Pioneer Day!!!

Pioneer Day is almost here and there are many choices for a late summer, 24th Of July party!! You can go with the traditional red, white, and blue, or go with a pioneer or chuckwagon theme. The napkins in the pictures below show cowboys and horses in an Old West design. Don't forget the Old West scene setters to make your party complete.

Red, white, and blue is the old standby when it comes to the 24th of July. Use a festive pattern with an American flag or red or blue gingham is always a good choice.

Create Authentic Scenes Using Scene Setters

Scene Setters are the answer to decorating a large OR small wall space. Make your pirate party, luau, bon voyage party, fiesta, western scene, 50's party, princess, or beach theme authentic by hanging these wall decorations flat against the wall.

First, choose the space you need to decorate. Examples of great wall space would be a garage, gymnasium, a classroom, or ANY plain old room.

Then measure the amount of wall space you need to cover. Scene Setters are great because they are large decorative plastic that has been folded down into small packaging so they are easy transport. Be sure to read the height and width of the Scene Setter before deciding the amount of packages to buy.
Apply Scene Setters directly to the wall. Be sure to hang each piece straight and tot using tape or staples depending on the surface of the wall.

Halloween Party Ideas

With Halloween almost here we're getting the store all decorated and spooky so Halloween is on my mind. You can ask me about any of our products on line or for info on the products we carry in the store.

• luminaries
• garland
• scene setters
• wearable accessories (wigs, face paint, etc.)
• invitations
• tableware
• cutouts
• balloons

Remember you can always call me for help with any your party or wedding decorating needs.

Get Into The Football Season

It's football season! Time to show some school or team spirit with solid color wearables, decorations, and noisemakers. Decorate your car or locker with colored window writers and pom poms. Wear a pom pom wig in your school or team colors. Don't forget the face paint and football hat!

Decorating a table? Use football themed tablecovers, plates, cups, napkins, and centerpieces. Remember to mix solid color tableware to personalize it with your own team colors.

Use a colored megaphone and pom poms at the game to cheer your team to victory!!!

Patriotic - 4th of July Party Ideas

Hooray for the 4th of July!!! Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!!!

So, the 4th of July is not too far away, time to get started planning your 4th of July party! At Zurchers, our Patriotic Section is HUGE, and there are lots of other red, white and blue items in the store to complete your decorations.

We have two great RWB patterns of tableware that look great mixed with our solid red or royal blue tableware. Don't forget a tablecover and how about a red or blue metallic tableskirt?!
These patterns also come with invitations!

Flags, Flags, Flags... we've got em!!! We've got US flag pics, flags for your car, flag pennant banners, flag yard signs, and lots of garlands with flags on them. We have small 4x6" flags (and the stands to put them in, great for part of your table decor) as well as 3x5' flags to hang anywhere.

We have mylar star balloons in red, blue and silver and a flag mylar that look great mixed with red, white and blue latex balloons.

Have I mentioned STARS?! We have metallic star garland, metallic star confetti (in different sizes), and star cookie cutters. I LOVE our Foil Cutout Stars! They come in a variety of sizes from 3.5" to 15" and you can do so much with them! I like to hang them or use them to decorate my table. Try putting one under a small US flag in a stand or under a balloon bouquet that has been attached to a one of our metallic star or cone balloon weights... it is a great look!

Looking for some red, white and blue garlands?! We've got em! We've got metallic, tissue, wire or bunting garland. Hang or drape it to make your party really festive.

In our Wilton section, we have what you need for your 4th of July holiday baking. We have patriotic-themed cupcake cups, candles, cookie cutters, candy cake decorations, RWB candy sprinkles and star-shaped cake pans.

Need more Red, White and Blue items?!? We've got cello bags (for favors and gifts), pencils, leis, streamers, star snack trays (in a set of 3 graduated sizes) and a space shuttle pinata!!!

Oh, I almost forgot, we have sparklers and sparkler candles, perfect to top off your chocolate cake!

Hopefully I've given you some ideas to get your "creative 4th of July party juices" flowing. Just add grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, lemonade and homemade ice cream and you'll have the perfect party to celebrate the birthday of our wonderful USA!!

