Paw Patrol 3rd Birthday

This party happened just over 6 months ago, in late July,  but I still wanted to document it here since this is a bit of a virtual scrapbook for myself and our family (albeit a very, very, out of date one!)

Makayla has been obsessed with Paw Patrol (a Nickelodeon cartoon for those of you who may not know it) since it first started airing in the late summer of 2013. All she wanted for Christmas in 2013 was 'Paw Patrol toys', which, of course, were no where to be found because the show was too new. 

Mama to the rescue with a collection of stuffed animals 

similar to the pups in the show.

 It was a huge hit!

Grandma and Grandpa jumped in on the action and improvised their own Paw Patrol gift that Christmas- a hand drawn Zuma shirt! She was smitten.

So when we started talking birthday party themes in the late spring she had no trouble deciding

 it was going to be Paw Patrol all the way! 

I had big plans to get everything done before Savannah arrived...but that didn't happen at all. 

Let's face it, I barely got her nursery cleaned up and put together and her newborn clothes washed before she was born. 

So with a one week old baby I created her invitations-

 I 'girlied' them up a bit with the rainbow chevron.

Available customized invitations here in my Etsy Shop, Mod Ink Design.

We kept the party simple, 

because simple is the name of the game with a newborn and 2 other kiddos!

I made a quick 'Skye' t-shirt for Makayla

 with a little photoshop work and an iron on transfer + white t-shirt.

The treat table included 'scooby snacks'

 aka. dog bone shaped graham crackers and cheese ball treats

 in dollar store dog bowls.

The cupcake toppers were a mix of free printables from Nick Jr's website and my own rainbow chevron 'M' and '3' designs.

A super easy and budget friendly way to decorate cupcakes!

The rest of the house got very simple decorations, 

including a banner and some fun paper pinwheels on the mantel

 and a quick happy Birthday sign on our kitchen chalkboard!

Aunt Felisa helping hold newborn Savannah- she was 4 weeks old here!

Some of the party guests enjoying a coloring table with Paw Patrol coloring pages printed from various free online sources (just google!)

'Doggy Bag' treats for all the kiddos to take home- 

which included a simple mix of candy, rainbow bracelets and silly putty eggs.

You can purchase the treat bag toppers here, in my Etsy shop as an instant download!

My sweet girl being shy while we sang 'Happy Birthday'- love her!

Cupcakes and ice cream....yum!

Cousin Ellie, who celebrated her 3rd birthday the very next weekend!

Of course, there were plenty of awesome presents! 

Thanks (6 months late) to everyone who came to help us celebrate our curly haired sweetheart turning 3!

Kinsey's 4th Birthday!

I cannot believe I have a 4 year old. F O U R. wow.

I know it is cliche to say it, but man, time really does fly!

 I won't get all sappy on you (not right now at least) but instead 

share the details of the party I put together for my little princess!

 Enjoy. 

First time using hot rollers...

Dessert Table with Crown Canopy (tutorial to come)

Dessert table:

 Cookie recipes via Sweet Sugarbelle here and icing recipe here

Ruffled cake tutorial via Sweetapolita here

Chocolate Cupcake recipe via My baking Addiction here (sooo delicious)

Cupcake toppers by Mod Ink Design here

Outside Decorations:

Tablecloths and runners from our wedding 8 years ago
(never imagined I would use them for my daughters party someday!)

Centerpieces: printables glued to foam board, stuck onto a popsicle stick,
placed in a mason jar or vase with tulle and tied up with a ribbon
Purchase printable princess images here 

Flag banner sew together with felt

Castle idea via Busy Budgeting Mama here

Inside Decorations:

Front Door Sign- Foam Board painted with DIY chalkboard paint, then colored on with a paint marker

DIY framed chalkboard sign inside

Birthday Banner over fireplace

"kiss the frog" game

As a party activity and party favor in one we did a crown decoration station

Crowns from Oriental Trading here and here

Additional stick on jewels here (no glue involved at all= no messy hands!)

The Princes also took home swords and the Princesses got jewels (necklaces and rings) and wands

Cake Time!

The princess and her little sister pictured enjoying their goodies

Playing in the Castle, opening presents, and Pretty Princesses all together

I think the party was a hit!

 Kinsey on Saturday night: "Mom, remember my party?" Me: "yes, it was today, I haven't forgotten" Kinsey: "Thank you mommy for the decorations, they were sooooooo pretty!"

Success!

 Although on Monday she was already trying to get me to start planning her next event....

Makayla's Very Hungry Caterpillar Party

Today I will sharing the 1st Birthday party we had for Makayla based on Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In brainstorming theme's for her party I came across so many cute ideas, but when I saw a party based on this book I knew it was the perfect choice for our little girl. Not only can she eat more than her big sister, but she also was a caterpillar for her first Halloween (costume by me).  Big Sister Kinsey was a ladybug for her first Halloween and then had a ladybug first birthday, so it just seemed to fit.

I designed the invitations, cupcake toppers, signs, banners and thank you cards with my limited (but growing) photoshop knowledge. It was really fun learning new things in the process!

Top Left- Birthday Welcome Sign, Top Right- Cupcake Toppers,
Bottom Right- Invitation, Bottom Left- Thank You notes
Most items available for purchase at my design shop ModInk Design 

Buttercream iced cake and smash cake with hand painted fondant fruit and fondant caterpillar, done by me

Birthday girl enjoying her rainbow smash cake, and sharing with her almost one-year old cousin Eleanor!

Surprise! Rainbow cake inside!

Cupcakes with toppers I designed, available for purchase at my design shop ModInk Design here

Month by month photos in a caterpillar design

Top- Fabric wrapped canvas artwork,
 Middle Left- fruit from the VHC Book, Middle Right- Tissue paper flowers and toppers as centerpieces in dollar store baskets
Bottom Left- Activity center with butterfly's to color and caterpillars to glue together
Bottom Right- More printables from Polka Dots and Puppies

Makayla in her birthday dress designed and sewed by myself, with Eric Carle fabric and Caterpillar applique

Opening Presents and having fun!

We had Makayla's keepsake copy of the book out for guests to write a special note in

The little guests all got either a bug kit with snacks inside or a stuffed caterpillar (depending on their age) which I forgot to take photos of! We had a blast celebrating our baby girl's first year, here's to many, many more birthday celebrations!

Kinsey's Second Birthday Party

 This Saturday we invited family and friends to a local park to help us celebrate our daughter Kinsey's second birthday! Her actual birthday is October 5th, so we will get the chance to celebrate again Tuesday with just our little 3 member family.

The weather was great, the food was yummy, and the kids and adults all had a great time! I made just about everything you see, from the food and desserts, the cake, Kinsey's outfit and all the decorations, including the cutouts of Buzz & Woody! My little girlie just loves Toy Story, so we had to have that as the theme! Instead of posting a million pictures I decided to cosolidate them for easier viewing....so enjoy!