Egg-cellent Easter Basket

We have only lived in our neighborhood six months and all of our neighbors have been so awesome from the start.  Within a week of moving in, every one of them had come over to introduce themselves.  They have helped hubby fix our car, given us rain boots when it snowed, and actually smile and wave.  In my previous neighborhood, my neighbor right next door didn't speak to me for about ten years.   We did become friends in the end; her best friend it seemed.  God makes everything beautiful in His time, I guess. 

As a way to bless them, we decided to make each family an Easter basket.  I started saving my egg cartons to use as my "basket".  You can buy a few extra cartons, then dye the eggs or boil them for egg salad so they won't be wasted.  I simply used scrapbook paper and traced the top of the egg carton, then let my girls cut them out.  Yes, I've gotten over my type-A personality tendencies and let jagged edges remain on crafts...EEEKKK!  I'm telling myself it makes the gift more personal and people appreciate that more than perfection....oooohhhkay.  Another option is to actually paint the cartons.



Because I was in a hurry, I just typed up something and printed it out.  Right now I should be packing, but I love you all soooo much that I designed a real pretty one for your to use.  Click here for the free download.  Select the 3.5 x 5 option when printing so the dimension will fit perfectly on the carton.



On the inside I put my favorite, Reese's eggs, and other egg-shaped candy to match with the EGG-cellent words.


I would love to see your creations of this project or other cute Easter crafts you did.  Email me  at partyatgigglebean dot net and you could be featured on our blog.






My Little Pony Party

What better way to show your little girl how amazing her birthday is than with a My Little Pony Party! Bring out all of the pink, rainbows, clouds, sparkles and magic you can find :)


Party Decorations




Create a whimsical party setting with rainbow and cloud balloons throughout the party area.



Rainbow-colored table center pieces will make your party tables pop.



Create your own party snack table with bright colors, various balloons, a My Little Pony backdrop and a bouquet of bright flowers in the center.




Each of your guest tables can have a color/pony theme. For example: If one table is blue, then the pony that represents that table would be Rainbow Dash. The decorations for that table are blue with the rainbow lightening bolt and cloud monogram. 
If the guest table is the yellow table then the pony mascot for that table is Fluttershy. This pony is yellow and all of the decorations should be bright and may include a bouquet of yellow daisies. 







Another easy idea for a My Little Pony centerpiece, is one you can easily make yourself. The $1 section at Target has colorful, plastic Chinese food-style boxes that can be your base. Fill the box with streamers and something heavy to hold boxes to table. Print out large cut outs of ponies and possibly the age of your child to glue to colorful sticks that pop out of the box centerpieces. 

Party Food: 



Mott's Apple Juice is now Sweet Apple Acres Apple Juice!




Here are two examples of cake ideas for your party! You can add ponies to the top of your cake or do a simple rainbow design.







Colorful treats are best for your party food table. Fill cups with bright fruits like raspberries, mandarin orange slices and kiwi slices. Surround the cups with rainbow marshmallows to make the table pop.



Label a bowl of skittles "Pony Vitamins."




Every aspect of your My Little Pony Party should be bright, colorful and most of all sweet. A creative spin on caramel apples is to dip them in various colors of icing and then dip the ends in rainbow sprinkles.




Create your own rainbow cupcakes! Use your favorite flavor of cupcake mix and ice the cupcakes a light blue sky color. Create white puffy looking clouds with white icing and use multi-color rainbow sour belts candy as the rainbow atop your cupcake. 



Another cute idea for your party table is to dip pink wafers in white icing and cover in rainbow sprinkles. 

Invites:




Games: 




An awesome way to create a game for the kids to get their party tutus is to make a balloon popping game. Make your one brightly colored balloon popper wand out of plastic, ribbon and feathers. Place a different number in each balloon. Each little girl gets to pop one balloon and get her number from inside. Her number corresponds with a color tutu which prevents the kids from fighting over which color tutu they want. The girls get to take home their tutus! 





A My Little Pony themed guessing game! Have guests use their magic to guess how many jellybeans are in a jar. 




Rainbow Dash's Hoof Decorating Parlor! The girls can paint their nails in fun, rainbow colors at a nail polish station.



Face Paint Station! 

Party Favors:



My Little Pony medal necklaces are a fun party favor for guests!



Create rainbow hats for guests out of tule and glue on round pieces of construction paper. Draw on each guest's name with a sparkly paint pen.

Giggle Bean specializes in children's parties, showers and events of all kinds in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. 

Credits: 

Drinks: Catch My Party
Jellybean Guessing Game: I don't blog
Table Centerpieces: Etsy
Invites: Party Pieces
Balloon popping game: Chocolate on toast
Pony Cake: Catch My Party
Medals: Etsy
Pony centerpiece: Catch My Party
Rainbow Cake: I am baker
Party hats: Icing designs online
Icing apples: Krazy Kingdom
Face painting: Paintertainment
Nail painting station: Chocolate on toast
Rainbow wafers: Catch My Party
Rainbow cupcakes: Wedding Bells


A Relaxation Celebration

The everyday life of a little girl can be very "stressful" between coloring, playdates, and sports activities. Lighten your daughters load and make her feel like the glamorous girl she is with a day at  spa. Better yet treat her friends as well, make a pampering party of it.

Invites


(photo courtesy of Birthday Party Ideas)
These nail polishes would be great invitations or thank you notes. Use your child's initials for the letters and her age for the "Perfect 10" piece of the invite.   You can make so many different varieties by using scrapbook paper in all colors and textures.


Another absolutely adorable invite that will get your guests in the mood is a face mask. You can make adjustments to the wording to personalize it for your birthday girl.

Food


(photo courtesy of Bliss Images and Beyond)
Tiny little sandwiches will make the guests feel dainty and delicate while munching on something they all love, peanut butter and jelly is recommended.





Decorations

Decorate each place setting with the items they will need for their pampering.  As a centerpiece use lovely flowers or candles to create a calm and serene atmosphere.






(photo courtesy of Catch My Party)
An easy and quick way to decorate all the chairs are with bright towels and a festive ribbon.  These could double as party favors for the guest too.

Favors

Everyone's  toes must be out at this party so those feet can get some pampering.  Spice up some cheap flip flops with a glue gun and cute embellishments like  flowers, jewels, or even pieces of towel cut to fit on the straps. These are sure to be new favorite accessory long after the party.








(photo courtesy of Soap Dispenser)
These cute little sundae favors include soaps, pumice, and a loofah.  

Activities

Facials, Manis, Pedis oh my!  This little retreat may make even the moms a little jealous.  If you don't have enough adult volunteers to act as spa employees, just allow the girls to do the mani/pedi on each other.  While they let their toes dry, the girls can do their own facials..Just watch the toes!!

(photo courtesy of Pear Tree Greetings)

A simple chocolate facial would be chocolate syrup poured into little cute containers.  To add the exfoliating factor, just add some sugar.  The chocolate facial, paired with two cucumbers, will revitalize the faces of these beauties.



Vendor Credit



Face Mask invite: Chickabug


Towel Flip Flops:  Hostess With The Mostess

Spa Cookies:  The Celebration Shoppe