Showing posts with label AEROPLANE PARTY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AEROPLANE PARTY. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2012

TRAVEL PASSENGER GIFTS

When you tell someone you're taking two small children on a 14hr plan trip, you can guarantee there will be an "oh, you're brave", "have you got drugs?" or something similar. We all know one of the few things worse than a crying or whingy child, would be a crying and whingy child in the confines of a plane cabin!

Hence the idea for this little peace offering to fellow passengers on our flight, to break the ice and say "sorry" from the start of the trip.
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I wrote a little note from Levi & Ellie to fellow passengers, with some mini Easter Eggs (we travelled on the Easter weekend) and some earplugs. I packaged them in a drawstring muslin bag with an iron-on transfer on the front. I used my plane design to tie it all together (and it matched Levi's marshmallow building tin too). I made about 30 or so - just for those in the surrounding seats and a couple for the stewards serving on our section of the plane.
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When preparing these, my sister told me how crazy I was making them when I had all these other logistical things on my list to do - "no wonder you're stressed out" she said. I explained to her that the stress now would be worth it when I got on the plane and my child was crying, and because I'd given them a pack, I wouldn't feel the need to apologise all the time. (Say sorry once first up with our little peace offering, and then travel in confidence, I say!) And you know what? It really worked!

The passengers around us were so impressed I got offers for help and even a nearby Grandma who offered cuddles any time I needed it. The stewards we gave it to offered us some lovely extras (win!) and it just got things off on the right foot, so glad I did it!

With such good success, I wonder now, would there be another situation you could use this for besides children? What would you put in your pack?
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Images // Copyright Polkadot Prints

Monday, March 12, 2012

MARSHMALLOW BUILDING

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I want to create an activity bag for Levi for our long-haul flight. He'll watch movies and play games on the iPad I know, but I wanted to add a few fun things that will occupy him without having a screen in front of his cute little face the whole time. Enter my "Marshmallow Construction Kit"!
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I used an IKEA Grundtal tin filled with mini marshmallows and toothpicks decorated with a Flying High tin topper. Think skyscraper designs, funny animals or crazy invention. And the real kicker? Photobucket
You get to eat them when you're done. That's few extra minutes of occupied time - bonus! Fourteen hours should fly by don't you think?!

Printable Stationery Collection available for purchase // Flying High 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

FLYING HIGH PLANE COOKIES

If only I knew Linda back when I hosted Levi's Flying High party. I can't believe how well these cookies match my design; miles better than my attempt! Thanks so much for sharing Linda on the blog today!
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Hi it's Linda here from Bubble and Sweet Blog and I'm so happy to be over here at Polkadot Prints for a special guest post to show y'all how you can make up some decorated plane cookies to match the awesome flying high printable range.
I've always loved the flying high printable range and thought it was a great kids party range, but with the news that Jordan will soon be leaving Australia for Canada, I've decided it would make a fabulous bon voyage party range as well ;)
Ok lets get onto the tutorial....
Flying High aeroplane cookie
You will need an aeroplane cookie cutter to make this cookie. I got my cutter in a big bucket of plastic cookie cutters that cost under $20 for 100 cutters which is pretty good value. Any cutters you will not be using for cookies you can give to the kids to use with playdoh. Fondant, food colour, edible pens and other decorating ingredients can be found at large craft stores (eg. Spotlight and Michael's) or specialty cake decorating stores.
Ingredients
Aeroplane shaped sugar cookies Fondant (ready roll type) coloured light blue, white, black and orange using gel food colors (like Americolor or Wilton brand) small plastic rolling pin cornflour (cornstarch) for dusting Aeroplane cookie cutter small round fondant cutter (2cm or 3/4") brush and water Icing tip (Wilton #12) black edible pen * Fondant dries out fast, work quickly and when not in use pop it into a ziplock bag or air tight container. Knead before use to make more pliable.  Make the round orange 'motors'. Dust the workbench with a little cornflour, roll out the orange fondant until thin and even and using the round cookie cutter cut out shapes.
Place the rounds onto a tray or covered in baking paper and then using the small end of the #12 tip cut out a circle from the middle of the round. Allow these rounds to dry for a couple of hours.
Dust the workbench with a little cornflour, roll out the light blue fondant until thin and even and using the aeroplane cookie cutter cut out shapes. Brush the cookie lightly with a little water and using the small rolling pin adhere the fondant to the cookie pressing down lightly with the roller.
Dust the workbench and roll our a small amount of the black fondant (if you find you are having trouble with the cornflour showing you can use a little vegetable shorting instead). Using the small end of the #12 tip cut out 3 small circles for each plane. Place the black rounds onto the fondant covered aeroplane cookies down the body of the plane in between the wings. If you need to use the brush and water to adhere the black disks, only use a very small amount otherwise the black fondant will bleed. Pinch off small pieces of orange fondant flatten into circles with your fingertips and press onto the black rounds. Dust the workbench with a little cornflour, roll out the white fondant until thin and even and using the aeroplane cookie cutter cut out just the aeroplane's nose, then using a sharp knife, cut where the nose meets the rest of the plane, and then around .75cm into the nose make another cut so you end up with a strip of white fondant. Gently curve the stripe and place it onto the fondant covered cookie, just inside where the nose meets the plane body where the cockpit of the plane would be.
Allow the cookies to dry/set a for a couple of hours. Once set you can use a black edible pen to draw stitching around the edge of the cookie.
Mix a little bit of the orange fondant with water so it becomes a little tacky and use the tacky orange fondant as glue to stick the round orange 'motors' you made earlier - one on each wing.
Thanks Jordan for the invite to come on over and visit - and I hope y'all enjoyed this tutorial .

