Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday Party

This birthday party happened six months old.  I know.  I’m a mess. Happy 2nd birthday Cole!

We made this wreath based on this tutorial.  By “we” I mean “I” – my BFF has this strange thing about touching rubber.  I have no idea what to do with her.

Pardon the poor lighting.  I am camera illiterate.

We used dollar store tablecloths to create the colored backdrop.

My BFF found a lot of the Yo Gabba Gabba paraphernalia online.

We made cheap favors using red favor bags and cut paper.

We created fun boom box animal crackers from online printables.

The birthday boy loves Yo Gabba Gabba but it sure creeped me out! What children’s program gives you the willies?

Barbeque-Themed Party

Props go to my BFF for coming up with the theme for this bridal shower luncheon.  One of my close friends is tying the knot next month and her co-workers threw the party in the break room in their office.  I was going to do some gray and yellow decor (I have serious gray and yellow infatuation lately) but my BFF suggested a barbeque theme since everyone was pitching in to get the happy couple a grill.  What a clever idea!

I love picking up a bunch of flowers at Costco.  I used mason jars I already had tied with twine from Cole’s cowboy birthday party.

I found a lot of fun stuff, including these food baskets below, on sale at JoAnn’s for 70 percent off!

I made a banner out of fabric and hung it on the work bulletin board.

Sure I took a picture of all the fun decor but I took two pictures of the cake.  This is for good reason.  I consider myself a cake connoisseur and this was one of the best I’ve had in a long time.  (I think it is important to clarify that I did not make this cake.  But I may just start stalking the woman who did.)

Perhaps you recognize the burlap runner, too?  I love having things on hand for a quick and easy party.

Everyone loves a good barbeque!

Wild, Wild One: Cowboy Themed First Birthday Party

It’s been a year since I threw my first party -  a “Wild About Cole” safari baby shower.  Well lil’ Cole just celebrated his first birthday and we threw him another wild, wild bash.  Cole was more than happy to dress up as a cowboy for his “Wild Wild One” birthday hoe-down.

My stepdad built this directional sign that served as a beacon for guests coming from all over town. I used letters I cut with the Cricuit so that I can use this sign again without having to repaint it.  Isn’t it great? I can’t wait for the next reason to tell people where to go.

I used straw to display a cow skull and this tissue paper numeral one.  (I got the idea for the tissue paper number one from this tutorial.)

Straw is officially on my do-not-ever-purchase-again-no-matter-what list.  What a mess!

Just like I did for the safari shower, I made a burlap banner to announce the theme.  This time I used clothespins instead of stringing it through the rope. This was so much faster!

The birthday boy and his parents were ready to greet their hoe-down guests. Have you seen a cuter cowboy? I seriously doubt it.

We displayed the birthday boy’s cake on a red plaid table cloth Cole’s grandma owned and we topped it off with the no-sew burlap runner I made last week.

I used flowers in mason jars on the cake table and elsewhere around the house.

To create consistent signage, I used picture frames wrapped with rope.  (Gotta love that hot glue!)  You may recognize these dollar store frames from my past parties.  I used them to display vintage New Zealand travel posters here, to show off Alvin and the Chipmunks here, to name a bar here, and to show of all of one family’s little sunshines here. That’s a lot of mileage for a $1 purchase!

In case the glare in my painfully-amateur photo prevents you from reading it, the outhouse sign says “Don’t squat on yer spurs.”  I crack myself right up over that one.

I’m totally in love with these paper straws. (I used the blue and white ones for the “Time Flies” 1st birthday party a few months ago.)

I purchased these straws on Etsy from Pebbles in my Pocket, which included the PDF for these straw tags.  It was perfect!

I made a ribbon banner with red and white plaid paper and a blue starry paper.

The birthday boy’s picture was republished for his wanted posters. (Seriously! Have you ever seen a cuter 8 tooth grin?)

I also bought a wanted poster to leave blank.  I cut out the middle, passed out a few faux mustaches and voila! An instant Kodak moment.

It turns out that even the birthday boy’s proud papa is a wanted criminal!

We decorated Cole’s high chair with a small banner using the same paper from the “Cole is 1″ banner.

This is one baby boy who did not hesitate to sink his hands into that frosting!

Cole did not stop until he had cake on the floor, on his bib, on his face, and in his hair.  That’s how it’s supposed to be done big boy!

Cole’s youngest cousins were listed on the chalkboard to make sure they picked up their favors.

Each little favor bag included root beer barrels and wax mustaches.

Every one else could take a dum dum from this lollipop flower I made from this tutorial.

Cole bid farewell to his party guests by wishing them “Happy Trails”!

Yee-haw!

Who remembers the wax lips from the 1980s?

No Sew Burlap Runner: Giddy Up!

I’m gearing up for a cowboy themed birthday party (yee-haw!) and threw together this burlap runner without sewing, embroidering, or stitch witchery.  This runner (or a tablecloth) would be great for fall festivities, too!

First, cut the general size you want the runner.

I’ve cut the top edge but it is not pretty.  (No matter how many times I cut fabric in my sewing class I still can’t cut straight.)

Second, find a fiber that runs the full length of the edge.  It should be about three or four fibers in.  Give it a little tug, like I’ve done below.

Next, work that fiber out of the full length of the fabric so that it creates a clear line that you’ll follow to keep the edge straight.

Working from the outermost fiber inward toward your guideline, fray away each of the fibers.

When the outside edges are peeled away, you’ll have a straight line!  Just cut the frayed edges to about the same length and you’ve done it!

Who thinks burlap is too itchy?

