We wanted to share a formula for some cute centerpieces we helped put together for a Halloween themed bat mitzvah party a just a few weeks ago.
Use these construction techniques to decorate your party with attractive centerpieces. Support a stick or flexible plastic tube by gluing onto a piece of styrofoam or wood. Insert into your base (here a plastic jack-o-lantern) and glue. The base can also be a shopping bag, small box, decorated box, theme box (i.e. computer), etc. Camouflage with some tissue or mylar paper. Add a large picture (or other theme piece) at the top mounted to a rigid piece of cardboard or polystyrene and attached to the stick or flexible plastic tube.
Add theme related garnishments – here we used leaves, scarecrows, dried flowers, etc. Or it can be anything complimenting the theme you select.
Ileana Morales’ article for Entertainment Daily appeared earlier today. The article was titled Teens party on as families cut thousands off budgets to host coming-of-age celebrations
Ms. Morales asks: “Planning a quinceanera? Think about choreographing your own dance routine. Feeding a Sweet 16? Hope you know how to bake. Bat mitzvah on the way? You might want to share your party with a neighbor.”
She went on to comment that other families “…are cutting thousands from the budgets for teenage girls’ coming-of-age celebrations because of the sour economy, party planners said, but stopping short of canceling the bashes. After all, the parties mark a milestone in otherwise uncertain times.”
She also talked about vendors reacting to the cost consciousness of their customers. Read the rest of the article.
This video demonstrates how to make a DIY economical “You Are A Star” Bar Mitzvah centerpiece, Bat Mitzvah centerpiece, or wedding and any other special event centerpieces. I attach three stars to wooden dowels, accent with onion grass and add to a budget “Just Add Sand” centerpiece base. With balloons, a table name and place cards you can have an economical “You Are A Star!” theme for your next party.
Lois Solomon wrote in Moms and Dads on the SunSentinal site about a theme-less bat mitzvah party.
In it she writes: “To reduce costs but still make a party that is classy and fun, I’m hiring a DJ and buying some centerpieces. I bought invitations on-line and created an e-mail address for people to RSVP. In this economy, I’m not sure guests should expect much more.” Read the rest of the article…
We have a new video up for those interested in a variation of our “just add sand” do it yourself centerpieces. These are definitely slanted to the younger crowd, babies and toddlers. So here it is for the world to see!
Wailin Wong wrote an article in the Chicago Tribune yesterday titled “Social Web engages brides in all stages of Planning”. Unfortunately, it is not yet in the paper’s archives so we cannot link to it.
The story is both sad and humorous. She said planning a marriage is “more like an anxiety-ridden hybrid of marathon, shopping spree and beauty pageant.” Then she thanks the Web for being there to help. Later she comments “..social media has injected some transparency and community into wedding planning.” The web brings “..together brides in the hunt for fair prices.”
She briefly covers message boards, brides developing bonds, anonymity, second thoughts, and other topics. We do hope she truly does not become another bridezilla.
Last month Abbi shared some great money saving tips on wedding flowers on her blog.
She has many practical tips to share. These include doing your homework, getting help from a talented friend, using fresh and silk flowers as a combination, etc. She also has some guidelines for the do it yourself crowd (of which we are!). Other delightful tidbits include shopping for sale items, using candles as inexpensive items, checking out seasonal items, as well as exploring your own garden for items.
In 2007 A-BnC Parties and More, Inc. offered party planning and products for Bar and Bat Mitzvah events as well as weddings. We coordinated parties and oversaw the day of events for those parties. A-BnC Parties was already well established in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, having originated in 1980. We were on local Web directories. We established our first Web site, abncparties.com, to make a wider Web presence and introduce our party products and personalized services to a wider audience.
That experiment was based on a marketing concept that frankly did not succeed! However, since it was an investment of love and time, we did not give up. Instead we were turned in a new direction quite by chance. That event led us to offer a wider selection of DIY supplies and kits. In 2008 we established this blog, as well as a presence on other social sites. We also started separate do it yourself theme centerpiecee and wedding centerpiece sites.
This was similar to how we originally started and grew our business, by trial and error. We grew by listening to feedback from our customers and meeting their requests. We can now thank the many new friends we have met via the Web whom we would never have had a chance to meet before! And, we thank you for your confidence, testimonials and repeated support.
As in life, all things change. The recent economic climate has affected us all. We see a remarkable shift to Web purchasing. Therefore, we recently affiliated with partners to expand the products we offer to our Web friends. We invite you to visit their sites and enjoy their products. We also invite feedback so we can continue to evaluate our relationship with them
We partnered with a very bright young woman who offers signing for the deaf in the greater Chicagoland area. We have known her for many years and are friends with her parents. So if you have a need for signing for the deaf in the Chicago area, please contact us.
We will still continue to offer the same personalized service and products we manufacture and/or assembly ourselves for both our local customers as well as our Web DIY supplies and kits customers.
A-BnC Parties and More is in process of consolidating our Websites. We will combine our personalized party planning products and services with do it yourself supplies and kits. This will make navigation for all the products and services we offer much easier. Our WordPress blog will also move to our main Website, soon. Please bear with us during the transition.
We have truly been blessed over the years and hope to continue helping our friends and associates. Thank you, everyone, and Happy New Year!
This is always an exciting time of the year for sports fans. Today marks the end of the regular football season. If your team makes the playoffs, that’s great! But for those of us who did not make it again this year (sigh), our sights turn to basketball! For the NCAA finals will be here soon and we can still route for our favorite professional basketball teams before the season’s finalists are determined.
