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dhano923
10-06-2006, 01:17 AM
Background: We are making preparations for DD's 1st birthday party. Traditionally in our culture, we have a big party for the 1st birthday, so we'll be doing it in a restaurant's banquet hall -- they supply tablecloths and napkins but no centerpieces.

We recently went to a friend's 1st birthday party whre she had the most amazing centerpieces, and she made them herself! She did a circus/carnival theme party, and the centerpieces were awesome: she did a clear vase and crumpled colored tissue paper in the bottom 1/3 of the vase. The rest was filled with assorted candy. Sitting on the mouth of the vase, she had a styrofoam clown head with a clown nose, eyes, yarn mouth and raffia hair and a paper birthday hat (so the vase was the clown's body). She tied assorted colored balloons to the neck of the vase and used paper tickets (like the kind for amusement park rides) drooping out of the vase and also lying on the table wrapped around the vase a bit. Then she had small boxes of popcorn and small bags of cotton candy, like 3 of each at each table. It looked amazing and professionally done but her mom said she found a picture and copied it and made them at home the week before the party.

I asked my friend if she could tell me where she found the picture but she won't tell me -- I think she thinks I'll copy the idea. I don't want to do a circus theme, but I was hoping to find other amazing centerpiece ideas that I could use for a girl's party - we're considering doing a princess theme or something similar.

Can anyone help??? I tried to do a search online but I keep coming up with Disney centerpieces or ideas that aren't as "cute" and unique. I would appreciate any links or ideas you can give me.

dhano923
10-07-2006, 12:50 AM
bump!

Does anyone have any unique centerpiece suggestions?

ribbit1019
10-07-2006, 01:42 AM
O.k. I've got a couple of ideas, but I am not sure how expensive you would want to go. Pfaltzgraff has a silicon cake mold that is in the shape of a castle. You could make a cake for each table. If you sifted Powdered sugar over it and used candies you could even avoid having to frost it. ;) Very time consuming but I bet it would be a HUGE hit. With the cost of the mold negated you could feasibly do each table for under $5.
Here is the link:
http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/ecomm/Itemdetail.asp?CODIV=0107&T1=F1858200&UID=2006100702263415

Also there are these fairies that are super cute that you could use as favors.
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11049
The hostess of my bridal shower made these with pastel colors and they were a huge hit for young and old. You could put trails of glitter on the table, fairy dust trails. ;)

You could make a candy stick vase and put egg carton flowers into them. Vase:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11325
Flowers:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11407

Um if I find anything else I'll add it. :)

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

dhano923
10-07-2006, 11:34 AM
I really appreciate your suggestions, but they won't work for this particular party. I'm indian, and we generally have a big "fancy" party for the 1st birthday party. So we're having it in a fancy indian restaurant, and everyone gets all dressed up, etc. At previous parties we've gone to, people do floral centerpieces, balloons with confetti on the table, tea candles, floating candles, etc. Some people hire party planners and florists but we're already spending so much money that we thought we'd do the centerpieces ourselves.

What does everyone think of a vase stuffed with glittery tulle, with a few pearlized (I think thats the word) balloons tied to it? Maybe some confetti strewn around the table? Any suggestions on how to incorporate a princess tiara or a princess wand into the mix? We don't generally do party favors so I can't use them for those but I thought it might be cute to use them in the centerpieces somehow.

My friend is looking for ideas for her daughter's 3rd birthday so I passed on the vase/flower idea to her -- she had mentioned a Candyland theme, so the vases might be really cute for that!

ribbit1019
10-08-2006, 03:13 AM
I'm taking a break from the Doodlebops cake I am making for a party tomorrow. I'm determined to help you. ;)

Somethings I need to know:
How many tables will you have?
How much time are you willing to spend on this project?
How many days (weeks/months) do you have to prepare for the party?
Around what cost would you like each centerpiece?
Do you have access to a wholesale place where you could purchase glass vases/candle holders in bulk?

Answer those ?'s when you have a chance; I am thinking. :)

ETA: Tell your friend to look at familyfun.com there is a cute candy house that she might consider also.

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

dhano923
10-08-2006, 12:14 PM
We are going to have 8-10 tables, depending on the final headcount and whether we have 8 or 10 chairs at each table.

I'm willing to spend a couple hundred on the centerpieces. The party isn't until November 18, so my SIL and I decided we will make them ahead of time and just keep them in my parent's garage. If we use balloons, we'll get those the day of the party obviously. We have about 20 yards of white glittery tulle, which is why we were hoping to incorporate that into the centerpieces somehow. I also saw a picture of some mini battery operated lights that can be used at parties, etc so I wanted to see how those work and how much they cost -- those might be cool with the tulle in the vases!

