Party Obsession: Over the Rainbow Party

I’ve been seeing rainbow parties all over lately, and I think it’s such a great party theme.  Just take a look at this rainbow inspiration board I found on Divine Party Concepts.  

You can create such amazing tablescapes with this color palette.  Check out these party tables seen on Bird’s Party, Kara’s Party Ideas, and Buggie and Jellybean.

The decoration possibilities are endless as well, and they’re very easy to make yourself.  Like these yarn balloons and hanging paper mobiles by Juicy Bits, pretty rainbow paper lanterns and rainbow centerpieces from The Savvy Moms Guide, a paper “cheers” banner from I Go You Go, tissue paper filled clear bulbs from Bird’s Party, an amazing hanging banner from O Chickadee, and a rainbow balloon arch from Design Mom.

You can’t have a party without at least a few sweets, and these sweets and treats are perfect. Just look at this table of yumminess and chocolate dipped cookies by Buggie and Jellybean, or these rainbow cupcakes, the ever popular rainbow layer cake by Whisk Kid, or rainbow decorated cookies.

Serve up more rainbow treats like this rainbow candy layout, these colorful pretzels, layered jello, of course skittles need to make an appearance, and rainbow swirl lollipops too.

Kick your party up a notch by offering your guests a rainbow assortment of drinks like these one’s seen on Thoughtfully Simple.

Don’t forget about the food for your guests.  Why not give them a rainbow platter of fruit.

Or even a build your own pizza station would be cool, with the toppings to go along with your theme.  Like red tomatoes, orange pepperoni, yellow pineapple, green peppers, bleu cheese, and purple onions (okay, I know they are actually red onions, but their color is purple).

It wouldn’t be a party without the printables, and you can get them for free from Paper Glitter.

Are you seeing rainbows yet? I sure hope so.  Enjoy!

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An Eventful Party: Monster Truck 5th Birthday

As promised, I am finally getting around to posting about my sons Monster Truck 5th birthday party.  There were so many elements and pictures of this party that I had a hard time choosing which ones to showcase, so bear with me if this post gets long.

When Jace originally chose monster trucks as the theme for his party, I knew immediately that I didn’t want to go with the standard Grave Digger, black, green, and purple color scheme.  I wanted something different, and so I chose black and white checkered with pops of red, orange, and yellow.

One of the issues I immediately ran into was finding party decorations that fit my chosen color palette.  I quickly realized that I was going to need to make most of the decor myself.  So, I set to work making a custom birthday banner, station banners, pennant banners, drink labels, dessert and candy labels, welcome signs, pathway markers, invitations and pit passes, and anything else I could think to make.

Everyone was given their VIP pit passes once they arrived, and were instructed to proceed to the “Body Shop” where they could get tattooed and have their face painted.

I had four different stations set up around the party area.  There was a Refueling Station (for drinks), the Monster Feast Station (for food), the Dessert Bar, and the Candy Buffet.

Of course the kids loved the candy buffet, and the parents loved the toothbrush and toothpaste favors.  I got the idea from a party thrown by Crazy for Design posted on Amy Atlas.  My favorite feature was the monster truck tire lollipop displays.  They were super easy and inexpensive to make.

The dessert bar featured a little bit of everything.  I made the cake to look like a monster truck tire on the bottom, and then wanted it to look as if the monster truck was bursting out of the top of the cake.

I made monster truck drink labels for the IBC Rootbeer and Gatorade bottles, but I thought the orange Crush bottles fit the “Keep on Crushin” theme perfectly, so I left them as is.

For the party activity I chose a monster truck obstacle course.  Kids were invited into the “Friesen Arena” and had to complete an obstacle course full of different activities that were similar to what a real monster truck might do during a show.

To help space out the kids, we started off with a tire toss, in which they had to get a frisbee or wiffle ball into three different tires.  Once they completed that, they moved on to a tire obstacle, where they had to weave or jump through several tires.  From there, they had to walk a balance beam over a fire pit.  My husband lit several smoke bombs to make it seem like they were really crossing through fire. Then they went on to the can crushing area, where we had soda cans set up for them to stomp and crush. To finish it off, they had to do donuts around another tire, and then climb onto a wooden platform, and jump off.  After they had completed the entire course they were given checkered flags, and rubber bracelet bands with a tire tread design.  The kids had fun, and continued to go through the course several times.  They even put the blowup tires around them, and did the course that way at one point.

I created a Winner’s Circle area for the birthday boy to open his presents.

Everyone seemed to have a great time, and the birthday boy was happy, so that means the party was a success.

I had fun planning this party, and creating all the decorations.  I got so much inspiration from all the wonderful party blogs, and I’m amazed at all the great talent those women have.  Enjoy!

**Many thanks to my sister-in-law Chrystal, and my dad’s wife Sherri, for taking all the great party pictures.  To my wonderful friend Denise for helping me make all the fabulous desserts.  To my mother-in-law Ely, and everyone else who helped on the big day.  To my sweet niece Katie for her wonderful face painting skills. To my mother, who encouraged me every step of the way, and to my husband for putting up with all my crazy requests.  I love you all!

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Inspiration: Summer BBQ – Dessert

The last post in our Summer BBQ series (see our earlier posts here and here) is all about my favorite part of any meal – DESSERT!  I chose this 4th of July Pinwheel party styled by Anders Ruff, and featured on Hostess with the Mostess, because I fell in love with the strung lanterns hanging above the backdrop. Isn’t that a great idea!?  Even though it’s a 4th of July party, the desserts and color scheme would fit in just as well with a red, white, and blue BBQ any time.

The cake pretty much speaks for itself {gorgeous}, and everyone loves a great cake!

Cookies are a pretty easy dessert to offer, and displaying them on a stick, surrounded by red hot candies helps raise the fun meter – especially when they’re shaped like pinwheels. You could also put them in a cellophane bag tied with a ribbon, and give them as favors to all your guests.

Think of all the fun you could have with these dipped desserts – yummy strawberries, fluffy marshmallows, salty pretzels, and delicious apples.  You could easily make them yourself with some melted and colored chocolate, and the fruit, or sweet of your choosing.

These cupcakes tucked inside a festive wrapper and topped with a colorful pinwheel are a perfect two-in-one dessert. First you get to eat the yummy cupcake, then you get to have fun playing with the pinwheel.

And when your BBQ is winding down, you can pass out these S’mores kits to each of your guests.  They can roast their marshmallows over a fire pit, or a BBQ grill, or even in the microwave.  Since they are individually packaged, if they don’t feel like making their s’mores now, they can take them home and make them another time.

I realize these sparklers aren’t dessert, but seriously, how cute is this idea!? Decorative matchbox covers and a couple of sparklers with a party circle attached is a great party favor.  And I personally think sparklers are fun on 4th of July, or any time of the year.

Be sure to take a look at the rest of this party, and all the vendors involved, on Hostess with the Mostess, and stop by the Anders Ruff shop to purchase the printables at a great price.  Enjoy!

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