Clara’s big birthday shindig is tomorrow! Along with her actual birthday. It seems utterly insane to think that this time last year she was just arriving. Oy, how time flies. And since so many of you were asking for par-tay details I figured I’d toss up a quick little pre-party-prep post about all of my “supplies” for the bean’s big day. You’ll have to excuse me if you think I’m going overboard. I’m just a little obsessed with our girl and we’re so honored and excited to celebrate her first year here (more on the reasons for my über appreciative b-day behavior here).
First I made these easy paper poms with tissue paper and some string in our three main party colors (blue, green, and pink- just like her nursery).
You’ll probably remember those colors from her invite (which we made here). Those hues are based on her bedroom- she just loves blue, green, and a hint of pink. At least for now. She’ll probably go through a goth black-loving phase someday so I’ll take pink, blue, and green while I can.
Now we have a handy little numbered photo. Because we all know I like listing stuff. Explanations below.
- This is a cloth party hat that gets passed around our entire family for every child’s birthday. It was last worn in October by Clara’s older cousin Emanuel on his first birthday and she’s been eying it ever since.
- This is the birthday fabric that we designed on Spoonflower for Clara’s 52 week photo. We also plan to use that as a backdrop for a little photo station where everyone at the party can stand and hold those white pieces of paper with colored borders while they pose for a pic. We plan to take each photo and add the person’s name on the blank piece of paper in Photoshop and make a little album for Clara so she can start to learn and see names like “Granny” and “Nona” (her two grandmas) and look back to see everyone who came to celebrate her.
- Here are the fun patterned napkins and plates that we got from Party City on sale. Since our party’s “theme” is based vaguely on Clara’s weekly photos (which inspired her invitation) we thought the patterned napkins and plates looked like a background we would have chosen for one of her weekly shoots.
- Those are giant punch balloons that we grabbed from Target (I thought they’d look fun hanging from the trees on the patio if it doesn’t rain on my
paradeparty). - These are the two banners I’ve made (one a long time ago with paper, and one recently with my stubborn sewing machine) full of fun patterns and colors that also remind us of backdrops for those weekly pics.
- Here we have piles of pink, blue, and green balloons from Target that I’d love to blow up and make into huge balloon garlands to be swagged around outside (or inside if it rains).
- Those are two tablecloths in pink and blue. Just to cover things like odd outdoor tables that don’t match and to add more pops o’ color.
- This is a festive table runner that I made with some of Clara’s weekly fabrics (just like her quilt, but it was way faster and easier- I’ll post the detailed instructions for ya soon).
- Then we have some sidewalk chalk to entertain the kiddos out on the patio. And next to that are little containers of bubbles shaped like ice cream cones (from Target) that will serve as favors for our wee guests (I want to personalize them with each of their names).
I still have to make her smash cake and arrange for the rest of the food, but that shouldn’t be too hard (famous last words?). Oh and we’re going to make a little time capsule that guests can add stuff to for her to open when she’s 18. That should end up being hilarious. I hope.
Operation Start Blowing Up All Those Balloons is about to commence.
We also mentioned that we wanted to DIY a piñata a while back, but the jury is still out on whether it’s going to work. So far I made paper maché (mixing approximately two parts water to one part flour)…
… and blew up one of those punch balloons from Target that wasn’t in our color scheme (the orange one)…
… and cut a bunch of newspaper strips…
… which I paper machéd to the big balloon…
… which I then let dry a bit overnight and then hung outside this morning to hopefully speed up the drying process (since it was still soggy and looking a bit – uh – questionable). Might be a womp-womp project. We’ll have to see.
I still have to let it dry, pop the balloon, fill it with little toys or candy, and add ruffled tissue paper all over it so it doesn’t look like a big goiter (we actually want to make it a pull string piñata since that works well for smaller kids but we’ll have to see how it goes and post details if we get ‘er done).
But more nerveracking than my homemade piñata’s fledgling looks is the forecast. Boo. What’s the deal with the whole scattered t-storms thing?
Please for the love of balloons in trees and bubble yielding ice cream cones, let it be clear and sunny-ish for just two early afternoon hours. Then it can rain cats and dogs all night.
I LOVE the pom poms (as well as Martha, of course)!! I was thinking about doing this for my wedding shower. They’re so fun!
All of the decorations look great! It looks like it’ll be a colorful and fun day. Hopefully it doesn’t rain by you!
For the balloons, you can rent a helium tank at a party store or buy a small one. My mom had bought one of those mini ones forever ago and it lasted for a looong time.
