Celebrating Little Ones Mag | Issue One | May 2017

I S S U E # 1 | M AY 2 0 1 7

little ones!

A M A G A Z I N E B Y L I F E ’ S L I T T L E C E L E B R AT I O N S

C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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Children’s party business network + directory + blog for the best party businesses in Australia

Enabling business owners who service children’s celebrations to flourish, be promoted and connect with each other.

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Contents

PA RTI E S CHERRY ON TOP Modern Milk Shake Bar

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Lifes’s Little Celebrations Collaboration

SLEEPY UNICORN Mia’s 6th Birthday “Celebrating Little Ones” is an independently produced magazine.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Castellino LIFE’S LITTLE CELEBRATIONS lifeslittlec@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Nicole Hanna Pretty & Print info@prettyandprint.com

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Lifes’s Little Celebrations Collaboration

SWAN PRINCESS Leah’s Baptism

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Life’s Little Celebrations

PRINCESS GARDEN

Caelie’s 1st Birthday

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Love that Lolly Bar

CAROUSEL CHARM Oliver’s 1st Birthday and Christening

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Kiss with Style

CONSTRUCTION CRAZE Isaac’s 7th Birthday

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Tiny Tots Toy Hire COPYRIGHT

ENCHANTED FAIRY GARDEN Aneika’s 4th Birthday Mooi Co

All images contained in “Celebrating Little Ones” are subject to the copyright of the artist, stylist, illustrator or photographer as named, but not limited to.

SOCCER LEGEND Oliver’s 8th Birthday

Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

Pumpkin Carriage Events

DISCLAIMER While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication “Celebrating Little Ones” accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. © Copyright May 2017

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SHOPKINS DISCO Marley’s 7th Birthday

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Cookie Queen Kitsch’n

SWEET DREAMS Annabelle’s 9th Birthday

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The Party Parlour

BOHO BEAUTY Maya’s 13th Birthday Saffy and May

INTERVIEW WITH DESSERT QUEEN KATHERINE SABATH 5 MINUTES WITH JORDAN FERNEY, OH HAPPY DAY PERFECT PARTY ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERY AGE

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Easy Breezy Parties

TUTORIAL Budgie Cookie

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Nicci Webster Frosted By Nicci

STRESS LESS CELEBRTE MORE

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The Party Kit Company

BIRTHDAY GIFT IDEAS

Enchanted Party Hire

BOW TIES OR TIARAS Gender reveal Baby Shower

FEATUR ES

Sweet Creations

R EGUL A R S VENDOR SPOTLIGHT VENDOR SPOTLIGHT SHOP THE PARTY - PINKS FAB PARTY FINDS FAB PARTY FINDS SHOP THE PARTY - METALICS TOWER TRENDS

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Thanks

Party planning?

Browse and source items from some of our favourites!

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Fiona Amarasinghe Easy Breezy Parties www.easybreezyparties.com.au

TINY TOTS TOY HIRE (Syd) www.tinytotstoyhire.com.au

RUBY RABBIT www.rubyrabbit.com.au

EVE & CO STATIONERY www.eveandco.com.au

LEL Brassel NGO Party Kit CoMPANY www.partykit.co THE PARTY PARLOUR www.thepartyparlour.com.au

NICCI WEBSTER Frosted by Nicci www.frostedbynicci.com.au 2 | C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | M AY 2 0 1 7

ELK PRINTS www.elkprints.com

Welcome

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EVER ISSUE OF “CELEBRATING LITTLE ONES” MAGAZINE! Whether you’re a mum who loves to party plan or someone who runs a business within the event industry - this magazine aims to inspire you, provide you with some tools and tips and help you source fantastic products and event vendors! I’m excited to share with you the amazing parties, resources, products and vendors in this first ever issue!

Life’s Little Celebrations (www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org) which I’ve run for 6 years now - has always been about celebrating the little ones in our lives and this magazine is an extension of that.

Life’s Little Celebrations has also always been about supporting and promoting quality small business vendors and this magazine is also another aspect of that.

This issue would not have been possible without the graphic design magic of Nicole Hanna of Pretty and Print who brought my vision to life!

Also a huge thanks to the team at Dream a Little Dream events and Ruby Rabbit and Perfectly Sweet and all involved in the Cherry on top and Sleepy unicorn shoots which were Life’s Little Celebrations collaboration photoshoots put together specifically for this magazine!

A special thank you also to all those who supported this first edition by contributing various articles and features!

Having just had my 4th child I’m reminded of just how precious every moment is…and how fast our kids grow up. It doesn’t matter how much or little money you spend on a party….or how grand or simple it is… what matters is the heart behind that event and celebrating and enjoying the little one’s in your life! I hope this magazine is a joyful part of that party planning process for you!

Tanya xox C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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INT E R V I E W W I T H

Dessert Queen

KATHERINE

SABBATH 4 | C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | M AY 2 0 1 7

High school teacher turned baker extraordinarie Katherine Sabbath has developed a huge following thanks to her unique and joyful cakes!

From sharing her work on Instagram her popularity grew and has now led to a huge 376k of Instagram followers and bakers everywhere sharing their own Katherine Sabbath inspired creations and taking part in her workshops.

In our interview Katherine shares her experiences and advice for both home bakers and business owners who enjoy this creative passion as much as her!

Katherine your success and popularity has been huge! What do you think has contributed to your business growth?

I’ve been enamoured with sweets and the creative possibilities of the dessert world since a very young age.

As soon as I experienced the simple joy of creating something home-baked for a friend or a loved one and then seeing the excitement on their face when I gifted this to them, I was totally hooked! Baking is such a delicious, relaxing and very rewarding way to share in the world of food and creativity.

I’ve always relished in the role of teaching - it’s a job I have never taken for granted. That being said, after three years of sharing my bakes on social media (Instagram, primarily), I realised there was a huge community of creatives and home bakers out there who enjoy my sweet hobby as much as I do! I think a lot of my success is due to just being honest and enjoying sharing my world with others. I’ve never actively sought success on Instagram but I thank my lucky stars everyday I’ve been able to connect with others!

YourINSTAGRAM account is huge and played a large part in your initial growth. Do you have advice for other creatives trying to grow their Instagram?

Simply put, be true to yourself and what makes you tick!

Next, hone your skills through lots of practice and never stop reflecting on your work. Along the journey, make sure you enjoy everything that you do, stay humble and be genuine to yourself and others. Positivity and honesty, I believe, are integral to building any successful friendship or online community of followers, and eventually can lead to a successful business whereby people would be proud to associate themselves with you and your brand.

With so many people being inspired by your style of cake, what is your advice to other bakers and business owners upset with people copying their unique style?

First and foremost, it’s a compliment to your creativity!

However, I can empathise with business owners who have C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | M AY 2 0 1 7 | 5

worked hard to create unique ideas, only to have them appropriated without any credit. My business model is different than most cake business owners, in that I rarely sell my cakes and prefer to make a living off collaborations and teaching opportunities. As a teacher at heart, I’ve always been set on nurturing and supporting the homebaking and dessert community through sharing my ideas and recipes, so it’s exciting when others take inspiration from my work and share this with me. I truly believe home bakers are the best kinds of friends and that there’s enough room in the wonderful world of baking for all of us!

What inspired you to launch your upcoming pop-up book “Katherine Sabbath - Greatest Hits - The Pop Edition” I share my passion by teaching workshops, hosting cake demonstrations and sharing my recipes, ideas and tips online. Making a book of my own and sharing the process of it with others seemed like a natural progression. Crowd funding felt like a perfect fit in this process, where people in our lovely cake community are able to be part of this journey. I’m so proud to know that as a team, we’re bringing something fantastic to life, from start to finish.

