Oh Snap! A Photography Party

A friend of mine and I were talking about a fun photography assignment she has done with her high school English students.  It sounded like something I might want to assign to my students, so I kept thinking about how I might incorporate it into my curriculum.  All this talk about photography got me thinking about photography as a monthly dinner theme, and I decided to run with it!

Invite: I designed the invite on Photoshop with various camera images I found online. I wanted to keep it simple, but still have graphics that represented the theme.  Even added in some photography lingo to the bottom with "capture" and "flash."

Photography Challenge Activity: When I sent the invitation, I also included a photography activity for guests to do in the week leading up to the party.  I asked guests to take and email me photos representing 4 different categories of photography.  The 4 categories were: Rule of Thirds, Symmetry (bird's eye view/worm's eye view), leading lines, and framing (frame within a frame).  I sent an email explaining the definitions of these and providing examples, so guests knew the technique of the photo they were going to take.

Once I had all the photos from the Photography Challenge, I printed them out and organized them on foam boards from the Dollar Tree to display on easels like a gallery.  It was fun to chat about the different photos and see what guest's came up with in the 4 categories.

Decorations: I purchased a plastic teal blue tablecloth for the table as that was the closest color I could find to the invitation.  The table was set with white plates with black small plates in the middle.  For the centerpiece, I asked around to friends and a photography teacher to see if I could borrow old cameras.  As you can see in the photo, they came through!  I used photo boxes I already owned to elevate some of them on the table.

I cut cardstock to represent old camera film to place on the table under some of the cameras.

I designed my place cards to look like polaroid snapshots.  I found the dimensions of a polaroid online to set it up. I added a photo of each guest that they had posted on their Instagram or Facebook account.  Then included their name and a couple words about the photo.

For my napkins, I used my Cricut cutting machine to put out photograph film in black and folded a black napkin to weave in the middle.

I designed my wine labels trying to combine photography terms with wine terms. For the red wine, I went with Shutter & Sip: Uncorking Memories.  For the white wine, it was "Lens & Libations: Framing Good Times."

I used the same images of cameras from the invite, plus some others, for the wine charms.  I printed the images out and taped them to the wine glass stem.

Menu: Since the Photography Challenge involved techniques of photography composition, I decided to stick with this idea for my menu.  We started with a "Rule of Thirds Salad."  For this salad, I used 3 different types of lettuce - iceberg, spinach, and romaine.  I placed the lettuce on a large rectangular plate  so each variety took up one third of the plate.  Then I added all the toppings (tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, & sunflower seeds) to the far right corner to visually represent the rule of thirds in photography.

For the main dish I served rotisserie chicken. The chicken represented the "bird's" eye view of photography.

I served grilled vegetables as well.  I grilled them on skewers and then lined them up to represent "leading lines" in photography.

I served twice baked potatoes or PHOTATOES as I called them.  I served them inside of a frame to represent "framing" in photography.

For dessert I made chocolate mousse that I layered with raspberries.  This represented "depth of field" in photography with its layers.

Party Favor:  Just for fun, I gave each guest a box of Macaroni and Cheese.  I printed a large photo of a camera to glue to the front of the box with a speech bubble that read "Say (mac &) Cheese!"  Easy and the guests got a kick out of them.

As usual, this was a fun night with friends, and the theme related decorations and touches only added to that fun.  Totally recommend this theme for a simple gathering or even a get-to-know-you (with photos) get together.

Flipping Thru the Channels

I am the ASB Director at the school where I teach, and we just completed a super fun spirit week titled Flipping Thru the Channels.  It was so fun seeing teachers and students dressed up for the spirit days. From MTV Monday wearing band tees to Disney Channel Friday in mouse ears & Disney clothes, it was a week full of fun.  I thought it would make a fun dinner party idea, and that was this month's theme.  It did not disappoint.

Invite:  I designed the invitation with various TV channel logos along the left hand side and an old school television in the middle.  Since the spirit week at my school was full of fun dress up days, I decided to have guests dress up to represent a channel as well.

