Valentine’s Day Favorite Things Party

January 31, 2018 4 Comments A Well Crafted Party

After a full and happy holiday season, the month of January is a welcome reprieve from entertaining in my home. However, usually around the end of January, I start to feel the itch to celebrate! Thankfully, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. There are so many fun things to celebrate when it comes to the holiday of love. While I of course love to celebrate with my husband, Valentine’s Day for me has always been a fun opportunity to celebrate ALL the people I hold dear. This year I wanted to celebrate some lady friends with a ‘Favorite Things’ Valentine’s Day Party. Or, if you are a fan of Parks and Rec, a Galentine’s Day Party!

This post is created in partnership with Oriental Trading. All opinions are my own. I’ve been a customer of Oriental Trading for years! It is one of my go-to resources for party goods. The party color scheme was inspired by Oriental Trading plates. Scroll below for links to each of the products that I used within this party, or gather even more inspiration from Oriental Trading’s Galentine’s Day Party Supplies. This post contains affiliate links (marked at each link) which help provide income for this blog with each purchase at no cost to my readers.

I knew right off the bat that I wanted to celebrate with a Favorite Things party this year. Have you ever been to a Favorite Things party? They are GREAT! Everyone leaves the party knowing more about the other attendees and with a great parting gift!

Favorite Thing Galentine’s Day Party

I’ve done Favorite Things parties in three different ways. With each party every guest is asked to bring some of their “favorite things” to exchange. Here are three ways to host a Favorite Things Galentine’s Day Party:

Multiple Favorite Things Gifts- One for Each Guest

If you are having a smaller party of friends then this would be a fun option for a Favorite Things Party. Each guest would bring one small item for each of the other guests. Usually, the items are inexpensive, but still special to the person. For a party of six, the guest would be asked to bring six of their favorite things to share with the guests. Items like fingernail polish, pens, candles, and bath salts would be great to give away at this type of party. Encourage guests to stay within a budget of a couple dollars per item so that no one feels like they overspent. Don’t forget to have guests share why they chose what they brought!

Mini-multiple Favorite Things Gifts- Three for Each Guest

I think this might be the most popular version of this gift exchange because it allows everyone to go home with a few favorite things, but doesn’t require buying one for EVERY guest. Each guest brings three gifts. Then at the exchange, each person puts their name into a bowl three times. Each guest has a turn at handing out their three gifts to the three names that they draw from the bowl.

Single Favorite Things Gift – One to be Drawn by Each Guest

Sometimes it is easier to think of a single gift than getting multiples of a favorite item. If you are having a larger party this might be the way to go. Each guest is encouraged to bring one gift within a budget (I typically set a $15 budget) that includes one or more of their favorite things. Each gift is numbered and set out and then everyone draws a number. As guests get their gift it is fun to hear why each person picked the gift that they brought. This is the type of party I hosted and I brought some favorite stationary items such as pens, sticky notes, and some office artwork. (The flamingo is just a regular fixture in my home!)

Don’t forget to get some fun bags for the guests to bring home their new goodies in! I ordered these great Galatine’s Day tote bags (affiliate link) to act as party favors for guests.

Pink and Red Valentine’s Day Decor

As I said above, I was inspired by the Heart of Gold plates (affiliate link) with pink, red, and gold stripes. My living room is filled with bright colors, so I wanted to take advantage of the overall color scheme (keeping things pretty simple), but still highlight the theme with a bold red and pink wall.

Some of my favorite decor details from this Galentine’s Day party include:

The LOVE trays (affiliate link) filled with pink and red candies. This was an absolute hit! It took approximately 1 bag of candy to fill each letter (the O took just over a bag) and I am thrilled with how they looked on my coffee table. What’s great is now that they are empty I’m able to actually use them as decor in my living room! The heart confetti (affiliate link) sprinkled on the table helped set the letters apart from my white table.
I’ve recently become obsessed with balloon arrangements. I’ve created them in everything from huge garlands to tiny arrangements. (Look forward to a tutorial on these soon!) They are easy to make and such a fun element. I used 5-inch balloons (affiliate link) to create these arrangements and filled in the gaps with fresh flowers.
The DIY backdrop wall was seriously SO simple to make and was stunning to look at. (See my easy party backdrop tutorial.) I utilized painters tape, red plates (affiliate link), and pink plates (affiliate link) in order to create this wall.
What can I say? I love it when there are decent looking paper products for a party. While I am a big fan of utilizing reusable items, sometimes it just makes more sense for time/space/effort to use paper goods. The napkins and golden plasticware (affiliate link) helped just as much with the decor as it did with the food!

Like this party?

Tell me… what is the best Valentine’s Day party you’ve ever been to?

Beauty

DIY Manicure Valentines + Free Printables

February 10, 2017 1 Comment Beauty

These manicure party favors were originally featured in my Valentine’s Spa Day Lunch post with FREE PRINTABLES! You might have also saw them on KATU’s Afternoon Live. This simple DIY is the perfect party activity and favor wrapped in one. Use them for a Valentine’s Day gift or party or use the non-Valentine’s Day gift tag printables below to use anytime!

Finding nice ways to say thank you to friends without breaking the bank has become a sort of hobby for me. There is just nothing like a thoughtful thank you gift, Valentine, or party favor for making someone smile. When planning the Valentine’s Day Spa party I wanted to incorporate a favor that could be used at the party and then taken home. Sharing nail supplies is generally unsanitary so this little manicure kit was a perfect favor solution that allows party guests to use fresh manicure supplies to do their nails. Putting together these little kits was simple and you can do the same with supplies you find at your local one-stop retailer such as Target or Fred Meyers.

