Bondville 6 year old Puppy Party

We usually only have a day to pull together our youngest's birthday party each year as it's just after the festive season, but that is a great excuse to keep things sweet and simple which to me is perfect. Miss Six loves all things puppy, cuddly, and animal-related, so we found this super-cute invitation by Meg Bartholomy, and emailed it out over the holidays. I used the chocolate, pink and orange colours from the invites as the basis for the party decorations and food. I had also spotted fun puppy cakes in BreadTop, but on my small budget I decided I could make them myself, and with the flavours I wanted. Read on for all my tips for creating a sweet puppy/animal party on a budget!

Party: Our six year old's birthday party
Organised by: Me! (Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville)
Location: at home in Sydney
Theme: Loosely puppy/animal themed - based on this invitation

Our Mermaid Tea Party on Maxabella Loves

I'm thrilled to have our daughter's 6th birthday party featured on the lovely Maxabella Loves blog! Thank you Bron for doing such a great job of putting all the images together and your kind words. It was such a fun Tea Party for the little mermaids. Head over to Maxabella Loves to read through!

Cutest dinosaur birthday party invites from Peaches + Keen

I spotted these ultra-cute dinosaur party invitations from Australian artists, jewellery designers and crafters Peaches + Keen on Instagram. Each dino features gold foil and is self-standing. Perfect for both the littlest boys and girls.

Pink and pretty fairy 3rd birthday party

Our friends Renay and John have put together some of your favourite kids' birthday parties here on Bondville, including this fairy party and this bubbas and bears party. This time, they created a sweet and simple fairy third birthday party for their youngest daughter with all her favourite themes - pink, fairies and butterflies. It was just lovely. Here Renay shares her tips on putting together a sweet party in a short period of time:

Party: Isabella's 3rd Fairy Birthday Party

Organised by: Mum Renay but supported by a great Dad!

Location: Isabella's Fairy Garden (aka at our house in Sydney) 

Theme: Fairy Party 

Bondville Charity Auction: It's party time!

So after a huge month of donations, bidding, and sharing the amazing products given so generously by Australian designers and online stores, the Bondville Charity Auction is almost at a close. If you haven't had a chance to bid yet, head to the eBay auction page now! Bidding closes on most items by 7:30am AEST on Monday 25th November 2013, with a few finishing a little later in the day.

It's time to celebrate the 78 designers and stores that have donated 104 products worth $9,803 to benefit the Children's Cancer Institute Australia. It's an amazing outpouring of generosity and has been overwhelming for me. Thank you so much my friends! Please head to the Bondville Charity Auction page to find out more about all the donators and head to their online stores to support them this Christmas.

Here are some of my favourite party items in the auction to keep the spirit of giving going through the holiday season:

• 2 x Christmas post card sets from Percival Road Designs, RRP: $26.00
• $50 voucher for baked goods from Alison Lawson Cakes, RRP: $50.00
• Teeny tiny rainbow garland from Poppies for Grace, RRP: $39.00
• Woven doily necklace from Polli, RRP: $219.95
• Teardrop Tutu - Ruby from Tutu du Monde, RRP: $159.00
• Mint honeycomb fancy from Poppies for Grace, RRP: $45.00
• Skateboard necklace from Deadwood Creative, RRP: $45.00
• $200 Gift Certificate from Lark, RRP: $200.00
• Cerise honeycomb fancy from Poppies for Grace, RRP: $45.00
• 30 x washi tape rolls from Little Paper Lane, RRP: $149.50+
• Special Dress from eeni meeni miini moh, RRP: $109.95

I'll be back here with a final auction tally very soon. Hurry and get your very last bids in now!!!

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Mila's 7th Birthday Bush Party

My two girls were recently invited to an amazing Bush Birthday Party for our friend Mila's 7th birthday. It was a great reminder that parties don't have to be just face-painting-fairy-superhero extravaganzas.

