Vintage Party Goods

While trying to track down a fabulous vintage train party I remember seeing (did anyone else come across that recently? help!), I stumbled across a fantastic site for vintage party goods called Tin Parade. Tin Parade designs vintage-inspired packaged parties for children’s birthdays and showers. For example, the Oscar's Baseball party package includes:

Custom-designed invitations and matching thank you notes A 1954 replica tin baseball sign Old-style stadium bunting Two custom-made felt birthday all-star pennants Red tin ice tub Two ticking striped runners White tin plates with red trim A classic pinball-style baseball game centerpiece Popcorn cartons Vintage-inspired baseball caps

Baseballs

Love those pennants. Check out Tin Parade for more kids parties, bridal and baby showers, packages, and a la carte purchases (or just for a bit of inspiration!).

Pizza Party with a Twist

Here's a charming and simple table idea I found over at the K.I.D. Collective. It's from a supper club dinner, and what you're seeing is ingredients and directions written on a brown kraft paper "tablecloth." The theme for the night was Deconstructed Dinner and guests topped their own pizzas. I think I'll take a twist on this the next time I entertain fellow cooks or foodies and write out the recipe for a signature dish or meal on butcher paper next to the served item. Then I'll hand out recipe cards with the dishes from the night as a little parting gift.

Photos: The K.I.D. Collective
Spotted via Stephmodo

My Kind of Masterpiece

Lately I've been wishing I had some fabulous fine art for my walls, but nothing ever really struck a chord with me...until now. I believe it is the the most delicious art ever. Artist Paul Ferney collaborated with his wife Jordan Ferney to make these amazing oil paintings. Get a taste at their show opening and reception on September 3, 2010 at Ferney Art Studios at 766 Valencia Street in San Francisco. Any remaining paintings go on sale online on September 6th. For more info click here.

Bangin' Banner

This banner is the bees knees, and it's free! Download these fab alphabet bunting letters over at Ruffled and make one for your next celebration!

Yarn Lampshade

Are you seeking a unique look for a lamp? I'm impressed with this creative DIY tutorial by Pickles. Try it in various colors and sizes, or even without the lightbulb, for some interesting decor for your next party. It's a great look for budget decor.

Pink Lemonade Party

Click here for pics from an insanely cute party shown over at Kara's Party Ideas. 'Nuff said.

Friday Giveaway Winner: Space Age Stirring

Congratulations to Mari, winner of last week's Friday Giveaway! Have fun with your new swizzle sticks, Mari, and thanks for reading!

Who Stole the Cookie from the Pickle Jar?

Here's a fun idea for an easy potluck contribution. Bake up some homemade cookies and bring them with you in a recycled jar. This big boy came from Costco and used to hold pickles (wash it well, folks). Turn it from pickle to pretty by covering the cap with different strips of washi paper masking tape. Switch up the colors and patterns. I used two kinds of cookies—chocolate chocolate chip and chunky peanut chocolate cinnamon cookies—to give it a layered look. Cut a round of parchment paper with pinking shears if you want to add a paper collar under the lid. Because you're re-using a jar you'd probably just recycle, you don't have to worry about getting your dish back at the end of the event.

I {Heart} Wine

Here's a bit of pretty inspiration from Lovely Morning. Something as easy as arranging your wine corks in a heart shape (by shade) can make the most lovely table topper! And aren't we all looking for another good reason to drink that bottle of wine?

Friday Giveaway: Space Age Stirring

This week's Friday Giveaway is for a set of silver swizzle sticks that look fit to stir George Jetson's nightcap. I just like them because they're spacey. A while back I bought some for myself, plus a set of six for you (you being this week's winner). To enter to win, email me at hostess @ host-itnotes.com or become a Host-It Notes follower via Google Friend Connect—you'll find a link in the column on the right. Contest ends at midnight on Monday (PST) and I'll announce the randomly selected winner the next day. Bottom's up!

Happy Camper Birthday

Kara's Party Ideas featured an amazing party recently from Moore Minutes. It had a camping theme, and the details are amazing: A s'more dessert buffet (including s'more Poptarts and s'more goldfish), camo hobo sacks for the kids, and a canoe-load of marshmallows. Click on either of the site links above for more photos and details!

French Bistro Dishes From P.O.S.H

Don't you love these French bistro themed dishes? I found them over at P.O.S.H, a charming little shop. I'd pair them with dishtowels with a red stripe (I bought a set of those bad boys at IKEA recently), the silverware below, and serve up some tasty cassoulet. How do you say delicious in French? Get yours at P.O.S.H.

Friday Giveaway Winner: Punch It Up

Congratulations to Jamie S. on winning a copy of PUNCH! Hope you mix up something tasty this summer. Thanks to all who wrote in or became followers via Google friend connect. Being a follower puts you in the running for all future contests as well. Thanks for reading!

