Mermaid birthday…

for the last time… SERIOUSLY!

  

 

 

 

 

Suz’s favorite blog Kelly’s Corner is doing her weekly spotlight on kids’ parties.  So…. since it is still fresh on my mind…

Here’s a little info on Lily’s MERMAID birthday last weekend:

 

The invitations: 

 

I made them in photoshop elements with a mermaid that I had pre-painted on canvas and scanned in.

I had them printed on cardstock and added glitter to the mermaid tails… just for the girls.

I was so in love with them that I put a version in our etsy shop.

 

 

The Guestbook:

The Tiniest Mermaid by Laura Garnham.  …. the main character is named Lily. How could I resist?

 

    

 

  Kid friendly crafts/decorations: 

  

 

 

2 centerpiece:  99 cent cardboard number from Hobby Lobby painted by Lily with acrylic paint and a foam brush. I cut out the mermaid from extra invitations and glued her on for kicks.

balloon weights:  Lily went on a rock hunt for rocks the size of her hand.  Then we washed and dried them, wrapped them in pre-cut strips of tulle, and tied a big knot.

floating fish and sea-horse:  I cut fish and sea horses out 12x12 white cardstock and let Lily go to town painting them with acrylic paint on both sides.  When dry, I stapled bunched up tulle strips to make their fins.

festive bunting:  I printed Lily is two in fun fonts and cut them in triangle shapes.  Then I backed them with colored scrapbook paper, punched two holes in the top, and fed tulle through the holes.

no-sew birthday girl tutu:

Groovy Girl makeover…  don’t attempt this… NOT worth the effort. She spent the entire party laying lifeless next to the plate of  leftover hot dogs.

 

 

 Party Activities:

 

 

I decided to skip the mermaid fin (flipper) races like I envisioned and stick to things LILY would like (and be successful at),  it was HER party, after all.

 

Under the sea sidewalk chalk

Bubble Machine

Water galore… pools, slip and slide, and a sprinkler

Sand table

 

 Just for fun purchases:

 

 

mermaid swimsuit from Old Navy

Retro mermaid tank from Etsy

Mermaid bloomers from Etsy

Ariel’s sisters  from Amazon

Dolphin floaties from Oriental Trading Co.

Giant Beach Ball from Oriental Trading Co. (which I drew a Sharpie Mermaid on… but would have let older kids decorate at the party… 2 year olds… not so much)

 

 

The cupcakes: (which I completely forgot to get good pictures of)

 

Sea shell cupcake topper:  I printed Lily’s photo on scrapbook paper and cut it into a shell shape.  I glued two together with a toothpick in between to make cupcake toppers.

Mermaid tails:  I cut upside down mermaid tails from different orange-y scrapbook papers  and glued them on toothpicks to make the illusion of mermaids diving into my ocean blue icing.

Fish in the sea:  I unwrapped orange starburst and warmed them in the microwave. I used a rolling pin to roll them out between two pieces of wax paper.  Then I used scissors to cut out fish shapes to put on the cupcakes.

 

The party favors:

 

 

Grow your own mermaid from Hobby Lobby

Fish squirters from OTC

Fish beach balls from OTC

Fish straws from OTC

Dolphins and Friends snacks (Austin brand)
Sea Animal cookies (Austin brand) (conveniently owned by Keebler which is owned by Kellogg’s which employs my husband… I think we have about 3/4 of a CASE left of each… we’ll be eating these until Lily’s high school graduation)