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

Chinese New Year Party

Place settings- Bamboo mats, gold gold chargers, Chinese paper products, chopsticks and colorful soup bowls

Maggie and Jeff Goebel

Jaclene and Trey Stewart

Chelsea and John Knudson

Allyson and Dave Gunnell (aka Waterboy)

Ginger and Josh Warner

Tracy and Adam Knowles

Kari and David Pectol

Stephanie and Ryan McMillan

Last night we had our first annual Chinese New Year party. We had seven couples plus us, all members of the Sierra Ranch Ward. The dinner officially began at 6:30, but most arrived late (which is totally fine and the norm with us Mormons). I was quickly trying to finish making the wontons for the Won Ton Soup. When we did sit down to eat. Everyone had their soup. Then salad and the main course and drinking cups were on the buffet bar.

Here was our Menu and it's chefs:
Won Ton Soup- Maggie
Oriental Chicken Salad- Chelsea (very good with torn up wontons and bean threads)
Cream Cheese Rangoons- Bro. Knowles (with our own personal tub from Jack in the Box of Sweet and Sour sauce)
Lettuce Wraps- Stephanie McMillan
Fried Rice- Jaclene Stewart
Chow Mein- Allison Gunnell (from Panda Express)
Asian Meatballs- Ginger Warner
Kung Pao Chicken, Orange Chicken, White and Fried Rice- Kari Pectol (from Panda Express)
Pie Crust Fortune Cookie with icecream- Maggie

Everything was so yummy. This is our second dinner party with Asian food, and it is quickly becoming my favorite theme just for the food! We had a lot of laughs about those who showed up with take out boxes from Panda Express. They were all good sports about it. Who doesn't love Panda Express? We visited as we ate and heard lots of stories. Then during dessert everyone opened their fortune cookie and each had a question to answer. We went around the room and everyone took a turn reading the question then telling us their answer. We learned a lot about everyone. There were some funny stories of how people met, and favorite dates they had been on together. I think the best story was Kari Pectol being kissed by her future husband in elementary school only because her dad gave the little boy permission to do it. And then they grew up and he married her! It was such a cute story.

The party ended a little before 9. I sent Jeff to go get the kids from the sitter as the party was wrapping up because David had been upset all day and we wanted to spare the Jorgensens some pain. We had a wonderful time and I look forward to having all these friends back in our home.

A special thanks to Bishop Gunnell for refilling our cups all night (and dousing my hand and Stephanies lap with water)
John Knudson tells us how he and his wife met as janitors at BYU

Bishop Gunnell tells a cool story about how he proposed to Allyson while she was blindfolded and he was on a cell phone... you had to hear him tell it... funny!

More of the group

Chinese New Year Details

Piecrust fortune cookies- inside each was a question for guest to answer

A couple guests brought food from Panda Express for their potluck item

The morning after.... decor still hanging

This is a fun ceiling banner

Decor
We used many of the decorations from the Asian Dinner Party we hosted 5 months ago, and found some inexpensive hanging accordion style red paper lanterns. We had some white silky fabric with red Asian print and beading on it which we threw in the middle of the table and put some lit candlesticks on it.
The table set up to comfortably seat 16 people.

Table Setting
We put black plastic over all the tables, bamboo placemats, gold chargers, with Chinese paper products like plates, napkins, and cups. I had bamboo looking plastic soup bowls, Asian style ceramic soup spoons, and chopsticks for each guest.
Food
It was potluck style and everyone was assigned to bring a main dish, side dish, or appetizer. The few guests that did not come were assigned main dishes so we mainly had appetizers to eat. But it still turned out great! Read post below to see what food was served.
Party favors from Chinatown.... cheddar flavored rice crackers, fruit flavored gum and chopsticks

Favors
I had guests take their own chopsticks home with them. Also by each place setting was a package of rice crackers and on the buffet was a bowl of Chinese chewing gum in very cute packages.

My Thoughts on this party
It was a theme that I totally enjoyed and I think the guests did as well. Everything went as planned. I mentioned about the food. Even though we did not have many main dishes it all worked out and the appetizers that we did have were wonderful! I think for our future Chinese New Year parties I will just ask people to bring what they want and not worry about duplicates or that it fits in any certain category. I may also ask a guest to bring the dessert. I think that I will always do the soup and salad. Those are fun to do and I love my soup and Chelsea's salad was awesome!

