» Party Ideas and Party Planning Tips From Experts

The end of summer is near!  Send out personalized Labor Day invitations and plan a fantastic send off for summer.  With the PurpleTrail Design Center, you can easily create unique party invitations that your guests are sure to find irresistible.   Add in fun summer pictures or your favorite summer images to your invitations.

You can personalize any of PurpleTrail’s Labor Day designs or simply create your own.  Print at home, let PurpleTrail print them for your or send your Labor Day invitations online.  Choose the method that works best for you! Happy celebrating!

Check our PurpleTrail’s Labor Day weekend celebration ideas

Congratulations you made it through the first year!   Even with the sleep deprivation, you should still be ready to celebrate.  As you begin to think about those first birthday invitations, it’s fun to coordinate the birthday festivities with a theme.  We have 4 great first birthday themes that are sure to be a hit with the toddler circuit.

Jungle Animals.  Every little guy or girl seems to love animals.  You can set out your child’s stuffed animals and create a wild jungle atmosphere.  Serve bananas and animal crackers and green licorice to represent vines of the jungle.  Creatively name other foods to go along like “jungle punch” and “monkey bites” You can make cookie cutter sandwiches in the shapes of animals for easy to eat party food. 

Bubble Fun.  What child doesn’t love bubbles.  Keep party decorations round and light.  Hang circles from the ceiling.  If warm enough blow plenty of bubbles outside!  Party food can keep with a round theme.  Carrot rounds, cucumber rounds, round tortilla chips etc.  You can create cake balls instead of cake for sweet treats to nibble.

Building Blocks.  Set out all kinds of building blocks for the kids to explore.  Create construction like themed food.  Let them lay bricks in mortar.  Take graham cracker squares and let little ones spread on the “mortar” (frosting) and have fun eating their creation.  Adult help will certainly be needed but the little ones will have so much fun.  You can create a birthday banner out of paper blocks to showcase the birthday boy or girl.

Cats and Dogs.  Most kids love both cats and dogs.  It’s an easy theme that kids can understand.  Make cookie cutter sandwiches in the shape of dog bones or little fish and label “doggie treats” and “kitty treats” respectfully.  Set out finger paint and a cover a table with white butcher paper where they can make “paw prints”.  Create party favor bags for both animals.  Distinguish them with little cat ears and floppy dog ears drawn on brown paper bags (easy to recycle). 

 Happy Celebrating!

At PurpleTrail we are always looking for party inspiration.  And we certainly found it at Glorious Treats (www.glorioustreats.blogspot.com).  Glory Albin, creator of Glorious Treats, dedicates her blog to all her creative passions.  She has a bevy of beautiful desserts, delicious recipes, party inspiration, and adorable crafts.   The party she recently put on that caught our eye was her Rainbows and Race Cars kids birthday party.  Glory put together this two-in-one theme for her friend’s children that share the same birth month.  Not an easy feat since it was a party for a birthday boy (3) and a birthday girl (1).  Glory’s attention to detail and ability to create one cohesive theme  is to be applauded.  Take a look at these Rainbow and Race Cars party pictures and get inspired!

We love the gender neutral color scheme highlighting red and purple!

Look at these amazing cookies.  Her royal icing technique is flawless!

Cupcakes for her…

Cupcakes for him!

Thoughtful party favors for little girls and boys.

Glory did a fantastic job for this children’s party.  If you are looking for a creative party theme, consider rainbows and race cars.  We think this is one of the best kid friendly party themes we’ve seen in a long time.  Thanks for sharing Glory! Be sure to check out Glorious Treats for more inspiration.

all images from Glorious Treats

We are well into summer and the boredom may be setting in for the kids – a little.  Since school will be back in session before you know it, here are some great ideas for summer parties and gatherings.  Get your summer party invitations ready and embrace summer to the fullest!

Backyard camp out.  Get the tents, sleeping bags, and marshmallows ready!  Gather up family and friends for a simple back yard camp out.  Make it fun and fill up the kiddie pool with water and “fish” for prizes (water friendly prizes or keep them wrapped up).  Make a campfire (with adult supervision) and roast hot dogs and of course make some s’mores.  Enjoy the stars and tell a few ghost stories before sending the kids off to bed in the tents.  Then make sure they have flashlights because you know they aren’t really going to sleep.  Keep a closed container outside full of healthy snacks like granola, fruit and nuts so they can snack as needed throughout the night.  Kids will love having their friends over for a camping adventure and you’ll love not having to pack and unpack the car!

Picnic Party.  Gather up the troops and head to your favorite lake or riverside park!  Spend the day playing games in the grass. Games like ultimate frisbee for the older ones and Mother May I for the little ones.  Bring sand toys and plenty of water floats and swim the afternoon away.  Invite everyone to bring a dish to share and create a delicious picnic potluck.  Don’t forget picnic blankets, towels and lots of sunscreen. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the warm days of summer.

