Invitation: I designed an invitation on PhotoShop with a simple red crock pot adding party details on the crock-pot. Along with the invitation, I emailed guests a recipe card designed with this same crock-pot to type up a favorite crock-pot recipe to share with the guests. My original plan was to make copies of these recipe cards for each guest and put them together in a fun mini cookbook, but I don't think I gave my friends enough time to organize themselves and type up a recipe, so not enough did it for me to really make a book.
Decorations: I only own one crock-pot, so I borrowed crock-pots from a few ladies to make the decorations and menu happen, but it wasn't too hard to get what I needed after asking around. For the centerpiece, I set up 4 mini crock-pots that I borrowed from friends/neighbors. Each was a different color.
I went to the library and checked out some crock-pot cookbooks to place under each crock pot and set some child's oven mitts, play pots, and a small ladle for added decor.
My favorite decoration was my handmade place cards which were mini crock-pots with the guest's name as the brand. I got the idea to scrapbook mini crock-pots and had fun experimenting with making them. These did take a bit of time to make, but they were a big hit with the guests and fun to make once I figure out the logistics. I made my "pot" 4" tall and wrapped it around a tapered small plastic cup. I chose this size because a 12" piece of scrapbook paper fit perfectly around it, and I liked the 4" height.
The details of the crock pot I designed on my Cricut - the nob using a circle and oval shape, the handles with a semi circle and rectangle shape, the lid with a large circle and two small circles. For the clear lid, I hand cut out circles to fit the inside from page protectors. I used strong glue to add the handle on the lid.
For the cord, I used a hole punch to punch a hole at the bottom of the back of the pot. Then I cut a black paracord piece and hot glued a plug I made on the Cricut to the end. I didn't fill the crock pots with anything, but you could easily use them as a party favor and put snacks or something inside the cup.
I thought it would be fun to have the cord run to a wall socket, so I used the Cricut to create a wall socket out of card stock and lightly glued it to a napkin.
I made an extra paper crock-pot before a guest had to cancel, so I used this one to decorate the mantle above my beverage table along with some crock-pot cookbooks.
I designed my wine labels on PhotoShop to go along with the theme. Sippin' & Simmerin' was the slogan on one of the labels. The red wine was Cabernet & Crock-Pots. I incorporated the same crockpot as the invitation and other images of crock-pots, so it tied all the decor together.
For wine charms, I used clipart images of various colors of crock-pots and added a silly saying like "I Can Handle the Heat, "Slow and Steady," and "Too Hot to Handle" among others.
Menu: Crock-pot cooking made the dinner party super easy. I got to visit with my friends rather than be stuck in the kitchen prepping food. We started with two appetizers. The first was a Spinach Artichoke Dip. This was a recipe designed for a mini crock pot (maybe even more mini than the one I used). It was tasty. I served it with french bread for dipping.
The second appetizer was Cranberry Meatballs. These were easy to make and delicious. I used regular size Trader Joe Italian meatballs because I had them already and the grocery did not have mini meatballs.
For the main dish, I made Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie. I wanted to pick something that used only one dish to limit how many crock pots I needed, so this was perfect because it had chicken and veggies in it. It was tasty and filling. I don't think our stomachs could have handled much more.
I served it with a roll for guests to dip in it since it didn't have the normal pot pie crust on top.
For dessert, we had Crock Pot Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake. If you've never made a dump cake out camping or in your house, you are missing out. They are always so easy and a big hit.
Favor: For a parting gift, I purchased McCormick packets of Slow Cooker spices (Pot Roast and BBQ Pulled Pork was what they had at the grocery I went to). I added a crock pot liner behind the packet and secured them with a yellow ribbon. I made a favor tag that read, "Here's to Cookin' Up Memories & Not a Mess!"
This turned out to be really fun theme to do, and since I borrowed almost all the crock pots, it was easy to make the theme come alive. You could even have a potluck and have your guests sign up to bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert if you didn't want to make it all yourself. If you are crafty, definitely make the crock-pot place cards with the cord because they were a super cute addition! Hope you enjoyed my party!
