Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for a Taylor Swift theme party. I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
Sarah Family Designs has the PERFECT party tee for a Taylor Swift themed birthday party! It's available in kids and adult sizes, tshirt and sweatshirts, and a variety of colors. Something for every Swiftie!
This Taylor Swift friendship bracelet-inspired cake topper from Avalon Sunshine is just what the Swiftie in your life needs for her birthday! This can go on any plain cake and make it the birthday cake of her Wildest Dreams!
The Party Darling Shop has these perfectly sparkly disco ball balloons...or should we call them mirrorballs? They make an easy decoration to set the scene for a Taylor Swift themed birthday party!
Shop Paper and Parties makes these Friendship Bracelet style custom banners and they're ADORABLE! They make a great party decoration, but are cute enough to keep as a bedroom decoration for a little Swiftie after the party!
You can make the whole place SHIMMER with this disco ball-style table runner from En Fete! Any Taylor Swift themed party needs its share of sparkle and this table running brings it!
Every birthday party needs party games and The Harper Home has the BEST Taylor Swift themed games. From "Finish the Lyrics" to Taylor Trivia, these would be so fun to play! It comes as a printable bundle with 9 games and an answer sheet.
]]>Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
Right from the start, I was a Pinterest girl. I snuck in a shameful number of hours on the platform while working at my office job back when Pinterest was still an invite-only place.
I started a board with Pins I've Tried and it was over 350! It’s how I lived my life. So of course, when I became a mom, I assumed I’d be in all of my glory as a “Pinterest Mom”.
There are two specific events in my motherhood journey that changed my outlook on what it means to create childhood magic. The result was lowering the bar on our celebrations and it made us a happier family.
I don't want to suck the helium from your balloon if fancy celebrations with lots of planning make YOU (the mom) happy. But if you secretly dread the details and do it for your kids....please read on.
I was so excited about the first party I threw for my son where we invited his little daycare friends to our house for an actual party. It was a superhero theme and I made each kid their own cape or Wonder Woman skirt. There was a superhero training course in the basement complete with silly string to spray the villains and fake dumbells for lifting big weights. I made a 3 tier fondant-covered cake and all kinds of custom decorations. The kids were bored of the training course in about 5 minutes and ended up playing with all of the regular toys in the basement.
The next big party idea I had was a Mad Scientist theme for my science-loving kiddo. I went all out with personalized lab coats for each kid and safety goggles and clipboards. We exploded and fizzed and slimed all kinds of stuff. The kids had fun, but when it was over, I was so DEAD. The exhaustion from planning and running the party, not to mention the expense of all of the supplies was simply not worth it. My son had fun and thought the party was great but when all the little friends left, all I could think was I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN!
So, I didn't. And guess what...my kids have still had fabulous birthdays with amazing memories full of love and joy and friends and family (and a mom who wasn't completely stressed out while she was cutting the cake). What I realized after that Mentos and Diet Coke party was that my kids weren't even asking for this type of party. I did it to myself! Kids just want cake and present and attention. I learned to keep things simple. It's OK to lower the bar on those kid parties.
When my kids were toddlers, I was a little obsessive about starting family traditions. I worked full-time and wanted to make the most of the time I had with them so they would grow up with all the warm, fuzzy holiday memories.
When my kids were 2 and 4, I made this whole advent box situation inspired by Pinterest. I wanted more than the store-bought calendar with tiny chocolates, but this was years before all the creative countdown options were in mainstream stores like they are now. My creation was so cute! I decorated 24 little boxes and each day would have a treat, or a little paper with a fun family activity we would do together that day. I was going to do this every single year and it would become something my kids would anticipate and love every December. Sounds sweet and cozy, right?
Well, the reality was...daily child meltdowns over these boxes.
Instead of joyful December memories, these kids were acting like entitled little tyrants. I tried to talk through the behaviors with them, but at ages 2 and 4 after a long day of day daycare, there was no reasoning. Half way through the month, I took a deep breath and realized that I didn't have to continue. Done. Abort mission.
I considered saving the boxes for future years when the kids were older and more ready to handle the situation. But this expectation of the kids wanting to get a surprise every day, was too much. Not just a surprise, but a really good surprise. Even though it was my idea in the first place, it didn't feel like it was aligning with the values I wanted for my family.
Maybe I can't even count this as a tradition because we quit after one year, but it's a reminder that YOU get to decide what traditions fit with your family and when it's time to move on.
I started with the Elf of the Shelf in 2010 when my first child was 3 years old and the elf wasn't super mainstream. It sounded like a fun idea and it moved from one place to another in the house every night like the storybook says.
