{Inspired Party} School is Cool Party Ideas & Printables

 

In the way things have been going with me lately, I created a fun set of FREE Notebook themed printables.....LAST YEAR! I just didn't get around to sharing them and figured, there's always next year. So, here we are. I was inspired by the whole neon trend last year, and was brainstorming a few ideas for back to school and thought, composition books, highlighters and ruled paper were perfect.  In school, I got pretty decent grades, admittedly I was a huge daydreamer and always doodled.....A LOT!  So, why not keep with tradition right?  I added a couple of little doodles fonts into my overall design! 

I think this set is perfect to use anytime during the school year in different ways, for example at, PTA meetings, Back to School Night, to celebrate a special award, a graduation party, or even for teacher appreciation. You can download the FREE printables here. 

Included in the printables set are:

Back to School Grade Signs from Pre-K-12th Grade

Welcome Back to School Sign

Welcome Back Banner

Decorative Notebook Pages and Composition Book Banner

Cupcake Toppers/Party Dots

Cupcake Wrappers

Treat Bag Favors

Water Bottle Wraps

Favor Tags

Tented Food Cards

Popcorn Box

Blank Decals/Labels

School is Cool Decals/Labels

Book Plates

Lunch Notes

Here is an  inspiration table I styled in the event you'd like to celebrate shipping your lil' ones off to school (FINALLY! Haha!). You can get some tips and ideas for recreating your own back to school celebration at the end of this post.

 

 

 

 

Here are my little ones getting ready to go back.  Since they have to wear uniforms at their school, I thought it would be fun to let them wear some regular clothes to take their first day back photos! These signs come with the arrows pointing in two different directions, the ones show below and one with an arrow pointing upward.

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD MY 'SCHOOL IS COOL' FREE PRINTABLES HERE

Get this look!

• A chalkboard is a GREAT backdrop and focal point for a Back to School party! Since I was gearing my design towards a more tween/middle school age group, I used a chalkboard with some 'pretty serious equations' written on it.

• Folders, pencils and erasers in fun bright colors really add to the look and theme.  Place them in boldly patterned pencil cups for an even more festive look.  You can also add composition books, folders and other various school supplies around your table for a little bit of fun and whimsy! 

• Incorporate snacks into your them. I filled snack bags with cheese crackers and topped them with a printable treat bag topper.  They looked really cute displayed in a desk drawer organizer along with other fun notebook themed cookies by Fresh Bakes and pencil pretzels and cake pops by Autumn Lynn's Chocolate Sins!

• Give your table some height by using boxes and books.  Books make great risers and allow for more visual impact.  I wrapped (very) old dictionaries in removable adhesive sheets of neon book covers and placed them on opposite ends of my snack table.  The books give height to the design of  table and create a space to show off whimsical pieces like a mini locker and served as a support for a framed neon chalkboard.  The white file boxes act as a base for the cupcakes and also broke up some of the dark color between the chalkboard and table covering.

• Make your party favors serve a dual purpose.  Water bottles are a great way to make sure kids get hydrated in between classes and they make great party favors too.  You can fill them with candy or pencils, crayons or markers.  I tied a printable tag onto the top of the favor so guests know they can take them home!

Vendors & Where to Buy:

Styling & Design  - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams
Printables - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams
Pencil Pretzels, Notebook Cake Pops - Autumn Lynn's Chocolate Sins
Doodle  Art Cookies - Fresh Bakes
Lime Green Mini Locker - Amazon
Kasset White File Boxes - Ikea
Neon Framed Chalkboards - Five and Below

 

 

 

{Freebies} Free Back to School Printables

I recently had an opportunity to collaborate with Cristy Mishkula over at Pretty My Party on a fun back to school themed party.

Photo - Christy Mishkula, Pretty My Party

Here are just a few images of the designs:

{This was my original design I made over a year ago}

{This is what I came up with after discussing with Cristy, what she was looking for}

Isn't it kinda neat what this collection transitioned to? I love it! I started making this collection over a year ago.....inspired by a kitchen tea towel I purchased from Target (can't find the towel in the store anymore, but this crafty lady made a skirt for her wee one using the same towel). I had no idea what to do with the original design and was just thinking it was gonna sit in my dead files.  Then, a few weeks ago, I learned that Cristy was looking for back-to-school printables!  So, I sent her my ideas and she looooooooooooved them (maybe that is an exaggeration.....but she did give me a thumbs up on the printables).  So, in the spirit of all that is cool with going back to school....I hope you all love them too!

