Etsy: Great source for invitations and ideas

Etsy is the coolest website for individuals who sell home crafted items. You can find stationary, soaps, clothing, bedding, jewlery, and most everything that can be created.
I have enjoyed looking at their differently designed party invites. Here are some nice ones with the name of the seller and a link to their page on Etsy. The descriptions were written by the creators:
This invite is my favorite design. Look at all the little details!!! This would make a great vacation or tropical themed party. If you change the paper and the dangling charm it could be any other theme.


Florida, Mexico, Jamaica, the Caymans...a local seaside??? This shimmered signature pocketfold (4x5) invitation is petite sophistication that will make a lasting impression to your invited guests.
The above pocketfold is shown landscape style but could also be customed to a portrait style invitation. This invitation is perfect for any destination wedding or seaside/beach event in sage green and creame shimmered cardstock with bunches of large printed leaves.
Your invitation wording is printed on diamond white cardstock with a brown matte underlay and a elegant palm motif adds charm. As an embellishment a hemp cord is wrapped twice and tied into a bow with a dangling silver starfish. Just SWEET!!!

Wouldn't this make a lovely invite for a Ladies luncheon or a dinner in the Spring?
A round edge crisp white cardstock is mounted on a round edge shimmer pink cardstock (5 x 7). A soft pink and floral band of paper wraps securely around the invitation while a crystal flutter bug rests. (Please note, the flutter bug is adhered to the invitation). If your interested in the matching matchbox favor please convo me through my other shop Sweetrayne{dot}etsy{dot}com



This invitation design would work for ANY event. I especially love the belly band closure.
This (5x7) booklet invitation was inspired by precious poppies. Papers used have a gold shimmered tone to provide lusciousness. With this booklet invitation you can customize to include additional pages if needed.
Your RSVP and RECEPTION enclosure cards are held in place under the front cover with a matching belly band as the whole ensemble is held together with a belly band that's address to your guest. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27139939


This invite would be great for a Chinese New Year party or any Asian inspired gathering.

Terra Cotta and Cream are the hues that inspired this invitation style. This is a three layered 5 x 7 invitation, a textured terra cotta, circular print, and smooth creme cardstock. To set the theme a Chinese character "Happiness" motif is printed flat while a natural hemp cord is double wrapped around the invitation and tied into a knot.

Matching elements such as programs, menu's and escort cards are also available.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23547930


Inspired by all that is victorian or vintage elegance, I designed a romantic ceremony program that would compliment any garden or exquisite event.
Your ceremony and/or wedding participants are printed in flat ink on diamond white cardstock in the shape of a fan. Short lace adorns the top edge for extra softness and a double faced satin ribbon flows from the bottom.
This program can be customized in any way you choose: include your monogram, change the print color or even the ribbon color or add a special motif to add to your events theme!
All programs are hand cut and laced by me...This would also make a nice compliment to your tablescape as a menu card.Inspired by all that is victorian or vintage elegance, I designed a romantic ceremony program that would compliment any garden or exquisite event.
Your ceremony and/or wedding participants are printed in flat ink on diamond white cardstock in the shape of a fan. Short lace adorns the top edge for extra softness and a double faced satin ribbon flows from the bottom.
This program can be customized in any way you choose: include your monogram, change the print color or even the ribbon color or add a special motif to add to your events theme!
All programs are hand cut and laced by me...This would also make a nice compliment to your tablescape as a menu card.Inspired by all that is victorian or vintage elegance, I designed a romantic ceremony program that would compliment any garden or exquisite event.
Your ceremony and/or wedding participants are printed in flat ink on diamond white cardstock in the shape of a fan. Short lace adorns the top edge for extra softness and a double faced satin ribbon flows from the bottom.
This program can be customized in any way you choose: include your monogram, change the print color or even the ribbon color or add a special motif to add to your events theme!
All programs are hand cut and laced by me...This would also make a nice compliment to your tablescape as a menu card.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25817571

A fun invitation for any real celebration... do it in reds and black to celebrate New Years or red and green for Christmas

How fun and playful is this save the date announcement. The colors just scream out vibrant sensations, and with the confetti your letting your guest know that they are going to have a good time.White linen cardstock is layered atop a shimmer tangerine cardstock. A vellum envelope is attached to the announcement holding circle and vellum flower confetti giving your guest the instructions to "Don't Celebrate Yet"!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26481922

Wouldn't these be cute Luggage tag invites for a Dream Destination dinner party... I'm doing this theme for August.
I really love this invite and could totally picture it for a retro 60's or 70's themed party. If the color's were more flourescent it would be great for an 80's party!