This is the mini helium tank my mom bought: http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search/processRequest.do?Ntt=helium+tank&x=0&y=0&requestURI=searchMain&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&N=0
Thanks for the tip! I might not need helium since I want to make garlands of the balloons and swag them over things (so they don’t have to float on their own). Haha. I’m cheap. But I might cave and get helium if all that balloon blowing makes me faint. Haha.
xo,
s
Hey, we had our son’s 1st birthday party today too, from 12-2 also! I watched the forecast like a hawk. We had the same one as you (we are in NC). We had planned a backyard BBQ. It didn’t start raining until 12:05 and stopped about 2:05!!! I hope you had better weather there! We still had it outside, with a few tents put up during the party. Oh well! They say if it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck. We decided rain on a birthday party meant longevity! :)
Aw that sounds sweet! The weather actually held up for us! It was amazing. Of course tonight it rained like cats and dogs though. Just like it did last year at that time. So strange and reminiscent of that first night with her!
xo
s
I’m SURE it will be fun and beautiful and dry!
Goiter LOL
Not to worry about the fire. After you turn off the oven, you wait a minute or two for the heating element to cool off. Then there is no direct heat, only residual heat. And from the book of the same name, paper burns at 451 farenheit, so 200 isn’t too hot. If you’re worried, use 150 or 175, it just takes a little longer.
Thanks Ted. You’re so smart. Haha.
xo,
s
re: oven – won’t that pop the balloon? It might not set on fire, but I’d think heating the air inside the balloon would cause it to expand and might mess up the final product… ?
Update: I hairdryed it and popped the ballon and it’s looking promising! I still could ruin it though…
xo,
s
Tomorrow is our 2yo’s birthday party too and we’re doing the “no rain” dance up in Northern Virginia as well!
I’m actively doing it with you right now. Maybe it works if two people do it in perfect harmony?
xo,
s
Sending good, dry thougts y’alls way!
I wonder if its too humid outside for the paper mache to set up?
Yeah, it’s back inside now. Still moist. Boo!
xo,
s
Preheat your oven to 200 and then turn it off. Wait a minute or so for the heating element to cool off and then put in the pinata…it will dry out pretty quickly.
Another great idea! Hope I don’t set the house on fire though…
xo,
s
Yeah I was wondering about the humidity. Crossing my figers that the overn does the trick!
PS- everything else is so cute!
Blow Dryer!
yes use a blow dryer!! I made paper mache deer antlers for halloween last year (i was a dead deer and my husband went as a hunter) I made them the day of and used a hair dryer to set them. Works like a charm!
Update: the hair dryer trick worked! things are looking promising!
xo,
s
I am saying a little prayer that the weather holds up for you guys! Either way I am sure little Clara will love everything! Have a fabulous weekend!
Have a wonderful weekend Petersiks and don’t you DARE approve or reply to a single comment tomorrow. You deserve a day off!
Happy birthday to the bean and happy baby birthday to you two
(did you know in Holland it’s a tradition to give presents to the mother on the first few birthdays instead of the child? my ma had lots of dutch friends after living there for a while and so she loved this tradition).
Haha- that sounds pretty fun. Seeing Clara open her gifts makes me so happy though. I’m totally looking forward to it!
xo,
s
So cute and cheerful. Thanks for the preview. :)
Just had a random thought…you could do a “52 weeks” picture today on the Clara fabric and a “1 year” picture tomorrow on the quilt.
Hope it’s nice and dry for you guys – have fun!
True true!
xo,
s
I’m doing the Non-Rain Dance (or Sun Dance, perhaps?) for Clara – trust me, it’s very effective ;)
so much fun! Clara is so lucky to have such great parents like yall!!
Everything looks really cute! Doesn’t papier mache have glue in it? That might be why it’s a little droopy. Good luck!
Growing up I made paper mache that way and it used to work. I think it’s just humid here and I was too liberal with my sloppy mache. Haha.
xo,
s
I think it’s probably humidity; I seem to recall using a blow-dryer on low in high school when I made one for Spanish class and that helped. Just a thought!
I was contemplating that too…
xo,
s
It’s all adorable! Happy 1st Birthday to Clara! Sending good weather vibes your way (all the way from California!)
Hope everything works out! *fingers crossed for no rain*
We are in Raleigh and were planning a yard sale for this weekend…so the weekend forecast is really being a tease with this whole “exactly half of a good chance of rain”… I am equally freaking about the weather. Nothing says a bum yard sale like wet grass, runny/ruined signs and dismal weather… so it’s looking like it’ll be postponed.
But.. I’m sure Clara’s birthday will be a great day, and very memorable, no matter what the weather.
Love love the color scheme, my favorites too!! Hope the rain holds off for ya’ll so you can take full advantage of that patio!
What’s a smash cake? I’m curious!
It’s a little cake just for the baby to smash. So it’s kind of like a personal pan pizza, but a personal baby cake. Haha.
xo,
s
I’ve never heard of this either! Is it an East Coast-ish thing? Is it just for a baby’s first birthday?
