Today, I thought I'd show you some of the tea party crafts and a bit more of the table decor.
My daughter loves arts and crafts, so I wanted to do some party activities that reflected this. I figured that everyone needs a fancy tea party hat, so that was first on our party agenda. I lucked out and found a bunch of pastel hats at the dollar store! I collected a ton of pretty flowers, rhinestones, butterflies, and even some sweet birdies to use for decoration.
The girls designed the hats the way they wanted them and then my fabulous friend, Rachel, and I hot glued-them on. This went much quicker than I thought it would and assured that the decorations would stay on securely. The girls did a beautiful job with their hat designs.
Out of respect for their privacy, I can't show you the girls in their hats, but I can assure you that it made for a very adorable picture...all of them in their flowery, bird-embellished hats!
For another activity, I decided that it would be fun to make "Cookie Charm Bracelets".
We've made lots of candy necklaces and bracelets over the years, but never a cookie bracelet! I started by enlisting the help of my mom (she's a really, really nice mom!) to make HUNDREDS of teeny, tiny sugar cookies in the shapes of flowers.
I had grand plans to intricately decorate them with royal icing, but due to a shortage of time, we ended up just coating them with a good sprinkling of pastel non pareils. While the cookies were still warm from the oven, we used bamboo skewers to poke holes through the centers. To make it easier for the little girls to string the cookies, my older daughter tied tiny loops of ribbon through each cookie. This was truly a family affair!
For bracelet assembly, I gathered together a bunch of ribbons and lots of pretty candy beads (I just cut these off long candy necklaces) to use as filler.
The bracelets turned out super cute...
After the girls made their bracelets, I put them in personalized jewelry boxes so they could take them home.
Now, for the tea party table settings...
I kept the table decor pretty simple, as I knew I wouldn't have much time to transition from the crafts to the tea party portion of the party. I covered the tables with cloths in a variety of shabby floral patterns and added some small vases of pink roses.
At each place setting, I set a large round doily, plastic utensils (that looked like real silverware!), and a cloth napkin.
I made the napkins myself by just cutting some pretty floral fabric into large squares with pinking shears. Time consuming, yes. But I thought it was a nice touch. :-)
I also made these old-fashioned candy-filled party "crackers" to use as place cards.
These were fairly easy to make, but I would be happy to post a tutorial sometime. Basically, they make good use of your old paper towel rolls!
Well, that's it. I hope you enjoyed our little tea party. I'm not sure what themes we'll do next year, but luckily, I have about eleven months to think about it!
Have a great weekend!
Jessica
Such a great idea for a little girl's birthday party. I am very inspired to do something similar for my daughter's 6th birthday. Do you have any types or links that you could share for making petit fours? A girlfriend and I have tried several times to make petit fours and have yet to make something that we would like to serve to guests.
Posted by: Anita | March 19, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Wow - that is impressive! What a lovely party you had. I bet your girls love having such a great & creative "event planner" for a mom!
Posted by: Mindy | March 19, 2010 at 12:05 PM
everything was perfect!
i just love all your loveliness!
i have made the favors before but i used empty toilet paper rolls lol
Posted by: keren | March 19, 2010 at 12:13 PM
The whole party from both posts looks like it was so sweet and elegant (and yummy!). I bet the girls had a lot of fun!
Posted by: Holly Brooke | March 19, 2010 at 01:34 PM
What a gorgeous party! I love the sweet little hats and bracelets. Just adorable.
Posted by: Treasia | March 19, 2010 at 02:15 PM
Your tea party was lovely. It makes me wish that is what my granddaughter wanted for her BD. But she wants a Mexican Fiesta.
Last year she had an outdoor party with a bit of a floral theme. We found wooden bird houses at the dollar store and the kids had a great time painting their own birdhouse to take home.
Love your blog.
Posted by: Renee | March 19, 2010 at 02:43 PM
Exceptional party! Love everything about it! The crackers were an adorable touch. You really went all out! Your girls are going to have such wonderful memories of the birthday parties you so lovingly planned for them!
Posted by: gabrielle | March 19, 2010 at 03:47 PM
Gosh this is so inventive and beautiful! I bet your daughter was in awe! You must be a wonderful mum! x
Posted by: Eleanor | March 19, 2010 at 03:50 PM
um ... GASP!
unsolicited advice from your devoted swooning reader:
- sell those pretty crackers on etsy
- consider holding an event for bloggers
- throw me a party (just being silly)
you are amazing!
xo
elyse
Posted by: elyse | March 19, 2010 at 04:03 PM
I love love seeing your party themes. If you ever want to give out advice on what I should do for my 3 y.o. who wants a pink party please pass along some great advice. I want to see those crackers tutorial... I might want to do them as well. What did you put into them?
