Rainbow Party Ideas

Birthday Party Season is in full swing around here!

My kids usually opt for a "character" theme, which is fun, and easy.  But one day I hope to plan parties that aren't based on a Disney Princess or Sesame Street character.  I know, I'll miss it one day...but I'm just sayin'

There are so many other fun and fabulous birthday party ideas out there and I can't wait to take a crack at one of them one day!

So today I wanted to show off a few fun and fabulous ideas that I think would make a great Rainbow Party!

Source: gordongossip.blogspot.com via Simply on Pinterest

I LOVE these paper pinwheels!  So cute, so simple and so inexpensive!

Source: etsy.com via Simply on Pinterest

It would be so cute to do a rainbow layered cake but I also LOVE the rainbow pom pom garland on top of this cake!

Source: karaspartyideas.blogspot.com via Simply on Pinterest

Chocolate covered Oreos in rainbow colors!  Amazing!

Source: quick-dish.tablespoon.com via Simply on Pinterest

Fruit kabobs in a fun rainbow arrangement!

Source: craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com via Simply on Pinterest

Rainbow colored Twizzlers!  So fun!

Source: wendyinflorida.blogspot.com via Simply on Pinterest

Rainbow punch using Otter Pops!  How cute is that!?

Source: celebratebigsmall.wordpress.com via Simply on Pinterest

And a cute Rainbow Punch Game to top the party off!

How fun is that!?

Now if only I can convince one of my kids to let me throw them a Rainbow Party!

Ashley Phipps is an Interior Designer, NCIDQ #25242,

living in the Indianapolis area, and author of the blog Simply Designing.  You can follow Ashley at her blog Simply Designing, Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest.

Movie Star Party

Rebecca sent us these very fun movie star themed party photos of the party she created for her daughters birthday party. Such a perfect hanging centerpiece: red feather boa and popcorn containers (with real popcorn) hang from the chandelier.

Rebecca describes the Walk of Fame, " Welcome to the party! Guests walked up our “Red Carpet” runway. It was also the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as it had gold stars on it and then the kids put their hand prints, in Black, next to the stars. We also had star confetti all over the walkway for extra “bling”. I have stakes that I use along my walkway for hanging holiday lanterns. I set those up and we strung out movie reel garland through it."

Star shaped sandwiches, meats and cheeses.

Plastic champagne glasses with feather boa glued to the bottom. Sparkling jello fills the glasses.



Mini movie reels made with red and black paper glued to peppermint patties. Check out more darling party photos at Roots and Wings Co.

Colorful Birthday Cakes

{Eat Your Words}

{On The Dot -- this cake calls for plain and peanut m&m's; since many children have peanut allergies, consider making this cake with plain candies only. It will look just as nice!}

{Garden Delight}

I love these adorable birthday cakes. Not only are they colorful, but they're also easy to make. So go ahead, impress your friends! With fun ingredients such as fruit chews, frosted cookies, candy canes, and pretzels, these cakes are sure to put a smile on any child's face!

{Little Drummer Cake}

{Bake A Barnyard}

You can see more of pictures and find recipes at parents.com.
By Kelly Porter, Featured Contributor

Airplane Birthday Party

Attention to detail makes this boarding pass invitation so realistic thanks to Jennifer Kielp of Nounces Design. I love the map envelope too--once you receive this invitation you can hardly wait for the ADVENTURE to begin! Check her Etsy site if your are interested in learning more about these amazing invitations. Enjoy more pictures of this fun airplane themed birthday party Jennifer threw for her 2 year old...

These goody bags are such a fun and creative way to recycle Cheerio boxes! I'm loving the baggage claim sign!

An airplane themed party just would not be complete without individual lunches served by parent flight attendants.

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your adorable party photos with Design Dazzle.

Under The Big Top Carnival Birthday

Who doesn't want to go to the carnival? This festive party is a theme that never gets old - for both kids and adults alike. Brittany Harmon created this darling shindig for her sons first birthday. The carnival has an under-the-big top feel with lots of carnival-like games.
Brittany's fun ideas:

Welcome sign at the front door resembles a carnival ticket. The numbers on the side of the ticket is her sons birth date.

