{Giveaway} A Fabulous Holiday Giveaway from WH Hostess!

I am beyond thrilled to announce today's giveaway! WH Hostess (aka The Party Dress) is generously offering P is for Party readers $50 to go towards their fabulous new line of holiday cards, invitations or accessories! Kelly's creations are modern and fresh and she uses only high quality printing and paper. Each design is touched by the designer to make sure it is just right. WH Hostess offers coordinating collections (address tags, gift tags, etc) as well as accessories to dress up your hostess gifts. Think wine bottle labels, large stickers for tins, gift stickers and tags. The party invitations are adorable and can be used for everything from a kids class party, to a cocktail party, to a formal dinner party.

Read below on how to enter!

Entering is easy! Here is what you need to do.

* Leave a comment below letting me know which item you have your eye on from the WH Hostess holiday catalog flip-book. Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each of your entries. The contest ends this Friday and all entries need to be in by 5:00 PM CST. Good luck!

* Do you "like" P is for Party on Facebook?! I would be honored if you would join me or let me know that you already are a friend.

* Do you "like" The Party Dress on Facebook as well? Let me know if you are a fan or just joined the party!

Playgroup Party: Operation Give Thanks!

My youngest, Conrad, is in a playgroup with the cutest group of kids and the most fun moms! I love when we get together every few weeks! I signed up to host the Halloween get together and decided at the last minute to make it about Operation Give Thanks as soon as I learned about the program from sweet Amy of Stem Parties. She is involved in the most amazing organization, Operation Shower. If you are not familiar with the group or would like to learn more, please visit their website.

My oh my...please forgive my photography skills!!! They are lacking. And apparently, I can't spell either. Read on for that side story!

Life has been hectic lately (in a good way!), so I was not able to work on the party until the last minute. I really wanted to use colors that you typically do not associate with Halloween parties and I also wanted to keep it cheerful since the party was for 2-year-olds. I decided on a color scheme of turquoise and orange and Kristy from Posh Pixels Design Studio SAVED the day. I sent out a Facebook plea at the last minute and she quickly came to my rescue with custom printables! And as I mentioned before, the OGT part fell into place the night before, so Kristy whipped up a sign to match the other paper goodies. You may recognize the design from Tanya's gorgeous rustic Halloween dessert table on Save the Date for Cupcakes!

***SO EMBARRASSED, but I cannot tell you how last minute the decor came together. I was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. It wasn't until the middle of the party that one of my friends let me know I placed the letters in the wrong order on TREAT!! Woops! =) *****

I brought Conrad's bookshelf from his room into the playroom to serve as our treat area. I have loved seeing how people repurpose furniture into their party design and I wanted to give it a try as well.

It was sugar overload for the kiddos! I served cupcakes with candy pumpkins on top, mini powdered sugar donuts, the most beautiful and delicious sugar cookies made by a friend, and specialty popcorn from Chocolate Pizazz. I also had clementines out to balance out the sugar. Of course we did not have many takers on those!

As an activity, I purchased inexpensive wooden masks from Michael's and set them out on a craft table along with an assortment of markers. The kids loved scribbling all over them!

I know Halloween has come and gone, but this color scheme AND the amazing charity the party benefited can be used all year long!

Sources:

Custom printables - Posh Pixels Design Studio

THANK YOU Kristy for coming to my aid at the last minute!!!

Cookies - Nathalie Cook (Houston area), tcookiv@yahoo.com

Popcorn - Chocolate Pizazz

Craft materials, cupcake wrappers and ribbon - Michael's

A Pumpkin Orange Thanksgiving Table

I absolutely adore this time of year and I am so excited that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Pumpkin orange has always been a favorite color of mine. In fact, I originally had pumpkin orange pillows made for our living room sofa and the head chairs at our dining room table are monogrammed in the color as well. So, naturally, I am drawn to tables that feature this beautiful color!

If you love the color too, build your Thanksgiving table around this seasonal shade and create a gorgeous setting by mixing it with a neutral wheat tone. Start with a simple jute placemat and layer solid dishes on top (or use your China if it happens to posses the orange!). I love the idea of painting a single initial on hand-size pumpkins to serve as a place card. The addition of wheat sprigs give each place setting an additional special touch. Then, gather roses in various shades of orange and place them in vases of different sizes to alternate heights. Finish the table by setting miniature tiger stripe pumpkins between the vases.

Have fun with the menu and offer your guests delicious pumpkin inspired dishes such as pumpkin soup and these adorable mini pumpkin cakes drizzled with maple icing. Wilton sells a baking pan to ease the process. A nice favor for your friends and family would be to offer them each one of the table vases. This would be a much appreciated gift and will help you clear the table as well!

image credits:

pumpkin place card {bhg}; monogrammed napkins, green beans, mini pumpkin cakes (southern living); pumpkin soup, vases on table, orange rose arrangement {st. louis entertains}; wheat invitation {fine stationery}

Where I find Inspiration

People often ask me where I find inspiration when I begin to style a party. I honestly find inspiration everywhere...magazines of all kinds, peoples' houses, fabric, books, online...the list could go on. but I do find myself turning back to this picture time and time again.

I first spotted this page layout while reading House Beautiful and I have already blogged about it here. I finally scanned in the actual image from the magazine to share with all of you! the color combinations are gorgeous! When I look at the picture, my mind starts turing with one party idea after another. I wish I could get my hands on the actual jpeg, so you could see the vibrant colors come through!

Thank you to LA PLATES for dreaming up such beautiful color combinations!

{Photoshoot} Swanky Swirls & Vintage Pearls

Sugarsticks Parties was asked to design a tablescape for a Swanky Baby Vintage spring line photoshoot and the result was absolutely swoon worthy! The theme of the party was "vintage with a sprinkle of Southern charm" and the shoot took place in an old pecan orchard which lent to the vintage vibe.

* All of the dreamy sources of the photoshoot are listed at the bottom *

You can read more about the gorgeous photoshoot here, on Sugarsticks Parties blog!

Vendor Guide:

Photography - The Picture Ladies

Outfits & hair accessories - Swanky Baby Vintage

Paper Goods - Sugarsticks Parties

Cake stands - Rosanna Inc.

Straws & baking goods - Bake it Pretty

Baker's twine - The Twinery

Logo cookies - Allyson Jane Designer Desserts

Burlap runner and napkins - Sweet Tea and Linen