That's all. Sprinkles the Elf NEVER did anything else. He didn't bring gifts. He didn't cause mischief. He didn't set up scenes of marshmallow bathtubs or change clothes or have pets. And my kids still loved it.
As the entire country caught Elf Fever a few years later with the next-level ideas, I couldn't bring myself to add one more thing to my mental load in an already crazy month. Once again...keeping the bar low left enough time and space for me to choose other ways to celebrate the season instead of resenting the obligation of an over-zealous elf. Ways that would make the kids AND me happy. The memory-making is about the kids, but it's about the moms too. WE matter!
If elaborate parties and nightly elf shenanigans make you happy, go for it. BUT....if they make you want to die a thousands deaths, just know that you can still make happy childhood memories with your kids on your own terms.
When you are intentional about celebrating the way YOU want to, the genuine joy will come through and the whole family will feel it.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for a Barbie Birthday party. I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
This is such a unique party invitation for your little Barbie girl's celebration! We all love the simplicity of an electronic invitation, but Video Evites takes it to the next level with an animated video personalized with all the party details. Bring on the sparkles!
This personalized Barbie shirt from Daisy Creative Designs is the perfect party wear for a Barbie birthday party! Kids love to have their name on things so this shirt will make her feel so special on party day!
Is it even a party without balloons? One Party Stop has this perfect set of Barbie balloons with all options to choose hearts or stars or add a pink Number balloon for a birthday. Balloons pack a decorating punch for a celebration!
Avalon Sunshine has personalized cake toppers for all of your birthday celebrations and this one is the perfect shade of pink for a Barbie party!
Look how simple it can be to turn any plain white cake into a Barbie party cake in minutes! Barbie can sit on the cake stand surrounded by her favorite accessories. If you don't want to buy a new Barbie, you can probably find all the supplies you need in your child's stash. And, if you're feeling extra-fancy, some disco balls are just the right vibe and easy to find in craft stores.
How adorable are these Barbie drink pouches from XO Fetti!?! They are spill-proof and come with the pink twisty straws shown. I think pink lemonade would be the perfect beverage for these pretty pouches and they can even be refilled and re-used after the party.
Imagine your little Birthday Barbie Girl and her friends posing for a group photo with their matching pink heart sunnies from Brand Point Prep! So cute!! These will make the girls feel so fancy at the party and a great party favor to take home. Perfectly Barbie!
These perfectly pink and shimmery tattoos from XO Fetti have all the icons of the Barbie lifestyle! I love these to either put on together with friends at a birthday party or to send home with guests as a party favor. Either way, the kids will surely love them!
Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
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Feeling like you’re not doing enough for your kids. You see other mom who are “doing it all” or “doing it better” and you compare yourself and think you should be doing that too. You fear your kids will think you don’t care as much because you didn’t do what that other family did. You love your kids SO FREAKING MUCH you want the best for them.
Birthday parties are a big source of mom guilt and stress because of the social media game. Influencers and wannabes are out there posting their huge-budget, perfect aesthetic parties, and making it look effortless and fun. It makes us feel like we want to create that kind of birthday magic for our kids too, but THAT ISN’T REALISTIC for most people.
I’m going to try my best to flip that around so that you don’t feel that way ever again about birthday parties.
I recently listened to an episode of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast with the fabulous Glennon Doyle and guest expert Dr. Becky Kennedy. They talked about guilt and the conversation totally blew my mind.
SCENARIO 1: Honesty is one of your values and you tell a lie. You feel guilty because that action doesn’t align with your values. That is true guilt.
SCENARIO 2: Self-care is one of your values. You’re overextended and tired, so you turn down a friend’s invitation to go out to dinner. You may feel something icky inside because your friend might be disappointed, but that is NOT GUILT because you’re behaving in a way that aligns with your values.
Let that sink in for a second. It just might get rid of half of the guilt in your life!
If your values are to throw big parties to impress and entertain your kids’ friends….
If your values are to be the envy of strangers on the internet…
Maybe guilt actually IS the right word for your feelings if you don’t throw a huge bash.
BUT, if your values are to love on your child and make sweet birthday memories….
If your values are to make sure they feel special on their big day….
Then having a small celebration that looks less than aesthetic is NOT GUILT. That is holding true to your values.
There may still be some uncomfortable feelings inside, and that’s OK, but it’s not guilt. It is a growing pain as you grow into holding true to your values. You will build resilience to this and it will become easier and easier to hold those boundaries.
It will start to feel normal. You will feel good about it. And, maybe even feel a little sad when you see some other people who are going big for the wrong reasons.
Bottom line: We love celebrating our children on their birthdays and they love being celebrated. These can both be accomplished without the stress or cost of an over-the-top party. You got this mamas!!
