The Mad Hatter's tea party.

(This is my second post for today - scroll down for a new giveaway.)

Happy Monday!

This weekend was "the big birthday party" weekend for us. I had mentioned to you all before that a lot of the birthday parties we've been invited to this year - OK, ALL of them - have been at this indoor play structure place. Of course my daughter wanted to have her party there like all the other kids. So I call them up - and it's $350 for the kind of party that everyone else has had...if you want the souvenir water bottles it's extra, if you want them filled with candy that's more too, on top of all that you supply the cake or cupcakes...are you with me on this? I ain't doin' that. There's no way. And it's not all about the money, probably more than that is what kind of party I can throw my way *wink* with that sort of money - or less - heh.

So I wanted to just do it up, do one big party, go old school with a park and games, and have both kids invite their entire class. Because I have a boy and a girl I needed a theme that was suitable for both. And I wanted something current. Having just seen the new Alice in Wonderland movie not too long ago, I thought what about a tea party? Is that too girly? Not if I make it a Mad Hatter's tea party and sort of make it more fun than feminine. The Mad Hatter's table scene from the movie was fantastic, very Victorian and sorta girly, so I just had to make it less girly.

Without thinking of the party itself, like matching it, I made the invitations. I was a little late, so I just went with the first idea I had. True Black cardstock, Pure Poppy ribbon, and buttons from Papertrey Ink, playing cards from Target, and then printed out and stapled on the information panel.

Then I went to the thrift store. There is an outlet thrift store near my office, so I went by there one afternoon. I found random tea cups and plates, about 10 things, they charge you by the pound - cost me less than $3. Beyond that, I knew the tablescape (totally stealing Sandra Lee's word) was going to be messy and fun - like it was in the movie - and my plan was to work with things we had in the house and spend nothing else on decorations. So literally the night before the party I rummaged through the linen closet and put together my theme. Matching the invitations happened then. I used a red tablecloth and a white one, draped those across the tables, and then in the center I had a black and silver spider web one and then threw down a lacey one too.

On top of my tablecloths I randomly placed red cloth placemats, and white ones, and black ones, just for some more texture and color - kinda like I would on a card - LOL See those cute lil' bon bons in that teacup? They were not a crowd pleaser. They look pretty, but they are hard candy - guess I didn't read the fine print and the kids did not like them - sorry!

I'm one of those people who shops clearance - big time. I had the card-themed napkins and black paper plates in my stash of paper products. No expense there - love it. And that red ribbon is Michael's Christmas clearance that I've had in a pile in my room that needs to go out in to the garage; I just ran a couple of strips from end to end of the table.

I didn't cook/bake a thing. This is where I probably could have saved more money, but, I'm all about convenience. So I picked up cakes at Cost Plus and cut them up, cookies at the local bakery, and the chocolate covered rice krispie things are from Cost Plus too. Lots of sugar on this table so I threw some Goldfish crackers, chips and white cheddar popcorn out there too.

My vision was to put the cake pieces on this cupcake stand that my husband got me for Mother's Day. But when I opened it and saw that it was wirey and not like flat tiers, my vision was gone *tears* I still wanted to use it, I liked the look of it and the height, and found that these little pop cans fit perfectly. They aren't full size cans, they're new thinner/shorter ones.

That stand with the heart is right out of my living room. I suppose I should move on from Valentine's Day....but if I had, I may not have thought to use this *giggles*

And this little clock...the kind with the dome, but no dome - that was in the box that I picked up from the thrift shop; cute little addition, don't you think?

I love this picture. My daughter made me get those gummy raspberries when we were at Cost Plus and I'm so glad we did - they look fantastic on the table and the kids really liked them. I bought those little clothespins on ETSY - I was her first sale. I just liked them - they weren't bought with the party in mind - but when we put the random leftover cards out, I thought clipping the clothespin on would be cute. The girls put them in their hair - it was adorable!

That's my son...the redhead. Don't ask me who the boy in the blue shirt is. Seriously. He crashed the party. Doesn't even go to the same school. Couldn't get him to leave - politely - so we just rolled with it.

That's my daughter - redhead too. Pretty dress...hard to get a decent smile outta that girl though.

And there's Alice and the Mad Hatter! She's actually the drum major for the Boise State Marching Band. I work with her brother - I asked him if he knew anyone....and it was so easy. She was wonderful. They were wonderful - and cheap. They even brought and ran all the games, they did the whole present thing, coordinated pinata time, just fantastic - - and they weren't even "professionals"!

My mom bought the pinatas - teapots; 2 of them. One was full of trinkets, the other full of candy. Because after an hour of sugar, that's what kids want, right? More candy.

I bought these treat sacks a long time ago from Bake it Pretty - they were in my paper product box and I thought they went well with the theme too.

Still smiling at the end of the party - a really great time.

I'm a stickler for thank-you notes. I may not get my own personal ones mailed out on time, but they get out eventually. And I think it's important that the kids learn at an early age the importance of sitting down and hand-writing thank-yous. I whipped these up after the party - you know how much I love mass-producing *eye roll* Summer Sunrise and Rustic Cream by Papertrey Ink, the little thank you is from PTI as well, patterned paper is by Cosmo Cricket.

Hope you enjoyed our little party!