Summer Olympics.  Create your own Olympic competition. Create a series of games to compete in.  You can tailor them to meet the varying age groups participating.  Classic games like a three legged race or an relay race are easy to organize.  Create an obstacle course or even a treasure hunt.  It’s a great way to spend a summer afternoon.  Be sure to get medals or prizes and have a medal ceremony at the end to award the top three athletes.

Tie Dye.  Remember using your mom’s bathtub for your tie dye creations?  Take it outside!  Invite guest to bring white clothing to tie dye.  Cotton, shirts, shorts, dresses, onsies, even boxer shorts work great for tie dye.  You can buy kits online and all you supply is the soaking container.  Turn an old plastic storage container into a tie dye creation station.  You’ll also need a table area you don’t mind getting messy.  It’s a fun way to spend a summer afternoon!  It is also a great activity for family reunions or birthday parties.

Pool Party.  Throw a pool party and stay cool in the hot weather.  Or, if you aren’t having a hot summer, find an indoor pool to party at!  Many local pools are available for rent.  Fill the space with beach balls, fruity drinks, and easy finger foods.  If planning an all day event, consider a bbq in the evening.  Keep it light and easy.  Kebabs are and tasty choice to prepare and enjoy.  Keep a full supply of ice cold drinks and sunblock and your pool party will be a success.

We hope you are having lots of summer fun!

Have you heard of Catch My Party? If not, you should certainly check it out! Founded by Jillian Tohber Leslie, Catch My Party is a free website for people to post photos of their parties (birthdays, showers, weddings, holiday parties, etc.) to share with their friends, family, and people who love entertaining. It’s like an online party scrapbook.

It’s also a great resource for all kinds of party ideas and inspirations. So if you’re looking to throw a princess-themed kids’ party  or an elegant baby shower , this is the place to check out first, with hundreds of real parties from around the world.

Catch My Party is easy to use. Just join the site, then follow a few simple steps to add your party. Readers can leave comments on your party page and even “like” your party by giving it a cupcake. 

And if you are looking for a little more inspiration, Jillian writes a blog where she discusses current party trends on Catch My Party, highlights interesting people in the party community, and give lots of DIY tips. There is also a gallery  full of party-related photos to rate and comment on. The photo galleries include celebrity party dresses, wedding dresses, cakes, party shoes, hairstyles, and more.  

According to Jillian: “My goal in starting Catch My Party was to create a place where your party never had to end because I always hated it when, after all the planning and preparation, the band played their last song, and poof! It was all over. So at Catch My Party, you can create living scrapbooks – customizable party pages – that enable you to relive and ‘re-love’ your parties over and over again.”

Because we at PurpleTrail value great resources for party planning, we found this idea of reliving and re-loving your parties over and over again irresistible!  What better way to keep memories alive than to share them with others?

Next time you receive party invitations, consider making your own hostess gift! We found this inexpensive hostess gift idea on the From Glitter to Gumdrops blog.  Christy Robbins gives you step by step instructions on how to make your own chalkboard wine glasses.  It’s the perfect answer to, “which drink was mine?”.  Guests can write funny messages, nicknames, or anything they want.  As the night goes on, the messages may get even funnier.

Christy mentions that she made these wine glasses for under a dollar.  All you need is some inexpensive wine glasses, chalkboard spray, newspaper and painters tape. Then viola, you have an instant handcrafted hostess gift! It’s also a great housewarming gift too!

Check out from glitter to gumdrops for complete details on how to create this fun hostess gift!

Get the  slumber party invitations, mow the lawn and air out the tent.  It is time to plan your backyard camp out menu! Chances are the kids are going to be so busy having fun that they won’t need a huge meal, just lots of good grab and go snacks.  Here’s a few suggestions fro our party experts to serve at your backyard camp out.

Dinner

If you are going to have a fire pit, consider roasting hot dogs.  It’s easy and most kids love them. You can get turkey or tofu hot dogs for kids with special dietary needs.   Other simple things include grilling up drumsticks, or hamburgers.  Anything that’s easy and can be cooked outdoors!

Dessert

Of course you have to make s’mores! You just need marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers.  Be sure to have adult supervision while roasting the marshmallows

Another fun dessert is banana boats. All you need to do is split a banana lengthwise leaving the peel on. Fill with three marshmallows and chocolate chips. Wrap in aluminum foil set on hot coals for two minutes.  Yum!

Grab bag
 

Let the kids put together their own trail mix.  Provide dishes of dried fruit, chocolate pieces (like chocolate chips or M&M’s), raisins, and an assortment of nuts.  Provide them with little baggies and have them put together their own mix!

Other great snacks are granola bars, fruit, pre-popped popcorn and of course plenty of water, juice and/or soda is a must.  Snacks that don’t have to be refrigerated so you can keep them outside for the kids.

Nothing makes a slumber party a hit more than great party games.  As you send out your slumber party invitations, consider  some fresh ideas are need to take your party to the next level.  Summer is the perfect time to gather up friends for a night of fun.  Here are some pointers and great game ideas for your next slumber party bash.

