| A one-year old's birthday party is really a party for | | | | them...although I wouldn't discourage it if the mood |
| the adults, especially if this is the party-throwers first | | | | strikes. |
| child. Traditionally it's all about watching the little one | | | | Element #4 - Food & Beverage: Never Stress |
| eat cake for the first time and excitedly rip off the | | | | About Food and Drinks |
| wrapping paper from the presents. But for this party, | | | | The cake is what it's all about on the first birthday. |
| I'm going to try and give the adults a few more | | | | But since the one year old probably won't remember |
| things to do that are fun and festive, but most | | | | the cake, be sure it is one that the guests will by |
| importantly, are all still about the birthday boy or girl. | | | | making it a photo cake! This is a lot easier than you |
| The nice thing about this Milestone Birthday Party | | | | may think. |
| Plan, is that many of these elements can actually be | | | | Many bakeries have the technology to make this |
| adopted for just about ANY birthday...boy or girl...big | | | | possible. So choose your favorite photo of the guest |
| or small. | | | | of honor and bring it to life in frosting. |
| Element #1 - Theme, Mood & Color: Carry Them | | | | Or, if cupcakes are more your style, you can still |
| Out In Everything You Do | | | | apply the photo idea by creating photo flags. For this |
| To determine the theme for this party we're going | | | | project you'll simply need some cardstock, pinking |
| to use a three-step process: | | | | scissors, a hole-punch, and some lollipop sticks. And of |
| First, go to your favorite party supply store either | | | | course you'll need your favorite photo of the |
| on-line or in person and find a 1st Year Birthday | | | | birthday baby and some double stick adhesive. |
| dinner plate that you like. This is what I call your | | | | If you used a photo pick on your invitations, you |
| "inspiration piece." | | | | could use the same picture (and/or pick) on your |
| Second, create an "Imagination Board" out of a large | | | | cupcakes. Whichever way you go, adding a photo |
| sheet of butcher paper or a sheet of binder paper. | | | | element to your food and beverage menu is a great |
| However, if you are personally planning multiple | | | | touch. |
| parties over the years, I suggest you purchase a 2 x | | | | Element #5 - Activities: Engage Your Guests In |
| 3 foot white board which you can pick one up at | | | | Something |
| your local office supply store. | | | | I think it's great to have things for your guests to |
| Third, to begin brainstorming I put my inspiration | | | | get involved in besides opening gifts and watching |
| piece on my Imagination Board. I then write down | | | | the little one eat---or play with---cake. Both are great |
| everything that comes to mind related to what I see | | | | fun, but here are a few other things to consider |
| and think about when I look at my inspiration piece. | | | | doing at your First Year Milestone Birthday Party. |
| For example, when I looked at the plate I choose, I | | | | Create a "Year in the Life of" collage panel. This is a |
| thought about: my little cupcake, how fun it is to be | | | | great idea if you have windowpanes in your home, |
| one, and how she gets to make a wish and blow out | | | | but if not try a long frame or collage panel. Most |
| her first candle. | | | | multiple opening frames will work great as long as |
| Keep your Imagination Board (or paper) handy | | | | you include photos from birth through 12 months. Or |
| because you may refer to it for inspiration | | | | you could create a video showing some of baby's |
| throughout the party planning process. I usually add | | | | best moments of the last 12 months that your |
| to my board as I shop around and see things that | | | | guests may have missed. |
| are available with my theme and as ideas come to | | | | Consider having your "baby book" done for some |
| me. These ideas are the foundation for the wording | | | | added fun things to look through. Or put together a |
| on the invitations, the cake, the thank you notes, | | | | scrapbook of the months leading up to baby's birth. |
| and so on. | | | | You can also use a computer software program to |
| Element #2 - Invitations: Make Them Inviting | | | | make a beautiful photo book. |
| There is nothing wrong with checking out the | | | | Lastly, create a "Game of Firsts." Write the following |
| invitations that match the paper goods you've | | | | questions inside disposable diapers with a colored |
| decided to use for a themed party. In fact, they | | | | Sharpie pen: |
| could make a good base for your invitation that you | | | | -- When did I first smile? |
| can add on to, or at the very least provide you with | | | | -- When did I get my first tooth? |
| clever wording. | | | | -- When did I first sit up? |
| The invitation that matches my "cupcake" inspiration | | | | -- When did I first crawl? |
| plate is darling. It has a unique shape, it is fun, it looks | | | | -- When did I first sleep through the night? |
| like a party; and the printed words tie in beautifully to | | | | -- When did I say my first word? Bonus points - |
| my theme. The only thing I would do however, when | | | | What was my first word? |
| using a store bought invitation is to make is to "my | | | | Have guests pull a diaper from a diaper bag (or other |
