I came across these wonderful paper designs by Ellen Giggenbach and just fell in love. These adorable paper kits would create the most whimsical party theme. A storybook party theme is perfect for little tots or little bookworms. With these paper kits you could create a vintage feel by adding some treasured vintage story books to the decor. Use piles of story books to create food stands and cake towers. Favors of library bags or little books would also be a perfect addition to this story book party theme. String some handmade etsy book garlands to complete the look.

1: Gold Doilies 500pk $71.95

2: 5lbs Gold Wrapped Almonds $82

3: Gold Tinsel Chandelier $20

4: Gold Cupcake Liners (Available almost everywhere)

5: Large Foil Number Balloons $15

6: DIY Gold Foil Pinata

7: Gold Foil Lanterns $7.95

8: Gold CandleSticks

9: Gold Cakes and More Gold Cakes

Cake Plate Clings are a great way to “Theme” a party using supplies you already have.

Cake Plate Clings, a new patent-pending product from WH Hostess, are a novel series of decorative linings designed for cake stands, pedestals and serving dishes. A fresh update to the traditional disposable paper doilies and liners, Cake Plate Clings are used for decoration, placed under food for ornamentation.

Offered in vibrant colors and exclusive WH Hostess patterns, Cake Plate Clings are washable, reusable, non-adhesive, slide-free, residue-free and printed with environmentally friendly ink and material.

Clings add a fashionable element to serving desserts at any event, by clinging to your serving pieces without adhesive. Clings can be customized for individual needs, by including initials, monograms or sayings. Care is simple: peel the cling off your serving piece after use, hand-wash with warm water and store flat for future use.

1 :Harold Sushi Tray $13.99

2: Fromage Wooden Cheese Tray $19.99

3: Umbrella Bon Bon Dish

4 :Octopus Serving Platter  $89.00

5 :Las Ramblas $13.20

6 :2 qrt Serving bowl Rachel Ray $50.40

7 :Vintage Bessemer Serving platter $25.00

8 :Handmade Fruit Tier $160.00

9: Threshold Platter Target $9.99

Very funny~ But it’s not a new idea,  I recall my younger self filling in a toilet guest book at my friend’s house many many moons ago. This one from  Casa-diseno.com is a little more classy than our scraps of paper but same concept.

This Lemonade is from Frogandthemouse.com from her recent baby shower blog post You Are My Sunshine which was adorable and yellow and flowery and yellow and sunshiney and smiles and smiles. Just Loved it!

1 cup Countrytime Lemonade mix {or the likes}
2 cups cold water
1 can of chilled pineapple juice {46 oz}
2 cans chilled Sprite {or the likes}

Mix together and add lemon slices to make pretty … FIN.

Doc McStuffins is one of the latest Disney crazes swooping across backyard parties.

These images from “CatchMyParty” are adorable and the candy floss “stuffing” could be used for other themes too.

Check out these free printables we featured earlier in the year.

Here are some other useful links.

Party Favors from About.com

Free Doc McStuffins Paper printables Below from DisneyFamily

Doc McStuffins Felt stethoscope

Stainless Steel Ice cubes $49.99

Fred Friends Silicone ChillPill $6.99

DIY Floral or Fruit Ice bowl

DIY Rose Petal Ice Cubes

Music can make or break a good party. Make sure your music is being heard with this wireless Audio system. Simply screw them into your light bulb socket and run your iPhone or ipod.  GiiNii Audio Bulb $299.99

This Mermaid Birthday Party is another one of my own setups. My daughter wanted an Ariel party but I didn’t want an over the top Disney party so we met here in the middle.

Everything was DIY. From the mermaid skirts and seashell hairpiece  to the treasure chest (old shipping trunk) and even the jelly fish hanging from the ceiling were made from plastic bowls and plastic bags.

There were two cakes. One was  Ariel and the other a Coral cake which was made from Donut holes covered in homemade toffee.

Mermaid Cake

Under the sea party

Edible seashells

Under the sea wreath

Under the sea limbo

Octopus sausages

Under the sea food

Under the sea cake