You can find the printables available for download over on Cristy's blog, Pretty My Party or here.

 How are you preparing for the new school year or have you already started?

 

{MG Party Impressions} Bus Stop Breakfast Bar

I'm excited to announce that I will be the new Party Planner Blogger over at MG Party Impressions! MG Party Impressions is the party inspiration site that showcases clip art and digital papers by designers of the My Grafico Digital Arts and Crafts store.  I'll be doing a party related post twice a month using all the fun and creative designs by the talented team of My Grafico Designers.

For my first post, I styled a Bus Stop Breakfast Bar for a Back-to-School celebration and you can read all about it over at the MG Party Impressions blog and you can read more about it here.

Back-to-School

August has been soooo busy for me.  It just snuck up on me and now here it is September!!!! 

I had major moments last month from my 35th birthday to my Etsy shop opening (more on that in a later post) to a Star Wars party I planned and hosted right to my baby girl starting Kindergarten at French School…..


Aaaaawwww......(sniff)



Proud student

My little guy beat me up when it was time to leave…..poor dude…..if he only knew….


I’m so grateful she loves to read


She made friends right away, It was like Venus and Serena!!!  BTW, I must say I'm proud of my braiding skills - who knew I could braid decent cornrows (patting myself on the back)


…..and she was ready to take over the class!


French...???? 
 
She held up okay for the first day…..I cried all the way home on though.  Eventually she broke down a few days later.  She’s still campaigning to stay at home – but she can put that notion right in her little cubby.

Since school has started and actually a few weeks prior to the first day I have participated in FOUR , yes, FOUR very long school events all providing the same information…..annoying.  I even had the gall to join the God Bless-ed PTA!  In any case, at certain points of these random on-goings, I started dreaming up some fantastic ways to celebrate going back to school.

Here are some ideas for throwing a fun back to school bash:

Lunch Bag Swap

 Photo Source 

This is a great opportunity to meet new friends or reconnect with friends after the new school year begins.  Each guest will bring a lunch item they do NOT like but that another child might.

Give each child a fabric lunch bag or lunch box to decorate - which they keep as a favor.  Have them fill the containers with lunch staples like (apples, chips, milk, juice, PB&J) and the item they want to swap.  The kids get to swap the lunch item they don't like for one they do like. 

School Tools Swap Meet

Photo Source

This is great for parents working on a tight budget. Parents can organize this event prior to the first day of school.   Each parent is responsible for bringing one school supply for each child attending the party.  For example, one parent might be responsible for color pencils, another would be responsible for composition books, another for crayons.  A host parent collects all the items prior to the event and sets up supply stations on the day of the event.

Having the kids decorate their own notebook  serves double duty as an activity and favor.  Serve light refreshments and drinks.  Let the children to to the supply stations and fill thei bags with  the necessary school supplies.  Now each child can start the school year with a backpack full of supplies!

First Day Fête

 Photo Source

A host parent can coordinate with other parents in the child's class prior to the first day of school to have an afterschool get-together for about an hour or so. 

As kids enter the party, prize tickets are handed out for giveaways for school related like cool pencils, books, or learning toys.  Offer guests school-themed cupcakes, snacks and juice as refreshments.  This is a great way to meet new friends and get to know the parents, as well.  An alternative for this party is to have a 'Bus Stop Bash!

Apples & Bookworms  Party

Photo Source

Since apple picking season usually begins around the same time the school year starts, what a perfect time to throw an apple themed celebration. 

If time permits kids could go apple picking at an orchard and return to the hosts' home for party activities.  If you don’t have an orchard near you, another option is setting out bushels of apples.  Place them around the yard so kids can go 'apple picking'. 

Serve apple sausage dogs, apple chips, apple fritters or apple cupcakes.....kids could also make their own gourmet candy apples!  Setup displays using apples, rulers, books and 'book'worms for decoration.

Games can include apple bingo , pin the worm on the apple, or an apple toss.  For a fun activity have the kids make their own bookworm bookmark craft using construction paper or craft foam shapes.  Party favors can be packaged in a small berry box to include a small reader book, apple sauce, note pad, fun pencils, gummy worms and gummy apples, pencil case and crayons.

I know the first week of school is a busy time – but if you do have one, feel free to email me pictures of your bash!  I’ll be recapping the Star Wars themed party I hosted last weekend for a great client of mine.  Check back later for more details!