Things to Remember

• Be Prepared: Have all the games set up and ready to go before the party. Make sure you have clearly understood the game instructions/directions. It is better if you play the game once to help  find any loop holes or missing steps.
• Be Flexible: If you sense that a game is not going well, move on to the next activity or make a quick adaptation to the existing game.  Also be prepared to take the party indoors if the weather disturbs your outdoor party.
• Everyone is a Winner: Parties are a time to have fun. Consider playing most, if not all games without prizes, but everyone gets a candy or sticker.  This is especially important when younger children are involved.

Sleep Over Games

• Burglar Alarm - Set a little timer and have everyone go out of the room. One person stays in and hides the timer. Then the other children come back in and try to find the timer before it goes off. Whoever finds it gets some kind of prize and also a chance to hide it the second time around. In case the timer goes off before anyone has a chance to find it, the person hiding it gets a prize. For an added effect this could be played in a dark room using flashlights.
• Musical sleeping bags - Clear a space and lay out the kids’ sleeping bags in a circle or row on the floor. Use one less sleeping bag than the number of players.  Start some music – and have the kids walk around the sleeping bags.  When it stops each child has to get inside a sleeping bag.  Whoever is left without a sleeping bag is out of the game.
• Shadow Buff – This is a guessing game where a shadow is the only clue. One person who is “it” sits in the middle of the floor facing a blank wall or a sheet serving as a screen.  Turn off all the lights with only a single light (from a flashlight) behind the person who is “it”. One by one, the other players pass behind ”it” and in front of the light.  Looking straight ahead at the shadow on the wall, ”it” tries to call out the identity of the player crossing behind.  Players may disguise their shadows in any way to confuse the guesser. The player whose identity is guessed correctly becomes “it”.  Here is a good tip:  don’t let your height give you away.  Moving closer or farther away from the light will make you appear taller or shorter.

Have a great sleepover.  Be sure to check out all of our sleepover games!

  The PurpleTrail team wishes you a very safe and happy 4th of July!  We hope you have plans to spend the holiday with loved ones in exactly the way you want.  Here’s to barbecues, picnics, fireworks shows, and beautiful summer weather around the country. If you need a little last minute party inspiration, be sure to check our all of PurpleTrail’s July 4th party ideas.

Happy Independence Day!

 July 4th is nearly here! Don’t have anything planned? It’s not too late to send our July 4th party invitations.  If your celebration has kids on the guest list, make sure they will have plenty to do in between all the food and fireworks.  Our party experts have a few 4th of July activities for kids that should keep the smiling the whole day long.  

Sidewalk Chalk.  Don’t underestimate the power of this simple tool!  So many things can be created with the side walk chalk from hopscotch to foursquare to shuffle board! You can create any number of game boards with a little sidewalk chalk.  For older kids, have a drawing contest.  See who can make the best patriotic design.

Relay Races.  Kids will love the challenge of  a relay race.  You can tailor it to the age group of the kids.  One idea is to set up buckets of sand with small American flags in them.  Each team gets two buckets – one filled with sand and small flags, the other just filled with sand.   The goal is for each team to transplant the flags into the other bucket.  The first player runs down to the flags then marches or walks quickly with the flag, puts it in the other bucket and tags the next player.   You could also you pinwheels instead of flags.

Balloon Toss.  Kids love water balloons and especially love throwing them.   Partner everyone up and give the teams one balloon to toss. The partners start close together and after every successful toss, the take a step away from each other.  The last two with a balloon intact win!  Use the remainder of the balloons for a good old fashion water balloon fight!

Twister.  Bring the twister board outside!  Kids and adults will love this game of balance and skill! Kids will get lots of laughs seeing Aunt Matilda tangled and twisted!

Fireworks Wand.  This is a great craft idea for little ones who can’t get too close the real deal.  Get small dowels for each guest and loads of curling ribbon.  Get ribbon in red, white, blue, silver, gold and any other festive color you like.  Cut long strand or ribbon for the wands.  Each wand should have at least 10 pieces of ribbon.  Then staple all the ribbon together at one end so the it trails in one bunch.  Tie ribbons onto on end of the dowel.  Help kids curl long pieces of ribbon.   You’ll be left with a fun fireworks wand that the kids can wave and twirl all night long.

Bubbles.  Invite your young guests to bring their favorite bubble wand or toy.  With an array of bubble making tools, the kids will have fun trying new ways to make bubbles.  Have a bubble making contest.  Who can make the biggest bubble, the smallest, the most etc.

Happy 4th of July!

4th of July is nearly here!  Backyard barbecues or picnics in the park are perfect for an Independence Day celebration.   As you get your July 4th party invitations ready, check out these fast and easy dessert ideas.   July is prime season for berries so use them to their fullest for a sweet and satisfying treat.  We found some great, easy 4th of July desserts your guests are sure to love.

Berry Crumble

Ingredients:

2 cups blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blackberries
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup unpacked light brown sugar
1 stick of butter (1/4 lb), melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350◦ F. 

Place berries in a medium bowl.  In another medium bowl, combine flour and sugar.  Take 3 tablespoons of flour mixture and gently toss with berries.  Place berries in an 8×8 in square baking pan.

