This sweet LITTLE MERMAID {ARIEL INSPIRED} BIRTHDAY PARTY was submitted by Heather Schleif of Sweet Boochie. What a gorgeous backyard party! It looks like the hours of planning paid off..all the little mermaid guests look like they’re in dream land! So many fabulous party ideas can be found here!

Heather said- “Our daughter Ana, requested a little mermaid (Ariel inspired) theme for her 5th birthday party this year. Character parties can always be a challenge to make them look whimsical and beautiful yet familiar to what the child knows is the character. I decided to use princess Ariel as inspiration for the color scheme (sea foam green, coral and lavender). My goal was to have each guest feel as though they were a princess mermaid under the sea…so to make this happen, my wonderfully talented mother-in-law sewed fifteen costumes and a dress up tent for all the guests to change in. As guests walked in they were transformed into a mermaid, with their outfits and a headband that I made by hot gluing a starfish onto a Dollar Tree purple headband.

I really felt the sand dunes were iconic of the beach, so I decided to make beach signs and “sand dunes” to mark each activity/game. I did this using free scrap wood from our local wood supply store and some old ceiling paint that I mixed with water and rubbed on with an old T-shirt to give it a white wash effect. I then placed the lovely printable signs (designed by Rebekah at A Blissful Nest) in a Pottery Barn Kids matte frame and tacked it to the wood post. My husband helped place sand and an old picket fence we had around the sign and I embellished with shells and tall grass. These signs marked the activities of dress up, making pearl bracelets, finding a pearl game, and a pass the treasure game.

For the dessert table, I wanted it to reflect the bottom of the sea, and the hidden treasures that mermaids find from a sunken ship. So I was thrilled to find the hand mirror at a local goodwill, and the fork I had to resemble the “dingle hopper” that Ariel finds to “comb” her hair. All the desserts I made myself. Our oldest daughter has food allergies, so it’s important I can make all the desserts safe for her to eat as well.

For favors, I used Kim from TomKat Studio’s idea as inspiration, and placed Ariel Squinkies rings in a cleaned baby food jar, which I spray painted the lid white and placed a coral punch of paper stock on top, tied with purple twine and these adorable small seashell and starfish buttons I found at Michael’s Craft store. The party was wonderful and all the guests left happy!”

Recreate This Party:
Party Styling: Heather Schleif of Sweet Booochie
Photography: Veronica Huang
Printables: Rebekah Dempsey of A Blissful Nest
Table and Chair Rentals: Bayly’s Rental

Items available in Kara’s Party Ideas Shop:
Balloons
Polka Dot Nut/Candy Cups
Ribbon
Burlap
Clear Cellophane Bags
Striped Paper Straws
Tissue Pom Poms
Paper Fringe {hanging from balloons}

  Items available in Kara’s Party Ideas Shop:
Balloons
Polka Dot Nut/Candy Cups
Ribbon
Burlap
Clear Cellophane Bags
Striped Paper Straws
Tissue Pom Poms
Paper Fringe {hanging from balloons}

You might also like:

1. Princess Ariel Royal Birthday Party
2. Mermaid Themed Birthday Party
3. Under the Sea + Little Mermaid Party
4. Mermaid 2nd Birthday Party