...: children's party ideas

Showing posts with label children's party ideas. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Sophie & Sienna's Vintage Circus Birthday Party

I'm so excited to share Sophie and Sienna's Vintage Circus Birthday Party!!

It was really fun creating this..full of DIY projects and special details.

I love my girls so much.. and I love making their day extra special.

When they walked into the space before their party, they squealedddddd and

ran arounddd cheering "partyyy dayyy party dayyy!"

I love it. I love them.

WARNING: PHOTO OVERLOAD. (this is edited down...)

Happy to share the details of their party..

Enjoy looking around and thanks for visiting. :)

It all started with the Invitation..

I created it in photoshop..and added some fun extra details to make it special!

(invite details in post linked above)

Planning A Dessert Table is so fun!

DETAILS:

I used dishes and white linens that I already owned.

I purchased burlap from Hobby Lobby's clearance bin for CHEAP

because it had a couple holes...Perfect as a table runner!

upside IKEA vases to hold my lollipop towers.

(foam cones from hobby lobby spray painted yellow with ribbon hot glued around bottom)

I chose treats that my girls love. I cooked NOTHING but the popcorn.

My friend Kate and I made a variety of Homemade Popcorn recipes. (recipes linked below)

We are both pregnant. and we enjoyed taste testing the variety..

and so did the husbands who stopped over after their fantasy football draft. ;)

I ordered 2 large balloons from Shop Sweet lulu.

The grocery store balloon girl didn't want to blow them up very big.. love them anyways!

I had the S letter for the past year (From JoAnns) and spray painted yellow the night before.

The Fabric Backdrop is my favorite part.

I bought the CHEAP fabric that is used for linings.. 2 or so bucks a yard..

and then used a coupon. Just tore 1-2 inch pieces and tied them to an old curtain rod I had.

Draped some leftover fabric over the top to cover the rod and mimic a circus tent

I created printables in Photoshop to label the different treats.

(not all. I feel silly labeling things that are kinda obvious..)

LOVED making the Lion Cupcakes with the Pipe Cleaner Rings of fire!

I did a lot of pricing out of the animals. Ended up getting a huge pack from Party City for $9.99

(hubby twisted the red and yellow pipe cleaners together one night. nice job babe.)

I made some strongman dumbells with vintage candy sticks from Party City and Large Marshmallows. The girls LOVED them. (they only wanted the marshmallows. haha)

And because I know my girls love marshmallows..

I put out a bowl of Circus Train Smoke.. aka mini marshmallows. :)

The popcorn jars I've collected over the years. all for a bargain.

(stores like tjmaxx or ollie's or big lots)

I put out mini popcorn containers from Oriental Trading..

letting guests load up on their favorites! I personally LOVED the white chocolate.

with cute sprinkles. :) (Check out this popcorn post for these and more recipes!)

Yellow cups were (from party city) for scooping the popcorn..but then I ended up grabbing shovels off the buckets (game area) and they worked better!

A veryyyy talented friend of mine, Colleen, baked up some GORGEOUS and

lovely Circus Sugar Cookies. She is amazing and recently started her own blog! Sugar Aunts.

Colleen shares the same love for motherhood, party planning and DIY projects!

You should check her and her sister's blog out..tell her I say hi. :)

I filled up a silverware caddy/container from target with candy.

Everyone wants a Prize at the Circus!

DETAILS:

I have always wanted to draw a big design on a chalkboard..

By no means are the stripes lined up right..but I love it! haha.

We had grabbed up 2 of these huge ones from the "Trash" (One is in our playroom)

I found that amazing frame at Hobby Lobby half off.. had to grab it.

The basket (from my bathroom shelf) is filled with flowers from Trader Joes

(love their selection and price!)

The Canvas Photo is from Photo-Canvas.com and I LOVE how it turned out.

We did a review and giveaway with them a while back..

I printed out another matching photo and framed in one of our IKEA frames from the girls' room.. propped up with frame holders that were dusty in the basement.

I created Fun Containers for the prizes using Dollar Store animals and Plastic Containers.

