Isn’t that the most beautiful, magical thing you’ve seen in quite some time? Can’t you  just picture a group of tiny girls in fluttery tulle dresses, with gossamer wings, and flower wreaths perched on top of their curls; ooh-ing and aah-ing at the sight of these at your perfectly planned, perfectly executed fairy party?

I saw this project on Pinterest, and was absolutely inspired. It was making the rounds on Pinterest, and I saw it repinned dozens of times.  I knew that I had to make it, and share this project on the blog, so that people could start incorporating this project in their party plans. I could envision it for all kinds of party themes for girls, and even some for us grown-up ladies, like baby showers, or bridal showers.  I found the instructions, and immediately set off for my local hobby store, to pick up what I needed.

Sadly, reality doesn’t match up with what my imagination produced. (As usual.) The end result of this project looks nothing like the picture above. If I had taken the time to look a little closer, I would have noticed, on closer scrutiny, that the image has obviously been Photoshopped to within an inch of its life, and couldn’t possibly be replicated in reality. But no; I looked at it and though,” Ooh, shiny! Eeeeee…… sparkly!”

Here is what the instructions call for, very basic stuff:

- Mason Jars

- Diamond Dust Glitter

- Glow-Sticks

So first and foremost, a word of caution; this project is capital D – Dangerous. I’m not saying it can’t or shouldn’t ever be attempted, but if you have any idea about attempting this as a party craft project with small children, you might want to rethink that.

The instructions seem very basic on first read. You cut open a glow stick and pour the contents into a Mason jar. Add a spoonful of diamond dust, and shake. The glowing liquid and glitter combine to coat the inside of the jar, creating a beautiful glowing, sparkling decoration. Easy, right? Except in practice, it’s a little more complicated.

First –  diamond dust is essentially ground glass. If you are not touching it with your fingers or hand, then no problem. But in the hands of young children whose fine motor skills are still being developed, or even in older kids who are just revved up and excited, spills are almost inevitable. I don’t know about you, but the idea of tiny shards of glass all over the place makes me feel a little faint, just thinking about it. Now, I did try a version of this project with super-fine glitter as well, to see how that worked. Unfortunately, with regular glitter, it is so fine and nearly weightless that it just ran down the sides of the glass jar. The diamond dust actually coats and covers the sides of the jar, and stays in place for the most part.

Second – you have to break the glass cylinder that is inside of every glow stick/glow necklace etc. that you use, to actually activate it. This means more broken glass, and cutting the thick plastic of the glow sticks themselves is quite difficult. On one of the jars, I used a glow necklace, and when I snipped it, some of the liquid splashed out right into my eye! It was very painful, and potentially very dangerous! Because I am not actively cruel, I won’t post a picture of my violent, bloodshot eye for you to see, but trust me. Not Pretty. Luckily I was wearing contact lenses which protected my eye to some degree, and after disposing of the contact and rinsing my eye with cold water for about ten minutes there was no serious damage. But again, nothing you would want to have happen to a child.

Third – The results just aren’t that exciting. It is sort of pretty, if you are able to get the mixture to evenly coat the sides. I did this project with my nine and twelve year old daughters, and they had mixed results. One was fine, and the other looked a little messy, and uneven. It just didn’t want to distribute well. It also doesn’t last long. Once the liquid is exposed to air (glow sticks last, because they are a vacuum – no air gets in the cylinders or necklaces) the glow effect is very short-lived. They glowed brightly at first, but then began to dim very quickly. I would estimate that they glowed for thirty to forty minutes, then it was done and over.

Here is what it actually looks like.

It’s pretty, and bright, and colorful, and will probably make some little girls go ooh, and aah. I took a picture of it in a dark room, on a black backdrop so you could see it in the best possible way. In the daylight it is not quite as bright, and the glass reflects any daylight or room light as well, which also makes is less impressive.  For an evening party or an outdoor sunset type of event, it could be quite nice, i think as a decoration.It just looks absolutely nothing like the picture that got me so excited to make it.

