Real Parties. A Halloween Bash

After many years of planning and throwing all sorts of parties, a few months ago I finally came up with the idea of creating a Party Planning Business of my own: "The Sweet Table". Hancrafted Parties by Marina Ribo.

I'm passionate about cooking, crafting and entertaining, and having a business like this gives me the great opportunity to do what  I love while I make people happy.

Three months ago I created this blog to let everybody know about the products and services we offer, and also to share with all of you my latest projects and party ideas.


At "The Sweet Table" we offer 100% Handcrafted and Custom Made Parties. We create the whole concept for your event. We make Invitations, Thank you Notes, Decorations, and Favors specially for the occasion. We also offer Dessert Tables and Candy Buffets. You get to choose, wether you want just the paper decorations, the food, or the whole Party Kit, we have what you need for that special event.


Halloween Bash


In my very first post I wrote a little bit about a Halloween Party I was planning. Now I'm finally ready to share some shots with all of you, hoping they will give you a nice picture of what"The Sweet Table" is all about . ENJOY.

A Halloween Bash. October 2011
Kids Table

The invitations
So, it all started with some really cool paper. The true inspiration for the whole party

The Banners

The Welcome Banner

Popcorn Paper Cones

Cake Pops

Mini Cupcakes

Party favors. Candy Skewers

A Candy Centerpiece

Mini Cupcakes on a Stick. Adult's Table

A closer look

Thanks to my dear friend and photographer Johnny Kurtz for the great pictures.
Click here to see the whole gallery.

Felt, my new obsession

We've been living in the US for nine years now, and for the first time since we got here, we're going back to Mexico for Christmas. We're absolutely excited about it, all my family will be there and we can't wait to see everybody.
When we were talking about our trip, the activities we will do with the kids, the menu for the Christmas Eve dinner, the secret Santa rules, and all those important details, my sister ask me to bring my kids stockings so every kid would have one. At that very moment I realized that my kids didn't have stockings....Ok, I didn't make any cards this year, and our Countdown for Christmas calendar is hanging on my hutch for decoration purposes only -no fun activities or candies whatsoever this year -, but I still had some time to get crafty and make something really special for the people I love.
A few weeks ago I got a book called Christmas Things to Stitch and Sew, and even though it's a kids book, it's got really cute projects for everybody to make. I really wanted to give I try, and that's when FELT came into my life; with it's nice texture and variety of colors, I knew it would be perfect for this projects.


My first craft was very simple; I had made a special treat for the teachers and friends as a Holiday Gift, and I decided to wrap each present with colorful tissue paper and a cute and festive felt shape. A really nice and pretty easy idea to give that special touch to any gift.

Chocolate Salami wrapped in tissue paper and decorated with felt ornaments

Then, I started working in the stockings for the kids. I had some whitish fabric that I got at my local thrift store (my favorite place to go shopping, full of hidden treasures), that I wanted to use, but it desperaetly needed some color and texture...so again, FELT came to the rescue... I picked some of the projects of the book and I decorated the stockings with them...Cute!!!

I was so excited and happy with the results, that I decided that  next year I would make all the ornaments and decorations for the house out of FELT.  But, waiting a whole year to start working...no way... So, what a better way to get started than making a special birthday gift for my dear friend Lorena. She's got an amazing craft space that she decorates beautifully for the Holidays. She puts up a Christmas tree full of country style ornaments, and fills every space with candles, handmade pillows and banners, creating this warm and cozy space that a absolutely love.
Crazy about FELT as I was, I decided to make two different ornaments for her to hang from that tree, so she would remember how much I love her every time she looks at them.
They came out really pretty...I think she liked them.

FELT is an amazing material, with endless possibilities. I can't wait to start playing with it again.

An Enchanted Woodland Holiday Party

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here...  I'm so happy!!!... But I have to say that for the first time in many years, I didn't send any Holiday Cards. I'd been so busy first with the Halloween Party and then with the Boutique, that when I thought about the cards, it was already too late. ...I did make two different sets of Vintage Christmas Cards to sale though, and I was secretly hoping that nobody will buy them so I could keep them for me, but they both got sold. Anyway...


