Pinterest Party

A couple weekends back I attended my first Pinterest Party, hosted by my super creative cousin Steph. The concept: a pre-holiday get together featuring snacks and cocktails made from pinterest recipes, consumed while creating DIY pinterest masterpieces. The invitation directed us to bring $15 for supplies, an empty mason jar, a small basket, a clothing item or accessory to stud, and, if we wanted to participate, two dozen or so baked goods for a cookie exchange.  I was so busy crafting (and consuming) that I only managed to squeeze in a few photos, but it was a great time and I wanted to share despite the lack of photographic support.

I arrived late and the party was already in full swing.  One group was making sparkly leather charm bracelets in the living room (based on these from Restoration Hardware), another was studding in the dining room, a third was making salted caramel pretzel bark in the kitchen and a fourth was hard at work making homemade vanilla extract.  I tried to master pizelle making and then joined a twosome just getting started on mixing the ingredients for salted caramel hot chocolate.  Steph made the rounds with wine and cups of broccoli cheddar soup and her lovely hubby served up some awesome mini burgers alongside baby-sized beer shots.

I left with an enormous tin full of cookies and a goodie bag filled with my spoils: all the makings of an amazing holiday hostess basket (I didn’t have a basket, but I did have homemade hot chocolate mix, chocolate pretzel bark, pizelle cookies and vanilla extract all ready to be packed up with a pair of candy canes and a bag of marshmallows and wrapped with plastic and ribbons), a formerly boring white tee with a newly studded breast pocket, and a leather initial bracelet packaged in an adorable folded felt pouch.

How to throw your own pinterest party:

1)Pick a theme.  Holiday party?  Jewelry making?  Food centered?  The options are endless so having some focus will help you avoid getting totally overwhelmed.

2) Decide whether you want to take charge of the activities/projects or tell your guests to each bring supplies and instructions to make something fun.  It’s important to have someone who already owns some basic crafting/cooking tools, but you can totally engage your guests in the project planning!

3) Get a label maker/label paper for your printer.  What really takes homemade gifts to the next level is pretty packaging.  Steph had labels pre-made for our hot chocolate and vanilla extract, which made them look special and gift-worthy.  If you already have a decent colour printer, all you really need is a few sets of variously shaped labels to run through your printer.

4) Start pinning!