Introducing our newest party hire package …. Racing Cars 

We’re excited to launch our newest addition to our hire range. Our ‘Racing Cars’ themed pack contains some great pieces to help set the scene. You can view all our themed packs here: children's themed party hire packs and our full hire range: hire products

We’ve styled our window display this week using the hire package to give you some ideas. Here’s some pics: 

As well as the party hire package we have also used some other items from our hire range which co-ordinated well with the black & white colour scheme …

black cake stands & white cupcake stand – check out our full range of cake & cupcake stands here

candy jars & glass drinks dispensers with simple themed signs added – check out our full range of jars & dispensers here: candy jars and drinks dispensers

our mesh wall was perfect to display our colour co-ordinated balloon garland – check out the details here

black & white plinths – check out all our plinths here

and a simple ‘Pit Crew Only’ sign was a fun addition to use with our bollards – check out the details here

We’ve got some great party ware which is perfect for this theme … Disney Cars and Black & White check. Here’s a few of our fav items, you can view the full range of products here: Disney Cars and Black & White check

And we were feeling inspired so we’ve been collecting some fun ideas over on Pinterest, here’s a few of our favourite ideas and you can see everything on this board: racing car party inspiration

source: cars jelly cups and 'transmission fluid' & more fun racing car party ideas

source: fruit traffic lights and cars hotdogs

And we love this very clever idea of having a tunnel through the cake for the cars to go through!

source: racing car themed cake

If you have done a racing car themed party we would love to see your party pics too! And feel free to add a link in the comments to any other fun ideas you’ve come across.

How to make up our confetti balloon wand kits

Our confetti balloon wand kits are a great party activity but we do recommend some adult help! Here's the link to order: DIY confetti balloon wand kits

If the children are little you may wish to make them up prior to the party & hand them out as they come in or give them out as party favours to take home. We would suggest you make a few extras up as they are balloons so they will pop if they touch anything sharp!

If you are making these up prior to the party we suggest making them up on the day as the clear balloons do gradually go cloudy and they will start to shrink a little – how long the balloons with stay clear & fully inflated for depends on environmental conditions such as temperature & humidity hence our suggestion of doing them on the day. Also keep them inside until you are ready to use them as the sun makes them go cloudy quicker!

Before you start:

In addition to the items in your kit you will also need a balloon pump to inflate the balloons, if you don’t have one we do have these available for purchase here: balloon pump. You may also wish to use a small funnel to help with filling the balloons. And if you want to attach the ribbon around the balloon stick you can use a hot glue gun to secure this or sellotape.

Step 1 – add the confetti to the balloon

How much confetti should you use per balloon? We use approx. 1g per balloon but you can use more if you prefer. Our packs come with a 20g bag of confetti. If you have a 10pk of confetti wands you can use 2g if you want a fuller look. Or if you have the 20pk of wands you will only have 1g for each but you can purchase extra bags of confetti.

Tip: why not purchase an extra bag of confetti in a different colour & mix them! You can see all the colour options here: balloon confetti (Note: we recommend the 1cm metallic confetti for these mini balloons).

There are two ways to add your confetti … the easiest is to have one person hold open the balloon by putting in your fingers & stretching the neck (note: be careful if you have long finger nails as you can put a hole in the balloon!) and a second person add the confetti. Add a small amount at a time.

Alternatively if you have a small funnel you can use this … if you are filling the balloons by yourself this is the easiest way (note: please check first that there are no rough edges on the funnel as you can put a hole in the balloon!). If you add a small amount at a time if it isn’t easily falling through the funnel you can gently push it down using one of the balloon sticks.

Step 2 – inflate your balloon

We recommend using a balloon pump to inflate the mini balloons. We have these available for purchase here: balloon pump 

Once you have inflated your balloon tie the neck in a knot as you would usually tie a latex balloon.

Note: these balloons are mini balloons which will inflate to a maximum of 5”, don’t over-inflate or they may pop!

Tip: most of the confetti will be sitting in the bottom of the balloon – if you want it to ‘stick’ around the sides you can achieve this look by creating static … just rub all around the balloon, turning the balloon as you go so you are rubbing the area where the confetti is touching at the time. If you have problem creating the static with your hand try rubbing on a jersey or the carpet.

Step 3 – add your ribbon

Each pack comes with a 100m roll of curling ribbon so you will have plenty to use on your wands. You can either attach it to the balloon or attach it to the balloon stick.

Tip: if you want to cover the balloon stick with ribbon you can use hot glue to secure it but make sure you put the cup on the stick first so that you don’t get glue at the top of the stick as it will be too thick then to go into the cup

Step 4 – attach the cup & stick

Next twist the neck of the balloon through the cup to secure it & the push the balloon stick into the cup

And Voila … your wand is ready to have some fun!

