I love any excuse to host a party! Since it's summer, I came up with the idea to host a Watermelon Crafts + Cocktails afternoon with some of my favorite girlfriends. Life gets busy and we see each other as much as we can, but when there is an excuse to have a party, we all make sure to clear our schedules! This party was tons of fun and lent itself to making adorable crafts too. We tried our handiwork at DIY Watermelon Tote Bags and Mini Watermelon Piñatas. I knew we would get hungry with all of the crafting going on, so I kept the food pretty light, offering a Watermelon Margarita and a few watermelon-themed treats.
I've been wanting to design my own DIY Tote Bag to use for all of my summer activities. To set this craft apart, I came up with the idea of adding a fun Tote Bag Tassel as an accent too! Each guest created watermelon themed totes, but they all turned out differently. You'll have to check out the full post on Watermelon Tote Bags & Tote Bag Tassels for more details on how to make your own summer tote. 
Using puff paint over the top of your design adds a fun texture and creates a one-of-a-kind look. Adding a Tote Bag Tassel to your bag makes them even more chic! 
Next, we tried our hand at making Mini Watermelon Piñatas. I've been obsessing over these cute creations and needed a good excuse to make my own. The larger version is fun too, but these are more of a keepsake or festive decoration. And the best part is they were super simple to make. For step-by-step instructions check out my full Watermelon Mini Piñata post. Though they were easy to make, they were a bit time consuming. It's the perfect activity to make while chatting with your friends and sipping cocktails because it requires very little concentration or skill. 
Did you happen to see my matching watermelon nails too? I mean, I go all in with these themes right down to my nails! When I invite people to my parties, I want to give them a sneak peak of what the party theme will be. The invitation is the first item that sets the tone of your party. With technology, I know it's super easy to just do an e-vite, but people still love to receive a tangible invitation they can hang onto for a while. 
Speaking of crafts + cocktails. . .where are the cocktails? Don't worry, I am a stickler and didn't stray far from our theme. How do Watermelon Margaritas sound? For me, they are the perfect summer drink. Check out our full recipe post for more details. 
And did you noticed the miniature watermelon gumball stir stick? It's the perfect edible stir stick and really easy to make too! 
Crafting can work up an appetite and my party wouldn't be complete without some sweet treats. Thankfully, Kyra's Bake Shop came to the rescue again and made this incredible Watermelon Cake. Check out the inside. It even looks like a watermelon! 
Kyra's Bake Shop also created these adorable watermelon slice cookies. They were delicious and made the perfect take-home gift! 
Have you seen the amazing chocolate bowls people make using melted chocolate and Latex Dart Balloons? I found this tutorial by She Knows and knew these were essential for my Watermelon Crafts + Cocktails party. I followed this tutorial, but instead of sorbet I used Strawberry Ice cream and black chocolate-covered sunflower seeds to resemble watermelon seeds. 
To create watermelon-esque plates I simply layered 3 plates together. Start with a Round Green Dinner Plate, add a Candy Pink Dessert Plate, and top it off with a clear appetizer plate. To add watermelon seeds, I used my Silhouette machine to cut black seeds and glued them on. I just love the way these turned out. My girlfriends and I had a great time making watermelon crafts and enjoying cocktails. Here are a few more party pics to fuel your own inspiration. 
Don't forget to take a look at my other watermelon party posts. You won't want to miss the DIY Watermelon Tote Bags & Tote Bag Tassel Tutorial and my Watermelon Mini Piñata post. If you need a fresh summer drink, check out my Watermelon Margarita & Gumball Stir Stick recipe too. Enjoy!
