Party Talk

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Have you heard that line before?  It’s soooo appropriate for graduation—on a few levels. 

First off, I hope you’re getting your resumes out and/or you’re looking for a summer job.  The early bird will definitely get the worm in this case since so many people, graduates and non-, are looking for summer jobs either to get them by until something better comes along or to make money for school next year.  And my hope is that any “early bird” reading this will certainly try to be creative in this endeavor since the creative “early bird” gets a bigger worm…or at least I think so.

Secondly, early is definitely the time to plan your graduation party, soireé, fete, ball or little get-together to celebrate.  The earlier you plan, the better off you’ll be.  You’ll be organized and organized means you can be more creative, more original (and dare I say it?) more budget-conscious. 

One more thing.  This year you may want to include several other “graduates” in your celebration and split the bill.  If you get started now (there’s that early bird thing again), it will get you a lot of takers, trust me. 

More hosts, more money, more creativity equals one incredibly awesome graduation party with memories for all (that’s the “get the worm” part!).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Graduation Party Ideas
• Graduation Planning Checklist
• Graduation Party Supplies
• Personalized Graduation Products
• Gift Ideas
• Graduation Etiquette

Have a great time planning!

 - The Party Girl

Land of Oz Graduation Party

No matter what the age, who doesn't remember the first time seeing The Wizard of Oz? Recall the black and white beginning? And the relief and awe when Dorothy enters the colorful world of Oz?

I must say that vibrant world held me captivated to the boob tube for an eternity. And what about those scary monkey-things? Personally, I was glad she dumped that old aunt and uncle of hers for that taste of adventure, even if it was a dream. Help your graduate go over the rainbow and follow the yellow brick road to bigger and better things with a party centered on The Wizard of Oz!

Decorations and Party Supplies

 Set out a path of the yellow brick road from the party entrance to the main party area. You can paint it on big white paper, available at your local art supplies store, or line the outside entrance with real bricks painted in a yellow gold tone. Try a big picnic basket Toto in Basket with a little furry Toto-like dog creeping out of the top at the door, too. At the doorbell, hang a sign that says "Bell out of Order, Please Knock."

If you have a DVD player accessible, play The Wizard of Oz movie throughout the party, as guests will enjoy catching glimpses of this timeless classic. Surely you don't want guests to hang around the television for the day. Perhaps you mute the audio and let the screen run on its own.

Find a visible closet door and display stuffed black and white striped socks sticking out (without the ruby slippers, of course, since Dorothy, your female grad or mom hostess is wearing them). We are sure you won't get your male grad to wear them!

Table Decorations

There are plenty of ways to decorate your table for this theme. Even something as simple as ruby red paper goods and yellow tableclothes with bouquets of red poppies in glass jars are cute touches.

Centerpieces of wire tornadoes would be fabulous! If your party is outside at tables with umbrellas, you can wrap wire around translucent umbrella vases filled with flowers! Hang rainbow mini springs from out of the vase.

Another idea is to purchase plastic sand castle molds and paint them a sparkly green just like the emerald city. You don't have to have the same centerpiece at every table. Some with tornadoes and some with emerald cities look great!

For more great graduation party ideas, see the full It's A Land of Oz Graduation party theme!

Top 12 Favorite Graduation Quotes

 

Commencement is time of great celebration for a graduate and their family. Mark the occasion with a memorable quote in honor of your grad’s achievement. Whether you use it for a commencement speech, in a congratulatory toast, on a graduation announcement or as a message in a card, a great graduation quote will help you convey your feelings of pride in their accomplishment. Some quotes can be inspirational, others are encouraging, and a few are even funny.

Here are twelve of our favorite graduation quotes -

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. - Shakespeare

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it. - William Arthur Ward

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss

You cannot get to the top by sitting on your bottom.  – Proverb

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. - Les Brown

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. - Benjamin Franklin

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. - Sir Winston Churchill

Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors! - Louisa May Alcott

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate. - Doug Larson

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. - Albert Einstein

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. - Judy Garland

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde

Are you looking for more? Check out more Graduation Quotes on Party411.com. Do you have a favorite quote we didn't list? Share it with us in a comment!

Personalized Photo Ticket Invitations

Make your party the hottest ticket of the year! New from Creations for You, Personalized Photo Ticket Invitations let you customize the photo and wording on the 2.25" x 8" ticket. They make great invitations for birthday parties, graduations, showers, bar/bat mitzvahs or any special occasion!

See all of our Personalized Photo Ticket Invitations!

Monopoly Theme Party

Monopoly is a great theme for anyone with LOTS of interests!  Each property on a board can represent a different interest of the celebrant!

 

We created a custom board for Madison's Bat Mitzvah with photos of Madison in all the places on the board!  It made a perfect custom sign in board and centerpiece.  Everyone sat at a different property.

 

There were a number of activities to keep the kids (and adults!) busy at this Bat Mitzvah.  Each one had a large property sign hanging over the activity.

 

Each table was a different property on the board, so the linens matched that property.  It was great fun walking into a room full of bright Monopoly colors.  The centerpieces for the adults were the custom boards with a sign over the top that was the property of the table.  The kids got balloons coming off of Monopoly boards that were donated to charity.

 

Party411 can plan your Monopoly theme party!  Let us know if you would like more information on any of the products seen in the photos or if you have Monopoly theme party questions!

 

See more of Our Parties

March is…

National Umbrella Month - "in honor of one of the most versatile and underrated inventions of the human race…" Go figure. 

Monopoly was introduced in 1933 - check out pictures from a Monopoly theme party we threw. It's a great theme!

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - Get screened! For info go to Preventcancer.org

March 10th is Purim - Call one of your Jewish friends and insist they take you to a Purim party - and try the hamantashen! 

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day – luck ‘o the Irish to you. Check out our guide for party planning ideas, invitations, party supplies, decorations, activities, costumes, games, history and food for your St. Patrick’s Day party!

March 24th is Harry Houdini’s Birthday – Harry would have been 135 if he was alive today, but he blew it. Have a "magic" party. People love a magic theme!

See more Stuff to Celebrate for March, or take a sneak peek at April!