ShindigZ Customers Take to the Lake for a Pirate Party

A ShindigZ customer tells us about her pirate themed boating party:

Dear ShindigZ,

This summer our family threw a Pirate Themed Party using your products to decorate our boat like a real pirate ship. We dressed up in costumes—even the dogs—and hit the lake for an awesome day. Your products were great for all of the decorating and accessorizing our costumes!

We made some pirate sails using carpet tubes and black fabric. We made sure to paint the tubes a dark brown or black so they looked like real wood. Using rope we attached the fabric like sails and lashed the masts to the boat. We topped each of the masts with a pirate flag and a skull and cross bones mylar balloon.

We lined the boat with brown fabric, covering the white interior so it looked more like a pirate ship. Then, we added a treasure chest to the boat to hold snacks. It added an extra realistic touch and was a really fun way to make space on the boat. We also added a captain’s wheel to the back of the boat for a finishing touch.

Once the boat was decorated, we got busy dressing up ourselves! We dressed up in pirate costumes with pirate party hats and pirate scarves. We blew up inflatable parrots to perch on our shoulders and added fake scars or gold teeth to our outfits.

Some Captain Jack Sparrow hats and beards were big hits with our sons and their friends. The girls had a great time pretending to walking the plank and playing with the dogs who were dressed up in pirate dog costumes.

Our pirate party was a big hit and we couldn’t have done it without your pirate party decorations!

Thanks,
Susan

Reasons to Host a Party this September

After Labor Day, there’s still plenty of reasons to party in September!

September 11th, or Patriot Day, is a day that really stands out on the calendar. Commemorate the day, remember our heroes, or come together as a community with a patriotic party. There are tons of patriotic party supplies perfect for the occasion. These decorations are great for fundraisers and community service events as well! Use a celestial arches to decorate the doorway to your party or patriotic event. The Statue of Liberty Standee or Life Sized Uncle Sam Standee make for great photo ops.

Send your personalized patriotic message with a custom vinyl banner. Our banners are made out of havy-duty, weather-resistant vinyl and are available in seven different sizes with or without metal grommets, perfect for all your decorating needs. Check out the patriotic banner selection for tons of ideas.

Check out all our Patriotic Party TipZ for more ideas!

September 19th is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, a cult-favorite holiday. Host a pirate party to celebrate the day! Decorate with a Pirate Insta-Theme or any of our awesome theme decorations. Encourage guests to come in pirate costumes and serve snacks on pirate tableware. Check out our Pirate Party TipZ for tons of tips for hosting the perfect pirate party.

Other reasons to celebrate this month:

Hispanic Heritage Month * Southern Gospel Music Month * Rosh Hashanah * 3- Bath Tub Race Day * 6- Fight Procrastination Day * 9- Grandparent’s Day * 11- Patriot Day and No News is Good News Day * 15- Wife Appreciation Day * 15- America’s Day for Kids * 16- National Student Day * 16- Trail of Tears Commemoration Day * 19- National Talk Like a Pirate Day * 19- Wool Day (Great for a knitter’s circle party!) * 21- POW/MIA Remembrance Day * 21- World Gratitude Day * 23- Checkers Day * 25- World Maritime Day * 25- National One-Hit Wonder Day (Host a 50’s or Rock and Roll Party) * 26- Good Neighbor Day * 26- National Pancake Day * 28- Love Note Day *

Round Up the Mates with Pirate Invitations

After selecting this theme for your party, choose a slogan to use in your invitations and in tying in decorations and personalized favors for your pirate theme.  Find the perfect slogan for your party by trying one of the following, or by thinking of one that suits your swashbuckler.

• ”Shiver Me Timbers…Jacob is 5!”
• ”Yo Ho, Yo Ho…A Pirate Party for Me!”
• “Patrick’s Peg Leg Party!”
• “Buccaneer Bash!”
• “Ship Ahoy Matey…Join us for Swashbuckling Fun!”

