This Week's Party Peeks

 

There are so many adorable and amazingly creative parties going on these days that I thought it would be fun to feature a few every week.  So without further ado, here are AFOMFT'S PARTY PEEKS OF THE WEEK:

1.  BUGGIE'S VERY CUTE FRUIT STAND 5TH BIRTHDAY

Amy from Buggie & Jellybean threw this super sweet soiree for her daughter and the theme couldn't be any more fun!  Just look at the fun ways she integrated different kinds of fruit:

With watermelon soaps, banana fabric bags, strawberry cookies, cherry lollipops and assorted fruit cocktail crayons, guests were treated to a "feast" of amazing goodies!  See the rest of the fruit-astic details at Buggies & Jellybean.


2.  BROOKS' TRASHY SECOND BIRTHDAY

When the Hostess with the Mostess feature on this party from Annika at Cake Likes a Party showed up in my inbox this morning, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Annika made garbage look great!  Her son, Brooks, is obsessed with trash and trash trucks so she decided to build a party around them, and boy oh boy, did she go above and beyond! 

Decorations were made from recyclables:

And all of the party goers got in on picking up a "mess."

There's more trash-tacular fun where this came from, so be sure to read more about it on Hostess with the Mostess.


3.  LITTLE A'S CEREAL MIXER

I'm a huge fan of Merrilee from mer mag, and this pajama party, which revolved around a cereal bar and Saturday morning cartoons, shows exactly why - it's whimsical and totally one-of-a-kind!  Just look at the invitation:

I mean really - does it get any cuter than that?  Why yes it does!  With a table filled with lots of fun breakfast goodies, ready to be mixed together by little hands.

And eaten with personalized spoons:

On a table topped with fun images to color!

For the cake?  A giant rice krispie treat topped with Trix of course!

And at the end, each guest left with a box of their own custom cereal mix.

Can you take it?  Find out more about this brunch bash over on mer mag.


4.  NOAH'S APRIL SHOWERS BIRTHDAY 

Jenny from Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line decided to embrace the usually rainy month her son was born in when planning his party this year, and the result was the perfect storm of delightful details!  How fun is the rainbow rain boot table runner?

Umbrellas filled with paper balls and raindrop garlands decorated the space:

And in addition to cloud and boot cookies, the dessert table featured rain puddle cupcakes!

Last but not least, each party guest took home a monogrammed umbrella.

See more of this rainy day fabulousness at Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line.


5.  ROBIN HOOD TAKES THE CAKE

If any party is a bull's eye, it's this one from Tout Mon Amour!  Every little thing tied would be perfectly at home in Sherwood Forest.  From the personalized burlap-wrapped cups:

To the faux-suede favor bags:

And the piece de resistance?  This amazing cake!

There's more of this Robin Hood party to enjoy at Kara's Party Ideas.

So there you have our first AFOMFT PARTY PEEKS OF THE WEEK round up!  Do you have a favorite of the five featured here?  Or if you've thrown a shower, birthday or other party that you'd like to see included here, e-mail pictures and details to afomft@gmail.com.

Images: Buggie & Jellybean, Cake Likes a Party,  mer mag , Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line & Tout Mon Amour

How to Throw the Ultimate Sesame Street Party! {Part 2}

Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away....

I've had that song stuck in my since I posted part one of How To Throw the Ultimate Sesame Street Party last week and why wouldn't I?  Visions of Cookie Monster and Big Bird and Oscar have been dancing in my head ever since.  I guess I should get used to it since it's time for part two!

My last post covered invitations, decorations and food, but what are you going to do with all of those Bert & Ernie lovers once the party starts?  I love this "Pin the Nose on Elmo" game that Melissa from Honey Scrap made for just 50 cents using poster board and construction paper.

There were two great activities at the party thrown by Libby from Libby's Little Addiction - make-your-own Sesame puppets, using foam cut out with scalloped circle punches, googly eyes, popsicle sticks and pom poms:

And this super cute "Toss Oscar in the Garbage Can" game:

Libby painted clothespins to look like Oscar (and even included a little Slimey worm!) and decorated paper bags to look like garbage cans.  Genius!