Fun Pinata Ideas

Pinatas have been around since before the 14th century and are still an entertaining activity for young and adult partygoers today. Pinatas come in many different shapes... there's one for almost EVERY party theme!

The most common use for pinatas is a party game. Fill your pinata with fun toys and candy and take turns swinging at it with a pinata stick or bat until the candy and toys fall to the floor for everyone to grab.

Pinatas also make great decoration... Use them as centerpieces or place them anywhere to add bright color and fun to your party.

Pinata Accessories...

• Pinata Bats
• Masks/blindfolds

Use pinatas at your...

LUAU PARTY

• Fill a luau pinata with toy sunglasses and shell necklaces.
• Use a palm tree pinata for a centerpiece.

CASINO OR POKER PARTY

• Fill a jackpot pinata with plastic or chocolate gold coins or poker chips.
• Use jackpot pinatas all around the room for decoration.

Because there is such a wide variety of pinatas to match all of our party themes the possibilities are endless!

Show Your School Spirit

Did you know that at Zurchers we have TONS of stuff to use to show your school spirit?!? Shop our School Spirit party supplies.

Team make it to the state play-offs? Go to Zurchers and pick up some noise makers to use at the games to cheer your team on. We have cowbells, plastic megaphones, handclappers, noisemaker sticks, and airhorns. Most of these items come in a large variety of colors so you can match your school colors.

Decorate the team bus or individuals lockers with our window paint, balloons, streamers, pom-poms, and foil stars. Ever thought of using silly string or bubbles for a great send off or welcome back to the school, or to celebrate with when the winning touchdown is scored?!?

Wear our face paint, leis, and "Pom Pom Head" fun wigs to the big game to show your support for the team.

Are you planning a pep rally, sports or cheerleading or band banquet? Use our tissue paper, crepe paper, colored butcher paper, foil stars and solid color tableware and tablecovers in your decorating. We have soooo many colors. You'll find something to match your school colors.

We have 14 colors of wrapped buttermints to use at your school functions.

Ideas To Decorate Using Hawaiin Leis

Hawaiin leis are given and received as a symbol of friendship making them the perfect accessory for any themed party. Leis are available in an assortment of many beautiful colors and flowers making them perfect for creating an authentic tropical luau, but you can also add them to your birthday party, fiesta, anywhere you want a "lei'd back" atmosphere.

Leis are worn to adorn and beautify the wearer but they can also be used to decorate a room ...

• Use them as a centerpiece or scattered around a table.
• Hang them from a door handle or a chandelier.
• Lei flower garlands look great when hung from the ceiling or doorway.
• Hang them from a banister.

Picnic Tableware & Decoration Ideas

Time for a Picnic!

With summer almost here it's time for a picnic. Have it in your backyard, at the park, the pool, the beach, or in the mountains. Here are some ideas for picnic tableware and decorations.

There are a lot of bright and cheery summer time patterns to choose from so choose your theme and go from there.

• Watermelon
• Red and white or blue and white gingham
• Patriotic
• Beach theme
• Pool party
• Luau

Once you've picked your theme choose matching solid color tableware to mix and match napkins and plates.

For the table...

• Use tableclips to hold the tablecover down in case of wind.
• Use a fun centerpiece to match your theme like balloons.
• Line your picnic basket with matching napkins.
• Sprinkle little plastic ants around the table.
• Use matching hard plastic bowls to serve the food

Fun outdoor activities...

• water balloon toss
• treasure hunt
• limbo

Outdoor decorations...

• Lanterns
• Electric lights
• Yard signs and banners

Soccer Banquet

Soccer season winding down and its time for a banquet? Here are some ideas for decorating to make your banquet special and full of team spirit!

Most of my "soccer decorating" has been done for the high school, end of season soccer banquet, so I'll share some ideas of things that I've done.

A centerpiece idea that I have used is to start with a paper place mat in one of the school colors, use a pair of soccer cleats (de-mudded and free of grass is best! and actually little boy or girl cleats look good too), some of Zurchers pom poms in the school colors, balloons, and there you go! Just arrange the cleats in the center of the place mat (maybe with the heel of one propped up on the center of the other), stick the pom poms in underneath or arranged so that one kind of flows over part of the cleat), attach a bouquet of 3-5 balloons to the place mat under the cleats, or use a matching balloon weight. ( when adjusting the height of the balloons, keep them high enough to be out of peoples line of vision when sitting at the table, but not so high that they don't seem apart of the centerpiece).