If you need a guide to planning a stress-free party for your kids, along with the encouragement to leave out the unimportant parts that you think you’re supposed to do, be sure to download my free pdf.
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Talk about setting unrealistic expectations for what a cake should be! She made amazing cakes for every birthday in my childhood. I loved to help in the kitchen and always thought I’d do things like this for my kids too. Making special birthday memories and magical moments for the photo album.
My love of baking continued into adulthood, but I had never decorated cakes. So while I was pregnant and in my nesting phase, I took a Wilton decorating class and realized three things.
When my kids were little, I played with making a few fondant cakes. They were the hottest cake trend of the early 2000’s. My cakes were cute-ish, but not structurally sound and for sure I spent too much money on fondant that gets peeled off the cake and thrown away.
I was done with that! I continued to make plain old cakes for my kids and added lots of sprinkles to make it look cute in just a few minutes. It was enough for the mandatory birthday cake photo each year, but a little part of me wished they looked more special.
In my family, I’m the baker for all of the family gatherings and I love that role. If given the choice between baking something and buying a dessert, I will choose baking every time. But I was always looking for creative ways to make my cakes look pretty and special without filling a piping bag or rolling out fondant.
One year for my sister’s birthday celebration at my house, I decided to make a cake topper with her name on it. I made a Jell-o cake that year so I frosted it with Cool Whip in about 30 seconds. I added the cake topper and it INSTANTLY made the cake into something much more special and personalized.
I knew I was on to something good! I had to share this with other busy moms who needed that special birthday magic but done in an EASY way!
This is just a small sampling of the cake toppers we have celebrated with over the years in my family. Yummy cake. Cute Decorations. No Stress.
For celebrations big or small, personalized cake toppers are THE answer! You can take a plain cake and make it personalized and special in seconds.
If baking isn’t your thing, this is just as great on a grocery store cake! No need to buy a fancy bakery cake and no need to worry about your own decorating skills not living up to the expectations.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
My friend Samantha made this Rice Krispie Treat cake for her son's birthday and it's perfect in so many ways!
This cake is SO EASY to make. It's literally Rice Krispie treats pressed into round cake pans instead of a rectangle pan. You can follow the recipe on the cereal box or make a fancy variation with other flavor add-ins. ANYBODY can do this!! No baking skills required. You don't even need to use the stove if you want to melt your marshmallows in the microwave!
Make sure you spray the cake pan with non-stick spray before filling with the treat mixture. Then let it set up for a couple of hours at room temp before flipping the cake out of the pan. Voila! Birthday cake!
Depending on the size of your pans and the number of layers you want, you will need to double or triple the standard size recipe. If you want to add ribbons like the photo, you can secure them on the back side of the cake with a couple of straight pins.
There is no doubt your guests will love eating the cake and it's so EASY to make it look special.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. Let's CELEBRATE!
This little peace sign party decoration was quick and easy to make, inexpensive, and can be used as a wall decoration after the party. That makes it an all-around no-brainer project!
Supplies needed are:
Cut the dowel rod into 3 pieces. The first piece should be equal to the size of the inside of the hoop. The two smaller pieces should be approx. half the size of the longer one.
The fancy way to do this would involve cutting the ends of the smaller pieces at an angle so it can match up with the big piece without leaving a gap. But I didn't want to mess with angles, knowing that it would all be covered up by yarn in just a few minutes. So, a straight 90 degree cut is just fine!
Next, get that glue gun warmed up and glue the dowel pieces to the hoop and to each other to make the peace sign. It's totally fine to use extra globs of glue to make it stay in place because you won't be able to see it under the yarn.
As soon as the glue dries, you can tie the yarn to the hoop and start wrapping it around and around.
You can see in the picture above that instead of wrapping the whole skein of yarn around the hoop, I rolled the yarn into smaller balls. This made it easier to wrap through the smaller sections of the peace sign.
That's all there is to it! Wrap until you can't see any more of the hoop or the sticks. If you come to a spot that is already wrapped in yarn and you need to move to a new section, just split the yarn into two strands and tie a knot to finish it off. Then re-start in the new section.
The options are limitless for party snacks, but I thought Chicago Mix popcorn was a great match to the colors of the party. With a mixture of cheesy popcorn and caramel popcorn, you get the orange and beige colorway that matches the retro vibe perfectly!
A sweet and simple retro party for your little one who is TWO GROOVY!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Yes, cereal can be an fun way to shake up your cake decor without taking extra time and money! Here are three ideas to use what's in your cupboards to decorate your next party cake!
This cereal is a kid favorite and it's so bright and beautiful as a cake decoration! Fruity Pebbles are more popular than ever! Duncan Hines has a Fruity Pebbles cake kit in stores and recently Nike and LeBron James did a collaboration for Fruity Pebbles tennis shoes! Decorating your cake is simple and doesn't require much time either.