I just hot glued the animals to the lids..and spray painted them yellow!

(Plan on using in their play room for small toys/craft supplies)

(The prizes were found at different places.. Oriental Trading, Dollar Store, Party City..)

I created in Photoshop some fun treat bag tag printables for the favors.

(Clown Noses from Oriental Trading..bouncy balls from Target)

(Filled Dollar store Snack size ziploc bags with different things and stapled the treat bags to them.)

I like filling some with toys for the bigger kids..

and then the Zoo Cookies for the little ones. (from Bottom Dollar-amazing cookies!! and so cute. ;)

A Circus needs a Tent..

and Fun Things to do!

DETAILS-

I have created a streamer canopy for a few events.. But I love how much easier and quicker this version comes together. I used 2 colors of Plastic Table Cloth Rolls bought at Party City.

You could DEFINITELY get away with just 1.. but I wanted the alternating colors.. and also used them for the tables. (I have a ton leftover..)

I created a Cardboard Ticket Booth out of free boxes from our Dollar Tree..

the girls loved handing out the tickets to their guests! (from party city)

Because of the recent Big Girl room Makeover from Ikea.. we had a ton of HUGE boxes..

So I used one of them to create a photo cut out. one of my favorite things from the entire party!

I pencil drew a design..then filled in with acrylic paint from JoAnns.

I think the adults liked this almost as much as the kids. Excuse my lion..he is a little pudgy. ;)

We had face painting..and Tattoos.. they were a HIT.

We also had bucket & cup toss games and a bounce house that a friend let me borrow!

I would like to thank the bounce house for the 3.5 hour nap my girls took after the party.

Let them eat Cake! and cry!

DETAILS-

Sienna was not a fan of everyone looking and singing to her on this occasion..

She got so shy she cried! And of course the husband is saying "take photos this will be funny later!".......... haha. She ended up calming down once she blew the candles out.

Cake makes everything better. and presents. :)

They were blessed with so many gifts from their sweet friends!

The flowers on the eating tables were put in diy rope vases..

Hot glued rope from Hobby Lobby to Dollar store cups. Circus tent rope..get it?..get it?

The tall candles are from Shop Sweet LuLu and I LOVEEEE them.

Sweet little Cakes from our Giant Eagle Bakery... Delish. $7.. awesome.

Back to Basics! Pizza and drinks.

DETAILS-

I usually offer a bigger spread when it comes to the food..

But I wanted to go simple and easy. and everyone loves pizza!

I know a lot of people do hot dogs for a circus party..but I am one of those crazy moms who cuts up hot dogs into tiny tiny tiny pieces before my kids can eat it...so..not so fun.

I found those two stackable drink containers at target for $2.35 or something crazy like that!

Filled them with fruit punch and lemonade.

We also had a big bowl full of ice and soda/water bottles.

Cups from Party City. Plates from Target. Straws from Shop Sweet LuLu.

Striped Tray I already owned..from Target.

We took some photos the other day in the back yard to use for thank you cards..

Going to make something up in photoshop with space for them to color. :)

The girls wore their target ballet outfits..(gifted from the Easter Bunny)

and for the photos they put on their tulle tutus that I made (tutorial here)

Thanks for checking out My Girls' Vintage Circus Birthday Party!

It was really fun putting it together..and even more fun seeing the smiles on my girls' faces.

Sienna asked the next day if we could have another party day.

I told her 365 days and Yes. we will party it up. ;)

The actual party we have will be having next is when we welcome

this little baby #3 to the family in november!!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Vintage Circus Party Sneak Peek: Dessert Table Details

I am known..for not being able to keep party details a secret!! ;)

I am in the middle of putting together DIY party ideas...

and creating printables for the girls' Vintage Circus Party next month!

I wanted to share how the dessert table is coming together!

I LOVE the mini marshmallows as the circus train smoke..

thought that was perfect since my girls love mini marshmallows

and I put a circus train on the invitation!

For the Circus Ballerina Cupcakes I thought I would make

toppers out of the ballerina photos I took of them the other day..

with a puff of cotton candy!

I love the Lion jumping through the ring of fire..

Already have the red and gold pipe cleaners..

and purchased this set of mini animals from Party City

(best deal I found online and in stores.)

Can't wait to put the dessert table together at the party..

lots of other fun details in the works that I'm

realllllyyy trying not to share at this point. ;)

train smoke

strongman dumbbells

circus lion cupcakes

cotton candy cupcakes

animal crackers 1 & 2

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

DIY Cardboard Castle Tutorial - Cost:$4

I have been getting lots of questions about how I made

this Cardboard Castle for my daughters' Storybook Princess Party..

So here's a full tutorial on how to make it yourself!

If you get free boxes, use paint you already have..

then you'll only spend $4(pack of zip ties) to make this castle!

I went into my dollar store and asked them if they had any extra boxes..

They were nice enough to let me choose the sizes I wanted and let me load up my car!

It always doesn't hurt to ask! You can also try places like Target or Home Depot..

(That's where I found boxes for my daughters' Sweetopia Village the year before!

Luckily I stopped by the day their trash compactor broke. :)

CAREFULLY cut out doors & windows using a utility knife.

I used extra cardboard to make a template..

and then traced that on both towers for my windows.

I cut out the drawbridge but left the bottom part connected so it could swing up and down.

You'll notice the stacked boxes...I cut out part of the bottom of one and top of the other so that they kids could fit in that space. (hope that makes sense!

photos below might help explain that.)

CONNECTING THE BOXES:

I would poke a hole with a pen through both layers of the boxes or sides of them if I was connecting that way.. and then thread a zip tie through it..and zip tight!

Just mess with it when you are putting the boxes together..

You will be able to sense where you need to add a zip tie to make it sturdy.

I didn't zip tie all 3 big pieces together (2 towers and 1 doorway)

because I wanted to be able to one day move it out of our play room....haha.

it's in the basement and ready to be moved up whenever we

decide it's time for a castle play date!

PS. I bought my zip ties at Target.

But you can buy that at any hardware store too.

Using scissors I roughly cut out rock shapes.

have fun with it! do more..or do less!

Random: For my church's VBS I made a roman village like this..
and used a darker share to shadow all the rocks when I painted them (with a sprayer)

For the drawbridge I poked two holes.. threaded some rope from my craft box and double knotted it on the outside. the strands lay inside for the girls to pull up to shut it!

I made up a flag design on my computer..with different patterns and colors.

then just printed them out..cut them..and sewed them together with white thread.

I now have 3 of the garlands hanging over the girls' play kitchen in the corner of their room.

I REALLY wanted to make clouds.

The quilting batting material was always calling my name!!

I kinda made it up as I went along.. but really just roughly sew them together. the looser the better.. and then just puff them out once you turn them inside out before stitching it closed.

I think these clouds would be so cute for a baby's nursery..

or for a variety of party themes.. toy story..noah's ark..etc etc.

This castle hosted plenty of tea parties and baby doll nap times.

The drawbridge was used a lot by the 3 yr old to keep her 1 yr old sister out.........

glad I didn't put a lock on the castle door. ;)

Here's a video of the cuteness in "action"

Hope that answers your questions..
just leave comments below if I missed something! :)

Friday, December 30, 2011

Our Kids' Cookie Decorating Play Date

A couple weeks before Christmas

I hosted a Cookie Decorating Play Date!

It was really fun seeing their creativity go wild!

And I was impressed with how clean the floor was at the end of this. ;)
A Cookie Decorating Party would be a great

theme for a child's birthday party!

Or have a grown up one and pull out the fancy cookie decorating books for inspiration.

This post is making me go into a sugar come just looking at it. ;)

KEYS TO SUCCESS:
1. Bought pre-made sugar cookies from Grocery Store's Bakery
(Know the bakers so got a discount! But best purchase..saved time and a dirty kitchen :)

2. I had each of the moms bring sprinkles to add to the mix!
(I loved seeing the variety.. and the kids loved contributing to the fun table!)