I think it’s just for the first b-day but I’m not sure. It’s kind of like the cake cutting and feeding at a wedding tradition – but waaaay messier.
xo,
s
We do these in my family too. It’s always fun to see the baby with frosting all over his/her face and hands and .. everywhere.
MY cousin “shared” with her father, and we have pictures of his face with the frosting she smeared all over it.
Here’s hoping for a sunny day! Happy Bday to the beautiful girl.
Everything looks so fun and festive! Definitely crossing my fingers for no rain for you guys. Happy Birthday, Clara!!
Everything looks amazing!! I hope it doesn’t ran for Clara!!
If your pinata ends up being a bust (ha ha), you might want to try a fast and easy DIY pinata that another blogger posted last week (?) or so. Here’s the link:
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2011/05/paperbag-pinata.html
That’s cute!
xo,
s
Looks great you guys! Question…Sherry, what is a smash cake?
xo,
Tammy
It’s a little baby sized cake for her to get all messy with while we all watch. Can’t wait!
xo,
s
I hope the weather holds out for you!! I too have dreams of spending tomorrow outside to finally spruce up my garden, but that stupid thunderbolt is in my weather forecast too :(
And by thunderbolt, I meant lightening bolt hahaha I need sleep….
Oh, it is going to look adorable. Inside or out, but here’s to hoping for nice weather. If you want to make another paper party banner, here’s an idea for you: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/paper-party-banner/
At Vincent’s 3rd birthday, which we had to have inside due to weather, we filled about 75 balloons with helium and let them rise to the ceiling for a fun decoration. Another easy project is to cut a circle of cardstock into a spiral and hang from a tree or the ceiling for a fun spinning decoration. You could whip up a ton in like 5 minutes. Can’t wait to see the after party. Ha.
Praying for no rain! Everything looks so fun! Happy Birthday Clara Woot Woot!!!
I made poms for my daughter’s nursery, and my friends made some for her baby shower. So we have poms coming out our ears over here! But I love them. They’re so light and bright and she likes to watch them when the fan is going in her room.
Good luck with the party; I’m sure it will be perfect!
SO cute!! I can’t wait to see how it all comes together. It’s adorable so far :-)
Much love,
Future Mama
http://expectingablessing.blogspot.com/
Yeah!!! You’re making the time capsule. I’m the one who emailed you about mine a few months back. Crossing my fingers it doesn’t rain on you tomorrow.
I loved that idea ever since you mentioned it Angie! So much fun!
xo,
s
Can you further elaborate on the time capsule idea? I tried to do an archive search but it wasn’t very fruitful.
We’ll be sharing the pics and more of the concept after the party early next week. We’re basically just having people drop notes and newspapers and photos and other stuff from “right now” into the box and we’ll seal it up and hide it and give it to Clara when she turns 18 to look at all the “treasures” and notes and photos!
xo,
s
oh so cute!!!!!! I LOVE the bright colors of everything, and it’s totally awesome that its a fun, bright birthday without being overrun by a particular cartoon/tv character (but that’s fine too). Can’t wait to see it all in action! I’m sure it’s going to be a great party!
Happy Birthday Clara. We share a birthday. It is the 9th anniversary of my 30th birthday though. You enjoy your first. What a wonderful party your family has planned for you.
I am praying to my Mom in heaven, Baby Brenda, the Patron Saint of wedding and outdoor party weather to keep the rain away for you. Downpour rain was in the forecast for my wedding day but not a drop fell until we had finished our
pre-ceremony outdoor pictures and we were in church! Hoping for the same luck for you guys tomorrow!
Love the bright colors! Can’t wait to see pictures next week!!
what food are you serving good?
Can’t wait to see pictures from the party- love your ideas.
Happy 1st Birthday, Clara!
We’re not 100% sure (ack!) but we’ll share all the pics and details early next week when it’s all said and done!
xo,
s
My 8 year old daughter made those poms in the same colors and they are hanging from her bedroom ceiling! Your blog is my absolute favorite!!!
Another shout out for Martha, but this time for the striped kitchen towel peeking out in the paper mache photo! We have the same ones (along with more terry cloth type hand towels in the coordinating taupe color) and absolutely love them. Definitely an item I’d recommend snagging if you see them on sale at Macys!
Oh yes those were gifts from John’s sister Katie a long time ago and I love them!
xo,
s
You can try putting the paper mâché in your freezer for short increments. Moisture will evaporate as it freezes. Just take it out every so often so it doesn’t actually freeze.
I love that idea! I wonder if it’ll fit…
xo,
s
All of your supplies are so cheerful and fun! I can’t wait to hear all about the party!
