Let’s take a trip to Paris, France and celebrate Parisian style and all things French! Here are some great ideas on how to turn an ordinary Pink Poodle theme into an extraordinary Pink Poodle Paris event!
Invitations: Using clip art of poodles, the Eiffel Tower, or Parisian girls in berets, write on your computer on white paper and this script: Oh-La-Laa! Very magnificent! Miss ________’s birthday party. Cut out the script with fancy edge scissors and glue it onto a half sheet of pink cardstock. Finish off with a black bow by punching 2 holes in the top half of the cardstock, guiding ribbon through the holes, and tying a small bow. Another unique idea would be to send an invitation in the shape and style of a plane ticket to Paris! Or why not visit your local dollar store or souvenir shop and buy some postcards from Paris and write all the party details on the back. Whichever you choose, don’t be afraid to embellish it with sparkles, glitter and bows!
Decorations: all in pink, black and white and don’t forget the Pink Poodle tableware and supplies to really set the theme. Use helium balloons in the mailbox, on doors, on chairs, as centerpieces, in vases, free-floating, and just about anywhere you can tie a balloon. Decorate your ceiling by finding the focal point or light fixture and attaching 12-14 black and pink twisted streamers. Float them a good 2 feet apart and attach them to the corner edges of the ceiling. Decorate your walls with enlarged images of the Eiffel Tower, Pink Poodles, Berets, Eiffel Tower, Mimes or any symbol of France that comes to mind. Hang France travel posters, postcards, and clippings from fashion magazines. The table must be Bright, Fabulous and Tres Chic! Start with a black tablecloth to make the pink poodle dinnerware stand out, and spread white or opalescent sparkles or gems across the table to look like diamonds. Have 2-3 vases filled with white roses and adorned with a black bow to use as centerpieces. Finish by tying a pink tulle fabric bow on each chair. This is sure to set a very classy mood.
Activities: As guests arrive at the party, invite each of them to be a French artist. Provide a table or area with coloring tools, different papers, poodle page templates, cotton ball ribbons, sequins, felt, and glue.
Have them create a picture of a pink poodle by coloring the page or decorating the outline with the craft supplies provided. Another craft idea is to make a very trendy elegant choker necklace that guests can take home and wear. Use thick ribbon or craft foam in black or pink and cut to size to fit around each child’s neck about 1.5 inches wide. You want it snug, but not tight! Attach a piece of self-adhesive velcro to each end of the strip and let girls decorate with gems, jewels, sequins, beads and glitter. When the party is over, the guests will wear Tres Magnifigue! Give a short French lesson for guests to learn some basic words and phrases so they can use them during the party. For example: Bonjour (Hello), Merci (Thank you), Au Revoir (Goodbye), Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday), Tres Chic (Very Elegant) and Sil Vous Plait (Please) and many more! Another idea in this regard is to place conversation cards around the party room and table. Have the sentences and questions written in French and translated into English below. Guests will have a lot of laughs trying to pronounce the French version out loud! Ask them to respond or comment in English, but ask them to use at least one French word that they have learned.
And finally, put on a French haute couture fashion show. Visit your local Good Will store, your closet, your mom’s, grandma’s and friends’ closet too and collect hats, scarves, boas, gloves, handbags, shoes and jewelry. Have a large selection so each girl can choose 3 or 4 items each. Divide guests into 2 groups with one group showing off their creations on the catwalk and the other children in the audience enjoying the show. Make sure you have an adult in the dressing room helping out and playing lots of music so the girls can model and strut their stuff.
Menu – A bistro menu should consist of the following: miniature croissants stuffed with turkey, lettuce, or cream cheese, finger sandwiches cut with a bone-shaped cookie cutter, fried cheese, veggies (vegetables and sauce), pastries, melon ball salad, chocolate dipped strawberries, and French crepes filled with whipped cream and berry slices. Serve all food in your best china and on silver trays. The drink of choice is pink lemonade or, for a fancier treat, serve French sodas. A French soda is simply 7up with grenadine to taste, topped with whipped cream and a cherry, and served in a wine glass. French Crepes can be used as a birthday dessert, or if you want something more traditional, opt for cupcakes or a full cake covered in white icing, pink polka dots (gummy bears), and black fabric ties around the edges. Top with some poodle candles and voila! A perfectly decorated dessert!