I can get glass vases in bulk, but not candle holders.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me -- I really want some unique but elegant centerpieces! :)

Maria K
10-08-2006, 05:08 PM
Maybe go to the dollar store and buy some "barbies" and have them coming out of the vase so the vase is like the skirt of their dress? Or nix the vase and use the tulling as their skirt.

I'm going to keep thinking about this. :)

- Maria

scout123
10-08-2006, 05:45 PM
What does your Doodlebops cake look like?! My DDis crazy about the Doodlebops! Can you take a pics of it when you are done?
Scout

ribbit1019
10-09-2006, 03:07 AM
Oh I wish I had! I basically used the coloring pages on their website as a guide and used fondant to cut and mold their faces. It turned out so well and the birthday boy was pleased! I cheated on the cake part though I bought it from Costco. Shhhh!!! I asked her to take a picture of it for me, I will try to remember to post it for you once I get a photo from her. We are going to see the Doodlebops on Oct. 29th it should be fun!

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

JTsMom
10-09-2006, 07:02 AM
Ok, I have a couple of ideas.

What if you used the tulle and the lights to make a "cloud" in the center of the table- you'd have to put some sort of a base to puff it up- then put a castle on top

http://item.express.ebay.com/Party-Supplies-Costumes_Wedding-Party-Supplies__Cinderella-9-5-tall-Castle-Wedding-Favor-Centerpiece_W0QQitemZ220030807071QQihZ012QQddnZPar tyQ20SuppliesQ20Q26Q20CostumesQQadnZWeddingQ20Q26Q 20PartyQ20SuppliesQQcmdZExpressItem
or
http://www.favorsbyserendipity.com/bridal_product_pages/p-sp-903-mr.html

Those are just quicky examples, but I'm sure you could find a lot of different ones, or even paint one to match your colors. Alternatively, they sell cardboard ones. You could copy one of those in silver paper or glitter.

You could also do an ice sculpture castle, but I don't know if that's something you can make with a mold or not- you'd have to do some research. If you did ice, you could also make those little ice votive holders, and the whole area would have a really pretty glow. Those are easy to make- maybe even put some flower petals in them.

One last option- you could do a little still life type of centerpiece and just keep it simple. Maybe put a tiara, a wand, aqnd a pillow in the center and surround with tealights.

HTH, sounds like a heck of a party!

BaileyBea
10-09-2006, 09:21 AM
I did party favors similar to the centerpiece.

I took Gerber baby food jars and filled them w/candy. Took off the wrapper and cut out felt. Then glued round styrofoam balls and made clown faces. They turned out so cute. I'll post a photo as soon as I get my Mac back. It should be today.

You could make a tutu around the Gerber Jar.

Nancy

ribbit1019
10-12-2006, 12:07 AM
I really like the idea of taking a coach wire frame (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-SMALL-CINDERELLA-WIRE-COACH-PARTY-WEDDING-FAVORS_W0QQitemZ120040822071QQihZ002QQcategoryZ326 8QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) and decorating it with flowers and then resting it on a bed of the tulle with the twinkling lights dispersed throughout. I think it will be very elegant and I bet everyone asks you where you got the coaches. :) You could even place a tiara and a wand near it since you wanted to include that.

With the vases the best I can come up with is stuff the tulle and the lights into the vase, add a wand coming out of the top and place a tiara around the base of the vase. I REALLY hate confetti, but you could put that all over the table too to maximize the twinkling. ;)

GL and have fun! It sounds like it will be a great party!

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/Yw0w.jpg http://b3.lilypie.com/0vphm4.png
http://lilypie.com/pic/060928/iBmU.jpg http://bf.lilypie.com/uy3Mm4.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

staceywj
10-12-2006, 01:06 PM
Here is another suggestion to have you thinking about the princess theme, you may start thinking of castles:
I went to a 1st bday party and they also did the princess theme. They used the favors as centerpieces and it was really cute. They had a white stained glass looking candle castle. If I did this I may have put them on something higher since they are small and not safe for little ones.
HTH
Stacey

BaileyBea
10-12-2006, 01:15 PM
Here's are the jars!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/35921.jpg

dhano923
10-13-2006, 02:24 AM
So I went to the restaurant to make the deposit earlier today and we will be doing 12 tables with 8 chairs each, plus we will have one table to use as a gift table, so I think I would want a centerpiece or a coordinating centerpiece on that.

I saw a commerical the other day where they are in a fancy restaurant and in the background, there is a hostess table or something with a unique idea. It was a cylinder type vase (or tube I guess) with a glass circle on top, then a small floral arrangement in a flat pot on top of that. So the cylinder and circle made sort of a tall podium type thing. It was pretty so I was thinking that might be nice. The vase looked like it was empty, but I thought it might be neat to do a vase with something in it (rose petals?) and then a plexiglass circle or something and then a princess castle on top? Does that sound corny?