I wanted to create a pop-up book because paper engineering is such an astounding and beautiful craft but the art of pop-up books traditionally has been very simple.

As soon as I came across the work of paper engineer, Benja Harney (Paperform), 5 years ago, I knew I had to be a part of this world. A pop-up cookbook filled with exceptional paper engineering and vibrant cakes was a vision too good to forget!

Your cake creations are so unique and joyful! How do you find your inspiration and come up with your original ideas?

For me, inspiration comes from absolutely everywhere! I love our natural environment and not to mention, I also love bold colours and flavours. To reign in it a little bit, a favourite source of inspiration close to my heart is the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory originally written by Roald Dahl and directed by Mel Stuart. I remember seeing that movie as a wee kid and just being completely blown away by the fun and wacky possibilities of dessert! I also really love the gooey, slimy ‘dripping’ motif on the cover of “Goosebumps” novels!

6) What are your top baking tips for mum’s baking homemade creations for their own kids parties?

Seek out the most delicious and quality ingredients, bake with consideration and bake with passion, taste test your recipes every single step along the way and don’t EVER compromise on flavour! Cakes and desserts should always taste as magical as they look. Most of all, have the best time! Food cooked with love always leaves the best kind of memories on your loved ones!

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Katherine’s debut cookbook is due to be released September, 2017!

Pre-orders are available over on her website:

www.katherinesabbath.com You can also see all of the behind-the-scenes over on her Instagram and Facebook page www.instagram.com/katherine_sabbath www.facebook.com/katherinesabbath

You finally took the leap to leave your teaching job to pursue your baking career. What advice can you give to others who are wanting to pursue their business full time but perhaps fearful of making the plunge?

I always thought I’d be a high school teacher until the end of my days. It wasn’t until I started sharing my work with others and the wider Instagram audience that I realised there was a huge market of creatives out there who enjoy my sweet hobby as much as I do! Leaving teaching was the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make in my life but so far, it’s also proven to be the most rewarding and exciting! I think taking on board these kinds of risks and challenges prevents you from becoming complacent. Don’t get me wrong, teaching has always motivated me but I’ve also always had a very strong creative streak that only dessert making has been able to satiate.

My advice for others is: Hone your skills and evolve your craft by constantly experimenting with new ideas and methods, seek and reflect on constructive feedback from others and only work on projects which you truly believe in and love. If you pursue what you love, you’ll never have to ‘work’ another day in your life!

What are your “must-have” tools and items to have on hand when baking?

I always find it’s wise to invest in a trusty cake scraper and definitely a smooth-spinning cake turntable. Both of these can be found at very affordable prices in cake decorating supplies stores and make life SO much easier when it comes to decorating cakes!

PHOTOGRAPHY Cakes NIKKI TO Portrait CHRISSIE HALL

V EN D O R SP O T L I G H T

BELLA FIORE FLORAL DESIGNS

SOMETHING FOR CAKE

Winners of the 2016 Local Business Award for Outstanding Florist, we bring beautiful flowers to your special event.

Cake Decorating and modern party supplies for all occasions.

Visit in store or shop our full range online.

www.bellafiore.com.au

www.somethingforcake.com.au

www.paperface.com.au

FLUFFY CRUNCH

S U G A RL I C I O U S PA RT I E S

COOKIE QUEEN KITSCH’N

Sugarlicious Parties sells custom cake toppers, garlands, foil prints and other party accessories and decorations.

Cookie Queen Kitsch’n is Sydney based, ships Aust wide, specialising in Custom Cookies, Cakes, Petite Desserts and more to suit any theme or event you desire.

Fluffy Crunch is a fun, flavour packed experience that will get your inner child screaming for more. Our quirky party favours make the perfect addition to any dessert table. www.fluffycrunch.com.au

www.sugarlicious.com.au

PAPER FACE PARTY Creating memorable moments for all age celebrations. Lolly, Dessert Bars / Florals, Styling and Planning / Stationery and Decoration

www.cookiequeenkitschn.com.au C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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A BOUTIQUE PARTY FAIR THE COMMUNE 901 BOURKE ST, WATERLOO SYDNEY SUNDAY 23 JULY 10AM - 5PM Shop, eat and get inspired with party ideas that have come to life!

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.confettifair.com.au 8

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V EN DO R SP O T L I G H T

LOVE THAT LOLLY BAR

CONFECTIONATELY YOURS

LOULOU PIE CREATIVE

Love that Lolly Bar specialises in styling customised dessert tables for your special events. We also make our own Buttercream cakes and Sweets that can compliment your event perfectly.

Specializing in unique chocolate moulds, distributor of Sugar Stamps and stockist of cupcake accessories and funky straws.

Specialising in quality custom + ready to go invitations + event paperie for all occasions.

www.facebook.com/lovethatlollybar

www.confectionatelyyours.com.au

SWEET HEALTH

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM EVENTS

Sweet Health produces Handmade Cookie Mixes packaged in vintage style milk bottles; making the most adorable and unique party favours. www.sweethealth.com.au

Creative party styling for the young or young at heart.

Making life just that little bit easier for busy parents. www.instagram.com/dream_a_little_dream_events/

www.instagram.com/ louloupiecreative

FROSTED BY NICCI Frosted by Nicci is a boutique kitchen designing and creating custom cakes, cookies and other sweet treats for any and every occasion. www.frostedbynicci.com.au

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Cherry On top

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

MODERN MILK SHAKE BAR

By Dream a little Dream Events and Ruby Rabbit Party Styled In spiration Shoot C OLLABo RATI ON OF LI FE’S LITTLE CELEB RATION S VENDOR S C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | M AY 2 0 1 7 | 1 1

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What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

Cartoon style illustrations such as ‘Peanuts’

What process did you go through when planning the party?

The shoot revolved around the illustrated backdrop so everything was planned with scale in mind. Lots of maths and thinking about details before the final images were sent to be printed as wallpaper.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

Working with amazing Life’s Little Celebrations vendors , our super-talented photographer and using a bold yet still pretty palette.

What did the guests enjoy the most about the setup or party?

Eating the cake and drinking “cherry Cola!”

“We spent a lot of time on meticulous planning to ensure things went as smoothly as possible on the day.”

Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

Challenges revolved around getting the scale exactly right for the items we wanted to include and hanging the 6 panels wallpaper to match up whilst up a very high ladder!

Any tips you LEARNT from this event that you can pass on? Anything you would do differently next time?

We spent a lot of time on meticulous planning to ensure things went as smoothly as possible on the day. We made lots of lists and great communication between all the vendors was key. We underestimated the time it took to hang the wallpaper but now we know !

Top party planning / styling tip for mums Mum’s can create a very stylish yet fun look using a just a few colours, lots of white and a few key décor items like the gorgeous balloons ( which we personalised with stickers), pretty paper fans and props that match your theme such as our little cash register and retro scales .

