Cookies with Santa Party

Since this was a Cookies with Santa party, we had tables set up with cookie decorating stations for each child to get the opportunity to decorate the cookies however they wished. We started with an allergen free sugar cookie and set up these adorable Garnish mini gable boxes filled with mini marshmallows, gumdrops, peppermints and vanilla icing tubes. The Garnish mini Kraft ripple cups filled with  assorted Christmas sprinkles were perfect for little hands to hold and decorate with.

For these small water bottles, we used PSA Essentials Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer stamps. We stamped Santa onto white cardstock and colored him in. We finished it off with Garnish striped straws and maraschino twine from The Twinery.

These super simple Enjoy Life Dairy Free Chocolate dipped marshmallow pops topped with crushed peppermints are always a hit! For added cuteness we used red striped paper straws from Garnish rather than traditional pop sticks.

Next, we had to share this with you. Again this was a REAL party not a photo shoot. This party was for over 60 people and it was done completely Solo, invitations, decorations, food, gifts, photos etc. In my attempt of prepping as many things as possible ahead of time, I had a MAJOR fail. I blame it on exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

My gorgeous custom mini gingerbread men (all 40 of them) that Brittany from Edible Details made especially for this party so that each child could enjoy one, wilted or as I re-worked it, went to sleep. When I took these poor cupcakes out of my fancy 3-tier cupcake carrier they had all wilted. If I had time to I would have completely freaked out, but I had an entire library to decorate so there was no time to save these poor little guys.  LESSON:  Do not save time by putting your fondant toppers on ahead of time, they may wilt. So… I told everyone, students, kids and parents, that the gingerbread men were sleeping because they were waiting for Santa Claus to arrive! I was desperate.

Each child received a wrapped gift from Santa and also took home one of the Custom Santa’s Cocoa Coasters that the lovely Jaimee, from Bushel & Peck Papers made for them. I can’t wait to use ours for when we leave cookies for Santa! They are adorable.

We had many treats including kettle corn in individual vintage Pop Corn boxes. The kids loved these and they devoured each and every box!

Since this is a Cookies with Santa Party, I guess you need to see at least one picture of the big guy.

Out of nervousness about this party I had my camera settings completely incorrect so many of my photos turned out less than perfect. I had better ones than this but I felt I should only show pictures of my own boys not other people’s children. So here is “Daddy Santa” and my boys! They both were too busy attacking Santa to sit still for a photo. Even bribing them with cookies did not work.

I want to take this time to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic New Year! Thank you for coming along with me and being so supportive during my first year of sharing with you! Looking forward to even more amazing parties, baking and crafting next year!