Also, who can give me some pointers on taking photos at night? Flash or no flash?  As a late-night blogger, natural light simply is not an option.

Create a Super Centerpiece for Your Super Bowl Party

For the most part, I am overly ecstatic that football season is over.  It seems like there has been a football game every day since August!  I, for one, have had it with MNF and Sundays wasted away.

I do, however, like to party.  (Especially if it’s celebrating the end of football!) And if I were throwing a Super Bowl party, I would create a miniature football field just like the one I originally created for my nephew’s sports party.

This project was easy and inexpensive.  I bought the football-shaped chip bowl and the itty-bitty football at the dollar store.  I then bought a small piece of sod and cut it to size.  I created the field goals out of skewer sticks and hot glue.  With a little paint, this cute diorama was a huge hit!

Who’s partying this Sunday?

Free New Years Eve Printables

With New Years Eve right around the corner – okay, one day away – the blogsosphere is on fire with free printables.  I’d probably incorporate several of the ideas below if I had any intentions to decorate for the holiday.  Call me Scrooge, but all this partying has tired me right out.

I love, love, love this tabletop from The Finer Things.  Isn’t her table beautiful?

Image here.

The colors are fantastic but what really makes this table creative is the beautiful clock decoration.  And great news!  She’s giving the clock printable away for free!  Visit her here for the download!

Download here.

If a classic damask print is calling your name, look no further than the Catch My Party blog where the owner of the Paper Dolls Shoppe is giving away her beautiful collection of  printables for free!  Her collection includes an a.m.a.z.i.n.g. banner and these adorable labels below.

Downloads available here.

(Pssst…once upon a time I was featured on the Catch My Party Blog and it pretty much made me feel like a celebrity.  You can see me bask in all my glory here.)

Finally, if you feel like giving back a little this season, consider visiting The Giving Madam, who designed these New Years Eve free printables to raise awareness for military families.

Download this and many more here.

I wish I had the energy to throw some glamorous bash, but I just don’t have it in me.  Are you throwing a party? If so, can I live vicariously through you?

Two Sticks – Endless Possibilities

One of my favorite party planning supplies is a set of two wooden sticks.  They are about one inch thick and are about five feet tall.  (They’re built on an X so they stand up on their own.)  You might remember seeing them at the Our Lil’ Sunshines party holding up the banner.

I used them again last weekend.  My brother recently eloped and my family threw him a big fat party.  Because he’d eloped, much of our extended family hadn’t met the bride.  I clipped tags of fun facts about her on ribbons strung from stick to stick.

I spray painted the clothespins and adorned them with stickers I found in the scrapbook aisle of the craft  store.

I used the Cricuit to cut the pink tags.

Any other ideas for these sticks?

“Time Flies” Airplane-Themed First Birthday Party

Last week I had to give you a sneak peak of this first birthday party I decorated for one airplane-loving toddler.

This may be the most adorable pilot the world’s ever seen – so it was my job to make sure his party was as smashing as he is!

The invites, photographed and designed by the birthday boy’s mom, set the “Time Flies” theme for his birthday.

The birthday boy came ready to party in his aviator outfit and he invited his friends to do the same.  (It was, after all, the day for trick or treating!)

Even Weston’s parents came in aviator gear.  His Mom was a striking Amelia Earhart and his Dad was one killer Ice Man from Top Gun.

For those adults that didn’t dress up (myself included) I provided TSA agent lanyards.

Upon entering, guests were instructed to fasten their seat belts for this rockin’ party!

A photo of Weston awaited his guests in the entry way.

Guests were also able to quickly check their “baggage.”

The paper products for the party used the same map-style paper from the local scrapbook store.

I designed one of the tables using salt and pepper shakers from the dollar store.

For the cake table, I made paper airplanes that hung alongside tissue pom pom clouds.  (I’ll know next time to hang the airplanes closer toward the back so they hang level. Who knew?)

I made the cake stand from boxes wrapped in packing paper and tied with baking twine.  I offered peanuts in both the roasted and salted varieties.

The cupcakes were delicious! These clever cooks used an Oreo cookie in the bottom of each cupcake liner.

I incorporated the theme on the straw flags.  These straws are my absolute favorite.

I also used paper airplanes for other table decor.  (By the way, paper airplanes are not easy to make!)

I hung several vintage travel posters for New Zealand, where the birthday boy’s grandparents are from.

I also created a photo booth that was intended to look like an airplane.

Each child received a wooden kit to make and paint their own airplane.  I displayed each favor in sacks adorned with vintage travel labels.  I lined them up in old suitcases I bought from the thrift store.

I think the birthday boy had a good time!

Sneak Preview: “Time Flies” Airplane 1st Birthday Party

This past weekend I had the privilege of throwing an airplane-themed first birthday party.  Pictures are coming but I couldn’t contain my excitement!  So in the mean time, salivate over these clever invites created by my favorite photographer, who just happens to be the birthday boy’s mom.

Feast your eyes on this masterpiece!

Could this boy be any more adorable?  Stay tuned for all the fun details!

Even a Man Can Party Plan

A few weeks ago Doug’s niece celebrated her 7th birthday in a Hannah Montana-inspired pink rock star birthday.  (Remember the cake stands I made here? This party was their debut.)

I was out of town for the party so Doug stepped up to the party planning post. I gave him the materials and here’s how he did.

Inside these pink favor boxes were audio CDs full of kid-friendly pop songs.

(By the way, Doug had no part of making such a beautiful cake. Katie’s Dad is an excellent chef!)

The banner says “Katelyn Rocks!”

How’d Doug do? (I think he rocked.)