YumSugar

Yummy Link: Pumpkin Carving Templates

partysugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:28:33 -0700

If you are attending a pumpkin carving party this year, you might want to check out this list of pumpkin carving templates. Cleverly carved pumpkins make for a stunning centerpiece or excellent party decor. - Martha Stewart

Come Party With Me: Fourth of July - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:15:55 -0700

It seems like every time I speak with one of my friends, the question, "What are you doing for the 4th?" comes up. If you're one of the many that haven't made plans yet, consider hosting a barbecue to celebrate the all-American holiday. I'm planning a blow-out bash, complete with fireworks and red, white, and blue decor, so stay tuned all week and feel free to use my ideas to inspire your own patriotic party.

Before you start thinking about the menu, notify friends about the event. To learn how I made these star-spangled invitations, read more.

To make a similar invite to the one seen here you will need the following supplies:

2 sheets blue cardstock
red and white paper
scissors
red, white, and blue ribbon
computer and printer
star template
tape

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new Word document. Write out the details of the party. I wrote the following message in the font American Typewriter in size 16:

Please join me for a
4th of July Blowout Bash

Cookout and Cocktails 6:30 pm
Fireworks to follow

PartySugar’s Vacation House
Arnold, CA
Call for directions: 415.555.5555

Change the text color to dark blue and add decorative red stars. Print out on plain paper and check for grammar or spelling errors. Once satisfied with the look and wording of the invite, print out and cut down to size.

Cut the red paper 1/8 an inch larger than the text page. You are creating a red border.

Slice a small slit in the top of both the red and white paper. Slide the ribbon through and tie in a knot. Set aside.

To create the star envelope, print out the star template. Shrink to 60 percent and print again. Cut out the template.

Trace the pattern on to the blue cardstock. Cut out the stars, repeat with second piece of cardstock.

Tape the end tip of the blue stars together to close. Repeat with two other sides, leaving the top open for the invite to slide in and out.
Slide the red and white invite inside and send.

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Must-Read: Matthew Mead Halloween Tricks and Treats

partysugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:00:08 -0700

Move over Martha Stewart, there's a new kid on the crafty Halloween block, and his name is Matthew Mead. Mead is a producer, stylist, and author whose creative work has appeared in numerous publications including InStyle Weddings. To see what I thought of his Halloween Tricks and Treats ($19) book, read more.

Pros:

The book is full of festive and fun ideas. Each idea is accompanied by a photo.
Mead excels when it comes to fabulous party themes. I love his owl-oween children's party and his mummy cooked dinner.
His decorations are spot on. The fun house section teaches readers how to cover a wall with eyes and create a spooky clock.
The book is very inspiring. While browsing the pages I came up with many ideas.

Cons:

Some of the how-tos lack templates and details. Its assumed that everyone will be capable of cutting a witches face out of pizza dough.
I was bored by the entire chapter devoted to fondant creations. While they look adorable, I'm just not a fondant fan.
Some of the ideas are more hokey than chic. They're appropriate at a cheesy child's affair but wouldn't be stylish at a grown-up party.

Recipes: The recipes are innovative, but too many rely on packaged ingredients like snack cakes or lu biscuits. Still, there are some I'm dying to make:

Candy corn freeze (a layered ice cream dessert)
Green gruel with eyeballs (a broccoli cheddar soup)
Bleeding berry pie (a mixed berry pie decorated with edible candy eyes)
A jack-o-lantern cocktail (a vodka carrot juice concoction)

Imagery: The pictures are clear and plentiful. Each idea is represented with a coinciding image.

Overall Rating: If you're a hardcore, crafty entertainer, whose favorite holiday is Halloween, you will love this book. Its chock full of amazing ideas.

Are you familiar with Matthew Mead? Have you checked out any of his books? What did you think?

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Come Party With Me: Hanukkah Luncheon - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:27:18 -0800

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already over. Now that the big meal has been eaten, it's time to start planning holiday parties! To kick off our holiday coverage, I am putting together a Hanukkah party. Instead of the traditional dinner, my party is a late lunch consisting of a delicious and hearty menu. But before I get carried away with menu planning, I have to send the invites. Download our Hanukkah festival of lights invite or make one like the dreidel shaped invite - it doubles as a festive decoration! - seen here. To see how I made it, read more

To make a similar style invite you will need:

cardstock in two different tones
glitter
glue
old newspaper
pencil
foil
scissors
hole punch
ribbon
computer and printer
menorah image
dreidel template

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new Word document on the computer. Drag the menorah image into the document. Arrange the text around the menorah. Include all of the details of the party. On mine, I used Monotype Corsiva in size 16, text color navy blue and wrote the following message:

You’re Invited…

Please join me for a late lunch
to celebrate Hanukkah
Saturday, December 10, 2007
2:00 in the afternoon

PartySugar’s House, San Francisco
Rsvp 415.555.5555

Print out a test copy and check spelling and grammar. Once satisfied with the look of the invite print out on the cardstock. I used a sparkling silver cardstock for mine. Set aside.

Using the dreidel template, trace the shape onto the cardstock and cut the invite and the backing cardstock down to size.