Carnival and circus decor.

All the yummy food you could get at the carnival. Hot dogs, peanuts, cottong candy, pickles, drinks, etc...

Cotton Candy labels with the birthday boys photo!

Fun idea... Brittany's mom made a special label for the youth tonic elixir (water bottles).

Birthday carnival peanuts packaged with a personalized label.

First birthday cake to smash and eat.

Birthday cake placed on a beverage tub upside down. Triangles were painted to give it the big top feel.

Lollipop cookies


Some of the carnival games:

Ring toss

Fun photo op!

Can't forget the kissing booth!

Gold fish favors with a label of the birthday boy - clever and inexpensive!!

Lollipops with adorable labels made as a thank you for coming to the carnival. Brittany has provided a couple of labels for our readers to download. If you are familiar with a photo editing program, place your photo in the middle of the label and print. If not, print out the labels and glue your photo in the middle of the label. Click here to download the lollipop label file.

This is what the label looks like without the photo in the middle.

This label is for the peanut bag. Click here to download.

Thank you to Brittany for sharing her sons wonderful Carnival First Birthday. I'm so loving the free downloads - thanks again Brittany!!

Mermaid Party Ideas

When I first laid eyes on this mermaid doll, I had to have her!! Thus the mermaid party was born! This was such a fun table to create and figure out for an under-the-sea celebration. Some of these decorations are Christmas ornaments and picks from the floral department. Keep a lookout for after Christmas/holiday sales - items that don't look "Christmasy". In planning a baby shower or birthday party, knowing far in advance what you're looking for sure can help keep costs down.

Doesn't every mermaid need a sea shell crown? To make the crown I used the following supplies:
plastic birthday crown
shower curtain rings (star fish)
christmas ornament (shell)
Christmas glitter floral pick
gold spray paint
bright colored spray paint
wire
hot glue
glitter, glitter, glitter

Taylor (a friends daughter) is the mermaid model - isn't she adorable? I know, I know the seahorse is the bomb! It's paper mache and no I didn't paint it, it came that way. I also designed the mermaid costume - fabric was purchased for cheap in the LA fabric district. Starfish shape was cut out of the confetti glitter fabric and ironed on to the top with fusing fabric.

Isn't glitter better on everything? Weeeell... not on my husbands face (especially when we're sitting in church) the poor guy...having to live with a crafty wife will do that to you. Glitter can get everywhere...

The dolphin ring toss game is available here.

A seahorse Christmas ornament and ribbon are made into a napkin ring holder. If you don't want to spend money on fancy plates, concentrate on making napkin ring holders a little fancier. Plain dinner plates can be dressed-up with napkin ring holders.

Starfish shaped chocolate lollipops - image from here.

Floating mermaid balloon sculpture from here.

The following images are from LA Sweet Settings.

Adorable appliqued under the sea tablecloth.

Molded seashell chocolates dusted with luster dust.

Someone is a very talented artist. Oh my goodness..I LOVE the seahorse, fish and bubbles! The seaweed is made out of crepe/tissue paper and the white lights add the perfect touch.

Add crepe paper and ribbon to a stick to create mermaid limbo - image from here.


Little Dance Invitations creates the cutest invitations from your child's photo. Email this company your child's photo and they will make unique invites for your special event. LDI is located in Australia but do ship internationally.


The clam shell is handmade. The shell back was a piece of board cut and painted to look like a shell. A snow toboggan was attached to the board and painted to match the clam back. A small ball was painted for the pearl. Image from here.


Belly Feathers made this inexpensive bubble bath look expensive with cute mermaid tags and ribbon. Great party favor.


Dress your little girl in a mermaid costume for her under the sea/mermaid birthday party.

Free download for sea-star cards. Tricia Rennea created these note cards and also sea-star invitations available on her website.