Fall Party Ideas and Favors

fall harvest_astrobrightspapers

For us, fall is a time for football, family, crisp air, colorful leaves, scarecrows and fall harvest food such as apples, pumpkins and squash.

And, just like Anne of Green Gables, we, too, are so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers. So, we decided to celebrate all the things that make fall special…and we did it with Astrobrights Papers.

Honestly, {even with Jenna being obsessed with paper} we often overlook paper when it comes to party decor. We think about it for invitations and labels, but we forget that color paper can add creativity to every aspect of a party, from invitation to decor and table settings to favors. After our Fall Harvest party, we’ve come to the conclusion that…
1. We love Astrobrights Papers.
2. Color paper is a quick and cost-efficient way to customize and add color to any celebration.
3. Everyone needs to #ColorizeYourParty.

Here’s how you can #ColorizeYourParty for fall.

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Activity

  • Keep kids busy with a Dress Up the Scarecrows Activity. Find a scarecrow and clothing template like this, print on colorful Astrobrights Papers, then cut. The kids will feel so proud when their ‘art’ is on display too, so make sure to glue the scarecrows to a wooden popsicle stick, and stick them in a bale of hay.

DIY scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

DIY scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Favors

  • Find a cute way to display the favors. We found that the best way to display our favors was a rotating card holder, of course colorized with cut-out images of harvest foods and labeled with cut-out paper letters.
  • Spread the love, and harvest food with seeds inside DIY pumpkin, apple and squash seed packets. Here’s a free seed packet template and how-to instructions are below.
  • Share the beauty of fall by printing seasonal photos of fall on white Astrobrights Papers, and add your favorite quote  to make it a piece of art.
  • Share your most delicious fall recipes with DIY pumpkin, apple and squash recipe cards designed by one of our own, Jenna. Print the fall recipe cards with this free template.

DIY seed packets_Astrobrights Papers

DIY seed packets_Astrobrights Papers

DIY seed packets_astrobrights papers

DIY seed packets_astrobrights papers

DIY recipe cards_astrobrights papers

IMG_6928

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Decor

  • Create a colorful background. Since we loved the quote “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” so much, we wanted it to be a main focus. We used our Silhouette electronic cutting tool to cut words from the quote out of yellow Astrobrights Papers, then taped an orange piece of paper behind it for a pop of color in the background.
  • A fall party wouldn’t be complete with colorful leaves, so make sure to layer and scatter paper leaves everywhere.
  • For a full harvest effect, create a Fall Market sign. Cut out paper pumpkins, squash, apples, letters and numbers and tape them to a vintage window pane so guests feel like they enjoying a stroll through a lovely fall market.
  • Incorporate seasonal crops such as apples, pumpkins, squash, sunflowers, lanterns and bales of hay.

diy fall market sign_astrobrights papers

fall harvest party_astrobrights papers

fall harvest party_astrobrights papers

Tell us, how will you Colorize Your Party? For inspiration, check out Astrobrights Papers on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram.

Colorize your party_astrobrights papers{images via j. sorelle}

j. sorelle received products and/or payment for this post, however we love Astrobrights Papers even if they didn’t send us product, and all opinions are ours, we promise. View all of Astrobrights vibrant colors here

Bear Party Activities and Crafts for Kids

Before the bears go back into hibernation, let’s celebrate and learn about the furry, cuddly and powerful nature of bears.

Disneynature Bears takes us on a journey where a mother bear raises her young cubs in the big and beautiful world of Alaska. And, just like humans, she does her best to guide, protect and teach her young so they can one day survive on their own.

With the recent DVD release of Disneynature Bears, here’s 10 great ways to immerse yourself and your children into the wonderful world of BEARS this fall.

beary good day_jsorelle

1. Rent or buy, Disneynature’s Bears on DVD now.

2. Throw a mini Bears Party for your home movie feature, followed by a Bears Scavenger Hunt {free printable here} like we did.

3. Serve delicious and nutritious bear-inspired snacks for your hungry cubs that highlights magazine shared.

4. Crafty Morning shows us how to make adorable paper bear plates with these instructions.

5. Did you know a bear’s sense of smell is 2,100 times stronger than that of a human? You can learn many more facts about bears by downloading free activity pages from Disneynature Bears.

6. What kid wouldn’t want to end the day with a treat – gummy bear popsicles? Yes, please. Foodbeast invented the yummy and colorful idea.

7. Read any and all of the creative and sweet Bear Books by Karma Wilson such as Bear’s New Friend. This book series is a household favorite around here.

8. Make sure your little ones stays warm as the weather starts to turn cold with this Bear Scarf Hat.

9. Karma Wilson’s charmed bear character needs some help dressing for the seasons. Print the sheet for a fun activity for your kids.

10. Katarina’s Paperie keeps the day bubbly with DIY honey bear bottle bubbles.

{images via Highlights, DisneyCrafty Morning, Foodbeast, Amazon, Zappos, Karma Wilson and Katarina’s Paperie}

Frozen Party and How to Train Your Dragon Party

fire and ice party_jsorelle

The obsession this year for my kiddos was of course, Frozen, and How To Train Your Dragon. So, for this year’s birthday bash, Fire and Ice seemed quite appropriate. Family and friends joined us as we celebrated the lives of our three beautiful children, who are the joy of our lives…and growing up too fast. More DIY’s to come, but for today, the photos.

