Ocean Birthday Party

In my Facebook feed, this memory showed up! I was asked to create a simplistic, modern Ocean Birthday party.

This is what I created. Craft paper table cloth - easy to roll out, easy to clean up, and if the kiddos get antsy - they can color on it!

I always incorporate fresh flowers into my parties. It just adds something special to the party. Here, a bunch of white scheme flowers from my local Kroger add a beautiful touch. Their vases are actually soup cans covered in scrapbook paper.

I found wood cutouts at Michaels and got glued them to dowels. Also, I added a little whimsy to the straws. I used Martha Stewart paper punches. Blue plates and bottled water lend themselves to the ocean theme, too.

I added Safari Ltd Incredible Creatures sea turtle, fish, and other ocean creatures to tie the whole theme together.

Simple touches, beautiful details, and cake! made the day special indeed.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Disney Friends Birthday Party

 So a certain 3 year old had a birthday party.  With 14 kids coming - the majority boys - the theme was decided to be "Disney Friends" to remain gender neutral.  I thought how in the world?  It's going to look like a hodge podge of Disney stuff but...a Fairy Godmother waved her magic wand and...

 It turned out so Disney but simple and fun and elegant and perfect.

 I had a stash of Disney pvc characters then won some on online auctions.

 I wrapped soup cans and tomato paste cans (the smaller ones) in two different purple patterns that I found at Micheal's, simply using double stick tape and cutting paper to the size.

 I bought fresh flowers.  I think every party should have fresh flowers.  It just makes it a little more special.

 I cut out Mickey heads from black cardstock x2 and glued to a dowel.  It was the perfect pick for the flowers.

 So each table went like this...
small can + big can + characters + sparkly castle + characters+big can + small can
I continued that pattern over and over.

 I stuck to one color of flower - white - but in different varieties so that there weren't so many competing colors and it added texture and a little touch of class.

 Isn't it fun when the centerpieces double as entertainment?

 The castle was simple.  I made my own pattern, cutting it out of glitter paper from JoAnn's.  I made it 3D by "t"ing the two parts.  For stability, I hot glued it to a piece of green cardstock.

 cupcakes!

 For the picks, you can order them from etsy or I made myself with a paper punch and Disney stickers found at the dollar store.

 Everyone got a Disney gift bag and a Mickey Ears headband.  The bags were $5.99 per dozen with a simple Mickey head cutout and red polka dot ribbon bow.  The headbands I found cheap at Walmart (2 for $.88) and hot glued black circles onto them.

 The craft was castle making.  A simple box base (these found at brpboxshop.com) and toilet paper roll turrets.  The kids ages 18mos to 12 yrs were engaged in decorating the castles with markers and stickers.

 I love this one with its many turrets!

 The food was even Disney themed.  Cookie cutters from amazon made these jam or cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches magically fit the them.

 Mickey Pasta from amazon was a hit!  Zesty Italian Dressing, cherry tomatoes, olives - easy peasy.

 Cucumber and carrot slices made Mickey heads :)

 and pretzel rod magic wands.

A drink station was flanked by thrift store stuffed animals to tie everything together!

Mouse (& a few hamsters) Tea Party

 In preparation for our Mouse Tea Party, we read "The Red, Ripe Strawberry) by Audrey Wood and watched Cinderella.  Big Blue Eyes looked at me and asked, "Can I wear my Cinderella dress, because Cinderella had mouse friends?"  How can I argue with that logic?  We sliced cheese and cut up strawberries.  It was the perfect morning for a front porch Mouse Tea Party.

 Big Blue Eyes wanted "pink flowers and a blue tablecloth".  Okay!  I found these gerber daisies at Kroger and picked some wild flowers - I think they are mustard - on my way in this am.  Yes, I was roadside picking flowers for a tea party at 7am.

 The table looked so cute.

 Of course, the cheese and crackers were the biggest hit with our mouse friends.

 Our guests include...The striped mouse is by JellyCat.  The white mice are by Schleich.  The mouse with the pink dress on is a Woodzeez.  The pink and blue mice are actually hamsters - Japanese erasers.  The mice from Cinderella were from a playset found at the Disney Store ages ago.

 HUGE strawberry!

 Gus, Gus, get down from there :)

I even added some ribbon to the back of the chair - just to make it "fancy".

Garden Party Inspiration

So...somewhere Miss G got inspired to have a Rabbit Tea Party.  Okay!  I went with it.  I found this picket fence basket at Michael's Crafts Store and painted it white.  Before I set up for the Tea Party (while she was napping), I decided to play with themes.  Maybe they will give you inspiration for a backyard tea party or a birthday party.

 I made a simple bunting from shades of green and patterned papers from Archivers, Joanns, and Michaels.  I added a fresh cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, and radishes to my picket fence basket.  I had a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet.  It looked like grass, so I added that.  Then I bought one yard of green and white gingham for the tablecloth.
 Here, I have a bird from the Dollar Store, a blue frame that I found in the dollar section at Michael's, and a Schleich hedgehog.  I just have a collection of stuff and just tried different combination.  This would be cute for a boy or girl or birthday party or a baby shower.

 Here is the close up.  Isn't it just darling?

 This would make a cute and simple bug themed party.  I got the bugs from Target's Summer section.  I think they are by Sunny Patch.

 Mr. Hop is read for his tea party.  I stacked old books so that he could see the table. :) I think it adds a little whimsy.

 Three Green Owls - they are from Oriental Trading Company.  But again...simple and cute.

 Here is a family of deer.

 The baby shower could be themed "Dear Little One" or something.  These are Schleich deer.

 The Woodland Animal theme.  I did this a few years ago for my brother and sister in-law's baby shower.  I had cross-sections of logs and sticks and ferns and twigs, too.

 This mushroom is actually a pen.  It added that little something, something to the décor.

 This one is Simply Rabbit - oh! you know what this would be so cute for?  The kids' table at Easter.

 Whooooo's Having A Baby? or Whooooo's Turning 2?  Owl-themed party.  The green owl is from Oriental Trader.  The blue one is actually a chapstick/lip gloss.  The brown owl is from Schleich.  (They made thee best animals!)

Here is Just A Snail...could be a garden party theme, a snail theme, you name it.  Again, simple and cute.  Birthday parties and baby showers can be elegant and simple and beautiful.  I used veggies (bought at Kroger) instead of flowers and I added a few whimsical touches.

New in the Shop

Source: etsy.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Melanie on Pinterest

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MelanieShanks

It's been a busy weekend.  I have made 14 new Fairy House Making Craft Kits in the shop (above).  These kits are individually, simply, beautifully packages in natural brown boxes and tied with baker's twine.  They would be perfect for that little Tinkerbell, for a fairy themed party, as a gift, or as a party favor.