So, I’m not saying that this can’t be done, or even that it shouldn’t be done. I would strongly recommend that if you take on this project, do it carefully, with safety equipment (safety goggles, etc.) and do it without any little helpers. It is something that can be done relatively quickly, so it is possible that you could make it while your guests are involved in another activity, like eating cake or opening presents. You could also make them right before your party starts, as long as you plan on using them right away, while they are still pretty, and bright, just know that they won’t last for more than half an hour or so, and plan accordingly.

I really was disappointed that this project turned out to be kind of a dud. It seemed like such a fantastic idea. Like some of the other things on Pinterest that I get excited about:  elaborate cakes, surefire weight loss tips, or craft projects that would make Martha Stewart weep bitter, envious tears, it turned out to be not terribly realistic. Nonetheless, my love affair with Pinterest continues unabated. Someday I will make a decorative wreath out of hand-gathered driftwood and beach glass, or stay in a treehouse hotel in Thailand, or create a perfectly stylish outfit that still includes yoga pants. Someday. In the meantime, I will just keep pinning!

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Tracy Maher is a party planning guru and director of marketing for DiscountPartySupplies.com. She has a husband, three children, and a cat that should be registered as a lethal weapon. She throws many parties, mainly as an excuse to cook (and eat) a lot of food!

Summer is almost here and that means lots and lots of picnics – Memorial Day and Fourth of July are patriotic traditions and most of us celebrate with picnics and potlucks. There is nothing better than gathering with friends and family in a park or back yard to celebrate and have fun in the sun. At your next gathering, give this Patriotic Berry Trifle a try — it’s simple, light, and pretty. Unless you have tons of time (and more ambition than I do) feel free to use a store bought angel food cake for this recipe instead of making your own. No one will know, I promise.

Discount Party Supplies has tons of patriotic themed party supplies so be sure to take a moment to check them out and stock up for the summer picnic season. It really helps to set the tone for the day when you take the time to decorate your picnic tables — seeing red, white, and blue all over your party scene will remind everyone what you are celebrating and why. Have fun with it!!

Patriotic Berry Trifle

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 angel food cake, cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 cups heavy cream, at room temperature
• 2 pints blueberries
• 2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

Directions

Heat 1/4 cup sugar, the lemon juice and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond extract.

Brush both sides of each slice of cake with the syrup. Cut the slices into 1-inch cubes.

Beat the remaining 2/3 cup sugar and the cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and light. Add the cream and beat on medium-high speed until smooth and the consistency of whipped cream.

Arrange half of the cake cubes in the bottom of a 13-cup trifle dish. Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Dollop half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread. Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then sprinkle with more blueberries and top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a decorative pattern. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

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In case you hadn’t heard, Marvel’s The Avengers  broke box office records this past weekend and brought in over $200  million during its 3-day opening weekend. It doesn’t get any bigger than that! Avenger themed parties are among the most popular party trends right now – for obvious reasons. If you are planning a party worthy of a superhero,  grab your superhero cape and read on for some great party planning tips for your own Avengers Party.

Party Decorations

Start with the basics. We have all The Avengers themed party supplies ready for you. We have you covered with everything from the invitations, to the tableware, to the decorations, to the party favors, and even the thank you notes.

A bold color theme of blue, black, and red dominates most of The Avengers party supplies, but feel free to add some Hulk green to your party decorating. Add lots of brightly colored balloons in red, blue, white and silver. Drape chairs in blankets or beach towels in the same color theme to resemble superhero capes.

Get an extra Avengers tablecover from our website and put it on your front door – what a fabulous way to greet your party guests! You can also tape tablecovers on the walls around the room to add to the superhero feel of the room. You can never have too many superhero’s in the room.

Party Food

Superhero Sippers: Before the party begins, put a few drops of green, red, and blue food coloring and water in ice cube trays. When you serve a clear drink and let guests pick their own colored ice cubes, the drink transforms into that color. The kids will love watching their drinks change color.

Superhero Submarine Sandwich: Take long loaves of sourdough bread and assemble a sub worthy of a super hero. Cut loaves lengthwise lengthwise and fill them with layers of meat, cheese, tomato and lettuce. Stack ‘em high..your superheroes are bound to have super appetites after all their party games.

