Thursday, March 31, 2011

Behind the scenes

Yesterday I posted my daughter's "5th" birthday party. I wanted to share with you how I pulled together this Barbie party...perhaps you'll find a tip or borrow an idea?
The Barbie toppers for the cakes can be used over and over. Only the top portion is Barbie, the bottom half is a stick to put into the cake. For my daughter's "3rd" we used the Barbies as princesses for her princess party...
And, for her "4th" as ballerinas for her tiaras and tutus party...  
*Sidenote, because I think it's important to think out of the box...for the above party I used Ella's polka dot bed sheet for the table cloth! Under the sheet I used a thick white vinyl table protector to make the sheet look heavier! And, the table runner isn't a table runner, it's placemats that I slightly layered to create a table runner. Once I added all the goodies to the table, no one could tell that it wasn't a runner.

And, this year the toppers were used as Barbies...
 
Some of you asked if I truly made the cakes...I did! I made 18 Barbie cakes (17 little ones and a large one for Ella) along with 48 cupcakes for the adults. I whipped up 10 cakes and decorated them Thursday night while watching American Idol (loving James Durbin!), Friday night I made the remaining 8 cakes while my children were having a special bedtime routine with the grandparents (who were in town for the party.) The cupcakes I tossed into the oven while baking the cakes. Yes, it was all homemade! I was in bed Friday night by 10pm. Truly, it did not take me long...cupcake pan holds 24 and small Barbie cake pans holds 4!
When it comes to pinatas at parties I don't care for the ones that you need to beat with a stick...it seems dangerous to me. I prefer the ones with pull-strings. I converted this pink crown pinata to a pull string...so easy to do! It's safer and the pinata can be used over. This pinata was used for Ella's "4th" party too! I took off the princess sticker from last year and hot glue gunned the Barbie details.
(The above princess pinata from her 4th birthday, below it was reused for ther 5th.)
I filled the pinata with jewels, bouncing balls and hair accessories. 
The red carpet is really a red runner that I purchased on-line from a party store 3 years ago. I paid $10 bucks for it and I've used it for three parties already! This year I added the star stickers. Every single girl was on the floor pointing to her star and giggling...it was very sweet!
The dresses I used as place settings. They were packaged with bubble gum, but I chose to not give it to the girls, instead chewing it myself!
The feather boa's were draped over the back of the bamboo chairs, one for each girl!
I ordered the lollipops/custom stickers and switched out the presentation using treat bags and $2.00 worth of ribbon! I have used the styrofoam blocks for many things, this time I wrapped them with striped wrapping paper and inserted the lollis!
 
The hanging lanterns were new for this party, but have already been put away for future use.
I purchased little water bottles and applied this label over the old one...it took no time at all.
I used my hot glue gun to apply the silhouettes to the straws and to the plates. The silverware is really plastic!
Traci, a professional photographer and a dear friend, called me on Super Bowl Sunday from a little textile shop in California where she lives. She told me she had something perfect for Ella's party, and that the quality was excellent and it would cost me a song to score enough textile to cover four tables. Thanks Traci for your great eye, not only behind the camera. I took the textile and cut it on site without having it sewn.
The Barbie photo box was old cardboard taped together and wrapped in pink wrapping paper. The was a huge hit! The girls loved standing inside the box and having their photo taken, so that they could be their own version of Barbie!

You may be wondering what I served the girls to eat? I bought individual yogurts, so they got to pick which one they wanted and I sliced up a huge bowl of fresh fruit...nothing was left over!

I hope this gives you a little idea how I pulled together her party! Any other questions?

Barbie cake toppers (http://www.michaels.com/)
Black Barbie silhouettes from Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lauri57)
Cupcake toppers & water bottle labels from Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/PartyPeople)
Pink polka dot straws (http://www.bakeitpretty.com/)
Star stickers for the red carpet (http://www.christmastreeshops.com/ - they were in a pack 12 for $.59!)
Doll dresses as place settings (http://www.christmastreeshops.com/ - 10 dresses for $1.00!)
Feather boas (http://www.haloheaven.com/featherboas.html $12 per dozen!)
Pink hanging lanterns (http://www.orientaltrading.com/)
Pink swirl lollipops (http://www.orientaltrading.com/)
Treat bags and ribbon for lollipops (http://www.michaels.com/)

32 comments:

elizabeth@themustardceiling said...

Wow, what an incredible party. I am sure your daughter loved it. I cannot believe you made all of the barbie cakes, they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Ever - The red house by the lake said...

This is amazing!

I have confess something... when you posted this party yesterday I thought it looked so good that I assumed that almost everything was just pre-ordered. Nothing wrong with that, but I just found it kind of uninspiring (because ordering things are not that inspiring). I was really suprised to see that you had done it yourself. I would never have guessed that!

It's just incredible! You should be really proud of yourself!

Unknown said...