We know lots of you have unfortunately had to cancel or post-pone events, or you're going ahead with a little celebration virtually or just in your ‘bubble’. In these uncertain times we think it's so important to keep celebrating the milestones & occasions even when can't get together in person. We're here to help in any way we can so please get in touch with our team. 

We have been busy putting together lots of balloon bunch ideas for lots of different occasions. We are offering contactless pick up by appointment from our retail store during alert level 3 for pre-booked & pre-paid orders. You can find the full details of how we’re operating under alert level 3 here: FAQ’s

Alternatively we can arrange a delivery via Urgent Couriers within Auckland. Delivery fees during standard working hours Mon-Fri start from $25 - if you let us know how many bunches you need and the delivery address we are happy to provide a quote for you. Please note: courier deliveries are contactless but for all balloon deliveries someone will need to be home to accept the delivery so the balloons don’t fly away! 

These bunches are also a great option if you want to send something to a friend or family member in Auckland just to let them know you're thinking of them on their special day. We also have a range of greeting cards which we are happy to add for you. You can check them out here: greeting cards. If you send us the message we are happy to write this in for you and include with the bunch. Please note: courier deliveries are contactless but for all balloon deliveries someone will need to be home to accept the delivery so the balloons don’t fly away! 

Prices stated below are valid until 31^st May 2020, after this date please contact us to confirm pricing.

Prices below are for collection from our retail store, delivery is not included.

Prices include: balloons, helium, hi-float solution for any latex balloons in the bunch (so they will last 24 hrs), ribbon and a balloon weight.

Please note: during alert level 3 all bunches will be provided in balloon bags at an additional cost of $2 per bag / per bunch.

If you would prefer to choose different balloons for your bunch or would like to customise one of the above options with different colours we are happy to provide a quote for you. During alert level 3 the easiest way to contact us is by email: info@pixiepartysupplies.co.nz

Our Retail Sales Manager, Tracey has been busy trialing some of our baking products. She will be sharing her favourites on our blog to give you some tips & inspiration. First up ... cakesicles!

How to make plain Cake Popsicles (Cakesicles) using our Ice Pop Mould:

1. Start by baking vanilla cupcakes – I just used the standard Chelsea sugar vanilla cupcake recipe here: vanilla cupcakes

2. Melt approx 1/3 of a bag of candy melts (I used a multi-coloured candy melt, but you can use a plain colour as well) in a glass cup (put in the microwave for bursts of 30 secs until all melted – stir between each 3 sec burst).

3. Use about a tablespoon of the melted candy melts per mould and using a spoon smooth the candy melts around the mould – including the sides, leaving the middle for the cake mixture. It should be a few mm’s in thickness and be an even layer.

4. Push the lollipop sticks slightly into the mould (you will push them in further later). Pop into the fridge for about 10 mins or until the candy melts have hardened.

5. To make the cake mixture, crumble 2 of the vanilla cupcakes into a bowl. You are then going to mix in buttercream (I used the basic Chelsea buttercream recipe: basic buttercream icing)

You add the buttercream a small amount at a time, maybe a teaspoon at a time, until the mixture “clings” together and has a dough like consistency.

6. Take the mould from the fridge and then run a sharp knife over the top of the mould to remove any excess candy that may be around the edges to make it nice and smooth and level on the top. Then fill each mould with the cake mixture – approx. 15g per mould. Add it in a small amount at a time and push it into the mould, but don’t go fully to the edge and leave room at the top so you can add the candy melts to the top to get a nice flat layer which joins around the edges.

7. You can now push the sticks right in until they reach the bottom of the mould (so the end of the sticks are at the end of the bottom of the mould, if that makes sense). Put back in the fridge to chill the cake.

8. Melt more of the candy melts (about another 1/3 of the bag), spoon that mixture over the top of each mould, use a flat knife to spread the mixture over the top and ensure it is smooth. Make sure any cake is completely covered. The candy melts will start to set by
themselves (as the cake is chilled underneath), but you can then still put it in the fridge for about 10 minutes so it sets completely.

9. You can now pop the cakes out of the silicone mould and run a clean sharp knife around the edge to cut off any excess and make it smooth.

10. These are now ready to decorate – or serve as is.

We've put lots of decorating inspiration ideas together on one of our pinterest boards, you can see them all here: cake popsicle inspiration

Here are some of our favourite decorating ideas ...

source: cakesicles                                               source: cakesicle

source: unicorn cakesicles                                            source: narwhal cakesicles

source: cute cakesicles

& links to our products if you would like to try & recreate the looks ...

shop our sprinkle collection here: sprinkles

shop for edible flowers: edible flowers botanical blend

If you have made cakesicles we would love to see your pics too! And feel free to add a link in the comments to any other fun ideas you’ve come across.

