Movie Theme Party

Another party for some people that I love to love...my grandparents!  Their birthdays are 1 month apart and so many people came to celebrate their 80th birthdays.  They are such a fabulous couple and I am so blessed to have them in my life.  Everyone at the party has had their lives significantly touched by these two.

INVITATION:

I designed to invitation to look like a movie ticket.  It was fun to hear peoples responses and my mom brag about her daughter that made them when people RSVP'd.

I made a sign using my Cricut to put with balloons to point people in the right direction.

When people arrived, there were a lot of things for them to do, so I designed a program to hand out as they walked in the door. It was fun trying to come up with movie-theme terminology. 

Weren't they so stinkin' good looking??

I threw this party with my mom and aunts. My mom did an AMAZING job collecting most of the decor and filling up the large space.  

ENTRANCE: 

My mom had bought the "1933: Pages of Time" for them a few years ago. She copied the pages and put them on boards for people to look at. 

We had everyone sign a picture mat so they can look back at all the people there.

My husband and I made this marquee "80." We used white foam board and strips of regular poster board.  We hot glue gunned the pieces together.  Nate spray painted all of it.  Then we added lights we had found at Michaels that are made to be put through posters. Ta-da! Definitely a two-person job.

TABLES:

The party was held at the club house for their community.  So nice of them to coordinate their color scheme with ours :)

Every table had a white table cloth and black square of fabric in the center. We scattered some "movie candy" around with the most awesome film strip frames.

We also put cards for people to write their favorite memory of the birthday couple.  My mom found a film strip roller stamp that really spruced it up.

The height of the centerpieces were these gold stars with their favorite movie posters on them.

FOOD:

True to the theme, we had a popcorn bar!

I used my Cricut to make a concession stand sign and used the same lights as the "80" marquee to punch through the foam board.

We had four different types of popcorn. Kettle Corn, Tex-Mex, Zebra, and Garlic Parmesan. It was a lot of popcorn to make sure 100 people would have enough.

I designed labels for each in Adobe Illustrator.

If people hadn't gotten enough sweets with the popcorn bar, we had "Blockbuster Brownies," "Get In Line Lemon Bites," and the cutest 

The cake popes were made by the talented Mrs Nicole Terrazas. 

AND more sweets!!!

We had every candy imaginable.  This is a must for a movie party right?

THE MAIN EVENT: 

We decorated the podium with giant film reels and tissue pom poms.

We played a game with questions about the stories of their lives with movie tickets for the winner.

Numerous people shared about the impact Ken and Mary had had on their lives

My dad put together a movie of photos from their lives set to music. It was perfect!

One of the highlights was the photo booth. We collected two tables worth of props. It was fun to see the different combinations people chose.

Big THANK YOU to our photographers...Mark and Erica Gunderson!

And this is our family (minus a few).  Thank you all for your help in making this day so special and so perfect for Grandma and Grandpa!  I know (because they have told me over and over) they felt so very loved!  And that is why I do this!

Graduation Gift Ideas

In honor of recent graduations, I thought I would post some creative ideas to show love to your graduates. 

1. Banners

Last year, I made banners for my cousin, Heather, and sister-in-law, Jenalyn's high school graduations.  Banners are so great because you can wave them up at the ceremony, take pictures with them, and reuse them for a party.  I, of course, used my cricut, but you can find printable ones online too.

2. Oh, The Places You'll Go

We bought Jenalyn the Dr. Seuss book and I made a canvas in the colors of her college dorm colors. 

For the canvas, I mod podged paper and the letters on top. 

3. Moving Pillow

Heather moved to Connecticut for college. I wanted to make something that said "I'll miss you." 

I bought the pillow at Bed Bath and Beyond. I cut out a map using my Cricut and traced it with a fabric marker. The hearts were made with red, sparkly fabric puffy paint. 

4. Candy Gram

Nate's twin cousins, Wesley and Ryan, graduated high school this year.  What 18 year old boy doesn't love candy? But being true to my reputation I had to give it creatively. 

Wesley, You did it! We promise not to Snicker or Laffy Taffy.  You endured Mounds of homework and never let your dreams slip through your Butterfinger. Hold on to you Good & Plenty memories from high school and how much your friends mint to you, then go have yourself an Extra great summer! Remember its not all about the 100 Grand but shoot for the Milky Way. Hugs and Kisses

Ryan, You're all grown up and no longer a Sugar Babi(es). You'll look back at high school as a great Dot(s) in your life. We wish we could get you a shopping Spree or trip to the Andes but our bank account would need an Extra 100 Grand. So we hope you don't Snicker or think we're Goobers for making this!  Post High School Advice 1. Don't Rolo-ver on your dreams 2. Avoid thinking you're Red Hot. Stay humble!

Hope these ideas help you show love to the graduates in your life!