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?

“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.)

On Location: Surf Party on a Beach

Last weekend we went to Lake Powell.  The trip happened to fall a week after my uncle’s birthday, a week after my Grandma retired, on my birthday, and the day before my cousin’s birthday.

A celebration was clearly in order.

But how do you plan a party on a trip where you pack in everything you need and pack out all of your waste?  My family does not appreciate transporting  heavy bags.  This was going to be tricky, but I wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good time to party.

Lake Powell’s sandy beaches inspired me to plan a surf party. I drew inspiration from this Retro Surf Party on Hostess Blog. That party is so totally cool – but I had to limit my expectations right away. I would never be able to design a party of that magnitude on a houseboat.  Because I had to pack in and pack out each piece I brought, I thought long and hard about what I was taking.

To turn the houseboat into a surf shack, I painted a sign on a foam board from the dollar store.  (The dream would have been to paint signs on actual wood planks.)  The poster board sign, however, was easily disposable.

I also threw up a net and some plastic sea creatures.

A few beach balls would have hung out on the shore if the wind didn’t kick up.

I hastily painted these wooden surf boards from the dollar store.

I used chalkboard paint for the first time to create this surf report.  I painted it right onto the foam board from the dollar store and it worked just fine.

I named a beach after my Grandma’s recent achievement.

And just for a little variety, we needed a dangerous beach as well.

I used two pieces of scrapbook paper to display the menus.  The front page is actually a transparency with the surfboard only. I put it in front of a blue piece of cardstock to make it stand out.

Pardon the flash.  Until I tackle number 12 on my 30 Before 30 list, I don’t  have the requisite Photoshop skills to edit it out.

In Lake Powell, we have one table and it needs to hold enough food for 15 people to dish up. To keep my spatial impact minimal, I filled vases with sand from the beach and put a fake palm leaf in each.

I placed them on some retro-looking scrapbook paper to really create a centerpiece on the table.

I also created a sign for the bar area.  (I didn’t even need Photoshop for this one!)  And do you recognize that frame?  Yup, it’s the same one I used on the table for the Alvin and the Chipmunk party.  It’s amazing what a one dollar frame and some white paint can accomplish.

I also put out several koozies that fit the mood.  I found them at Michaels for 40 percent off of $1.50.  I used them to hold drink stirrers and drink umbrellas.

I created individual drink name tags because those red cups are pretty generic.  There were different images – a female surfer for the girls and a male for the boys.

For dessert, I made jello shots.  To make the shots travel friendly, I made the jello set up inside the shells of oranges. The halves were cut into quarters once we got to Lake Powell and the oranges thrown away.

Stay tuned for a post on how-not-to-make-jello-in-oranges.  Other bloggers make it look deceivingly easy and the truth needs to be out there.

What’s your favorite way to eat jello?

Alvin and the Chipmunks Birthday Party

My niece’s Chipmunk-inspired fourth birthday party was a big hit.  I based the décor on the colors of the characters – red for Alvin, blue for Simon, and green for Theodore. (Surprisingly, the birthday girl didn’t have a lot of interest in the Chippettes.)

For an exciting entrance, I propped the movie poster on an easel I bought off Craigslist for $5. A little gold cloth (on sale!) added a movie theatre feel.  The kids were just astonished that the poster was so big.

Next to the movie poster I displayed a table full of party favors for each of the kids: microphones, VIP passes, Simon-like glasses, and mouse ears.  I got the glasses from the costume shop in the Harry Potter aisle.

It says “Get your munk on here.”

I made this VIP pass for each of the kids:

The favors were a hit and were a perfect accompaniment to the kids’ attire.  Of course, the birthday girl was Alvin.  My oldest nephew was Simon, hence the blue shirt, and my youngest nephew was Theodore (in green).  I think he protested since he had to wear three layers of down clothing to add some weight to his physique.

Do you see “Uncle Ian” at the bottom right? I hope the birthday girl knows what a loving father she has to shave the top of his head to look just like the balding producer.

Inside, I created a “dessert table.”  Dessert tables are all the rage these days, but who can honestly eat all that dessert? And that candy must be so expensive. So I included only popcorn and peanuts, foods  that were theme-appropriate.

Apparently, the “r” fell off.  It was there at one point, I promise.

We created the banner using the Cricuit to cut the yellow letters.  It boggles my mind how easy that tool makes things.

I love these treat cones below.  I got the inspiration from the Hostess Blog here. First I bought shadowboxes on sale at Michaels.  Then I cut craft styrofoam to fit inside each box.  Next I spray painted the styrofoam to match the gumballs.  With lollipop sticks as support, I propped the cones on each stick.  The cones were perfect for the popcorn but the peanuts were a little heavy.  Nonetheless, it worked just fine.

Mama Judd made a cake in the shape of an “A” for the centerpiece of the dessert table.

I flanked either side of the table with a little color.  All the colored vases I bought at the thrift store for a dollar or less.

Outside, we hung beach balls from the rain gutter.  The party was initially a pool party, but when the venue changed I had to reincarnate them.  A friend was able to cut vinyl As to adorn them. (Word is the Cricuit can cut vinyl, too.)

Each of the dining tables was inspired by one of the characters.

The whole party turned out great! My brother told me that each of my parties are getting bigger and better.  My 8 year old nephew said, “I’ve gotta admit, Tasha, you throw a good party.” And even though those compliments were so sweet, just seeing the look on my niece’s face was the best reward.

What Might Have Been: Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

My beautiful niece is celebrating her fourth birthday this month.  And, technically, she’s celebrating a birthday for the first time.  My brother and sister-in-law adopted her from Ethiopia where she was orphaned without any identifying information.  When the government drafted her birth certificate with her new parents it simply chose a date of birth at random.

I know ya’ll cringe when I say that I want to make her birthday extra special.  I know, I know.  I do too. It’s not fair to the other nieces and nephews that I love oh-so much.  But it is her first birthday ever.  It will probably be the first day anyone has celebrated her existence.  (Except for the day when she arrived in Salt Lake City.  But the poor girl had big-time jet lag and was obviously thinking: “Why are all these strangers standing at the bottom of an escalator waving at me?”)

Having never thrown a big, fancy, girlie-girl party, you could color me happy when the first mention was a Fancy Nancy theme.  Have you heard of this Fancy Nancy? Neither had I.  Fancy Nancy is a character in childrens’ books that likes everything fancy, i.e., her favorite color is fuchsia because it’s a fancy way to say purple.  She enjoys parfaits because it’s a fancy way to say ice cream.  You get the idea.

I envisioned tea parties, top hats, fuchsia flowers, and dainty tea cups.  An ice cream buffet perhaps? Yes, please!  I created this decor board:

Images here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

My apologies for misplacing the location of the napkins and cupcakes.

While I was still doing the happy dance the birthday girl changed her mind.  Said niece has developed an infatuation with Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Specifically, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.  My first instinct? This must be a joke.  Surely there isn’t a word spelled the “Squeakquel.”

I started to think about bribing her to churn my creative juices. It is after all her first and fourth birthday and if she wants Alvin we’ll give her the biggest Alvin birthday party ever! I’ve made progress with the Chipmunk-themed plans – which I’ll disclose soon enough.  But, be forewarned, Alvin doesn’t really spark much of my fire.

Wish me luck.

Oy vey.

Update: The Alvin and the Chipmunks party was a big success!  See it in all its glory here.