Nik's Monster 1st Birthday Party and Craft Round-Up

I survived Nik's first birthday party!!!  Who would have thought that my prom committee (and student government) experience would prepare me to plan my son's birthday party?  Not me!   

I know I'm late with this post but things have been a little hectic.  The birthday party went well, we had 60 people who said they would come (I didn't think everyone would say yes to the invitation) and 12 didn't show and another 10 left early because they had other engagements so we ended up with around 30 - 40 people (including children) which was perfect.  I was seriously stressing about the menu two weeks before the party when I realized how many people might be at the party.  I ended up keeping it simple and making it a BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salad, potato salad and baked beans.  For the appetizers I bought strawberries, veggie straws and veggie platters.  I got everything from Costco which helped us save a bundle!

My husband made fresh O.J. from the oranges in our back yard and we bought bottled water and a few bottles of soda for the drinks.  For the dessert I made sugar cookies, cupcakes and the birthday cake (and I also make the icing).

We had children of all ages at the birthday party so I thought of a few activities to keep them entertained.  Initially I thought of making a coloring station but then I remembered kids like to draw on walls and things they shouldn't, so I bought chalk instead and let them go to town.  While cruising the aisles of my local Target I found a bubble machine for $7.50 so I immediately snatched it up (the kids went nuts over the bubbles and I didn't have to deal with spilled bubble solution).  For the little babies I bought a variety toy set from Big Lots for $7 (so they could chew, lose and destroy the toys without us caring) and I used an outdoor blanket to set up a tummy time area.   

Monster Softie Favors, Freshly Squeezed O.J., Monster Pops and Cards for Nik's Time Capsule

The 11ft Birthday Bunting I made for Nik

Monster Cupcakes, The Birthday Cake, Pom-Pom Monsters and Handmade Party Hats

I tried to point and tell him to blow out the candle but Nik didn't know what to do.

A few things I did learn for next time:

1. Put someone in charge of taking pictures because you'll be too busy running around to take any pictures.

2. Put up signs so people know where the drinks are and other things they might need, like the trash can.

3. Have everything ready to go out an hour before the party is supposed to start so if you have guests that arrive early or on time they can help you set out the stuff on the tables.

4. Have the table(s) and chairs set up as early as possible, even the night before if you can (so I'm not running around in my PJ's minutes before guest arrive trying to set up all the chairs).

5. Put on your make-up and style your hair before you change into your clothes and wait to change into your clothes until the party is about to start (because you might have to run around cleaning tables and setting up chairs).  I was able to put on my make-up but I never got the chance to fix my hair because I thought I would have time before the party...pfft!

Here's a round-up of all the birthday crafts:

• Pom-Pom Monsters: Here and Here
•  Monster Softies: Here and Here 
• Party Hats: Tutorials Found Here and Here
• Sugar Cookie Recipe: Found Here
• Buttercream Frosting: Here
• Monster Can and Monster Pops: Here
• Bunting (soon to be available in my Etsy store): Read More Here

2 down, 28 to go

For my son's first birthday party I baked 48 cupcakes and a cake so I figured it would be a great opportunity to try making my own icing to frost my baked goods.  I tried cream cheese frosting and I wasn't a fan of the flavor so I tried making buttercream frosting, success!  I'm definitely going to have to make some more of this stuff!  You can find the recipe I used here.

Pom Pom Monsters Mini Tutorial

Last time I showed you what (Clover Extra Large Pom Pom Maker) I used to make the pom poms, now I'm going to show you how I decorated them.  I really liked the monsters in the pom pom monster book (Pom Pom Monster Salon: Create, Cut & Style Your Own Monsters (Klutz)) but I didn't have the time and energy to make all those little accessories for each pom pom monster.

What I created instead is quick and easy and if you have little ones it would make an awesome weekend craft project!

Start with your plain pom pom you created.  You can use the pom pom maker like I did (which comes in a variety of sizes) or you can make them the old fashioned way with cardboard.  What, you don't know the old fashioned way?  That's ok, here are a few tutorials I found to show you: pom pom written tutorial and pom pom video tutorial

Got your pom pom ready?  Awesome!  Now grab your glue/glue gun, some big wiggly eyes, two smaller pom poms for the feet, a No. 2 pencil and pipe cleaner in any color (you can find these items at most stores that sell craft supplies, such as Walmart, JoAnn Fabrics, and Michael's).

I glued the eyes on my pom pom monsters a few different ways.  I tried gluing them to the ends of the yarn and I tried separating the yarn and putting them in the middle (as you can see in the pictures below).  I like the way they look with the yarn separated, it reminds me of Cousin It.

For the feet I glued the pom poms on the ends of the yarn on the bottom front so they could be seen.

You've got basics done, yeah...now let's add some flair.  For my flair I added silver pipe cleaners because I wanted a little sparkle.  To attach the pipe cleaner I found the middle of the pom pom, remember when you tied the center?  I pushed the pipe cleaner through the top part of the string that ties the pom pom together.  I did end up pushing out a few strands of the yarn, so try to be careful while inserting your pipe cleaner (you don't want to make your pom pom lose a lot of "hair").

Looking at the pom pom with the silver pipe cleaner reminds me of my grandparents old black and white tv that had a silver antenna.  At this point you can twist the pipe cleaner any way you like, for mine I curled the pipe cleaners using my handy dandy No. 2 pencil.  Just wrap the pipe cleaner around the No. 2 pencil and slip the pencil out when you're done...and that's it!  Simple, right?  

Softie Face Tutorial (A.K.A. How To Make A Monster Smile)

For my son's birthday party I decided to make monster softies for favors.  I searched online and found some cute patterns and I drew some of my own (which I haven't used yet) and everything seemed to be going fine until I got to the face.  When it came time for me to make the face of the monsters I realized I didn't know the proper way to create a smile, so I asked my Nana.  

Here's how you make a monster smile:

Supplies:

1.  Fabric Marker

2. Two Strand Embroidery Floss (You can buy the kind on the left and separate the thread to be two strands or you can buy the kind on the right that comes with only two strands)

3. Print the monster pattern from One Charming Party

(I wrote a helpful tutorial on how to make and sew your own monster softie patterns here)
4. Hand Sewing Needle

Instructions:  (Disregard the pins in the pictures, you are making the face only on the front side of the softie.)

1.  Take your disappearing ink fabric marker and draw the line of the smile.  In my picture below you can faintly see the half of the smile not filled in yet.

2.  Using the double strand embroidery floss, knot the end and start your first stitch.  I made my stitches small (roughly 1/4") because I really wanted to make the curves of the smile.  Step 3 will show you how to continue your stitches.

                              

3.  As you bring your needle up from underneath your fabric, you will separate the two strands of your thread and pull your thread through the opening.

See how I pulled my thread through the middle of my two strands?

4.  Continue sewing along your smile line and when you are done, knot the thread on the backside of your fabric.

On a side note, I made the eyes by cutting out my felt shapes and gluing them with felt glue.  I let the felt glue dry and I reinforced the glue with stitches.  Once I had the center of the eye secured I used embroidery thread (I liked the look of big noticeable stitches) to attach the eye to the face of the monster.