2011_butterfly_birthday

The Old World Raspberry Bars I made for the butterfly birthday party are exceptional, without question.  They've been a family favorite for years.  But I had a bag of rhubarb lurking in my freezer, begging me to do something with its fabulous tart flavor.  I love rhubarb.  LOVE.  Rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp, rhubarb shortcake--yes, please!  Yes yes yes!  I'll eat it for breakfast, stirred in cream of wheat.  Or as leftover pie.

I completely forgot I had one more tutorial prepared from the Tykki-dyw butterfly birthday party! How to make easy translucent votive holders to match any party theme.
 

Parties come with a lot of stuff. At least the way I do them, they do! Favors, silverware, napkins, games, goodies. Presentation of all this stuff can unify a party and really make it special.

I'd seen some gorgeous fabric-covered galvanized bins around, and since my inspiration for the Tykki-dyw butterfly party came from the Dab of Jazz line of fabrics and I tried to incorporate the fabric everywhere, I decided to try my hand at making my own.
 

I love a good hat. And I've always had a special place in my heart for classic, cone-shaped party hats. So silly, so festive, so fun! My mom still has one from my childhood, in fact. Nothing special, just a hat I took home from a Chuck-E-Cheese party I attended, but I played with it all the time.

Let me preface this tutorial by saying I am not a seamstress. Whenever I spend time at the sewing machine, I spend more time cursing and pleading for cooperation than actually sewing. My straight lines are never actually straight. I stopped my one attempt at quilting when I figured out I can't even cut a straight line. So if I can do this project, anyone can. Really.
 

When I was at the cake decorating store buying supplies for the Tykki-dyw butterfly party, I stumbled upon an adorable chocolate mold in the shape of tiny flowerpots. I loved them, and knew I wanted to use them in some way, but knew chocolate was out, since it was likely to be near 100 degrees for the party. Then I remembered the panoramic sugar eggs my grandmother used to make for Easter, and knew I had my solution.
 

Ribbon wands are a delightful toy for all ages. They encourage activity and imagination--something I'm always happy to see as a parent of two young girls.
 

We always have a pinata at our birthday parties. It's something my parents always did for me when I was growing up, and it just wouldn't feel like a birthday celebration without one. I found a darling 2-shaped pinata at the local discount party store--only $10! But it was rainbow striped, and didn't match my party at all.

Did that stop me? Of course not! It's easy to re-decorate a pinata to fit your party theme.
 

Remember these? Oh, how I loved these as a kid.
 

The decor and the food are obviously important parts of a celebration, and are the fun part to plan and craft! But I never lose sight of the fact that I'm planning a party. And not just any party, a party for a two year old. At this age, Niamh doesn't have any friends her own age, so all the kids in attendance were older. It was a unique challenge coming up with games and activities that could be enjoyed by the older kids as well as the birthday girl.