When I first started looking for inspiration for this party, I was disappointed that I couldn’t find many girlie takes on Curious George. Add that to my less-than-flexible party budget and February weather-woes and I was sort of stumped on how to pull this party off. With the help of some wonderful ladies and some unlikely party supply sources, Ada’s Curious George-themed ice cream social came together beautifully. Here’s an overview of the party details with some helpful tips on planning a richly detailed birthday party on the cheap! This week I’ll share more tips and tutorials and will be introducing the many wonderful women who helped me pull it all together. And if you don’t already, like A LOVELY PLACE TO LAND on Facebook, where this week you’ll be able to take advantage of freebies and giveaways from my sponsors!
Curious George Sundae Bar
Believe it or not, I’d rather shop Goodwill for party supplies than the party supply stores. The key here is going in with an open mind. Early in my party-planning, I take a trip to Goodwill and just wander down the aisles. If your party’s theme focuses on a character from a book, browse the book bins for slightly damaged books that you can cut up and use for party decorations or check the household shelves for serving pieces that can be shaped up with a little paint. Here’s some of the thrifted party details from this party:
I often use thrifted picture frames to create chalkboards. This one makes a great menu board over the drink bar.
I loved the look of vintage ice cream cone holders but couldn’t find one in my price range. This was a cupcake holder I bought at Goodwill and spray painted to give it a malt shop look.
A thrifted crate gets a makeover with ric-rac and yo-yos. It held bags and a scoop so guests could serve themselves popcorn.
Sure, I love champagne and mint together but if you’re planning a birthday party on a tight budget, stick with primary colors. This may sound strange but the more basic your color scheme, the more likely you’ll be to find details on the cheap. In keeping with the Curious George theme, I used a lot of red and yellow which worked out perfectly for a February birthday because I got to take advantage of red leftovers from Christmas and yellow, early-Easter decorations!
I found the plastic bunting at the Dollar Tree in the party section. At 12 feet long, the bunting added a lot of bang for the buck I spent.
My mom made this cute balloon wreath with supplies for the dollar store.
A wooden toy from the dollar bin at Michael’s held paper napkins. The bar was covered in wrapping paper we got at a deep discount after Christmas. The cookies were designed by Cupcakes by Joanne.
Ada’s red and white tutu was purchased at Tuesday Morning for just $3.99 in the Christmas clearance section.
When I’m planning a party, I try to choose materials that will give me a big impact without spending a lot of money. Some of my favorite go-to materials are pom-pom yarn, tissue paper and crepe paper. Of course, it takes some time to make the details but if you’re like me, you are more likely to have time than money!
I used a projector to trace images of George on poster board that I colored, cut out and mounted throughout the house. This one was one of my favorites!
I bought red and yellow pom-pom yarn from Marie’s Yarn and More to use as streamers. Yarn is one of my favorite materials for events because it’s fairly inexpensive and you get a lot for your money. I got 27 yards for just $2.95, which covered the entire party. After the party, I put the yarn away for another project. The personalized bunting was designed by Shelbi at Printable Parties.
Tissue paper flowers mounted on dowel rods added color to my otherwise drab winter flower bed.
One of the most talked about details was the cheapest; we photographed a banana peel, printed it out on cardstock and taped the images to the floor. They looked so real, people were afraid to step on them at first glance! The wall art was purchased last minute on Craigslist and made a great addition to the playroom after the party.
I spray painted Avery labels with chalkboard spray paint and stuck them to disposable sippy cups for the kids. The sippy cups were an affordable option as they came in packs of four!
I got these mini-bins at the Dollar tree and used them as banana split boats. The bins come in a pack of four and can be found in the container section. Since the party, they’ve been favored as snack bowls around here. The wooden spoons were designed by Melissa at Ella Jane Crafts.
Don’t forget to shop your own house or borrow from friends! We displayed the cupcakes in a wagon and wheelbarrow from my mother-in-law’s vintage toy collection. The cupcake toppers were designed by Melissa at Ella Jane Crafts.
When I was a kid, my grandparents saved everything from jelly jars to Clorox bottles to recycle into fun toys or useful household products. I’ve adopted that habit and always rely on recycled items for parties. Here’s a few of my favorites:
These whimsical pinwheels by Halo’s Haven were displayed in upcycled coffee cans that I decorated with Christmas wrapping paper, salvaged ruffles and stickers.
My mother-in-law made these throw pillows out of recycled fabric.
I put out a call on Facebook to find someone who drinks the bottled frappuccinos by Starbucks. My friend Elizabeth started saving her bottles and thanks to her, I now have a sweet collection. The labels were created by Shelbi of Printable Parties.
I’ve already sort of touched on this but it’s an important tip for throwing a budget-friendly party. If you have a vision for your party but don’t have the skills or money to pull something off, consider working out a trade agreement with someone who can help you. Use your talents and time as currency!
With this being the first birthday at our house since our family went gluten-free, we were a little stressed about the birthday cake. I worked with Christina, owner of Sweet Escape Cakes of Kentucky, who created this gorgeous gluten-free cake for Ada’s party.
The adorable ice cream containers and hand-stamped wooden spoons were created by Melissa, owner of Ella Jane Crafts.
George sugar cookies by Cupcakes by Joanne
Our sweet solar-powered dancing monkey greeted guests from the window.
Bow by Geneva Diva
This week I’ll have all sorts of tutorials, tips and fun freebies from some of the vendors featured here. To enter and take advantage of the bonus content, like A LOVELY PLACE TO LAND on Facebook!
Today’s freebie:
Vendor Credits:
Gluten-free Curious George cake designed by Sweet Escapes Cakes of Kentucky
Curious George sugar cookies designed by Cupcakes by Joanne
Ice cream containers, hand-stamped wooden spoons and cupcake toppers by Ella Jane Crafts
Pinwheels designed by Halo’s Haven
Curious George banner and labels by Printable Parties
Curious George bow by Geneva Diva
Curious George shirt by Sha-Bebe
Curious as to the total cost and the amount of time it took to get all this together.
Cute idea.
Hi, Patty! Thanks for your question. I had $100 to spend on decorations and food, which is why I had to get creative. Almost everything was from Goodwill and the dollar store. Not only is it a great idea to use your time or talents as currency to work out trade arrangements, it’s also a good idea to plan a party around what you already have. My daughter LOVES “Curious George” so we had a lot of toys that we could use as party decor and instead of buying posters or decorations, I drew them myself.
As far as time goes, I worked on the details little by little (mostly while my daughter napped) for about a month. And the Grandmommas helped quite a bit, too!
Super cute! I am jealous both of your vision/creativity and your drive to get this pulled together with a toddler. My head is spinning just thinking about that !
Thanks, Amy! It was a nice escape from working on my book or chasing Ada. My husband knows I need that time with a glue gun, cup of coffee and the Joni Mitchell channel on Pandora otherwise I might lose my mind around here
OMG of course you’ve totally have outdone yourself again! AMAZING party and details! Love you and your attention and love of details, definitely makes the party special and SHINE!
Love it.