Posted on May 6, 2012 by Kara

Kara’s Party Ideas iPhone & iPad APP Is Here!

I’ve been dying to share the news…and am finally able to! I’m so excited to announce that Kara’s Party Ideas now has a fabulous iPhone, iPad & iPod App!!

Kara’s Party Ideas- THE App for ALL things party! It’s been in the works for a while, and has just been released! The app has done so well in just a few days that it is now ranked in the top 10 iPhone lifestyle apps! If you could help it climb to the top we would SO appreciate it! Please spread the word!!

Now you can access and easily search through thousands of party ideas right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch {Android app coming soon}! It’s a party planner’s dream, let me tell you!

But, that’s only the beginning…do you like the sound of Bonus Features? This App is so much more than a place to find fabulous party ideas.

For one, you can “heart” your favorite parties allowing you to bookmark the ideas and images so you can easily find them later! Sweet, right?

And yes, there’s still a lot more….

Some of the awesome features that the Kara’s Party Ideas App offers:

-See the latest & greatest party ideas with a simple touch

-Search through specific party idea categories

-SHOP Kara’s Party Ideas like a breeze

-Interact with your Facebook & Twitter accounts without even having to leave the App

-Watch the Kara’s Party Ideas SHOW instantly {episodes will begin airing soon}

-Heart and bookmark your favorite parties and ideas

-Leave a comment or question on a specific party or idea, creating a forum where everyone can interact and help each other

-Email any party or idea to yourself or a friend

-Access Kara’s Party Ideas dot com in seconds

-Share any party or idea on Facebook & Twitter

-Access Kara’s Party Ideas, the BOOK

And more….

WHERE TO GET THE APP: {On sale for only $1.99 right now as a special introductory price!}

For iPhone / iPad users- find the app here!

Android users- coming soon! Or search ‘Kara’s Party Ideas’ in iTunes or your App store.

Inside a party: Touch the fun connect-the-dot icon at the bottom of the screen to pull up the email, facebook, and twitter options. Touch the talking bubble to leave a comment. Touch the heart button to add the party/idea to your favorites.

I’m so excited to make your Kara’s Party Ideas experience all the more wonderful!! Please help us climb to the top {ranked in the top iPhone lifestyle apps} and spread the word! I hope you love this App as much as I do! It’s just the beginning….so stay tuned!

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Kara

Parenting Magazine- Kara’s Party Ideas {Featured}

So excited about the May issue of Parenting Magazine. I was contacted a few months ago by an editor asking if they could feature an image from my Sweet Shoppe Party. The issue hit newsstands this week. I just received my copy in the mail and opened it up to the beautiful party spread…SO cool to see! THEN, I turn back a page to browse through the other fabulous party ideas and about fall off my chair… Kara’s Party Ideas was listed as one of Parenting Magazine’s top fave party blogs!!! I seriosly feel SO honored!! Thank you, Parenting Magazine!! Be sure and pick up your copy of the May issue of Parenting Magazine for tons of fabulous party inspiration!

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Kara

Birthday Gumball Party for HGTV

So here is the Gumball Birthday Party I styled for HGTV! To see the feature on HGTV.com go here {more exciting things coming, too}. As I said last week, HGTV contacted me in December to see if I would be willing to submit a party for an online kids party idea feature. So fun! I chose the gumball theme because I wanted the party to be bright and colorful…something that any child would adore.

I wanted to go with a vintage gumball feel. While planning the party I pictured a gumball machine in a old fashioned soda shoppe…the ideas then kept coming from there. All photos taken by Lyndsey Fagerlund. I found these adorable gumball machine cookies on etsy. They were made fresh and shipped to my front door by Batches. They couldn’t have been cuter…

The printable banner & party hats were purchased from Gwynn Wasson Designs. I topped the banner with sewn/gathered crepe paper and added little red pom pom’s to the tip of each pennant…

Cupcakes made by Dippidee {I added red gumballs to the tops to resemble cherries}. I bought the cupcake liners from Hey YoYo…

I found these old coca-cola crates in my local online classifieds. They were a perfect display for the small jars of gumballs! Mini Jars available to purchase here…

Yes, that’s a CAKE! Can you believe it? I sent Marcee Kitchen from Dippidee a picture of what I wanted and she worked her magic…

Here’s a closer look at the main party table. Scalloped plates were used as trays for the yummy treats…

I made these gumball machine cake pops using cake, frosting, sucker sticks, white and red candy melts, rainbow sprinkles and red spree candies! I drilled holes in a small red suitcase {purchased on amazon.com} for the base…

I got so excited when I found this vintage carousel gumball machine listed in my local online classifieds. The seller bought it at an estate sale…

I ordered these little lovelies from etsy shop, Sweeties By Kim. They are chocolate covered oreo’s! I placed them on a darling blue scalloped plate….

The fun party activity {large mason jar available to purchase here}…

I made the party hats from printable downloads purchased from Gwynn Wasson Designs. I sewed crepe paper together for the fringe base and top…

This is the second table that was set up for the party. I wanted this set up to be more simple than the other main table. I found the actual table in my local online classifieds {a great place to look for party items/decor/and props!}.

I just love the vintage soda shoppe look of it! The felt polka dot garland hanging behind the table was made to resemble gumballs, it is also something that anyone could make {and very inexpensive, too!}…

I used mason jars with stamped lids for drinking glasses. The straws were purchased from Hey YoYo. The colorful ribbon napkin rings were so adorable around the polka dot napkins…

I grew up down the road from the candy company, Peppermint Place. They have always made these cute ‘Gumball Buddies’. When I decided to have a gumball party I immediately remembered them and knew that I would have to go purchase some! They looked perfect on a small cake stand…

Party bags also purchased from Hey YoYo…

I thought that ribbon wands would be so fun for the little guests to play with.

These were also easy to make. I attached colorful ribbon to the tops of painted wooden dowels and placed them in another large mason jar filled with gumballs {I bought the large mason jars at Hobby Lobby}. The colors went perfectly with the whole scheme…

I wanted the ice cubes to look like gumballs. I found a circle ice cube tray on amazon.com and filled it with cherry Kool Aid….

I made the cute gumball flower bouquet out of balloon sticks {inspiration here}, large gumballs, small gumballs and hot glue! They were tied together with fun ribbon and placed in a small vase…

Ribbon napkin rings available to purchase here. Napkins available to purchase here.

I wanted to make an inexpensive party favor for each guest. These gumball machines were so simple and fun to make! The top part is a lid that comes off so anything could be stored inside. They would also make cute cookie jars. Tutorial on how to make them HERE!…

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Kara

Top 25 Party Plannin’ Moms list!

I am super excited to be nominated as one of the

Top 25 Party Plannin’ Moms

over at Circle of Moms!

If you would like, you can vote for me hereonce a day!

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Kara

Vintage Valentines Party for Channel 2 Fresh Living Show!

To all of you visiting from KUTV’s Channel 2 Fresh Living Show- Welcome! To all of you visiting from around the globe- Welcome! Here is the Vintage Valentines Party that I styled for the show today. This party was so much fun. I just love vintage things. Keep checking back this week for more tutorials and how to’s from the party! Become a fan or follow me…there’s plenty more party ideas to come! Vendors: Vintage buffet/dresser purchased from Finders Keepers. Fabric for backdrop purchased at Hobby Lobby. Photography by Lyndsey Fagerlund Imagery.

Vintage cupcake toppers purchased from Love Creation Gal.