We do so many amazing birthday parties such as a American Girl birthday tea party that we recently did in Oakville, Ontario.  This mom had so many easy and craft DIY ideas that we just had to pass on.

The mom invited all the guests to bring their favourite doll.  The entire party was planned with fun activities incorporating the dolls.   The girls made friendship bracelets with matching necklaces for their dolls which became the party loot bag. 

Then the mom set up the cutest tea party, with seating for all the girls and their dolls.  She made heart shaped sandwiches inspired by this blog post.  The mom also made a cake with the AG star on it and then added a tiara, such a simple idea but with so much impact.  The mom made star sugar cookies ahead of time using this recipe and then the girls decorated them and took them home as a loot bag.

It was one of the cutest parties and the girls all had such a great time!  For more American Girl party ideas check out our American Girl blog post.

We often are so inspired by the amazing ideas that so many of our clients come up with, that we have decided to start blogging about them to give other moms ideas of what they can do at their party.  This post we are going to highlight a unicorn themed birthday party that we did in Waterloo, Ontario.

This Waterloo, Ontario mom went all out for her 7 year old daughter's birthday party.  They came up with the idea to do a unicorn party when they saw what a hit the Starbucks unicorn frappe was with her daughter and her friends.  They decided that they wanted to do a party using the colours of the frappe and they went all out. 

They asked us to bring only teal and pink beads as well as unicorn charms to go with their theme, we were thrilled with how they bracelets turned out.

The mom also made unicorn bark using only 3 ingredients and it looked so pretty, here is how to make unicorn bark.  She also had beautiful pastel cupcakes and made unicorn frappes. here is the unicorn frappe recipe.

It was such a fun party and we were so happy to be a part of it!

Last spring, after receiving so many requests for sparkly beads, we decided to create our sparkliest package yet and we are so excited to announce that this package, our fancy bracelet package, is a huge hit!  We are very proud to say that our little beaders are loving it and it has become our most requested package.

One of our favourite parts of doing what we do is seeing the expressions of absolute delight when the guests at our parties see what they are making, and see all the beads and charms that they get to work with. 

Our little beaders (and their moms!) love the wide selection of charms, such as unicorn, fairy, ballet, hearts, snowflakes and even sport themed charms.  We made this package with a girl's hockey theme and they were so excited to have beautiful sparkly bracelet with a cool hockey charm.

Our biggest reward is seeing the joy that our service brings.  If you or your little crafter have a party theme in mind, let us know and we can order charms in to match your party theme.

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers for allowing us to keep doing what we do.

When we book our birthday parties, moms often ask us for tips for planning their jewelry making birthday party.  One of our favourite suggestions is for the mom to make a jewelry box birthday cake.  Here is the perfect jewelry box cake recipe.

Ingredients

Lid:

• 8 whole graham crackers (2 squares each)
• 10 oz. white baking chocolate

Jewelry Box Cake:

• 2 box poundcake mix (preferably Betty Crocker)
• 2 can strawberry frosting
• 1 can Vanilla Frosting

Compartments & Drawer:

• 4 whole graham crackers
• 9 creme-filled sugar wafer cookies
• 1 white gumball

Jewelry:

• Assorted edible jewelry such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, and gumballs
• You also need: 1 icing bag with a small star tip and a writing tip

1. Make Lid: On a large foil-lined baking sheet arrange 4 whole graham crackers, flat sides down and long sides touching. Next to them, add 1 more row, narrow ends touching, to make a rectangle about 10 x 8 3⁄4 in. Melt white chocolate as package directs. Evenly spread over crackers to cover. (If some seeps between crackers, that's OK.) Let chocolate dry overnight.
2. Make Jewelry Box Cake: Heat oven to 325ºF. Coat a 13 x 9 x 2-in. baking pan with nonstick spray. Line bottom with wax paper; spray paper. Prepare 1 box cake mix as package directs. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes before inverting on rack to cool completely. Repeat with other box of cake mix. Wrap and refrigerate.
3. To assemble: Carefully invert Lid so chocolate is underneath. Spread top with 2⁄3 cup strawberry frosting.
4. Cut a 2-in. strip from one short end of each cake. Cut a 1-in. piece crosswise off 1 strip. Set aside uncut strip and 1-in. piece for drawer (you won't need rest of cut strip).
5. Put 1 cake layer, right side up, on a flat 14 x 12-in. or larger serving surface, leaving at least 2 1⁄2 in. from front edge of serving surface for the drawer. Spread top of cake with 2⁄3 cup strawberry frosting; top with other cake, right side up. Frost top with 2⁄3 cup vanilla frosting.
6. Make Compartments: Using a sawing motion with a serrated knife, carefully cut remaining 4 crackers in half lengthwise. Frost 1 side using 2 Tbsp vanilla frosting. Put frosted sides, facing in, into frosting around top edge of cake. Set wafer cookies, long edge down, into frosting to make compartments.
7. Reserve 1⁄4 cup vanilla frosting. Place remaining vanilla frosting in pastry bag fitted with writing tip. With shorter edge of frosted lid facing you, pipe name and butterflies on top 3⁄4 of lid (when attached to box, bottom of lid won't be seen).
8. Frost sides of cake with 1 1⁄3 cup strawberry frosting. Carefully lift lid and attach to back of cake, gently pressing to adhere to frosting on cake. Stack filled food cans against back of lid to hold it in place until frosting sets.
9. Make Drawer: Press reserved cake strip A (click here for diagram ) and 1-in. piece B onto front of cake. Frost top and sides with reserved 1⁄4 cup vanilla frosting. Place remaining halved crackers, frosted sides in, around drawer. Coat with strawberry frosting. Press gumball knob in center.
10. Pipe butterflies on sides of cake. Change piping tip to star tip. Pipe stars around lid, top of box and drawer. Let set at least 4 to 6 hours. Remove cans.
11. Fill with edible jewelry.
12. To make rings & earrings: Use frosting to glue assorted rock candy or gumballs to gummy or regular Lifesavers candies.