For the topping, add melted butter to the remaining flour mixture and mix well. Crumble topping in small bits over berry mixture.  Bake until berries begin to bubble  – about 35 to 40 minutes.  Cut into 8 pieces.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desired. 

Berry Smoothies

This is a great dessert for kids.   It’s easy and they can drink it on the go!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1 banana
1/2 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup ice cubes

Directions:

Blend the banana, ice, yogurt, milk, and other berries together until a smooth drink is formed. Pour into a cup and enjoy!

Angelic Berries

This is simple and delicious! It’s refreshing and flavorful.

1 angel food cake
2 cups blueberries
2 cups raspberries
2 cups strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup fresh mint chopped
1/2  tablespoon of sugar
Whipped Cream

Directions

In a large bowl add in berries, sugar and mint.  Toss gently. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.  Slice cake and top with berry mixture.  Add a dolop of whipped cream and enjoy!

Wishing you a safe and happy July 4th celebration!

Kids birthday party invitations, decorations, themes, games, crafts, party favors… it all adds up quickly!  For a society in a recession, it appears that many spare no expense for kids birthday parties.    Bounce houses, facility rentals, professional entertainment, some 5 year old party expenses reach $5000.  That’s more than most people’s mortgage.  But how big is too big?  What is a realistic budget for kids birthday parties? If they get an all out party at 5 what happens when then turn 13?

Financial experts would most likely agree that a realistic budget is one that you can truly afford.  Not one you have to put on a credit card.  So if you can’t afford to rent a bounce house or hire your child’s favorite musician, then we suggest you stick to something  a little more low key.  We’ve put together some ways to keep the costs down but still enjoy your kid’s birthday party.

• Party in the backyard.  By planning a party at home you save the cost of a facility rental.   If you aren’t able to go outside for the party and you feel your place is too small, consider revising your guest list or ask someone in your family with the space, if they would be willing to host it for you.  Most of the time Grandma and Grandpa will happily oblige if able.
• Limit the guest list.  You don’t have to invite everyone that has ever met your child.  Close friends and family will make a party more manageable and may be less overwhelming for you child.
• Plan the party between meal times.  To avoid serving a complete meal, plan the party before or after lunch time. 
• Offer fewer food choices.  You don’t need to please everyone.  Have finger foods that are easy for kids to eat.  You don’t need popcorn, chips and pretzels.  Pick a few things and present them in a fun way.
• Bake a cake.  Bake your own goodies. It doesn’t have to be from scratch, cake mixes are inexpensive and many come with frosting mixes that taste homemade!

• Plan a party activity that can serve as the party favor.  Things like frosting cookies, popsicle photo frames, make your own magic wands, tie dye, etc. are great ways to have fun and remove the need for a separate party favor.
• Play.  Never underestimate the power of play.  You don’t need a magician and a bounce house to keep kids smiling. Play tag, hide and seek, musical chairs, have a cookie walk, play twister, simon says, mother may I, red rover, you get the idea.  For older kids plan a relay race or scavenger hunt. 
• Get creative with decorations.  If you are throwing a Thomas the Tank Engine party you don’t have to purchase the whole collection of decorations from the party store.  Choose one or two things you really would like to have from that theme and then incorporate the colors of the theme into your decor for the rest of your party supplies.  For example, you could get a Mylar Thomas balloon and centerpiece for the table and use blue and red cups and napkins.  Hang streamers in Thomas themed colors.  You can create the feeling of Thomas (or whatever your theme is) without buy everything Thomas. 
• If you want to throw a big party for your child, consider throwing one every other year. On the off years, you can throw a small celebration with family and save up for the big event the following year.

Ultimately you should do what you feel is right when planning kids birthday parties.  Above all else you should create a party that your child will enjoy.  Kids birthday parties should be full of smiles and laughter not stress.

It’s not to late to find heartfelt Father’s Day cards.  In fact, what could be more heartfelt than giving a card you designed?  Dad is sure to appreciate thoughtful Father’s Day wishes with a personalized card from PurpleTrail.   Send day an ecard or opt for PurpleTrail print at home.  The Design Center makes it easy.  You can add in a photo of you and dad to make it extra special.  This Father’s Day, take a minute to tell Dad how much he means to you.  Though it may not seem like Dad’s need to hear how appreciated they are, they will most certainly appreciate a heartfelt message of love. 

Happy Father’s Day!

Life is full of holidays to celebrate.  Check our PurpleTrail’s spectacular collection of holiday cards.

Hip, Hip, Hooray it’s Independence Day!  Summer is in high gear and it is time to send out 4th of July party invitations.  PurpleTrail’s collection of July 4th party invitations are festive and fun to help you spread the word about your fantastic celebration.  From backyard bbq themes to stars and stripes you can find a party invitation to fit your July 4th party theme.  You can even create your own design using the PurpleTrail Design Center.  We have a library of thousands of embellishments, backgrounds, and images.

 Enjoy your July 4th celebration! 

Get ready to celebrate!  Shop our amazing collection of holiday party invitations!

