Easy, Colorful Toddler's Birthday Party
10 great tips for turning affordable, reusable finds into a festive luncheon kids and parents will love
Entertaining at home is all the rage, especially with all the fun ideas available to us now. If you use items you already have or start collecting pieces that can be used over and over no matter the theme, your party can look like a million bucks, even when you don't spend much at all.
2. Think outside the box. While the kiddos are still young you have a little more leeway with party themes. In no time they'll be asking for a party centered around their favorite cartoon characters.
Although I chose the theme for my daughter's party, I still wanted to reflect an interest of hers. She loves to play with our set of stacking Russian dolls, so that gave me a fun way to incorporate something she likes while still allowing me to use my design skills.
Although I chose the theme for my daughter's party, I still wanted to reflect an interest of hers. She loves to play with our set of stacking Russian dolls, so that gave me a fun way to incorporate something she likes while still allowing me to use my design skills.
3. Find decor items that you can use again. I have a stash of items I use over and over again. They just get reinvented for each new party, but most people never notice.
The red stallion could be used as a home accessory or for a new party theme, and the Russian Doll Decal I placed on a canvas will hang in my daughter's room post-party.
The red stallion could be used as a home accessory or for a new party theme, and the Russian Doll Decal I placed on a canvas will hang in my daughter's room post-party.
4. Display paper or plastic plates and silverware in a fun way. Disposable plates are a must for many parties. Instead of just laying out a box of plastic forks and spoons, wrap them in a napkin and tie them off with a ribbon. It looks prettier and makes it easy for your guests to grab a bundle at the buffet.
This lined basket from a store's dollar bin made a perfect holder for the adults' plates.
5. Make food easy. Kids make your life busy enough. Add entertaining and cooking on top of that — someone's going to need a vacation.
You can serve simple foods and just display them in a beautiful way. I lined this metal fish cooker with a beaded napkin and it became a great way to serve bread for the adults' sandwich bar.
You can serve simple foods and just display them in a beautiful way. I lined this metal fish cooker with a beaded napkin and it became a great way to serve bread for the adults' sandwich bar.
6. Make food fun. Fun food does not need to be difficult. It's all about how it's displayed. In this case, the display became the actual show. I made this Wiggly Watermelon by pouring Jell-O into a hollowed-out watermelon. When the Jell-O is almost, but not-quite set, throw in mini chocolate chips for the "seeds."
7. Make healthy lunches that will please even the pickiest of eaters. Nobody thought they'd have that "picky eater" but let's face it — it happens to the best of us. By offering a variety of healthy finger foods you're sure to hit the mark with at least a few items on every kid's list.
Displaying the toddler lunches in ice cube trays was a fun way for the kids to eat. They were also easy for parents to just grab as their own children became hungry. I found these trays in the Target dollar bin — two for $1.
Displaying the toddler lunches in ice cube trays was a fun way for the kids to eat. They were also easy for parents to just grab as their own children became hungry. I found these trays in the Target dollar bin — two for $1.
The trays were a hit!
8. Use signage as decor. I always try to label foods or create a listed menu that I put in a frame. It gives you one more fun design element to add to your party and also gives parents a quick list to browse, in case their child has any food allergies.
This idea can also work for any activities you may be having. You can make signs explaining directions for any activities you have at the party. I once made a sign for a bubble station at my daughter's 1st birthday party. It read, "The Bean's Bubble Bar." We used her nickname in the title.
This idea can also work for any activities you may be having. You can make signs explaining directions for any activities you have at the party. I once made a sign for a bubble station at my daughter's 1st birthday party. It read, "The Bean's Bubble Bar." We used her nickname in the title.
9. Make dessert part of your party theme. Serve dessert in a fun and easy way. Cake pops are all the rage and are easy for tots to eat. Cake pops can be made into so many themes, making it easy to cater to each party. Bakerella is a great source for inspiration on cakepop how-tos. There are also many sources popping up locally, should you want to hire someone to make some for your party.
The trays, sign and cake pops create a pretty vignette on a side table.
10. Give guests a favor they'll love. Favors need not be expensive, but they do need to be something that won't just get tossed away. Food for me will always be loved by the masses, so for the most part, favors for my parties are always edible.
I made a snack mix for the kiddos and then poured it into cello bags that I dressed up with a clip art image I purchased on Etsy.
Instructions:
I made a snack mix for the kiddos and then poured it into cello bags that I dressed up with a clip art image I purchased on Etsy.
Instructions:
- Print out clip art and cut out each doll's head.
- For the back, trace the front head onto a piece of colored cardstock and cut out.
- Using a glue stick, attach top of the doll's head to the cardstock backing, leaving the neck area unglued.
- Fill a vase-shaped cello bag (found at Michael's) with treats. Close off by folding the top of the bag towards the center and then down. Then place the printed doll so that the neck portion is over the folded top of the bag. The printed side of the doll's head will face the front of the bag; the unprinted cardstock will lie down the back.
- Use a hole punch to make two holes about an inch apart through paper, cardstock and the top of the bag. Pull a ribbon though the holes from the back and tie a bow in front to finish off your doll.
Instead of having decorations all around the house and in the backyard for my daughter's second birthday party, I focused my arrangements on only two tables. Look closely: Take the food away, and there really is not that much décor. Grouping it all together is what made the impact.