Ordering Invitations - What You Need to Know

Questions you should ask when getting invitations or announcements printed.

1. What is included in the printing fees?
2. What fonts are available? Is there an extra charge for specialty fonts?
3. What color ink is available? Is color extra?
4. What’s the minimum order requirement? (i.e. Is there a minimum number of cards I have to order?)
5. How long is the processing time?
6. Can I get a proof? If so, how?
7. If ordering online, you’ll want to ask about shipping options.

Checklist of information you’ll need when preparing your invitations
- What kind of party or event
- Who the party is honoring, if applicable
- Date and time
- Location – may need to include address
- Special instructions, such as what to bring or wear or pick-up time for a kid’s party, or “dinner following”
- RSVP or Regrets only and contact info, whether phone, email, or both

I know this list is pretty basic, but it is surprising how many invitation orders on our site leave off time, location, address, contact info for RSVP.

Other things you might want to know about invitations. Invitations can be flat printed or can be raised printed. Raised print is also called “thermography.”

Have other questions about invitations? Ask me at info@iby.com or via commenting to this entry. I’ll answer here. And if I don’t know, I’ll find out! Click here to read more!

Party Plates

For every party, you must decide whether you are going to use plates you have on hand (or can borrow), or plastic or paper plates. Some of the paper plates out there are simply beautiful. I’ve been adding paper tableware to the IBY site and keep thinking, “I want that one, and that one, and that one. My grandsons would like this one. This would be cute for a baby shower…”

When my kids were young, getting special party tableware to match the party theme was always fun. Sometimes we did large plates for the meal portion, small plates for the cake and ice cream portion, large & small napkins and cups for both. The few left over supplies we had were always fun reminders of the special occasion until they ran out – though I’ll admit the cake usually ran out first…

For small adult parties, I have glass party sets handed down to me from my mother-in-law. You know, the kind that have a place to set the cup that can either hold a hot or cold drink. (I don’t get them out any other time.) Or I might use my china, or other special plates, with my goblets. But if my party is too big for that, I like buying some pretty paper plates and napkins. For my youngest daughter’s graduation party, we simply used the school colors for solid color plates and napkins.

If at all possible, I prefer not to use plastic-ware for forks, spoons and knives, but when I do, I like buying the sturdy ones that don’t break easily. Click here to read more!

Teen parties

My husband sent me this link to a 1950s instructional video on teen party planning – you’ll only need to watch a minute or 2 to get the idea. I’ll admit I watched it all the way through - mainly for laughs about how different it was then. Such as “soon after the food is served, it is time to go home.” Talk about rigid!

The basics the film covered were: guest list, invitations, refreshments, and entertainment. At that time matching up the number of girls and guys invited to a party was considered important—not something we find so necessary these days. The other three are, of course, something to consider any time when planning a party.

Also, covered was party etiquette. So I thought I’d share this just-for-fun quiz that addresses etiquette issues.
Can you be the life of every party? Teen Quiz

Free Fun Quizzes at FunQuizCards.com
http://www.funquizcards.com/quiz/teen/can-you-be-the-life-of-every-party.php

Now I’d like to see a quiz like this written by teens. If you know of one, give me a shout. Click here to read more!

Spa party food

When planning food for a spa party, first you need to decide whether you want healthy or indulgent foods. When I think of healthy spa foods, I’m reminded of two movies where the main character ate the cucumbers off of her eyes (“Last Holiday” and “The Day in the Life of Miss Pettigrew”). I’d rather have mine off a plate, thanks very much.

But if you’re going for healthy, finger foods, such as veggies, obviously come to mind. Whole grain crackers or breads, low fat cheeses and dips can be a nice addition. When choosing foods, keep in mind ones that don’t become sticky if hands are damp.

If indulgent, my vote would be for anything chocolate, petit fours, mini-cheese cakes. If you don’t want all sweets, bite-sized appetizers and fruit make a nice addition. Appetizers can be warm or cold depending on your situation.

Note for either style: if you’re doing manicures, choose fork friendly foods, that don’t require cutting.

I’d suggest offering teas and coffees, especially for the indulgent menu. You may also want to make a punch. Here’s an easy and pretty punch recipe.
1-2 frozen cans of lemonade
1-2 frozen cans of cranberry juice*
Carbonated water to reconstitute the juices.
Mix well.
Float some lemon or orange slices on top to make it look pretty.
And/or freeze juice as ice cubes to keep your punch cold.

*Use whatever fruit juice combination you like.

We have some fun spa invitations in the Girl Time section at IBY. This one is my favorite:

Elegant Pool

Click here to read more!

Pinning for Nursing Excellence

A pinning ceremony celebrates the completion of the degree by awarding each graduate a nursing pin. Nursing pins are designed specifically for each school's program and no two school pins are alike.

“Pinning dates back to 1880. It signifies the integrity and tradition of badges worn by the healers and crusaders of care,” Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., Nancy and Hilliard Travis Professor and dean of the School of Nursing.

Here are two traditions that might be included in a pinning ceremony:

Nightingale pledge

Nurses Prayer for Pinning Ceremony

A pinning ceremony is often in addition to graduation. Click here to read more!

Party games for preschoolers

If you choose a venue with “big toys” as my grandsons call playground equipment, the kids usually don’t need game suggestions, they’ll just climb, run, slide, swing, jump, etc. If you want some organized games, don’t forget the old standbys of “duck, duck, goose,” “musical chairs,” and “red light, green light.”

Here’s an article from Today’s Parent to keep in mind as you plan: “Preschool Party Games: Games are a birthday party tradition that often backfires for preschoolers.”

A few resources for game ideas:

Birthday Party Games from ABC Home Preschool

Party Station from Preschool Express

Another article: “Preschool Party Games” by Rachel Paxton from Christian Parent

Do you have fun preschool games you’d like to share with us? We'd love to see them. Click here to read more!

Outdoor preschool birthday parties

We have a bunch of parents gearing up for outdoor birthday parties for their kids. They’re ordering the Farm Scene, Barnyard or Barnyard 2 cards for events set at local kid-friendly farms.

In our area we have the Deanna Rose Farmstead in Overland Park, Kansas that makes a perfect place to have a birthday party for preschoolers. The only cost for the farm itself is if you want to feed the animals, which, of course is a blast. Besides the animals there is an old schoolhouse, fishing area, hayrides, pony rides (these latter 3 for a fee), mining area, milking area, playgrounds, and more. The outside playground has a covered area with tables that would be a good place to do cake and presents.

With my kids and their friends I remember preschool birthday parties at farms, zoos, aquariums. Some have entrance fees; some are free. In all cases entertainment is easy, parents come along for crowd control, and everyone has a great time.

So what is available where you live? Check it out and you might find a wonderful place to have a party for your children.

P.S. Feel free to share your ideas by commenting, too! We'll all benefit. Click here to read more!

Slime Time

Need a party idea for those elementary age kids, especially those ones who like icky slimy stuff? What about a Slime Party? One place you can buy slime is at Arsa Toys: SLY1130 -- Slinky Toys FunLabs Power Putty Slimes Kit (For Ages 8 and Up). There’s even a recipe to make your own slime here. Or for younger kids, Arsa has an appropriate snail game: Speedy Eddy.

And IBY has an invitation that fits the theme. It’s appropriately called Slime Time.

Party favors could include slug or snail themed items. I found a Snail Puzzle at The Jungle Store that would work well as a prize. I’ve seen slug candy, and there’s always gummy worms that would mix in well with this theme. A cake could be made to match the slime theme, too.

Click here to read more!