Plan a Tea Party

Invitations
Invitations are a great way to reflect the spirit and theme of your party. NobbiesParties.com offers many different approaches to invitations. Store bought, or handmade. Choose from a variety of pre-made invitations to coordinate with your theme.

Hand-Made Invitation Suggestions:
* Purchase china tea cups and saucers from local thrift or antique stores. Then purchase white boxes for them to fit into. Place pink shred into the bottom of each box, and set the tea cup and saucer on top of the shred. Print a picture of a tea pot from the computer on card stock paper with all the party information printed on the tea pot. Cut out the tea pot and place it inside the teacup. Tie the boxes closed with wide pink grosgrain ribbon and attach a card to each with the guest's name on it. Hand deliver the invitations to each of your guests.

Food and Refreshments:
* Serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the shape of tea pots and tea cups (Use cookie cutters to make the shapes)
* Sugar cookies cut into the same shapes as above, and served on a silver platter
* Fruit salad served in a crystal dish
* Nuts and mints
* Fruit Kabobs: use bite size pieces of apple, pineapple, grapes and strawberries alternated with minimarshmaIlows
* Ham and cheese cubes served on a silver platter with fancy decorated toothpicks
* Mini blueberry muffins served with crystal bowls of whipped topping to dollop on top
* Serve honey spiced fruit tea punch in clear plastic tea cups or pink lemonade
* Tea party cake: make a 13x9 layer, topped by a 6" round layer cake. Frost the cake with pink icing and use white icing to make a "lace overlay". Insert a doll pick on each side of the round cake and then place a miniature tea set (doll house size) in the middle of the round cake. When the cake is done it should look like two girls having a tea party.

Tea Party Decorations
* Cover the tables with pink floral table cloths
* In one corner of the room, set up a full length mirror, a trunk full of dress up clothes, and a dresser with a make-up mirror and jewelry displayed on it. Use this corner of the room for the guests to dress-up and put on their make-up and jewelry for the party.
* Use silk or real floral arrangements throughout the room
* At each place setting provide a tea cup and saucer with a paper doilies underneath for each guest. Fill the cup with a circle of tulle filled with candies and tied up with satin ribbon. Make tags out of card stock in the shape of tea bags and write each guest's name on them, and attach to each tulle of candy. These make great party favors for each guest to take home.
* Use sidewalk chalk to write "Welcome to Tatum's Tea Party" on the sidewalk leading up to the door for all your guests to see. Use pink and white 4" paper sacks and place one cup of sand in each one with a tea light. line the driveway and up the sidewalk to the front door. Decorate the outside of the bags with teapot stickers or stamps.
* Take greenery floral swags and attach high heels, old fashioned hats, white gloves, white tulle, and strands of pearls. Attach swag to fireplace mantel, stair railing or around the buffet table to create a fun atmosphere.
* Paint an unfinished serving tray shades of pink or colors to match your tea set and write the birthday person's name in the middle of the tray. Place a tea pot and tea cups and saucers on top and place either on the food table or on the main table for a centerpiece. Place feather boas and flowers on the table as well.

Tea Party Attire
* Beads
* Feather Boas
* White Gloves
* Tea Hats
* Bangle Bracelets
* Large Jewel Rings
* Jeweled Glasses
* Dresses
* Tiaras
* Dress Up Shoes
* Fake Fur Shawls
* Beaded Purses

Games/Crafts
Dress up: Have each guest dress up in tiaras, glasses, high heels, jewelry, hats, gloves etc. Once each guest has dressed up, take their picture with a Polaroid or digital camera. Create picture frames out of card stock. Purchase premade foam frames from Nobbies and let each guest decorate their own frame with jewels, beads, glitter, feathers and so on. These frames and pictures make great party favors.

Decorate plastic sunglasses: Purchase plastic sunglasses and have each guest decorate their own using jewels, rhinestones, beads, and paint. Manicures & Make-up: Ask some of the mothers of your guests to volunteer to help give your guests manicures and facials.

Game: Pin the butterfly on the flowers: draw a vase of colorful flowers on a piece of poster board and pin it on the wall. Use silk butterflies or draw butterflies on card stock and cut them out. Attach double sided tape to the back of each one. Blind fold one guest at a time and have them try to place the butterfly on a flower.

Prizes/Party Favors
Tea Bag favor bag- take a 4" white paper sack and fill with goodies listed below. Then fold each side of the bag down to create two 90 degree triangles. Then fold the top down to meet the bottom of the triangles. Punch a hole in the middle of the top of the bag. Create a tag with each guest's name on it and attach it to a piece of twine, and then tie it through the hole in the top of the bag.

Party favors:
* Nail Polish
* lip Gloss
* Stretch Bracelets
* Jewel rings
* Bubbles
* Strands of beads/pearls
* Sparkly rings
* Feather boas
* Candy
* Mints in little tin boxes