9th Birthday Harry Potter Theme

My girls are both mad for Harry Potter, and with my youngest's 8th birthday just around the corner, I thought I'd revisit my older daughter's 9th Harry Potter birthday party to reuse some ideas. Aparecium!

Party: 9th Birthday Party
Location: Sydney, NSW

Theme: Harry Potter
Organised by: Me (Steph Bond-Hutkin, Bondville)

Photography: Steph Bond-Hutkin for Bondville

This Tropical Boho Baby Shower rocks my world

I'm lapping up the boho beauty of this lush tropical north Queensland baby shower for my friend Jess. Gorgeous photography by Rhea Tasvinda captures the sweetness of the afternoon in all its steamy gloriousness. Jess gives us the goods on the lovely event she created (omg - the cake!):

Party: Jess's baby shower

Organised by: Jess

Location: Mackay, QLD

Theme: Tropical, relaxed afternoon with friends and family.
Photography: Tasvinda Photography

Quinn's 1st Party Animal Birthday Party

Gosh. This is one of the best parties I have seen for a little boy in a long time. Little Quinn's Mum Kara put together a beautiful event that's colourful without being fussy. Party Animals is a great theme for a one-year-old and opens up a whole range of colour options. I love that Kara has taken the confetti theme throughout from cake, to garlands, invitation and table decorations; and that touch of metallic adds some pizzazz. The food looks amazing too. Read on for Kara's tips to pull together a Party Animal birthday party...

5th Birthday pink dance party

It's a five-year-old girl's dream party - lots of pink, delicious treats, all your friends, and a dance party! Accalia's Mum and Dad always put together amazing parties for their girls (see the fairy princess party here, bubbas and bears here), and this one was no exception. Holly Hiphop was the star of the show, teaching the kids some cool moves and playing games with them. Accalia's Mum Renay kindly shares with us her tips and tricks for putting together a fun pink dance party:

2nd Birthday Strawberry Party

Strawberry season is upon us in Australia, and with punnets at their very freshest and cheapest, strawberries make a fabulous party theme. When little Izzy turned two, her Mum Zoe put together the cutest strawberry party, beautifully photographed by Milk & Honey Photography in a park in Sydney's inner west. We are lucky to have Zoe share her tips and tricks with us on how to put together a strawberry party with lots of great savoury food ideas too.

Party: Izzy's Strawberry 2nd Birthday
Organised by: Mum - Zoe
Location: Laxton Reserve, Dulwich Hill
Theme: Berry-Sweet Strawberry Party
Photography: Milk & Honey Photography

Rainbow Party for Odette's 6th Birthday

My friends Anni and Matthew from Milk & Honey Photography are soooo clever and as well as being fabulous portrait and wedding photographers, also put together really lovely, relaxed parties for their children. Here they share with us their daughter Odette's 6th birthday party, rainbow theme, at a park in Balmain and gorgeously photographed by the team at Milk & Honey Photography. I love Anni's rainbow layer cake and the gorgeous rainbow streamers with white tissue paper pom clouds decoration!

Party: Odette's 6th Rainbow party
Organised by: Anni and Matthew (Mum and Dad)
Location: Callan Park, Balmain, Sydney, NSW
Theme: Rainbow
Photography: Milk & Honey Photography

Natalia's 5th Mermaid Party at the park

Natalia's Mum Maria decided at the last minute to host a mermaid party for her daughter's 5th birthday. The text message invitation was sent six days before the party! Maria chose a colour theme (purple), a stunning cake centrepiece by Faye Cahill, and focused on good food to pull together a fun party at a local park. I love the grown-up food and the relaxed experience for everyone. These beautiful photos were taken by Anni from Milk & Honey Photography. Enjoy!

Party: Natalia's 5th
Organised by: Mum and Dad - Maria and Clark
Location: Beauchamp Park, Chatswood
Theme: Mermaid Party

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!

