Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The Big Artist Birhtday

Birthday preparations make me happy.  Like baking chocolate cake and whipping up my favorite chocolate frosting recipe... (music)

1

This year we followed Anna's lead and had a artist theme. The invitations looked like this...

invitation front

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up..." Pablo Picasso

invitation back
(looks a little weird the way I just blocked out our address... but ya gotta on blogland)  

This girl, now eleven... I love her so...

us1

And so does her daddy...

us2

And of course her little sister...

(who, by the way, puts her leg up in every single picture this spring) 
setup8

This party was super fun to plan and do. We went with a primary colors theme...

setup10

Had berets at each place setting thanks to Abigail's awesome Kindergarten teacher who said, "wait! you have to have the berets for a party like that!" Do you know she's the one that got me started on pinterest? Love her!

setup12

I painted a sign and Scott had the awesome idea of setting it up on an easel.

setup9

Every party has to have streamers...

setup2

And something hanging from the trees at each party is a must!

setup11

And Anna's artist dress looked picture perfect with her new clear sandals she loves.

setup1

setup3

setup 7 set up 5 collage

I love when the birthday girl sees the set up for the first time! Brushes, paints, canvas ready to go!

setup6

The favors were these thank you bags filled with gumballs

setup4

And these 'amazing artist' necklaces...

setup14

And then the girls arrived. We were ready to go!

painting 1

The first activity was a cool one Scott led. Each girl had their own art paper and sharpie. They had to draw exactly what Scott told them but in their own interpretation. "draw a body... any shape you want for your creature..." Then they left their drawing and moved seats so that now they were sitting in front of a different drawing. "draw at least two noses on the creature..." They moved seats again and followed the directions and drew more. Once they did this and made it all the way back around the table to their first seat they had a pretty cool 'Dr. Seuss' type of creature! They really were awesome! It was a silly, fun, perfect way to start the party!

Even Abigail got to participate!

painting19

painting16

I love this one of Scott laughing along with the girls as they created their creatures!

painting12

painting13

painting 4

Then it was time for painting! Each had their own square canvas and they spent the next hour just relaxing and painting away.

painting 3

While Scott mixed colors and helps the artists out. (im not much help once the party starts... someone has to take the pictures!)

painting 2

I had prepared objects for inspiration out before they started. A bowl of lemons, a tea cup, tea pot, sea shells, a vase of flowers...

painting5

flowers

painting15

Anna had such a lovely time painting her stuffed animal sea creatures!

painting7

Everyone did!

painting8

painting13

painting9

painting10

painting11

painting14

painting18

While the paintings dried it was time to open the Art Cafe

painting6

food1

food2

food4

food5

Paint brushes... yum!

food6

food7

food8

food9

We kept them hydrated and got their 'creative juices' going!

food10

food 11 food 7 collage

And then it was on to 'decorate your own cupcakes' what else at an artist party?

food3

cupcakes1

I found these round painting trays perfect for holding the toppings to decorate!

cupcakes4

cupcakes6

cupcakes5

Quite possibly my favorite photo of the day!

cupcakes3

cupcakes2

It was such a happy party we were sad to see her friends go...

setup15

But then the grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles arrived for dinner... oh sooo good but it was time to put my camera down and eat! (so I have no pictures of that)

The 'grandparents cake' I call it is the most delicious chocolate cake in the world!

cake3

Grandma is lighting the candles and Anna must be pondering her birthday wish...

cake2

I am certain that is where the phrase 'birthday glow' comes from... the prettiest light hitting her face from the candles!

cake1 collage

That's her "I'm eleven and I'm taking a moment to soak that in"

cake4 collage

And there she goes... she did it... no matter how hard I tried stop her... went ahead and turned eleven! (love her sister in that one)

cake5 collage

Sparkler candles are hard to blow out!

cake6 collage

cake7 collage

The rest of our evening was filled with cousins running, grandparent present opening, and silly pictures with mommy and daddy...

us3 us 6 collage

Yup... she can turn eleven but she'll always be our baby!

us4

us5

And we adore her so...

setup13

4 comments:

  1. What a wonderful birthday party...looks like everyone had a lot of FUN!!! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl.

    xoxo
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful birthday party indeed! And so perfect for her age...and the girls' attention spans. Just perfect. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i LOVE IT ALL!!!!
    now we are stocked with ideas for riley's party next year!:)
    she looks so happy and dare i say...grown up!:)
    the invitations were perfect and that dress, the perfect mix of little girls and grown up beauty!
    the favors
    the treat bags
    the food
    the decorations
    the crafts
    those BERETS!!!!!
    you rocked it mama!!
    and the day you had was perfect too! (not to mention that TREE!! to have your parties under!!) the light shining down on the food table for your photos, beautiful!
    everything was perfect!
    you had two amazing summer parties tara! your girls are so lucky!

    have a happy day
    and breathe easy...cause it's almost summer!!!!!!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a fun party! You pay attention to every detail Tara. I am in the middle of planning Juliana's birthday party in July ... She wants a red, white and blue cowgirl party. I am going to tick this party in the back of my head though.
    Don't you just love Pinterest. I will have to look for you are you Nader your name?

    ReplyDelete