Events by Design...

Day 12: Could it Get Any Better?

Day 13: Drink & Be Merry!

Day 14: More Sweetness to Come

Day 15: Let the Games Begin

Day 16: Things of Glory

2011-10-16T08:47:00.003-04:00

Today, I'm finding inspiration in the most mundane,

and yet miraculous things of all.

Spotting a woodpecker from my kitchen window.

Hearing the sweetest words from a child.

A hot breakfast with lots of laughter to share.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow streaming through the house sung so beautifully.

The leaves giving their curtain call.

The faith of a child.

May we find the grace today to see glory all around us in the littlest of ways.

What are the things inspiring you today?

Day 15: Let the Games Begin!

2011-10-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

Last but not least, a circus party should always include some fun games!

I think the most fun part of a carnival or circus themed party is the games that you can plan. You can create a unique atmosphere simply by having several areas set up with interactive games, varied to the age group of the guests coming.

For a preschool aged carnival, you could have some simple stations, such as "Bean Bag Toss", "Knock Down", "Pin the Tail on the Lion" or even a "Dress Like a Clown" dress up area.

At a preschool carnival party I did a while back, the guests enjoyed decorating their prize bags as they arrived. It was a simple way to get the kids engaged from the beginning!

Or for older kids or adults, you could have more interactive and challenging areas set up. You can tweak it to your age group, child's personality, or simply what you want the party to feel like.

To give the party that carnival feel you can make signs for each game,

so the kids feel like they're visiting each station and game of the carnival.

Here's a pretty extensive list of carnival games and activities that have variations and ideas for each game. Or you can come up with your own. The possibilities are endless!

We're half way through our 31 Days to an Artful Event. I hope that you'll join me this coming week as we enter into week three of our journey!

Previous 31 Day Posts:

Day 12: Could it Get Any Better?

Day 13: Drink & Be Merry!

Day 14: More Sweetness to Come

Day 14: More Sweetness to Come!

2011-10-14T00:00:00.003-04:00

So, just when you thought there wouldn't be any more sugar added to this party...

Instead of a traditional birthday cake, the candy bar buffet is such a cute way to continue the carnival theme. Buy candy in bulk, and then display it in glass containers.

Set out bags for guests to fill as they'd like. The candy buffet can be the prizes for the games, and also a tasty favor to take with them. Enjoy the sweetness for days to come!

Catch up on all the 31 Day Posts!

Day 12: Could it Get Any Better?

Day 13: Drink & Be Merry!

2011-10-13T00:00:00.003-04:00

Drinks are easy to forget about when you're planning a party. You get so focused on food and games, that they can easily go by the way side. However, planning for them is another step to making your event a great one!

How cute are these straws?

I think cute drinking straws are one the most fun new party trends. I mean, so simple, but so fun...it's like every time you take a sip, you get to have a little party (and you wonder why I'm an event designer).

Remember how much I love tins to hold drinks?

This circus themed beverage station caught my eye!

The beverages for an event are almost as important to plan for as the food. People may not always want to eat, but they almost always enjoy a beverage of some type. And, drinks can add so much to your decor and atmosphere. Not to mention, it's just another way to continue carrying out the theme.

So, drink and be merry!

Continue with us on our 31 Day Journey to an Artful Event tomorrow!

Day 12: Could it Get Any Better?

2011-10-12T00:00:00.011-04:00

I told you about how I bribed my son with visions of popcorn and other carnival goodies. But I didn't tell you that really I was just tempting myself with all my favorite carnival food.

Ok, you might think, CARNIVAL FOOD?!? That's so much work!!!

But, really, carnival food is the easiest of all to plan for...(not necessarily the healthiest, but just add some fruit and veggie trays to the spread...remember the trick!)

1. Hot Dogs. Throw them in a crock pot for a couple hours on high. Set out fixings near the crock pot, so people can design their own dog. Done.

2. Popcorn...Easy! Either pop it ahead of time, or have it popping in a popcorn machine while the carnival is in progress (always adds to the carnival atmosphere!)

3. Cotton Candy...so pretty and a carnival favorite!

4. Old Fashion Donut Holes! They are so yum...especially cute with fun bags.

5. Another fair favorite are those big soft pretzels. This recipe looks pretty great!

6. Snow Cones! Rent a snow cone machine or even get your own machine to enjoy for several parties to come.

7. And last, but definitely not least, splurge with some delicious candy or caramel apples to really give it that carnival feel. You could wrap them up individually and give as favors, or just have them as another treat during the party.

*side note: Candy Apples are also very popular for

fall weddings for a creative and fun twist on a favor!

Check back tomorrow for the next step in the planning of our Vintage Carnival Party!