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VENDORS

Photography LOVEHER PHOTOGRAPHY www.loveherphotography.com Styling DREAM A LITTLE DREAM EVENTS www.facebook.com/dreamalittledreamparties/ Partyware RUBY RABBIT www.rubyrabbit.com.au Cakes and Desserts MY PETITE SWEETS www.mypetitesweets.com.au

Custom Illustrations ELK PRINTS www.elkprints.com Red Aryclic Signage and cake toppers COMMUNICAKE IT www.communicakeit.com Invitations EVE AND CO www.facebook.com/eveandcostationery Lollipop holders and Favour boxes GLITTER AND GLUE DESIGNS www.facebook.com/glitterandgluedesigns Custom balloon stickers and coke cans DREAM A LITTLE DREAM www.facebook.com/dreamalittledreamparties/

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SHOP THE PARTY - PINKS PINK PA PER F LOWER S Stylish paper | $130 www.etsy.com/au/shop/StylishPaperShop

PI NK A ND GO L D S H IM M E R B A L L OO N PO PS Hip AND Hooray | $16.50, 6 pack www.hipandhooray.com.au

PRINCESS PA RT Y FA NS Ruby Rabbit Partyware | $34.95 www.rubyrabbit.com.au/collections/pom-pomsfans/products/princess-party-fans-8-pack

CU PCA KE T U T U S Tiny Tutu Cake Couture | $25, pack of 12 www.tinytutucakecouture.com.au/cupcake-tutus 16

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

Mia’s SIXTH unicorn party

SleepyUnicorn

By Alicia Zajdlewicz from Perfectly Sweet

C OLLABo RATI ON OF LI FE’S LITTLE CELEB RATIONS VENDOR S

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“Working with balloons is very time consuming so I recommend starting the night before.”

What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

I wanted to create something bright and fun to celebrate the birthday girl.

What desserts did you feature in this shoot?

We had a stunning unicorn inspired cake created by Velvetier. Unicorn chocolate bars, raspberry mousse meringue and cute cookies were included on the table just to name a few.

Tell us about the details on the kids sit down table.

Any tips you learnt from this event that you can pass on? Anything you would do differently next time?

Working with balloons is very time consuming so I recommend starting the night before. That way you’re not rushing around like a crazy person just before your guest arrive. I know we have all been there !

Top party planning / styling tip for mums Have an army of helpers. Setting up a party should be fun so to help eliminate stress always ask for help.

We were very lucky to have Glitter and Glue designs create Sleepy unicorn party boxes filled with lots of super cute party items for the kids to take home.

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VENDORS Styling PERFECTLY SWEET www.perfectlysweet.com.au Photography RACHEL RICHTER PHOTOGRAPHY www.rachelrichter.com.au/blog Desserts VELVETIER www.velvetier.com.au Piñata and tassels PARTY PONY DESIGNER PINATAS www.partypony.net.au

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Invitation, Signs AND Stationery EVE & CO www.eveandco.com.au Balloons and tableWARE FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com Favor boxes AND accessories GLITTER AND GLUE DESIGNS www.etsy.com/au/shop/GlitterGlueDesigns

F orget the str ess a n d get y o u r se l f o r gan ise d with this ha nd y o n e page pa rty p l a n n e r f r o m Il l ume Pa rtywa r e ! www.illumepartyware.com.au

PARTY PLANNER A WORKSHEET TO HELP YOU ORGANISE YOUR PARTY

Theme

Date of Party

Budget

Party Location

Time

GUESTS LIST

CHECKLIST Invitations Sent

Name

# Attending

2 - 4 WEEKS TO GO

{

{ Pick theme

{

{ Set date, time & duration

{

{ Set your budget

{

{ Create guest list

{ { {

{ Decide location of party { Send invitations { Order or design cake { Decide games & entertainment

{

{ Create list of items to purchase

{

{ Purchase partyware & decorations

{

1 WEEK TO GO

{

{ Follow up with guests that have not RSVP and finalise guest list

{ { {

TO BUY

{ Create shopping list and purchase food and drink { Put together treat bags

1 DAY BEFORE

Partyware & Decorations

Food & Drink

{ Decorate location

{ Invitations

{

{ Pick up or make cake

{ Plates

{

{ Check battery in your camera is charged

{ Cups

{

ON THE DAY

{ Napkins

{

{ Hang up any final decorations

{ Tablecloths

{

{ Prepare food

{ Cutlery

{

{ Relax and enjoy all your hard work

{ Treat / Party Bags

{

{ Balloons

{

{ Bunting/ Garlands

{

{ Prizes for Games

{

{

{ © www.illumepartyware.com | personal use only

ENTERTAINMENT {

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Baptism for Leah

Swan Princess

By Tanya from Life’s Little Celebrations

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What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

The classic and elegant swan was the inspiration.

I wanted to keep things soft and pretty

What process did you go through when planning the party?

I love browsing Instagram for party inspiration as well as browsing the pages of vendors on the LLC directory to see what items they would have to work into the party! As I was also doing a Swan theme for Leah’s nursery I was also looking for elements I could use in both her room and the party such as the feather garland, name sign, bow chair and swan print.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

Sourcing the different elements to bring out the swan theme was a lot of fun. I also loved seeing it all come together on the day!

“ Do a mock up of the table the night before the party so you can decide exactly where each dessert and prop will be placed ” Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

Definitely trying to plan and then setup with 4 little kids at home! I couldn’t leave too many decorations and props out as I had to be careful of breakages etc so it meant leaving a lot of actual setting up to the night before and morning of the Baptism. I’ve learnt from the past to just stick to one or two areas to setup when you’re hosting the party with little kids – because there is always so many other things to prepare on the day besides the dessert table!

Top party planning / styling tip for mums Keep things manageable knowing that you have to setup the party as well as prepare the food and look after your kids on the day of the Celebration!

- Look for decorations which you could also incorporate into your child’s room or future parties to make the cost worthwhile.

- Do a mock up of the table the night before the party so you can decide exactly where each dessert and prop will be placed so the next day you can put it all together very quickly.

- Outsource what you can! As mums we always have so many things to do – so outsource what you can to ease your stress.

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VENDORS

Photography Captured by Kirri www.capturedbykirri.com.au

Cake and macarons Macaron Delights www.facebook.com/MacaronDelightsbySana

Decorations and Partyware Ruby Rabbit Partyware www.rubyrabbit.com.au

Cookies Frosted by Nicci www.frostedbynicci.com.au

Balloon ARCH Party Splendour www.partysplendour.com.au

Meringue Kisses Quincy Lane www.facebook.com/Quincy-Lane-1500236163563930/

Feather backdrop Dream a little Dream Events www.dreamalittledream.com.au

Fairy Floss Fluffy Crunch www.fluffycrunch.com.au

Invitation Emma Smith Event Stationery www.emmasmith.com.au

Swan chocolates Made by myself using moulds from

Table AND cake stands Petite Events Hire www.petiteeventshire.com.au Gold name sign Communicake It www.communicakeit.com

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Confectionately Yours www.confectionatelyyours.com.au Swan print Toucan www.toucanonline.com Bow chair Out of the Cot www.ootc.com.au

5 minutes with

JORDAN FERNEY OH H A P P Y D AY

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Jordan Ferney runs the wildly successful Lifestyle + Design site OH HAPPY DAY | ohhappyday.com which is filled with fun party ideas, DIY creations to try and unique celebration décor along with an online shop. Here she shares with us more about her business, balancing it all and her top tips and trends!

How did “Oh Happy Day” initially come out?

It was just a blog. I started my career as an event planner and so the content I was interested in was mostly around parties and events.

Oh Happy Day has developed quite an Instagram following! What are your top tips for creative or event businesses on INSTAGRAM? Post your own photos and edit down to only the best.

The only way to really grow is to make your own stuff.

Your blog is always filled with fresh and new ideas! How do you find inspiration?

Can you share some party planning and styling tips for mums?

I love going into shops and looking at displays or going to thrift stores for inspiration. I love old books and magazines too.

I’m pretty low key when it comes to kids parties. I choose 2-3 really fun elements and then don’t worry too much about the details. Kids don’t care!

