My Little Pumpkin's Birthday Party

 
The party printables from Kylie Mae Events were the inspiration for this adorable Little Pumpkin party.  This was designed for a first birthday party but would also make a sweet and festive baby shower or gender reveal party. 

The table displayed fall inspired treats including caramel apples, pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting, and soft ginger cookies. Homemade cinnamon applesauce was served in individual mini-mason jars adorned with squares of burlap and coordinating ribbon. Brown paper sacks decorated with card stock held slices of pumpkin bread. To add some pizazz to my favorite autumn treat, I attached a strip of card stock to the caramel apple sticks.  Each menu item was represented with food tents and tags to match the colors and theme. 

Other items were added to enhance the colors/theme such as hand painted pumpkins, bundles of wheat, and a burlap pennant.  My favorite additions to the table were the three cupcake stands that I made from household items and painted to match.  The table was anchored with two miniature hay bales, which hosted favors (tiny pumpkins), a mounted invitation for the event, and a mason jar filled with salt water taffy.

Menu:
- Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce 
- Sliced Pumpkin Bread
- Caramel Apples 
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Blue Raspberry Jello Shooters 
- Ginger Cookies     

Get the Look:

Tablecloth: burlap table runner (Wal-mart); chevron fabric (Carousel Designs)

Backdrop: chevron fabric (Carousel Designs) and blue sheet (Wal-mart)

Cake stands: I glued together a round cutting board and candle holder (Dollar Tree), and painted them with blue and orange acrylic paints (Michaels)

Table decor: wheat and lots and lots of pumpkins (local grocery stores); vases (Dollar Tree); hay bales, card stock, burlap material and blue pumpkins (acrylic paint and pumpkins) from Michaels; ribbon and patterned card stock (Hobby Lobby)

Pennant: burlap triangles (Hobby Lobby); letters were cut from blue card stock and attached with glue dots; twine (Home Depot)

Party supplies: straws (Target); wooden spoons and brown paper treat bags (Hobby Lobby); mini cordial glasses (Wal-mart); baker's twine (Michaels) 

Party Printables: Kylie Mae Events 

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Once Upon a Time and a Yo Ho Ho! Pirate and Princess Party

Having two boys means I never get to indulge in sparkling tiaras and pink tulle, so I had a wonderful time planning this dual birthday party for my oldest son and his best friend.  These little cuties were born two weeks apart and have rarely spent a day apart since, so it only made sense for them to celebrate their birthdays together this year.  We weren't quite sure about the theme, since three year olds have a tendency to change their minds at a moments notice (needless to say I kept receipts for EVERYTHING just in case).    However, the kids stuck to their original plan and had a blast jumping in the castle bounce house, making pirate treasure maps, and attempting to break open the sturdiest pinata I've ever seen. 
    Guests enjoyed cannon popcorn balls, fairy Godmother fruit wands, and "fish & chips".  Due to allergies the menu was peanut and egg free.  Even the yummy, moist, vanilla and chocolate cupcakes were egg free thanks to my awesome co-host and partner in crime.  She not only opened up her house to tons of children high on sugar, but gracefully put up with my crazy planning and wild ideas.  
    I'm so thankful for our close friends that were able to make the day so special.  It was the perfect celebration for these two crazy kiddos. Now to see what the year of the terrifying 3's have in store for us!

Pirate Menu: peanut and egg free  
Cannon Balls (popcorn balls)
Pirate Cupcakes
Sailor's Rope  (Twizzlers)
Fish and Chips (baked goldfish and potato chips)
Desert Island Veggies
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Treasure Map Pops (chocolate covered Oreo pops)

Princess Menu: peanut and egg free  
Crystal Balls (popcorn balls)
Princess Cupcakes
Magic Beans (pink jelly beans)
Rapunzel's Tower of Oreos (mini Oreos)
Fairy Godmother Fruit Wands
White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Princess Pops (vanilla cake pops) 

 

Drinks:

- Grog (punch made from green berry fruit punch, white cranberry juice, and sprite)

- Princess Punch (pink lemonade)

