Hostess with the Mostess®
This summer, we have seen so many flamingo parties. From crafty to retro, tropical to glam, there seems to have been a never-ending stream of that stylish, pink bird! But as summer comes to an end, I think we may have saved one of the best for last. ;)
Dozens of party mavens lent their talents create this Fruity Flamingo End of Summer Party styled by Marie of Sweets Indeed. Marie’s daughter, Avie, wanted her 10th birthday party to focus on celebrating her younger cousin, Lily, instead, who had recently begun her battle with leukemia. In my opinion, there couldn’t have been a better, BRIGHTER way to celebrate life… and hope!
To donate or acquire updates on Lily’s progress, you can go here.
PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:
– Pineapple cake pops & pineapple candy skewers + fruit shaped macarons & fondant fruit topped cupcakes
– Bright Oh Joy! place settings + pineapple cups & flamingo straws under a tropical tiki hut
– Mini fruit piñatas & large fruit honeycomb pom clusters + plastic fruit decorated party hats
– Sorbet station with fruity sorbet push pops & color blocked ‘Sorbet’ letters + bright sunglasses decorating
– Tropical flower & flamingo topped birthday cake, lollipic party favors + a fruit & photo garland
*****
PARTY DETAILS as told by Marie…
:
In June of this year, my 7 year old niece was diagnosed with leukemia. I was quickly reminded how precious life is and how things can change overnight. My family came together to support my sister and brother-in-law as they dropped everything to be by their daughter’s side. We formed a fundraising site in order to help relieve some of the financial stress and allow friends to join in the ranks in surrounding them with love and encouragement. The outpouring of support has been immeasurable and we will be forever grateful. To donate or acquire updates on Lily’s progress, you can go here.
My daughter’s 10th birthday approached shortly after Lily’s diagnosis and she so graciously decided that she wanted to “donate” her birthday to her cousin. The two had spent Avie’s birthday together for several years and this year, Lily would be unable to attend. We decided to throw a festive and fun “fruity flamingo” party in order to celebrate summer, hope and life.
DECOR:
We had a ton of fun planning the details and there were so many fantastic party people involved! I was inspired by the Oh Joy! for Target summer collection and all of it’s bright colors. I picked up some of the cups, plates, a fruity tray and a few other pieces and planned the color palette around those.
The TomKat Studio designed a printable party collection which provided the perfect flamingo flair. I knew I wanted lots of oversized fruit decor and found that The TomKat Studio’s honeycomb balls were a perfect start! The Pixel Studio and I created fruit shaped templates that we used to cut the honeycomb balls into fruit shapes. Couture Party Decor provided a plethora of gorgeous colors and sizes of paper lanterns. I used the lanterns and the honeycomb fruit to create a backdrop for the sweets and sorbet stations and as decor underneath the tiki umbrellas. The kids also loved playing with the decor on the lawn. These were such easy, inexpensive decorative items and they filled up the space beautifully making the party bright and fun.
No flamingo party is complete without yard flamingos. Oriental Trading Co has really cute, high quality flamingos. I took a dozen of those and, inspired by Carmen Miranda, made little fruit hats for each one and placed them all over the yard.
TABLESCAPE:
The tables, linens, chairs and tiki umbrellas were from Jump Connection. I LOVED the tiki umbrellas — they provided some much needed shade in the backyard. For the tables, each place setting had an Oh Joy! plate, a cup for ice and some perfect items from Shop Sweet Lulu. Their soda pop bottles held lemonade and striped straws and I used The TomKat Studio printables to hold the utensils. Shop Sweet Lulu’s Daffodil Yellow Triangle napkins added color under the CUTEST pineapple cups and flamingo straws from Oriental Trading Company. Each party guest was ecstatic about their own mini fruit piñatas by Lisa Frank of Handcrafted Parties. Talk about darling and unique! Those piñatas actually had candy in them and were the real deal! I added tissue tassel garland details and painted faux fruit throughout the party to add a bit more detail.
For the floral arrangements, I filled hand painted mason jars by Always The Occasion. After placing flowers in each one, I felt like it needed something more. Made By A Princess sent some custom, glitter flamingo cupcake toppers but instead of using them on cupcakes, I placed them in the floral arrangements and voila!
ACTIVITIES:
The kids had a blast at the sunglass station. I used fruit stickers and sunglasses from Oriental Trading Co. and they got to decorate their own shades and take them home. This was a really easy, inexpensive “craft” station and kept them busy for a bit.
The girls were pretty excited to play “models” in some pretty adorable outfits. Each outfit was created by Redeux Kidz. I am a huge fan of up cycled items and they take vintage clothing and make them into one of a kind clothing pieces. The company always donates a percentage of their profits to charities and the owner is the absolute sweetest.