How do you manage your business along with being a mum?

I have lots of help. I have a supportive partner and an amazing nanny.

What are your top tip for mums running a business and trying to find a good work/life balance?

Ask for help. It can get really overwhelming fast if you try to go it alone.

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What do you see as some of the top trends in children’s celebrations and decorations for 2017?

Mismatched and not too “perfect” is my favorite thing as of late. I also love random themes like: A Golden Party or A Candy Party. Taking something a child loves and turning it into a theme is so fun.

Top 5 party “must-have” supplies/ decorations I love: paper fan garlands, festive festooning, rainbow pack of balloons, tall candles, and neon cakestands.

(See above)

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FAB PARTY FINDS

NO VE LT Y COO KI E S Petite Cookies | P.O.A www.petitecookies.com.au

HIP HIP HOORAY GOL D M IRROR C A KE T OPPE R Party For Stella | $24.95 www.partyforstella.com

FL A MI NG O F O O D PI C K S P RI C E Confectionately Yours | $9.95 (12) www.confectionatelyyours.com.au

M D F FL OR AL L ETTE R CUS T OM 60C M Hanging Pretty | $150 shipped Aust wide www.hangingpretty.com.au

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

1st Birthday Celebration for Caelie

Princess Garden

By Kylie Harvey - Love that Lolly Bar

What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

What did the guests enjoy the most about the setup or party?

Initially it was inspired by the client’s invitation that she had created for the event with soft colours of pink, lilac and apricot and a floral theme in mind.

The guests loved all the little desserts and the lollies on the table for the kids.

What process did you go through when planning the party?

The client and I created a mood board on Pinterest and a lot like what she liked were soft hues and lots of flowers so I drew my inspiration around that and also her party invite.

The client put full trust in my styling and once she had locked in the sweets that she wanted then I started bringing it to life mainly balancing out the colours and imagining the setup on the table. As it was a Princess garden theme I sourced some little floral butterflies which I knew would add an extra touch to the floral backdrop. I also made some little bird houses in the same colours and sprinkled them with white glitter and hung them from the back drop. The desserts were all designed around the soft hues and floral theme.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

The colours were stunning and I love working with fresh flowers.

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Any tips you learnt from this event that you can pass on?

Book in times with your vendors and have a run sheet prepared down to the last minute. I put this together as I had several pickups to do on the day, as well as vendors meeting me at the venue. Having a run sheet planned out helped me know what time I had to be where so there were no delays and less stress. I had the table and everything in place well before guests started to arrive.

Top party planning / styling tip for mums I have always believed that a backdrop is key to complete your dessert table look.

If you go to all this trouble of setting up a dessert table, you don’t want an ugly background letting it down.

This is key - it not only adds character to your table but it helps highlight what you want to show off and it also helps when taking photographs to block out an ugly background that you may not have control over.

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VENDORS

Love that Lolly Bar STYLING, CAKE, CUPCAKES, LETTER “C” AND HANDMADE DÉCOR www.facebook.com.au/lovethatlollybar

“The colours were stunning and I love working with fresh flowers.”

Photography of Dessert table Setup CAPTURED BY KIRRI www.capturedbykirri.com.au Wooden White Arbour Hire SWEET HEAVENLY EVENTS www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au Chocolate wrappers AND favour labels EVE & CO www.facebook.com/eveandcostationery/ Favour boxes AND floral butterflies RUBY RABBIT www.rubyrabbit.com.au FRESH FLORAL BACKDROP Blushing Events www.facebook.com/blushingevents.co/ DESSERT CUPS Desserts Inc www.facebook.com/Dessert-inc-908214879225936/ Props: Cake stands, serving trays, trolley AND high chair EXQUISITE EVENTS BY DIANA www.facebook.com/exquisiteeventsbydiana/ PhotoGRAPHY OF BIRTHDAY GIRL LA LENTE PHOTOGRAPHY www.lalentephotography.com Mini Cupcake toppers MINI SOIREE PARTYWARE www.minisoiree.com.au

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MOBILE: 0415 888 466 | EMAIL: LOVETHATLOLLYBAR@GMAIL.COM facebook.com.au/lovethatlollybar

love_that_lolly_bar

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Perfect Party

ENTERTAINMENT F O R EVERY AGE

By Fiona Amarasinghe from Easy Breezy Parties Babies Babies find the world around them fascinating and really don’t need much formal entertaining. But it’s a great idea to set up a designated baby play space – both for their amusement and to keep them out of harms’ way.

Set up a play area in a corner of the room, with mats, a pop-up tent and tunnel, large toys, even a small inflatable pool filled with plastic balls. Keep a stash of bubble wands and a CD player nearby for parents to use, along with a box of maraca’s or pom pom shakers for the babies to enjoy.

Toddlers Toddlers will also enjoy tents, tunnels and ball pits.

I also recommend adding activity stations, with simple crafts or playdough play. For the crafts, lay out some cardboard shapes or party hats, along with stick-on gems and foam shapes. The children will love decorating, and no messy glue is required.

Playdough stations also work brilliantly for this age.

Set out balls of playdough, along with cutting and shaping implements, or things to stick into the playdough, such as pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks.

Preschoolers Craft and playdough activity stations are also perfect for this age group. With the craft station, add glue sticks, scissors, googly eyes and feathers for cutting and pasting.

You’ll be amazed at how creative children are.

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You have sent out your party invitations, created lots of amazing party decorations, and now you’re faced with the scariest task of all – keeping a room full of children entertained for two hours!

How on earth do you do that?

You can always hire a children’s party entertainer, but perhaps you’d prefer to do the entertaining yourself. If that’s the case, try these activity ideas, guaranteed to please children in every age group.

Preschoolers will also enjoy simple games, such as a treasure hunt or musical chairs. At this age, you can introduce pass-the-parcel, though the children need some help understanding the concept of passing or unwrapping at the right time.

Facepainting is also a fabulous activity for this age group, as is applying temporary tattoos.

Young primary school children The craft table is still a favourite! But school children will love creating something more complex, such as a decorated treasure chest or superhero mask. Get the kids to create their masterpiece during the party, then take it home as a party favour.

Treasure hunts still work well for this age group, and you can introduce a theme, such as searching for pirate treasure or the lost coronation jewels of Elsa and Ana. Obstacle courses are another favourite, and a great way for the kids to expend some energy. Create an obstacle course in the garden, with a string ‘laser-maze’ (thread string between tent pegs), stepping stones, a pop up tunnel to crawl through, and so on.

Pass the parcel remains a favourite up to about the age of 7, and pin-the-tail games are also popular. Make the game match your theme by playing pin the badge on

Upper primary school children After the age of about 7 or 8, children tend to get bored of traditional party games, and are more inclined to play independently. But things can get chaotic if you leave them entirely to their own devices. Look for activities that tie in with their own particular interests, and that are hands-on enough to keep them engaged.

Science experiments are perfect for this age group, and there’s no shortage of experiment ideas on the internet.

Dance parties can also work a treat, or cooking parties where the kids decorate cupcakes or make their own pizzas.

Tweenagers love slumber or evening parties. If you’re not brave enough to host them overnight, you can still create a ‘glamping’ atmosphere with play tents, or turn your backyard into a movie theatre with a giant hired screen.

Add a photobooth with props and a dessert buffet or hot chocolate station, and leave the kids to it.

Photography SILVERGUM PHOTOGRAPHY AND SEAN AMARASINGHE www.silvergumphotography.com.au

Superman, the carrot nose on Olaf, and so on.

