From Love the Day

From Kiki’s List via Love the Day

From Wonderfully Made Events via Pizzazzerie

From Minted and Vintage via Hostess with the Mostess

From Homespun Hostess via The Party Wagon

From Cantinho da Maja via Bird’s Party

From Jessica Downey via The TomKat Studio

From Hello Love Designs via Catch My Party

P.S. Have you subscribed to my blog yet? I just introduced a free gift for subscribers — my new eBook, Birthday Party 101. Don’t miss out!

Nervous or overwhelmed at the idea of hosting a birthday party in your home? That’s what I hear all the time from moms who are thinking about hosting their child’s birthday party at home. And that’s why I wrote Birthday Party 101.

I am here to tell you: you can do it. Even if your house is messy, even if you need to repaint or recarpet or re-whatever. Never hosted a birthday party at home before? OK.

Maybe you think, “I don’t know what to do with 10 rowdy kids in my house.” Or maybe, “The parties I see on blogs look great, but I don’t have that kind of budget.” No problem. Brain surgery at home? No. Party at home? Heck yea. Let me show you how! (And if you just don’t have the space you really need, I’ll show you how to make an away-from-home party special, too.)

If you were a blog subscriber as of May 18, 2013, I’ve already emailed the eBook to you — lucky you!.

The book is about 60 pages long and includes …

Advice

• The Guest List
• Day & Time
• Drop Off?
• RSVPs
• How to Choose a Party Theme
• Picking Activities
• Getting Your House Ready
• How to Style a Dessert Table
• Creating a Backdrop
• How to Style a Dining Table
• Opening Presents
• Finding Just the Right Favor
• Gift Registries
• Write a Charming Thank You Note
• If Your Party Is Away From Home

Worksheets

• Budget
• Guest List
• Party Grocery List
• Gift List / Thank You Notes

 To-Dos

• Party Prep Checklist
• Party Schedule
• My Favorite Resources

 Want a copy of your own? It’s easy! Just subscribe to receive my blog via email. You’ll get:

• My custom parties
• Fabulous guest parties
• My step-by-step tutorials
• Party Manners advice
• Previews of our latest $19 Party Plans
• Notifications of sales
• Giveaways
• And Freebie Friday

The eBook is not an automatic download. Once a night, I’ll send the eBook to all new subscribers. If you sign up late at night, you’ll get the eBook the next day.

So excited to have you following along for all the fun! Sign up today, and don’t miss a thing.

From Caramel Potatoes

From Hubpages

This banner has solids and graduation caps. You can combine the colors to include both of your school colors.

From Snapfish

This is a great collection with banners, water bottle labels and more in fresh, warm tones.

From Simply Silhouettes

Cupcake toppers that include 2012, but just don’t use that circle.

From Moms & Munchkins

This is a full collection, perfect for kindergarten graduation.

From Ivory Bloom

Cupcake toppers and flags.

From Paging Supermom

Sweet pinstripe mini congratulations banner.

Why mini s’mores in a cupcake liner? Because they are messy, rich and filling in their traditional form. But we’re having a sleepover soon (Heaven help me) and so we HAVE to have s’mores. I just didn’t want the chocolate/marshmallow faces and achy tummies afterwards. So I dreamed up the mini s’more in a cup. (If you’ve seen something like this elsewhere, please don’t tell me!)

So here’s how NOT to make s’mores in a cup. Don’t make your own graham cracker crumb base. It tastes great, but is too buttery and crumbly. (What a shame that I have to eat this experiment!)

Ingredients / Supplies

Graham crackers

Hershey Kisses

Mini marshmallows

Cupcake or tart liners

Cupcake tins

Spray bottle and water

Round cookie or biscuit cutter (1-3/4 inch size)

Instructions

1 – Line your cupcake tin. I used cupcake liners because I always have leftovers around, but I think I might try to find something more shallow for our party.

2 – Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

3 – Unwrap your Hershey Kisses.

4 – Here’s where Google comes in. I typed in “round graham crackers” and found this blog post by Domestically Speaking. This idea is genius. Put a graham cracker on a microwave safe plate and spritz it with about 8 fine mist sprays of water.

5 – Immediately warm your cracker in the microwave for 35 seconds on high. Remove your cracker from the microwave. Immediately use your cutter to reshape the cracker into two circles. I found that pressing down and twisting back and forth worked the best.

6 – Gently push your cracker out of the cutter and place it in the cupcake liner. Repeat until all your cupcake liners have graham crackers.

7 – Put a Hershey Kiss in the center of each cracker.

8 – Put 8 mini marshmallows around the chocolate in a circle.

9 – Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Your marshmallows should have a toasty golden glow.

And that’s it — super easy! Lots of places for your kids to help you, too. They can line your cupcake tins, unwrap the Hershey Kisses, and arrange the mini marshmallows. Mine did all those tasks right along with me.

They’ll be taking these treats to honors day at school. Maybe I’ll even let our sleepover guests help make their own s’mores.

1 – Owl favor box by Cake-a-doodle-doo

2 – Mini travel chalkboard by Chic Mama Covers

3 – Personalized favor totes by Ellery’s Designs

4 – Owl ribbon by Katie Bird Studio

5 – Owl soaps by Favors by Angelique

6 – Zipper pencil case by SSK Designs

7 – Bottle cap necklace and charms by Badge Boutique

8 – Hand puppet by Maria Palito

1 – Mini tin by Mau Creations

2 – Wood yoyo by Apple ‘n Amos

3 – Superhero felt owl by Tiny Felts

4 – Child’s purse by One of Everything

5 – Bookmark by Sunlight Creations

6 – Coloring page by Tinch Design Studio

7 – Ponytail holder by Snuggle Bug Kidz

8 – Mini crayon holder by Baby Penelope

1 – Mini glitter cookies by A Cookie Jar

2 – Hair bow by Boyd’s Bow Creations

3 – Owl tote by Josie’s Kids

4 – Zipper coin purse by RKEM Designs

5 – Mini polka dot plush owls by Lily Rose Craft

6 – Headband by Sassy Aprons

7 – Felt hair clips by Masterpieces of Fun Art

8 – Large crayon roll by Kerri Creates