Of course the birthday girl had to have something special and there’s nothing better than a custom party hat that can be kept long after the party is over. Among many other things, Shawna Brockmeier Events makes the most adorable, custom party hats. This one was perfect with it’s tropical print and fruit details. Avalon still parades around the house with it on.
SORBET STATION:
It’s been a hot summer and I wanted to do something different for the kids so I designed a sorbet station with Kristin of Meringue Bake Shop. Known for creating the pushcake, her push pop containers were perfect for sorbet. My mom spent a whole day perfecting recipes and filling containers. Sawyer Leigh Boutique sent die cut fruit and flamingos to match the party colors. They were perfect for separating flavors and added the right amount of detail to each treat. Sweetly Chic Events and Design created hand painted letters which clearly made the Sorbet station stand out. I attached them to the table and they were perfect! Spoons from Shop Sweet Lulu came in handy when the party goes wanted to share their sorbet and I placed a few pineapple cups from The Oriental Trading Company to remind guests that drinks were nearby.
DESSERTS:
Of course I HAD to have a dessert station and collaborated with some of my favorite dessert vendors. Mallory of The French Confection Co. created the perfect, most delicious cake and we almost didn’t cut into it as it was just too cute! Mallory also made scrumptious confetti cupcakes with fondant fruit details, the most popular fruit macarons (let me tell you…the coordinating fruit fillings were to die for) and mini strawberry tarts. All of the desserts were displayed on our cake stands on top of a custom tie dyed table runner by Cupcakes With Character. It was gorgeously detailed in person and added the perfect pop of color. Bella’s Bakery and Bowtique made the most perfect chocolate covered Oreos and pineapple cake pops. Each one is like an edible piece of art.
I teared up when I opened the box of custom lollipops by Lollipics. A picture of my daughter and niece made each lollipop extra special. I’m all about personal details and this company creates just that in edible form. Displayed next to our Pineapple Candy Kabobs, they went home with party guests as one of many party favors.
Kate Aspen sent their “All That Glitters” gold favor boxes and I hot glued pink flamingos to the top. Inside each box was a “Love for Lily Belle” bracelet and some fruit shaped erasers. They added the perfect touch of glitter to the table.
The kids also munched on cotton candy from Dolly’s Cotton Candy. Let me tell you, you haven’t tasted flavors as fun as watermelon, orange crush and lemon. Their cotton candy lolli’s were a huge hit!
I had a little kids splash area and used tissue bunting garland from Shop Sweet Lulu as a backdrop for The TomKat Studio “Happy Birthday” banner that I made using tissue paper garland from Fancy and Fold. I added pictures of the birthday girl and my niece to the cutest felt fruit garland by Fizzy Party. Both of these are now hanging as decor in my daughter’s room.
I can’t thank everyone enough for bringing this party to life and in turn, celebrating my daughter’s birthday and the hope we have for Lily’s recovery. I am truly blessed!
*****
VENDOR CREDITS:
– Concept, Design & Styling: Sweets Indeed
– Photography: The Pixel Studio
– Printable Party Collection & Honeycomb Balls: The TomKat Studio
– Yard Flamingos, Sunglasses, Fruit Stickers, Pineapple Cups, Flamingo Food Sticks, Flamingo Straws & Fruit Erasers: Oriental Trading Company
– Upcycled Vintage Clothing: Redeux Kids
– Striped Straws, Soda Bottles, Pink Lemonade Spoons, Tissue Bunting Garland, Paper Doilies, Daffodil Yellow Triangles Tableware Collection: Shop Sweet Lulu
– Pushpop Containers: Meringue Bake Shop
– Custom Cake, Fruit Macarons, Cupcakes & Fondant Fruit Toppers, Fruit Tarts: The French ConfectionCo.
– Custom Image Lollipops (these had the girls photos on them): Lollipics
– Cotton Candy Lollipops: Dolly’s Cotton Candy
– Custom Oreos & Pineapple Cake Pops: Bella’s Bakery and Bowtique
– Die Cut Fruit Shapes (used on the sorbet station): Sawyer Leigh Boutique
– Dessert Station Rinner: Cupcakes with Character
– “All That Glitter” Gold Glitter Favor Box: Kate Aspen
– Custom Sorbet Letters: Sweetly Chic Events and Design
– Fruit Felt Garland (used for the photo garland): Fizzy Party
– Tissue Paper Tassel Garland (used with the “Happy Birthday” banner): Fancy and Fold
– Flamingo Mason Jars: Always The Occasion
– Mini Fruit Pinatas: Lisa Frank
– Glitter Flamingo Toppers (used in the floral arrangements): Made By A Princess
– Paper Lanterns: Couture Party Decor
– Birthday Hat: Shawna Brockmeier Events
– Tiki Umbrella’s, Linens, Tables & Chairs: Jump Connection
Hostess with the Mostess®