In my church I am over the youth group (girls ages 12-18). This group is called the “Young Women” organization. I absolutely love it. It’s so rewarding and the girls are just the cutest!
A friend and I came up with this fun birthday gift idea to give to the girls in the YW on their birthday. As leaders we are always trying to find inexpensive yet cute gift ideas…I think we nailed it with this one!
The gumball tubes can be purchased from theKara’s Party Shopfor only $1.13 each HERE (they come in packs of 6). I also sell inexpensive gumballs/bubble gum in assorted colors HERE (including gold- the value color for Virtue)!
The CUTE CHALK BOARD YOUNG WOMEN VALUE BUBBLE GUM TAGSare available in the C & C Paperie Shop HERE for only $10! You get the printable file/download so you can print out as many as you need for as long as you would like!
This is what Stephanie said about planning the party- “BOOYAKASHA! is the new Cowabunga Dude! I have to admit I was a little nervous when my soon to be 3 year old son asked for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle birthday party. The turtles made a huge comeback in 2012 with a new cartoon, but there is limited inspiration available for an updated take on a TMNT birthday party.
So I started from scratch.
As a parent I really enjoy the new TMNT cartoon. The characters are cute and even though the episodes are “dark” (NYC at night) the feel of the show is light. As my son is just turning 3 I wanted to take a lighter approach to the TMNT theme and stay away from the commercial part of the brand (which can be really hard to do)
For the invites, my local Famoso was generous in giving me some to go pizza boxes to use for the invitations. I hunted down enough TMNT t shirts for each of our little guests and tucked them inside. I absolutely fell in LOVE with the turtle illustrations by Jess Bradley and was over the moon excited when she was kind enough to allow me permission to use them for my son’s birthday.
I found a cartoon NYC skyline online that I liked and printed it as the backdrop for the dessert table. Desserts were hard for this theme as ninja turtles only dine on pizza (which we served for lunch). So we served Ninja Smoke Bomb (cake pops), Krang Cookies and Sewer Rat Gummies which were a big hit with kids of all ages.
To decorate the table I purchased some fabric in TMNT mask colors and used them as table runners. This was perfect for this party and would also work well with an art or rainbow party and so, so easy to do.
I also incorporated Jess Bradley’s turtle illustrations here for labelling the drinks at the table. This one is my favorite and was reserved for the over 18 guests ;)
After the kids had eaten, they had to go through the sewer cover (and tunnel) to get Turtle-fied.Each guest got to choose their favorite color of mask and put on their turtle shell. I picked up the “shell” (frisbees) at Dollarama (love that place) and used brown grosgrain ribbon and D Rings to keep the shells on while the kids enjoyed the rest of the party. I used fleece fabric blankets I found at Ikea and used a mask we already had as a guide to make the TMNT masks.
So many plans and ended up with so little time. I had planned a few games for the kids including Fruit Ninja, Kung Fu Hi Impact and a Ninja Throwing Star Game. I came across these super awesome pots from Ginger Pots and was inspired to create my own version for the party. I am no painter but I think they turned out great even if they didn’t get used.”
I was so excited for the April issue of Parenting Magazine! I had the honor of styling a Harry Potter themed birthday party for both the Early Year and School Year April issues!
Being a part of the editorial advisory board for Parenting has been fabulous! When Sabrina James (Style & Fashion Director) asked me if I would like to work on another fun project for them I just couldn’t resist! I will admit, when she asked if I would do a Harry Potter party my first thoughts weren’t all warm and fuzzy. It was a party theme outside of my comfort zone, and a theme I had never done. But now, it’s one of my most favorite parties to date!
If you haven’t yet, be sure and grab a copy of the April Parenting Magazine to see the full spread along with other fabulous parties styled by The Tomkat Studio & Oh Happy Day!
Photography by Valerie Hart.
Decor
The party was set out on Harry Potter inspired items like an old steamer trunk, some vintage suitcases, a british inspired telephone booth shelf and a book themed end table.
Candles were hung from the ceiling with fishing line to create a floating candle effect.
Old books are an easy way to stage a lot of the party food/decor. They go along perfectly with the Harry Potter theme, too.
The printable lightning banner, paper ties, argyle cupcake wrappers, invitation, Hogwarts Express sign and food labels/place cards are all part of the Harry Potter printable collection in the Kara’s Party Ideas Shop.
Invitation
This Harry Potter fill-in-the-blank invitation is a simple download from Kara’s Party Ideas shop. Roll it up and attach it to a white balloon, acting as the “delivery owl” from Harry Potter. Use a black permanent marker to draw an owl face onto the balloon. I weighed down the invitation with a vintage key.
Popcorn Bar
Since children will be watching Harry Potter at the party, provide a fun popcorn bar! This one included caramel corn, original corn & kettle corn. Parmesan seasoning and salt were set out for added flavor. Find the wooden scoops, signs & popcorn baskets in the Kara’s Party Ideas Shop- www.KarasPartyIdeas.com/shop
Butter Beer
Cream Soda acted as “Butter Beer” at the party. To create the foaming effect simply add vanilla ice cream to each drink.