Frozen Ideas

  • Activity for the girls after swimming was making their own ice bracelets with ‘ice crystals’ or clear beads. I wish I could take credit for this idea. Paging Supermom was the inspiration behind this.
  • Decorations included a DIY fringe North Mountain backdrop, spray-painted white branches with sparkly silver snowflakes hanging and custom water bottle labels by Fleur de Lis.
  • The cake was also the vision of Paging Supermom – y’all are good! It was the hit of the day for my daughter and her friends, and it was super easy to do the morning of the party.
  • Favors for the girls were sequins crowns from Jo-Ann’s, Frozen puzzles from the dollar section at Target, a girly ring and a Frozen cd we made with 5 of the hit movie’s songs on it.

frozen party_jsorelle

elsa donut north mountain cake_jsorelle

frozen party_jsorelle

ice bracelets for frozen party_jsorelle

frozen party ideas_jsorelle

frozen party_jsorelle

frozen party favors_jsorelle

birthday girl_jsorelle

frozen birthday party invitation

you can buy the Frozen invite here.

How To Train Your Dragon Ideas

  • Activity after swimming was sword fighting with their new DIY shields and swords.
  • Decorations included a toothless face backdrop, dragons, Dragon hats courtesy of Michaels {Bry, the manager at the River Point Parkway location was amazing}, custom water bottle labels by Fleur de Lis, DIY Sharpie balloons and Rice Krispy treats with added wings {Krispy Wings}
  • Favors for the boys included DIY shields and swords {from Target}, Michaels Dragon hats we assembled and DIY Book of Dragons with a photo and information about each Dragon.

If your interested in either of the backdrops, email me because I don’t need them anymore. They are large pieces of wood covered in felt and tissue paper.

how to train your dragon party_jsorelle

toothless eyes from how to train your dragon

dragon swords_jsorelle

viking armour_jsorelle

how to train your dragon water bottle labels

dragon hats from michaels_jsorelle

krispy wings_how to train your dragon

how to train your dragon treats_jsorelle

how to train your dragon balloons_jsorelle

how to train your dragon balloons_jsorelle

book of dragons_how to train your dragon party_jsorelle

how to train your dragon party_book of dragons

how to train your dragons party_jsorelle

how to train your dragon birthday invitation

you can buy the dragon invite here.

fire and ice party_jsorelle

{images via j. sorelle}

worm pudding {recipe}

worm pudding_jsorelle

There is nothing my 6-year-old and 2-year-old son loves more this summer than worms, water and dirt {mud}.  And there is nothing my 4-year-old daughter loves more than sugar. So, for their recent birthday celebration at school, we made dirt pudding cups, which I lovingly call ‘worm pudding with a budding flower’ {my husband thinks the flower looks like the kind that opens up and eats people, but I was going for a tulip}. You decide for yourself, but whatever flower you think it is, make this dessert. So yummy.

chocolate mousse worm pudding for kids

Chocolate Mousse
{recipe by Kimi Hansen}
makes 13, 9 oz elegant plastic cups or more if you use smaller shot glasses

Ingredients
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups whipping cream
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla
Oreo cookies
13, 9 oz plastic cups
13 strawberries or other ‘flower’ fruit
13 gummy worms
Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers

How To
Use Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers {love these things} to draw grass on the outside of the cups. It dries almost immediately.
Add chocolate chips, vanilla extract and egg yolk to a blender.
Heat cream to a boil on the stove and then slowly add the cream to the other ingredients in blender.
Pulse ingredients together
Wait until it cools a bit before you pour in plastic cups.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. After the first hour or 2, stick a worm in the semi-hard pudding and continue to refrigerate.
Before serving, top with crushed Oreos
Use a straw or toothpick and add your ‘flower.’ It can be made with a strawberry like I did, with 4 slits on top and whipping cream on the inside, or even raspberries and blueberries.

worm pudding

worm pudding for kids

worm pudding with a flower

worm pudding with a flower

Just look at this chocolate, happy face. Pure joy.
chocolate mousse face

{images via j. sorelle}

Snowman Soup Recipe and Gift made with Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows

With the snow falling and cold temps, it’s the time of year for snowmen and hot chocolate – and this DIY gift is the best combination of both. Call them ‘marshmallow snowmen’ or ‘snowman soup’ – either one works. This makes for such an adorable gift or party favor for friends, family or teachers this time of year.

You’ll Need:
small glass jars with lids
festive holiday socks
hot chocolate {individual packets}
bag of mashmallows
buttons for the eyes
orange crayons for the nose
hot glue gun
pom ribbon

How To:
Glue two buttons on the jar {where you want the eyes to be}.
Use a sharp knife to cut the tip off the orange crayon.
Hot glue the crayon in the center of the jar {where you want the nose to be}.
Fill the jar with one packet of hot chocolate mix.
Fill the remainder of the jar with marshmallows until it’s completely full.
Add the jar’s lid.
Add the sock {the top of the sock – where the elastic is}. If your sock is long like mine, just cut it to the length you want.
Use a piece of ribbon to tie around the middle of the sock, so the snowman’s hat is complete.
Print these tags, printed by Fleur de Lis, attach…and give away with a smile on your face! Seriously, you have to download the tags – the poem is so, so adorable!

{images via Tutto Bella}