Carnival Party Ideas: Caden's 2nd Birthday Party Carnival

Seeing these Carnival Party photos from Caden's 2nd birthday party in Opp, AL, has been such a treat!  Caden's grandma Lisha (you may remember her Ladies High Tea Party) purchased my Circus Party Planning Guide to help plan this carnival party, as many of the circus party ideas and highlighted products in the guide work well for a carnival parties, too.  I heard Caden's mommy Morgan kept it with her at all times!

Caden is the little clown in the center.  Isn't this a fun photo!

I just love this Carnival Ticket Booth, which was made by painting a cardboard box.  A simple project with a huge impact!

If you are looking for Carnival Birthday Cake ideas, it doesn't get any cuter than this!  The Carnival Cupcakes look like little containers of popcorn, which perfectly coordinate with the popcorn box on top of the big Carnival Cake.

Little Caden can't wait to get a taste of his Carnival Birthday Cake!

What would a birthday party carnival be without Carnival Party Games?!  Check out all of the fun games in these photos, including a ring toss, buried treasure hunt, duck pond, carnival pinata, and face painting to name a few.

There was even a Carnival Candy Buffet full of sweet treats.

Nothing will grab your guests attention more than the smell of freshly popped popcorn and get them in the mood for fun.  That's why I think a popcorn machine is always worth a splurge for parties like this. Lisha and Morgan went all out with popcorn balls and caramel apples, too.  YUM!!

No detail was over looked at Caden's Carnival Birthday Party.  Even the favor boxes were a perfect fit!

In addition to providing the Party Planning Guide, I also designed this Carnival Party Banner for Caden's big day. It says, "The Caden Carnival".

This last picture is just too cute to leave out!

Lisha and Morgan thank you so much for letting me help with Caden's Carnival Birthday Party and being able to share these festive pictures. It looked like everyone had such a blast! You both have creativity beyond bounds, and I love that you were able to take ideas from my Circus Party Planning Guide and run with them.  You've given me so many wonderful ideas!

Featured Handmade Items by Belly Feathers
Pennant Party Banner
Circus Party Planning Guide 

UPDATE: I have a new line of Circus/Carnival party products!

You might also like these posts:
Big-Top Circus Birthday Party for Marley & Kelsey (Party Photos)
Handmade Circus Birthday Party: Let Your Birthday Boy Be the Ringleader (Party Ideas)
Circus Party Theme: Joshua's Two Ring Circus Birthday Party (Party Photos)

Neighborhood Party Ideas: Old Fashioned Fun Cookout

We had a great time at our Neighborhood Block Party this weekend. The weather couldn't have been better for meeting neighbors at this fun cookout and pot-luck dinner.

Photo by Robin Conn, The Huntsville Times

My absolute favorite part was walking up to see the Colorful Balloon Bunting hung all around our community's greenway, where the party took place. So eye catching! It really established a festive atmosphere. Wouldn't these look great at a birthday party?! (No helium required!)

There were lots of old-fashioned party games like sack races, watermelon seed spitting, ring toss, and tug of war. Plus, there were more modern classics like a hula hoop competition enjoyed by young and old.

Photo by Robin Conn, The Huntsville Times

Photo by Robin Conn, The Huntsville Times

I love sidewalk chalk!  I was dying to join these little girls, but I pretended to be an adult and just watched.  Okay, I admit it...I drew a tiny star while no one was looking.  Couldn't resist!

 
I brought my Bubble Wand Party favors in our time-worn wagon covered in a bright green sheet, which made for a great mobile bubble station at the neighborhood party.

 
The bubble wands went super fast! Completely-gone-in-15-minutes fast!  The kids really seemed to have a good time with them. The wands made nice big bubbles, which made a beautiful backdrop for the festivities.  I can't believe I didn't get any photos of the kids playing with them!

I was really impressed that someone thought to bring this step ladder for the speakers before the event.  I love pre-planning and thinking about all of the details an event will need, and this ladder gave just enough height to get everyone's attention and help the speakers voices carry a little further through the crowd.  Kudos to whomever thought of this!

