2015 New Year’s Eve Party Printable Collection

Wow, where did the year go?! Seems like just yesterday we were ringing in 2014 and now 2015 is around the corner. 2014 was really a year of growth for Party With a K! It was filled with new experiences, new business relationships, and new opportunities. The highlight of it all was being accepted to participate in the Seattle Wedding Show 2015. I cannot wait to show off my candy buffet designs to the future brides. But, there was one more highlight: the launch of 'Party With a K: The Shop'! PWAK: The Shop is for all your printables needs. I've started off small with just a few designs and whipped up this New Year’s Eve Printable Party Collection that was JUST featured on The Craftcaster Girls YouTube Channel (right before NYE! Phew!). I encourage you to share the shop with friends and on Pinterest and show me how you've used my printables to decorate your NYE party by hashtagging #NYE2015PWAK.

However you choose to celebrate, I hope you ring in the new year with good company.


Cheers!

Redesigning!

Hi Loyal readers of Party with a K! It is time for a redesign so sorry for my absence. I am putting together pieces of my new page to make it 10 times better. Feel free to keep reading my old posts by searching through them in the Search Box. I can't wait for you to see the finished product!

xoxo!

Favorite Find: Most Creative Halloween Costumes

Last year, experts estimated that consumers would spend about $6 billion on Halloween-related purchases. Of that $6 billion, $2.11 billion would be spent on Halloween costumes alone!! Unlike other years, I am really struggling as to what to wear for Halloween! It's funny, as you get older, you're less worried about looking sexy for Halloween and more interested in looking totally nuts on this freaky day. Speaking of totally nuts, check out these super creative costumes I've come across!

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

PROSTHETIC WALRUS MASK

 

IPHONE DOGGY SCREENSAVER

PAINTED ANIMAL FACE

Need help finding the perfect costume? Check out these simple suggestions:

Halloween Lady Gaga Black Sequin Dress Adult Costume (Google Affiliate Ad) 

The Wizard Of Oz Tinman Costume (Google Affiliate Ad) 

Wonder Woman Costume (Google Affiliate Ad)

Favorite Party Item: Marshmallow Desserts

The Marshmallow Studio is quite possibly one of the cutest companies! They capitalized on marshmallow creations by taking imagination and mixing it with sugar and fluff!! They're "Yummy as Dessert and Adorable as Decor".

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Favorite FIND: Real Life Candyland Party

Ever been APART of a party? I mean, actually PLAY a part? Well, guests who attended this Candyland party definitely participated. How you might ask?! The creators of today's "Favorite FIND" turned their party into the famous BOARD GAME; "Candyland"--LITERALLY! Click on the image to get a better, larger view.

Picture taken from: MJ Decorations

I LOVE IT!

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Favorite Party Item: Thank You Gift Basket

It is proper etiquette to thank a host for hosting their event you attended. For those special hosts who went above and beyond to make you feel very important, I know just the perfect way to say "thank you": GiftTree.com

Wine Connoisseur Gift Basket

Whether the host loves wine, chocolate, fruit, or nuts, GiftTree.com has a plethora of choices for you to choose from to ensure you get the host a gift basket that matches them.

Nuts & Chocolate Gift Chest

Traditional Teatime Basket

The gift baskets come in all shapes and sizes and different price ranges...some as low as $27.95!

Harvest Fruit & Snacks Sampler

You even have the opportunity to personalize the gift basket with a message that can be written on the ribbon. You can also write a special note on the card of your choice to be attached to the basket.

There's nothing like saying Thank you!

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Recipe of the Day: Smiling Scarecrow Cupcakes

I absolutely love watching the leaves change into beautiful red,orange,and yellow Fall colors! When I think of Fall I think of pumpkins, apple pie, hot chocolate, and scarecrows....smiling scarecrows ;-)

Smiling Scarecrow Cupcakes Recipe (courtesy of Land O'Lakes):

Ingredients

Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
1 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Egg
1 1/2 cups applesauce

Frosting
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup Land O Lakes® Half & Half or whipping cream
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Decorations
Pretzel squares*
Cinnamon graham cracker sticks
Chow mein noodles or pretzel sticks
Mini candy-coated chocolate pieces, chocolate chips, decorator candies or decorator gels, as desired
Candy corn
Chocolate sprinkles or licorice candies

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups into 18 muffin pan cups; set aside.

Combine flour, baking soda and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside.

Combine sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture and applesauce. Continue beating until well mixed.

Fill each muffin pan cup 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, half & half and 1/4 cup butter in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil (5 to 6 minutes). Cool 20 minutes; add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Cool completely.

To create scarecrow face, spread 1 heaping tablespoon frosting over 1 cupcake; place pretzel square onto cupcake to make top of hat. Place small amount of frosting on back-side of graham cracker stick; place below pretzel to make hat band. Insert chow mein noodles into frosting around hat to resemble straw. Make face using assorted candies, chips or decorator gels. Repeat with remaining cupcakes and decorations.