The good news is that the "Little Hands of Hope" Boutique was a big success (don't forget to check the website for updates http://littlehandsofhopeargentina.blogspot.com/),  and that without even planning on it,  I got my self in yet another cool project.


My friend Nicolle Ashton was having a Christmas Party for her kids, and ask me if I wanted to help with some crafts and treats... And of course I did...


The whole inspiration for the Party was a recipe she happened to find when she was organizing her stuff after she moved. It was the recipe for this amazing Meringue Mushrooms that look so cute and tasty, that she thought that a whole party should be thrown around them. And that's when she came up with the idea of having an Enchanted Woodland Holiday Party...   Sweet!!!


She worked really hard on it for a couple of weeks: painting, sewing, crafting...


The day before the party we finally got together to get started with the Meringue Mushrooms. I was so excited... I've been making meringues for many years now, but this project was a whole new challenge.  We made the caps and stems out of meringue that very first day, and put them together the next day just in time for the party. They looked adorable!!!

The  party was great!!! Nicolle made gnome hats and axes for the boys and fairy hats for the girls. She created an amazing backdrop for the pictures with a Christmas tree, a big mushroom, a super cute baby deer (that she traced, cut and painted), lots of snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, and a trunk full of fun props (wings, wands, beards). Thanks to Deserae Lee for the awesome pictures.

The kids had a blast dressing up, making lots of crafts, decorating cookies, and playing around!!! 

Check Nicolle's website for more pictures and exciting projects:  http://clevercoco.wordpress.com/

Thanks Nicolle, what a great party!!!! 

Little Hands of Hope Boutique

I haven't posted anything for the last couple of weeks, waiting for the pictures from the Halloween Party I guess.


Well, the pictures are not ready yet, but there is so much going on that I just couldn't wait any longer to start blogging again.


I am really happy to announce that "The Sweet Table" will be donating five Party Kits to the "Little Hands of Hope Third Annual Boutique". Little hands of Hope is a Non- Profit Organization founded by my dear friend Lorena Wilson, and it's a year round sponsor for a small rural school in Northern Argentina. Please, take a minute to check out the website:

http://littlehandsofhopeargentina.blogspot.com/


This wonderful event will take place this Saturday, December 3, and yes, the Party Kits are ready!!!

Here some pictures:

New Years Eve Party Kit
Includes:
8 Invitations with masks
2 Extra masks
1 Banner
10 Party Horns
10 Wine glass tags
10 Food tags
Confetti

Birds and Roses Party Kit
Includes :
8 Invitations
8 Thank You notes
1 Banner
1 Mini Banner (Cake Topper)
12 Mini cupcake wrappers
8 Paper Cone favors
Perfect for a Bridal Shower,  a Tea Party, a Birthday Party, or even a Baby Shower

Wizard of Oz Party Kit
Includes:
6 Invitations
6 Thank you notes
1 Banner
7 Party hats
16 Cupcake toppers
6 Dorothy's ruby slippers favors 

Let's Bake Party Kit
Includes:
2 Invitations
3 Kid aprons
8 Cupcake toppers

Let's Bake Party Kit Xmas Edition is almost ready, so don't miss the pictures coming later today.


So, here it is:

Let's Bake Xmas Edition Party Kit

Includes:
2 Invitations
3 Kid aprons
8 Cupcake toppers

Getting ready for Halloween

We're having our Annual Halloween Party in just a couple of weeks, and I'm really excited about it!!

I've been really busy lately working on invitations, banners, food tags, paper cones, and all sorts of spooky decorations.

Today I finished the invitations, and I'm ready to send them out. FINALLY!!

I got so excited making them, that I ended up with 14 different designs. Lots of work... but so worthy!!

I used the Mischievous "Creepy Celebration" Paper from My Minds Eye. It's really fun, and it has that "old looking style" that I love. The colors are black, orange, light blue and white... Not too classic... Perfect!!!

I also used crepe paper, tulle, paper dollies, lace, and buttons to get the right look. DONE!!.