- Poisonous Punch for the adults (a concoction of beer, vodka, and lemonade)

Get the Look:
Pirate:
- Black tablecloth (twin sheet from Wal-mart)
- Fish net (Oriental Trading)
- Pirate ship sail (made by attaching a black poster board to a wooden dowel to mimic a pirate ship sail.  Then, I placed the other end into a bucket filled with thick Styrofoam for stability and two bags of black beans for added weight.  I cut out the skull and crossbones from a plastic pirate flag purchased at Oriental Trading).
- Red and white striped material (Wal-mart)
- Treasure chest (Michaels)
- Treasure chest was lined with Styrofoam covered in gold tissue paper to hold Oreo pops then filled with gold beaded necklaces and pirate coins (Oriental Trading) 
- Pirate hooks and canvas pouch filled with coins (Target)
- Pirate eye patches (Oriental Trading) 
- Cupcake stand (made by painting oven burner covers and candle stick holders from Dollar Tree and adding red ribbon - find the tutorial here)
- Paper mache number three (purchased from Hobby Lobby and hand painted to match the theme)
- Water bottle straws and twine (Michaels)
- Pirate straw flags (FREE on Oriental Trading's website)
- All food tents, banners, water bottle labels, and snack boxes were made by Kylie Mae Events

Get the Look:
Princess:
- Pink tablecloth (twin sheet from Wal-mart)
- Pink tulle and ribbon to create "curtains" (Wal-mart)
- Framed Cinderella sillouette (made by painting a wooden frame from Michaels with silver spray paint and attaching a pink silhouette of Cinderella to a shimmering white card stock background).
- Pink material (Wal-mart)
- Pink & gray jewelry box (Michaels)
- Jewelry box was lined with Styrofoam covered in silver tissue paper to hold cake pops then filled with iridescent pink an silver beaded branches and a pink beaded dove (Michaels)
- Cinderella slipper made from shimmering white card stock
- Mini frosted vase and pink carnation (Michaels)
- Princess pink tiaras and beaded necklaces (Party City)
- Cupcake stand (made by painting oven burner covers and candle stick holders from Dollar Tree and adding pink ribbon - find the tutorial here)
- Paper mache number three (purchased from Hobby Lobby and hand painted it to match the theme)
- Water bottle straws and twine (Michaels) 
- Wands (purchased at Target & Michaels)
- All food tents, banners, water bottle labels, and snack boxes were made by Kylie Mae Events

 Favors: 
- Take out boxes from Target were lined with tissue paper and filled with pirate treasure maps, stickers, pirate notebooks, mini telescopes, foam princess crowns with jeweled stickers, glow in the dark princess wands, chocolate coins, and candy necklaces/bracelets
- Favor decorations and thank you tags were made by Kylie Mae Events

Activities:
- Treasure chest pinata (Amazon)
- Pirate treasure maps (handmade treasure maps with foam pirate and princess stickers)
- The kids' table was decorated with a hand painted princess castle and pirate ship (unfinished wooden models purchased at Michaels)

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Winter Wonderland

My sweet boy is officially a one year old! In one day he's gone from little baby to rambunctious toddler.  It's hard to comprehend how fast this year has flown by.  Perhaps it's the sleepless nights that have merged the days together.  Whatever the reason, I wasn't quite prepared for his birthday.   Sure I was prepared for the party, but I wasn't ready to admit that he was becoming a little boy and, with that, becoming more independent.  Thankfully, to my relief, not too much has changed although my husband did finally talk me into cutting his unruly hair, making him appear even more like a little boy and less like a baby.  He's still my sweet boy, and he's still my little cuddle bug. 
     For his first birthday, I knew months in advance that I wanted a winter one-derland (I couldn't resist the play on words).  Specifically, I wanted to incorporate penguins and polar bears but still keep the party boyish, which led to a color scheme of aqua, black, and white.  The house was transformed into a wintery scene, from the welcoming entryway sign to the penguin beach balls in the backyard.  The foyer hosted a hanging banner displaying a picture of him from each month, large felt snowflakes, a statistics chalkboard (displaying his accomplishments and favorite things), penguin favor bags for each little guest, and glass jars filled with color coordinating candy for the older guests.  The main food table (pictured below) was decorated with snowy white tree branches and themed treats such as "hot" chocolate pudding mugs and a cheese ball igloo.  

