Showing posts with label New Year's Eve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year's Eve. Show all posts

Sunday, January 1, 2012

2011: A Sampler


I've been seeing "top ten posts of 2011" on blogs all over the internet for the past couple of days.  I have only been blogging here at Pretty Petunia since October, but why not? We've been having so much fun!  Here's a little sampler of some of the things we've been up to around here.  

Eleven posts for "twenty-eleven".































Thanks for stopping by--and I can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

[New Year] Think Inside the Box

Happy New Year's Eve! 

 Are you ready for one last day of celebrating in 2011? Has it been a good year for you?  Are you sad to see this year end?  Or are you anxious to say "good riddance"?  Do you know someone else that's had a hard year? Maybe they could use a little help as they look forward to a new start in 2012.  I've got just what you both need.



This drink carrier from Sonic has been knocking around my closet for a few months now.  I've been saving it for just the right occasion.  It was the perfect size for making a ...New Year Celebration in a Box.  And it's perfect for packaging up a little cheer for a friend.  It all came together in just a matter of minutes.  You probably have everything you need right at your fingertips.

First I gussied up my box a little bit.  You could spray paint it or modpodge it with some cute paper.  I wanted to keep it fast and simple,  so I just glued on a little card.  It seemed like it needed a little somethin-somethin.  Bling perhaps?  Metallic confetti seemed like the perfect adornment for the new year!



Now you just need to add a few party essentials.

How about a banner?


I already made one for you!  You can print it out here.  How easy is that?

A few questionnaires make for a fun activity.  You can get those here.



Then I added some poppers and some other noisemakers that I bought for a couple of bucks.



And a party wouldn't be much of a party without some confetti balloons!



To finish it off, you could add a fun game and a favorite festive drink.



And there you have it!  Everything you need all wrapped up and ready to drop on someone's doorstep!


*****

Have a happy and safe New Year!


Thursday, December 29, 2011

[New Year] Make a Big Noise



A party just isn't a party without a lot of noise!  And did I mention my love of confetti?  Why not combine the two?  Grab some balloons and lets get started!

Things you will most definitely need:
  • balloons (an 8-10 inch size works well)
  • confetti (store bought or homemade)
  • a narrow spouted funnel or something similar
I bought some clear balloons, because I thought it would be fun to be able to see the confetti.  But whatever you have on hand will work great.  If you don't have a funnel, don't fret.  You could easily make one by cutting the bottom off of a plastic water bottle.  I found that I preferred using the coupler from my frosting bag (you know, the kind you use to frost cakes).



Position the opening of the balloon over the spout of the funnel or in my case, the coupler.  Next  comes the fun part...cram that confetti into the balloon!  I  preferred the tissue paper confetti over the metallic kind.  It was less likely to attract static electricity and therefore much easier to work with!  I used my fingers and a chopstick to push the confetti through the coupler and into the balloon.



I would say "more is better", but you want at least a fourth of a cup of confetti. If you blow the balloon up a little bit first and then let the air out, you will be able to fit more confetti in.  My daughter has been collecting confetti from past celebrations for years.  She gathers it up at the end of the party and puts it in a mason jar.  I've always kind of thought she was crazy.  But, I have to say that the jar of confetti came in very handy for this little project!

You could get creative here if you want.  You could put some money in the balloon (I'm thinking bills here).  My kids would be all over that!  Or a fortune for the new year.  Or whatever tickles your fancy. Pull the balloon off of the funnel and shake the confetti down into the bottom of the balloon.

Now set those balloon babies aside until the day of the party.


When the time is right, carefully blow them up.  I do mean carefully--you don't want to accidentally inhale any of that confetti.  I didn't have any problem, although a pump might come in handy here.  You could also fill them with helium if you want.  Tie them off and decorate with them as you wish.

You could stop right here if you wanted.  But, your guests are going to need a way to pop all of those balloons when the clock strikes twelve.  Don't worry.  I've got you covered.  Whip up some of these super cute balloon popping toothpicks!  Just glue the flags onto the sticks and you are all set.



Print the flags by clicking on the appropriate button below!






We did a little test run this morning and I have to say that these confetti balloons are awesome!  They completely exceeded my expectations.  Heck, making them is a party in and of itself.  But popping them?  Super cool.  They create a fun confetti explosion for mere pennies.

Now go and make some noise!  Happy New Year!



Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Goodies for the New Year


Do you have big plans for New Year's Eve?  We love planning a special party to ring in the new year.  Sometimes it's just the family, sometimes we invite friends or neighbors over to party with us.  On special occasions, we have even been known to have a full blown New Year's Eve Ball.  I can guarantee there will be lots of yummy food.  There will be music and games.  And there will definitely be confetti...lots and lots of confetti!

I know that the new year is still a few days off, but I think we should go ahead and get started.  I have two goodies for you today to help ring in 2012!


A "Happy New Year" Banner.  



I printed mine out on a piece of cardstock.  Then I cut out each flag and stapled them to a piece of pompom trim.  I cut some of the pompoms off that were in front of the letters.  (Don't throw them away.  I am sure that they will come in handy later!)  Add some balloons and streamers and you have an instant party on your hands!

A New Year Questionnaire.


I made this second little goodie to help us remember 2011 and set some goals and resolutions for 2012.  It's a simple printable that you could print out and have your family fill in over the weekend.  You could put them in your journals, or a special envelope to be opened next New Year's Eve.  I also really love the idea of a family time capsule.  You could make a special box or container to use year after year.  Have everyone fill out their questionnaires and put them in the box.  Take a picture of your family on New Year's Eve, or have the little ones draw a picture.  Gather anything else that you want to help you remember 2011.  Then put everything in your capsule and store it with your Christmas decorations to be pulled out next year.

You may print out both goodies right here.  Just click on the "print" buttons below.












*****

For more awesome New Year ideas, click here and here!

linking up with:

Saturday, December 24, 2011

[Christmas treat] Heath Bar Cheese Ball




We have a Christmas Eve tradition of sorts.  You see, our Grandpa is Santa.  Not just any Santa.  THE Santa.  So, he's a little busy on Christmas Eve.  Which interferes with Christmas Eve dinners and such.  Our Christmas Eve dinner has evolved over the years.  It's pretty casual.  We usually invite Grandma to come and hang out with us.  We have ham and rolls.  We have chips and veggies and dip.  We have our special Christmas punch.  And we have crackers and cheese.  This year, I thought I'd add a new "cheese" dish to the line-up.  It isn't exactly dinner fare.  It's more like dessert.

Let me introduce you to...



Heath Bar Cheese Ball. 

Yummo!  Really it's just a version of cream cheese frosting all rolled up in a ball and sprinkled with delicious heath bar bits and mini chocolate chips.  You will want to serve this with sweet cookies and crackers.  I rounded up some cookies,  honey wheat pretzels,  and vanilla wafers. I wanted to make some waffle crisps--but I have officially run out of time.  So we made do. This also makes a great Christmas gift since the recipe makes enough for two.  Are you going somewhere for Christmas Eve dinner?  Just wrap up your festive cheese ball in some plastic wrap, bag some cookies and crackers, and place it in a cute box or container.  Add a bow and a gift tag.  Instant hostess gift.


May you have a fantastic Christmas Eve with your loved ones, enjoying all of the wonderful things
this season brings!

*****
If you missed this for Christmas. don't fret!  It's also a great New Year's Eve treat.


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