Birthday Party Planning

I can't believe it's that time again, but my little T is turning 2. So, the last few weeks I have been brainstorming ideas for a fun birthday party. Just thought I'd share my favorite free sites for birthday party ideas, and share some fun ideas from what I chose to do last year.

I like to start with these two sites for finding ideas for the party and cake. The best thing about these particular sites is that they are not selling party supplies, etc. My main goal in party planning is to get as creative as I can, so I don't have to spend a load of cash. These both give great ideas by other party throwing parents.

The first is birthdaypartyideas.com. You can find great themed party ideas.

The second is coolest-birthday-cakes.com. There are so many great cake ideas with instructions on how to create them at home. Every time I see one I like I think, "Oh, I can't do that," but once I read the instructions, it doesn't seem so hard.

Alright, so on to last year. I had a blast with T's 1st birthday! I chose a circus theme. For food, we had hot dogs, nachos, root beer, and peanuts. I also handed out bags of popcorn and had popcorn on each table. I decorated all in primary colors, and used streamers to make a circus tent appearance. I found tons of cute circus stuff at the dollar stores, like popcorn bags, circus figurines for center pieces, circus coloring books for grab bags. These were the center pieces, along with balloons and confetti at each table.

For entertainment, I had my dad dress up like a clown, had my husband juggle and dress up as a dancing gorilla, and had my sister dress up as a bearded lady. Also, as the kids came in, I had T's Aunt do face painting. The dancing gorilla was probably a favorite. He came running out to every kid's favorite song, "I like to move it, move it," from Madagascar, and they all danced around with him. So fun!

I dressed T in a little clown costume a friend helped me make.

The kids were also able to make their own clown hats with stickers and colored circles. I made the clown hats out of regular colored birthday cone hats by adding streamer paper around the edge, and then gluing a pon pon to the top. They each had a clown nose in their grab bag to put on during the party.

Finally, I made a clown cake for the party guests. I found a picture online to give me

this idea, and just used a toothpick to trace the clown face.

Oh yes, and that is one of the clown noses I gave to each child.

I made this lion as T's personal cake. Again, I just found a

pic online and copied. That is a regular round cake with triangles cut out

around the edge.

I heart birthday parties! Anyone have a favorite themed party they have put on?

I believe I'm going to go with Elmo/Sesame Street this year. I'll share

when I get it all together!