Our Watermelon Party 4th Birthday

Our little one celebrates her birthday just after Christmas in the heat of summer, so when we suggested a watermelon party, she couldn't have been happier. Her favourite fruit! It was a fun party at a local park with all her preschool friends and some family friends too. Read on for all the details of her 4th birthday watermelon party!

Party: 4th Birthday Watermelon Party
Organised by: Mum (Me! Steph Bond-Hutkin) with help from Dad
Location: Epping Oval Playground, Sydney, NSW
Theme: Watermelons!

Liam's 3rd Rainbow Connection Train Birthday Party

Carolyn from Indie Art & Design is such a creative soul, so when her plans for a Rainbow Connection party were combined with her son's love of the AWW train cake, she rolled with the punches and brought the two ideas together beautifully. I love showcasing real birthdays on Bondville and Carolyn's is a great example of a fun, relaxed event using just one or two key statement pieces - her gorgeous rainbow train cake and the amazing paper cut cloud and raindrops mobile. Read on for Carolyn's advice below!

Party: Rainbow Connection Party for Liam’s 3rd Birthday
Organised by: Mum Carolyn (from Indie Art & Design)
Location: At home in Sydney
Theme: Rainbow Connection - Rainbows + Frogs + Trains

The Brown Trading Co. gold confetti tablecloths

I'm kind of obsessed with the Instagram photos of sisters concretehoney (Concrete + Honey) and Beebees80 (Beebees80) and their Mum karongreenway (Sugar Coated Events). It's a glorious sea of white, pastel and beautiful children and babies. And in this case, amazing Christmas table settings.

Dandi Baby Shower and doilie garland tutorial

My friends at Sydney homewares and textile designers Dandi put together a gorgeous baby shower for team member Leezar recently. I love the red and white theme with a vintage touch for a baby shower, especially if you don't know if a little boy or girl is on its way. I think this theme would also be gorgeous for a girl's birthday party, and stunning for Christmas too!

Caroline and Mindi from Dandi share their tips and tricks for styling this gorgeous baby shower below. AND there's a super-easy tutorial to make the gorgeous doilie bunting garland. Enjoy!

Party: Leezar's Baby Shower
Organised by: Caroline & Mindi from Dandi
Location: Sydney, NSW
Theme: Vintage

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

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

Our 6th Birthday Mermaid Tea Party

Our big girl turned six last week! At five, she still felt like my little girl, but at six she is decidedly a big kid and of course has her own ideas to match. And as you know, mermaid parties are all the rage... so that is exactly what we created together for her birthday - a mermaid tea party for a small group of her girlfriends.

Party: 6th Birthday Party
Organised by: Me! (Steph Bond-Hutkin) with help from my big girl and family
Location: At home in Sydney
Theme: Mermaid Tea Party

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

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

Simple and chic flower garden 4th birthday party from My Poppet

Blogger and Craft/DIY maven Cintia Gonzalez (My Poppet) put together a simple and chic birthday party for her daughter Emma who recently turned four. Don't you just adore the giant crepe paper flower on the table? This is proof that a party doesn't need to be too elaborate or expensive to look fantastic. I also love the healthy food on offer and... no goodie bags (yay!). Cintia shares her tips and tricks for Emma's flower garden party:

Party: Emma's 4th Birthday
Organised by: Emma's mum, Cintia (My Poppet)
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Theme: Flower Garden party

A special Croquet and Pie birthday party

This is a year of celebration for me, kicked off with a very fun birthday party last month at the Cheltenham Croquet Club near our house. My nearest and dearest dressed in "English Lawn Party" attire and brought along homemade pies for the pie tasting competition. There were trophies! And rosettes! And of course there was croquet.

Here are some gorgeous photos from my friends Anni and Matthew from Milk & Honey Photography to share with you. First up, the four of us getting ready to blow out the candles. The kids think it's their job!

The scene was set with the old-world kitsch of the Cheltenham Croquet Club and bright blue Autumn skies. Oh, and a flamingo or two...