What is Chinese New Year and party ideas

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in ox years tend to be painters, engineers, and architects. They are stable, fearless, obstinate, hard-working and friendly.
In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.

Fireworks and Family Feasts:
At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits. The following ideas are from me and other websites like entertaining.about.com

Invitation Ideas:
1. Write invitation on home-made paper lantern (use red construction paper)
2. In shape of Chinese dragon or animal of the year (example: Ox for 2009)
3. Write "Gung Hay Fat Choy!" (Happy New Year)
4. Use photos or pictures from a China travel brochure, magazine or web site
5. Fan invitation printed with the details of your event
6. You can hand-deliver Oriental Mini Party Boxes to your guests. Include a hand-written invitation inside along with some wrapped fortune cookies.
7. You can send the invitation tied to a pair of chopsticks. Use red card stock and a gold paint pen for the invitation. Tie the invitation to the chopsticks with a black ribbon.

Decor Ideas:
1. Chinese Lanterns
2. Chinese travel posters
3. Zodiac signs
4. Everything in red and black with accents of white
5. Make your own red tube firecrackers (www.crafts.kaboose.com/cardboard-tube-red-firecrackers.html)
6. Hang Chinese paper lanterns over your table.

Table Setting:
1. If you don't have a lot of matching red, black or white dishes... then buy paper or plastic ones in one of those colors that are square.
2. Use red table cloths and napkins folded in the shape of fans .
3. Set your table with chopsticks as well as flatware.
4. Lay an open Chinese fan on each place setting.



Food Ideas:
1. Dim Sum
2. Get it catered if it is a small group of friends
3. Potluck. Assign out a couple main dishes, side dishes, appetizers, and you do dessert and drinks.
4. Have egg rolls on the table with a dipping sauce. On the buffet bar have a veggie dish, a carb like rice or noodles, and a meat dish like Kung Pao Chicken or Shrimp Chow Mien. Serve fortune cookies with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Favor Ideas:
1. Chopsticks
2. Red envelope with money (coins) inside or gold chocolate coins
3. Stuffed animal or plastic animal of the Zodiac animal of the year
4. China postcard
5. Send home your party favors (fortune cookies or almond cookies would be great) in a Chinese food takeout box, available in craft and party stores
6. Paper fans are timeless favorites, but another great favor is a Chinese take-out box filled with candy, baked goods or other small favors.

Top 10 Chinese Appetizers:
Crab Rangoon
Bacon wrapped Water chestnuts
Spring Rolls
Paper Wrapped Chicken
Beef Teriaki
Fried Won tons
Lettuce Wraps
Szechuan Guacamole
Potstickers
Spareribs

Chinese New Year Invitations

I typed my invitations in a Word document. I set paper size as the letter sized document with two columns and narrow margins. I was able to fit a total of four invites on each piece of vellum when printed. I cut the four invites out then set aside. I took a 12x12 Chinese print scrapbook patterned cardstock and cut it into 3 strips sized 3x12. I made matchbook invitations (see template in previous post). I had a few extra scraps and made a few other styles of invites.
(I have to say that I love making these invitations because the paper has a nice texture. Some paper felt like homemade paper, and some was raised print and feel great to the touch!)

Chinese New Year Cupcakes

Good Day pattern above to copy onto frosted cupcakes

This would be a great dessert for my next Chinese New Year or Asian Dinner Party.
Whip up these Good Fortune cupcakes (familycrafts.about.com) to share your wishes of good fortune for the coming year. According to Chinese tradition, red is the symbol for fire that scares away evil spirits. The markings on the cupcakes represent good luck.

1 box of yellow or white cake mix

1 can of vanilla icing

red & yellow paste food coloring

cupcake liners

good luck pattern

Prepare cake mix as directed. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and fill 3/4 full. Bake as directed and allow to cool thoroughly before icing. You will need 2 bowls: one for red icing, the other for yellow icing. Use the paste food coloring to color the icing. You will need quite a bit of red food coloring to achieve a deep red color. Make sure that you tint enough red icing to decorate all of the cupcakes because it is nearly impossible to match the same color red for a second batch.Frost the cupcakes red. Add the yellow icing to a baggie, creating an icing bag. Snip the very end of the bag creating a tiny whole. Draw the Chinese Symbol for "Good Fortune" (see pattern) on top of the cupcakes.