This handmade triple layer invitation is made from shimmer cardstock... lime and fuchsia. The top is lined with a fuchsia satin ribbon with dangling beads and shiny circles.
This invitation measures 5x7 and a white envelope is included.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21100172

Baked Potstickers and Sweet and Sour Sauce

1 can (8 oz) water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
½ c. thinly sliced green onions with tops
¼ c. grated carrot
1 tsp. peeled and finely grated fresh gingerroot
1 can (10 oz) chunk white chicken, drained and flaked (I like Costco’s canned chicken)
1 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 egg white, lightly beaten
¼ c. mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, pressed
24 square wonton wrappers vegetable oil

1. Combine water chestnuts, green onions, carrot, gingerroot, chicken, soy sauce, egg white, mayonnaise, and garlic. Mix well.

2. Preheat oven to 400.

3. To assemble potstickers, place 12 wonton wrappers onto cutting board. Lightly brush edges of each wrapper with water. Place a half tablespoon of filling onto center of each wonton. Shape and seal wontons as desired. Place potstickers on lightly sprayed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining wontons. Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges of potstickers are golden brown.

Yields: 24 potstickers


Sweet and Sour Sauce

1 (15 oz) can pineapple tidbits (drain and reserve liquid)
½ c. chopped green pepper (optional)
½ c. sugar
½ tsp salt
2 Tbsp. cornstartch
¼ c. vinegar
1 c. reserved pinapple juice and water
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules
2 Tbsp. soy sauce

On stove combine cornstarch, bouillon, vinegar, sugar, salt, soy sauce and pinapple juice. Cook until bubbling and thickened. Add bell peppers (optional) and pineapple chunks.

A cake to try...

I saw this cake on omnomicon.com and knew that I had to try it for my upcoming Mexican fiesta! I was just talking last night to my husband about needing to find a different dessert that would be fun and festive and yummy. Then to come across this today! Perfect!!! This also would have been great for a sixties, seventies, or eighties party.
If you would like the recipe go to the following blog post: http://maggiesdinnerdates.blogspot.com/2009/04/rainbow-cake-sure-party-dessert-hit.html

Side comment- this cake looks slightly different than the other rainbow cake. Since it was only one cake layer it has a rounded top and is smaller.

Rainbow Cake- A sure party dessert hit!!

Sunny Day Rainbow Cake from omnomicon.com

2 boxes white cake mix

24 oz of clear diet soda (2 cans, ginger ale and sprite work well)

gel food colouring

16 oz whipped topping

2 oz instant fat-free sugar-free pudding mix (2 smallish boxes)


The Dieting
Mix the cake mix with the soda according to regular instructions on box. It will be lumpy afterward. Again, you can use any white cake recipe you want, this is just how I do it.

The Rainbowing
Measure the total volume (by my estimate, 64 oz), then divide by 6 and measure into separate bowls. There are 8 oz in a cup, so 64/6 = 10 to 11 oz, or 1 cup + 2 tbsp.
Stir colour into each bowl with its own spoon.





For the first colour into the pan, measure out 2/3 to 3/4 of your mix (in this case about 1 c) as close to the middle as you can. Drop in your first three colours, then work on the other pan with the last three colours. So if you’re doing rainbow order, the first pan should have red, then orange, then yellow, and now the purple, blue and green go into the second pan. As a recap, this is so both layers are roughly the same size.
Bake the cake for however long the box tells you to bake it. Check it when the box says to, but usually it’ll need an extra 5 or 10 minutes or maybe more because of the density of the soda method. Just keep baking, checking back every 5 minutes or so until a toothpick to the center comes out clean.


Let cool completely before moving to a wire rack.

The Frostinging
Meanwhile, make your frosting. Just mix the pudding mix in with the whipped topping for a few minutes. Dye if you’re into that.
Frost your fat-free cake with your fat-free whipped frost. Eat.

Party Favor Ideas from myownlabels.com

Hot Cocoa mix with bagged marshmallows is a great favor for a Christmas in July party, any winter holiday party, or the Breakfast Dinner Party.

Hot Cocoa Mix
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups instant dry milk
• dash salt

Sift 3 times.
To serve: In a mug combine 3-4 heaping teaspoons of mix with boiling water.

Package hot cocoa mix in glass jars or tins which are available online at Specialtybottle.com, or Kerr canning jars from your local grocery.

This is another idea that could be done with a breakfast dinner party as a favor:

Maple Syrup is a sweet way for guests to remember you by. This would also make a cute invitation to a 'Breakfast' Dinner Party. Maple Syrup for a Dinner Party where you eat favorite Breakfast foods. To make this favor you need maple syrup, favor hang tags and ribbon.

These CD's could be styled for any party theme!!! Romantic dinner music to take home as a reminder. Music hits from any decade if you are having an 80's or a 50's party. Some great Salsa music for a latin party. Andrea Bocceli if you have an Italian Dinner party.