Make a cake that will really impress all of your guests. Bake your child’s favorite flavor birthday cake and decorate it like a pro with our The Avengers Cake Decoration Kit.The Avengers Cake Decoration Kit includes a plaque with 4 of the main characters, plus a large Avengers symbol, along with the Avengers title. You supply the cake, we supply the rest.

Party Games

Superhero Teams: Before your party games begin, separate your guests into teams and give each person an Avengers Mask (available here and pictured above). Kids will like being on Team Hulk, Team Ironman, Team Captain America or Team Thor. Really, does anybody ever need an excuse to put on a superhero mask?? Of course not! Everybody loves them. In fact, you might want to order extras for the mom’s and dad’s.

 The Avengers Party Games: A scavenger hunt is a good way to keep kids entertained at a party. This Avengers Party Game is a scavenger hunt themed game that can be used indoors or out. Kids need to find matching token cards as quickly as they can.  . Each game includes 8 search cards and 32 pieces to ‘hunt’ for. You can either have each guest do this game solo or for added fun, make it a team scavenger hunt. Who will win? Will it be Team Captain America or Team Ironman? Don’t count out Team Thor or Team Hulk…may the best team win!

Your Avengers themed birthday party is bound to be a smashing success. We would love to hear from you and see pictures of your parties. Be sure to follow us on Pinterest and we would love to have you post your pictures to our “Your Parties” board. Be sure to check out all our boards on Pinerest, you’ll find some great menu and decorating ideas for all of your parties and holiday celebrations. We can’t wait to see pictures of you and your guests having fun, Avengers Style.

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Give mom a break this Mother’s Day by making these sweet treats for a Mother’s Day brunch or better yet, serve her breakfast in bed!! Whichever you decide, she will definitely be feeling the love from these hot out of the oven baked goodies. The best thing about this recipe (besides it’s deliciousness) is the fact that it uses pre-made dough. You realize what this means, don’t you? This recipe is easy enough for Dad and the kids to make!!!!! Which, by the way, is the whole point of Mother’s Day…other people should do all of the cooking!!

Don’t forget to make Mother’s Day special for mom by putting just as much time and effort into her celebration as she puts into everyone else’s. Hint for Dads: Don’t forget to decorate and order your Mother’s Day party supplies.

Brown Sugar and Pecan Sticky Buns

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

We are only one month away from graduation!  If you have a graduation open house scheduled, consider setting up a candy bar for your guests. Candy bars are easy to set up, fun, and extremely popular. They can be economical, as well. It’s great if you have enough time to plan ahead and order specialty candies wrapped in made-to-order packaging with your grad’s name and graduation year on them, but if you don’t have the time or money for that you can easily get all the candy you need at your local bulk food store. Here are a few tips and things to consider when setting up a candy bar.

Presentation:

Decorate your candy bar table in colors to coordinate with the theme of your party (school colors, etc..). Don’t forget to check Discount Party Supplies for your decorating needs.

Make your display interesting by varying the height of the containers. Create height and depth by placing some of the containers on boxes wrapped in decorative paper or set a few containers on cake stands.

Consider where the candy bar will be located. Will there be a nice backdrop or wall behind it for pictures?  Or will it be open so people can access it from all sides?  Will it even have sides, or will it be round?  These are all good questions to ask yourself before deciding on a set-up design.

Candy:

Having a specific color scheme can really make your table feel like a special part of your party decorating.  Monochromatic palettes can also be striking and elegant.  Make sure to consider different hues and shades – for example, if your colors are red and brown, don’t be afraid of using different shades of reds and pinks.  If using primarily dark colors, try to use trimmings in lighter shades to bring energy to your table.

Consider the weather. Will it be hot or sunny?  Will the table be indoors or outdoors?  If indoor, will there be air conditioning?  If you’re worried about the heat, save the stress and avoid candy that could easily melt (unfortunately this includes most chocolates)!

Have fun with candy to make a few whimsical decorations for your candy bar.   Bundle large lollipops together like a bouquet of flowers and add a ribbon, or put marshmallows on skewers to simulate kabobs and place in a vase with greenery and bright ribbons– get as creative as you possibly can!

