Olivia the Pig Birthday Party

My daughter Mariella is a huge reader.  Some of her favorite characters are from her favorite books.   For her 6th birthday party, she insisted on Olivia the Pig.  There are soooo many ideas on line.  I had so much fun with this one.  Every birthday party starts with the invitation.  Here is the one I sent out to our guests.  We decided to go with the red, black and white for the colors of the party.

The guests were welcomed at the door with this birthday wreath.  I got the wreath from the Dollar Tree and used left over tulle from another project.  Very easy and cheap to make!

These were the center pieces.  I got the red roses from the Dollar Tree, vases from Michael's after Valentine's Day clearance and ribbon scraps.  The vases are stuffed with red tissue paper and weighed down with rocks.  Unfortunately, it was too windy to place them outside since this was a swim party. 



My daughter decided against a pinata this year so I went all out with the gift bags.  I got the gift bags from Hobby Lobby and continued with the scallop and Olivia picture on the front topped with a ribbon.  In the bag was a red instrument, red/black necklace, ring, red pencil, red/white spiral straw, lip noise maker, bag of Doritos,  and LOTS of candy (tried to find red/black). 

On the main table there was Olivia sitting on a vase with a #6 displayed on the front.  It was suppose to look like the picture where roses are thrown at her feet.  The good thing about this center piece is that afterwards she can play with the doll.  Hanging from the top were three tissue pom poms.  You can make your own and get the kit from Party City. There were also red, black and white tissue pom poms outside.

 I made this banner with the help of my friend Barbie's Cricut.  I like to make a banner out of her name instead of Happy Birthday so I can display it in her room later.  Also decorating the room, were red and black steamers and polk a dotted red and black ballooons. 

 Birthday cakes costs so much these days and are too much work to cut up and serve.  So a couple of years back I decided to only serve cupcakes and a special small cake for my daughter to blow out the candles.  This year I made this Olivia cake.  My brother-in law helped me decorate it (thanks Wendell).    It was suppose to be a take off the Barbie cake using the Pampered Chef batter bowls.  My daughter LOVED it and so did the guests. 

 These were the cupcakes served to the guests.  They were chocalate cake with chocalate/vanilla frosting baked in poke a dotted cupcake holder and topped with a cherry.

To save money I did not purchase any Olivia paperware.  I just stuck with the red, black and poke a dotted theme for the paperware, utensils and table cloths.  Great way to save money.  I also posted Olivia's Rule's of Life on the table and on the glass door leading to the pool for the guests to read.  My daughter had fun creating her own Rules of Life.

All in all it was a GREAT birthday.  Already thinking about next year!!!!

Eli's Sesame Street Birthday Party

Eli's 2nd Birthday Party- Sesame Street

My son Eli does not say much.  One day, a couple weeks before his birthday, out of the blue and clear as day, he handed me a toy and said ELMO.  I was so happy that I almost cried. I decided right then and there that the theme of his party was gonna be Sesame Street.  My son just loves all things Elmo and gets so excited when Sesame Street comes on. I am on a budget so I had to come up with some creative ideas that don't cost much.

All parties start with the invitation.  I used my scrapbooking supplies to create Cookie Monster and Elmo.  I wanted to stay with the primary colors red, blue and yellow for the party.

The inside of the invation.

 I made this crayon wreath to greet the guests at the front door.  I used 2 boxes of crayons I already had, glued them on a piece of circle cardboard and attached a die cut tag that came with a t-shirt. I got so many compliments on this wreath.

 As the guests walked in the home, they saw the two murals I painted on the walls.  I have a daycare so I already had these murals prainted as decoration for my daycare and kids.

 I used my kids stuff animals and toys to decorate the room where the guests would be.  Good money saver.

 I made the sign from foam board.

I saw this idea on-line and had to make one for my little guy.  It served as a centerpiece and now sits in my son's bedroom.

 This center piece was on the food table.  I already had everything just stuffed a candle holder with tissue.

I just had to make an Elmo cake but did not want to buy the Elmo head pan to only use it once.  So I just made a circle cake and 3 cupcakes cut in half that served as the eyes and nose.  I think it came out great for only a fraction of a store bought cake.

Okay so I also had to make the Cookie Monster cupcakes.  I placed them on a stand with a birthday hat I made for my son.

Here is a close up of the cupcakes.  I owe so much to my sister Anna and my brother-in-law Wendell for helping me complete these cupcakes.

 Eli loved the cupcakes.  In this photo you can also see the paper supplies.  I usually only buy half of what I need then buy solid color paperware and utensils from the Dollar Tree.   I also found these cute Elmo & Cookie Monster juice boxes for the kids at Target.

 Can't have a party without a pinata.  Got this Sesame Street pinata from Party City.

 For games, the kids played "pin the nose on Elmo" and "guess how many gold fish in the jar".  The winner got to take home "Dorothy" a live gold fish.

 We also had a bounce house.  Big hit with the kids and the birthday boy.

 The favor bag contents came with a primary color balloon, Elmo stickers, Elmo book, blower and some candy.  Got everything from the Dollar Tree including the red bags. 

 I got these cute Elmo balloons from the Dollar Tree.  I used them, primary color balloons and streamers to decorate the room and outside.

 I used my son's Halloween treat basket to hand out favors and prizes.

 The whole family dressed in Sesame Street t-shirts.  The birthday boy as Elmo.

 Sister as Zoe.

 Dad as Ernie, who's name really is Ernie.

 Me, mommy, as Cookie Monster.

It was a great party and I know my son loved it.  It was great for him to show off the only word he can say "Elmo"