Host your own paint-and-sip!
Looking for a memorable way to celebrate a birthday or shower? Paint-and-sip parties are one of today’s hottest trends—and instead of going to an art studio, you can set up your own creative space at home! It’s easy, affordable and a fun way to reconnect!
1 Invite your friends!
E-mail invitations a couple weeks in advance—for a customizable free e-invite that beautifully fits the theme, check out “Paint Party” at Punchbowl.com! You’ll need to allow a couple of hours for your painting project, so it’s best to plan your party for a weekend afternoon or early evening.
2 Pick your masterpiece!
No need to be an art pro to help guests get creative! It’s easy thanks to sites like Social-artworking. com that provide you with affordable patterns, plus step-by-step instructions. Another option? Paintingparties.com, which streams instructional videos. You access three paintings for free or pay $4.99 a month for unlimited access to all their how-tos. Both have a wide range of art to pick from, like “Eiffel Tower” for, say, a Parisian-themed bridal shower or “van Gogh’s Sunflowers” if you want a completely artsy affair!
3 Outfit your inner artiste!
Once you’ve picked your artwork, start gathering supplies—luckily, Social-artworking.com and Paintingparties.com make it easy by providing a list of exactly what you need for each project! You can designate your paint-and-sip party as Byos—that stands for “Bring Your Own Supplies.” (All are easy to find at the crafts store.) Or you can ask everyone to chip in to buy supplies in bulk—it’ll often end up being cheaper! For instance, you can find a 12-pack of 8"x10" Professional Quality Canvas Panels for $18 from Walmart.com.
4 Set up your studio!
Give each artist her own palette for mixing paint—a plastic or thick paper plate will do! And set a plastic cup of water by each spot for cleaning brushes. It’s a good idea to protect your table with a plastic tablecloth or kraft paper, and have rolls of paper towels handy to dry brushes or wipe away any spills! Tip: Ask guests to bring an apron or even an old button-down shirt to protect their clothes just in case.
5 Serve up a “palette” of treats!
There are no starving artists at this gathering! To allow guests to paint away, it’s best to serve up simple snacks that are easy to grab and enjoy. To give them an extra-special and utterly easy twist, turn them into a pretty “palette”: For instance, frost cupcakes in a rainbow of hues, then arrange on a tray. Or go for cut-up fruit or veggies and assorted cheeses—just organize by color and place them in mini cups or ramekins!
6 Open an “artsy” wine!
Wine with an artistic label adds a decorative touch to your table—and a little inspiration. Try the Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva Art Series Edition 2010 ($16, Winechateau.com), a rich red with a label by artists Okuda and Remed. Or enjoy the Impressionist-style label and boysenberry notes of Save Me San Francisco’s Drops of Jupiter Red Wine ($9.99, Totalwine.com).