Containers and Supplies:

I love the look of clear glass apothecary jars to display the candy (plus the lids are an added bonus, especially if the party is outdoors) but use what you have or can find inexpensively. Vases are a great, easy to find alternatives, be sure to use wide mouth vases for easy access to the candy if you go this route.  If you would rather not use glass, small, colorful plastic  pails or wicker baskets can be an attractive alternative.   Don’t be afraid to use cake stands, flat platters, and other serving ware to give your guests a variety of ways to choose their sweets!

Don’t forget the necessary accessories for the self serve candy bar. Scoops, tongs, and other serving ware should be readily available.

Many guests will appreciate taking home the candy bags as party favors. Providing little cellophane  bags and twist ties are all you need to do.  Small, clear plastic cups or even napkins are also handy for guests who want to eat their candy at the party.

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

I am adding this to my Mother’s Day wish list. Have you tried the new Bloody Mary flavored vodka yet? I think this is brilliant! It is no longer necessary to choose between a martini and a Bloody Mary….this combines the best of both worlds in one pretty bottle.

For me, a Bloody Mary is my go-to brunch beverage…this Mother’s Day I am going to give this drink a whirl. How do I know this will be on my Mother’s Day brunch menu….because like most of you, I suspect, I am planning my own Mother’s Day brunch (easier than a dinner). Thus my excitement about this new Bloody Mary Martini. Planning my own party isn’t so bad….at least I am in charge of beverages!!  And martini glasses are so classy……

Bloody Mary Martini

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

It’s not often that I feel that I need to attach a warning to a blog post, but, well, this post calls for tequila. Of course, it’s served with sorbet (that’s innocent enough, right?) so it should be fine.

Some version of a margarita is practically a requirement for a Cinco De Mayo celebration and this simple, easy margarita is my choice for this year’s party. There are several reasons for my choice. First, it’s simple….so neither me nor my husband will be stuck behind a blender all night. Second, these are much tastier than the other simple choice of buying the ever-popular bucket-o-margaritas that we are all familiar with. Third, you can actually control how much (or how little) tequila you want to add. Fourth, and finally, this can so easily be adapted to a non-alcoholic drink by substituting club soda, seltzer water, ginger ale or a lemon lime soda for the tequila. I don’t know about you, but my kids just love a “mocktail” so they will get a kick out of having the alcohol free version to enjoy.

The warm weather has finally arrived just in time to celebrate Cinco De Mayo on my deck…with friends and family…some good music….good food…..and tequila, sorbet, and a spoon. Ahhhhhh…

 Lime Sorbet Margaritas

 Ingredients:

• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 pints lime sorbet
• 1/2 cup tequila

Rub the lime wedges around the rims of 8 stemmed glasses. Place the sugar on a small plate. Turn each glass upside down and dip the rims in the sugar to coat.

Place 2 scoops of sorbet in each glass and pour 1 tablespoon of tequila over the top of each. Serve with a spoon.

Tip: Let everyone dig in. For a nonalcoholic, kid-friendly version of the Lime Sorbet Margaritas, replace the tequila for each glass with 2 tablespoons club soda or seltzer.

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes. In her secret life, she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

Are you looking for a super easy, super cute treat to make for Cinco De Mayo? Look no further! These sombrero sugar cookies simply could not be easier to make, especially if you use refrigerated  sugar cookie dough – go ahead, no one here will judge you! The kids will have a great time helping you decorate these, as well. You might have to pipe the icing around the edge (use the tried and true method of cutting off the corner of a plastic baggie to squeeze the icing onto the edge of the cookie), but they can certainly dip the cookies in the nonpareils and add the gumdrops. Don’t worry about them making mistakes – mistakes were meant to be eaten.

Hey, do you know what would go well with these cookies?  A nice, frothy milk moustache!!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Cinco De Mayo Sombrero Sugar Cookies

Instructions

1. To make one, frost the edge of a sugar cookie with white icing and roll it in colored nonpareils.
2. Next, coat the bottom and the lower edge of a small white gumdrop with frosting. Roll the edge of the gumdrop in the nonpareils, then set the gumdrop in the center of the cookie.

