I recently had the pleasure of helping an amazing group of women plan a twin baby shower for one of their dear friends. Crowning Details joined the event planning team toward the tail end of the process, adding printable party decor items and some inspiration for the dessert table. One of my favorite ideas these hostesses had was for an "About to Pop" popcorn bar.

To create your own popcorn bar at a baby shower, birthday party or holiday celebration, use our FREE popcorn box template below. Trace the template onto any solid colored or patterned card stock (60# or higher is recommended). Cut around the template, fold at the seams, secure with adhesive and/or staples and then add a 2" party circle/cupcake topper for added personalization. Offer your guests 2-4 different types of popcorn, and 3-5 different toppings or flavor additions.

Popcorn bars are easy to set up, affordable and fun for guests of all ages.

What little boy doesn't love to play with matchbox cars!? For this cute 5 year old, race cars was the perfect party theme! PS How cute is he all dressed up in professional race car driver attire!?

Party guests were greeted with a Happy Birthday draped above and across the home's walkway that was covered in a black runner to resemble asphalt. Seated tables were dressed up with black tablecloths and white tape running down the center. Personalized lanyards were available for each guest to not only wear during the party, but to take home as favors.

Key party activities included matchbox car races down a slide divided by tape and a street race for all guests. Tricycles, bicycles and riding toys were lined up at the starting line and trophies awaited each guest at the finish line.

Vendor Credits:
-Party printables: Crowning Details
-Nascar Toddler Costume: Birthday Express
-Outdoor checkered flag banner, gold trophies: Birthday Express
-Inflatable Tires: Academy Sports
-Luncheon napkins, lanyard cases, checkered tablecloths- Party City

Chalkboard party supplies are all the rage right now!

Here is a simple strategy for incorporating chalkboard into your graduation celebration- DIY party hats.

You will need:
-Chalkboard paper (found at most craft stores)
-Pastel chalk
-Tissue paper cut into 2 inch strips
-Scissors
-Tape
-Elastic or ribbon

Trace our party hat template (available throughout our blog) onto chalkboard paper and cut around the pencil marks. Secure your party hat with staples where the folded flap is provided (glue generally won't hold the hat together). Next, work on your tissue paper tassles. Once each piece of tissue paper has been cut into 2" x 10" strips, take your scissors and cut small slats across the entire piece; approximately 1/8 inch apart. Roll the piece together tightly like a wrap and secure with tape. Insert your tassle into the top of your hat and secure from underneath with tape.

Using a hole punch, place 2 holes on either side of the hat and attach elastic or satin ribbon. And finally, decorate your party hats using pastel chalk....or better yet, put the chalk into dishes on your graduation tables and let your guests decorate their own hats!

Graduation is nearly upon us! 

Whether you are celebrating preschool, kindergarten, high school or college graduates, these simple note cards will provide inspiration both today and in the future when included in a memory box or scrapbook.

Encourage your guests to write notes of encouragement to the grads in your life this year. 

Simply print and cut out these simple cards and arrange along with a glass container filled with pencils or pens and another for guests to deposit their messages.

Planning to serve bulk snacks at your next celebration?!?

Whether you are serving party mix, popcorn, goldfish crackers or other bulk snacks, one of the easiest ways to "dress-up" these food items is serving them in a decorative snack cone.

Decorative snack cones are a simple, affordable way to add a crowning detail to your event.

What you will need:
-Decorative paper
-Scissors
-Stapler
-Self-adhesive Popsicle sticks (optional: for snack cones displayed standing up)

To create, use the template provided below to trace your snack cone onto decorative paper. Cut around the edges using scissors. Using a stapler, place 2 staples along the fold to hold together (please note that glue generally isn't strong enough to hold the cones together).

If you plan to display your snack cones standing independently as shown below at the train party, you will need to attach self-adhesive Popsicle sticks (found in most craft stores in the wood making aisle) to the back of the cones. In the display below, the snack cones are set into floral filler and covered with shredded paper.

As the end of this school year approaches, I know many moms are in search of gift ideas for their children's teachers. 

In many classrooms, including my son's, the request is that if a gift is to be made to the teachers, that it be small or handmade. 

These "I Appreciate my Teacher Because...." cards are perfect for preschool children and older; simply have your child write a personalized note to their teachers and attach to a small token of your appreciation. 

Nothing is more special to many teachers than something made for them, from their students! Stay tuned for coordinating round, apple theme gift tags.....