| own" by adding my own message, an embellishment | | | | creative container) and guess the date that each of |
| or additional card stock. | | | | these events (or others that you came up with) |
| Taking an idea from my Imagination Board, I'm going | | | | happened. |
| to write, "Come help us blow out her candle" on a | | | | Give out fun prizes to the ones who guess closest. |
| little tag and attach it by ribbon to a small, real candle. | | | | You know what kinds of gifts your guests would like |
| Then I'm going to adhere that to the top of the | | | | better than I do given the mix of people you're |
| cupcake invitation, using super sticky tape, and voila | | | | inviting, but some nice nonspecific ideas include |
| -- a store bought invite given a little extra somethin' | | | | chocolates, gift cards or home entertaining items like |
| somethin'. | | | | coasters or serving pieces...things people might |
| Here's an additional example using another cupcake | | | | actually use. |
| invitation for a baby boy's first birthday. I'm going to | | | | Element #6 - Special Touches: Set Your Party Apart; |
| modify a store-bought party pick (basically an | | | | Give Them Something From Your Heart |
| over-sized plastic toothpick with a round circle on one | | | | I adore creating a special keepsake for the guest of |
| end) by adding a photo of the birthday boy inside | | | | honor at any party; in this case, a Signature Cake |
| the circle. Using a round circle punch makes quick | | | | Plate provides the perfect backdrop for your party |
| work of this step. Then I stick the photo pick into | | | | guests to make a wish for baby's 1st Year Milestone |
| the cupcake invite and there you go - a cute, | | | | Birthday. |
| personalized and unique invitation with some added | | | | Signature Plates usually come as kits with special |
| pizazz. | | | | pens. You just have the guests sign the plate with |
| Element #3 - Decor & Ambiance: Remember | | | | their special sentiment, and then bake the plate in |
| Set and Setting Are Everything | | | | your oven, which makes the ink permanent. |
| I want to keep the decorations fun and yet elegant | | | | EasyPeazy! |
| for this First Year Milestone Birthday party. To do | | | | If you don't like the plate idea you can create a book |
| this I'm going to focus on two main elements...1st | | | | for birthday wishes. You can buy one---or create |
| Year Birthday paper goods, like our inspiration piece, | | | | your own Wish Book out of two sheets of |
| and balloons -- because nothing says a party like | | | | 12x12-inch heavy card stock that you can trim down, |
| balloons. | | | | several blank 8 ½ x11-inch sheets, a hole punch |
| You may consider paper plates and napkins, just | | | | and some coordinating ribbon. |
| paper plates and napkins. But in many ways these | | | | To make the most out of the plate or the book, I |
| party goods can be considered a part of your | | | | would encourage guests to write down a thoughtful |
| décor, especially when they're cute, bright, | | | | wish for baby's life...wishes like, "May you always |
| and cheerful, and they add so much color to your | | | | have a smile on your face and music in your heart." |
| party space. | | | | Or "May you always know love." Or "We wish you a |
| I don't like to go too matchy-matchy because I think | | | | lifetime of laughter and happiness." |
| it looks tacky. So, I mix things up a bit by combining | | | | Since you never really know if the one-ear old guest |
| solid plates and cups with my patterned ones. I have | | | | of honor is going to be awake and happy to take |
| even been known to throw in a different pattern | | | | photos during the party with all those people |
| from time to time that coordinates nicely. | | | | around---here's an option that happens after the |
| I think balloons say birthday! One of my favorite fun | | | | party, and more important, at your leisure. |
| but elegant decorating secrets is balloon bouquets on | | | | Simply have your camera on hand and take a photo |
| sticks. To start, just choose balloon colors from your | | | | of the birthday boy or girl playing with each one of |
| inspiration plate and purchase balloon sticks (with | | | | their new gifts one at a time. What guest wouldn't |
| cups) in a gross or bulk from a party supply store. | | | | love to see a personalized thank you note with an |
| Simply blow up your balloon (no helium needed), tie it | | | | adorable photo of baby enjoying the gift they |
| off, and slip it into the cup. Then attach the cup to | | | | brought? So unleash your inner shutterbug and make |
| your desired colored stick. I recommend using an odd | | | | your guests feel special with these personalized |
| number of balloons, either three or five, for each | | | | thank you notes. |
| bouquet depending on your vessel or vase, and how | | | | Don't forget that you can reuse many of these ideas |
| big a balloon you use. You can also cut your sticks to | | | | for other Milestone Birthdays, maybe not the Game |
| different lengths for added interest, and attach | | | | of Firsts on diapers, but certainly many of the photo |
| ribbons and decorative strands for a festive, yet | | | | ideas for the invitations, milestone collage, thank you |
| classy touch. | | | | notes and photo cake and cupcakes...and let's not |
| A few party hats lying around are a nice touch too | | | | forget the balloon bouquets! |
| even though I wouldn't expect anyone to really wear | | | | When it comes to parties...Think Easy! Think Fun! |