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

Are you  throwing a birthday party for one of your kids anytime soon? Is it a slumber party? Oops…better make that a sleepover party if your child is a boy. I was recently informed by an indignant 9 year old that boys DO NOT have slumber parties, they have sleepovers. Whichever you are having,  a birthday party/slumber party or a birthday party/sleepover, you will need to feed everyone breakfast. These bacon – n – egg muffins are a great idea, easy to make and serve your overnight guests.

I have no doubt that you put a ton of thought into planning your birthday parties, starting from the invitations all the way through to the thank you cards. If you are hosting an overnight party, be sure to include party decorations in the breakfast/brunch fun as well. We have tons of cupcake decorating supplies, including cupcake wrappers and cupcake rings (so easy to transform these   breakfast muffins into a birthday treat!) to match many of our party themes so you can continue celebrating in style the next morning.

Bacon – n – Egg Muffins

(makes 12 servings)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet cook bacon just until it begins to crisp. Drain and reserve drippings. Return 2 tsp. drippings to skillet. For scrambled eggs, in a small bowl beat 3 of the eggs, 2 Tbsp. water, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cook eggs in hot skillet over medium heat without stirring until eggs begin to set on bottom and around edges. With a large spatula, lift and fold for uncooked portion to flow underneath. Cook until set yet still moist. Transfer to bowl; set aside.

2. Brush twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with some of the remaining bacon drippings. Set muffin cups aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt. In a separate bowl combine milk, oil, and remaining 2 eggs; stir into flour mixture. Fold in scrambled eggs and cheese. Spoon into muffin cups (cups will be full).

3. Place one bacon piece on each muffin. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until light brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. To loosen muffins from pan, run a small metal spatula or table knife around edges of muffins; remove from pans. Serve warm with maple syrup.

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Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).

Brave party supplies are here just in time for the much anticipated release of Disney Pixar’s Brave movie release. Whether you are hosting a Brave themed birthday party or a movie release party, Discount Party Supplies has everything you need to make your event a smashing success (invitations, thank you cards, banners, balloons, tableware, party favors, etc.). Read on for party tips to make your party a memorable one!

Party Decorations:

Medieval Theme: Transform your party location into a medieval forest/medieval castle complete with medieval dining hall. If your party is indoors, use plenty of green balloons and streamers to create a forest feel. If your party is outdoors, let nature be your best friend and take advantage of trees and bushes to enhance the forest feel.

Paint large pieces of cardboard or large cardboard boxes to resemble stone castle walls.

Medieval Dining Hall: Pay special attention to your food buffet and dining areas. Use lots of wrought iron candelabras (battery operated candles are an excellent choice here for fire safety reasons), large wooden serving bowls and wooden cutting boards as serving pieces to make it feel like a real castle setting.

Medieval Mugs: Delight your guests by serving beverages in these medieval mugs!

Party Food:

Medieval Feast: Serve foods like chicken drumsticks or turkey drumsticks – medieval diners didn’t have much use for eating utensils so keep your theme going by having lots of ‘grab and eat’ foods.  Round out your menu with some sturdy steak fries and some crusty dinner rolls.

Grog: Serve ginger ale or root beer floats in the medieval mugs. The ice cream and soda combo will create a nice froth that the kids will enjoy.

Mulled Cider: If ice cream floats are not what you are looking for, mulled cider is another great option in keeping with the period theme and is a good, kid friendly option.

Party Games:

Balloon Pop: For the balloon pop archery game, all you need is balloons of different colors and some targets to place them on. Blow the balloons up and place them on the targets, then award each color a different point amount. Let the party guests toss darts at the targets one at a time and give them points for each balloon they hit. At the end of the game, the person with the most points wins the game. Ensure appropriate adult supervision for safety’s sake.

Virtual Archery: If you have a Nintendo Wii , then you can play a virtual archery game . The Wii Sports Resort game  includes an archery game. You can buy a few extra controllers or ask that your guests with a bring their controllers.

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