Menu:
Snowballs (popcorn balls)
Snow capped cupcakes (shortcake, filled with fresh strawberries, and topped with whip cream icing)
Smash cake - white covered cake with blue fondant snowflakes
Cotton candy snow
Icicles (white chocolate covered pretzel rods)
"Hot" chocolate pudding cups (chocolate pudding topped with homemade whip cream)
Cheese ball Igloo
Northern lights fruit cups (mandarin oranges, blueberries, and sliced apples)
Arctic circles (white powder donuts)
Penguin snacks (fish shaped mesquite turkey and white American cheese sandwiches)
Snow flurries (white cheese puffs)
Yellow Snow (lemonade)
Melted Glacier (blue punch, sprite, white cranberry juice and an ice cream "glacier")
Melted Snow (bottled water with personalized labels)

Get the Look: Main food table
Tablecloth: white twin flat sheet (Wal-mart)
Runner: material (Hobby Lobby)
Cupcake toppers: personalized toppers made by using a Cricut machine and cartridge
Sparkling white branches: branches spray painted white and added to vases filled with fake snow and poly-fil
Food tents: black card stock and handwritten using a chalk marker
Plates (Dollar Tree)
Cups (Party City)
Straws (Hobby Lobby)

 

Although it was close to 70 degrees outside that day, I had planned on a much colder day in February and had a hot chocolate bar available for our guests.  We have such wonderful friends that they even humored us by helping themselves to the hot chocolate, coffee, chocolate sprinkles, and homemade marshmallows. 

Menu: Hot Chocolate Bar
Variety of hot chocolate k-cups
White chocolate chips
Crushed peppermint
Mini chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate sprinkles
Pirouline cookies
Whip cream
Caramel bites
Homemade marshmallows

Get the Look: Hot Chocolate Bar
Backdrop: 2 yards of aqua material (JoAnn Fabrics)
Snowflake garland: individually cut snowflakes attached to fishing line
Canvas: painted a canvas black then added the words with a white paint pen (no stencil was used)
Cups: insulated cups (Target)
Straws: coffee stirrers from the grocery store
Mix-ins: displayed in both clear plastic cups and glass pedestal bowls
Wooden spoons for mix-ins (Tomkat Studio)
Tiers used for mix-ins: styrofoam blocks wrapped with blue tissue paper with blue snowflake card stock attached to the top
Stuffed Polar Bear: a favorite family Christmas decoration
Cocoa Bar sign: painted a wooden sign (Michaels) with chalkboard paint and added words with a white chalk marker

    The birthday boy spent the afternoon doing what he loves most: playing outside.  He LOVES to dig in the dirt, chase bubbles, and drag his wooden pull toy puppy through the grass.  He was all smiles as he dug his hands into his snowflake covered smash cake.  Since it was a gorgeous day, the kids happily played outside.  I had crayons and foam penguin crafts available for them (just in case we were indoors), but I completely forgot about them due to the beautiful weather.  The kids stayed busy sliding into the ball pit, running after penguin shaped beach balls, and chasing bubbles via a bubble machine (thanks to my husband's genius purchase). 
   My husband and I feel so blessed to be the parents of these two precious boys, and are so happy to celebrate such a huge milestone with our closest friends.  I could not have asked for a more perfect day.

