Birthday Bags & Banners

In the past my oldest daughter has had big birthday parties.  And I mean BIG. One year she invited her entire class plus church and ballet friends.  I think 35 kids showed up!  We held our own olympics, complete with an opening ceremonies parade (with flags!), gold medals and lunch fit for champions.   So this year I was so relieved to hear that she wanted a small party.  Really small.  Just two friends invited.  It was actually the most fun I've ever had hosting a party!  We went all out.  A visit to the Aquarium followed by lunch at the nearby (and delicious!) Panera Bread and then a few more hours at the Aquarium.  

 

Since it was just a few girls, I was able to make the most fun goody bags.  I made each girl her own bag (tutorial coming soon!) with the first letter of her name appliqued on the bag.  These bags (filled with water bottles, granola bars, fruit snacks and a cute animal magnet) were presented to the girls when we picked them up in the morning.  After lunch, cake & ice cream and opening presents, we gave them each their very own stuffed penguin (as a way to remember our very favorite penguins at the Aquarium).  They were delighted!  

On another note, a few years ago I made a huge Happy Birthday banner for another birthday party.  It turned out so cute (and took so much time!) I couldn't bear to throw it away, so we've used it for every birthday since.  Although a bit time consuming, it was really easy to make. 

 First, buy a roll or two of your favorite sturdy wrapping paper.  Use one roll to cover the birthday party tables and the other roll to make the banner. Next, type Happy Birthday [Birthday Child's Name] and then select a different font for each letter.  Then, format the letters to be the biggest font you can print on the page. Each letter should take up one page.  Print the letters in "outline" form.  Glue to various colored cardstock that matches your wrapping paper.  Use fancy scissors to cut out pendant triangles out of the wrapping paper.  Glue pendants to the bottom of the cardstock sheets and glue on cut out letters.  Use ribbon to string letters together and enjoy!  Just fold it up and stick it in a file folder for future birthdays!