I find it easier to rent a helium tank and fill the balloons on site, rather than transporting lots of balloons. Just have your ribbons all cut and ready to attach to the balloons as you fill them. (someone at Zurchers will be happy to show you how to do the "special balloon slip knot"!)

You can add to the decor of the tables by sprinkling metallic confetti in dots or stars around the centerpiece. Foil wrapped chocolate soccer balls can be placed in a plastic "soccer ball" bowl and put on each table, or scatter them with the confetti.

Balloon bouquets in the team colors are great for the awards table and anchored to the floor near the podium.

Hanging foil stars from the ceiling is also a great way to celebrate your "star" soccer team! Use the team colors in varing sizes.

Use solid color tableware and tablecovers in team colors or mix and match with Zurchers "soccer" themed tableware.

I bet with these ideas to get you started and you adding your own personal touch, your soccer banquet decorations will look so good, you'll be asked to do the decorations year after year! (I guess that's a good thing?!?)

These decorating ideas are also great for a soccer player's birthday party. Zurchers has soccer-themed invitations and birthday banners, stickers and favors (including buttermints in wrappers with soccerballs on them), and stickers for loot bags.

Don't forget noisemakers for the playoff games!! Zurchers has cowbells, airhorns, hand clappers and noisemakers sticks. Use them to show your team spirit!

Mexican Fiesta Party Ideas

FIESTA FIESTA!!! A great way to learn about the Mexican culture and party like the best is to throw a Mexican Fiesta! Fiestas are known as the most colorful and exciting parties around so DO IT UP BIG! Here are some ideas...

FLAGS

• 3x5' flags
• 4x6" flags
• Decorate using the colors of the Mexican flag. Red, Green, and White.

CREPE PAPER STREAMERS

• Hang bright and colorful crepe paper streamers from banisters, doorways, chandeleirs, and the ceiling.
• Use red, white, and green crepe paper streamers if you're sticking with the flag colors.

PINATAS

• donkey
• bull
• chili pepper
• star
• sombrero
• cactus
• don't forget a pinata bat and eye mask

BALLOONS

• Use bright colors.
• Use Mexican flag colors... red, green, white.

PATTERNED TABLEWARE

• Serape
• Fiesta Fun
• Fiesta Stripe
• Fiesta Chili Peppers

SOLID COLORED TABLEWARE

• Use solid colored tableware to match the patterned tableware.
• Choose your favorite bright colored tableware to make your own color scheme.
• Use red, white and green solid colored tableware to match the Mexican flag.

ACCESSORIES FOR DECORATING

• chili pepper indoor\outdoor electric lights
• garlands
• centerpieces
• banners
• scene setters

GAMES

• Pinatas
• Pin the Tail on the Donkey

FAVORS

• maracas
• chili pepper shaped votive candles
• sombreros
• fiesta shot glasses

WEARABLES

• sombreros
• grass skirts
• chili pepper necklaces
• mustaches
• wigs
• hair flowers

Scene Setters

What exactly IS a scene setter? Only the VERY BEST way to deck out your party! Make it authentic using Scene Setters! Scene Setters are decorated vinyl made to hang flat on a bare wall. They are available in almost every party theme...

• Luau
• Casino/poker night
• Western
• Fiesta
• Patriotic
• Disco
• 50/60's party
• Disney's Cars
• Disney Princesses
• Mardi Gras
• Hollywood

Scene setters are available in 3 different sizes and are made to overlap each other to get the look you want.

STEPS TO USING SCENE SETTERS

1. Choose your party theme

2. Choose the space you will be decorating.

gymnasium

school classroom

garage

any large room with blank walls to cover

3. ROOM ROLLS 4'x50' roll made to hang first. Just hang the room roll around the room as flat as possible. Looks best from the ground up.

