Thursday, December 31, 2009

Mystery Birthday Party Scavenger Hunt!

Warning! LOTS of pictures!
You'll remember that the party started with THIS purple cupcake with a clue inside...that sent the party goers to a park in Downtown Albany. All the clues were in red envelopes, and we used purple helium balloons to help pinpoint the locations.
The Intrepid Birthday Crew! I should mention that it was COLD!!! (about 28 degrees)


Their first clue was this:
Find the location where this picture was taken
Hint: you are closer than you think.
Look for the dumpsters and the broken door

Then this picture was in the envelope: Taken during our Summertime photo shoot mentioned HERE.


Even though C was in the picture too, J directed them to the alley near the park--see the balloon? Their next clue was on the dumpster along with a candy bar
C opens the clue with great concentration
Their next clue was:

Your next clue isn't one store, but many stores all in one place
Old things reign supreme!
If you aren't sure where you are going, head west through the alley and turn left.
Open Envelope A for more instructions.


They then went through the alley, turned left, and found themselves at the:

Envelope A's instructions were:
"Pretend Shop" for J and choose something from the store that is her favorite color.
Show it to her, and tell her why you chose it. If it's not her favorite color, it doesn't count!
(and you'll have to "shop" again)
Remember where you got it because you'll have to put it back!
You must finish by 1:40 pm
Open Envelope B when you are done "shopping"

D. chose a purple vase for pretty flowers

J. chose some pretty flowers


and C chose a purple glass slipper

The next clue was this:
Exit the store and turn East.
Find the girl with the purple balloon.
She'll be near the white-flowered tree.
Solve for X and tell her the number to get the next clue
2x=6
No clue unless you can tell her what the number means and why it is important to J.
Hint: it has to do with the Italian words "'et" (meaning little) and "clarino" (a type of trumpet)
Originally, we were going to do the party on a Saturday, when Magnolia's music store was opened, so that they could purchase a #3 reed for J's clarinet. But we moved the party to Monday, and the store was closed. Luckily a good friend of ours was willing to step up and meet them on the street to give them the next clue (and a reed).

The next clue was:
You'll be SURE to have a good time at your next location.
Don't forget to FIRE up your creativity!
Lilee will have your next clue.

That sent them to Surefire Design, a paint-your-own-pottery shop, where I pre-paid for a tile for them to paint in honor of J's birthday. Each of the partygoers took a section and wrote a little note.
planning the tile
C adds a finishing touch

Next clue:
We've got SPEARIT, yes we do!
We've got SPEARIT, how about you!
To find your next location, get a BEAD on 131 Broadalbin
When you get there, open the next envelope
Spearit Beads & Co.

The next envelope said:
One of J's hobbies is making jewelry
Use the $10 included to choose a special bead for J.
Each of you needs to choose a bead.
This will be made into a keepsake bracelet later.
Open Envelope B when you check out.
opening the envelope
J & D bead shopping
The whole crew shopping for beads.
Next clue:
This word means "bunny rabbit" in Korean
But you'll be eating chicken.
See the purple balloon?

We took our food to go (I ordered it when we were at the bead shop) and ate at home. That way we could have CAKE!
Chocolate Caramel Toffee Cake
Whew! That was quite a day! Everyone had fun, and J had memorable birthday! Now what do I do next year?




Thursday, December 10, 2009

Handmade Holidays Master Lists

I know that the Sew, Mama, Sew site can be confusing to navigate sometimes, so HERE'S a link to the Master List of 2009. (plus from there you can see 2008 and 2007)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Swooning over Turquoise Subway Tile

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, can I have Becky Higgin's Kitchen?
Not only have I been a good girl, but for those turquoise subway tiles, I'll be good FOREVER!

Sincerely,
Dianne

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Favorite Christmas Music

So what are your favorite Holiday music CD's? I am REALLY enjoying compilations--like the Hotel Cafe Wintersongs, and the Starbucks CD's from the past, --but I am especially enjoying a certain mix of old and new:

I LOVE THIS:

I bought it on iTunes, and especially loved that it had all of the dialogue and such. Something about Bing Crosby reminds me of my Grandpa Price. His voice is just one big hug, don't you think? I also love the line, "Right or wrong, I sing either way!" (also how I feel), and it's nice to realize that David Bowie has quite a lovely voice. But for me, it goes back to the hug of Bing Crosby's voice. I never get tired of that!

What are your favorites this season? Leave a comment and let me know!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

It's a Birthday!

from the end-of-June photoshoot, blogged HERE



We rolled up the invitation in a plastic envelope and stuck it in the center of the cupcake. We are planning a "Birthday Mystery" party that'll be part Amazing Race, part Solve the riddle. Even the information came in the form of a clue:

Get a Clue!
Join us for a
Birthday Mystery Party!
Here’s your first clue:
Meet at the ad from the 1800’s, near the Sunburst.
Lost? Look for the
purple balloons.


She's 15, and excited to be older.
In a way, I am too. I'm excited for the future of our friendship. I'm excited for the experiences she's going to have. It's going to be quite a ride!

OH!~ Since I'm pretty sure the invitees to this party DON'T read my blog, here's where we are meeting:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Marshmallow recipe

I was reading through the Handmade Holiday on Sew, Mama, Sew, and found a recipe for HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS! I'm totally going to try these!

and ANOTHER ONE here!

Oh yeah, smore's boxes on the way!

Let the Handmade Christmas begin!

It's DECEMBER! Time for the Handmade Christmas ideas! Yay!

First--if you haven't been following the Sew, Mama, Sew Handmade Holidays III--go NOW and check it out! (then come back for more ideas and links) Click on their blog for the list of goodies. You won't be disappointed!

Second good thing about today: Tim Holtz is starting his "12 Tags of Christmas" (double yay!) This is the third year he has done this (archives on his blog) and if you craft, if you've thought about crafting, if you're curious, if you want to see how to use cool products you never thought existed but now absolutely MUST have, if you're breathing today--go and check it out!

My last Homemade Christmas suggestion comes to you by way of a wedding planner blog. LOVED this idea, and thought it could easily be adapted as giveaways this holiday season. I have a friend who makes her own marshmallow--that would be a super addition to this goodie. Even if you go "old school" and buy your marshmallows, it's still a great idea. You could even experiment with microwave directions! Go HERE to see what all the fuss is about!

What are YOU making for the holidays? Leave a comment and share with us! Also, it's my goal to have some GIVEAWAYS this month--to enter the giveaways, you need to comment! I have card sets, paper sets, creativity kits--all kinds of good yummy things to share with my blog readers. Pass it on!