Cinderella Party

http://www.wishuponaparty.com.au/#!cinderella/c24x

Out of all the Disney princess movies, my daughter first adored Cinderella. Disney's new version of Cinderella will be in theatres in March 2015.  

The following items have been put together in a package for hire for little princess who dream of 

carriages and glass slippers and being a princess on their birthday...

The story of Cinderella would have to be the catalyst to all little girls with an obsession of shoes.

This glass slipper table decoration lights up with a magical sound when you press the slipper.

Regal blue chair covers with gold sashes.

These chairs suit up to the age of 8 years.

BPA free, eco friendly Cinderella plates are used in this themed package.

A Cinderella gown complete with choker on a mannequin stands in front of a pink 

lemonade stand which also comes in blue and white

More miniature glass slippers.

Gold drapes frame the setting.  

This package comes with 10 chairs including the throne.

It can however comfortably seat up to 14 children.

A tiny blue bird sitting in a cage.

These items are available for hire in Perth, Western Australia at

www.wishuponaparty.com.au/#!cinderella/c24xrn 

Sugar Plum Ballerina

With Christmas fast approaching, I could not help but be inspired by the story of The Nutcracker.  This time each year in my home, the movie Barbie in the Nutcracker is brought out and the twirling begins! What little girls does not dream of being a Sugar Plum Princess. I cannot help but indulge them.

I came across this gorgeous pink and gold brocade fabric in a thrift shop which became the basis of the colour scheme. I sewed the brocade to make these stunning table runners.  I have a personal love of all things polkadot.

I love these beautiful soft lilac ballerina's with their pom pom skirts.  They float so gracefully above the table setting.

Regal touches of gold with the sashes and candelabras.

This ballerina lemonade stand comes as an additional upgrade with the hire of the Sugar Plum table setting...... to make things all the more sweeter.

You can find these items available for hire in Perth, Western Australia at

http://www.wishuponaparty.com.au/#!sugar-plum-princess/c1iyu

Frozen Decorations for Stage Settings

Like many mothers of little girls, I could not help being drawn into the magic of the Disney movie Frozen. So I was delighted when I was approached through a mutual friend to set up a Frozen stage setting for a school social event. The request came after I posted on my Facebook page a Winter Wonderland picture from a previous Christmas set up done for a Christmas function.

 I would have to say it was probably one of the most fun set ups I have ever been requested to do. I just love the excitement and curiosity of children and listening to all the comments and ooohs and aaaahs.    It makes all the loading, carting and set up time worthwhile. 

I love the process of seeing something come together.

These gorgeous honeycomb spheres were purchased from The Reject Shop.  They hang from the willow branches of my handmade trees.

I set out to find items to make an ice fountain.  I really wanted to make a large one but carting would have been an issue.  So I found some plastic bowls from Bunnings along with some plastic garden pots. Then I went to the paint section and bought some small sample pots of paint that were on the mistinted rack.  They are great for little craft projects.  After painting a sealer/binder and a couple of coats of base paint, I sponged a coat of white using a sea sponge.  I also purchased some clear silicone and a silicone gun.  I wanted the fountain to have an ice crystal look.  I found bags of  clear plastic crystals from Red Dot and siliconed them to the edges of the bowls.  I plastered a cardboard tube into a small plant pot at the top of the fountain for the "spray" to sit into.  This was found at a local party shop for around $5.

To make the fountain glow I used 3 battery operated lights covered with transparent white fabric.  I had intended to use blue cellophane but the fabric created a softer look.

I love creating magical ponds.  I used to use mirrors but I am always taking into consideration safety.  This pond is created by using layered fabric edged with foliage.  Battery operated lights sit underneath the shear fabric and can be set on either the flash setting to look like flowing water, or left to just glow.

Placed inside the water lily is a flower light which flashes different colours.

Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for this amazing Olaf.  He was made by Cate from South Coogee and is made from plastic bags and tape.  I am in the process of making my own large Olaf substituting the inner plastic bags for foil so Olaf can be moulded to sit easier.  However, I don't think he will turn out half as good as this.