Store in loosely covered container.

*Substitute colored marshmallows such as toasted coconut, strawberry or chocolate. Cut off 1 end of marshmallow and press sticky end to graham cracker stick and onto frosting to adhere.

Recipe Tip
- If frosting becomes too firm while decorating cupcakes, stir in additional half & half until desired consistency.

- If you are short on time, use your favorite cake mix for the cupcakes; top with frosting recipe above and decorate as directed.

Favorite Party Item: Personalized Rose Petals

Talk about a good use of Minor Details! One of my favorite party items comes from Factory Direct Craft.com. Confetti table scatters are a great way to dress up your table thus, the Petaloo Celebrate & Happy Birthday Pink & Purple Rose Confetti would be great additions to your party decor.

The rose petals are unique in the sense that the words "Celebrate" and "Happy Birthday" are printed on them. SO CUTE!

Favorite Party Item: Ice Sculptures

There is something so elegant about seeing an ice sculpture at an event that I have to put ice sculptures down as one of my favorite party items.

When you look at the above glass slipper ice sculpture it makes a statement; it serves as a focal point which is indeed the right move to make to make your party theme standout. For this party, the glass slipper was a symbol of the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs’ inaugural Glass Slipper Ball featuring the Best of the Chefs.

To find a list of ice sculpting companies near you click here!

Side note: Interesting fact about the 'Google' ice sculpture above is that they used it as a drink fountain. Out of each letter in the word Google flowed a different blend of liquors! I guess it serves two purposes ;-)

xoxo,

Favorite Party Item: Personalized M&Ms

Please tell me that personalized M&Ms are not the cutest things you have ever seen! On MY M&Ms you can create a custom order of M&Ms to have any phrases or pictures crafted on the hard candy shell.

All you have to do is walk through the easy steps: Choose an M&M color, select an image or phrase you'd like on the candy shell, and then choose the packaging you want it in! Check out my personalized M&Ms below!!

I chose the cute tin box to put them in, but they have over 5 different packaging options to choose from.

Lay these cute treats out at your party and you will definitely personalize your guest's experience :-)

xoxo,

Favorite Party Item: Inflatable Bounce Houses

Remember the elementary days when you had that super fun Spring Carnival?! What was the one activity you loved to do? For me, it was bouncing in the inflatable bounce houses!

If you're planning an outdoor party for kids, these inflatable bounce houses are great forms of entertainment. One great place that I found called A Child's Joy,has everything from a huge obstacle course inflatable bouncey....

to even a huge inflatable slide just to name a few!

Best of all, it's not just inflatable bounceys that they offer, but they can provide you with a full package of stuff which includes a popcorn machine, cotton candy machine, tables, chairs...YOU NAME IT! You can even bargain a party package price!

Look in your city for the nearest Inflatable Bounce House Rental store and I promise if you have them at your party you will be the Life of the Party ;-)

Favorite Party Item: Cotton Candy Machine

Want to make your next party, especially kid or pink-themed party, a hit?! Bring on in the Cotton Candy Machine! I am so in love with this portable sugar machine. It's cute, pink, and fluffy and melts in your mouth (and is sticky in your hand)! If a Cotton Candy Machine is too expensive to buy, your nearest party rental store is likely to have one for you to rent or you can buy a cheap Cotton Candy Maker here.

Photos for the Keeping

Summer marks a time to gather together with your loved ones to celebrate the union of Mr. & Mrs. Whether this moment is on the sandy beaches of La Jolla or the green, scenic views of Seattle, the memories will be unforgettable. They will especially be unforgettable with the efforts of talented photographers.

One of my favorite photographers I have had the pleasure of seeing their work is Hollye Schumacher Photography. Based out of Phoenix, AZ, Hollye Schumacher Photography is able to capture every part of a special moment treating it like fine art.

To learn more about Hollye Schumacher Photography visit the site or blog here!

Favorite Party Item!!

Trying to dress up your food?! I found just the answer to make your food look, well, uh, DIVALISCIOUS!!

Lavish Bliss Boutique sells super cute food trays for any occasion! "Jazz up a table for any gathering with a Diva Tray. Whether you use it for a birthday party, wine night, family pizza night in front of the tv or Girls' Night In, your tray will surely stand out! This tray measures 14" x 18" "

I'm sure Beyonce would approve ;-)

Favorite Birthday Decoration: Paper Lanterns

To be quite honest, paper lanterns are my favorite decorative piece for all occasions, not just for birthdays! When you are thinking about having a high focal point, paper lanterns are the way to go.

Paper lanterns come in all shapes and sizes and it is fun to use them to enhance your theme colors.

You can purchase paper lanterns just about anywhere! I personally love getting them at Michaels, Party City, Martha Stewart, or Target. All you need is some chicken wire and tape (which you can also obtain at the aforementioned stores) and you are set.