To decorate the cake, you'll want to put the cake on a sheet pan and spread the Fruity Pebbles around the bottom of the cake. Next, gently start to bring the Fruity Pebbles up the side of the cake. I tried using a spoon but found using my hands was so much easier!
Press the cereal gently to the side until you have your desired look! Then sprinkle another ring of cereal around the top of the cake.
And don't forget that adding a personalized name cake topper always adds to the festive feel. This Tropical Colors Cake Topper is a great match to the Fruity Pebbles!
How sweet do these honeycombs look on the cake? It's perfect for a "1st Bee Day" theme or "Sweet As Can Bee"' party theme! It's such a simple way to bring a little whimsy to the cake and a subtle nod to the bee theme.
You can add the honeycombs around the base of your cake in lines or in a diagonal across the cake, either way looks cute!
Here is where you can shop for a Personalized Bee Theme Cake Topper for a special BEE-DAY celebration!
These Reeses Puffs are perfect for 'boulders' or rubble on a construction cake for your truck-loving little one! They look like little boulders or dirt and you can place them around the base of your cake or in piles with your construction vehicles on top!
Pair this with the Construction Cake Topper for a super simple themed party cake! Don't you want to DIG IN?
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Decorating your cake does NOT have to be complicated and definitely does not need to take hours! I have 3 amazingly simple cake decorating ideas that you can do in just a few minutes before your party starts!
You could even start with a plain grocery store cake and use any one of these ideas to make the cake look fancy and fabulous!
I love the elegant decadence of French Macarons and they look beautiful on top of a cake! You can find them at Whole Foods, Costco in the freezer section and I've even seen them at WalMart in the refrigerator case by the bakery!
Macarons come in so many beautiful colors! This pack matches perfectly with the Avalon Sunshine Boho Rainbow Party Cake Topper. A cake topper adds more height to any cake making it more of an attention-grabber statement piece.
Cake with more sweets on top? Count me in! You can add more color and fun to your cake with these Yummallo Marshmallows and Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy! I found both of these at my local WalMart.
Grab small pieces of cotton candy and place it around the bottom of your cake and then simply add your favorite marshmallow pieces around the cake. Add on your personalized Cotton Candy Colors Cake Topper and some sprinkles and you're party ready!
You'd be a Smartie to try out this delicious cake idea! Smarties on top of a cake was kind of a happy accident! My niece was having a Candyland themed birthday and wanted all different kinds of candy on her cake.
Things like Laffy Taffy, Smarties, gummies and Starbursts...they might not make sense on a cake, but kids will eat anything if it has sugar, so we did it. The overall result was a bit weird, but....
We were shocked at how GOOD the Smarties were with the frosting! You get the crunch from the Smarties and the smoothness of the frosting and they just paired so well!
On this cake, I used a combination of the Mega Smarties and the regular size to decorate the cake. Place them around the cake while the frosting is fresh. I did the Mega Smarties on the top and bottom with the smaller in between, but have fun with it!
Don't forget that a personalized name cake topper is the easiest way to take your take to the next level of specialness! This Pink Name Cake Topper with Tulle Tassels is such a girly, sweet topper!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for Donut theme birthday party for boys. I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
What's better than a donut? A whole party themed around the delicious treat!
This adorable invitation has a digital or printable option so you can easily edit and send however works best for you! Puff Paper Co has incredible step by step instructions to guide you through the short process too!
Custom donut birthday shirt? Yes, please! It's perfect for a Donut Theme Party! This custom 'Birthday Boy' t-shirt by Madi Moosh Boutique comes in many colors and will have you little boy jumping for joy!
Let your party guests find out their custom Donut Name! Can you already hear the giggles? I used a similar name game with a classroom party and the kids LOVED their silly names. The download file from Puff Paper Co comes with a name tag too!
After you stack your delicious donuts, make it feel like a birthday party with a custom name cake topper from Avalon Sunshine! This stack with a dozen donuts works perfectly with 5 donuts on the bottom, 4 in the middle, and 3 on top.
This donut placemat doubles as an activity and to help contain the crumbs! Give the kids some crayons to color and play games after the donuts are gone. The Party Patisserie personalizes the file with a name for a sweet little detail at your party table!
Donut forget the treats to go! Prepping Parties has these adorable take away bags to send home a donut as a favor! Text and colors can be cusomized....so CUTE!
Donut Theme Parties work great before lunch! Serve up some donuts, fruit and juice to keep the menu simple! It is especially nice for the toddler age group who require naps; you can have everything wrapped up before they get too tired.
]]>Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for a Girly Dinosaur Theme party. I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
These adorable girly dinosaur party centerpieces are from Fancy Celebration! Add these around your food table to sprinkle some dino fun throughout your party area!