Posted by: Angie | March 19, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Absolutely adorable! This was one amazing party and I'm sure your dd had so much fun, as did her older sister. Both parties were filled with such pretty things. Lucky girls - lucky Mom!
Posted by: Kathi | March 19, 2010 at 06:20 PM
I must say, I just love your blog! Each day, I hope that there is a new post awaiting! I adore the parties you throw, the crafts your create, and the places you go. You inspire me to do so many things! Keep up the excellent work! I think the desserts for this party were beautiful, and the embellishments on the hats were just divine!
Posted by: Lexi | March 19, 2010 at 09:03 PM
these are just such adorable ideas - i love them and i know your daughter did too.
Posted by: charlane | March 19, 2010 at 10:59 PM
I saw some of those "Party Crackers" the other day and I think they are soooooooo adorable!! I wanted to make some for my daughter's 1st Birthday. I know I have all the supplies and papergoods I need, but I don't know where to begin? Any links you could direct me to? Are you still going to do a tutorial on this?
Posted by: Rebecca | March 19, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Absolutely love your blog!
Posted by: Lucille | March 20, 2010 at 05:11 PM
What a fresh, fun idea! Thanks for posting your beautiful pictures!
Posted by: Christine | March 20, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Your children are lucky to have the most talented Mom ever! You need to write a book titled " Fabulous Birthday Parties", for children and adults. Thank You for sharing all our wonderful ideas and pictures.
Posted by: jackie | March 21, 2010 at 01:33 PM
Your blog is wickedly delicious! Yummy.
Tawa Moonbloode
Posted by: Jeluxury | March 21, 2010 at 09:11 PM
Jessica, your creative ideas and gorgeous photographs are just as good, or better, than any magazine out there. I almost feel guilty reading your blog "for free"! You are extremely talented. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful posts with us!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | March 21, 2010 at 09:28 PM
OMG!
Love, love, love~ what a party!!!
oxo
Christina
Posted by: Christina Jackson | March 21, 2010 at 09:44 PM
So lovely, as always! Parties like this are definitely every little girl's dream.
In terms of future parties, I thought you might appreciate this couple's wedding reception, themed as a carnival! The candy buffet is so precious!
http://www.jamiehammondphotography.com/blog/?p=1278l
Posted by: Brittney | March 22, 2010 at 07:00 AM
What an adorable little girls tea party! You really went all out! I bet they had a blast. Such cute little crackers. May I ask what you put inside them? Have a great week.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | March 22, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Oh wow! This is the prettiest tea party that I've ever seen! Every detail so gorgeous! Your daughter's friends must get so excited when she (you) gives a party.
Posted by: Kim | March 22, 2010 at 10:18 AM
PS...a few questions...
-Where did you get the flowers?
-How old is your daughter? I'm wondering if these kind of activities would be appropriate for my daughter's 5th b-day party.
Posted by: Kim | March 22, 2010 at 10:20 AM
oh my gosh this is just such a gorgeous tea party! so pretty!
Posted by: jo | March 22, 2010 at 02:23 PM
It is a nice blog. Yes you have written good things here regarding party ideas. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Posted by: Kids Parties NJ | March 23, 2010 at 04:59 AM
Everything is so perfect! It will be hard to top, can't wait to see what you come up with next year!
Best wishes,
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | March 23, 2010 at 10:48 AM
This is all so beautiful! Everyting is amazing! What a wonderful memory for the birthday girl to have! I now wish I could go back in time and have a do-over for my daughter! haha!
Posted by: cindy~my romantic home | March 23, 2010 at 01:05 PM
Just beautiful!
Posted by: DreamGirlLisa | March 23, 2010 at 01:43 PM
how adorable! I especially love the cookie charm bracelets and the table runner made of flowers and butterflies. Such fun!!
Posted by: andrea singarella | March 24, 2010 at 09:06 AM
i just found your blog and am absolutely smitten it is so so pretty Love the party ideas.Will definately visit again thankyou jeanetteann
Posted by: jeanette ann o'donnell | March 31, 2010 at 05:36 AM
Your blog is so very beautiful. Thank you for sharing this all with us. I love these crackers. They are just lovely.
Posted by: Lia | April 02, 2010 at 10:29 AM
So Pretty! I'm in love with the paper wrapping the crackers - can I ask where it's from? I don't have a daughter so I think I might have to make cookie necklaces at my next birthday party!
Posted by: Bonnielou | April 06, 2010 at 01:10 PM