P&C Real Life Party: Holiday Photo Props

Holiday photo props in action! Last Sunday night, my family had our annual "Barter Family Christmas Party" (Barter is my mom's maiden name). This first photo prop photo is of my sister and her three cute kids - it pretty much cracks me up.

This next photo was sent in from Denecia of Seester's Stationery... adorable. And I love that background!

Send in your pictures...I would LOVE to see what you have done with your holiday photo props!

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Cool Like Dannielle Kyrillos

How nice is this? DailyCandy's editor-at-large Dannielle Kyrillos did a fabulous spot on abcnews.com all about her favorite inexpensive Holiday decor. Guess what she talked about?

printable partyware by PAPER & CAKE!!

ahem. sorry. If you want to be cool, just like Dannielle, stop by the shop and pick up our Vintage Ornament printable party.

see the segment here, be patient, we are at the very end - partnering with plumparty.com!

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The Seasons Greetings Card You've Been Waiting For

Thanks to my sister Missy, we had our first official family portrait - in years! There are SO many photographs to choose from... but this one really caught my eye. Notice how we are all wearing matching outfits?

And we got a pretty silly Christmas card to boot.

Click to enlarge

Inspired to make your own funny Holiday Card? Stop by the shop for a quick and easy set of printable Holiday Photo props!

See cards of Christmas Past here!

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Seasons Greetings

I really do enjoy sending out a humorous Holiday greeting card. I think it's probably in my genes -  from my dad's side of the family. When I was young, I remember him signing our family holiday greeting cards with as random a name as he could come up with. There were fairly tame signatures like, "Mickey and Minnie Mouse", and then there was my all time favorite - "President and Mrs. Carter" (back in the day that was some cutting edge stuff!).

I only bring this up because on Saturday my sister will be taking our family portrait, and I'm guessing it won't look like what you are picturing in your head. Why? Well, let me show you a little "History" of Barnes family cards...

2006 • "May your home be filled with the joy of family and friends this holiday season."

2007 • "Thinking of you this BUSY holiday season."

2008 • "Wishing you visions of dancing sugar-plums this Holiday Season."

2009 • "Wishing you a Picture Perfect holiday season."

So stop by next week, and I'll give you all a little preview of our 2010 silliness. I can't wait to see what I come up with???!!!

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Paper Gingerbread House

I couldn't help myself. My daughter asked me if we could make one - and once I started I couldn't stop! Even my mom worked on it, see the smoke coming out of the chimney? All her idea. Can you even stand it?

Even if you are thinking, "what if it's too complicated?" it's not. Just print out the template for the house, and glue it to a cut open brown paper bag - I used one from Trader Joes. Cut, score, fold, tape. All the little bits and pieces - candy roof, trees, doors and windows - are really fun to work on assembling, do this together with the kids. My daughter had a blast! See those beads? They were her idea, and she even glued them all on.

Everything you see on the house is included in the printable pdf, ready to go for a rainy day, a snowy day, even for Christmas eve to entertain the guests while they wait for presents.

Printable Paper Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House template
Doors and Windows
Chimney and Smoke
Candy Trees
Wreath
Tiny Holiday Signs
Snow
Candy Cane Picket Fence
Peppermint Candy Roof decor
House Columns
Full Patterned sheet
Step by Step instructions

The glitter, beads and imagination are all up to you.

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Cyber Monday?

Somebody should really come up with a new name for "Cyber Monday", it's just awful. There has got to be something (anything) better and more appealing that we can call this "Black Friday" style event for shopping online. How about Magenta Monday? or Mouse Click Monday? or my personal fav, Holiday Shopping from Home in your Jammies with a Nice hot cup of Coffee Monday?

Anyway, if you are planning to do any Holiday Decor shopping in your jammies, please stop by the Paper & Cake etsy shop...there's a special coupon code to save 25%!

new in the shop! 2" Party Rounds for the Holiday Season

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Guest {Star} Courtney: DIY Garland Wreath

These DIY wreaths are perfect for a party because they're fairly inexpensive, and it's easy to find garlands in fun colors like pink and teal! Get creative with different ornaments and ribbons. Hang three wreaths above a party table or make small wreaths for your neighbors. They take 5 minutes to make and can last for years!