Kids love to see their name on things! Personalized feels so special! This cake topper has 20 color options to pick from and you can add it to any homemade cake or grocery store cake.
Every party needs some balloons! I love to mix and match a few different bigger balloons with the cheaper solid colored balloons. This Pink Dinosaur from Anaya Treasures AZ and Pink Flower from Lemon Lime Lagoon go together perfectly!
Another stress free option for the Dinosaur Birthday Party? A cute customized Dinosaur t-shirt by Kids Party Works. Have your little one looking adorable for those party pics!
Kids love little favors and these cute Dinosaur Temporary Tattoos from xoFetti are no exception! They are an inexpensive way to incorporate the theme into a little takeaway.
Last but not least, invitations! You can easily edit these pink and perfect invitations from Little Prints Parties. You can print and mail or keep it simple and email or text your personalized invitation!
]]>Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for an easy baseball theme birthday party! I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
This baseball themed birthday party guide has everything you need to knock it out of the park!
Deck out the birthday boy or girl with a custom baseball t-shirts from Shining Pearl Clothing! You can pick the number and t-shirt color to look fabulous in those birthday party pics!
These baseball balloons from Basically Balloonz make a great addition to your cake table or even outside tied to your deck! Pick the number to match your child's age and you're ready to party! Fill in with red and white latex balloons or keep it simple with just these. You can't go wrong with balloons!
When you think of baseball, do you also think of hot dogs and popcorn? I know I do! This iconic popcorn box from Home Hoopla and hot dog foil bags from Outside the Box Papers would be such cute detail to add to your party. Super simple foods to prep and finger foods are the best party foods!
Step up your cake game with this custom Baseball Cake Topper by Avalon Sunshine. Add your little one's name and choose from 20 different colors! You can add this to any homemade or grocery store cake for a baseball theme cake with zero effort.
You've got the decor, now it's time to send out the invitations! This baseball super fun and sporty invitation by InstantInvitesSAS is super quick to use and send out. After you personalize the template, you have the option to print and mail, or take the easy route and send them digitally!
Prop this Autograph sign by Deerly Designed next to the cake, drop a baseball and a sharpie for all of the party guests to leave an autograph. It becomes a sweet keepsake for your little one to have for years to come!
]]>Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
To be clear...this idea uses chocolate and is intended for a human birthday party with a dog theme, not a birthday party for your pup :)
You can start with a plain homemade cake or a grocery store cake and turn it into a dog theme party cake in just a few minutes!
You will get the best paw print effect with two different sizes of M&M's. I used a combo of almond M&M's and plain M&M's but you could use peanut, or peanut butter in place of the almond variety. Decide which colors you want to use and do a little sorting.
Then start adding them to the side of the cake in a paw print arrangement applying light pressure to help them stick to the frosting!
Add a personalized cake topper from Avalon Sunshine and you're ready to PAWTY! The name banner is made to match the color of the pup's scarf and is available in red, blue or pink.
The entire transformation only takes a few minutes and it looks so cute! Any pup-loving child will think this is fabulous! For another equally cute and simple dog cake idea using Scooby Snacks, take a look at this blog post!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for a Party Animal theme birthday party! I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
This beautiful Party Animal Cake Topper from Avalon Sunshine is simple to use and adorable for photos. It's available in 20 different color combinations so it'll easily fit the color scheme you're working with!
I love the Safari Animal Balloons from Girly Gifts! Buy one or buy them all! They will definitely help set the scene for your little party animals!
This gorgeous cheetah print wrapping paper from Mellowworks is so versatile. You can use it to wrap gifts, cut it into rectangles for placemats or even cut a longer strip for a table runner! I love the rich colors of this print!
If you're looking to simplify your party planning, this Party Animal theme Birthday Invitation from Inky Pinky Party is a great fit! You can text these right to those you're inviting to the birthday party!
Why are little animals in party hat SO CUTE? Chiarabelle has these adorable mini party hats in her shop so you can add them to animals you probably already have in the toy bins at home!
What child doesn't love a temporary tattoo?! These Jungle Temporary Tattoos from xoFetti are a great addition to your goodie bag or a fun activity for the kids to do while they are waiting for the cake!
Do you love to give your party guests a little favor before they leave? I love the Party Animal Favor Tags from Design My Party Studio They would go perfectly with a little bag of bag of animal crackers for an inexpensive favor that doesn't add to clutter.
]]>Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
Keep scrolling for a curated collection of party supplies for an easy sloth theme birthday party. I already scoured the web for the best supplies from small businesses so you can feel good about shopping small while putting together the best party!