Get the look: Outdoor table and decorations 
Tablecloth: vinyl tablecloth for easy clean up
Center: white bucket filled with individually bagged foam pieces to make penguins, 5x7 white card stock sheets decorated with snowflakes, and two small white buckets filled with crayons and mini wintery coloring books
Place setting: white square plate (Dollar Tree), penguin drinking cups (Wal-mart), napkins (Party City), penguin utensil holders (handmade)
Penguin utensil holders: made by gluing two squares of black felt together and attaching a white face and orange beak to the top square.
Snow covered tree cones: paper mache cones covered in white wrapping paper and covered with white glitter (large tree), white nonpareils (medium tree), and white sparkling sugar (small tree)
Igloo: handmade by cutting a styrofoam ball in half and attaching sugar cubes to the outside with a hot glue gun
Chalkboard sign: wooden sign covered with chalkboard paint and written on with a chalkboard marker
Penguin beach balls (Oriental Trading and Amazon)
Balloons (Party City)
Winter Wonderland sign: wooden stick (Michaels) cut in half and angled on the end. The base was painted with white and blue stripes and the top painted with chalkboard paint and written on with a chalkboard marker. The sign was surrounded with fake white snow and aqua snowflakes.
Favor bags: black paper bags decorated with penguin faces and tied at the top with aqua ribbon and a personalized thank you tag
Favors included: snowflake cookie cutter, Whatch it Grow snowflakes, light up squishy winter characters (penguins, snowmen, etc.), finger puppets and stickers.

I found this slide set up on Pintrest and couldn't wait to set it up for the kids.  They loved it!

Looking for more winter ideas? Check out this Frozen birthday party.

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Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

This tablescape was designed for a play date to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and support Read Across America.  My sweet friend hosted this event for her son, who absolutely loves his Dr. Seuss books.  The main theme for the table was taken from his favorite book, If I Ran the Circus.  Guests nibbled on tradition circus fare such as popcorn and cotton candy, but also indulged in themed treats such as Cat in the Hat push pops and One Fish, Two Fish Cupcakes.  
    It was the perfect day for the kids to play outdoors. They spent hours chasing each other through the field of grass behind the house and playing festive outdoor games such as croquet and a circus themed bag toss game.  After a fun filled afternoon, each child went home with his/her very own Dr. Seuss book.  It was a wonderful day filled with excitement.  I hope that my fellow teachers had an equally exciting day with their students as they celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and promoted a love for reading in their students. 

Menu:
One Fish, Two Fish Cupcakes (vegan cupcakes topped with red gummy fish)
Go, Dog. Go! Hot Dogs (croissant covered mini hot dogs)
Truffula Fruit
Circus McGurkus Cotton Candy 
Cat in the Hat Push Pops (layers of sliced strawberries and homemade whip cream)
Circus Buttered Popcorn

Get the Look:

Tablecloth: white and royal blue vinyl tablecloths for easy clean up.
Seussville Sign: painted dowel with attached card stock signs and 
circus tent.
Vases: made by gluing two red cups together (bottom to bottom), 
covering the seam with card stock, and filling the top cup with black beans, chenille pipe cleaner "stems", and flowers with illustrations from the Dr. Seuss book If I Ran the Circus.
Cotton candy and push pop stands: gift boxes and styrofoam rectangles covered with red wrapping paper, polka dot and striped card stock, paper fans and clip art.
Cotton candy containers: clear containers filled with homemade colored rice (green, blue and pink); cotton candy cones cut from card stock.
Popcorn boxes: purchased on Amazon. 
Juice boxes: boxes were covered with striped card stock then wrapped with a strip of polka dot paper.  The book cover was used on the center of each box and served with a silly straw attached to the side.
Backdrop: the backdrop for the table incorporated the family's existing decor, which included a Dr. Seuss calendar and a beautiful shelving unit used to display several classic Dr. Seuss books.  Card stock balloon cutouts with ribbon strings were hung on the right side of the unit.

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A Frozen Birthday

Updated: June 10, 2014
I'm flattered and absolutely thrilled this post on a Disney's Frozen birthday party has been so popular.  If your looking for more inspiration for your Frozen themed event, please check out this winter wonderland birthday party for ideas on party food, decorations, and more!

Designing this magical winter tablescape was a wonderful experience and a fun collaboration with the family of this sweet birthday girl.  From the sparkling silver branches to the Olaf break dancing juice boxes, everything was designed to transport the guests into the world of Disney's recent movie, Frozen.  
     The table featured a mix of themed sweets and healthy snacks.  Guests enjoyed cotton candy snowballs, popcorn snow flurries, and snow cones from a mini shaved ice machine.  The family continued the tradition of making their children's birthday cake and carved an impressive three dimensional Olaf ice cream cake (pictured below).  The day was filled with winter magic for this special birthday girl!