Jami from Freckled Laundry made this cookie-tastic pinata out of a paper bag and crepe paper for just $1!  You could probably make all of the characters using her simple tutorial.

I found another fun and inexpensive idea over on And Everything Sweet, where Kate set up a fake tattoo parlor for her daughter Olivia's birthday. {Psst- you can get 72 temporary Sesame Street tattoos for $7 at Oriental Trading!}

She also made this amazing photo stand where the kiddos could take a turn being Ernie.

Once the food has been eaten and the games are done, it's time for cake!  The Hudson Street sign on this one from Jenny Cookies is too cute.

Effi from Le Petit Party used fondant characters on her son's cake.

Over on And Everything Sweet, that term was an understatement when it came to Olivia's confection, which featured a huge cupcake on top!

But who says you have to have a cake?  You can keep it simple like Melissa from Honey Scrap, who made an Elmo out of cupcakes. 

Unfortunately, after the candles have been blown out, it can only mean one thing - the party's over.  But don't send your guests home empty handed!  Cookies shaped like the birthday boy or girl's age and initial (this party brought to you by the letter "H" and the number "2") are a fun favor, like these from Jenny Cookies:

And the character pails from Olivia's party on And Everything Sweet would also be fab.

I don't know where they're from but they look like they'd be pretty simple to DIY.

That's not what party goers at Olivia's party received, though.  Elmo inspired the actual favors:

Much to some parents' chagrin, when they left with his two favorite things - crayons and a real goldfish!

Want to do something similar but simpler?  These chocolate-covered Oreo Goldfish pops from Domesticated Lady will probably go over a little better with the 'rents.

And while we're making Elmo's picks edible, why not tackle crayons too?

Jenn from Parties by Hardie shows you how to make edible crayons (hint: they're pretzel rods dipped in chocolate):

And there's also a free printable for the wrappers!

So there you have it - what to do, what to eat and what to give out at your Sesame Street birthday bash.  Hmmmm, it seems like I'm forgetting something.  What could it be?  Of course!  What to wear!

There are tons of adorable Sesame Street outfits, shirts and dresses on Etsy and elsewhere but I'll leave you with two of my favorite ideas.  I adore these darling appliqued shirts from Peanut and Pumpkin Design.

How cute are the names and ages on the back?

Sara can make almost any character and you can pair the shirts with tutus, jeans or whatever. 

And if you're feeling a little crafty yourself, give these hats from Crafts by Amanda a go.  The how to is super simple.

Come to think of it, they'd make cute favors too!

So there you have it - How to Throw the Ultimate Sesame Street Party!  I hope you've enjoyed these posts.  If you have some Sesame ideas you want to share, post them in the comments and I'll include them in the future.  And stay tuned for our next "Ultimate Party" post on rock star bashes!  If you have something that ties into this theme that you think I should include, shoot me an e-mail at afomft@gmail.com.

Images: Honey Scrap, Libby's Little Addiction, And Everything Sweet, Freckled Laundry, Jenny Cookies, Le Petit Party, Domesticated Lady, Parties by Hardie, Peanut and Pumpkin Design & Crafts by Amanda

Valentine's Freebie Festival: Day 10 {FREEBIES}

For day 10 of our VALENTINE FREEBIE FESTIVAL, I'm sharing two fab freebies from a site I love called Supermom Moments.  Both of these ideas are simple but fun ways to add some flair to the cards your kids give out on February 14th.

Up first is the Bouncy Ball Valentine.  Just add a super ball to a 3x5 plastic bag, top with one of these cute sayings:

And have your little one sign the back.

Option number two is the Sip-a-dee-do-dah Valentine - simply glue a message to a silly straw. 

Now really, does it get any easier than that?  I love these ideas because they're unique and cost a few cents each.  They'd make great party favors too.  I'm just sayin'!

 You can download these free printable valentine messages for the bouncy balls and straws via the links above, and if you have a free Valentine's printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

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