This adorable sloth cake topper from Avalon Sunshine is the perfect addition to your homemade or store bought cake! You can customize the name to make it extra special for your little one! Themed cake with zero effort!
How precious is this sloth balloon from Girly Gifts? This sloth is 39" so it's ready to make a statement at your party entrance, cake table, or photo backdrop!
Pair these sweet Palm Leaf Balloons from Girly Gifts with the gian sloth balloon above to really set the scene of a jungle!
These little Sloth Cups from Crafty Cue are ADORABLE! They are perfect to serve drinks at the party, or even little snack cups. The little touches with your party theme add some extra magic to the birthday party!
These Sloth Birthday Stickers from The Party Penguin would go great on your goodie bags for the guests to bring home! Party favors with snacks are always my favorite thing to send home with the kids, so once the snack is eaten, there is no clutter left.
Your little party guests will love the temporary Sloth tattoos from Kristen McGillivray! They can even be personalized with the name and age of the birthday kid. So special!
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Throwing a birthday party is fun but can also be overwhelming to put everything together. This guide is to take the stress off of your plate with the ultimate list of handpicked items to pull everything together! LET'S CELEBRATE!
You can make a farm-tatsic birthday cake to be part of your celebration, even if you don't have any decorating skills. Take a look at the simple steps below. And if you're here just for the cake topper, here's a quick link to shop:
Whether you're baking a cake or buying a ready-made cake from the grocery store, you can set the scene for your farm with a sweet little pretzel fence. All you need is a bag of mini pretzel sticks and a serrated knife.
I used a full pretzel stick for the vertical pieces, the horizontal pieces were the shortest and the diagonal pieces were a length in between. Depending on the height of your cake, you can experiment and see what works best for you.
TIP: Gently saw back and forth with the knife. Pressing down hard with the knife may make the pretzel break in the wrong spot.
After you have a fence for the animals, it's time to move them in! I used the Terra brand from of Amazon and liked the detailing and authentic look that they have.
My favorite party hack is using something I already own, so make sure to look for animals that your child may already have! Add them on top of the cake, or if they are tricky to stand up on the cake, add them to the table around the cake works just as well. You can add a mini hay bale and a crate of apples to the table for a fun farm vibe.
It's no secret that kids love to see their name on something. It just feels so special and adding a cake topper is just the easiest way do this (a million times easier than piping a name with a frosting bag) This cake topper has a cute cow print flag on each end to go with the farm theme.
If you're like me, you love a quick and inexpensive party decoration! This bandana garland cost $3 and was done in less than 5 minutes!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
My niece had a birthday and celebrated with a cotton candy cake. She was so excited she was literally dancing on the table! The cotton candy cake pairs perfectly with Avalon Sunshine's Personalized Cake Toppers! My niece had a mix and match with our Panda and Pastel Rainbow Name Cake Topper! You can always mix and match to fit your exact theme for your party!
Here is where you can order your own personalized cake toppers from Avalon Sunshine:
The amazing cake pictured here came from The Pixie Cart. They create these unique and fun cakes that are made with one ingredient, cotton candy. The layers are pressed together and as you can see in the picture, it slices just like a cake would. You can get the cotton cake customized to different colors as well. Add a cute personalized name cake topper and your party cake is ready to go!
In addition to the cotton candy cakes that can be picked up locally in Plainfield, IL, the Pixie Cart has a Cotton Candy Cart and Popcorn Cart available for special events. They also do amazing custom party favors….seriously, you should scroll their Instagram for gorgeous party inspiration!
The Pixie Cart has been in business and serving up fluffy, sweet goodness since 2020 and serving the Chicagoland area and events in WI and IN.
If you’re not lucky enough to be in the local area but absolutely MUST have a cotton candy cake, try etsy.com for some cotton candy cake makers that ship nationwide.
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This cake is as easy to put together as it looks!
You'll need mini chocolate donuts to trim the cake with little "tires". I did a deep dive in the name of research to find the best chocolate mini donuts. Entenmann's was my taste winner but Hostess and Little Debbie were close behind!
Quick Tip: If your donuts have imperfections from being jostled in the box you can quickly fix that with a hair dryer! Just allow the icing to warm up enough to make it look smooth again!
The real winner of this cake is the Race Car Cake Topper personalized with your little one's name and the mini checkered flags.
If you have a boy running around your home, you probably have a race car (or a hundred!) that you can add to the top of the cake. I love to jazz up a cake with supplies I already have at home!
The checkered racing flags and road tape were inexpensive, fun decorations from Amazon to finish off the decorations on the cake table.
The racing flags come in a box of twelve so you can easy add them to other spots in your home. If the flags come out looking a little wrinkled from the box you can easily fix it with a low heat iron.
