Saturday we had Hunter's birthday party with a car theme. I've been planning this party for a month and it went so awesome! It really helped that I wrote out a plan early on. That kept me on track and on budget. I think we had about ten kids there. I was lucky enough to have a lot of family and friends helping me get everything ready. I've been cleaning the yard up for weeks and weeks. Friday and Saturday I spent doing all the last minute stuff.
I made car cookies for the goodie bags. I decorated them starting with food markers, but moved to painting on food color with a brush, realizing that was easier and faster. I got these great decorate a race car stickers on Amazon for cheap-o, and little puzzles and chinese yo-yo's at the dollar store. Trent and I took a lot of brown paper bags and put car stickers all over them to put all the goodies into. I think they came out so great. Party bags for less then twenty dollars!
I also had the kids make license plates, which I don't have any pictures of. No pics of the obstacle course either. However, those activities were both big hits with the children. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to put the finished plates in each child's goodie bag, along with the cars that covered the cake. The idea was that each kid was supposed to get a car with their cupcake. Oh well. Can't remember everything, I guess.
Speaking of the cake… I got a bunch of great help from Mary, my Mom-in-law. I had her on fondant duty (in addition to a lot of other little odd things that needed to be done, thanks Mary). She helped me get the roads and letters for the cake all ready. I also got all of the cars for the cake at the dollar store. I was able to get these adorable little sets of two cars with some traffic signs. Add a leaning tower of (donut) tires and a sparkler number 2, and you get one wicked cake that needs to be put up high since the kids cannot keep their hands off of it!
One thing that I really had to deviate from was my idea of an "oil" drink. I had wanted to buy those big cans of Juicy Juice and print up oil labels to wrap around them. Problem though. They don't sell Juicy Juice in those big cans anymore! Instead I bought a couple cans of frozen grape juice concentrate, a bottle of sparkling lemonade soda and raspberry sherbet. Dump all that into a brand new and freshly cleaned oil pan and you have… "Oil Punch!"
We of course had balloons, but some extra decorations were checkered flag streamers and pennant banners. I used
Rasterbator to print up a huge "Welcome to Radiator Springs" sign, attached it to a big card board box we had and strapped it to the deck. I also printed up a bunch of Route 66 signs and hung them up all over the place. A cars tent made a great finishing touch.
In typical party day fashion, Hunter was quite quiet and reserved. See the photo with Grandpa. I figured he was just overwhelmed from everything going on. I should have known better. He's used to situations like this, where there is lots going on, because of the play dates we frequent. All the next day, he and I stayed in bed because we both felt awful. I guess we have a cold or something, and I really hope we didn't pass it on to anybody…
Well, that's how to throw a car themed party on a budget!
Secret Plans for the organization and implementation of a celebration in honor of the birth of Hunter Christopher Anson and his second year of life.
Theme: CARS!
http://www.thebestbirthday.com/cars-disney-party/
http://www.partycity.com/product/hot+wheels+party+supplies.do?sortby=ourPicks&pp=60&size=all&navSet=170031
http://www.partycity.com/product/cars+party+supplies.do?sortby=ourPicks&pp=60&size=all&navSet=170031
Food and Drinks:
Pizzars – $50
Cut up veggies and ranch yogurt dip – $15
Cut up fruit and strawberry yogurt dip – $20
Juicy Juice Cans/Oil Cans – $20
Leaning tower of tires (chocolate donuts)
Cupcakes – Make on Friday before Party
Frosting
Sugar Cookies – To be made the Thursday before the party *See Goodies
Activity(s):
Make license plates – maybe, would use these for the next activity
Pin the license Plate on the Car
Obstacle Course – Will need cones, tires, etc to mark off course. Make some “steering wheels” for the kids to drive. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/obstacle-course-ideas.html http://kidsparties123.com/games/obstacle-course-party-game/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2217466_create-obstacle-courses-preschool-gymnastic.html
Decorations:
Balloons – Wegmans
Mylar Balloons, 2 to 3 – Party City, $2.99 each
Cars to top cupcakes – Dollar Store, $40
Checkered Flag Streamers – Amazon, $1.29 each
Hot Wheels Dangling Cut-outs – Party City, $3.99/3
Route 66 Signs – Print up
Welcome to Radiator Springs – Print Up using http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/
Large Car Banners – Print up, hang on walls
Goodies:
2 Trophy’s – Party City, $.99 each
Medals – Amazon, $8.99/12
Noise Makers – Amazon, $3.99
Sticker Sheets – Amazon, $2.99/12
Paper Bags – Have already
Picture of Cars – Print up and glue on paper bags http://worldofcars.go.com/community/downloads/
Sugar Cookies Cut into Car shapes – Make on Thurs before party *See food
Music:
Cars Soundtrack – iTunes, $9.99