Catch up on all the 31 Day Posts!

Day 11: Come One, Come All...

2011-10-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

After having been inspired by a pack of stickers,

I went on a hunt to find an artful invitation.

I knew Etsy would have more than enough options to find the perfect one. I simply searched for my theme ("vintage circus invitation") and up came a ton of choices.

I always love supporting a fellow artist, and it's so fun to be able

to carry out the theme of the event. To me, the invitation is like a

sneak peek into the event!

We were well on our way to making this circus party a grand celebration!

Catch up on the 31 Day Posts!

2011-10-10T00:00:00.002-04:00

Have you ever designed a party around a pack of stickers?

Ok, maybe it's just me, but I love these. I found them for about .14 cents each this summer, and decided that someway, somehow, I was going to design a vintage circus party.

When we were first pregnant with my oldest (about 8 years ago), we decided that we would be surprised, and not find out if we were having a girl or a boy. I didn't want to just do the same old green or yellow, safe gender neutral colors. I wanted to use reds and browns and amber, and sage. I wanted to use old antique toys and books to decorate. I couldn't stand all the choices at all the big box stores, and so for a while, it felt like it would never come together. But, then, we found this beautiful little blanket in the most unsuspecting spot.

And it was perfect. It was all I needed to design the sweetest little nursery for the little one growing in my belly. And she was a beautiful surprise when she came out. From the beginning I could tell she was a star, so the vintage circus theme seemed just perfect for her.

Then, when we found out our second was going to be a boy, I saw no need to deter from using the same nursery things. So my dear friend surprised me with this fun lamp she found.

A show stopper indeed. I remember pulling it out of the diaper box it had been wrapped in, and exclaiming...

"This is so much better than diapers!!!"

So, there you have it. My love for vintage circus must run deep. I'm not big on the cutsie animal themes, or the character clothes, but give me a bear drinking tea any day.

Since those days, my babies have grown, and almost outgrown any care for things circus related. But, when I told my son we'd have fresh popcorn, tug o war, and relay races, he got pretty excited.

So, off we go to have another adventure this week on our 31 day journey to an artful event. Won't you come along?

Previous 31 Days Posts:

2011-10-09T00:00:00.004-04:00

Today begins a new week in our 31 day journey! I'm so glad to have you along with us in celebrating an artful event!

I've decided that Sunday will be our day of inspiration. I love taking a few minutes on Sundays to be inspired. Sometimes it happens through visits like this. Or sometimes it happens while I'm peeking at blogs. But, today, I found this show stopper.

Ok, maybe I'm the last to know (which wouldn't surprise me), but Oh My, HEAVEN!!! I couldn't be happier to find Styled. It's an absolutely amazing online magazine. Drooling, I tell you. Their tagline is...

design. create. celebrate.

Hello. Could you be any more me?!? (sense the Chandler tone of voice) I don't think it could be. So, stop reading here, and go indulge!

Previous 31 Days Posts:

2011-10-08T00:00:00.006-04:00

The mason jars held the utensils in the berry box, with some pumpkins and mums.

I embellished the table with my rooster sign holder and chalkboard signs.

Simple. Casual. Comfortable. Good.

Even as simple as I felt like it was, everyone raved about how great everything was. You'd be surprised at what impresses people. And the pulled pork sliders were amazing. It was exactly what my client wanted, which was all I cared about. Artful success!

Previous 31 Days Posts:

2011-10-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

So, in my crazy mixed up brain, I had originally thought that I would juggle the normal kids afternoon transportation and activities along with handling the preparation and set up for this dinner. However, thankfully, a few days before the event, my husband offered to handle picking up the kids and taking them to all their things so that I could simply focus on my work.

Later, I thanked him profusely, and screamed at myself, "What in the world were you thinking??!! There would have been no way you could have done both!!!" Even though I've been doing this for several years now, I still have to be reminded to fully devote time...solid time (not distracted time) to accomplish the task at hand.

Things always take longer than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to gather supplies, carry things to and from the car, and everything in between. Even if you have the best laid plans and preparations, but don't give yourself enough time to carry it out, you will not be able to fully enjoy setting everything up. Instead of being able to artfully arrange a tray, or step back and decide how the table will look the best, and where all the food should go, you are rushing to simply get it on the table!

The stress of not having enough time can easily suck all the joy out of the event design. To allow the event to be artful...you have to allow for the time it takes to let it be. Funny how that works.

Come back tomorrow to see the wrap up of this event. Then we'll continue our 31 Days journey with a little inspiration on Sunday, and then enter into a new event on Monday! If you want to catch up from previous days this week, check out the links below.

Previous 31 Days Posts: