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!

Past Party: Thing 1 Thing 2 First Birthday Party

My sister has beautiful twin girls who just turned one.  Props to her for surviving their first year! The girls have oodles of loving family and friends, all of whom my sister wanted around to celebrate their big day.  I gave her suggestion boards of all the ideas I’d put together and she whittled it down to one:   Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.

Now, in all fairness, I’m not the first person to use this theme.  Several party planners had rocked it and showed off their images.  But I was so excited she picked this theme because I am loving the combination of light blue and red in all contexts – parties, weddings, clothing, etc.

My sister tackled the invites all on her own.  Using Mama Judd’s scrapbook tools, she created the invitation.

Pardon the poor quality of this iPhone photo.

The girls, of course, had to be dressed to kill.  I used iron-on fabric paper to create a Thing 1 and Thing 2 logo for the front of basic white onesies.  My sister decided that Thing 1 would be the first baby out – so as to prevent any arguing when they were older.  (Thinking ahead, that one!)  I ordered iron-on appliques of the Cat in the Hat for a little flair on the buttocks.  The tutus I made during a long road trip.  They weren’t as pretty as they could have been – oh, if I could only sew! – but they definitely had an impact.  Those stinkin’ kids are adorable.

Sewing would have also helped me create those crowns.  I can embroider, which was sufficient for this project, but I can see how a sewing machine could really go above and beyond.  I created the crowns using two pieces of felt, ironed together with fusible backing, and stitched around the edges.  I also used that fusible backing for the letters on the front. You can find a template here.

Apparently the girls didn’t think the crowns were as fabulous as I did.  We couldn’t keep them on their heads.

I wanted to make an impact from the moment the guests arrived so I created pinwheels for the entrance to the party.  There are several tutorials out there but I chose the easy way out.  I didn’t drill a hole through a dowel or anything fancy like that.  I just wrapped the pin around the dowel. Voila.  The pinwheels didn’t spin but I was more concerned that they were pretty. It wasn’t windy that day anyway, so it must have been meant to be.

In the foyer we displayed a memory board of pictures of the girls’ first year.  I bought an old cork board at the thrift store for $4 and covered it with fabric.  Around the board we displayed photos of the girls’ first birthday professional photo shoot.

I covered the tables in aqua blue cloths and adorned them with red spots of all different sizes.  Mama Judd really comes in handy with her scrapbook tools for anything using paper.

I did different centerpieces for each table. One used ostrich feathers and another used fake Gerber daisies.

I found some unique inspiration for the third centerpiece. These hip-looking orbs are actually Christmas tree ornaments that were 75 percent off at a closing Roberts’ store.  I balanced them (poorly) on Ikea candle holders.

Sprinkled throughout the ceiling were clumps of tissue paper pom poms.  We also had a banner we made using Mama Judd’s Cricut.  It said: “We are 1!”

On the fireplace we displayed a hat I created from poster board and wooden letters of the girls’ initials from the craft store that we painted to match our color scheme.

In the corner we played the original movie version of Cat in the Hat. (Doug’s technological brilliance is also key to my party planning success.)  If you haven’t watched the original film before, sit down and enjoy.  It’s 20 minutes of pure hilarity.

Each of the cousins received party favors.  I wrapped kites in aqua blue paper with red initials for their names.  The kites were inspired by the part of the book where Thing 1 and Thing 2 fly their kites throughout the house and make a big mess.

I placed a lollipop display near the food spread.  This cool red vase was also a Christmas section discount item.  Score!

Guests ate pretty cookies, but the birthday girls needed cake! Each got her very own cupcake, which was topped with cotton candy to resemble the crazy blue hair of Thing 1 and Thing 2.

To date, this is the party I’m most pleased with.  It is also, however, the party on which I’ve had the most time to plan.

Which is better: the original or Mike Myers Cat in the Hat film?