LAST WEEK TO SUBMIT PARTY PHOTOS

Just a reminder that this is the last week to submit your party photos for your chance to win a Radio Flyer scooter just in time for Christmas!

If you have hosted an amazing party or two in your time and have any great decorating, food and other ideas that you'd like to share with others, then please email your photos via the email button to your left.

The emphasis is on sharing great party ideas, whether on a small or big budget. Parties made with love are all we are looking for...

We are offering an inaugural "Party of the Month" prize, being a Radio Flyer - My First Scooter (suitable for 2-5 years olds) (valued at $130).

NOTE THAT you also need to become a FOLLOWER of the blog be in the running to win, and I have to receive your entry BEFORE 15 DECEMBER in order to post before Christmas. Australian and NZ residents only. Needless to say, by entering you also agree to the images you supply being posted on the blog.

Christmas Clip Art

Some vintage Christmas clip art for this merry Friday...

[Click on image then right click and "save as"]

Ho Ho Ho!

Well, I'm not sure about you but I am stunned that Christmas is now just around the corner.

Whether you are entertaining or being entertained during the month of December, we hope your month is full of fun (and not too full of stress).

I know it is a few days late, but here is a very sweet Christmas advent calender idea from countryliving.com to kick off the month...

If you have the time and patience to wrap all 25 match boxes, please send me the results!

PARTY PICTURES

Today's real party photos come Kate, proud mum of Ollie and Hugo.

Kate recently hosted parties for both her boys. Love the homemade party touches...
[Click photos for larger view]

Super cute homemade party hats

An icecream smash cake

Vanilla biscuit wands (love love love these!)

And a sensational jelly train cake.

Great job Kate! You are also in the running to win the Radio Flyer scooter!

PARTY PICTURES

Today, I want to feature some very cute party pics sent in by mum, Amanda.

These party pics are particularly special becuase the party girl was/is lactose intolerant, but her very special mum worked some magic in the kitchen to ensure she still had an amazing birthday party...

Here are some ideas and tips to take away from her big day:

* Meringues are easy to do and completely dairy free so perfect party food.

* Most people put lollies into loot bags and with that not really being an option as most contain dairy I had pencil rolls instead which was a really big hit amongst the kids and had many mums and dads thanking me for not giving their kids sugar to take home.

* Royal icing fondant is dairy free so I rolled that flat and used a heart cookie cutter to cut out hearts and then pasted half a heart at a time onto the cake with jam

* Donuts usually contain dairy and are usually fried too, so I decided to bake donuts and ice them instead so much healthier and easily made dairy free.

Gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing Amanda. You are in the running to win the Radio Flyer scooter for Christmas!

WE LOVE CHRISTMAS

We really really really love Christmas at I LOVE PARTIES.


Here are a few Christmas gift suggestions from the I LOVE PARTIES range...


Pretty musical carousel...

Gorgeous totem tree....

Tin signs to hang in the bedroom or around the house...

And our retro sticker books would make great stocking fillers...

In the weeks ahead, I am hoping feature gift suggestions from other websites that we love. So, avoid the Myer checkout on 24 December and feel good about supporting Australian small business this Christmas!

AS FEATURED IN...

Very lucky to be a special guest blogger on Pepper & Pollywogs (big big big party site in the US)!
See http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/?p=4592

Also wanted to share some the newly arrived I LOVE PARTIES badges - tres cute. If your really really lucky, you might find one in your next ILP package...