At www.myownlabes.com you can get a recipe to make your own cilantro pasta for a favor. To make it easier. Buy each guest a small bag of 12-16 oz. spaghetti. Tie a large red (or the color of your Italian Dinner party) and attach a hanging label to the bow thanking guests for coming and put a date on it somewhere subtly. You could also print your own labels on the computer and stick to pasta packaging.

Fondue Party Ideas

If visions of a bubbling, harvest-gold pot of cheese take you back to the 70's, flash forward to today's fondue: a fun, unique and social centerpiece featuring all kinds of delicious dipping possibilities. From traditional hunks of bread dipped in melted cheese to today's trendy fondue options, imagine all the ways fondue could transform an ordinary meal into something special- without spending a lot of money.

For the first course of your fondue dinner, you can mix up your own concoction of cheese fondue. Try the following recipe:

Two Cheese Fondue

1 c. milk
1 Tbsp. butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. flour
2 c. Gruyére cheese, shredded
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, butter, garlic and flour; cook for 5 minutes. Gradually add Gruyére and cheddar cheeses; stir until melted. Transfer cheese mixture to fondue pot. Keep warm.

If your looking for a nice, leisurely meal full of good conversation, cooking meat and seafood fondue-style is the way to go. It takes longer than typical quick-fix meals, but it's worth the time to gather around the 'fire' to cook a main course together. When starting with uncooked meat or seafood, you'll need to fill and heat the fondue pot with oil for cooking. Cut up your steak, chicken or fish into 1/2 to 1-inch chunks, which you'll spear individually and then cook for approximately 3 minutes in the oil. (To save time use cooked shrimp. Fill your fondue pot with a buttery oil mix, skewer the shrimp and enjoy hot, buttery shrimp fondue in seconds.)

Perhaps the best part of fondue- at least for those with a sweet tooth- is dessert. There are many indulgent choices when it comes to your fondue finale. Lots of goodies go well with sweet melted concoctions, from cubes of cake to marshmallow-crispy rice bars and beyond. Fruit is great because it allows you to enjoy something nutritious and tasty in combination with a little luxury like chocolate or caramel. One of the most popular fruits to dip is fresh Strawberries.

Mexican cheese fondue- meatballs, chips, cubed bread
Broths- seafood, meats
Chocolate- rice crispy squares, apple slices, strawberries, marshmallows, pound cake, angel food cake, bananas
Marinara- French bread, meatballs
Sweet and sour- won tons, meatballs

A Brief Fondue History. Fondue is a centuries-old Swiss creation born of a need to make the dried-out winter stores of cheese and bread more palatable. Village peasants would melt the cheese in a communal pot, add wine or brandy and dip the crusty bread into it. The first easy fondue recipe was born. The delicious concoction, named Fondue from the French word meaning to blend or to melt, became both a meal and a social event. Fondue is still a social event, but oh so much more than a peasant's meal. It's a festive dinner, an elegant dessert, a fun party dip. Even though chocolate fondue recipes were a few hundred years late getting here, it was worth the wait.

It was a Flippin' Sweet Party!

Crossman's

Goebel's

Gailey's

Thiriot's

Lundt's

Rigby's

Mora's





O.K. you would think that by party #3 we would be party pros. But we were still rushing around finishing up parts of the dinner long after the party should have started. We didn't eat till almost 45 minutes after the party started. Luckily everyone was a good sport and hung out and visited. Most everyone dressed up. We had some funky clothes and hair. Once the food all got on the table we managed to eat it up pretty quick. There were a total of 5 fondue pots- 3 with cheese sauce and 2 with sweet and sour sauce. Near the cheese was cooked brocolli, polish sausage, and french bread. Near the sweet and sour were homemade meatballs and chicken potstickers. If you want to know more of the decorating details then read the next blog that I will be typing up later. In the end everyone, but the Sellers showed up. They had to cancel today so I called the Lundts to see if they were free tonight- they were so they joined us! We had a total of 7 couples and all were so nice to have over. Since the tables were one long row we have learned that one problem in past dinner parties is that you only get to really talk with those next to or across from you. So to solve that I set a timer, and after almost half an hour everyone picked up their place setting and moved down 3 chairs. So we all got a new group of friends to talk to. I liked that. Anyway.... it was such a fun theme- but Fondue (I never would have guessed) is a lot of work. I would love to do this theme again... but it will have to wait until this 12 month partying is over with. We had chocolate fondue for dessert with sliced apples, strawberries, angel food cake, and rice crispy treats. At the end we played a get to know you game. Each couple had to write on a piece of paper one thing about them as a couple that no one else would know. We found out that:
1.One couple held hands for the first time in Disneyland
2.One couple has been in the Tokyo temple
3.One couple collects cars (real ones- not toys)
4.One couple's wedding date is recorded wrong on official paperwork-it's off by a whole week
5.One couple got together because she felt sorry for him thinking he was blind
6.One couple used a Swiffer mop to break into a car
Answers:
1-Thiriot's 2-Rigby's 3-Crossman's 4-Mora's 5-Gailey's 6-Lundt's