Decorations: I used bold and bright colors for the table as most TV channel logos are bold.  For the centerpiece, I spray painted a box black and added television decals to match the TV on my invitation.  I cut a hole in the top of the box and put a vase inside with flowers.

As a table runner, I set out black card stock and then printed various TV channel logos to spread along the runner.

For place cards, I designed small televisions using Photoshop and then cutting them with my Cricut machine.  I matched a logo that represented various guests hobbies/likes to show on the "screen."  My family travels a lot so I used the Travel channel on my place card with On the Go Carole. A friend who is currently remodeling her bathroom was HGTV with Renovating Rene.  For the antennas, I used push pins with black balls at the end and just stuck them through the card stock of the television.

For napkins, I printed the Disney Channel logo to place on bright yellow folded napkins.  I labeled the Mousekatools (fork, knife, spoon) for guests to pull in that term used on Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

For my beverage table, I borrowed an MTV shirt to display behind the wine and party favors.

For the wine labels, I also incorporated TV channels.  The white wine was the logo for TLC (The Learning Channel).  I just switched it up to be Totally Love Chardonnay to represent the letters.  The background of this label was the same TV as the invite all the way around.  For the red wine, I chose the Red Zone channel from NFL Network. I designed the label with a glass of red wine and the NFL logo in it.

The wine charms were just various TV channel logos that I printed out and put on the glass stems.

Menu: As a main dish, I served garlic mushroom chicken that was delicious!  I followed this recipe from Cafe Delites, except I baked the chicken in the oven instead of on the stove as I didn't want to be stuck in front of the stove and not interacting with guests.  I did do the mushroom mixture on the stove, but that didn't take long.  This is a recipe I will definitely make again.  I used an acronym for this dish to match with the AMC television channel.  Instead of American Movie Classics, I had it stand for Amazing Mushroom Chicken.

As a side dish, I made Baked Cheesy Ranch Potatoes which were also amazing and super easy to make.  I chose this "cheesy" dish to go with the Hallmark Channel.  I am a sucker for all of their cheesy holiday movies!

I also made a fruit platter and organized the fruit on a platter in the shape and colors of the NBC peacock logo.  I served pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberries, purple grapes, blueberries, and honeydew.  The NBC letters I cut out on my Cricut. 

For dessert, I made a sponge cake.  My good friend did all the SpongeBob themed icing on the cake to represent the Nickelodeon channel.  I also added the top of the pineapple to the platter to add to the SpongeBob theme.  

Favor: The party favor was easy to throw together.  I simply wrapped Hershey bars in black cardstock, and then designed an image of a remote control on Photoshop to print and glue to the front to make take home remotes.  The text read "Thank You for Tuning In."  Guests can enjoy a candy bar as the Flip Thru the Chanels at home!

I didn't take any photos of my guests at this event, but we had several channels represented.  I wore an MTV shirt, one guest wore a jersey to represent ESPN, a few guests wore Disney ears.  So many options to work with - safari gear for Discovery Channel, decade dress for History Channel, chef attire for Food Network, etc.  This was a fun party and would be great for a get together or birthday party theme.

49ers vs Swifties Super Bowl Party

I have been a 49er fan since I was little, and I am super excited about this Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII, but the achievements of these teams have been a bit overshadowed by the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce media frenzy (my opinion of course).  Instead of getting bothered by it, I decided to embrace it and celebrate my team with a fun and silly 49ers vs Swifties dinner party!

Invitation: I decided to have a bit of fun with my invitation by incorporating an image I found of Swift photoshopped onto Kelce's body.  I used this and an image of Brock Purdy to show the rivalry.  I switched out the KC in the middle of the Chief's arrowhead with a TS for Taylor Swift.  Then I added a few of Swift's song titles into my text.

Decorations:  Both teams have red in their uniforms, and Taylor's album was called "Red," so that color became a big focus of the party.  I purchased a red shimmery backdrop from Amazon to put up behind my table.  I added white butcher paper behind it to cover the photo collage of my family.  I also purchased the football field tablecloth from Amazon.

