One Year Old in a Flash {party details}

I had so much fun planning Clayton's 1st birthday party.  The inspiration for her party, "One Year in a Flash", came from a party I saw on Pinterest.  It couldn't have been a more perfect theme.  Babies change quickly so it was a wonderful way to relive Clayton's 1st year through pictures.

I first choose colors for the party.  I went with teal, bright pink, and pale yellow.  I carried the colors throughout beginning with the invitation.  I loved the invitations from the party linked above, but decided to make my own and used another copy for additional inspiration.  I created the invitations using Microsoft Word with camera and party hat images I found on the Internet and a combination of fonts (Royal Acidbath, Maharani, OldSansBlack).  I printed them on pale yellow card stock that I bought from Hobby Lobby and cut to size.  I used a free trial download of Adobe Photoshop Elements to make the filmstrip using the graphic from this kit.  I printed the filmstrip at a Walmart photo center, cut it into a strip, and wrapped it around the yellow card stock and mounted it on 5x7 teal card stock that I bought from a stationary store in Tupelo.  I printed the party hat next to the return address and recipient's address on bright pink envelopes, both in teal and in Maharani font to match the invitation.  

When guests arrived they were chauffeured by our niece Mary on Harris' decorated golf cart and drove up the driveway lined with candle stakes with streamers flying.  I used baby food jars for the glass votives in the candle stakes and simply tied a strip of yellow and pink crepe paper to the candle stakes for a pop of color.

The balloon wreath I made for the front door was a huge hit.

Using floral pins, I attached 4 (maybe it was 5)- 72 count packages of balloons to an 18" straw wreath form. I spray painted a 5x7 picture frame from Walmart pale yellow and hung it with a wide piece of ribbon on the wreath.  I took Clayton's picture the day before her party in her birthday outfit.  I absolutely love this picture of her crying with a birthday hat on.  She was so sleepy and sick of me trying to take a perfect picture.  I plan to change out the picture to whoever's birthday it is and use the wreath for many years.

Since it was cold and outside wasn't an option to entertain our small guests, we made the entrance hall a play room. 

My niece, Mary, found a camera coloring page that she printed for a coloring table to go along with the theme.

For the dining room food table, I put green floral foam covered with rice in a sugar mold.  I painted dowel rods pink, teal, and yellow and attached a picture of Clayton at each month.  I used the camera strip from the kit to make a label for each month.  The pictures and month labels were duplicated on both sides.

Surrounding the sugar mold were party hats that I crafted.  I bought regular party hats from Walmart and opened one up and traced the pattern on different colors of felt.  I glued the felt to the party hats and added an alternating color of felt that I cut into strips for a pom-pom on the top.  I adorned each hat with fun embellishments that I bought by the yard from Joann Fabrics.  This was a time-consuming project but I had many guys give them compliments.  Yes, guys...so I call the bottle of champagne I consumed while making them time well spent.  And I may even use them for her party next year.  (Who am I kidding?!  I'll probably make different ones for next year.  Ha!)

I made circle garland that I mimicked from this party.  I attempted to follow her directions however I couldn't get the paper to sew for the life of me.  So I hot-glued two circles in between clear thread. 

To hold the plastic forks and spoons, I used mason jars that I jazzed up by gluing a wide ribbon on and then tied a thinner ribbon around it.  They are pictured next to the feathered-boa hat on the left.  I screwed the silver band on the top for a more polished look.

I bought bright pink paper plates and yellow napkins from Hobby Lobby.  I bought a rubber stamp from Joann Fabrics that said, "Happy Birthday! How many fingers are you?" and ordered a custom stamp from Etsy with Clayton and the camera from the invitation that I stamped in pink and teal ink to personalize the napkins.

For the kitchen island, I used the same photo-display concept as I did in the dining room using some of my favorite pictures from the year.  Both sides of pictures differed.

For the bar area (picture was way pre-party), I hung additional pictures on a ribbon clothes line.  I bought sippy cups with lids and straws from Hobby Lobby for the little guests to use and take home.  Although not pictured, I made pitchers of this punch spiked with vodka for the guests.  I had pink-swirled plastic straws from Hobby Lobby left over from another party I hosted that I put in a baby food jar that I also jazzed up with ribbon.

As many of you know, my family loves styrofoam cups and I had custom ones printed from RSVP Stationers in Memphis.  The extras can be used at her party next year.

I designed water bottle labels using the filmstrip concept from the invitation.  My friend, Brittany, printed them on flex vinyl sheet labels (so the ink doesn't bleed) she had used for another party. 