Party: Mila's 7th Bush Birthday Party
Organised by: Mila's Mum Kate
Location: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives, NSW
Theme: Excursion party

Ella's First Birthday Sweet Shoppe Party

Primary school teacher and blogger Kate Korber (of Happy Ella After) put together a gorgeously girly Sweet Shoppe party for her daughter Ella's first birthday. With a tight palette of pink, red and white and a touch of Peppa Pig, Ella's party is a sweet tooth's dream come true. I looooooove the DIY Peppa Pig cake kit - what a great idea. Read on for Kate's tips and advice to put together your own Sweet Shoppe party.

Party: Ella's first birthday party
Organised by: Mum Kate Korber (Happy Ella After), my husband Daniel and our families. My sisters Jane and Monica helped immensely with the decorations.
Location: My Mum and Dad’s house in Melbourne, VIC.
Theme: Ella’s Sweet Shoppe

Minty's 1st Birthday Rainbow Party

Jayde Leeder is one creative Mama. It helps that she is the owner of paper and stationery boutique Little Paper Lane in Sydney's Mona Vale and is well-practiced at styling. But it's the loving DIY from her whole family that makes Jayde's daughter Minty's first birthday rainbow party so special. I love the simplicity of the pure white cake with coloured balls around the base. And then you cut in to reveal an amazing rainbow layer cake to knock your socks off. Read on for Jayde's tips and tricks to create a fabulous rainbow birthday party.

Party: Minty's 1st Birthday
Organised by: Jayde Leeder (Minty's Mum) owner of Little Paper Lane
Location: Our house in Avalon, NSW
Theme: Rainbow

Tommy's 3rd Peppa Pig Birthday Party

There are so many little cuties out there that live for Peppa Pig and her younger brother George. When professional cake-maker Alison Lawson put together her son Tommy's 3rd birthday party, she knew exactly which theme to go for. Read on for all of Alison's tips and tricks for a sweet and simple Peppa Pig party.

Party: Tommy's 3rd Birthday Party
Organised by: Mum Alison (Alison Lawson Cakes)
Location: Bowral, NSW
Theme: Peppa Pig

Tora's Ariel-inspired 5th mermaid birthday party

Hands up who has a daughter who loves Disney's Ariel and wants a mermaid birthday party. Yes I know! Who doesn't? Long-time Bondville reader Donna created a dream mermaid party for her daughter Tora's 5th birthday, featuring beloved Ariel with a colourful red, green, blue and purple colour palette. Read on for lots of tips and tricks from Donna, who made nearly everything herself.

Party: My eldest daughter, Tora's 5th Birthday Party
Organised by: Mum Donna
Location: Wodonga VIC
Theme: Mermaid. Tora chose her theme and requested I make her a mermaid outfit.

Dr Seuss Cat In The Hat party for 3-year-old Brooke

The Cat In The Hat is the business in our house. In fact, whenever we visit Nanna and Pops, we are greeted by Pops in his Cat In The Hat hat and matching tshirt at the airport. How cool is that! So when Janel sent me the images from her daughter's Dr. Seuss party, the girls went nuts. My big girl is now trying to work out how to merge her mermaid party ideas into a Cat In The Hat theme. Um....

Here are some photos of Brooke's 3rd birthday party, with most artwork made by Janel. The games are fantastic too. So much fun - Janel you're amazing! Read on for all the tips, tricks and details...

Party: Brooke's 3rd Birthday
Organised by: Mum Janel
Location: our home/garage and backyard, Sydney
Theme: Dr. Seuss Extravaganza
Invitation: A rhyming email invitation in the theme of Dr. Seuss

Alice in Tutu Land 8th Birthday Party by Tutu du Monde

Have I got something special to show you today. This is the gorgeous eighth birthday party of Alyna - daughter of Tutu du Monde designer Andrea Rembeck. Styling, cake, food and photography are all by amazing Sydney creative talents and all the girls are dressed in Andrea's iconic tutus. It truly is a little girl's dream come true.

Sara's Party Perfect

I was so thrilled that my daughter's first birthday cake was featured on beautiful party blog Sara's Party Perfect. Sara is a former art director for Martha Stewart, so to say I am honoured is an understatement! See her post, "First Birthday Cakes".