Plan your Graduation Party...QUICK!

So you've been on the fence about having a big party to celebrate graduating and you finally caved in and decided to hold a bash. Make it simple on yourself and plan the perfect Grad Party that requires little to no effort. How you might ask can this be done....one answer: Party Rental company.

For my graduation I used a very affordable rental company in Scottsdale, AZ called Party People. Much like other party rental companies they had EVERYTHING from tables to table cloth linen right down to chairs, napkins, and beautiful party pieces and figurines to decorate your area with.

Keep your party simple yet sophisticated by incorporating these elements in your party:

(1) Choose the 2-3 main school colors from the school you're graduating from to incorporate in all of your decor. For example use the solid colors of your school as color choices for linen on the tables.
(2) Rent a couple of round tables to have in your backyard for people to sit at. I would suggest round tables to seat 6-8 with white rosen chairs (classy looking).
(3) Be sure to have a separate rectangular table to display YOU.

Have Grad photos, your graduation stole, grad cap, various rewards, and pictures on the table. Tie some balloons at the end of the tables to make it stand out as a focal point to the party.
(3) GET YOUR FOOD CATERED. Local grocery stores have great deals on sandwiches, meats, fruit platters, vege platters, and desserts.
(4) Say NO to cheap decorations from Party stores.

Stick to incorporating your school colors with minimal balloons, streamers, table confetti, and plates and napkins.
(5) Make sure you have music playing...Pandora is always a safe route if you have a mixed crowd coming.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2011!!

Creating a Custom Graduation Cap

With about 1,000+ college grads sitting in one room, it is next to impossible for your loved ones to find you during your graduation ceremony. Why not standout, while making a statement on your graduation day?! Custom graduation caps are the way to go.

You will need the following to make the above graduation cap:

(1) Graduation cap
(2) Fabric glue (Michaels or JoAnn Fabric & Craft Store)
(3) 1 pound bag of The Big One rhinestones (Michaels )
(4) Pencil
(5) Permanent marker
(6) Glitter
(7) Stencils (optional)
(8) Acrylic paint

To make:

1st: Take your stencil (or by free hand) write out whatever word you would like to appear on the top of your graduation cap. Be sure to use the pencil to lightly write the word. *Note, make sure that you figure out the front of the graduation cap and position your choice of a word so that it is readable for anyone who will be viewing it from above.

2nd: Take your permanent marker and trace around the OUTSIDE edges of the word if it is in cursive, outside and in between if it is regular alpha writing.

3rd: Take your acrylic paint and proceed to paint inside the word-allow to dry.

4th: Take your fabric glue and trace it along the permanent marker marks.

5th: Sprinkle glitter onto the glue you just traced along the permanent marker marks-allow to dry and then remove excess glitter.

6th: Spread fabric glue along a section of the grad cap.

7th: Place rhinestones one by one onto the section of the grad cap with fabric glue. Continue this process until the entire cap is filled with rhinestones. *Note: for corners where the rhinestones may not fit, use smaller rhinestones to fill in the space.

GRADUATION CAP COMPLETE! :-)