Miranda Konieczny of Whimsically Detailed wanted to give a little love back, and decided a giveaway with a “party in a box” for a child in need would be a fun way to do it… but because of a lovely letter, it turned into something more (read the full story in her details). She hosted a special event for the Visitation House, a shelter for women and their children, with a back to school party to prepare them for the new year ahead.

Over $750 of gifts for the kids were donated (view all the amazing sponsors below!) from school supplies to desserts for the party and free printables by Miranda. This Colorful Back to School Event really made a difference for these kids and their mothers, just look at their happy faces!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– Backpack, book worm and chalkboard cupcakes
– “Pencil” gum ball tubes and paper apple + school bus favor boxes with “report card” printables!
– Colorful ripped fabric bunting and super cute polka dot cake with a ruler trim
– School bus and gold star cake pops, ruler cookies & school inspired t-shirts

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PARTY DETAILS, as told by Miranda…
;

Last year I had the pleasure of putting together a Back To School Party for a local women’s shelter here.

I had decided to do a giveaway a little differently than ones previously done. I wanted to give back. I wanted to give a child in need a party in a box…. little did I know that this letter would land in my inbox and change all my plans (but in a blessed way) Here is a piece from the letter I received..

“I know a small shelter that has homeless children and their moms who would love to have a party like this. I want to give my daughter the world and every positive experience I can, but at the same time I want to nominate them instead. She may not ever have an elaborate party like the one offered, but she will never go without at least a cake. I don’t know what those other kids have had to do without. Visitation House is a great place because they help single mothers get educated so they can make a better life for themselves and their children. It is really life changing for them. I hope you will consider them for the party.”

I looked up and did some research on the Visitation House and they are such a blessing for women and their children!

Their mission is fulfilled by the Visitation House two-year transitional housing and education program which provides the opportunity and the means for homeless single mothers and their children to achieve self-sufficiency and independence through its focus on education as foundational to ending the cycles of poverty and homelessness.

In the beginning I had Janet from {Sweet Temptations}, Sara Dandy from {Dandy Delights}, Rosa Ahrens from {Crafts By Rosa}, Lynlee Beckett of {Lynlee’s Petite Cakes}, Maria Davis from {Love & Sugar Kisses} and Jessica Roe of {Let’s Get This Party Started}. Little did any of us know that this list would seriously grow!

Planning an event for that many children is no little cost and I have to say that I have met some pretty amazing people along this journey. Some donated money and some donated their products and ALL did it without a blink of an eye for a group of children they will never meet. We all understand that when we change one child’s view of the world we changes hundred’s more down the line.

I wanted to do a Back to School theme since the children were about to start school and I had wanted them to start with lots of new items! So we centered the theme on school. I didn’t want too bright of colors since there were older children in the mix as well as young. I created a fabric bunting for the table along with props to hold up the treats. I purchased the papier-mâché books from Hobby Lobby and spray painted them to match the theme. I hot glued them together to help them stay in a stacking place. I also used scrapbook paper on the cupcake stand to match as well! Painted berry baskets held many treats and I even had some cardboard building blocks sent to me that I glued together and used as the cake pop stand! While at Hobby Lobby I found these huge pencils that I used on either side of the table too! My favorite part of the children’s table were the chalkboard placemats that the kids could doodle on at their pleasure and the gumball tubes that looked like pencils. They even had favor boxes shaped like apples and school buses that contained even more treats. Each child also received their own personalized backpack filled with lots of school supplies. All in all I think they were set for school!

With all the donations added up we had collected over $750 for the children’s gifts. I don’t think there are words to express the gratitude. The smiles and looks on the children’s faces when they saw the gifts was so overwhelming.

My photographer friend Sandra from Sandra Bludau Photography offered her assistance in taking photos that day and even got her sister and nieces joined in to help. The sister’s all joined in as well with the set up. Without them I don’t think I would have been able to bring it all together! I hope you enjoy the photos and remember that this is a nonprofit organization and they only survive on donations from the public.

For more history you can view information here..

Thank you again to everyone who made this happen. To the folks who dealt with the nonstop postings of asking for this or for that for the day…. please know that there are no words that can express my gratitude in allowing me the ability to create this blessed day for these children.

{you can also download the printables for this party for free here. Please be sure to link the printables back to Whimsically Detailed. Thank you!}

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VENDOR CREDITS (a.k.a generous sponsors!):

SWEETS

– Cake: Xochitl Katramados
– Fondant Topped Chocolate Covered Oreos & Fondant Cupcake Toppers: Love & Sugar Kisses
– Chocolate Covered Oreos: Sweet Temptations 
– Fondant Cupcake Toppers: Lynlee’s Petite Cakes
– Mini Cookies: Artfully Delicious
– Cookies: Dandy Delights
– Bus Cake Pops: Sweetened By Shelly
– Star Cake Pops: Cake Ball Love
– Apple Cake Pops: Inspired Occasions
– Apple Macaroons: Creative Juice

FAVORS

– Candy Tubes & Berry Baskets: Cute Kids Food Box
– Brick Boxes & Centerpieces: Let’s Get This Party Started
– Notebook Favor Bags, Red & Lime Tissue Flowers: Petite Party Studio
– Paper Straws: Painting Paris Pink
– Bus & Apple Favor Boxes: Crafts By Rosa
– Red Vending Capsules: The Purple Pug
– Chalkboard Placemats: Faith’s Cookies

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

– Chunky School Colored Necklaces: Nixie Nax
– Chunky Necklaces: K Chic Designs
– Children’s Custom Shirts: La Belle Parties
– Bottle Cap Hairbows: DBLD Creations

BACKPACKS

– Monkey See Boutique
– Suzies Sweet Stuff
– Paper & Polkadots
– Sewing A Seed
– Erin Grace Events