Introducing our newest party hire package …. Under Construction

We’re excited to launch our newest addition to our hire range. Our ‘Under Construction’ themed pack has all the essentials to set the scene. Contains table runners, kids hard hats, cones, stacking boxes & signage. You can view all our themed packs here: children's themed party hire packs and our full hire range: hire products

We’ve got two great party ware ranges which are perfect for this theme … Big Rig & Construction Zone, you can see them both here: construction party products

And we were feeling inspired so we’ve been collecting some fun ideas over on Pinterest, here’s a few of our favourite ideas and you can see everything on this board: construction party inspiration

source: nuts & bolts                                         source: barricade jelly

source: dirt cups                                                  source: cone game

And we love all the great cake ideas for this theme … here’s a couple of our favourites:

source: number 3 cake                                                source: dirt mountain cake

source: construction zone cake            source: candy zone cake      

If you have done a construction themed party we would love to see your party pics too! And feel free to add a link in the comments to any other fun ideas you’ve come across.

Teddies & Teddy bears picnics are such a cute idea for a party!

This is such a popular theme for birthdays & baby showers and we are regularly asked for ideas so we’ve pulled together some inspiration for you. Also featured here is the littlest Pixie’s teddy themed birthday party a few years ago at the Teddy Bear Factory.

If you’re going for a traditional themed teddy bears picnic we love the idea of including toadstools, rustic wooden rounds and other woodland themed items. Here’s some great parties featured over on the Kara’s Party Ideas blog:

https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/evettes-teddy-bears-picnic

https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/teddy-bear-picnic

Or how about a pretty tea party for the teddies and their owners to come to …

https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/tea-party-27      https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/teddy-bear-tea-party

The littlest Pixie has always loved the beach so we incorporated this into her theme with a fun “Teddies day at the beach” themed cake. This was lots of fun to make!

And we had seen these super cute teddy cars on pinterest and just had to try them!

For the afternoon tea we used our felt toadstool baskets which we filled with snacks and the girls got to take home their baskets

The entertainment was sorted as we went to the Teddy Bear Factory so all the girls got to stuff their own new soft toy

Decorations we kept simple since we had to transport everything and do a quick set up …. just a couple of bunches of teddy balloons & a giant number ‘8’ foil balloon

And it’s become a bit of a tradition for the birthday girl to have her pic taken with each of her friends & her giant number balloon each year – the number ‘8’ was perfect for this!

And here’s some fun ideas we’ve found over on pinterest, we’ve put these and lots more on our teddy party inspiration board, check it out here https://www.pinterest.nz/pixieparty/teddy-bear-party-inspiration/

source: https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/tiny-teddy-trains/23km8icq

Source: https://www.radacutlery.com/blog/how-to-make-oatmeal-bear-cookies-recipe/

Source: https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/tiny-teddies-bathtub/t985j26w

If you’re planning a teddy party then here are some of our products you might like:

.        

Woodland hire package: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/childrens-themed-party-props-for-hire     

Teddy Balloons:

https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/cute-cuddly-teddy-bears-balloons

https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/teddy-bear-shaped-foil-balloon

Felt baskets: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/felt-bags-2

Lunch boxes: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/food-boxes-2

Wooden cutlery: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/wooden-cutlery

Grass table runner: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/grass-table-runner

Polka dot cupcake / baking cases – greaseproof inside so also great for single serves of fruit: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/sundays-baking-cups-red-polka-dot

Grass cake board: https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/cake-board-grass-12-round

Pretty daisy chain napkins (matching invites, plates, cups & treat bags also available in this range): https://www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz/daisy-chain-range

If you have done a teddy party we would love to see your party pics too! And feel free to add a link in the comments to any other fun ideas you’ve come across.

The much anticipated arrival of our new animal print orbz last week created a lot of excitement at Pixie HQ! We promptly changed out our window display so that we had an excuse to inflate some!

This then sent us on a full on jungle party inspiration search … here’s a few of the ideas we collected together, you can view lots more ideas over on our Pinterest board: jungle party inspiration

Our animal balloon characters make a fun addition for any jungle, safari or zoo theme and are great for taking pics with. We make these at our retail store. Get in touch for details!

Our jungle party hire package is full of items to help you set the scene:

We’ve used the jungle party pack in our window display along with some of our other hire items such as wooden rounds, wooden crates, glass domes, drinks dispenser, greenery …

We’ve got some great jungle partyware ranges available.

