The Sunshine Space: Sparkle and Shine

During the initial stages of planning my golden birthday party, I decided I wanted to base the decor on the words "SPARKLE AND SHINE." Those two words guided all my decorating decisions! I looked up different quotes with the words "sparkle" or "shine" or some variation of those two words to use in frames as centerpieces. Here are a few other ideas I utilized as focal points and accents on the tables:

Empty jars with gold ribbons and/or buttons housed inside
Paper & ribbon banners on shiskabob sticks, planted in mini mason jars of dirt
Gold doilies
Gold candle roses (found in the wedding section at Hobby Lobby; just for decoration, as no open flames were allowed at the park)
Spray-painted plastic lion
Fake flowers taped to jars and "planted" in dirt
Scrapbook sticker numbers "25" on old mirrors and in frames
Reese's and Rolo candies sprinkled down the middle of the tables

I was so excited about these tables! Instead of using the typical plastic party tablecloths, I lined the tables with rolls of brown kraft wrapping paper. There were crayons out on the tables for guests to doodle and draw with as they chatted. I thought the fancy gold contrasted well with the rustic brown. . . perfect combo!

"May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, and may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

-Irish Blessing

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

"Life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim." -Lord Byron

(The wrapping paper worked well for me to write messages to guests- like to take a name tag or to be sure to write their names on their drinking cups. )

"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -William Shakespeare

"Blessed are the happiness makers.

Blessed are they who know how to shine on one's gloom with their cheer."

-Henry Ward Beecher

"I dare you who think life is humdrum, to become involved. I dare you who are weak, to become strong; you who are dull to be sparkling; you who are slaves to be kings." -William Danforth

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson

(I love, love, love this quote!!)