Cut the foil down to the same shape as the dreidel. Cut into strips.

Place the backing dreidel on a surface covered with newspaper. Tape several strips of foil to the newspaper covering part of the dreidel.

Brush the glue on, covering both the foil and dreidel.

Sprinkle the glitter over the top and shake to remove excess. Let the glitter dry.

Remove the foil. Punch a hole in the top corner of both sides of the invite.

Slide the ribbon through the hole and wrap around the top of the dreidel. Tie a knot to create a loop so guests can later use the invite as a decoration if desired.

Gently place in an envelope, address in your best handwriting, and send to the guests.

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Come Party With Me: Beach Picnic - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:08:10 -0700

In honor of International Picnic Day and the official start of summer, June 21st, I'm planning a kite flying picnic at the beach. Now I know not everyone has access to the beach, but this party can be hosted at a lake shore, a park, a vineyard, etc. All week I'll take you through the steps to host a successful, memorable afternoon-into-evening picnic. Let's start with the invitations. I'm making cute kite shaped invitations that are embellished with pretty satin ribbon. To see how I made my invitations and instructions on how to make them for your next party - these would also be adorable for a child's birthday party! - read more

To make this invitation you will need:

cardstock in three colors (I chose bright orange, vibrant yellow, and electric blue)
glue
a perfect square/rectangular/kite shape to use as a template
scissors
pencil
thin satin ribbon in colors that coordinate with the cardstock
computer
printer
hole punch

To assemble this invitation:

Start by creating a new document in Microsoft word. Write out the details in a fun font. For my invite I used Mistral in size 18 and wrote the following message:

Let’s Go Fly A Kite!

Summer has officially arrived
&
PartySugar would like you to join her to celebrate
with
kite flying, frolicking, and food on the beach

Saturday June 23, 5:00 pm
Stinson Beach, CA

Please rsvp for directions to
partysugar@yumsugar.com

Make sure the text is spaced out like a diamond.

Print out a test copy of the text. Once satisfied with the text, print out on one sheet of the cardstock (I used blue).

Using your kite template as a guide, trace the shape onto the text page.

Cut the text page out in the kite shape.
Fold the template page in half. Trace the triangle on to the two other sheets of colored cardstock.

Cut down to size. Fold in half and cut again until you end up with two small triangles of each color.

Glue each pyramid on so that the two colors meet to touch in a point in the center. (Mine were glued on orange, yellow, orange, yellow).

With the single hole punch, make a small hole in one corner of the invitation.

Slide three equal length pieces of ribbon through the hole and tie a knot. Braid the ribbon.

With the contrasting colors of ribbon tie a small bow onto the braid to create the illusion of a kite string. Voila! Your invite is finished. Slide into an envelope and send.
Where do you like to throw your outdoor picnic parties? Tell me about the destination below!
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How Do You Invite?

YumSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:00:45 -0800

When it comes to inviting guests to a party, I like to send out real invitations by snail mail. If I don't send them by mail, I personally call or text my guests to let them know they have been invited to a party. I never ever send Evites. Call me old fashioned but I hate, HATE, hate Evites. They just don't seem that personal.

Invitations serve two purposes: (1) they provide guests with the necessary information about your party and (2) they create a mood, tone, and ambiance for the party before the party has even begun. With templated uniform Evites you lose step 2 completely. I dislike how the Evite system allows guests to see who is invited and who can and cannot attend. Isn't half the fun of attending a party wondering what exciting and interesting people you will meet there? With Evites not only do you lose the mood of the party but the mystery as well.

Whatever type of invitation you decide to send, you must remember to always put the following information: the what, why, where and when. What is the occasion for the party and why are you throwing it? Are you celebrating your dog's birthday? Your husband's promotion? The season finale of Grey's Anatomy? Let your guests know why you are hosting the event. When is the party? What day and at what time? Where is the party? Is it at your house, a restaurant or a friend's house? Be specific - if it's an afternoon party, state 5 o'clock pm and give directions to the location. Lastly be sure to indicate special extras at the bottom of the invite: RSVP deadlines, requested dress, presents vs no presents, BYOB, etc. all fall into this category.

And, if you really love Evites and insist on using them, be sure to upload a personalized image and spend some time making sure the colorscheme and template fit the mood of your party.

How Do You Invite?

Come Party With Me: Classic Thanksgiving - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:18:33 -0800

Last week I put together a party plan for those of you who are hosting your first Thanksgiving. Well, what about the rest of us seasoned pros who are excitedly awaiting the biggest dinner of the year? This week I'm giving you special attention by creating a wonderful plan for a traditional Thanksgiving! 100 percent classic and 100 percent homemade, down to every little detail starting with the invitations.

I wanted the invites to be crafty and warm, with a fun and festive turkey. To see how I made them, read more

To make a similar invite you will need:

cardstock in various shades
decorative paper
rhinestones (optional)
feathers
scissors
circular shaped template
pencil
gluestick
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Start by creating a new Word document. Write out the details of your party. On my invite I wrote, in the font Plantagenet Cherokee, size 16, the following:

Please be our guest on Thanksgiving Day
as we gather at our table for a feast
to reminisce and give thanks.

