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'Confetti' of possibilities: Gift boutique-party studio opens this month in McKinney
Photo courtesy of Kari Loth - Confetti Monkey, a gift boutique and party studio, opens Dec. 13 on the southwest corner of Eldorado Parkway and U.S. Highway 75 in McKinney. Personalized gifts, like hand-painted glassware and custom clothing, are available for sale next to studio space complete with a green screen for themed photographs.
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
Days of pin the tail on the donkey and piņatas are in the past. Parties no longer have a one-kind-thrills-all approach.
But local parents, their friends and anxious kids needn't worry. Confetti Monkey, an all-in-one party studio and gift boutique, opens Dec. 13 in McKinney.
"Well be taking over the party planning for the busy moms, and we can do it all or just bits and pieces," said Kari Loth, marketing manager for the new business. "We can do the invitations, the party planning, the catering, the cake, gift registration, party favors, or just whatever they want us to take off their plate."
"I found that people at craft places really wanted somewhere to go so they could browse and buy," said Thompson, who started the process for opening Confetti Monkey about a year and a half ago. "There are so many neat, personalizable gifts out there, I thought it would be fun to bring it all into one location."
Behind the boutique sits party central, equipped with a green screen room, craft space and game show capabilities. There are numerous party options for birthdays, girls' nights out, pre-prom outings and most other occasions, for kids through adults, Thompson said.
"Build Your Own Superhero" will feature villain fighting party games and superhero action photos; "Rock Star Riot" will use the green screen to capture partiers in rock-star style, with music-themed games and art projects. Other more kid- or teen-friendly options will include "Glow in the Dark," "Girl Stuff," "Party Collage," and "Be the Board Game," to name several.
"I love to be really detail-oriented and creative, and this was a really good outlet for my creativity," Thompson said. "My kids are older now, so there's not much of an opportunity to do these things."
Loth helped recognize the need for the shop's party piece through her interaction with Thompson over the years. Their kids have grown up together, and Loth noticed Thompson's affinity for "always planning spectacular play groups," like Halloween games and building Christmas gingerbread houses. Now other kids can benefit from that ingenuity, Loth said.
Thompson's husband installed the green screen technology, which she and Loth agreed is what sets Confetti Monkey apart from other party destinations.
"I don't think there's one like it the area," Loth said. "Whatever theme your party takes - pirates, fairies, rock stars - kids can become that, because that'll be their background."
But, Thompson said, Confetti Monkey is opening its doors to teens and adults, too. On-site gifts, crafts and photography make pre-prom and sweet 16 parties viable, and the studio will plan and host adult Bunco games, book clubs and wine-tasting parties. "That way you don't even have to clean your house, just leave it to us and we'll handle it," Loth said.
Sports teams can hold end-of-year celebrations at Confetti Monkey, to be equipped with relevant accessories like pizza, a football-shaped cake and green-screen photos in front of a championship trophy.
"Everything is in house," Thompson said. "The idea is that with any party, we have many activities within a theme to pick from, to customize it to (whoever's) having the party."
The first party is set for Thursday, and, fittingly, it will have something for everybody. It kicks off at 10 a.m. with an hour-long "Mimosas for Moms," followed by a McKinney Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Children can take photos with Santa in front of a North Pole backdrop that afternoon, and a "Sip and Shop" session will finish the evening.
There will be no donkey or piņata. Or monkey, for that matter. But confetti may fly - at least in the minds of parents and kids itching for a new kind of party.
"We have some really good ideas in the works," Thompson said. "They aren't just your basic parties that have been done over and over."
For more information about Confetti Monkey and its grand opening, visit www.confettimonkey.com.
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