We found the recipe here, for great cake ideas check out http://www.womansday.com.

We are in the midst of planning my six year old daughter's birthday party.  Since I am in the children's birthday party entertainment industry, I always feel that we need to come up with something unique and original as well as incorporate some beading fun for all of my daughter's friends.  This year I am also in charge of planning a shower for a very special sister, so I thought why not have a Breakfast at Tiffanys themed birthday shower and bridal shower on two separate mornings but using all the same ideas.

The main reason I love the idea of Breakfast at Tiffanys as a party theme is because it can be done earlier in the day when everyone is rested and full of energy, and you can serve brunch foods which are so much fun and a nice change from the pizza served at most parties.

Party Decor
This is such an easy party to decorate for.  Use the Tiffany blue colour as your main colour scheme.  Tie balloons to the backs of all of the chairs to make them look like pearls and beads.   Decorate with strands of pearls.  Make signs using the guests of honour's name, such as "Chloe & Co.".  Place white bows on the backs of chairs.  For more decor ideas, visit our pinterest page.

Menu
This party theme is perfect for a brunch menu.  A fun idea that both kids are adults are sure to love is a DIY crepe station.  For the perfect crepe station check out this post.  For any cakes, cupcakes or desserts use the Tiffany blue colour and decorate with candy pearl edible beads.  To drink, serve mimosas for the adults, and sparking orange juice for the children.

Dress Code
Both children and adults love to dress up.  Ask guests to wear their favourite little back dress and pearls.  If you are making loot bags and party favours, include a strand of glass pearls, sunglasses or gloves to go with the theme of the event.

Event Entertainment
Since pearls are synonymous with this theme, guests can make their own glass pearl necklaces, check out our amazing diy glass pearl necklace kits.

For more awesome party ideas, check out our pinterest page!  Have a great party.

We have noticed a trend lately of moms booking Paris themed jewelry making birthday parties for their tween daughters.  After doing some research we totally understand why!  A huge part of any Paris themed party is pearls and we have so many packages where the girls make beautiful glass pearl necklaces.  To see these packages visit our birthday party page.

The first thing when planning your Paris themed party is to decide on your party decor.  From our research we have noticed that most Paris themed birthday parties include the colours of soft pink, white and black, pearls, the Eiffel tower, roses, flowers, ruffles and poodles.  Since Paris is known as the city of lights, hang up lots of lights and hang Monet inspired paintings on the walls.  

The next thing to decide is on your party activities.  Of course, jewelry making is the perfect activity (and it becomes the party lootbag).  Other fun activities are to hire a mime to perform at the party, have the children draw carton portraits of each other, or play Eiffel tower ring toss.  We also suggest that you put out a box full of feather boas, glass pearl necklaces, sunglasses and hats and have the girls do a fashion show.  You can set up a photo booth and take some photos to help you remember the party.  

Food ideas for a Paris birthday parties are croissants, cheese tray, quiche, french bread, macaroons, cream puffs, pink lemonade and fruit salad (a cute idea is to make mini fruit salads in cupcake liners).  It is always a fun idea to have a Paris themed dessert table with french themed desserts such as Macroons, Eclairs and cream puffs as well as candy, cookies and cakes decorated with pink, black and white.  Visit our Paris birthday party ideas Pinterest page for more ideas.

We hope you find our Paris Birthday Party ideas for tweens helpful!  Please leave us a comment and let us know how your party went.

One of our most popular beaded projects that we teach is our "three wishes" bracelet.  We have made this bracelet with kindergarten classes, Sparks (Girl Guides of Canada) and church  groups as a Mother's Day Workshop.  We have also made this bracelet at many of our school workshops.  This holiday season, we have been making this bracelet at all of our holiday parties, this bracelet is perfect for boys and girls, moms and dads (even though dads prefer it without a heart charm).