I recently went to a party and had the most fun party snack! The hostess put together a popcorn bar.  Next time you send out party invitations consider this easy party food to serve and is a crowd pleaser.  A popcorn bar is perfect for kids birthday parties, graduation parties, and slumber parties. 

Started with a few bowls of freshly popped popcorn.  Then provide fun popcorn containers for each person. You can purchase popcorn bags at most party stores or make party cones.  You can also use cone party hats as a fun way to serve the popcorn.  Create an area filled seasonings and toppings for guests to put on their popcorn to make it fun and delicious.

Seasoning Ideas:

• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Salt/powder
• Flavored butter shakers
• Chili powder
• Cocoa powder
• Dill
• Oregano
• Nutmeg
• Sugar (brown or white)

Topping Ideas:

• M&M’s
• Gummy bears or sour gummies
• Cheddar bunnies or goldfish crackers
• Small pieces of dried fruit
• Chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch chips
• Granola
• Peanut butter puffs (cereal)
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Red Hots or Hot Tamales
• Toffee chips
• Melted butter

Let your guests dress up their popcorn anyway they like.  It’s an easy party food idea that everyone will enjoy and clean up is minimal! 

Shop our amazing collection of party invitations

Father’s Day is a great time to tell your dad how much he means to you.  Along with thoughtful Father’s Day cards, give dad a gift that he’ll really appreciate. We’ve put together some Father’s Day gifts that will put a smile on dad’s face and even melt his heart a little.

Photo books.  Make dad a special photo book full of all the people he loves.  Some dad’s may not always be outwardly sentimental but a photo book collection of all the people he holds near and dear is something he will truly appreciate.

Give dad the day off.  Set up something that your dad really enjoys doing. Whether it’s a game of golf, a movie, a sports game, a car race, time to work on a project, or even just time to nap.  Let dad have a day to do what he likes!  End the day with a family dinner complete with his favorite dish!

Do dad’s chores.  Organize the family to do all of dad’s chores. Mow the lawn, wash the car, insect removal, take the garbage out – whatever dad does, do it for him so he can relax!  After all your hard work, take dad out for his favorite meal or plan a backyard bbq.

Ode to dad video.  Gather the family and have them deliver a special message to dad.  Add in photos or videos of him as a kid and share your favorite dad stories! 

Heartfelt letter.  It may seem sappy, but letting your dad know how important he is  you and how he’s influenced you will mean a great deal to him.  Add in some humor and share a funny story about why you love your dad or a collection of your favorite moments.  Your dad will be touched knowing he’s had meaningful influence in your life.

Weekend getaway.  Plan a trip! If your dad’s a camper, plan a fun camping trip to his favorite spot.  How about a golf getaway? Or a weekend at the lake?  If dad’s more a city guy, plan a stay at a downtown hotel and see a show or museum exhibit he’s been wanting to visit.

No matter the gift you give make sure you take a minute to show your dad how much you love him. He’s sure to love anything you give if you take the time to make it personalized for his style and interests.  Happy Father’s Day!

Shop PurpleTrail’s incredible collection of Father’s Day cards and photo books.

Did you know according to the Flag Code, the U.S. flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing? Since there isn’t anything law enforcement can do when the Flag Code is violated, most people pay no attention to or are simply unaware of flag etiquette. Traditional observance of Memorial Day seems to have faded in recent years and many Americans may have forgotten the meaning of this holiday.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

~Joseph Campbell

Here’s a quick history lesson: Memorial Day was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, on May 5, 1868. It was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I, the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363). (www.usmemorialday.org)

As you honor American soldiers this Memorial Day, keep these flag flying tips in mind:

• On Memorial Day, the flag should be flown at half-staff until mid-day. It should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
• When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from a window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
• When hanging the American flag from a window or draped from the edge of a building, always hang the flag vertically with the field of stars to the left of anyone viewing it.
• When displaying a flag on the car, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
• Always hang the American flag above any other flag on the same pole.
• Only display an American flag that is in respectable condition. A torn or tattered flag should not be displayed.
• All weather flags: most flags are all-weather flags (always refer to the packaging). These are permitted to fly during inclement weather, according to the flag code.
• The flag may be displayed for 24 hours if properly illuminated after sunset.
• As a sign of respect to our country and our flag it is proper to place one’s hand over heart during a parade or during a flag raising or lowering ceremony. Servicemen and women should give the military salute.

For a complete listing of U.S. flag etiquette, please click here.

Shop our sensational collection of Memorial Day Invitations and Memorial Day Cards.

Memorial Day is nearly hear.  If you are putting together a last minute Memorial Day gathering, send out stylish Memorial Day invites from PurpleTrail.   It’s easy to throw together a fun gathering.  These sleek and stylish Memorial Day invites are irresistible.  Get the hot dogs and hamburgers and throw a Memorial Day barbeque.  Remember to take a moment at your celebration to honor those who died serving America.

