Birthday Party Ideas

I just realized that kids' birthday is a little over a month to go and haven't really started planning anything. And since I've always got a lot of things happening all at the same time, I've started panicking - not sure if I'll ever have enough time to prepare.

My criteria this year are:

1. as much as possible low key
2. no balloons
3. as much as possible handmade
4. has to be a unisex theme as my twins is a boy and a girl
   

I'm not even sure if this is all realistic... So I've put together some 'mood boards' to see what my options are. My twins of course wants something either too boyish or too girly and even at 4 cannot seem to agree on a theme until this morning when I asked them. When I hinted at a underwater sort of theme, it seems like they both agreed. Now putting my mood boards together does not really seem like it's coherent to the chosen theme... Who knows what I'll end up having in the end but maybe I can adapt some to theme... we'll see.


1-2: Martha Stewart Pop-up Party Decorations - I remember making these way back in grade school and I'm going to try to remember how these are made this coming weekend. This would be a nice change from the streamers which everyone has been making like what the kids and I did one weekend (see picture 3).

4: Martha Stewart Festive Garland - another possibility combining 1, 2 and 3

5: Creature Comfort's Paper Rosette's based on Martha Stewart's Fabric Star Medallions - this may be my go-to version if I am not successful with doing 1 and 2.


1 and 4: Cookie Magazine's recommendation for party games - Bean Bag Toss and Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I was actually planning on making Bean Bag Toss this weekend so it'll be a trial or one which I'll keep until the party.

2: Coloured Pasta - could be something I'll get the kids to put together into jewelry. I clipped an article from Parents magazine last year which had some excellent ideas on what things you can make with coloured pastas. Simply Radiant has a great tutorial for making the pastas bright and colourful.

3: Pinata - definitely! I have already an idea on how I'll make one using a string or ribbons to pull open the pinata. I don't like those that requires a bat to break the pinata open. We had a small fire truck last year which I bought and then filled with small amount of candies and lots of tiny toys. It was a big hit.

5: Martha Stewart's Fabric-Scrap Favor Pick - good way to use up my fabric stash but not sure yet what I'll put inside...

6: Legos - will be something boys can do

7: Martha Stewart's Notebook Labels - my idea is more of personalized bookplates for the guests

8: Freezer Paper Printing - This was something we did one weekend and the kids had fun so I'm thinking could be an activity and at the same time a party favor afterwards.


1: Fish Bowl Cupcake - this idea was on a book I bought last year called Hello Cupcake. But also found this from here. The kids have asked me a few times when I'll make these but haven't gotten round to it. This will be my chance, I guess.

2: Annabel Karmel's Jelly Boat - made this last year for the kids 3rd birthday and was a hit, so in line with the 'theme' this may make a comeback.

3, 5 and 9: Cookie Magazine's Healthy Snacks - these snacks were featured in one of the issues I received and have tested so far the frozen banana treat. I've been wanting to try the other 2 and this may be a chance. These doubles also as party food.

4 and 8: Bakerella's Cake Pops - oooohhhh... I've been eyeing these for some time now and thought these would be perfect party food. Just haven't had much time during the past weekends. These sound a little less 'evil' than a candy pop; not big on candies.

6: Inchmark's Star Cupcakes - this is an interesting idea for a topper too which is neither too girly or too boyish...

7: Martha Stewart's Carrot-Cake Mini Cupcakes - this is more for the idea on the topper and possibly the cupcake recipe or a banana one.