Menu:
- Peanut butter snowflake sandwiches
- Snowball cake pops
- Sven's carrots
- Snow flurries (popcorn)
- Icicles (chocolate covered pretzel rods)
- Cotton candy snowballs
- Olaf juice boxes
- Melted snow water bottles
- Snow cones 
- How to Build a Snowman bags (each bag included large and small marshmallows, two pretzel sticks, a candy corn nose, and raisin buttons) 

Get the Look:
- Tablecloth (white sheet $5 at Wal-mart and sparkling navy chiffon material)
- Castle (I created height by covering a cake stand with a half yard of white  chiffon. Castle play set was purchased at Target)
- White branches (branches were spray painted white and added to glass cylinder vases filled with tissue paper)
- Silver branches (purchased at Michaels)
- Princess Anna and Queen Elsa (printed on white card stock)
- Snow covered trees (paper mache cones wrapped with paper and covered with white glitter and beads)
- Cake pop stands (styrofoam blocks wrapped with blue tissue paper and glittery card stock)
- Popcorn cups (I attached snowflakes to white cups purchased at Dollar Tree)
- Olaf juice boxes, water bottle labels, food tents, banner/pennant, and favor tags (created and printed on home computer)
- Snowflake garland (made by attaching fishing line to card stock snowflakes)

Looking for more winter fun? Check out this Winter Wonderland.

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Fiesta and Fun

I took advantage of some free time this weekend and feverishly worked on my youngest son's 1st birthday party decorations.  As I was mindlessly painting, I began reminiscing over my oldest son's first birthday party.  I can clearly picture his enormous grin as he dug into his bright blue cake.  He was slightly dainty at first, then realized how awesome the whipped icing felt between his fingers.  He quickly turned into a blue, icing covered smurf.  We were surprised to find out later that what goes in does in fact come out.  We changed two neon blue filled diapers the next day!  
        His birthday was very close to Cinco de Mayo, so I knew from day one that I wanted to celebrate with a huge fiesta.  I firmly believe the first birthday party is just as much for the adults as it is for the kids.  It's like having a "We Survived the Year" party with our family and friends.  So, the grown-ups sipped on margaritas and listened to mariachi music while the kids chased after giant beach balls, splashed in the water table, and dug holes in our homemade sandbox. 
       We hung bright festive paper banners and covered the tables with serape inspired table runners.  I also handmade paper flowers, tissue puff centerpieces, and birthday banners.  The menu consisted of sombrero sandwiches, cinco fruit salad, key lime yogurt cups, gazpacho, taco dip, guacamole, and chips with salsa. 
     It was a fun filled afternoon with some of our closest friends.  Our little man had a smile on his face the entire day (until he was hosed down to get all the blue icing off).  Although I know it was only a year and a half ago, my mind just can't wrap around how fast he's grown-up in that time.  I hope my youngest enjoys his first birthday just as much.

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Cuddle Bugs: For Some Outdoor Valentine Fun

My sweet little boys are not quite old enough to have an opinion on Valentine's Day.  So until they're old enough to start wiping away my kisses, I'm going to shower them with sweet Valentines and lots of "gooberness" (my husband's word for my mushy silliness).   
      However, there doesn't seem to be much geared towards little boys when it comes to Valentine's Day.  Most stores look as though a bottle of Pepto-Bismol threw up on the shelves in the seasonal department.  So here's a Valentine activity that I'll be doing for my boys that's not ooey gooey mushy, but still fun.  We're going to do a cuddle bug hunt.  The worrier that I am was afraid the kids might actually pick up a real bug during the hunt, so each plastic bug is hot glued to a pink card stock square.  I found some incredibly realistic plastic bugs at the craft store.  You know you've found a good set when you get the heebie-jeebies just by handling them.  I'll be swatting away imaginary ants off my arm for the next hour.  

If you like this activity, check out the critters on these Love Bug Juice Boxes. 

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