Check out the cute ‘Happi Jungle’ range which is perfect for 1^st birthdays & baby showers

The ‘Go Wild’ range is fun & colourful. A few of our favourite things in this range are the alligator platters and the snake cups!

Or if you prefer the big cats then check out the ‘Mini Felines’ range

We’ve got lots of options for leaves and greenery to create a fun jungle vibe including:

green foil curtains - create a quick easy back drop for a photo area or to go behind your cake table

crepe streamers – hang from the ceiling like vines or use to create a ‘streamer wall’ back drop

paper leaves – hang them, pop them on the table or add them to a balloon garland

And there are so many amazing ideas on Pinterest for jungle themed cakes! Here are a few of our favourites which are all simple but very cute (there are more on our Pinterest board: jungle party inspiration)

source: giraffe cupcake                        source: deluxe jungle cake                source: safari cake

We also found some great food ideas on Pinterest, here are a few of our favourites. Again we’ve picked out the quick, simple but cute ones to share with you (there are more on our Pinterest board: jungle party inspiration)

source: Alligator cupcakes           source: Poo chocolate crackles!         source: snake sandwich

We hope that gives you some ideas and we would love to see your jungle party pics!

Introducing our 2020 Valentines Day collection

Whether you celebrate Valentines Day, Galentines Day or family & friendship we hope you will find something in our collection for the special person/people in your life. Everything is while stocks last only so we recommend ordering now to avoid disappointment. 

Here is a link to the full collection online, it's all available in store too: Valentines Day

Pre-orders are open now for balloon bunches for Valentines Day

You can either come & see us in store, call our retail store on 09 6234357 or send us an email to arrange. Limited stock available in some designs so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Prices quoted below are for pick up from our retail store only. 

If you require delivery please contact us for a quote. Please note: we cannot guarantee delivery times on Valentines Day due to high freight volumes

Pricing below is valid for Jan/Feb 2020 only and includes balloons, helium, hi-float solution for any latex balloons, ribbon & a balloon weight.

As Frozen Fever takes over the party scene we’ve put together some fun party ideas …

We’ve got all the official partyware & decorations in stock but we also love to mix & match with lovely wintery colours … silver, blue & white

Set your party table to set the scene … either use themed tableware or how about our pretty blue stars range

We love the idea of pretty sashes & chiavari chairs! Did you know we hire children’s height chiavari chairs? & we have a range of organza & satin sashes/table runners in stock

source: https://karaspartyideas.com/2016/06/frozen-5th-birthday-party.html

In addition to Frozen themed balloons & decorations we love to use giant confetti filled balloons & orbz for this theme …

Looking for some inspiration for your dessert table? We recently styled our window as a winter wonderland – check out some of the pics. Most things shown are available to hire, you can view our full hire range online: hire range

We love the idea of Frozen themed popcorn, especially if you’re watching the movie during the party. Our fancy sprinkles ‘Ice Queen’ and ‘H2O’ sprinkles would be perfect for this 

source: https://www.momdot.com                              source: https://hungryhappenings.com

Or how about popcorn ‘snowballs’, these could also be made with ricies instead of popcorn

source: https://lifemadesimplebakes.com/popcorn-snowballs/ 

And we loved the fabulous desserts at this party featured on Kara’s Party Ideas, a little bit different from all the snowflake ideas we’ve come across. Check out the full party here: https://karaspartyideas.com/2014/09/frozen-birthday-party-2.html

And how about a ‘build a snowman’ activity ...

source: https://paigespartyideas.com/frozen-birthday-party/5/

Or you could make up packs as party favours ...

source: http://smashedpeasandcarrots.com/do-you-want-to-build-a-snowman-free-printable-party-favor/

We have lots more fun Frozen products available on our website and everything online can also be purchased from our retail store – check out the full range here: Frozen Party Supplies

We’ve also been busy collecting lots of ideas together for food, decorations, party games & more on our Frozen Pinterest Board as well – check it out for some inspiration: Frozen Party Inspiration

Our summer clearance pop up shop is NOW open!!!

19 Mt Eden Rd, Auckland - only 5mins away from our retail store

2 weeks ONLY!!!

Dates: Mon 2nd Dec - Sat 14th Dec (note: closed Sun 8th Dec)

Hours: 9am-4pm

Lots of partyware & decorations

Christmas gifts & stocking fillers

all reduced by 50-70%

PLUS ex-hire stock clearance sale

The photos only show a really small amount of what we have in stock at the pop up shop!

There are end of line items, deleted ranges, seconds, over stocks, and an ex-hire range clearance area too

New items being added daily!

Pop-up shop special offers and pricing is only available at our pop up shop so make sure you call in and check it out!

All specials are while stocks last only