Lego Birthday Party!

Last Saturday was Lucy's lego birthday party!!! I let Lucy decide what invitations we should make. We found the idea here, and I downloaded the lego font here. They were pretty intense, but I love them. Totally worth the effort (especially since I only had to make 6). :)

It was Lucy's idea to write "Everything is awesome" on the back.

Lucy helped me make a lego banner for our living room. It turned out super cute. We had the idea to write "Lucy" on the dots instead of "Lego." Lucy wrote most of them herself. :)

The party was so much fun. First, we let the kids play with the giant castle blocks while we waited for everyone to arrive. They loved building the towers, but they especially loved knocking them down.

Then we let all the kids build cars out of legos, and raced them down the track (putting my old college research poster to good use). ;) They did a great job. It was fun to see the different cars they built.

Next was the lego pinata! All the credit for this goes to Logan. I was about ready to buy one or just put some crepe paper on a cardboard box, but Logan took the time to paper mache it and cover it with crepe paper (using this blog as a reference). I think it turned out amazing!

Next, by Lucy's request, we played pin the head on the mini-fig. I doctored up this printable so the kids could draw their own faces. I think it was my favorite part. So cute!

Next presents, and then decorating cupcakes! We used yellow frosting and had m&ms and licorice to make faces for their little cupcake mini-fig faces. It was fun -- plus who doesn't like decorating their own cupcake?

We also drew different faces on all the places. The kids loved it.

I bought some cute "party block" AKA lego treat bags at Zurchers, and filled them with matching "party block" stickers, lego candy, and these cool lego necklaces. The necklaces were a huge hit! They were the perfect little gift for these kids. Plus, the etsy seller was super accommodating and was willing to give me both pastel "friends" pieces, along with the gears and gauges (she just gave me the 9 necklaces I ordered, with a small bag filled with TONS of extra tiny pieces). I would totally buy these again.

Finally, the cake. Lucy chose everything for the cake. I think it turned out so cute! Plus it was super easy to make! It was a win-win. :) Happy birthday to my wonderful little 5 year old.

Lucy added the lego candy herself.

Monster Birthday Party!

Lucy decided that she wanted a monster party this year! We started off by making some monster invitations (kudos to my Mom for always making incredible party invitations -- I now feel like a party is not complete without them!).

Inspired by this pin

About 1 minute before the party started, I realized I had zero decorations, so I quickly cut out monster eyes and teeth for our door.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

To start off the party, we decorated monster party hats. I hot glued the eyes on the night before. No one likes it when their googly eyes fall off!

We also gave out little monster bracelets. Most of the kids had never seen a slap bracelet before, and they got a huge kick out of the monster grabbing onto their arm. =) I scored the bracelets at the dollar store for half off after Halloween, and then added the googly eyes. We also lucked out with some awesome monster candy on clearance at the dollar store too. There are advantages to throwing a monster party the week after Halloween.
 

After all the guest had arrived and decorated a hat, we went Monster School! We taught the kids how to ROAR and how to hide and then jump out to scare someone. We had a tunnel obstacle course, and then we all RAN as fast as monsters! We didn't get many pictures. It turns out that with 10 kids, Logan and I had our hands full! =)

Next was the pinata! Lucy found about pinatas about 6 months ago, and has been talking about having one ever since. Logan (the best husband ever!) made the pinata and added the yellow "fur." Lucy and I decorated it. It was only three layers of paper mache, so it was easy enough for 4 year olds to break it. Everyone got three turns to hit it before it broke. It was perfect.

Then presents and decorating monster cupcakes. One kid told me, "This is the best party of my entire life!" I think it was a success!

 

DIY Halloween Paper Wheels and Bats!

I love Halloween.  When I got out our box of Halloween decorations this year (that is practically the size of a shoe box), I decided we needed more!  However, I have a hard time wanting to spend tons of money just to decorate my house. (is it obvious that we are renters?) ;) 

I saw a couple of things on Pinterest and at my friends houses, and decided to see what I could make from stuff I already have around the house.


First up: Paper bats!

I LOVE how these turned out!  I used the free printable from this website, and printed off one full size, one 4"x6", and one 3"x5" to give me the three different sizes of bats.  I was able to cut all 11 bats out of two 12"x12" pieces of cardstock.  I stuck them to the wall with mounting putty.  It took me about 1 1/2 hours to make all of them.  So cute and easy!

Next: Halloween Paper Wheels

I've seen these a lot for weddings and back drops and such.  I saw some at my friends house in a Halloween garland.  So darling!  I decided I could definitely make these myself.  I think they turned out so cute!  I'm especially partial to the spiders on them!

How do you make them, you ask?

Materials: Colored/patterned paper -- I used normal weight, NOT cardstock.
                  For the black wheel I used three sheets of 8.5"x11" paper
                  For the purple wheel I used two sheets that I trimmed down to 6.5"x11"
                  For the orange wheel I used one sheet of 8.5"x11" paper cut in half
Time:        One long nap (about 1 1/2 hours)

Feel free to change up the size of your paper and see what you like!  Since the smaller ones were longer rectangles, I could get away with only two sheets of paper, but since the blacks ones were more squatty, I need three.  Just mess around with it until you get what you like!

First, fold the paper like a fan.  I have a scorer on my paper cutter, and it was AWESOME!  If you don't have one, no big deal, just try to be as consistent as you can with your folds.

I marked mine every 7/8", but anywhere between 1/2" and 1" would work great.  See what you like!

Fold back and forth until you have folded the entire rectangle.

 I then unfolded my fan and folded it in half lengthwise.  It just makes the next step easier.

Fold your fan in half.

For the two-piece wheels, you need something to keep your folded fan together (the three or more piece ones stay together just fine without this step). You could staple it.  I don't have a stapler long enough, so I just sewed it up with my sewing machine on the longest stitch length.  It was super easy.

 Now tape the long sides together (made sure you tape on the back, so it's not visible!). Then need to glue along your stitches (or staple) to keep those two folds together. 

 Tape up the other two sides. I found it was easiest to tape it a little at a time.

For wheels with three pieces, just tape the sections along the folds and then glue the center together!

Glue on a circle of contrasting color (if desired) and some plastic spiders (I used those cheap spider rings)!

I hung mine up with mounting putty.  It's held really well, and then I don't have to hang anything from the ceiling or make holes in my wall. (Yep, it's obvious we are renters!) 

I feel so much more festive!  Now I just need to go buy some candy! =)