Amazing. You truly are amazing! I love how you showed that you could pull a party together without spending a fortune and even bake the cakes yourself.

Thanks for sharing your sources....I could use some of those for future parties!

I know that Ella AND all of her girlfriends felt like little Barbie princesses thanks to all your creativity and love!

Well done, my friend!!!!
xoxo Elizabeth

Party Resources said...

You are the best! Love it!

quintessence said...

Wow - I don't think an adult's milestone birthday could have received any more attention to detail! Great tips and resources. I'm sure the girls had a ball!

Lili said...

OMG you frosted the cakes like a pro! it is truly amazing! will def share this party once again!

you did an amazing job! woohoo!

Rhônya Holman said...

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!! =(^.^)= Thanks for sharing such a lovely party.
Cheers and smiles to you... ((-:

Tammy@InStitches said...

Whoa, you really outdid yourself ! Can you plan my next birthday party, pretty please ?

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Wow what an amazing party! You have one lucky daughter. I still remember the Barbie cake my mother made me for my 5th birthday. I can't imagine the wonderful memories your daughter is going to have :)

sheerserendipity said...

You did an amazing job with your daughter's birthday party! How lucky is she to have such a talented mom that can whip up such a fantastic party! Thanks for all the great tips.

Sherry

Lilacandgrey said...

wow! you really went all out! I am sure all the girls had a blast!

Magnolia said...

What a neat post! Thank you for sharing!

Unknown said...

UNreal! After reading this, I have this vision of you baking the cakes and putting it all together, just like Kelly Ripa on those washer/dryer, home appliance commercials, complete with I dream of Jeanie music playing in the background...(I get grumpy at the thought of just baking the cupcakes alone...which I do, but grumpily!!)

Beautifully Seaside // Formerly Chic Coastal Living said...

I wish I was invited to your daughter's party! It looks like a dream and I'm sure your daughter and her friends were in Heaven with all the goodies! Fun, fun, fun! I have all boys so no Barbie parties ever over here. :)

'LUSH' said...

I am extremely impressed (also feeling pretty ashamed of myself)! One day your daughter will be able to look back and see how much time, talent, and love went in to making her birthdays special! Barbie is definitely one of my favorites to this day!

Kathysue said...

You could be a professional Party planner, this is so amazing you covered ever little detail to perfection. another amazing party by Lisa!! Kathysue

M.A. the 2nd ~ Frances Russell said...

Lisa ... you are amazing! What a fabulous party for Ella! Everything is perfect and pretty for your little princess! I love the pinata idea of the pullstring and putting trinkets and hair accessories in it instead of lollies and also the Barbie box to be photographed in! I want to do that!!!!! This was a magical party and you truly did an incredible job. Well done my very talented friend!!!
best wishes and hugs always
Frances

mwaxter said...

This is incredible. I am so impressed, you should go into the very popular business of planning little girls bday parties. You seem to have perfected it to a fine art! So beautiful, hope she enjoyed it!

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Wow! I love all the love and creativity that went into the party. What a lucky girl! So clever and so fun!

The Barbie cake is the best!

Loretta

The Buzz Blog said...

Would love to have been there and see the faces of all those delighted little girls! Thanks for sharing all your terrific tips!
xxoo

STYLE'N said...

This is all so gorgeous! Ariyana is just starting ballet next week so I am pretty sure when she turns for she will want a "ballet party" And I am almost certain by 5 she will be into Barbie dolls too. I need to save this post so I can use some of your ideas. Love the lanterns and those cupcakes!! Great job.

suzq said...

What great ideas. There's something here for every budget, too.

As I said in the last post, my favorite idea was the big Barbie box.

Well done!

Amanda Teal said...

Oh my goodness...what a fun party! You didn't miss a single detail. Perfection! x

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

You always have such wonderful ideas. You are really Blessed with such awesome talent.

Anonymous said...

I am so impressed!!! The cakes turned out fabulous. I am sure your daughter had a wonderful birthday.
Thanks for sharing.
Xo,
E&J

annie@mostlovelythings said...

I am just loving all these little/big details!! Just too cute! The water bottles, the "plastic" sterling silver flatware...

Kelly Frances Dunn said...

You are something amazing! This was so great and I am seriously impressed with the cakes. I know you're super talented as a designer and will stick with that, but event planning is certainly a back up plan as you have mad talent for details and all things lovely!! XO, Kelly

maurine said...

You did an amazing job. I bet your daughter and her friends had a memorable, fun time.

Misty Cee said...

WOW what a great party! My little girl wants to go camping for her birthday and I don't even think I can get the camping essentials ready before we leave, let alone make her any kind of cake. Cudos!

Martina said...

I found you through google b/c I was looking up ideas for my daughters 5th Birthday "barbie" party. I may just do almost everything you've done here! The barbie box had to be my favorite.... What size box did you get? I would love to make it for my daughter.... Thanks in advance:)

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