Elle's Mother-Daughter Tea Party

I have had so much fun planning Elle's third birthday party. My mom and I spent a month looking for tea cups and saucers at goodwills and homegoods. I collected little details and ideas...and finally got to set up, decorate and throw the party.

INVITATIONS:
I went pretty simple. I used cream cardstock and used and eyelet paper punch around the edges. I used a simple drawing of a teapot in hotpink and then used clear sprinkles over it. It read:
"to celebrate Elle turning three
you are invited to a mother-daughter tea"
then ended with
"wear your loveliest dress and a pair of pearls
and we will enjoy high tea as beautiful girls"

CAKE:
I was so excited to make my first fondant cake. I started with the wilton ball pan, and shaped a handle, spout, and knob. Then, rolled out the fondant placed it over the ball and smoothed. Im sure you can see how I did the rest..but if you are making a similar cake, let me know and I will tell you how I did it!

DECORATIONS:
I set each place setting with a tea cup and saucer, fan folded napkin, little teapot place card, and a doilly on the plate. I used 10 colored tissue balls hanging from the ceiling. I put teapots and tea cups in my buffet and around. I found beautiful scarf print table cloths at WS outlet. I used the cricut for some really cool tea pot cut outs and to make a big banner. I also had the books "Tea for Ruby" and Fancy Nancy's tea parties on display" (they also helped me in the planning)

ACTIVITIES:

As soon as the girls and their moms got to my house, they started to decorate little hats and purses with flowers and ribbon. Then they came over to the living room and I started to tell them a little bit abou tea parties. As I did, Elle handed them white satin gloves and a pair of pearls so they would be really fancy for the pictures. Then the moms and daughters got their pictures taken in the little booth. (a hung up flowery sheet and another one on the floor with a white chair)

After we took all the pictures, it was time for our tea party. I opened the doors to the room for a grand entrance. The big banner said "ELLE's TEA ROOM"

FOOD:

(most everything was cut in flower shapes and topped with a fancy toothpick-with a paper butterfly of flower at the top) I made different cakeplates to hold the food using a china plate glued to an upside down dessert cup. They were all different heights.

sandwiches : chicken salad for moms, peanutbutter-marshmallow cream for girls, watermelon & blueberries, apples and half grapes, cheddar & mozz. cheese, swiss cheese & raspberry, scones, raspberry tarts, tea cakes, pink marshmallows, and Raspberry Lemonade with sprite as our tea.

We enjoyed tea for a long time and then ate cake and peppermint icecream. Then Elle gave the girls a small copy of Tea for Ruby (which I found in cereal boxes...so I have a ton of cheerios at my house) and said goodbye to her little friends.

FAVORS:

The girls had a little tea party collection to take home: hats, purses, their tea cup and saucer, pearls, gloves and their little books. The mom's could pick a cake plate to take home with them!

TEA PARTY ATTIRE: I found a dress by Betsey Johnson called "the tea party dress" so I knew that was a must, Miranda my sister made my headband and found my actual tea party calfskin cream gloves at goodwill in DC. A lot of the girls found their little skirts made by popatu at Nordstrom...a good alternative to pettiskirts because the price was good and they werent so HUGE.

homemade cinnamon rolls

I made these for a couple families on thanksgiving, and I think there may be no greater act of love than waking up early to roll them out, let them rise, bake & frost then deliver. I felt so good doing it, but I wouldnt mind trying the kind you can make ahead. My friend has a recipe for that kind...so Ill let you know!

still making homemade Christmas Cards

I wonder when I will switch...next year the next? When will I finally give in to the digital revolution?
This year, I tried to think of a "simple card." Making 125 of anything doesnt end up being simple.
I stamped and embossed the little saying "Merry Christmas Dear Friend" then punched it out, stuck it to the picture that was stuck to the cardstock. Then "inked" or distressed the edges, cut slits inside to put another picture, printed, folded, addressed...It is so worth it (I think) but it does take quite a few late nights!