Photo by Robin Conn, The Huntsville Times

I just had to share this one final photo of my little friend Clara enjoying her first ice cream cone ever.  How sweet is that!

Cinco de Mayo eBook by Favor Affair Features Belly Feathers

Favor Affair has put together a comprehensive guide of Cinco de Mayo celebration ideas in its new eBook Some Like it Hot! Making Your Cinco de Mayo Muy Caliente by Karen Sullen.  You have to be a member to view it, but the process is simple and painless.

It's full of party ideas and recipes, including an idea for a fun party game by yours truly.  In the book, I suggest "Dirty Santo", a spin on the gift exchange Dirty Santa played during the holidays. Santo means saint in Spanish, and since Santa is also called Saint Nick, I thought this would be a good Cinco de Mayo name for the game.

To play, ask your guests to bring a wrapped $10 gift to exchange (one per family or guest, their choice), the wackier the item the better. Add your own surprise twist at the end of the game called a "Mexican Standoff", which could involve shiny toy pistols. If you come up with a fun idea for the "Mexican Standoff" at the end, definitely let me know!

Don't forget to check out the eBook for more fun Cinco de Mayo ideas and recipes! There's a recipe for a no-fry fried ice cream that I'd really like to try.

Sesame Street Party Ideas

I recently asked my awesome Facebook fans if they needed help with party ideas, as a way to show of my creative party planning services. I'm so thrilled Staci jumped forward with a Sesame Street Birthday Party she's throwing for her son (turning 4) and daughter (turning 2), selfishly because she already has so many fabulous ideas planned of which I'd love to see the pictures!  (Update:  See the pictures from this Sesame Street Party!)

At the Sesame Street party, Staci is featuring the characters Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Oscar the Grouch.  She knows she wants to have some games and use a candy buffet as the party's Sesame Street favors, and it sounded like these were the two areas where she could use a little help.  I'm thrilled with the ideas below because they're fun for the toddler set and easy to put together for a busy mom like Staci.

Sesame Street Party Games

• How to Get to Sesame Street
  This is my "spin" on Pin the Tail on the Donkey without the pin part.  Print out a large Sesame Street Sign and attach it to a wall or post in your yard.  Blindfold and spin your guests, and then ask them "How to Get to Sesame Street".  They just have to feel their way to the sign.  While you play, sing along to the Sesame Street theme song. Download a 10.5 x 4.75 inch Sesame Street Sign template here.
  
  
• Oscar the Grouch's Trash Toss
  Here's a fun and easy game you can create out of objects around your house.  Crumple up a few sheets of newspaper together to create balls with a little weight to them.  Then ask the kids to toss them into a trash can from different distances depending on their ages.  If you want a more Oscar-ish trash can, try this medium-sized Oscar the Grouch can on Amazon.com.  For added detail, attach a stuffed Oscar toy to the inside back of the can, so he's sticking out of the top.  No trash talk allowed!

 Sesame Street Party Favors: Candy Buffet

I just love beautifully displayed candy buffets as a way to let guests pick their own party favors, and you can have a lot of fun with a Sesame Street themed one in bright colors with both sweet and salty treats.  I've come up with a few ideas to integrate the Sesame Street characters into the display with age-appropriate snacks for the two- to four-year-old crowd.

• Cookie Monster's Cookie Crisps
  Cookie Crisp cereal would be adorable in an apothecary jar, since it looks just like tiny chocolate-chip cookies.  Cookie Monster would definitely approve!
  
  
• Dorothy Crackers for Elmo
  Elmo's beloved pet goldfish Dorothy can make an appearance in the form of Goldfish crackers, a toddler favorite. Display these in a fish bowl for added charm.
  
  
• Ernie's Rubber Duckies
  Tis the season for yellow chickie Peeps, so stock up now on these "rubber duckies" for your Sesame Street candy buffet.  Place them in rows on a tray for a professionally styled look.
  
  
• Big Bird Seed
  Staci inspired the idea for this, and I love it.  Sunflower seeds are exactly what Big Bird would stuff into his treat bag.

Best of luck with your Sesame Street Party, Staci! I'd love to hear how the party goes in May. (Update:  See the pictures from this Sesame Street Party!)