Shop our spectacular collection of Memorial Day Invitations

Get your Memorial Day invitations ready!  In effort to honor the men and women who died serving America, at your Memorial Day celebration pull out all the patriotic stops.  From centerpieces to lighting, you can easily incorporate red, white and blue into your decorations.  Here’s a few Memorial Day decoration ideas we’ve put together

Welcome guests by lining your walk way with mini American flags.  Just make sure the actual flag does not touch the ground.  Add flags and pinwheels to pots in the yard for a some extra partiotic flare.  If flying a flag, remember is stays at half mast until noon.

For buffet table: Drape the table in a white table cloth. Place a royal blue table runner on top of the white table cloth.  Take small galvanized buckes and fill with sand.  Add in a few mini U.S. flag or red white and blue pinwheels.  Place a few of these around the table. Use a combination of red, white, and blue plates, cups, napkins and flatware.  Incorporate the food into your decor.  Serve red, white and blue foods like strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, raspberries, and angel food cake.  You can elegantly display them in clear or white serving dishes. 

For surrounding tables, take mason jars and wrap with wide ribbon ( a mix of red, white and blue). Fill the jars with water if desired and float candles or just use tealights for votives.  you can also turn these into hanging lanterns by securing wire or ribbon around the mouse of the jar and create a handle for hanging. 

For indoor decorations get several red, white and blue helium filled balloons and let them float to the ceiling so the room offers a patriotic balloon covering.  Add sort strings to some balloons and let children take them home. Add in a small vases of red, white and blue flowers throughout the house. 

Enjoy your Memorial Day celebration!

Shop our spectacular collection of Memorial Day Invitations

Graduating from college is no small accomplishment.  4 plus years of hard work and dedication deserves spectacular college graduation announcements.  Let the world know you are about to set foot into the real world with custom graduation announcements.  Choose one of PurpleTrail’s designs to customize or create your own.  The Design Center makes it easy to upload photos and images. 

Set your best foot forward and send out memorable college graduation announcements.  You deserve the best. Congratulations graduate! 

Create your college graduation announcements now and get free shipping on all orders over $50!

As the graduation announcements are arriving, start thinking about great graduation gift ideas.  The time has come to recognize graduates and all they work they have done to accomplish their goal.  Whether it’s high school graduation or college, it’s a momentous time.  We’ve put together some thoughtful graduation gift ideas to help you honor the graduates in your life.

“This is your life” photo book.  Capture all the memories and milestones in one beautiful photo book.  So many things have led up to this moment.  Create a photo book that shows the journey.  It’s something that the recipient will treasure and keep forever.

Recipe book.  First time away from the comforts of home?  Create a recipe book for your graduate to take with them.  Fill it with easy recipes to keep the sentiments of home nearby.  Create one easily by using PurpleTrail photo books, you can add in pictures of each dish and easily add in the recipe to create a soft bound recipe book.

Coffee Please.  For coffee lovers, check out these vacuum thermoses. Celia Birtwell Inky Florals Vacuum Thermos or Wild and Wolf Map Thermos would be appreciated by any grad on the.

Here’s my card.  For the budding businessman or business woman, get them a Personalized Business Card Holder. 

Printed Invitations, cards, and more.  Get your graduate a PurpleTrail membership.  With a premium membership, they will have up to 15 free downloads per year for  print at home invitations.  With new opportunities on the horizon and new living spaces, they won’t have to worry about buying housewarming invitations or personalized thank you cards because they’ll be able to create there own!  They can also access PurpleTrail online invitations and photo books.   Whether they are going into college or coming out, they’ll have plenty of memories they’ll want to preserve.  Grads can create road trip journals of their summer adventures, create printed archives of the days gone by and make room for new memories and milestones to unfold. 

There are so many graduation gift ideas, choose a thoughtful one for the grads in your life. 

Shop PurpleTrail’s incredible collection of graduation announcements

Graduation is upon us.  And it’s time to send out photo graduation invitations.  Each year a whole new generation embarks on their journey into college, travel, or the working world.  It is an exciting time in life.  Spread the word with beautiful photo graduation invitations.  You can showcase all the things your graduate has been working on.  Order your graduation invitations in a post card style or folded card style. 

You can upload as many photos as you like and personalize your photo graduation invitations with the PurpleTrail Design Center.  It’s your graduates time to shine! Shop PurpleTrail’s amazing collection of photo graduation invitations.

 When I was planning my wedding, I found it hard to come up with truly unique wedding favors.  I like to give party favors that are meaningful and a little bit practical; something guests might actually use or look at.   If only PurpleTrail had been around then!    A picture is always a wonderful gift so a photo book is a perfect wedding favor!   The happy couple could compile a story pictures showing how they met and fell in love in a small, soft bound photo book.  PurpleTrail photo books are fully customizable and have no layout limitations.  They come in a variety of sizes, including wedding favor size, 3.5 x 2.6.    You create your own template or personalize one of PurpleTrail’s designs.

Give wedding guests a wedding favor they treasure.   Shop PurpleTrail’s beautiful collection of photobooks.