4. GIANT DECORATIONS includes two giant 3"x5" decorations. Hang these in the desired area over the room roll.

5. BORDER ROLLS 18"X50' border roll used to hang at the base or the top of the room roll for a finished look.

WOW!!! You are finished! AND it looks AMAZING!

tips: make sure to lay the scene setters on the wall as flat and straight as possible and secure them tightly using staples or tape. you can also cut out the giant decorations so you can't see the clear plastic surrounding the decoration.

Ideas To Add Detail To Your Tablesetting

So, you've picked out your party theme and color scheme. How bout some finishing touches for your tablesetting?! Here are some ideas ...

• Layer plates by placing a small patterned 7" plate on top of a solid colored 9" or 10" plate. This adds color and really makes the top plate stand out.
• Unfold a napkin and bunch it up to put inside a cup. This is done by gathering up the once folded end so that the top fluffs out like a flower. Then place the bottom in the cup so fluffed part of the napkin is coming out of the top of the cup.
• Use paper placemats. Placemats also help to add color and make the place setting stand out.
• Did you remember a centerpiece? I love to use balloons as my centerpiece. Just make sure they are tied high enough so that guests can still see each other and chat across the table.

Types of Tableware

• Baby Shower Tableware
• Theme Party Tableware
• Solid Color Tableware
• Clear Tableware
  

Graduation Luau Party

It's graduation time and with the weather so nice I really think a luau is a MUST for the graduation party. Have the party at a pool and invite your friends and everyone you know (cuz they all want to celebrate and congratulate you cuz, well YOU DESERVE IT). Or have the party in the back yard.

LUAU PARTY IDEAS

• Line the driveway or path to the party with tiki torches or luminaires

• Float flowers in the pool

• Decorate the serving table with a bright, luau pattern. Then add luau centerpieces like shells or candles. Balloons always make a great centerpiece.

• Make sure every guest gets a lei and don't forget the grass skirts!

• Hang lanterns all over.

• What's a luau without the Limbo Game. Don't forget the Limbo music!

Authentic luau music will set the mood for FUN!

Your party will be the kick off for the summer so make it BIG!

Graduation Party Ideas

Spotlight Your Graduate!!

Here are just a few ideas from the parties I've thrown for my graduates over the years.

I love to use imprinted napkins. Choose a napkin in one of their school colors and have them imprinted with the graduates name and the date of graduation. This really makes the graduate feel special... After all this party is for them!!

I like to use tableware in the school colors.

Use metallic confetti to "jazz up" the tables. You can get the current year, graduation caps, graduates with stars, congrats grad, etc. Also, a wide variety of colors and shapes (like stars or hearts) to match school colors.

Hang foil cut-out stars in different sizes from the ceiling in honor of the "star of the day".

Decorate with balloons in the school colors. Use balloon bouquets for centerpieces on the tables.

One of my favorite ideas using balloons for decorations is to make a good sized bouquet (10 or more balloons) and anchor it to the floor. To do this, you need to make the ribbons on the balloons extra long (think of the height that you want your bouquet to be from the floor up and add a couple of feet or so for taping and curling). Then I adjust the balloons staggered at different heights to show off the colors and individual balloons. Then I tape the whole bunch to the floor (use enough tape to make sure that is secure). When taping, tape up a ways from the bottom of the string , like 12" or so, then you can use scissors to curl the bottom of each individual ribbon so that it curls up and covers up the tape. Place these "floor bouquets" in various places around the room. I always like to put one by the entrance to my home and the room the celebration will be in.

Take a picture of the graduate in their cap and gown standing by one of the floor balloon bouquets. It makes a great picture for the graduation scrapbook page!

Birthday Party in a Box!

Over the years, some of my children have been far away from home on their birthdays, so I would send them a birthday party in a box.

Here's an idea for sending a birthday party to a loved one far away...

I would choose some "Happy Birthday" paper plates, napkins and cups (so many fun patterns to choose from. View Birthday Patterns). I'd include birthday candles and Wilton cake decorations for their cake(I also send a cake mix and a can of frosting in their favorite flavors). A Happy Birthday Banner, a special hat for the birthday person and an inflated Mylar birthday balloon (they last for days) go into the box.

