Party Planning Tips from a Designer + Giveaway {Jumping Jax Designs}

It is no secret: I LOVE Becca from Jumping Jax Designs.  Besides being uber cute, super sweet, and nice as can be, she is an amazing and talented designer! (It would be super annoying if she wasn’t as nice as she is!)

Becca is the talent and brains behind Jumping Jax Designs – which creates logos, invites, blog designs, and so much more!  Becca works with you every step of the way to ensure you are getting EXACTLY what you want no matter how big or small the project.  Her customer service is above par, and her prices are rock bottom.  (Seriously Becca, raise your prices!) (Oh, another great sign of a quality designer?  Her customers encourage her to raise her prices!)

Recently I asked to pick Becca’s brain about party planning and designing a perfect party.  And due to her current state of bed-rest to keep her precious little baby baking, she kindly agreed! (Please enjoy the pictures from Becca’s son’s first and second birthday.  You can really see all the attention to detail she puts into her projects!)

What do you think is important in a stand-out invitation?
Honestly, the first thing I notice is the quality of the paper, which is probably weird to anyone else! I’m not a fan of glossy invitations printed on photo paper, but I love the look and feel of heavy cardstock prints. Then, of course, an eye-catching, easy-to-read design is also very important, with bright, vibrant, and complimentary colors!

As a designer – you see a lot of themes come through – what do you think is really hot right now, boys, girls, and both?
To this day, my best seller is the Very Hungry Caterpillar/caterpillar themed invites (like Squishy’s!), that seems to be popular for first birthdays.

This year, owls are really popular for girls’ parties, and I have done many monkey/jungle invitations for boys.

The funnest ones I have seen though are one-of-a-kind themes like an arts & crafts party, a bowling party, or a rainbow party. I love original themes, and although it can be tricky to find decor and party favors for, there are lots of cute ones on Etsy, and Google and Pinterest are chock full of ways to make your own!

Any dos and don’ts of party planning you would be willing to share with us?

• DON’T spend a small fortune on a party by hitting up party stores and buying their whole section of your theme. Instead, Google or use Pinterest to find creative and innovative ways to make things yourself. It sounds time-consuming, I know, but there are some easy & fast DIY things out there!
• DON’T wait until the last minute to plan a party. I made this mistake this year with my son’s 2nd birthday since I was bogged down with hyperemesis and had no energy. I didn’t get the invites out in time, so we didn’t have the turnout we might have otherwise, and I was rushed into making things in the few days before the party.

• DO get crafty! The most amazing parties almost always come from unique DIY touches, not plastic, mass-produced things you get at a party store. Those are over-priced, and overrated, in my opinion. And if you’re not crafty, you can always hire someone (like myself ) to make you one-of-a-kind, affordable invitations and decor!
• DO have fun with it! I know some people think that having a flamboyant party for a baby/toddler is ridiculous, but I absolutely believe in celebrating these tiny people we have raised, and another year of LIFE! What could be better than that?

So what could be better than all those fantastic tips and photos?

How about a Custom Designed Invitation for your next party by the amazing Jumping Jax Designs??

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% honest and my own. No monetary compensation was given for this post.

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