I’ll be crossing my fingers that you’re rain free tomorrow!
Oh man, you guys should totally make the Martha rainbow birthday cake, but with just the party colors –
http://www.marthastewart.com/256688/rainbow-cake
Nicole over at Making It Lovely made that for Eleanor’s b-day and it looked amaaazing!
xo,
s
i am really looking forward to seeing the after pics… do we have to wait till monday?! ah!
I know right? Can we have the party now?
xo,
s
Let the EXTRAVAGANZA begin!!! Will be thinking good thoughts for the weather and the fun get-together. Enjoy every minute of it. CLARA is only “1” once!!!
Another Milestone to check off…….got it!!!
CHECK!
Have fun with family and friends.
Will be thinking of you.
(I am the one who made the gall bladder post earlier this week. Not that you care….but I am just about 100% back. FEELIN HUMAN AGAIN!)
B.
Wahoo! Go Barb! So glad you’re feeling great!
xo,
s
Everything for the party looks great. I’ll be a hoping for a sunny day for you all! :)
I forgot to say….Happy Birthday Precious Little Girl.
How lucky she is to have great parents like the both of you.
B.
The pinata goiter cracked me up – hope it dries in time for the party! We’re in No. VA and the forecast here is rain/t-storms for the next week. What the…?! Really hoping the weatherman is wrong – both for Clara’s party and for the sanity of Virginians throughout the state! (And we’re also going to a first birthday party tomorrow – though I think this party is more about the adults sitting around drinking beer – which we can do rain or shine!)
Happy Birthday to Clara and congrats on your first year of parenthood completed!
You must be the pom pom whisperer! I’ve tried that tutorial twice and I can’t get the tissue paper to fluff up out of the folds the way it’s supposed to. I pull gently and they don’t come out. I pull harder and they wrinkle and rip. Instead of a round O shape I get more of a pathetic I shape and you can still see the flat middle part. I generally try to avoid luscious fullness around my middle section, but when it comes to pom poms I can’t get a full middle section no matter how hard I try. I’d love any suggestions because I’m throwing a bridal shower next Saturday and had my heart set on hanging these beautiful cheap decorations that I can’t seem to make.
Mine were all kind of oddly shaped until I just floofed the heck out of them with motion. What I mean by that is that I spun them around a ton on the string, which seemed to make them more round instead of oblong. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I find that good quality tissue paper helps with this problem. I’ve made these many times, using cheap-o paper from the dollar store and more expensive paper from craft stores, and the difference was quite noticeable. I also use 12 sheets per pom pom to give it more fullness. Hope that helps!
Put a fan on that balloon!!! Hope it dries nicely! And sending no rain jazz hands to you Sherry and John! I’m going to need the favor returned for next Saturday as my family is hosting a 40 person outdoor bridal shower for my cousin!
Have a great time tomorrow and Happy Birthday Clara!!!
May 14 is a great day for a birthday! My oldest niece turns 5 tomorrow so I’ll be hoping for blue skies for you and here in Iowa too! Hope the weather holds out, but even if it doesn’t I know you guys will make the best of it.
(However, I’m crossing my fingers for an overcast and semi-chilly Sunday morning, perfect weather to run 13.1 miles!!)
Oh, and maybe you can take the hair dryer to the paper mache? (of course with all of the spare time you have to blow dry a balloon ;)
Birthday parties are so fun and provide some of the best/funniest memories. On my niece’s first birthday she absolutly refused to touch her smash cake because she’s really finicky about her hands being dirty (actually, she’s just really finicky in general. She FOLDS her napkins before throwing them away). My SIL put her hand in the cake and the loudest scream-cry I’ve ever witnessed ensued. We just attended her 4th birthday party last weekend at Chuck E. Cheese (I’m never going back there again. NEVER.) and she was traumatized by the man in the mouse costume. The mascot did this 30 minute schpeel he’s required to do for all parties, and she just cried hysterically the whole way through. I’ll never understand why he didn’t just say “Happy Birthday” and leave.
We used to make paper mache with tissue paper (a few layers are required). It seemed to dry alot faster than the newspaper. It might be too late, though!
All the decorations look great and I’m definately stealing your idea of the group pics with the blank paper to add text to later!! Great idea!
My favorite blog and my daughter turns 6 tomorrow too. I hope you have a great party!
I recall doing paper mache with equal parts flour and water. Well, at any rate, I am commenting to recommend that you use your hair dryer to dry it. Worked like a charm for the masks I made.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
xo,
s
Happy 1st birthday to Clara!!
I hope your party goes off without a hitch. The colors are so bright and fun, and whenever we have kids, I’m going to probably steal your weekly photo idea…so sorry/thanks! :)
I’m up here in Ohio doing the rain dance for you…