The road play tape is great because it has a variety of the curved and straight pieces and it's a low stick adhesive! You don't have to worry about it damaging the surface of whatever you put it on.
Look how easy it all comes together!
Quick Tip: If your little one is turning two, the party theme "Two Fast" has been super fun and popular right now! Avalon Sunshine also has a cake topper for that!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
This idea works with a simple homemade cake, or make it even easier on yourself by picking up a plain cake from your local grocery store.
All you need to complete the look is a cake topper from Avalon Sunshine that includes the dog and the name banner, and a box of Scooby Snack graham crackers. (I found my box at Target)
These little snacks might look like dog treats, but I promise, they are people-food and the cinnamon flavor is so yummy!
When your order the cake topper set from Avalon Sunshine, you get a choice of red, blue or pink along with the name banner to match the puppy's scarf!
Ok! Who's ready to PAW-TY??
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
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Of course you can go for whatever kind of treats your child loves, but keeping the foods in matching colors made this look fantastic!
This perfectly sized 5" mini cake is from the Wal-Mart bakery. They always have them in the refrigerator case for less than $5, available in pink, white and chocolate frosting options. You can change up the size of your cake and board based on how many people you’re serving. This tiny board would be perfect for a small group of 3-4 friends.
All of these items on the board came from the grocery store so it’s simple to replicate. Even the mini board with handles came from Target. I used pink Starburst, Smash Mallow in strawberries & cream, Crispy Minis by Hostess, and Mother’s Circus Animal cookies. I even added a little fluff of pink cotton candy under the cookies to add a little more texture and another snack option!
But really, let's talk about the name cake topper. This is what makes the whole board feel fit for a celebration! There are so many fun color options available for personalized cake toppers in the shop the will absolutely be something to match your party theme.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Tropical party and luau supplies are all over the stores in the summertime because it's such a fun party theme!
I have a couple of simple and unique ideas to decorate your luau birthday cake!
If you're here for the cake topper, here's a quick link to shop.
If you're here for the how-to style details, here we go!
First up...no naked cake stand! Let's put a grass skirt on that girl.
Nothing difficult or time consuming. Not full of plastic junk that you will need to throw away after the party. Just festive, tropical fun!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
Start wrapping the garland around the hoop. Depending on the length of your garland and the fullness of the leaves, wrap tighter or looser to your liking.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
I don't think anyone really needs instructions how to put frosting on a sugar cone, but here are a few tips:
First put the cake topper on the cake, then add the trees. I like the look of the trees placed just inside each of the cake topper sticks.
One final touch to make the cake look cute, is an irresistible ring of powdered sugar donut holes around the edge of the cake! They make perfect little, bite-sized snowballs!
It's a simple cake but still looks so special!
Look! It's available in a girly version too! With a pink bow for the penguin and a pink personalized name topper!
Whether you're starting with a home-baked cake or a plain grocery store cake, this cake topper set makes it so easy for anyone to decorate a cake!
If you aren't planning a penguin cake but want to keep your cake simple with another animal theme, take a look at the Animal Cake Topper section of the shop. Here's a preview of a few animals you will see there! Click to see all the animals in the cake topper zoo.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
I have tons of respect for cake decorators. I don't have the patience or desire to practice that skill myself, but I love to bake cakes. So I kind of created my own style that I think of as "cake crafting" instead of decorating.
I use basic household and grocery store supplies and put them together in creative ways that anyone can replicate. Fool-proof and quick to make.
Here are the details for a CUTE polar bear cake using blue Jolly Ranchers, red Swedish Fish and big marshmallows.
My cake is 8" and I wanted the icy, blue pond to be about 5" wide. I used a piece of aluminum foil and scrunched and folded the edges into a round shape the size of the pond, with a little lip all around the edge. The lip will hold the jolly ranchers in place when they melt.
That's all! A pretty, blue pond for the top of your cake.
I knew I wanted to put the polar bear in the middle of the pond and he's connected to a stick that goes into the cake. So after the pond was out of the oven for 5 minutes, and it was partially cooled and still on the foil, I used a toothpick and made a hole in the pond. If you catch the candy at the right time when it is gooey and sticky, but not too soft and not too hard, the hole will keep it's shape. The candy will be completely cooled after about 15-20 minutes. Then you can peel off the foil and you're ready to put it on your cake.
And...your cake has a pond! Big wow factor with no fancy skills required!
Next up....red Swedish Fish. They are a great match to the red name banner and polar bear hat. The fish really tie the whole cake together! If you start adding the fish while the frosting is soft and fresh, they will stick, no problem.
One little fish jumping out of the cake with a toothpick attached adds a little dimension and whimsy.
A couple of stacks of marshmallow "snow" make a nice backdrop for Mr. Polar Bear.