What you'll need:

• Styrofoam wreath
• hot glue gun
• garland
• ribbon or ornament

What to do:
1. Glue one end of the garland to the inside of the Sytrofoam wreath.

2. Wrap the wreath with the garland all the way around until it is completely covered.

3. Using glue, secure the end of the garland.

4. Adorn the wreath with a favorite ornament or large ribbon.

5. Hang with extra ribbon!

Discover more about Courtney Dial at Pizzazzerie.

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Holiday Photo Booth Props

We LOVE the Holiday season. And we LOVE photo booth props, so, how about some printable Holiday photo booth props? Imagine your holiday party with this (hilarious, silly, goofball) activity as an ice breaker?

Aren't these just perfect? So much fun, and seriously, so easy to put together! Our Holiday printable photo booth props are even a great activity to keep the kids busy between dinner and present-opening-time, am I right?

 

For the backdrop, all you have to do is hang a large sheet of leftover wrapping paper on the wall. Then, you can add the mini-pennant banner included in this kit, and there you have an instant (and inexpensive) photo booth.

Included in this printable Holiday Photo Booth Props set:

Photo Props
...Mustaches
...Lips
...Santa Hat
...Santa Beard
...Mrs. Claus' spectacles
...Reindeer Antlers
...Rudolf's Red nose
Pennant Banner and Signage (add your own personalized text)

What else? Well, we also have a kit available for your photo booth fun! This packaged DIY photo booth prop kit includes 21 different items, all ready for you to put your creative spin on them.

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An Unusual Holiday Greeting Card

For the past few years, I have made it my personal goal to think up and produce a slightly more humorous Holiday Card. I think it's fun and unusual - my family? not so much. So, this year was a take on my idea of the "Ideal Family Portrait"... something you might have taken at Sears or JC Penney, with the backdrop of a fireplace or a snowy landscape.

Step 1: Started with a giant piece of green felt. Add the family with a self timing camera.




Step 2: Take your Photoshop, make everything green disappear and try out some different "cheesy" backgrounds.




Step 3: Make the family stand around in the front yard acting like crazy people in front of the neighbors.




And last: Upload your finished masterpiece to be printed and mail out to unsuspecting family and friends!



Merry Christmas everyone! Want to see more cards of my Christmas past? Take a look here and here.

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Deck the Halls!

Our "Standees" embellished using a glue pen and red glitter

Christmas is my all time favorite holiday! I can't tell you how many different themed sets of tree ornaments I have in the attic (and I won't tell you because my husband reads this blog too). It is an expensive habit, but changing the theme of my tree every year has become something I really look forward to.

glittered favor box and tabletop decorations

That is all about to change! This year, everything I need to inexpensively decorate my Christmas tree and my house (and save my marriage) are right here, for only $10.

Take a look at what is in our Deck the Halls printable partyware collection:

• Invitation + Envelope
• Note card + Envelope
• Place card
• Napkin rings/Candle wrappers
• Food labels
• Cupcake Picks
• Menu card
• Standees
• Wine Glass Tags
• Favor box
• Gift tags
• Party hats
• Front door sign
• Paper photo frame
• Christmas hanging decorations
• Christmas tabletop decorations
• Advent calendar
• Coasters
• Paper sheets (use to make paper chains/lanterns/wrapping paper/crackers etc.)

advent calendar

menu, place card, wine glass tag and tabletop decorations

Tips: Using a glue pen and red glitter (from the Martha Stewart collection), we were able to carefully apply glitter to very specific areas of the designs. You can also tie on a little fancy ribbon to any of the items for added customization.

Deck the Halls DIY Christmas party - get yours today!

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Christmas is Coming

A little preview of just one of our printable partyware sets... We like to call it, "Peace on Earth" - and for only $10, here is what you will receive:

• Invitation+Envelope
• Note card+Envelope
• Place cards
• Napkin rings/Candle wrappers
• Food labels
• Food Picks
• Menu cards
• Christmas Crown
• Standees
• Wine tags
• Gift tags
• Party crowns
  
• Front door sign
• Paper photo frame
• Wreath (pictured)
• Christmas tree decorations
• Favor Boxes
• Christmas star tree topper
• Advent calendar
• Paper sheets (use to make paper chains/lanterns/wrapping paper/crackers)

Decorating has never been easier, and more importantly, practically free!

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