Thursday November 22, 2007
4 o’clock in the afternoon
PartySugar’s House, San Francisco

Please let Party know if you would like to bring a dish to the dinner.

Rsvp by November 20
415.555.5555

Print out a test copy of the text and check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Once satisfied, print out on the cardstock. Cut down to size. Set aside.

With the glue, mount the decorative paper on BOTH sides of another sheet of cardstock. Cut down to size: about an inch to an inch and a half larger than the text.

Glue the text to one side of the invitation.

Next cut out the shapes to make a turkey. A circular body, oval head, triangular nose, little clawed feet. Or download this template to help make the shape of a turkey's body.

Glue the pieces together to form the body of a turkey.

Glue several feather to the backside of the invite. Glue the turkey body on top of the feathers. Glue a rhinestone eye to the turkey face. Set aside to dry.

Slide into an envelope and send!

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How to Make Ghost Toast

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:00:28 -0700

Who says Halloween food only comes out at night? You can also start your day in a spooky way with this ghost-emblazoned cinnamon toast recipe from The Charlotte Weekly. (Thanks, Curbly.)

I haven't made cinnamon toast in ages, so I can't wait to try this super-easy project. To find out how to make it, read more

Spread soft butter or margarine on a large slice of white bread.
Carefully cut or tear a ghostlike shape out of aluminum foil.
Press the foil shape on top of the buttered bread. Sprinkle the bread generously with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
Place the slices on a baking sheet and slip under a preheated broiler for about two or three minutes or until the butter is hot and bubbly.
Remove the foil template to unveil spooky toast.

Source

Pumpkins Go Geometric for Party Decor

partysugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:15:19 -0700

Carved pumpkins make great decorations for a Halloween party. While I could carve classic jack-o-lantern faces, or use a crazy template to make something artistic, this year I'm doing something different: geometric pumpkins! Here's how you can do it:

Purchase 8-10 pumpkins of the same size. Instead of cutting the top off of the pumpkin, hollow out through the bottom.
Create a geometric pattern on the pumpkins, repeating the same shape all over. Circles, squares, and triangles are fun; you could use a small saw, melon ball scooper, cookie cutter and hammer, sharp edged metal pipe, or electric drill to make the design.
Place each pumpkin over a lit candle or small light.
Arrange pumpkins festively around your room, walkway, or front porch.

Don't be afraid to take this technique and make it yours. For example you could try it on small pumpkins for a gorgeous Thanksgiving centerpiece!

Source

PartySugar Behind The Bash: Gen Arts @ SF Fashion Week

partysugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:08:31 -0700

During San Francisco Fashion Week, I was lucky enough to attend Gen Art's premiere show Fresh Faces In Fashion. Gen Art is all about supporting and promoting upcoming talents in the fashion, film, music, and art worlds, and their fashion show is always a hot ticket. The room was packed, the decor was lush, and the drinks were flowing at both the pre and post show parties.

Two days before the show, I was lucky enough to speak with event producer Dana Castro. Despite having been up since 3 am, she was friendly, fresh faced, and focused.

PartySugar: What is your outlook when you plan a party?
Dana Castro: It depends. The first thing I always do is book the venue right away. I started planning this show at the beginning of June. I outline the show, outline the party and think of the elements of the party. I find the people to sponsor and the designers for the lounges. This year I've contracted SillaPere, who I've worked with in the past, to create a lounge and do the flowers. It's all about Spring 08 fashion with an all white background.

PS: What trends are emerging in event planning?
DS: Going green. Eco-events. For example, in weddings people are doing invites on seed paper. It may put them over their budget, but people are doing it.

To see what else she had to say about planning a party this size, plus pictures of the event, read more

PS: What do you like about event planning?
DS: I used to be a film producer, so I really like the immediate outcome of event planning. I have a template formula that I follow for most of my events and after two and a half months of planning, the final product is there.

PS: What's the most important part of an event?
DS: The flow is very important. You have to make sure everyone checks in and gets to their seats. You have to figure out how to get 1000 people all to their seats at the same time. You ask yourself, how long will this take? How many seats? And plan accordingly.

PS: How do you set up for an event?
DS: We set up the day before. We build the runway and back drops. The lounges for the parties are installed the day of. Everything is built and we roll it in on wheels. I have the entire day scheduled out minute by minute, so I know where everyone and everything should be going.

PS: What was your most memorable party?
DS: An Ignite event I threw a few years ago. It was an multi-media art exhibit and the Fire Marshall came in and told me I couldn't have the party inside, so I had to take the entire event and set it up in an parking lot next to the original venue. It was Burning Man style - I worked with what I had and made it work.

PS:What's your advice to the everyday hostess?
DS: Keep it simple, less is more. You need to be able to socialize with guests. Make everything the day before or get it catered.

PS: What is your favorite flower?
DS: Big fluffy French roses. I can't remember their name right now. Those and dahlias.

PS: What is your guilty pleasure food?
DS: Potato chips.

PS: A successful party is…
DS: Where everyone has fun.

PS: What are you inspired by?
DS: People's reactions to what you do.

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