Father Daughter Snow Ball and Valentine's Day a Crafty Weekends Review and Link Party

Disclosure: Oriental Trading sent me these products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Having the right school really means so much to a child. I am glad we have finally found the right fit for Hazel. One of the things she loved at her previous school was the Father Daughter Snow Ball. Her new school did not usually have one, but this year we started that tradition!! Her old school called it a Snow Ball but decorated for Valentine's Day. Our planning committee decided to decorate like a winter wonderland and I turned to Oriental Trading to help us do this. With white Christmas lights that I bought after Christmas when they were on clearance and decorations from Oriental Trading as well as few borrowed from people's Christmas supplies we transformed the school into a winter wonderland. As the girls and their fathers walked in they were greeted with "falling" snowflakes.

We had two of the Snowflake Ceiling Decorations hanging above the heads in the hallway that lead to the main room of the dance. (Please note: most of the photographs were taken just after setting up and before the dance so the lighting would be better.)

Throughout the room where the dancing and food was there were snowflakes. We hung these Foil Snowflake Decorations all over the room as well as some white paper snowflakes and the white lights. (I took the photos before the lights were all up.)

One of the fathers who helped with decorating was able to throw a rope over the high beams and hang up our paper lanterns with lights (we reviewed the white lanterns and lights previously). 

The tables had blue plastic tablecloths and were decorated with the Silver Glitter Snowflake Centerpieces as well as some lighted trees that the principal uses to decorate her house at Christmas. Basically everywhere one looked in the room there was a snowflake or lighted white lantern looking like a snowball. Everyone commented on how amazing it looked. 

Then we hired the art teacher to come and take formal photographs of the girls with their dads. We hung the Sparkling Silver Vinyl Background from a bulkhead in the hallway just off of the entrance, so the families could get their photo taken before the girls messed up their dresses and hair. We apparently hung it upside down, but we liked it that way. 

Then one of the committee members had suggested a photo booth for the girls who might not like dancing too much. We got the Gold Glitter Picture Frame Cut-Outs and also adding the Glittery Star Wand and Mahalo Flower Leis we reviewed previously and some feather boas we had at home.  

Plus we had the Glitter Photo Stick Props mixed with some others we used at Hazel's Birthday Party and our Chinese New Year ones (though I forgot to add some of them). For the background here we hung some snowflake wrapping paper that surprisingly matched the ceiling decorations that were also in that hallway. Plus one of the volunteers helping brought in a variety of hats that she uses at photo booths and parties. 

It was a lot of fun and some of the girls spent a good amount of time at the photo booth.

Now besides planning and decorating for this fun event, Hazel decided about a week prior that she wanted a different dress than the one we were planning on having her wear. She wanted something longer. I had some lilac fabric that I bought previously and let her pick a pattern. She picked McCalls M6098, view B. It was not my favorite and I thought it was a bit more grown up than I wanted, but I went with it and we decided to add some details like the lace sleeves and the flower decorations.

Unfortunately by the time I remembered to take a full photo of the dress she spilled some water on herself. However she got so many compliments on it and I was asked where we got it. I really do love how it came out!

Now it is also Valentine's Day on Wednesday!! We were able to include these Valentine Magic Coin Tricks in our Oriental Trading order.  Hazel loves them!! We spent part of today looking for enough quarters for them!! 

We also found a fun fairy Valentine kit to make cards to go with them since the coin tricks do not have a to and from on them. (I wish they did.) I did find that some of the state quarters had trouble fitting in the holes for the quarters. Most worked if you finagled them a bit though. Hazel also did a video so you can see the actual trick.

We had a lot of fun with the tricks and making the fairies. And we received so many compliments and thanks for decorating and helping with the snow ball. It was so well received. I love that we could bring this fun tradition to her new school. It is such a wonderful way for dads and daughters to bond more and for fathers to have time to socialize with each other. Does your school or community host one?

It has been a couple of weeks since we had a Crafty Weekends party!! Since we did not have anyone share two weeks ago I have put together a few features from various past parties (both Crafty Weekends and Sharing Saturday). Please remember for your child-oriented crafts, activities, lessons, etc. Sharing Saturday is going on!!  Also don't forget to link up all your diverse and cultural posts at Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop (a new one started today)!

Features

1) From Flamingo Toes: Sweetheart Valentine's Day Wreath

2) From The Scrap Shoppe: Be Mine Banner

3) From Sandy a la Mode: Magical Unicorn Birthday Party

4) From Sew Historically: Save Old, Holey Tights and Stockings Refashion Tutorial

Thank you to everyone who shared the last week!! I hope you will share again!! If you are featured here, please feel free to grab a featured button to display proudly on your blog. I would love the help spreading the word about Crafty Weekends!!

An InLinkz Link-up