Black and White Birthday...

This year my daughter informed me she just wanted to hang out at the mall with her friends for her birthday...  This came as a surprise to me, because we have always done big parties at our house.  After I let it sink in little that I didn't have to do a big theme party... I have to admit I felt a sense of relief...  But, being the crafter that I am... I couldn't sit back and DO NOTHING...  So my daughter picked a black and white theme, and I ran with it...

When my daughter woke up the morning of her birthday... This is what she found...

I made poms out of tissue and wrapping paper... and taped Happy Birthday to some white garland...

For the party I was able to decorate one of the food court tables (the mall even let me keep it decorated while we were shopping)... I added a table cloth, bows made out of streamers on the chairs, balloons, and reusable shopping bags decorated with name tags... I also made black and white yarn flower pins...

Here is a close up of the flowers... I found this nifty loom for .25 cents at an estate sale...

Inside of the shopping bags I found these makeup pouches for .01 cent at Michael's, and filled them with lip gloss and $5...

I think they really felt like big girls walking around with their shopping bags... 

 

We also gave out some other handmade party favors...  You may have glimpsed at them here already...  So as promised... here is how I gave a makeover to some left over party hats...and how to make your own custom party blowers too...

Violet sporting her party hat...



I started with some old hats...  Then I cut four 4inch pieces out of black streamer... and made 2inch cuts on one end through all four layers...

Then I tightly rolled up the uncut end (from the side... NOT from the bottom up)... Then poked it through the hole in the top of the hat... If it doesn't fit, just snip a little bit off the end of the hat...

Next trace the outline of the hat on your paper... then fold it around your hat...

Tape in place... and your ready to party...

Party Blowers...  Soon you'll be tooting your own horn...







First step is starting with a 2inch x 9inch piece of paper... Then fold in the longer sides 1/2inch( I like to use the edge of my ruler to get a nice crease)...

With both sides now folded into the center...  tape the folded edges together... creating a seam up the middle...

Next make a 1/4inch fold on one end and tape in place...  Then starting with that taped end... Roll the strip of paper tightly around a pencil... This gives it a nice curl...

Now cut a 5inch piece of straw...  Insert it about 1/2inch into the open end...

Fold the corners of the paper in...  Wrapping the edges around the straw... Tape in place...

Now you can have coordinating party blowers to match your party hats... The best part is it cost me nothing, because I just used items I already had lying around the house...  I can picture so many variations of these party favors... I would love to try some using washi tape(you could even wrap the tape around the straw)... The best part was after my daughter watched me make the first one, she was instantly making them herself... and super excited to tell her friends she made them herself...  They were that easy!... I can promise you now after doing these I will NEVER buy them again... Oh... and the added bonus that I discovered about my homemade party blowers... is they don't make that annoying noise the store bought ones make...
So overall I'd say this party was a success....Violet enjoyed it because she was able to do what she wanted (even though it was with less people)... and have a party theme... I really enjoyed not having to do as much work... but I still got to use some handmade touches...
Happy Party Planning! ***Jennifer

P.S. Since my daughter doesn't like cake... we ended with Cinnabon for dessert...