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E OLIVER’S 1ST BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTENING

Carousel

Charm

By Yolanda Cerra from Kiss with Style

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? As soon as my client requested a carousel themed event for her son’s combined Christening and First birthday, it was apparent to me that I had to design a carousel table with a canopy. I just couldn’t imagine styling this theme without the quintessential carousel taking center stage. I was genuinely excited about designing this event for little Oliver.

Having seen a plethora of gorgeous carousel parties styled for girls, I was delighted to style this theme with a boy in mind. The colour scheme featured antique gold, white and turquoise blue for that pop of colour.

WHAT PROCESS DID YOU GO THROUGH WHEN PLANNING THE PARTY? From a practical and logistical point of view, I designed a carousel table that was shaped as a semicircle as opposed to a cumbersome full circle table. I wanted the components of the table to dismantle so that I could easily fit the structure and transport it in my vehicle. It was also designed using lightweight material so that it could be 40

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easily assembled on site. To achieve this, I engaged a cabinetmaker and a fabulous friend and vendor to construct the carousel canopy. With a sketch in my hand I said, “this is what I want, now work your magic”

WHAT DID YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER? “Getting my craft on” is what I love doing most. As a stylist, it’s the small details that are mostly considered.

I thoroughly enjoyed bringing the carousel table to life with colour. I enjoyed painting the canopy panels and adding the finishing touches to the structure. I especially loved the mirror embellishments that were used to decorate the canopy facade. Getting my hands dirty feels very therapeutic and relaxing. This is the only area of the job which I don’t find stressful!

WERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES ON THE DAY OR IN THE PLANNING? There were no hiccups on the day of the event however, the carousel canopy did present some initial design challenges for the builder. I just had to trust that my builder would overcome the challenges, which of course he did. When I saw the carousel table for the first time in its complete raw form, I experienced utter joy and elation.

I couldn’t stop squealing, hugging and praising Tony for his incredible services. This is the sort of feeling I hope to evoke in my clients when they walk in to the venue and see their styled event for the first time.

The one thing that totally disappointed me, was not receiving a spinning turntable that I had ordered online for the carousel cake. I had a last minute idea to feature the cake on a rotating turntable. This would have looked impressive on the table but it wasn’t delivered on time even though I had paid for express postage. Ughhh!!!

ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME? It’s important to stick to your budget. Everyone has a budget to work with whether you’re a stylist or a DIY mum planning an event. I had envisioned the carousel table with festoon lights and carousel horses. Unfortunately, the budget didn’t allow for these items. In saying that, I still achieved a product that my client was absolutely thrilled with. My tip is to do the best you can with the budget you are given.

TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS The one thing that I prioritize above everything else is ‘TIME’-so plan early!! Order your party decorations/ invitations early. Do as much as you can before the event to avoid stress and disappointment. You can never plan too early. If items are out of stock, or your preferred cake decorator is fully booked, it’s okay because you have time to work around these obstacles and look for alternatives without racing against the clock. Time is your friend.

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“Getting my craft on” is what I love doing most.

As a stylist, it’s the small details that are mostly considered.”

VENDORS

CONCEPT AND STYLING KISS WITH STYLE www.kisswithstyle.com.au CAKE, DESSERTS AND ACRYLIC CAKE TOPPERS AND CAROUSEL STRUCTURE KELLY’S CAKE TOPPERS www.kellyscaketoppers.com.au CAKE STANDS THE LITTLE BIG COMPANY www.tlbc.com.au PHOTOGRAPHER FRANK AND FRIDA www.frankandfrida.com.au

e l k p r i n t s .c o m

B e s p o k e e v e n t s tat i o n a r y a n d d e c o r Creator of pretty watercolours and unique styling pieces C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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Budgie Cookie Tools

• Edible Art Paints (pastel blue, brown, yellow, black, lavender) • Paint Palette • Design Image • Rose Spirit • Paint Brushes (8 or 10 round for body, 0 or 3 round for details) • Paper Towel • Toothpick or Scribe tool • Flood consistency royal icing (or you could use fondant instead) • Edible pen/pencil (to transfer beak design onto cookie) • Naked cookie (ensure that it is fully cooled after baking)

By Frosted By Nicci www.frostedbynicci.com.au Edible Art Paints from Sweet Sticks www.sweetsticks.com.au

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TUTORIAL

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Supplies you will need on hand before you start with your baked and cooled cookie.

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Go in and flood the entire cookie now.

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Now it’s time to add the

nostrils and beak. For this you need to transfer your design onto the cookie, this is where you can use an edible marker.

It’s best to draw up your design prior to commencing so this helps with transferring any details and also with the finished look.

Once you’ve finished flooding the cookie, give it You can either cover a gentle tap on the bench the cookies in fondant or with or gently pick it up and give royal icing like I am doing it a light shake to settle the here. icing.

Go around with either I use a flood consistency royal a toothpick or a scribe to icing and I start by outlining pop any air bubbles before the cookie first (not too much letting the icing set.

I use pressure on the bag, you just a dehydrator but you can want a thin line). pop the cookie on a cooling rack with a fan close by which will assist in drying time. If you are using a fan, I would recommend leaving the cookie overnight to dry completely (don’t worry, it won’t go stale!)

Then move onto the second nostril, being careful not to knock the one you have just done. Pop the cookie back in front of the fan for another 5-10 minutes.

9 7 So you have definition between the areas you need to royal each of the bits individually. So start with one nostril then pop the cookie back in front of the fan till the top forms a crust (5-10mins is usually enough)

Now finish off with the beak.

I would usually put a big dab of royal in the middle of the area you have drawn for the beak and use a toothpick, or scribe tool like I’m using, to push and pull the icing around till you have filled the beak in. You will need to dry this for several hours before you start to paint.

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You then go around the outline again with a little more pressure on the bag so as to release a bit more icing.

10 You now have a blank canvas ready to paint on.

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TUTOR IAL

11 I like to paint my cookies on

some paper towel so I’ve always got something handy to wipe my paint brush on should I need to. Grab your edible art paint colors, whatever color you want your budgie to be, as well as black for the eyes and face details, lavender for the nostrils and yellow and brown to use for the beak.

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Before you start painting, always refer to your design so you know where you are painting.

Don’t overload your brush with too much colour to do the eyes, I always like to just dab the side of my paint palette with my brush to ensure there’s not too much colour, or you just give a light dab on the paper towel.

At this point I also paint the nostrils in lavender edible art paint. Be sure to grab a new brush for this.

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Mix your colour around to combine it with the rose spirit and start painting the body area of the budgie.

It’s now time to do the beak,

16 Don’t overload your brush

Start with some rose spirit in your paint palette, a good few droppers worth. Then grab your color, in this case pastel blue, and give it a good shake. You only need a drop or two into your rose spirit when doing watercolor (I used 2 drops).

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15 Once you’ve finished with the body, it’s time to do the eyes. For this you could use either black edible art paint or a black edible food marker (there are various brands on the market, this one is by Rainbow Dust). I always add a drop of rose spirit to my black paint, it just loosens it up a little and assists in drying time. |

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with too much colour to do the eyes, I always like to just dab the side of my paint palette with my brush to ensure there’s not too much colour, or you just give a light dab on the paper towel.

I mix together yellow and a touch of brown and mix till I get the right colour. Once the beak has been painted and the nostrils have dried a little, I go back to add the little black detailing to the nostrils.

19 It’s now time to add the black spots to the body and to do the lines on either side of the face. This is done with very fine brush strokes.