DIY Manicure Kits

I picked up most of these items at local stores. You can really mix it up and add in an assortment of fun items to make a fun favor. When creating your DIY manicure kit you’ll want to make sure that you have a bag of some sort that will hold everything you are putting in it. You can use small bags found at a craft story like I did or even a mini-gift bag works great. Print off your favorite set of printable tags below to finish off the gift. The below links are affiliate links.

Supplies:

Bags (I purchased my bags ages ago and forget where… however, these linen drawstring bags from Amazon are similar.)
Manicure Kit (I picked mine up in a sale section at my local Target. However, you can pick up similar items online like this little manicure set from Revlon.)
Nail polish (I picked up several shades of pink so that guests could mix it up or trade.)
Favorite print of the free printables below!

Optional:

Nail polish remover wipes
Soap ( I bought heart shaped soap from my local New Seasons. You can also find heart shaped soaps online. )
Nail Wraps
Hand Lotion

Directions for free printables:

Save your favorite printable set below by clicking on the image or the link below it, right clicking the file when it comes up and saving to your computer. Print on white cardstock in full color. Cut out along the design. Use a hole punch to punch a hole in the top and tie onto your bag with ribbon. The circle printables can also be printed on sticker paper to make pretty labels. These printables are for personal use only.

Click Here > Happy Valentine’s Day! Friend, may you feel as beautiful as you are printable tags < Click Here

Click Here > Happy Valentine’s Day! “Mani” thanks for being a great friend printable tags < Click Here

Click Here > “Mani” thanks for being a great friend printable tags < Click Here

What has been your favorite Valentine’s Day gift from a friend? Or, do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day gift to GIVE? Comment below!

A Well Crafted Party

Rose Hot Towels for a Spa Party

February 9, 2017 No Comments A Well Crafted Party

These rose shaped towels were originally featured in my Valentine’s Spa Day Lunch post with FREE PRINTABLES! You might have also saw them on KATU’s Afternoon Live. This simple DIY is the perfect special touch to a spa party because they are a great smelling and relaxing addition, but also because they double as an element of decor!

Once, a long time ago, on an international flight, I was handed a hot hand towel after a meal. That simple touch of a warm, clean cloth to wipe my hands and face was such a special, relaxing treat in a long day of travel. I’ve come to really enjoy it when I am at a beauty or nail salon and they have a hot towel option. Adding hot towels to your spa party requires just a little bit of planning and timing for execution, but I promise that it will be a welcome surprise especially if you add the extra touch of hot towels with the scent of roses. Display your hot towels by wrapping them in a loose rose shape to have them double as party decor!

Spa parties make for a great ladies night out, baby shower, bachelorette party, or wedding shower. Check out all the spa party ideas on A Well Crafted Party for more planning tips!

How to make Rose Shaped & Scented Hot Towels for a Spa Party

You can pick up these supplies locally by visiting your a local speciality food supplier and home goods store. I’ve also added some Amazon links for ease of purchasing on-line. The links below are affiliate links.

Supplies:

Rose Water
Washcloths or Hand towels (Hand towels will be larger and washcloths will be smaller. I used white, but red or pink cloths would also work great!)
Water!
Microwave

Directions:

I’d suggest putting these together right before the party begins and heating them up just prior to needing them. Note: Always test items heated in the microwave very carefully as they may burn.

Pour water in a bowl or sink — how much water depends on how many towels you are wetting. I’d say about 6 to 8 cups for 12 hand towels. You will not be using every drop of water and will be draining leftovers.
Add Rose Water to your water. I’d say about 1 oz for that 6 to 8 cups of water. You can simply go by scent and stop when you feel like the scent is where you’d like it.
Submerge towels into water.
Squeeze out towels so that they are no longer dripping at all.
Shape towels into the shape of a rose by loosely rolling the towel.
Prior to needing the towels put all of the dampened and shaped towels together in the microwave in a single layer. Heat in 30 second intervals checking for the temperature. Hot towels should not be hot enough to burn but rather warm and comforting. I’d suggest testing the towels with a finger tip at each interval until the desired heat is obtained.

Alternatively… try chilled towels!

Hot towels are relaxing but do take a little bit more planning and time for execution. Alternatively, chilled towels can be done in advance and are pleasantly refreshing! Simply put the shaped, dampened towels into the fridge and set out just before the party begins!

Valentine’s Day

Favorite Thing Galentine’s Day Party

Multiple Favorite Things Gifts- One for Each Guest

Mini-multiple Favorite Things Gifts- Three for Each Guest

Single Favorite Things Gift – One to be Drawn by Each Guest

Pink and Red Valentine’s Day Decor

Some of my favorite decor details from this Galentine’s Day party include:

Like this party?

DIY Manicure Kits

Directions for free printables:

Click Here > Happy Valentine’s Day! Friend, may you feel as beautiful as you are printable tags < Click Here

Click Here > Happy Valentine’s Day! “Mani” thanks for being a great friend printable tags < Click Here

Click Here > “Mani” thanks for being a great friend printable tags < Click Here

What has been your favorite Valentine’s Day gift from a friend? Or, do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day gift to GIVE? Comment below!

How to make Rose Shaped & Scented Hot Towels for a Spa Party

Supplies:

Alternatively… try chilled towels!

Have you ever had a hot or chilled towel experience somewhere? How did it make you feel?