Memorial Day is a holiday that is often overlooked.  It is a time to honor the service men and women of past and present.  In addition to sending thoughtful Memorial Day cards to the military families in your life, a great way to show your kids how important America’s military men and women are is to sponsor a USO care package.  For just $25 you can send a deployed soldier some of the comforts of home.  The USO fills the packages with items that they need and have requested.   When you sponsor a care package you also include a personal note to the solider.  It’s a wonderful way to reach out to those who are representing America.   Visit the USO site for complete details. 

However you choose to celebrate Memorial Day, take a moment to remember those who died fighting for something they believed in. 

Shop PurpleTrail’s patriotic collection of Memorial Day Cards. 

Planning parties can be fun for some and tougher for others.  From personalized party invitations to memorable party favors, planning the details and making sure they fit the theme can seem overwhelming sometimes.  Check out birthday girl blog.  It’s full of party inspiration!  Becca, the blog’s author is the ultimate birthday girl.  She specializes in creating custom inspiration boards to help you plan your party.  Becca uses inspiration from a variety of resources to create a cohesive theme covering food, decor, favors and more!  Here’s one of my favorites.  The theme is, It’s Your Lucky Day.   You can see the lucky theme in all these images, green, horseshoes, clovers and more.  

I love this lucky theme party idea. It’s perfect for a birthday celebration or even a bridal shower.  Check out the birthday girl blog for more great inspiration.

Happy Planning!

Check out PurpleTrail’s amazing collection of personalized party invitations

Barbecue season is coming up!  Get your stylish bbq invites ready and add to your summer collection of bbq ideas.  We’ve searched for a few fun things to add to your summer supplies to help you make the most of your bbq gatherings.  Take a look at these finds.

Etch-it Sticker Labels- these are they perfect way to prevent drink mix ups!

Picnic Table Condiment Set - A cute way to set out your ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper! It doubles as a centerpiece.

Melamine Plate Set - These colorful plates will add pizazz to any barbeque!  The best part is they are reusable. Not only are you saving money on paper plates, you are being kinder to the environment by creating less waste.

Kabob Set - This little set is the greatest thing to happen to kabobs.  It holds them perfectly in place pre and post cooking.

Grill Pizza Pan- The latest and greatest trend in grilling out, pizza on the grill.  It is delicious.

Grill Brush & Scraper- After all that grilling you are going to need a good grill brush to keep your grill in top shape.

Happy grilling!  Be sure to check out our stylish collection of bbq invites.

It’s not too late! You can still send all the mom’s in your life fabulous Mother’s Day cards from PurpleTrail!  You may not have time to get it in the mail but you certainly can send an ecard on time.  Choose from any of our beautiful collection of Mother’s Day cards or create your own design.  The PurpleTrail Design Center makes it easy to create stunning custom Mother’s Day cards. Upload pictures or other unique design embellishments to add to your Mother’s Day cards.  Mom will appreciate you sending her thoughtful Mother’s Day wishes!

Start creating your Mother’s Day Cards now!

Looking to create some unique theme parties? Consider throwing a Stache Bash.  PurpleTrail Friend Jackie Fo put together a terrific ‘stache bash theme party.  This would be a fun theme for a birthday party, graduation party, or even a dinner party.   Jackie left out no detail.  From decor to party food – she created an entire party around mustaches and celebrated them in all their glory!  You can visit Jackie’s Fo’s blog for complete details.  Here are a few photos from the mustache mania.

A handsome ‘stache hung over the buffet

A ‘stache for all!  Everyone got to put on their own mustache.

A ‘stache bouquet.

Mustache toppers for cupcakes!

Multicolored ’stache cookies.

Creative mustache party favors 

This was my favorite part…Famous ‘Stache Garland

Check out  JackieFo.blogspot.com.  Her site is full of unique party ideas and she also lends her signature touch to party planning and offers custom party packages! 

Preserve your party memories with PurpleTrail Photobooks.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s time to celebrate!   Don’t have anything planned yet?  Don’t worry! Check out these fantastic Cinco de Mayo ideas.  Enjoy your fiesta!

Cinco de Mayo drink recipes 

Cinco de Mayo kids games

Cinco de Mayo party decorations

Cinco de Mayo food ideas

Cinco de Mayo cards

Have a fantastic celebration! 

Capture your Cinco de Mayo memories in with PurpleTrail photo books.

Celebrate the Mexican fiesta of Cinco de Mayo on May 5th. This is one of the most popular Mexican festivals celebrated in the United States. As you plan a party for your friends and family and get ready to send out your Cinco de Mayo invitations, brush up on what this festival really means with our Cinco de Mayo trivia & facts.

When is Cinco de mayo? Cinco de Mayo means 5th of May in Spanish. This day is normally confused with Mexican Independence Day (el Dieciseis de Septiembre) which is celebrated on 16th of September. Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of a battle that took place between the Mexicans and the French in 1862. It is celebrated on May 5th every year.

Why is Cinco de mayo celebrated? This day marks the victory of a small, poorly armed force of around 4,500 soldiers over the French invasion of a well-armed, professional army led by Napoleon III that had about 8,000 soldiers. This battle is popularly known as the legendary Battle of Puebla. The battle lasted for 4 hours and ended in the victory of the small Mexican army under Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. So Cinco de mayo is hugely celebrated with pomp , gaiety and fiestas in the traditional Mexican style.

