Rock Star First Birthday Theme
As you’ve heard me mention many, many, many, many times now…Bink had a birthday last week. Oh, you didn’t know? Well, let me tell you…blah, blah, blah. I’m sorry, I swear. Only a few more posts to go before I move past the birthday-palooza.
Since I love themed parties, I’d been planning all the little details of Bink’s party for months. We went with a Guitar Hero/Rock Band type party since my family is kind of obsessed with the games. And it seemed super cool for a first birthday. Remember when I told you all the cool things I wanted? And the movie poster I made him as a gift? We did all that, but I also made a bunch of other fun stuff for the party.
Here are some of my favorite details from the party:
1. Invitation/Thank you cards
I designed both in Apple Keynote of them based on a hodge-podge of ideas I found through google images. Basically then you design something like that through Keynote or PowerPoint, you design a custom sized slide and then “Save As” (PP) or “Export” (KN) the slide as a jpeg. Then you can order “photos” of the image through any printing place. I sent these to SeeHere. I’ve used lots of these kinds of services for cards (I like to try out different places when they have sales or do freebies). SeeHere isn’t my favorite since it’s hard to make sure your edges don’t get cut off, but they release some good coupon codes from time to time. My favorite for consistently cheap photo cards is Winkflash.
If you’d like the template for these, just email me at pacifierinmypocket (at) gmail (dot) com.
2. Bink’s birthday banner
The inspiration for the colors/backgrounds came from the Celebration Shoppe’s new line of Rock Star printables. The banner design itself came from Myra of My Blessed Life. She has a great tutorial on how to make the banner with scrapbooking materials. I did my designs digitally (in Microsoft Publisher), cut each square out, and then mounted them on cardstock. I used cheap polka dot ribbon from A. C. Moore to string them together. The font is Ace Bingham.
The banner made it about three-quarters of the way through the party before Bink snagged it (he was sitting on Daddy’s lap) and gave it a good yank. Instead of saving the pieces, I kept the first “E” from Emerson and the “1st” circle for his baby book.
I’m not gonna lie, this took more FOREVER, but I loved how it turned out. I would do it again for other parties, it was a fun, super cheap way to have a custom designed banner.
If you’d like the printable version of the banner, I’m submitting it to Tip Junkie’s Birthday Bash. If it is featured there, I’ll link it up here. Otherwise, you can email me at pacifierinmypocket (at) gmail (dot) com. for it so you can insert your little one’s name.
3. Bink’s birthday present
I designed this poster using Apple Keynote. I made it twice as big as the size I wanted (16×20) so when I compressed it into a jpeg it was still crisp looking. Those pictures of Bink are the same ones I used for his birthday invitations and the overall design was a mesh of wedding movie posters I’d seen online revamped for a baby’s birthday. The guitar is actually Rock Star Font letter “U”. Bink’s name is written using Gargoyles Font.
I framed it with a 40% off black frame from A. C. Moore and sat it on the table as an extra decoration.
4. Cakes
Hubby’s sister made Bink’s birthday cakes. His smash cake was an amp and the “real” cake was designed to look like a Fender guitar. They were both amazing and took her an entire day to make. I was in awe of how great they turned out. I can’t offer any more insight into them because they just magically appeared in my fridge the day before Bink’s party.
5. Color/Theme Coordination
We did everything we could in black, red, white, or teal/blue. The streamers, plates, napkins, and utensils all came from Target’s party section. They were cheap because they are also graduation-y colors and we happened to hit that season. I taped that bit of ribbon on the utensil container since it was leftover from the banner.
Besides colors, guitars were obviously the theme. The inflatable guitars came from Oriental Trading. We bought a dozen of them and used them as decorations and favors for the kids (instead of goody bags). The silver banners and all the balloons came from Party City.
As for Bink’s attire, I’d already bought him a red shirt with guitars on for the party. I stumbled across this one in the clearance rack of the Gymboree Outlet two weeks ago and for $3.99 couldn’t resist. It was PERFECT for the party.
What were your favorite birthday party themes? I’m always on the lookout for fun, new ideas!
Alice
June 12th, 2010 @ 9:23 am
YOU ARE ADORABLE. Seriously. What a wonderful party!!! I hope you got a chance to relax and enjoy it
Caitlin
June 14th, 2010 @ 9:18 am
Thank you! I feel like kid’s parties are like weddings, they go back a warp speed and if you didn’t have the pictures, you wouldn’t remember a thing!
Hope you are enjoying Germany! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
@Maybelline_V
June 16th, 2010 @ 8:39 am
I don’t know why but out of all the stuff you had for the party my favorite was the banner, I liked that you thought about everything, Nice Job Caitlin!
AZLB
February 11th, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
just been going through your blog…love the photos,spending time with your step tween, and the happiness you have! Happy SITS Day.