Category Archives: Crafty Goodness

When I first started thinking about Jessica’s 1st birthday party back at the beginning of the summer, I wanted to do a cowgirl theme. James didn’t like the cowgirl theme. Mainly, because part of my idea was for Jessica to wear cowboy boots and he thought that was a frivolous expense considering she might not be walking by her birthday (which she wasn’t). I didn’t really have any other thoughts, but then I took a trip to one of my local scrapbook stores, Scrapology, with my friend Kristy. In the clearance section, I found the most wonderful paper that would be perfect for a banner and to scrapbook the event. Thus the circus plan was born.

Birthday Banner

The banner jumpstarted the theme and the invitation. The paper (Creative Imaginations) that started it all was double-sided with one side being divided into four squares with each square looking like a circus tent in red, blue, green and yellow. I cut the sheet of paper into four squares, added a coordinating pinked circle and white letters that I cut out using Scrapology’s Cricut. I added eyelets for stability and strung the banner pieces using some green string. I am extremely pleased with how it turned out. Plus, since I made a few extra banner pieces, I can theoretically switch out Jessica’s name for the next kid’s name and use it again. Or at least use just the happy birthday again.

Happy Birthday Jessica Banner

Banner Close-Up

Invitation

Back in July or maybe August, I started searching for a verse to put on the front of the invitation. I found the perfect four line verse, but it ended with birthday boy and Jessica is a birthday girl. James helped me come up with a number of different options for the 3rd line which needed to be changed to rhyme with girl. I got some input from a few friends and family and then ironically, I changed the 3rd verse to something new right before printing the birthday verse on the red cardstock.

Originally, I had wanted to include a picture of Jessica on the front of the invitation. That just wasn’t working and I kept putting off making her invitations. Kristy prodded me into gear and they were made fairly quickly. I received lots of compliments on them and I think they turned out super cute.

Invitation

Stamps: Imaginisce Lion, Elephant and Giraffe
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Ballet Blue, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Garden Green; white card blanks
Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Dell printer
Embellishments: Stickles Xmas Red
Tools: markers; Nestabilities Pinked Circles; dimensionals

Another verse I found went on the inside of the invitation (also printed on my computer). Don’t ask me where I found them, because I don’t remember. Just know, that Google is my best friend.

Inside of the Invitation

Of course, I had to round out the invitation with a clever note on the back. I kinda wonder if anyone even noticed it.

Back of Invitation

Cupcake Toppers

I had a few elephants and giraffes left over from making the invitations, so I decided to make cupcake toppers. I used wooden coffee stir sticks (thanks Will for hooking me up!) cut in half with sticky strip to attach the animals’ circles to them. I made two dozen, eight each of the elephant, giraffe, and lion. Based on a few comments, the kids especially liked the cupcake toppers and some even thought they were something edible.

Cupcake Toppers

Other decorations

Back in August when I was shopping for supplies for the family tree project we did at the family reunion, I found this super cute circus train car kit. It came with an unpainted wooden train car and three painted animals. It was perfect for the party, plus it was on sale, so I bought it. I spray painted it yellow and then last minute (one of two things finished the night before the party) painted the rest of the details with paint and glitter glue (leftover from the family tree project). Of course, I made the mistake of forgetting the animals when I set the train car on the food table, so I’m sure people were confused by it.

Circus Train Car

Kristy had found these super cute Martha Stewart lion and bird hand puppet kits at Big Lots for me. They were a breeze to put together. Unfortunately, I forget to set them out for the party.

Lion and Bird Puppets

While shopping for party supplies, I came across this cute circus tent at Oriental Trading Company. It wasn’t very expensive, but initially I hadn’t planned on getting it. I showed it to James and he thought it would be fun for more than just the party, so we went ahead and got it. It’s slightly bigger than I expected, so we’re only going to leave it up for a little while. We’ll then bring it back out every once in a while. Based on a review, we bought closet pole end caps to put on the ends of the tent stakes at the top to keep the stakes from going through the nylon. I know the kids at the party enjoyed it, but I didn’t get any pictures of them at the party. Jessica is definitely enjoying it now.

Jessica Enjoying the Circus Tent Days After Her Party

I rounded out the decorations with two dozen balloons in red, blue, green and yellow. One dozen said “1st Birthday.” I sent the kiddos home with a balloon in addition to their favor bag.

Stay tuned Part 2: The Party, Part 3: Favors and Thank Yous and Part 4: Food.

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