Easy Circus Party Prep with Big Top Dreams!

Hey friends! I was so excited to guest design for Pebbles, Inc. this week, and when they asked me to create some party details with the Big Top Dreams collection*, I was ALL FOR IT! You know I love to throw a party, and when I have a cute collection to craft it with, the task is easy! Your party-goers will never know how easy it really was, though!

This party set-up may look over the top, but little touches go a long way! Let’s take a look at how you can “WOW!” your invitees with your crafty prowess, starting with their invitations!

Customized invitations, meaning, each one is different, make your friends feel special right from the start! To do this quickly and easily, I stick to the same formula for each one. I started these single-sided A2 cards by printing the details of the celebration on one side each piece of smooth, white cardstock. Next, I grabbed an embossing folder with a frame design, to add a textural element to the cards, and ran each one through my die cutting machine.

On each invitation I added a piece of patterned paper to fit inside my embossed frame, a phrase ephemera die cut with a mini staple at the top, an icon ephemera at the base, along with a small phrase sticker from the sticker book, three gold puffy star stickers, three rhinestones, and a few extra accent stickers. By adding the same elements to each card and keeping to a similar design, I saved myself time by not re-creating the wheel on each invitation, but made each one individual and special.

Adding pieces to your party decor that pack a big punch go a long way. Red and white striped party fans add a lot of color to your walls, and rolls of burlap provide great texture, and a good neural to all of the color found in the Big Top Dreams collection. A banner of folded, colorful baking cups topped with ephemera accents is an easy and simple handmade decoration to create in just minutes!

Your treats can also double as decor for your party and carry your big top theme all of the way to the refreshments, too! Plain milk bottles full of juice can be dressed up with a few simple layers of die cut patterned paper circles, an icon ephemera piece, cardstock star and a puffy letter initial—just to add a bit of personalization for each guest—and arranging them in a pyramid on your refreshment table makes them look like the classic carnival game.

Don’t forget to send your guests home with a little treat to remember your party by, or feed their elephant! A lovely, layered tag on a goody bag full of in-shell peanuts or kettle corn is the perfect treat! When I create tags for favor bags, I always remember to layer, layer, layer, and just like my invitations, I follow the same equation for each goody bag tag.

On these, I started with two layers of patterned paper, cut into banner shapes and a sentiment cut from the Best Day Ever patterned paper. I adhered each of these layers with an adhesive foam tab and stapled the top. Next, I added an icon ephemera piece, a cardstock or puffy accent sticker, a gold puffy star sticker, and a gold cardstock heart. Adhering these layered tags to a colorful treat bag will provide that final, lasting detail for your guests! 

Your party may be “the greatest show" for your friends this summer, and using the Big Top Dreams collection will make it easy and amazing! Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to check out the product I used to create this party setup in the gallery below! If you’re interested in seeing more crafty party and celebration decor that I have created, click “celebrating life” in the right sidebar! Happy creating!

*Clicking these links will take you to the Scrapbook.com shop, and when you purchase, I receive a small percentage of the sale. It doesn't cost you any extra, so thanks so much for your support!