SHOP THE PARTY - METALL ICS O NE CAKE TOPPER Sugarlicious Parties | $13 www.sugarlicious.com.au

R O S E GOL D GI A NT NU MB E R B A L L O O N Deer Little Parties | $14.95 www.deerlittleparties.com.au

R OS E GOL D FO I L PL AT E S Favor Lane | $7.95 www.favorlaneparty.com

G O L D S P OT AN D S T R IP E FAVOUR BAGS Happy Little Soiree | $13.50 (pack of 10) www.happylittlesoiree.com.au

ROSE GOLD PA PE R TA SSEL GA RL A ND The Party Parlour | $32.95 www.thepartyparlour.com.au

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STRESS LESS,

Celebrate more!

The words joy, fun, delicious, celebration, colour and laughter should come to mind when you think of a party.

But as a parent planning a celebration for your little one, you’ve undoubtedly also felt overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated, nervous and inadequate.

This flustered feeling probably stems from attending other children’s ‘perfect’ parties, or from spending hours on Instagram and Pinterest faced with perfectly styled and captured party inspiration.

These awe-inspiring sources of inspiration are exactly that inspiration. The creators are professional stylists, often with a handful of interns, graphic designers and photographers to assist bring their vision to life. Sometimes what looks like

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a simple cake table might take hours of setup plus hours of shooting, all for 2-3 Insta-worthy shots. We’ve done these sorts of shoots – as you can see from these images we’ve showcased here - and boy, they are tiring!

The above isn’t supposed to discourage, particularly because those amazing party people started out just like you – a little overwhelmed.

Instead, remember as a mum – that the ‘perfect’ party isn’t necessarily what you’re aiming for. It’s about celebrating your child!

It’s important to really focus on your child, what they’re interested in, and what they’ll find fun.

Why birthday parties are so important for your kids, no matter how much you spend. www.partykit.co

By Lel Brassel Ngo from The Party Kit Company Even with a simple, inexpensive party, your child will see how much work you put into it, and how many people came along to celebrate with them.

It enforces the idea that they are special as they get to be the centre of attention for the day. They will carry that feeling with them long after the party has ended, as a birthday is often a milestone that stands out from day-to-day memories.

Things to remember: • Many of the parties on Instagram and Pinterest are styled and photographed by professionals. Do your meals look like the styled dishes of a recipe book? Does your outfit look like it’s straight out of Vogue magazine? We all wish they did, but it’s OK for things to look real.

• A professional photographer will make all the difference.

They will know what of your party décor to capture, and capture it in the best way they can. Bonus: They will get great pics of the kids, meaning you spend less time behind the camera and more time enjoying the celebrations.

• Things will get better with practice. Many of the Instagram setups you see will have been staged/practiced a number of times. If you want that lolly bar to look Pinterestperfect, mock it up the week before to reduce your stress on the day.

• Take some time to relax, breathe, and remember it’s only a party – a great party! The event will be over before you know it, so enjoy it while you can.

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

Isaac’s 7th Birthday Party

Construction Craze Dalia from Tiny Tots Toy Hire

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VENDORS

What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

When you have a child who loves building Lego and a mum who loves styling parties, you have a Lego Construction party! Win win for all!

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

This is such a fun theme to put together as there are so many options and creative ideas. A trip to Bunnings is essential before a Construction party as you never know what you’ll find! I loved putting it all together using our new Construction props like the signs, witches hats, tool box, vests, toy trucks, ladder table, wheelbarrow etc. It was so fun seeing all the pieces come to life in such a fun environment as opposed to a job site!

Top party planning / styling tip for mums - Allow as much time for set up on the day as possible!

However long you think it will take, add 2 hours on top!

- Be sure to cater for all the different age groups attending your party… for example it could be a 7th birthday, but you might still have younger siblings/family there so make they have something to play with too like a ball pit while the older kids are doing their “big kid” activities.

Concept, styling, props and toys TINY TOTS TOY HIRE www.tinytotstoyhire.com.au Photography CAPTURED BY KIRRI www.capturedbykirri.com.au Entertainment BRICKS 4 KIDZ RYDE AND STRATHFIELD www.bricks4kidzaustralia.com.au/strathfield-uns/ Cookies THE COOKIE STAR www.thecookiestarsydney.com Cupcakes GRACIE’S GORGEOUS CUPCAKES www.facebook.com/graciesgorgeouscupcakes Cake SO SENSATIONAL CAKES www.sosensationalcakes.com.au Construction Cake topper GLISTENING OCCASIONS www.facebook.com/glisteningoccasions

- If you’re not having the party at home, always do a site inspection of your venue before booking and plan where everything needs to go so you’re not wasting time on the day trying to work it out. Make sure you check location of power points in case you need to bring an extension cord.

Hard hats, safety vests, measuring tapes PARTY IDEAS IN A BOX www.partyideasinabox.com.au

- A good tip to estimate numbers if you haven’t received RSVP’s is to assume that 10% of invited guests won’t make it to the party (illness, holidays, other engagements etc)

Construction plates AND pencils PARTY AND CO www.partyandco.com.au

- If you don’t have a professional photographer, always allocate a friend or family member to take photos/video on the day as you’ll be too busy. This way no important moment will be missed. You can always return the favour at their event!

Tools bunting SUGARLICIOUS PARTIES www.sugarlicious.com.au

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Enchanted Fairy Garden ANEIKA’S 4TH BIRTHDAY

By Surangi Sangarapillai from Mooi Co 54

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? I think it’s any event stylist’s dream when your four year old says she wants a Fairy Party! I could almost see her running around in a fairy “garden” with her little fairy wings. When styling an event, what I love to create is a visual and sensory experience, that makes for a memorable occasion.

With this as my inspiration, I designed an invite which set the tone for the rest of the event.

WHAT PROCESS DID YOU GO THROUGH WHEN PLANNING THE PARTY? As with all parties I style, I start with the overall concept and design: For this party, I elaborated on the Fairy Garden theme and chose to keep it rustic and to shades of purple as requested by the birthday girl.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? The kids had 3 activities they enjoyed at the party. As they walked into the party, they could see wings ready to be worn, flower crowns hanging on a tree and fairy wands ready to magic up some fun! There were squeals of delight as each little girl got dressed up in their flower crowns, wings and fairy wands.

Each place setting also had a little peg person and each table had assorted fairy/elf clothes and they had loads of fun dressing up their little peg person.

However I think the most enjoyable part for the kids was to build their own fairy garden. Each one was given shallow plates, dirt and a little potted flowering plant (what 4 year old doesn’t like dirt! Winning already! Maybe not the parents!).

They could also choose to decorate their fairy garden with toadstools, fairy well, fairy house, and white gravel. Much to their delight, each little one got to take their little fairy garden, home.

VENDORS Concept, Graphics Design, Paperie, Cakes, Desserts, Florals, Decor, Props, activities and Set up MOOI CO www.mooico.com.au/celebrations Photography TOT AND HART PHOTOGRAPHY www.instagram.com/totandhart

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ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME? I did everything for this event because my parents who were visiting enjoyed being a part of the process . My mother, who is a baker, and dad, who’s good with florals, helped me bake, make flower crowns, and floral arrangements.

A Few top tips I learnt for next time: • I would use more vendors than doing everything myself.

They are professionals and more affordable than you think!

• I used a lot of fabric for this event. Buying them can be very costly. Use thrift stores or fabric stores which sell older excess stock • Have at the ready, blu tac, double sided tape, super glue, pins, staplers, white out, etc.

TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS 1. It doesn’t alway have to match!

2. Don’t underestimate negative space.

Over the top design is a carefully curated affair.

One which requires expertise.

