I officially have a one-year-old.
Boy, that went quickly. Everyone said the first year would go faster the second time around, and they were right. Somehow, before my eyes, my baby isn't such a baby anymore.
We have a beautiful, funny, sweet, smart little girl, who's a full-fledged crawler, squealer and giggler. It's a bit bittersweet, but it's also cause for celebration.
When it came time to planning my baby's 1st Birthday, I thought about what Madeline likes. She doesn't really watch television yet, and isn't attached to a particular toy or book. Her favourite song, though, is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It's a song we sing every single day -- to calm her, put her to sleep, make her laugh and make her smile. And seeing as she is a little star, it was only a fitting theme.
I started generating ideas and wrapping my theme around two of my favourite colours: gold and peachy pink. Diane from Little Monkey Designs helped me tremendously with the invitations, turning my vision into a reality. And of course, I got lots of ideas from Pinterest (although I still kind of believe Pinterest is ruining party planning in general. More on that another time.)
Once the invites were out it was time to start thinking decor and activities. I essentially planned two different parties one day apart. One was for friends and kids at a local venue, and the other, a gathering of family at home.
Little Monkeys Designs created an adorable Printable Decor Set, all matching my theme. The Printable contained everything from a Welcome Sign (seen below), to a custom banner, cupcake/decorative tags, Thank You squares, Water Bottle Labels and Food Labels. The set was easy to print (at a local print shop) and simple to put together. Best part: I could use the same decor for both parties and achieve similar looks.
I really loved the printable set. It was a cohesive way to bring the party to life, regardless of the venue. The theme was carried through the entire event. Plus, when you have a pro like Diane designing, it's so much easier just to print and cut! I added my own crafty touches, too, from the glittered ONE sign to the 7 foot fabric banner. There are plenty of ways to have a beautiful, stylish party on a budget.
To punch up the cake table, here are some easy, affordable tips:
Disclaimer: I am a Little Monkey Designs Brand Rep and receive special perks as part of my affiliation. All opinions expressed on my blog remain my own.
Boy, that went quickly. Everyone said the first year would go faster the second time around, and they were right. Somehow, before my eyes, my baby isn't such a baby anymore.
We have a beautiful, funny, sweet, smart little girl, who's a full-fledged crawler, squealer and giggler. It's a bit bittersweet, but it's also cause for celebration.
I started generating ideas and wrapping my theme around two of my favourite colours: gold and peachy pink. Diane from Little Monkey Designs helped me tremendously with the invitations, turning my vision into a reality. And of course, I got lots of ideas from Pinterest (although I still kind of believe Pinterest is ruining party planning in general. More on that another time.)
Once the invites were out it was time to start thinking decor and activities. I essentially planned two different parties one day apart. One was for friends and kids at a local venue, and the other, a gathering of family at home.
Little Monkeys Designs created an adorable Printable Decor Set, all matching my theme. The Printable contained everything from a Welcome Sign (seen below), to a custom banner, cupcake/decorative tags, Thank You squares, Water Bottle Labels and Food Labels. The set was easy to print (at a local print shop) and simple to put together. Best part: I could use the same decor for both parties and achieve similar looks.
I really loved the printable set. It was a cohesive way to bring the party to life, regardless of the venue. The theme was carried through the entire event. Plus, when you have a pro like Diane designing, it's so much easier just to print and cut! I added my own crafty touches, too, from the glittered ONE sign to the 7 foot fabric banner. There are plenty of ways to have a beautiful, stylish party on a budget.
- Use a table cloth (dollar store) to create a uniform backdrop to hang the banner
- Use a clear ribbon or fishing wire to hang the banner. Punch a really tiny hole with a hole punch in each banner piece and string it.
- Opt for 3M hooks to hang your decor - they are easy to use and won't damage your walls
- Create levels by wrapping old boxes with fun wrapping paper
Once your decor is worked out, you can think about the details: cake, snacks and activities. I was able to carry my theme through the party -- even down to the loot bags!
Madeline's DELICIOUS cake was ordered from Cake Princess (although she's not currently taking orders as she's 9 months preggers!), and the cookies (Twinkle Treats) from my friend, Dineen. The cake topper was a beautiful touch I ordered from Importer's Gifts in Vaughan. I added visual interest, and a healthy snack, by taking a star cutter to some watermelon and adding real Starfruit to the mix. (By the way, if you want kids to eat LOTS of fruit, cut it up into interesting shapes) Maddie's outfit was a combination of a custom onesie, plus a handmade tutu (I made that!), and soft mocs from Joe Fresh.
Food wise, guests nibbled on Star Puffs, Starburst, Starfruit, Star Krispies and Stelline (star pasta). And adults were able to enjoy a Tall Starbucks while they partied, too. I had a great time coming up with the "menu" and finding interesting ways to describe our stellar snacks. Get it? Stellar.
And when planning, don't forget to consider your guestlist. 10 kids attended Party #1, so I made sure to have a variety of age-appropriate crafts and activities, from colouring to painting. The biggest hit was the star-shaped glasses and the glow sticks.
Oh, and the loot bags. I love giving something useful, and not too junky. In addition to the star goodies from the party, each kid received a star t-shirt. The girls' shirts said Shine On, and the boys' shirts said Future Rock Star.
All in all, I had a great time planning Madeline's First Birthday. While it is a lot of work planning all the different elements, it really shows once it's put together. Plus, it was actually a lot of fun.
If you're planning a party, large or small, I really suggest taking an idea and running with it. You don't need to find a "theme" -- you can create a magical look from just about anything. And don't forget to contact Little Monkey Designs to help you out.
To receive 15% off your entire order at Little Monkey Designs, enter the code SuppaMonkey when checking out. This code is valid until September 30, 2015, so hurry!
Disclaimer: I am a Little Monkey Designs Brand Rep and receive special perks as part of my affiliation. All opinions expressed on my blog remain my own.
Superb birthday party!! I am so impressed dear. I have been reading all your party posts you've given me so many ideas for my engagement party. I would like to reserve the best rental halls in Philadelphia for this and will hire a planner for the arrangements. After reading your posts I exactly know what kind of party I want.
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