• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}

Handcrafted. Splendidly.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • + Handmade
    • Crafts
      • Craft Gift Ideas
      • Holiday Crafts
      • Home Decor Crafts
      • Kids’ Crafts
      • Paper Crafts
      • Quick and Easy Crafts
      • Wearable Crafts
      • Wreaths
    • Gift Ideas
      • Budget-Friendly Gifts
      • Gift Wrapping
      • Gifts for Dads and Grandpas
      • Gifts for Kids
      • Gifts for Men
      • Gifts for Moms and Grandmas
      • Gifts for Neighbors
      • Gifts for Sports Fans
      • Gifts for Teachers
      • Gifts for Women
      • Quick and Easy Gifts
    • Kid-Friendly Projects
    • Sewing
      • Sewing for Children
      • Sewing for Men
      • Sewing for the Home
      • Sewing for Women
      • Sewing Techniques
      • Sewn Accessories
      • Sewn Gifts
  • + Home & Garden
    • DIY Home Decor Projects
    • Helpful Tips
    • Home Decor Crafts
    • DIY
    • Home Tour
    • Mantels and Tablescapes
    • Organization
    • Outdoor and Garden
  • + Holidays & Seasons
    • Spring
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Teacher Appreciation
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Winter
    • Back to School
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • Fathers’ Day
    • Graduation
    • Halloween
    • Independence Day
    • Mothers’ Day
    • New Year’s
  • + Printables
  • + Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Appetizers and Salads
    • Breads
    • Desserts
    • Food Crafts
    • Main Dish

Summer Party Tips (SSG Idea #3)

May 3, 2011 By Amy @ Positively Splendid

FacebookTweetPinYummlyPrint
Positively Splendid
Nothing says summer more than an outdoor gathering, and if you’re looking for some tips for throwing a memorable bash of your own, this little cheat sheet from Kojo Designs has you covered!
***

Hello Positively Splendid friends! I’m Kirstin, half of a sister team that blogs over at kojodesigns, and I am thrilled to be here today as a part of Amy’s Summer Survival Guide. See, I love summer. I love pool time and popsicles and sundresses and warm weather. And I especially love it that summer is the Season of Backyard Parties!

To help simplify your backyard party planning, today, I’m here to share a Simple Summer Soiree Cheatsheet! Here are a few tips for putting together fabulous (and simple) summer parties:

1. Keep the food simple!
Take advantage of the bounty of fresh produce summer has to offer. Pair fresh fruits and veggies with something grilled and you have yourself an easy, delicious party menu!

Our very favorite summer menu includes pizza on the grill with toppings from our garden (tomatoes, basil, squash, etc.). Yum! In fact, my sister Jordan put together a Pizza Part-ay last summer that was simple and fabulous!

2. Light it up!

Think twinkle lights, lanterns, candles, tiki torches. Position them throughout the yard so that when it gets dark, the party can keep on partying.

3. Throw in a few thoughtful touches.


-Keep a stack of quilts on hand to spread out in the grass.
-Station a little bucket of bug spray and sunscreen near the entrance so that guests don’t get sunburned or mosquito-bitten.
-Arrange lawn chairs in little semi-circles or groupings to encourage conversation.
-If your party is a family affair, make sure you have kid friendly food on hand (or even a kid’s table).

4. Make it special.
When the food and decor are relatively low-key, including one or two really amazing party features is a fantastic way to make your summer soiree extra special. Some of my favorite ideas?

Summer-y drinks (like agua fresco)

A lemonade bar (with fruit and other add-ins)

A s’more roasting station (idea and image via birthday girl). We’re totally trying this out this summer!

Get creative with your packaging (serve kettle corn in paper cones, for example!)

When all is said and done, parties are about PEOPLE, not about streamers or gourmet food or favors (though, all of those things can make your guests feel extra special, which is one of my goals in entertaining). You can’t go wrong in prioritizing the areas that are important to your guests!

Happy party hostessing, and happy summer, friends! We’d love it if you’d come say hi at the kojo blog sometime!

***
Kirsten, this is such a terrific list of tips I’m sure to refer to as I plan our summer gatherings. Thank you so much for stopping in!
Don’t forget to check out the lineup of other projects that have been shared so far!
Idea #1 – Freshly Squeezed Pillows
Idea #2 – Summer Punch

Photobucket

Amy @ Positively Splendid
Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

FacebookTweetPinYummlyPrint

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Guest Posts, Party Planning, Summer Survival Guide

Previous Post: « Summer Punch (SSG Idea #2)
Next Post: Kid-Friendly Q-Tip Artwork (SSG Idea #4) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. angie @ the cellar door stories says

    May 3, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    oh, you have me wishing for summer!!!

    thanks so much for stopping by & leaving a comment on my cupcake liner flowers ~ i really appreciate it!!

  2. JulieAnnA says

    May 3, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    That pizza, the tiki torches, a lemonade table……aahhh so ready for it ALL! :]

    Julie
    http://www.julieannart.com (giveaway!)

  3. Karen At Home says

    May 3, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    So many great ideas!!! I am really looking forward to Summer. New follower to your blog, love it!

  4. Kelli @ RTSM says

    May 3, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    So many great ideas to throw an awesome summer party! I love the lemonade bar:)

  5. Patti says

    May 3, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVED… GREAT IDEAS for my summer soire at the end of the school year. Thank for sharing!

  6. Tracy Suzanne says

    May 4, 2011 at 7:38 am

    Hi Amy, I really like the summer survival guide idea. So many great ideas. You guest host are doing a great job.

    Please stop by and visit me at Cotton Pickin Cute today (after daylight), I have a surprise for you.

    Hugs…Tracy 🙂

    P.S. I’m really craving that monkey bread on your side bar now.

  7. Lisa Brown says

    May 4, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Cute ideas! Love the paper cones!

Primary Sidebar

PS Search

Search this website

Seasonal Inspiration

Hocus Pocus Wreath
Ghost Plushies
Paper Pumpkins
Fabric Yo-Yo Pumpkins

Copyright © 2023 · Positively Splendid · All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation and your ability to provide feedback, analyse your use of our products and services, assist with our promotional and marketing efforts, and provide content from third parties. To find out more, as well as how to remove or block these, see here: Our Cookie/Privacy Policy