3. If you’re planning a party at a park, prepare as much as possible in advance, including decor. Pack everything in boxes that are clearly marked so that someone else can help you.

4. If you’re throwing a party at home decorate a few days prior.

T O WER T REN D S We’ve seen the rise of dessert towers – making any dessert table look instantly elegant ! Here’s a snapshot of some desserts you could incorporate into a standout tower at your next celebration.

DONU T TO W E R My Petite Sweets (Perth) www.mypetitesweets.com.au

CHOCOLAT E S T R AWBER RY T OWER Chocobon (Melbourne) www.chocobon.com.au

MA CA R O N T O W E R Arelio Sweetbox (Sydney) www.areliosweetbox.com

OM BRÉ C R OQUE MBO U CHE C A KE Copper and Cocoa (Sydney)

CR E A M PU FF T O W E R Dom’s Strawberries Delight (Sydney) www.facebook.com/DomsStrawberriesDelights

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

By Kylie Hin from Enchanted Party Hire

SOCCER Legend

8th Birth day Party for Oliver

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What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

My son Oliver loves soccer so it was a natural progression that his 8th Birthday would be a Soccer Theme. I wanted it to be unique and personal, so I used his favourite Soccer Ball and Boots as the foundation for the styling.

What process did you go through when planning the party?

Once the theme and initial concepts were decided, my next task was sourcing the perfect invitation and printables range.

These personalised items then set the foundation of our party style. Oliver’s party colour Scheme incorporated Neon Yellow, Black and White with accents of Teal and Lime. It was exciting working with a unique colour scheme, I may be bias but this eye catching combination looks fantastic together .

I wanted the party to be styled with a modern industrial edge as an 8th Birthday is moving towards a more mature birthday style.

This was introduced through the geometric printable range, black and white trestle table, metal accessories and shelving.

Oliver had firm ideas on his Guest’s take home gifts as well and he was thrilled to hand out beautifully wrapped chocolates and boxed and tagged soccer bouncy ball at the end of the day.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

I loved that Oliver appreciated that his own thoughts on design and styling were incorporated into the day. He also loved that his favourite Soccer items were on display.Regardless of whether a child has a simple cake with a few friends or a large lavish affair, the day is about them and they need to enjoy it!

Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

The most challenging issue on the day was the breeze. It was impossible to use the balloons we had purchased as they kept blowing away. With an outdoor party unfortunately the elements cannot be controlled. Luckily the dessert table and children’s tables were decorative enough and the balloons weren’t missed.

Any tips you learnt from this event that you can pass on? Anything you would do differently next time?

When you are planning a party away from home make sure you pack the essentials for cake time. Don’t forget the candles, matches and the Knife!

Top party planning / styling tip for mums Listen to the Guest of Honour and style the party around what they want, after all it is their party!

Also be organized, make bookings early to avoid disappointment. Hiring products is much cheaper and easier than buying it all yourself and you don’t have to store it all afterwards!

VENDORS Styling, Furniture, Props AND Decorations ENCHANTED PARTY HIRE www.facebook.com/enchantedpartyhire/ Printables MILLYBOO DESIGNS www.facebook.com/millyboodesigns Cake topper DIY PARTIES BY RENEE www.etsy.com/au/shop/diypartiesbyrenee Cupcake toppers AND Lollipop Holders GLITTER AND GLUE DESIGNS www.etsy.com/au/shop/GlitterGlueDesigns Cookies I LUV CAKE www.iluvcake.com.au Cake MELS MAGICAL CUPCAKES www.facebook.com/MelsMagicalCupcakes/ Cake pops CAKE POP HOUSE www.facebook.com/CakePopHouse/ Photography TAMSYN RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY www.facebook.com/tamsynrileyphotography/

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

gender reveal baby shower FOR NICKEY AND ASH

Bow Ties or Tiaras?

By Lopa from Pumpkin Carriage Events

What was your inspiration behind the styling and colour scheme for this party?

The style, colours and theme of this event was inspired by mum-to-be, Nickey. This vibrant, bubbly and sweet-natured mumma-to-be wanted her baby shower to tick the cute box.

Her brief was to style a fun and exciting gender reveal party in pink and blue, with a unique and personalized theme. So we came up with the theme “bow tie or tiara? What will it be?”

What process did you go through when planning the party?

We curated the theme from Nickey’s brief by commissioning custom designed stationery for the event and baby shower games, a custom designed cake along with blue chocolate dipped strawberries on a floral tower, and pink macarons on a matching floral tower. Also on the dessert table were personalized themed cookies as guest favours, and personalized Magnum chocolate bars. The pink blue and gold confetti balloons with matching tassels created the perfect backdrop to the desserts table, whilst the custom designed foam cut out completed the dessert table.

Each guest tables was styled with cute and quirky floral centerpieces including bow ties and tiaras, as well as pink, blue and confetti balloons and personalized menu.

The plan for the gender reveal was to pop a giant gold balloon as well as the release of helium balloons from a giant box. Nickey and Ash did love to make a statement.

What did the guests enjoy the most about the setup or party?

The most enjoyed moment by the guests was when everyone found out the gender of bub. The guests also enjoyed the dessert buffet and the styling a lot. The guests also loved the personalized games stationery.

Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

Finding a big box to hold enough balloons to release at the time of the reveal was a challenge, but we searched high and low and found a massive box and styled it too.

Top party planning / styling tip for mums Always ensure that you cater a minimum of 2.5/3 pcs of dessert per person plus cake when catering a dessert buffet for your guests. There will be the occasional person who doesn’t want any desserts, and there will be those who want to try at least 1 or 2 of each type of dessert you plan to serve.

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VENDORS Concept, styling, florals, name tags AND some props AND tablecloths PUMPKIN CARRIAGE EVENTS www.pumpkincarriage.com.au Graphic design LOU LOU PIE CREATIVE www.facebook.com/louloupiecreative/ Printing JO’S SIGNS BY DEIGNS www.facebook.com/JosSignsbyDesign/ Balloons BORN TO PARTY www.borntoparty.com.au Toppers DIY PARTIES BY RENEE www.facebook.com/DIYparties/ White sequin cloth SWEET HEAVENLY PARTY HIRE AND EVENT STYLING www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au

“Always ensure that you cater a minimum of 2.5/3 pcs of dessert per person “

Gold cake Stands PROPS TO YOU www.propstoyou.com.au Foam signage FOAMTASTIC www.facebook.com/FoamtasticPartyDecor/ Cake LOVE THAT LOLLY BAR www.facebook.com/lovethatlollybar Macaron AND Strawberry tower MACARON DELIGHTS www.facebook.com/MacaronDelightsbySana/ Photography CAPTURED BY KIRRI www.capturedbykirri.com.au Cookies MISS CONFETTI www.facebook.com/Miss.Confetti.Cookies/ Charger plates PRETTY PEDESTALS www.facebook.com/prettypedestalssydney/

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FAB PARTY FINDS

ME R MA ID CA KE D ECORAT ING K IT Something for Cake | $25 www.somethingforcake.com.au

T H A NK Y O U CH OCOL AT E B A R S A ND WR A PPE R S Edge House Design | P.O.A www.facebook.com/edgehousedesign

BOHO /INDIA N HEA DDRESS Kreate a Dream | $45 instagram.com/kreateadream

Maraca E gg and S poon R ace PARTY IDEAS IN A BOX | Set of 3 for $18.55 | Set of 5 for $30.05 www.partyideasinabox.com.au

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Birthday

GIFT IDEAS Shop this gorgeous range A ND more at S weet Creations

www.sweetcreations.com.au

E verearth checkout register $32.95

A LI MR OS E L U L U DO L L $64.95

L e T oy Van truck stacker $28.95

Paper doll kit Princesses A ND belles $20

C olin’s Camper Van $69.95

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B lack wooden toolbox $74.95

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T urquoise mover line doll pram

HABA fire station playset

$79.95

Balancing S cales $89.95

I conic post bo x $80

W ooden cake stand and cake $39.95

Gift your child on their birthday with quality toys that will last and encourage their imagination.