These items are available for hire at http://www.wishuponaparty.com.au/#!frozen/c38i 

Princess Parties

Once Upon a Time...
Princess Parties

I would have to say that the most satisfying thing
 about decorating for children's parties is seeing their little faces
as they walk into the room.
I was told by a parent on a recent princess set up that
one little princess in particular sat in awe within the setting for
the whole party and sometime thereafter.
I just love being involved in bringing a child's imagination to life.

Princess parties in particular are my favourite and can easily be
mixed with fairy decorations to make a fairy princess party.
Below are some items used to create a princess pavilion and garden.

Canopy netting can be used to create a draped pavilion.
Pink outdoor torches serve as posts for the pavilion.

I have to make special mention of this beautiful wishing well.
My lovely mother went to church woodwork lessons over a
period of weeks to make this for me.
Many a little princess or fairy have sat upon a mushroom beside it
 to wind the handle and make a wish.

It couldn't look more perfect with an iridescent dragon fly sitting upon the 'water'.

This royal chair never fails to win the heart of all little princesses.
It even sounds a royal trumpet upon sitting.

Little "glass" slippers sit upon a vintage style cushion.

To create a garden, boxes of flowers are
 surrounded by organza fabric in green, pink and lilac.

A princess garden would not be complete with roses...

and butterflies.

Mermaid Parties

 

Under the Sea...

Mermaid Parties

Every little girl at some point dreams of being a mermaid sitting by a jewel covered rock pool.

It was easy to get inspired initially by blue and green shades of organza fabric.  I love the way light reflects on this beautiful fabric making it look like waves of colour.

These plaster shells are an ornament found in the garden section of a discount store.
They have been painted with a mother of pearl paint to give it a pearl lustre. The plastic ball has also been painted with mother of pearl. 

A palm tree with pearlescent sea coloured balloons.  

Fabric fish swing as if swimming in the breeze.  

A rock pool surrounded by organza, shells and a string of "water bubble" lights.

Palm trees made from paper mache and faux leaves found in the 

decorator section of various discount stores.

Strings of necklaces and flower lei's with mermaiden hand mirror.

Fairy Parties

I began decorating for children's parties 5 years ago.  It was a business born partly from necessity, mostly from passion.  I was lucky to be able to combine several of my loves ... parties, decorating, theming and the sourcing of secondhand treasures.  

I have always created rather elaborately themed and decorated parties for my children. Having 2 girls, it was only natural for things to begin with flowers and frills.

It all began with fairies...

Fairy Parties

Hosting a party for your little fairy does not have to be of great expense.  To make a fairy garden, I began by sourcing artificial flowers and foliage and a rainbow of coloured organza curtains from opportunity-shops and garage sales.

An old oval mirror in a wooden frame, painted green and surrounded by foliage, became a pond.

  

Off cuts of fabric were made into lily pads and toadstool cushions - upon which sat pre-loved fairy ornaments, sprinkled with fairy dust ...

... and also hidden among water lilies.

In planning a themed party, you need to begin sourcing your decorations well in advance.  You can never be sure what you will find in an op-shop.  I have come across so many amazing and wonderful items in building my party themes. My finds have not been limited to pre-loved items.  Cheap gift shops are a great place to find multiples of gorgeous flowers, windmills, lanterns and vines to name just a few.  

You can never have too many butterflies. ...

When hosting children's parties, safety is always a priority.  Children cannot help but interact with their surroundings so with this in mind, I always use items that are lightweight and will not harm if a breakage occurs or items fall over.  Movable decorations are mostly items that are made of fabric, hard cardboard or plastic.

The simplest of things can be made beautiful with a coat of paint, a sprinkle of glitter and a rainbow of ribbons.

You do not need to be limited to the outdoors to create a fairy garden.  You can create an enchanted space anywhere.

Most of all, when putting things together remember that in the eyes of a child, everything is magical, so things don't need to be perfect.