You can order the cake topper set with a personalized name banner and the polar bear right here. It's available in red, pink and aqua.
That's it! Your impressively cute cake is done in a short amount of time!
If you aren't planning a polar bear cake but want to keep your cake simple with another animal theme, take a look at the Animal Cake Topper section of the shop. Here's a preview of a few animals you will see there! Click to see all the animals in the cake topper zoo.
]]>Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
We are huge fans of these cookies in my house! Dutch Stroopwafels are a two thin, crispy waffle cookies with a thick, gooey caramel layer in between.
Start making your gold medals by putting each Stroopwafel cookie into its own cello bag and folding the top back so the cookie fits snugly.
Cut your ribbon into 18" strips for an average child-size medal. If you don't want to use soccer ribbon, gold ribbon or red, white & blue would be fun too!
Using plain old scotch tape, tape the ribbon onto back of the cello bag. I used 2 long pieces of tape for extra security. You will need one piece to go across the very top. If you don't, the cookie will flop forward when you wear the medal and it will just look goofy.
The last step is to add a little paper star to the front with a little piece of tape. That's it! So simple!
You can hang them up as part of the party decorations, give them out when party games are over, or send them home as favors at the end of the party.
They are sure to be enjoyed by all of your little soccer stars!
If you need a personalized soccer cake topper, they are available for ordering in 20 different colors.
Keep the party planning stress-free and remember that you just need a few special touches to make the party memorable.
Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!
I started with my favorite cookie recipe and doubled it. When the cookie dough was mixed, I divided it into 4 equal parts. 3 parts for each layer of the cookie and the 4th part was extra so I just baked them up into regular size cookies. I needed something to toss at the family to keep them away from the cookie cake long enough for me to assemble and take the pictures.
For the frosting in between the layers, I used chocolate buttercream because the flavor is perfect to go with cookies...unanimous vote by my cookie-loving family! I love that you don't have to worry about spreading the frosting all smooth and perfect for this cake.
One of the cookies ended up a little larger than the others, so I made that the bottom layer...a little less noticeable that way. To stack the cookies on top of each other, I used two spatulas, one on each side.
Then, the final touch is the name cake topper! It really elevates the cookie to party status, don't you think? You can order a name cake topper here. There are so many colors to pick from.
Look at these little cookie stacks tied up with ribbon! Aren't they adorable? And it couldn't be any simpler...just stack and tie. You can use them as table decorations, or bag them up as little party favors. You could even add a tiny tag to the ribbon to say "Thanks for coming".
I hope this gives you some ideas for a cookie theme party! Don't forget to check out the personalized name cake toppers available in ALL the colors here:Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!]]>
The cake looks so pretty and really, it couldn't be easier! Seriously...no skills required!
1. Store-bought Angel Food Cake
2. Fresh whipped cream (if you've never made it, google it...so easy)
3. Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and mint leaf for garnish
4. BERRY SWEET cake topper if you're celebrating something special. You can order the cake topper here.
Here is a quick step by step how I put my cake together, but there really is no way to mess this up. Nothing has to be arranged perfectly, but it still looks amazing! My favorite kind of cake decorating never needs a piping bag.
Tip: if your strawberry stems and leaves look wilted and not-so-green, mint leaves are the perfect addition to fluff up the greenery.
Now let's talk about those little berry baskets. Aren't they cute? Who doesn't want a few extra berries with their cake?
The little green baskets came from Amazon. Just search "berry basket" and there are all kinds of colors and materials. I didn't want to put the berries in a naked basket, so I made parchment paper inserts. It took a little trial and error to make the paper stay in the basket without getting all crinkled and ugly, so here are some pics of how I made it work.
1. Cut the parchment paper into squares approx. 10" x 10" I used pinking shears for the little zig zag edge. Note: Reynolds brand parchment paper is printed with the brand name all over (ugly) so I found store-brand parchment paper that was plain white.
2. Make a cut into each side of the parchment, at the half way point. Each cut should be about 3" inches.
3. Slide the parchment flaps, one over the other, at each of the side cuts. It will start to form a square-shaped base that will fit neatly into the berry basket. Once you put it in the basket, it should stay and hold it's shape. Voila! I added a buffalo plaid ribbon for contrast. Since the shape of the berry basket is tapered, the ribbon wanted to slip down the basket. I added a couple of dots of hot glue on the corners to help the ribbons stay in place.
Berry sweet wishes for your party planning! Shop at the link below to order a cake topper and re-create this simple dessert for yourself.
Avalon Sunshine cake toppers are the easiest way to decorate your cake without any stress or decorating skills. They work great for traditional and non-traditional cakes...home-baked and store bought cakes. LET'S CELEBRATE!