Hogwarts Express Sign
Bring the feel of the Hogwarts Express Train Station into your party with this printable sign available in the KPI shop.
Butter Beer Candy Favors
Small glass salt and pepper shakers perfectly resemble mugs, so they were filled with butterscotch candies and labeled as “Butter Beer Candy Favors”. A vintage key was attached to the top of each jar with twine.
Owl Glasses
If a few simple steps, make these darling owl glasses for the kids to wear at the party.
- Pop out the center eye pieces of inexpensive glasses or sunglasses (available at the dollar store).
Attach white and brown feathers to each side of the pair of glasses with hot glue.
For the nose, cut a diamond shape piece out of orange card stock and make a crease down the middle. Glue the piece in-between the eyes of the glasses with hot glue.
Hanging Key Activity
These darling chocolate keys were made with a key candy mold from the KPI shop & melted chocolate. The keys were hung from a broom with twine. A child held up the broom as children tried to eat the keys with their hands behind their backs or at their side.
Party Activity- Magic Potion Station
Clear plastic gumball tubes from the KPI shop were filled with lemon lime soda. Three small honey jars, also from the shop, were filled with different flavored Koolaid drink mix. Koolaid is perfect because it’s a very light color, so the children can’t tell what flavor it actually is. The kids spooned the Koolaid into their tube of soda & watched in amazement as their color was revealed!
Paper Ties
These darling HP inspired printable ties are available in the KPI shop and are simple to print and cut out. Attach the ties to inexpensive elastic headbands and put the ties on guest as they arrive at the party.
Candy Stick Wands
Rock candy sticks from the KPI shop were placed in an owl vase as “Candy Wizard Wands”.
Honey Dukes Candy Shop
Small burlap bags from Kara’s Party Ideas shop were set out for the kids to fill with various types of candy from “Honey Dukes Candy Shop”, including actual Bertie Bott’s Every Falvour Beans, also available in the KPI shop here.
Owl Cake
Make this cake with fondant or gum paste pieces, cut to resemble leaves or feathers, and layer the pieces up the side of the cake. This cake was made by the talented Marcee, owner of Dippidee.
Owl Cupcakes
Easily make these cute owl cupcakes with vanilla icing, mini vanilla wafers, chocolate chips, almond slices and cashews. The argyle cupcake wrappers are from the Kara’s Party Ideas Shop here.
Golden Snitch Gumballs
Gold gumballs from the KPI shop were put in a jar and labeled as “Golden Snitch Gumballs”.
Golden Snitch Cookies
These were made with store bought banana cream cookies and yellow card stock. Simply cut the card stock into wing shaped pieces and insert the ends of the “wings” into each side of the cookies.
Chocolate Frogs
Simply make these with a frog candy mold from the KPI shop and melted chocolate. The frogs were set a top of an open book for added HP charm.
Party Favor- Truth Serum
Cute miniature glasses with cork lids from the KPI shop here were filled with water, mimicking “truth serum”. What mother wouldn’t love her child to come home from a party with this! The tags are part of the HP printable collection in the KPI shop.
Gowns
Inexpensive children’s graduation gowns look just like Hogwarts gowns! A gown was given to each child as they arrived at the party. The gowns are available in the Kara’s Party Ideas online shop here.
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Check out some of the fun party products available in the PartySuppliesNow Shop below!
I have some FREE ST. PATRICKS DAY PRINTABLES for you today! Use these cute tags to dress up your St Patty’s day gifts and treats!
There are three different tags available to download for FREE (add them to your cart in my shop and proceed to checkout…you won’t be charged a dime! The downloads will be available once you checkout).
“You are my LUCKY CHARM!” tags“You’re my pot of gold at the end of the RAINBOW!” and
“You’re my LUCKY Charm” circle tags!
Watch my video below to find out how I made all of these fun St Patrick’s day gifts, treats and party favors!
Birthday Gumball Party for HGTV
Gumball Birthday Party Styled for HGTV
FREE St Patrick’s Day Party Printables & Gift Tags!
noVae Clothing $100 Gift Card Giveaway!
Ninja Birthday Party!
Hi Ya! Ninja Birthday Party!
Ninja 7th Birthday Party
Ninjago Ninja 7th Birthday Party
Harry Potter Birthday Party
Harry Potter + Make-a-Wish Foundation Party!
Harry Potter Themed Birthday Party
Harry Potter Wizard Themed 6th Birthday Party
PaperBIRDS Party Stationary and Decorations
Luna Bazaar Party Supplies + Home Decor
$100 Giveaway from Bespoke Party Products! Chalkboard Easter Party Supplies & More!
Heart to Heart Party Accessories!
St. Patrick’s Day Party + FREE Printables
4th of July Smoke Bomb Party Favors! Free Tags!
FREE Printable “Hoppy Easter” Tags + Cupcake Toppers!
DIY 4th of July Sparkler Party Favors- Free Printables!