Linda has recently launched a kid-friendly cook book "Sweets on a Stick". You can purchase your copy with lots of fun ideas via her blog here.

Monday, September 6, 2010

HOW TO :: Chocolate Cloud Lollipops

I have a  little tutorial for you today. One thing I found to be the most difficult with creating Levi's recent party was the surprising lack of cloud shaped cutters or moulds. Given it's simple shape, I assumed there would be a tonne of options for me....wrong! I had to get creative with my cupcake fondant discs for instance, that were actually non-symmetrical flower cutter cut in half!


The other cloud I used was this chocolate cloud lollipop. They are really simple, inexpensive, but really created some great height and interest to the food table. Today I want to run through a bit of a how-to for you. 
(You'll have to excuse my photos - nighttime in my kitchen = terrible light!)
1. Download your free cloud template here (following my lab testing, I have modified and 'pretty-fied' for you!). Print out template and place under a piece of baking paper that has been taped to the bench. 
2. Place dobs of melted chocolate in the main areas of the clouds. By doing small dobs (is this a real word?!) and spreading you create the nice crisp joins instead of it being one big blob. 
3. With the back of a spoon, gently spread the dobs to fill the template outline beneath. Pushing from the centre out helps to keep the nice round edge.
4. Place wooden skewer or long lollipop stick in to the cloud. You want it quite high up to help it stay on the stick when it's finished. 
5. Spoon a little bit of chocolate over the stick to cover. Smooth as best you can as this is actually the front of your cloud. Leave to set. 
6. Next comes the decorating! This is where you can vary to your specific theme - stripes, dots, colour, small lollies etc. I piped 'fly' onto my as it fit my theme best. I did all the one colour in a production line style. (Two bags of Nestle choc melts goes a long way!!)
 
7. I added accents with another colour. I used Wilton's candy melts as they have great colours. (Aus residents you can get them from here)
8. I then stuck mine into covered boxes for my table. Done!


That was a long "how to" for something that is essentially quite simple, but I hope that makes it really clear and easy to follow!


I've thought idea could be used for a kite or rainbow party, or even edible photo booth props! What do you think? What kind of theme can you see these being used for?

Monday, August 30, 2010

Milk Cartons with a peg on top!


Remember these little milk cartons? My favourite last-minute addition to Levi's party last weekend. I seriously LOVE them! (You can see the scale of them in the last photo) I came across the idea here, and the original template here. 
I personalised the design to match the invitation and theme we were going with. Printed. Cut. Scored. Folded. Taped...& pegged! 
Due to the amount of interest in these, I have added them to the 'custom design' section of my store. So you can choose your theme and text, and I will send you the digital printable file. Check them out here. 

Friday, August 27, 2010

Favour Friday - Plane Cookie Favours

I'm keeping the plane theme going for this weeks party favour feature...a zoom in on the favours we designed for Levi's 2nd birthday.
I decorated more of these cookies (and my icing technique hasn't improved too much at all!), placed them on a bed of 'cloud' mini marshmallows, and packaged them up with some, oh so stylish, divine twine and a 'Cooper' tag. Here they are all stacked ready for our "Baggage Claim" area on the dessert table. 
Note: The boxes are not in the Polkadot Prints store, but if you live in Australia and are interested in these, I can let you know details! I have large sweet boxes (15.5x10x7cm) and small (11.5x7.5x5cm) available till sold out, so get in quick! 


Thanks too for all the lovely comments and interest in the milk cartons. I will share those with you next...they are totally my favourite!!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Levi's Aeroplane Party Mood Board

Being a designer, I find it great to have some kind of visual when theming an event - images to help tie an idea together in my mind. That's where mood boards are great. Chris from Celebrations at Home & I are working on an event she is styling (can't wait to see it!). So, with Levi's party not far away, we have done a bit of a talent swap - printables for an inspiration/mood board. 
I have settled on having a plane party to match this Polkadot Prints design, and above is the mood board Chris has come up with for our little bash! Some great ideas eh?! Better get busy!


You can find out more about Chris' inspiration boards here. And while you're there, feast your eyes upon all her great party and celebration ideas & inspiration on her blog.  


Image Sources via Celebrations at Home -  Not Just A Mommy, Cutest Little Things, Puddin Pop Designs, Nounces Designs, Amy Atlas



Monday, May 24, 2010

CELEBRATE A NEW DESIGN :: Cooper - Up, Up & Away!

Okay, so I kind of fell off the wagon with my blog last week. Terribly sorry...I came down with the sniffles and enjoyed some, soup, tissues, and a heavy head - welcome winter!!
On to more delightful news however!... I have a new design in my store! 
It is aimed at the boys....other than "Meg", there has definately been an over abundance of boy orientated party themes going on lately. But never fear...I will be rectifying the situation soon...so stay tuned mother's of girls!!
Until then...enjoy the aeroplanes! (And my cookies...)
Check out the store!