For a centerpiece, I purchased 3 pieces of red glitter cardstock from Michaels to use like a table runner.  On this, I had a gold vase filled with red artificial flowers and gold tissue paper.  I designed images to put on skewers inside the vase and to use as photos props for pictures.

Also in the centerpiece was a football with some red heart shaped glasses to represent Taylor Swift.  I found these in the dollar bin at Target.  I borrowed the mini 49er helmet and the black 49er hat from my neighbor.  The wooden heart is a Valentine's decoration, but I added it to give more of a Taylor Swift vibe to the centerpiece.

The red plastic plates and smaller gold paper plates I purchased at Dollar Tree.  I then printed out logos for the 49ers and the Swifties and alternated the teams around the table.

The gold napkins I also purchased at Dollar Tree.  I made mini Swiftie friendship bracelets to wrap around the napkins.  These also served as place cards, and I put letter beads with the guest's initials on the bracelet.  If I were to host this party again, I would probably keep the napkin less folded and include the guest's entire name, but for my small group, the initials were fine.

For my beverage table, I lucked out by having close friends that have great memorabilia they let me borrow for the night. One friend went to a Taylor Swift concert, and let me borrow the boxes (on the mantle) and the giant envelopes (on the table) which show Taylor's Eras Tour.  I borrowed a 49er jersey from other friend.

Another friend let me borrow his football from the 2020 Super Bowl that is signed by all the players!

I had fun creating and designing my wine labels with a Taylor Swift vibe, but words that promoted a 49er win!  Used Taylor Swift's song "Blank Space" to represent zero points on the scoreboard for Kansas City.  

For wine charms, I printed out small logos and images I found online.  Things like an Eras Tour poster with Kelse instead of Swift, a Chiefs jersey with Swift as the name on the back,  red lips, etc.

Menu: This is a dinner, rather than snacks, so I needed to create a menu that was filling, but still fit with the theme.  I decided to highlight various star players on both teams & of course Taylor Swift.  We started with an appetizer of veggies and dip.  I called this BROCK-oli with more than PURDY good dip after the 49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy.

For the main dish, I had burgers with all the fixings: cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, and avocado.  I named these burgers after Taylor Swift's song "Back to December" calling them Back to Decem-BURGERS.  Also brought Travis Kelce from the Chief's in with the TRAVIS-ty of toppings.

You've gotta have fries with cheeseburgers, right?  Named these after the 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey calling them McCaf-fries.

Deebo Samuel is another amazing player for the 49ers.  We had boneless honey buffalo wings I renamed DEEBO-ned Chicken Wings.

I couldn't decide between two ideas for dessert, so I decided to do mini versions of both.  One was mini red velvet cupcakes with buttercream frosting & edible sugar.  My friend who works at Small Cakes bakery (yummy stuff) made these for me, and I just added pennants I designed.  These were named after Taylor Swift's song, "Red".

The second dessert I served was a mini strawberry shake to represent Taylor Swift's song, (milk)"Shake It Off"!

Activity/Game:  I had fun coming up with this fill-in-the-blank game for the party.  I looked up some of Taylor Swift's most popular songs, and tried to incorporate them into Super Bowl sentences. My favorite is, Mahomes will definitely say, "I Knew You Were Trouble" after playing against the 49er defense!  As a 49er fan, these sentences were definitely bias to my team, but the guests got a kick out of it.

Favor:  Aren't these cookies so cute?  One of my neighbors offered to make Super Bowl/Taylor Swift themed cookies for me, and she did an amazing job! From footballs, to circles with SF, to castles with "Love Story" on them, they were perfect.  Yummy too!

As guest's departed, I also gave them this Super Bowl Bingo sheet Swiftie Edition to play during the game this Sunday.  I had fun making this and coming up with some of the things that were funny with the Taylor Swift obsession.  This card is definitely more geared to both teams.  I tried to be fair (for the most part).  You may catch my one addition that isn't equally represented!

This was such a fun party, and one you can totally throw together for this weekend's game.  GO NINERS!