What is the importance of Battle of Puebla? The battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862 . This battle marks a turning point in Mexican national pride. They won the battle over huge French troop. This victory made the Mexican people very happy, and helped create a feeling of national unity. Puebla is 100 miles east of Mexico City. The Mexican forces were made up of untrained commoners. The “Batalla de Puebla” became a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism.

Do you know how and when Cinco de mayo celebration started in the US? On 24th August 1821, Mexico officially declared its independence from Spain invasion. This holiday mainly started in the year 1967 when a group of California State University students decided to hold the first Cinco de Mayo commemoration in the United States. They did this because they felt there was no Chicano holiday and therefore thought of starting this tradition. They wanted something to recapture their history and decided that the Battle of Puebla was symbolic. This helped them to connect it to their struggle for the formation of a Chicano Studies program at the university.

How is Cinco de mayo celebrated? Cinco de mayo is celebrated with festivals and fiestas. Parades usually start moving about 11 o’clock. The parades consist of marchers dressed as French and Mexican generals with soldiers following, armed like the original freedom fighters with machetes and old-fashioned rifles. Paraders wearing skirts and flowery hats represent the women (soldaderos) who traveled with the army to cook and care for the men. Those portraying French soldiers carry knapsacks with wine bottles sticking out of them. At mid-afternoon the “battle” begins in the plaza. Rifles and cannon roar, there is much smoke and shouting, and at nightfall, the Mexican and French generals meet face-to-face for a sword battle. The Mexican general, of course, wins. The fiesta also includes speeches by government officials. And since it is a fiesta there are lots of games and lively dances , mariachi music, traditional foods, bullfights, and colorful cinco de mayo decorations. At night there are pinatas for the children and the celebration ends with beautiful displays of fireworks. People wear clothes of red and green, the colors of the Mexican flag.

Why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in U.S? The reason of celebrating Cinco de Mayo on such a large scale in United States is firstly, because if had not been for the victory, France would have aided the South in the American Civil War and this would have an impact on the war. Secondly Chicanos celebrates this day in appreciation of its cultural and historical significance. And lastly General Ignacio Zaragosa was born in Texas when it was still part of Mexico and is considered to be a Chicano hero. However, today this holiday is more of a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music and beverage unique to Mexico.

Why is Cinco de Mayo So Important for Americans? In addition to its importance in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is significant to all Americans because it marks the last time that any foreign power has acted the aggressor on North American soil.

Did you know “Festival de Fiesta Broadway” is worlds largest Cinco de Mayo event? Yes! the largest Cinco de Mayo event in the world is held in Los Angeles, California, where more than 600,000 people celebrate with music and food. The whole event is called Festival de Fiesta Broadway. Two other big festival are held far from Mexico, in Denver, Colorado, and St Paul’s, Minnesota, but they draw hundreds of thousands of participants.

Other Interesting Facts About Mexico & Cinco de Mayo:

• Mexican community celebrates more then 365 festivals each year. Cinco de mayo is one of them.
• Did you know Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
• Around 28.3 million of U.S. residents were of Mexican origin in 2006. These residents constituted 9 percent of the nation’s total population and 64 percent of the Hispanic population.
• Approximately 630,000 of Mexican-Americans are U.S. military veterans.
• The Maya in Central Mexico were the first people known to harvest and use the peanut.
• Pineapple and papayas grew wild in Mexico, and were introduced to the rest of the world by Spanish explorers
• Around the 1860s, three American travelers began exporting resin from the Zapote Blanco tree in Mexico after they noticed that it hardened when exposed to air. The men found a way to turn it into a waxy substance, added flavors and sweeteners, and sold it in small balls for a penny apiece — calling it Adam’s Chewing Gum from New York. Today, Americans chew seven times more gum than the rest of the world.
• Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city, is where the Mexican Hat Dance, sombreros and mariachi music are believed to have originated.
• The vanilla bean comes from an orchid plant discovered by Mexican Indians (they used it to add flavor to their cocoa and corn drinks.) The world’s largest crop of vanilla beans still comes from Mexico.

Do you know Mexico is sinking? Mexico’s capital, Mexico City (one of the world’s largest cities) is sinking — some of its buildings by as much as 4 to 12 inches a year. The city was once an Aztec capital on an island surrounded by a shallow lake. When the Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes captured the city, he drained the lake. So Mexico City rests on soft land that continues to sink.

Do you know what is “El Castillo”? Among the many ancient pyramids in Mexico is the nine-story “El Castillo,” with a three-room temple on top and a stairway climbing each of the four sides. An amazing thing happens there every year on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes: On the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the structure casts a shadow shaped like a serpent. With the sun’s movement, this shadow slithers down the side of the pyramid. To accomplish this feat, the Mayan architects and astronomers must have used calculations of incredible precision.

Toast Mexican culture and celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style!!

Shop our spicy collection of Cinco de Mayo Invitations