Mint drum $59.95

L e Toy Van’ s A nna’ s L ittle D oll House $118.95

Pastel baking set gu Magbot

$39.95

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7th Birth day of Marley Rose Tritsaris-Fox

Shopkins Disco

By Cookie Queen Kitsch’n

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What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

My daughter’s love of Shopkins, the new Shoppe Doll range and her passion for dance.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

Tracking down some unique styling and gimmicks, such as LED props and headbands, bangles. Working on an eye catching custom backdrop, and down to personalised Bubblegum.

What did the kids enjoy the most about the setup or party?

The dessert buffet was most definitely a huge hit with so much to choose from. However the kids most loved their 15 minutes of fame each taking turns to sing and dance on stage over and over for 2 hours. The giant Lippy Lips cake was loved by all the kids and parents.

Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

The one challenge was that our venue only gave us a 60 minute lead time to setup the entire room - always a challenge when you have to transform an entire space.

We had 5 of us on hand to transform the venue to an entire disco and kids setup!

“My advice is to pay for help, especially when you have to flip a space quickly invest in professionals.”

Any tips you LEARNT from this event that you can pass on? Anything you would do differently next time?

My advice is to pay for help, especially when you have to flip a space quickly - invest in professionals. Party professionals do this every week and are use to working with tight schedules and timeframes in venue spaces.

Outsource at least 50% of food items to save you stress, and finally a party host saves your sanity! You are free to enjoy your child’s day, see the fun on their faces and get to spend time chatting with friends you might only see once a year. Enjoy the day and leave with your sanity.

Top party planning / styling tip for mums

VENDORS

Setup/Styling, Backdrop, Cookies, Petite Pot Desserts, Candy Bar, Cupcakes, Cakepops, LED Cotton Candy, Oreo Bites, Partyware, Candy Shop Canopy, Cake Stands, Printables COOKIE QUEEN KITSCH’N www.cookiequeenkitschn.com.au Cake THE LITTLE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.facebook.com/TheLittlePartyBoutiqueAU

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Dessert Tables are theming within themselves, saves you costs on decorations as the backdrop and colourful themed desserts and table can transform a room.

Strawberry Tower DOM’S STRAWBERRY DELIGHTS www.facebook.com/DomsStrawberriesDelights Macarons ARELIO SWEETBOX www.areliosweetbox.com Balloons Artistry FLOATING DESIGNS www.facebook.com/Floatingdesignz

Kids Setup, Kids Table Styling, Tables, Cloths AND Event Hosting ALL IN ALL PARTIES www.allinallparties.com.au

Kids Entertainment BOP TILL YOU DROP www.boptillyoudrop.com.au

LED Props, Plinths AND Cotton Candy Machine PROP MY PARTY www.propmypartyhire.com.au

Photography CATERINA’S PHOTOGRAPHY www.facebook.com/Caterina-Photography-138420842848382/

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Sweet Dreams ANNABELLE’S 9TH BIRTHDAY

By Jodie Turner fromThe Party Parlour

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What was your inspiration behind the styling for this party?

The lovely invitation and party stationery created

by Jen at Love JK.

What process did you go through when planning the party?

Firstly I had a chat with the birthday girls Mum to get an idea of the needs of the birthday girl and guests as well as to gain an understanding of the spaces in her home that she wanted to use for the party.

Secondly I had a chat with Annabelle about her friends and what she was most looking forward to.

Then it was onto the styling, using the party stationery as inspiration and selecting partyware and decorations from our online store that would create the right mood.

What did you most enjoy about putting this event together?

Creating the theming and coordinating the colour palette, as well as the set up on the day of the party (with Annabelle’s help!).

What did the guests enjoy the most about the setup or party?

They loved all the decorations and the fact that we had created a special slumber party room for them. They loved the games which were organized and finally they loved their “midnight snack” boxes

Were there any challenges on the day or in the planning?

The challenge is always having everything set up on time!

So always allow as much time as possible and prep as much as you can beforehand (including threading buntings, finishing party bags and assembly of decorations).

Any tips you LEARNT from this event that you can pass on? Anything you would do differently next time?

A slumber party is easier to pull off if you have a manageable number of guests. Stick to the party child’s closest friends and be prepared that some guests may not feel comfortable sleeping over but don’t want to be left out.

If this is the case invite them for the night so they can enjoy the party and then have them picked up before bed time.

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Top party planning / styling tip for mums For a slumber party:

VENDORS

Party Invitations and stationery LOVE JK www.thepartyparlour.com.au Cake BAKED PATISSERIE www.facebook.com/bakedpatisserie/ Special Chocolate Treats NINA’S CHOCOLATES www.ninaschocolates.com.au Partyware AND decorations www.thepartyparlour.com.au

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• Focus your decorations in the “sleepover room” and for maximum impact create a stylish cake and treat table where you will serve the food.

• Incorporate simple battery operated fairy lights into your decorating for night time “sparkle”.

• Plan a few simple games to keep them entertained during the evening. If they are not busy the sleepover room can turn into chaos!

• Don’t forget to make breakfast the next morning part of the celebration and set a special party table.

• Have pick up time at around 9.30am as your guests will be up early (even if they haven’t had much sleep).

End the party on a high note with a special take home gift or party bag.

Style, Create and Celebrate with us

Browse our collection of designer partyware. All the best brands and latest party trends to help bring your dream celebration to life.

thepartyparlour.com.au

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PA R T Y F E AT U R E

By Saffy and May

Boho Beauty MAYA’S 13TH BIRTHDAY

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY?

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY?

Maya loves all things boho and shares my passion for fabrics. So on one of our trips to Spotlight she spotted a tribal design she loved and our concept grew from there.

The girls especially loved sitting down on the rugs and cushions. They also enjoyed making dream catchers and devouring desserts.

WHAT DID YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER?

ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME?

I always enjoy when everything I have sketched in my head comes to life. This party was not different. However, I really enjoyed thinking about words and quotes I wanted Maya and her teen friends to see on the display. Instead of thank you tags, I opted for an inspirational card on each party bag, and I also had some words written on the chocolate wrappers.

Definitely plan ahead to allow enough time to order custom items and allow your creativity to flow.

TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Immerse in the world of your kids and imagine what touches or details they would love to see. Kids love a party anyway but they will be blown away when they see you totally get their theme.

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“Definitely plan ahead to allow enough time to order custom items and allow your creativity to flow.”

VENDORS

CONCEPT, STYLING AND PROP HIRE SAFFY AND MAY www.saffyandmay.com.au PRINTABLES GIGGLES AND GRACE DESIGNS www.gigglesandgracedesigns.com CAKE AND DESSERTS BAKED CAKES AND CUPCAKERY www.bakedcakesandcupcakery.com.au PARTYWARE AND GARLAND FAVORLANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com BOTTLE FEATHER WRAPS KREATE A DREAM www.facebook.com/kreateadream/ GOLD GLITTER CUTOUTS CUTESYLALA www.cutesylala.com.au

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LO V E D T H I S I S S UE O F

CELEBRATING little ones?

To find out how you can be involved in the next issue coming this August: Email lifeslittlec@gmail.com

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