous using her printables, on her blog

Amanda from the Kawaii Notebook styled this party based on the Style me Gorgeous Printables, featured on the Amy Atlas blog

This baby shower mixed vintage & modern tricycle together – featured on the Hostess with the Mostess blog

A cute pink tricycle party on the Frosted Events blog

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I can’t wait until I can use this theme for hopefully a future son…or grandson if I have to wait until then!!

It’s definitely on my “to do” list of party themes and doing this blog post made me love it more!

Hope you enjoyed the finds =)

 

New party finds – Feb 2012

There seems to be a lot of new party items coming up in all the online party stores! Here are a few which have caught my eye which I thought may interest you. I may do “new find” posts more often so feel free to e-mail me if you have a great new party product coming out! I have a feeling there will be lots of new products coming out in the next month or so after all the trade fairs finish up =)

These cake stands (available in pink, blue and white) are great child-proof options for your cake or other desserts and easily stored away too:

Also love these child-proof bright cake stands!

It’s always great to have more lovely disposable tableware options. Here is one new range which would be perfect for a Paris theme, Minnie Mouse theme, a Glam party theme or other girly theme with this colour scheme:

 

This is such an ultra-sweet party range by Belle and Boo which you could use to create a stylish and cute party without having a specific theme. There is everything from matching party bags to buntings and more!

 

How gorgeous are these? Perfect for the nursery/bedroom and then can be used for all sorts of pretty party occasions!

 

Continuing the prettiness with this gorgeous teapot!

Blackboard signs are great on a party table or to welcome party guests or even to hold up with a message in a photo area!

Cakes in a jar have become quite popular lately and here are new jars available which are perfect to serve these in:

These boxes are great to use as ‘risers’ to give different heights on your party table. One of the many great party props available from Shoppe with Lily!

 

A beautiful way to decorate a cake or cupcake – edible rose petals! Gorgeous!

Another lovely tableware range coming out soon:

Love these authentic vintage milk bottles for a different milk bottle look:

An alternative to party printables are ‘ready to go’ party packs and a new range has been introduced by Saffy & May with a range of items included. Here is one of the themes available:

Love the idea of a chandelier decoration at a party – this cardboard one can be painted to look so pretty and obviously a lot more affordable option than a genuine chandelier!

So they are a few of the recent party items I’ve spotted. Have you spotted anything new for parties which has stood out for you? Please share if you have!