Welcome to the last day of our Imperfect Party Challenge finals. It has been a blessing for me to share with you these six amazing parties. Keep voting throughout the week, rules for voting can be found HERE. Friday I will announce the winner and have a bit of extra inspiration for you from other party entries.

I am thrilled to present to you finalist number six. Jennifer who hosted a nautical themed first birthday party for her son. The inspiration for this party came from her baby’s favorite snuggle blanket which is just too, too sweet. It was an incredibly lovely party.

One of my favorite things about this party is Jennifer’s use of overhead space. Having two toddlers I understand how grabbing hands can quickly alter your party plans. Hanging decorations is a great way to get around the issue. She hung bunting, the adorable favor cones and a bouy welcoming her guests. There is also a line of sailboat hats hung which the kids later decorated with ribbon and buttons.

The table centerpieces were tin ponds with hand painted sailboats “floating” on tissue water.

A¬¨‚Ć bright red cupcake tower with sail boat flags carries on the party’s cheery nautical theme.

A bucket of notes left by friends and family for her son to read when he gets older was set at the entrance table. A note above said “Say Ahoy to our very good boy”. What a special birthday idea to have notes written every year to your child by loved ones to read as he grows up.

A homemade sailboat was the center play piece of the party. It was made from cardboard and there were also fishing rods made from dowels for the kids to pretend to fish with.

Jennifer shared that the kids had such a fun time in the boat she had to “stop untape and re-glue parts of it” before the party ended.

Thanks for sharing with us Jennifer. Vote by commenting below if you would like Jennifer to win the challenge.

blessings.

PS. tomorrow a baby bird shower sneak-peak.

Here is party #5 overfilling with candy inspiration. Before you vote- ensure yours is counted by reading up on the rules-here.

Andrea recently hosted a Candyland themed birthday party for her daughters 3rd birthday. Not only are the decorations amazing but it looks like she had the whole neighborhood out to help in pulling it off. What a lovely day for a little girl.

The food table was truly a candy-filled-wonderland with dots, sugar daddys, cotton candy, smarties and so much more. It was a beautiful display of such a fun party theme. The cupcakes had custom toppers and everyone enjoyed the beautiful candy formed cake. Above the table float bright tissue bursts announcing the guest of honor.

The backyard was lined with these huge garden lollipops. Andrea made them herself with a foam core, tissue paper and a cellophane wrap.

Outside was where most of the party happened as it boasting a huge carnival set-up. With bunting hanging above and multiple games laid out for the kids to play. There was even a spin-art machine (remember those?) and prizes awarded to everyone. Andrea had the older kids from the neighborhood come to man the games. They each wore a custom made apron to go along with the Candyland theme.

While the kids played the adults were able to relax, resting on candy themed pillows laid out amongst the patio furniture.

Each family took home a boxed candyland game with a custom made label thanking them for taking part in the party. I love the idea of giving favors that will encourage family bonding at kids parties- easy and a brilliant idea.

This much candy could make any kid bounce off the walls, let alone in a large group. A fun but trying lesson of having a candy themed birthday.

Thanks for sharing with us Andrea. Vote by commenting below if you would like Andrea to win the challenge.

blessings.

Welcome to day two of the Imperfect Party Challenge, I hope you will read the rules here before you vote- Enjoy being inspired by our great parties today.

The fourth party finalist was submitted by Stefanie from richterology who recently hosted an evening Sweet Soiree for her friends. The party was incredibly lovely.

Her guests enjoyed sweet cocktails from glasses rimmed with sugar and they had their share of chocolates with personalized labels added to the bottom- a glimpse of the small details that she incorporated to make it a lovely evening. Other sweet treats included scrumptious looking red velvet cupcakes from her local bakery.

Her table was set using custom setting cards with a beautiful damask table runner and candles setting an intimate scene for her friends and family to connect.

Just to ensure the evening did not feel stuffy she included a few whimsical pieces like the happy pig with his chalkboard sign. I just love seeing touches of funny flair liven up a more elegant affair.

Lighting the way into the soiree Stefanie placed these sweet paper bag lanterns with cut out hearts.

The Sweet Soiree party preparations, like most of ours, ended up being more last minute than Stefanie would have liked, “I was still working on decor right up until the first doorbell ring“. I know that feeling all too well, yet I firmly believe it is worth a little last minute perspiration to have an event turn out this lovely;)

Thanks for sharing with us Stefanie. Vote by commenting below if you would like Stefanie to win the challenge.

blessings.

Remember to read the Imperfect Party Challenge voting rules here if you haven’t seen them yet.

Our third party finalist submitted by Lisa from Moore Minutes – she recently hosted a Secret Agent Spy party for her son’s birthday. I had no idea a secret spy party could be so elaborately wonderful, what a lucky little boy she has.

Starting off her theme the invitations were sent in manila envelopes with a “top secret” stamp on the front. Inside there was a message to decode in order to find out the party details.

The desert bar was set up with super lively colors to make the crime scene youth friendly. The food selection included adorable baby-bombs, a large bomb birthday cake, a tray of mystery bars and a plentiful supply of colorful candy. Lisa used crime scene tape, play bullets and top secret labels to pull everything together.

At party entrance each of the boys was given an agent badge and fingerprinted for security. The boys also received agent glasses, compasses and detective bands as favors.

Chalk drawn footprints lead up to the party entrance and after eating the boys followed them out as they were sent on their “secret mission”. They scurried through the neighborhood finding clues to solve the crime of the stolen birthday present. The boys had to overcome obstacles, make it through a laser maze, and they were even attacked by bad guys (aka. dads with water guns) during their journey. Thankfully, they solved the crime and found the birthday bike along with their favor bags hoisted up in a tree.

Although this elaborate adventure had a few party planning kinks along the way, it looks like an amazing day for a 9 year old little boy.

Thanks for sharing with us Lisa. Vote by commenting below if you would like Lisa to win the challenge.

blessings.

I am pleased to share with you our second finalist in the Imperfect Party Challenge. Make sure you read up on the rules here before you vote.

Autumn from Design Dump shared her daughter’s Chinese themed birthday party. I loved so much that this whole party came together because of an impulsive purchase of a handful of clearance purses from Target two years ago. My kind of inspiration!

The invitations were hand created with an embossed pagoda that set the stage for the day.

The room was set up with the food table as the focal point, which was fitting since the food looked simply amazing.

Fortune cookies dipped in sugar, rice crispy sushi rolls and strawberry sorbet were a few of the scrumptious choices. The food flags were all made at home using a computer translator- Autumn was hopeful the words came out correctly and didn’t say something inappropriate;) The cake was topped with a Chinese symbol that says, “happy birthday”- printed off the computer, enlarged, cut out of cardboard and glittered. It is beautiful!

The room was set up around the food with lanterns and poms above and balloons to play with below. Every item presented was labeled to match the party theme, even the water bottles and fruit skewers. The theme carried on even outside where there was a Chinese take-out box pinata to bust open for goodies.

Each guest went home with one of the lovely clearence purses filled with goodies like these personalized chop-stix and fan.

Autumn shared that the thing that drove her crazy about this party was that, “we chose to have it at home‚Äö?Ѭ?in the house we are currently renting which has the ugliest wood bookcases and fireplace that were directly behind where the table was set up!” As a renter myself, I completely understand feeling strapped by this design dilemma. However, the party looked amazing anyway and the black curtains do wonders- Great solution.

Thanks for sharing with us Autumn. Vote by commenting below if you would like Autumn to win the challenge.

blessings.