Delightful Decals

Just Something I Made has an elaborate—and amazing—post up that teaches you to create your own vintage-looking decals using inkjet printable water-slide decal sheets found at DecalPaper.com. JSIM's got downloadable designs, tips and more. Make something for yourself, then make one to give as a hostess gift. Click here for the full details.

A Cooler Kids Table

Cheap folding tables are great to keep around for entertaining emergencies. Top with a tablecloth and you've got extra seating or a dessert or buffet table. But that's the trick—you always have to cover up those eyesores. Or so I thought. At my Rock N Roll Sewing class last week we wrote our names in chalk directly on a black foldable table. Brightly colored chalk shows up great and wipes off easily. Naturally my wheels started turning—isn't this perfect for a kids table at any event? Kids have free reign to color the table, keeping boredom at bay. At any casual adult event you can trace outlines of placemats and silverware for a fun look, or write people's names in front of their plates in lieu of name cards.

Friday Giveaway: Punch It Up

I feel like it's been a while since we've done a Friday Giveaway. Let's change that right now! I like this book, so I'm giving another one away: PUNCH, by Colleen Mullaney. We're talking refreshing drink recipes here, so get it while summer's still in full swing.

To enter to win, email me at hostess@host-itnotes.com or become a Host-It Notes follower via Google Friend Connect—you'll find a link in the column on the right. Contest ends at midnight on Monday (PST). I'll announce the randomly selected winner the next day. Good luck!

You Better Work

My friend Morgan regularly sends me project ideas that involve sewing, but alas, it's a skill I lack. Until now! I just got back from Workshop SF's Rock N Roll Sewing class. It was my first time at Workshop, a joint that offers classes in hip crafts like DIY terrariums and screen printing. The Rock N Roll Sewing ladies put on some sweet tunes (think the sound track to Lost Boys) and taught us sewing machine basics, which we put to use making beer koozies. Naturally we needed to drink a few PBRs while we sewed so we'd have beer cans to slip into those koozies at the end of class.

The casual koozy

Now I'm not actually a beer koozy fan, but the skills we learned are versatile, and the basic pattern can be adapted to iPod cases, cell phone cases in more. More importantly, it was fun, great for beginners, and affordable. I recommend Workshop SF to any Bay Area readers looking to try their hand at sewing: www.workshopsf.org.

The classy koozy

DIY Favor—Ribbon Wands

Looking for an affordable DIY favor for a special party? Consider this ribbon wand tutorial found on Intimate Weddings. These are great for waving a bride and groom out the door at the end of a reception. Think outside the ceremony though—wouldn't red white and blue ribbons be fun on the 4th of July? Or make some for New Year's Eve to create some noise without the traditional hooting party blower (the wands are topped with a wee jingle bell). Finally, pink and lavender ribbon wands would make a great favor for any little girl's princess party.

Bunting Beautiful

This is my new favorite cake topper—miniature bunting by Kiki La Ru. Each little handmade topper is constructed from vintage/upcycled fabrics. Beautiful!

The shop was named Kiki La Ru after the designer's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. As a gal who jokingly named her cat "Lady Chianti Bootsykins," I can appreciate that! (I thought it would be funny to give my cat a silly show pony name. I was right.).

Find these fancy flags online via Etsy at Kiki La Ru — www.etsy.com/shop/KikiLaRu.

All Kitted Out

Forget fancy frosting—all you need to make stylish and sweet cupcakes it one of these fabulous cupcake kits from Meri Meri. They make even the lowliest of box cake and canned frosting look special. Find their cupcake kits here, or just browse at www.shopmeri.com. I assure you, it's all adorable.

Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Found via Cupcakes Take the Cake, these cupcakes by seelensturm are apparently tiered chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow frosting and colorful cotton candy. Topping your cupcakes with cotton candy—what a great idea! Remember this one when throwing a circus-themed party, a troll doll party, or any child's birthday party.

Backyard Party Tips

I just read a fun post over on Apartment Therapy with tips on hosting a big backyard bash. My favorite tip? Have your guests select two pre-written questions out of a bag. The answers combine to create their name for the day. Example: What was your first grade teacher's last name? and What's your favorite dessert? — Voila! You've been christened Gordon Cheesecake for the evening. Great conversation starter.

Click here for more suggestions.

Mason Jar Cupcakes and Mounties

The lines have been quiet here at Host-It Notes, as I'm off on vacation this week in Canada. I'm getting some great inspiration thanks to the hospitality of the resorts and hotels I'm visiting, and I'll be sure to bring it back to the blog. In the meantime, here's a darling cupcake in a jar to feast your eyes on, via According to Kelly. As for me, I'm off to explore the land of mounties and maple syrup. Catch you online!