Tea Party Revisited

All photos (except invitation) by Jodee Ballantyne

Last week, Shannon from My Baby Clothes Boutique did a guest post (and a GIVEAWAY) about having a tea party with your toddler. So much of what she said reminded me of this party my daughter and I threw for her friends. It wasn't her birthday, or any particular occasion, as I recall, but just a chance to do something fun. If I'm remembering correctly, I was also looking forward to the opportunity to reinforce some good manners and lady-like behavior.

We gave out these homemade invitations that look like a purse. The details were printed on cardstock that slid inbetween the layers of scrapbook paper. By pulling on the purse handle (ribbon) you could read the invitation. Adding a little bling always helps!

When the guests first arrived, we let them play dress-up, and look at themselves in this large mirror, set on the floor so they all could see.

We had collected all kinds of accessories in these fancy hatboxes, and let each girl choose what she wanted to wear.

When they were sufficiently glammed-up for the occasion, I gathered all of the girls for and etiquette lesson. I mean, Miss Minerva Manners (complete with British accent), gave the girls an etiquette lesson.

Then it was time for tea (or lemonade, I think)! Kira had been given this minature tea set for Christmas. My mom and I made her this table cloth and a matching ruffled apron to go with it.

Kira and I used scrapbook paper and rubber stamps to make place cards for each guest. I hardly remember what we served. Mostly crackers and cookies, I think. I don't think the girls were too worried about the menu.

It doesn't take too much work to pull this off, and if your daughter is bored this summer, it may be just the thing to get her creative juices flowing.

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY from My Baby Clothes Boutique. It was supposed to end tonight, but since this post took me forever to give up, I am going to give you one more day to enter. Right now, your odds are pretty good, so hurry over here and leave a comment! I'd love to see your tea parties. You are always welcome to upload photos on the Facebook fan page, or join me on my BlogFrog Community, and let me know what insanity you are up to. Right now, I'm talking to myself over there! I'd love some company!