Seventies Party details

Why Fondue?
When the new Deseret Industries opened up on our side of town I bought a few fondue pots. Then a year ago I was talking to various friends and I found out that some friends had pots as well and we all wanted to have a party, but no one ever threw one. So last month when I was trying to come up with the theme for this party I thought that it would be fun to have the fondue party, wear some retro clothes and have oldies music. I really got excited as I started thinking of the possibilities.
Invites
I chose some puky brown cardstock and printed the invite onto it. I cut skewers out of shiny silver cardstock, made a handle out of brown textured cardstock and cut shapes out of colored paper then cut small holes in them and threaded them onto the skewer.

Decorations
I did a lot for the decor. First of all I got some items at Party City to hang on the walls and from the ceiling. For some strange reason the seventies party paperware was 50% off- I guess a 70's party is not a highly popular party theme. Anyway... I scored at the party store. I then went online and did a google search for 70's pinups. I found a website that had scans of those old Tiger Beat magazines from the 70's. So I saved many of the photos to my computer, then printed them out 5x7 size and framed a few and laminated a few. I used the framed ones (Maureen McCormick-Marsha Brady, Donny Osmond, The Brady Bunch, David Cassidy) on the tables as centerpieces. The laminated ones (Farah Fawcett, Tony DeFranco, Jackson 5, Donny Osmond) were used to decorate the chip and drink table. We had two 5 ft. disco figures on the wall, and some hanging spiral streamers.
Getting Ready

We really like to have assigned seating to make sure that people sit by couples they may not already know. But with this party being more casual I did something different. I had scanned a bunch of picture from the internet of different 70's sitcoms- The Jefferson's, Love Boat, Battlestar Galactica, Brady Bunch, Chips, Laverne and Shirley- then printed them out wallet size 2 of each, laminated them and put them next to the plates at the table.

I made sure to keep the matching ones next to each other so that couples would be sitting together. Jeff wrote the names of the shows on slips of paper, then had the couples draw a paper each to determine where they sat. It was great! That really mixed the couples up and then half an hour into the meal everyone grabbed their place setting and moved down 3 chairs to where they were sitting with a totally new group of people. I know that Jeff and I were able to talk to all but one couple (but they are good friends anyway... we talk all the time).

Food
This is where I discuss amounts of food and future food suggestions.
Food we served:
Wontons- I made 96 and all but about 12 were eaten (the girls ate them when they got home from the sitter)
Meatballs- Lauren went above and beyond and made them herself- I think around 60. They went fast! I would probably do more next time.
Polish Sausage- I made a full package of Costco sausages. I could have easily made half that amount. Just 2 of those sausage packs at the grocery store would have been fine.
French Bread- I had requested 2 loaves...but since the couple that was bringing it couldn't come- I luckily already had 1 loaf and it was PLENTY!!! We had a lot left over.
Broccoli- I got the 3 pound bag of brocolli florets at Costco and steamed about 1 1/2pounds of it. It was really yummy... butwe had a lot left.
And I bought about 17 mini bags of chips and had them next to the water. Only about 3bags were eaten. It ended up being decor.

I did the chocolate fondue. We put the fruit and cake into cute individual servers and each person got their own to dip into the chocolate fondue. In the servers were:
Pound Cake-For dessert we asked for 2 loaves of pound cake. And they brought 2 loaves of angel food cake which was yummy. Now I know that we only need 1 loaf. Each person got 5-7 small cubes.
Strawberries and Apples- We had way too much. I had 2 different people bring strawberries and apples. We only needed 3 strawberries per person, 3 apple slices per person
Rice Crispies- I got those at Walmart and cut up about 3 or 4 large squares and spread them out to all 14 plates.

Fondue Party- Guest List and Menu

I thought that for our "Do You Fondue? 70's Party" we needed to invite couples who would be willing to dress up in some 70's garb. So here are the 6 other couples I chose. I like to have a variety of couples and people who may not know each other very well. These are the guests I've invited and what I asked them to bring:

Susan and Bryce Thiriot- cheese Fondue
Lauren and Garn Crossman- 60-80 meatballs
Brooks and Josh Gailey- sliced apples and strawberries for dipping
Nahir and Jorge Mora- sliced apples and strawberries for dipping
Ashley and John Sellers- 2 loaves cubed french bread
Kathey and Kurt Rigby- 2 pound cakes cubed for dipping
Maggie and Jeff Goebel- polish sausage, brocolli, 96 potstickers and sweet and sour dipping sauce, chocolate fondue