As you look around Zurchers, you'll find so many possibilities of things you can add to your box. You can personalize the party to "just fit" the person you are sending it to!

Blush Dots and Stripes

I love this pattern! Not just because of the great colors, pink and brown, but because it sooo versatile! When my girlfriend happened to mention that she was having a luncheon for her son's fiance and family (girls only!), I offered to pick up some party stuff for her. (You could also use the pattern for baby shower tableware.)

I had Blush Dots and Stripes tableware in mind, because its perfect for anything "Girly". I chose the "Dots" luncheon napkin and the "Stripes" 7" dessert plate and mixed it with plastic 10" plates and 12oz. cups in our solid "New Pink". I like mixing the patterns with the solids because it shows off the pattern better and gives more impact. I added some balloon bouquets in pinks and brown, M&M's (in the "magic colors" of course), with some of our little 4" clear hard plastic decorative dessert bowls (for the M&Ms)to place strategically around the room (so everyone could get to the treats!).

A pink feather boa for the future bride and just for extra fun a tiara (because who is more special than the bride to be?!?).

This pattern would also be perfect for a baby shower, a bridal shower, girls Bunko night, Mother's Day luncheon, book club...see why I love it?!?

Fiesta Tablesetting!

With Cinco De Mayo right around the corner now's the time to FIESTA! I have so much fun decorating for Cinco De Mayo because the colors are so bright and cheerful. This year I used the Serape patterned tableware and added my favorite solid colors from that pattern.

Start by taking a metallic royal blue tableskirt and appy it around the table. Take a carribean blue tablecover and put it on the table over the tableskirt. A serape tablecover can be used as the tablerunner. Just leave it folded like a tablerunner and run it down the center of the table the long way.

Set the table with Yellow sunshine paper or plastic 10 inch plates.
And use serape patterned 7 " inch plates as your dessert or salad plates. Then use serape luncheon size napkins. For cups and cuttlery I used 16 oz. yellow sunshine cups and yellow sunshine forks and knives.

Remember you can change sizes of tableware to fit your party.


Pinatas are great for decorating too! Use them as a centerpiece.

Crepe paper is a great way to incorporate more color. Hang it from doorways or from a chandelier.

Personalize A Lifesize Standup

Is there a friend or a loved one who can't make it to your wedding or event? Or someone you'd like to roast at a party? Here's a way to make it appear as if they were in attendance. Whether you want their presence for pictures or just for fun... this is an idea for you! Lifesize standups can easily be personalized to look like a family member or friend. Start by choosing the lifesize standup character that best fits your event.

Next have a picture enlarged of the face of the person you are trying to duplicate to fit the original face on the standup. Then attach the picture of the face you've enlarged to cover the face on the standup. Now you have a full sized look-alike of your friend or loved one to stand in at the party!

Used For

Any event or wedding where a family member or friend cannot attend.

A gag such as an over the hill birthday party or retirement party.

Pictures! Use a personalized standup when a person is not available for family or group photos.

Examples

A President Bush standup is a perfect way to include a son in a family wedding picture. Attach the photo over Pres. Bush's face and your son will be wearing a formal suit for the picture!

Fabio with his shirt off is great for an over the hill party. Turn your aging husband into a ladies man with an amazing body! ...your guests will love this one.

How to Create A Great Tablesetting at A LOW Price

First Choose Your Party's Theme

1. Baby Shower


2. Bridal Shower


3. Casino Night


4. Mardi Gras


5. Children's Birthday

....Just to name a few.

That is the first step! After you've chosen your party's theme you need to pick your favorite pattern within the theme. The next step is when you start to save money. Look at your pattern and choose the color you most want to stand out. Then use that color to choose solid color tableware. By mixing and matching solid color tableware with your pattern you will be able to emphasize certain colors and make your table look great... all while saving money!

Benefits of the mix-and-match

Solid colored tableware is less expensive then patterns and will prevent your table from looking too busy or chaotic.

Example:

Rather than using the your pattern for your tablecover, cups, plates, napkins, and centerpiece mix it up by using a solid colored tablecover and tableskirt with a solid colored placemat. Then bring the pattern in with your plates and napkins or the other way around.

This simple technique will look great and save you a lot of money.