We love the idea behind this bracelet, the idea that the wearer has three wishes when they receive this bracelet.  We also love the simplicity of it, and how easily it can be stacked with other bracelets to have an arm party.

Materials Needed:
48-52 - 4mm glass beads
3 - 3mm silver beads
1 - lobster clasp
1 j- ump ring
1 - heart charm
2 - 2 mm crimp beads
1 - piece of tigertail the length of your
      wrist and then add one inch.
1 - flat nosed pliers.

Directions:
Using the flat nosed pliers and the first crimp bead, attach the lobster clasp to one side of the tigertail . 

String the heart charm, and then string half of your beads onto the tigertail.  String the three silver beads, these beads are the three wishes. 

String the remainder of your beads onto the tigertail.  Using the flat nosed pliers and remaining crimp bead attach the other side of the tiger tail to the jump ring.

Enjoy your beautiful new three wishes bracelet!

This time of year winter themed birthday parties are so popular.  We love how pretty and magical this theme can be, with sparkly silver and blue decor, cakes and winter themed activities. 

We have snow princess beading party package that is ideal for a winter wonderland party, a Frozen party, or any other winter themed party.

Here are some ideas to  help you make your winter themed party amazing.

For inexpensive but big impact, gather up branches and spray paint them silver, then add some glue and silver glitter.  These branches can be placed all over to give the room a magical feel.

Another fun idea is to make your own paper snowflakes and hang them from the ceiling.

Blow up silver and baby blue balloons, cover the top of the balloon in glue and add glitter, and then hang from the ceiling.

Finally, use silver holiday decorations to help with the magical feel.

There are so many fun desserts that you can have at you party that help to tie in the theme of beading with the frozen winter wonderland theme.  Macaroons look like beads and they can be frosted in silver and blue.  You can have blue cupcakes with little beads on them, and you can take marshmallows and dip them in blue jello powder and cellophane wrap them.  The marshmallow looks like a bead, and is a great lootbag idea that is inexpensive, simple and perfectly themed.

Our snow princess kits are the perfect addition to any  frozen winter wonderland theme party.  The kits come packaged individually for each child with a variety of blue and white glass pearls and a stunning heart clasp starting at $6 per child.  The activity takes the girls about 30 minutes to complete is the perfect lootbag.  For more information, click here.

Happy party planning!

Lately we have been obsessed with pink and gold birthday party decor, cakes, and everything else birthday party. 

We love how girly, luxurious, glam and pretty it is, and can go with so many themes. 

There are so many ways to incorporate pink and gold into a jewelry making birthday party.

For more pink and gold beading jewelry making party ideas, visit our pinterest page click here.

Another way to include pink and gold in your beading birthday party decor is to include pink and gold food in the shapes of beads such as macaroons, cakepops or cookies with sprinkles that look like beads.

One of the ways to use pink and gold in your jewellery making birthday party is to use it in your party decor. 

A great way to do this, is to use pink or gold beads, this helps to tie it in with the theme of beading and jewellery.  We absolutely adore this spray painted gold tree with pink crystals on it.  It adds such a magical and luxurious touch to any birthday party.

We also suggest pink and gold tissue paper flowers, garlands and balloons to complete and pink and gold party look.

Complete the pink and gold party look by using these colours in your loot bags. 

We  absolutely adore these beautiful loot bags.  We love how the polka dots on this tissue paper as well as the decals on the front of the bag look like beads and how they pull the whole pink and gold beading theme together.

Our princess kits are the perfect addition to any  pink and gold theme party.  The kits come packaged individually for each child with a variety of pink and white glass pearls and a stunning heart clasp starting at $6 per child.  The activity takes the girls about 30 minutes to complete is the perfect lootbag.  For more information, click here.

Happy party planning!

Over the past 6 years, as moms have booked parties, we have always suggested that they do a candy kabob making station at their party. 

This activity goes so well with the theme of beading, the kids love doing it, it is such a fun and easy activity and it becomes a inexpensive  and beautiful lootbag for them to bring home.  

Below are instructions for candy kabob making.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Gummy candy
• Ribbon
• Bamboo skewers
• Clear cellophane bags (I used 4×6 bags from michaels.)

Choose a variety of candies, if you are following a colour scheme at your party, this is a good chance for you to continue with that theme.  Each kabob uses  10 to 15 gummies per skewer, depending on candy size.

Place the gummy candies into bowls and place in the middle of the table.  Set up a skewer at each child's spot, have nametags ready so that the kabobs can be labeled with they are completed.

Have each child place the candies onto the skewer, pressing the candies 2/3 down the skewer. Alternate styles, sizes, flavors, and/or colors. 

Make sure that the children are careful with the bamboo skewers.  One of the ends is very sharp and the children may poke themselves if they are not careful.  Keep placing the candies on until the skewer is 2/3 full, all the way to the top on one end.

Place each kabob into a clear cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon.  Place a label with the child's name on the finished kabob.

For more amazing candy kabob inspiration, click here.