Send your invitations out 3-4 weeks before the party. Choose one of the following invitations to let your young guests know that they can expect lots of mayhem and adventure:

The Pirate Party Ensemble contains an invite that is perfect for this theme.  Address each invite to “Captain Wilder” (guest’s last name). 

As an alternative, send a message in a bottle from the high seas! Roll the invitation up, and tie it with a small piece of green curling ribbon or raffia (seaweed).  Add the invite to an empty water bottle (label removed).  Add about 4 tablespoons of sand to each bottle, and a few small seashells.  One shell necklace can be cut apart, and will provide enough shells for about 10-12 invites.  “Shiver me timbers and bless my soul, we need you to party…Max is 5 years old!” or “Chase needs your help to swab the Poop Deck at…” Hand deliver the bottles or pay extra postage to send them through the mail.

The next step is decorating! Check out pirate party decorating tips.

Man the Ship with Pirate Decorations

Shiver me timbers…it’s time to sail the seven seas looking for adventure!  We’ve gathered everything you’ll need to decorate and celebrate in swashbuckling style!

Outdoor decorations:

Hang a weather resistant Pirate Customized Banner in the area where guests will enter the party.  The birthday buccaneer will love seeing his name on display! 

Attach a bouquet of helium filled pirate balloons to a light post or mailbox so there will be no mistaking where the fun will be that day!

Stick a couple pirate yard signs around the neighborhood so the guests will be sure to find the party location.

Indoor Decorations:

Start your decorating with a Pirate Party Ensemble. This ensemble contains balloons, streamers, curling ribbon, a treasure chest centerpiece, gold coins, toss beads, a skull shape mylar balloon, a captain’s wheel, a treasure chest piñata and more to match your theme.

Don’t forget the ultimate pirate ship, and your child is going to be delighted when he sets sight on this beauty!  This cardboard and corrugated vessel will be the hub of activity for the party and the backdrop for lots of picture taking.  Your child will enjoy hours and hours of imaginative play long after the party ends. 

Every pirate worth the peg leg he stands on needs a skull & bones flag to fly above the treasure he’s about to claim.

A giant treasure chest is a delightful decoration that can be used as a gift drop box, and as a prop for a buried treasure party game.

Cover a floor or party area with dark blue water gossamer and 5” clear balloon water bubbles, for an authentic high seas feeling. 

Add an island oasis for the giant treasure chest to rest upon in the open seas scene you’ve set.  A jointed palm tree, and a little sand (or brown sugar) will easily do the trick!   

Balloons can economically transform any room, backyard or park into a festive space in a matter of minutes by using some of the following ideas:

*Tie a bunch of helium filled balloons to the birthday child’s chair, or tie one to the back of each chair.
*If you choose not to use helium, tie balloons to varying lengths of curling ribbon, and hang balloons from the ceiling, or from a light fixture over the party table.

Streamers offer an economical way to splash lots of color around the site of the party.  Create a fun and colorful effect by draping streamers from the center of the ceiling to the walls on each side of the room, or between trees if the party is being held outdoors.  They also look terrific hanging from doorframes or cascading vertically down walls.

Table Decorations & Napkins:

Setting a table with the partyware, including the tablecloth, cups, plates, napkins, and cutlery is the fastest way to create a focal point in a room.  Start by setting your table with all the dressings in the Pirate Ensemble, creating a place setting at the table for each birthday guest.  Add one or a few of the following touches to personalize your table: 

Cover the food table with a white or blue fishnet.

Display your birthday cake in the center of the table…the kids will love the close up view!

Order red napkins and have them imprinted with your party slogan.  Personalized napkins make a great finishing touch to bring the whole table together.

Tie napkins with toss beads or curling ribbon, and place in the center of each plate at an angle.  Place a pirate flag or telescope on the top of each bundle. The cutlery can also be added before the napkin is tied with ribbon.

Let us know about your pirate party decorations!