Using Picnik, I made "Polaroid pictures" for many of Clayton's firsts which I hung from the mantle on pink ribbon with mini clothes pins that I painted teal and yellow.  Some included: doctor's visit, beach trip, dip in the pool, plane ride, sign I'm coming (pic of Harris and I with the positive pregnancy test), taste of an orange, photograph (ultrasound pic), wedding, standing by herself, etc.

I also hung some on a mirror in the dining room using Christmas light suction cups.

I replaced photos that my parents have in their den with more pictures of Clayton.

On the living room and den tables, I made centerpieces by using ribbon-wrapped baby food jars and the same concept with dowel rods as the dining room centerpiece.

I sprinkled Photofetti (info to come) around the centerpieces.

My mom was not looking forward to the mess from Clayton digging into her cake.  So last minute, I made this catch-all rug by gluing left over ribbon strands to the edge of a felt square.

For her cake eating celebration high chair, I made a festive ribbon banner like this one.  I knew the smash cake wouldn't make it long sitting on the highchair, but thought the highchair needed something on it.  So the birthday invitation on a picture easel and her birth announcement were a easy fix.  

Clayton's cake was made by Jennifer Thompson of Ashland, MS.  Besides being so cute and affordable, it was delicious!  She's on Facebook under 'Jennifer Bolden Thompson' or I have her contact information if you ever need a cake.

Sprinkled on the dessert table and a few other tables was Photofetti that I ordered from yet another party I saw on Pinterest.  They take your pictures and turn them into 1" double-sided circle confetti, accented with smaller pieces with the colors of your choice.  

Hanging from the light fixture above the dessert table were balloons positioned at different tiers that was inspired by this.  Sadly I don't have a picture of "the big picture".

For party favors, I ordered camera and party hat cookies from Mary McGuire's Cakes & Pastries in Tupelo.  I put them in clear bags tied with ribbon and a thank you note from Clayton: "Thanks for a picture perfect first birthday. -Clayton".  The camera on the tag is the same from the invitation and the napkins.

  Also on the dessert table was a guest book.  I used the Dr. Seuss book, "Happy Birthday to You!".  I plan on having a book each year for her birthday parties for everyone to sign.  Hoping to find a book in the theme of the party.  Picture-themed was difficult and I thought this book was perfect for a 1st birthday.

I made a rhyme for guests to read displayed on an easel.  I glued a copy to the inside of the book along with the party invitation.

On the side porch, I hung balloons from the fans and made a photo wreath by taping bordered pictures on a 19" metal ring from Hobby Lobby.  And I couldn't ditch the burlap LSU football hanger I made before we played in the national championship just because it didn't match the party theme.

For serving beer and soft drinks, Harris hauled the old coke machine from the farm to the side porch.  We put a bowl of nickels so everyone wouldn't have to pay for their drinks.  ha!

For the patio tables (and dessert table), I used teal felt for tablecloths.  It was inexpensive and perfect since I needed so many yards.  I also liked it's texture for a winter party.  I made photo votives using baby food jars.  I saw them on Pinterest and tried their tutorial but the photograph didn't appear bold enough to my liking.  So I printed the images in black and white on vellum paper in the dimensions to cover the sides of the baby jars (I used regular and the taller jars) and then used double-sided tape to adhere it.  It worked perfect.  Wish I would of taken a pic of them lit up at night.  I attempted to sprinkle Photofetti around them but it ended up just blowing everywhere.

To further carry the theme, I made camera thank you notes on pale yellow card stock and bright pink envelopes to send to guests.

  In conclusion, I had tons of fun planning Clayton's 1st birthday party.  I loved all the details and executing the ideas into my own.  I know this isn't for everyone and by no means necessary for a child's birthday or anyone's birthday for that matter.  However you choose to celebrate the day, whether it's a simple supper or lavish affair, enjoy it!  They grow up so fast.  I swear mine was born yesterday.  

Also, I didn't mention it but I found a photographer to take pictures so it was one less thing for me to worry about and I could enjoy the party.  Of course, then I worried if she was taking pictures to my satisfaction.  I wasn't thrilled with them but glad I had her there.  I'll make sure next year to take more pictures myself so I have mine and the photographer's.  Also, I'll insist the photographer gives me all of the pictures and not just the ones that are "good" in their eyes.  With that being said though, I highly recommend getting a photographer or designating someone to be the official photo taker.  I wish I would of designated someone the videographer as well.  We got the video camera charged and ready but failed to use it.

And I know some of you are wondering why the heck I included so many details about the party.  I was thankful for those ideas that inspired me and wanted to include as many helpful tidbits as I could in case someone else wanted to use any of mine as their inspiration.  Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.