On The Brink: party themes

My son Nolan's latest obsession is The Muppets! I mean really, who doesn't love the Muppets?! So of course I took this theme and ran with it for his 6th birthday party.

The party stores don't seem to share our love for the Muppets, so with a little creativity and some help from the Disney website, Michael's, Target and Avery, we made our own invitations, buttons, decorations and CDs.

I downloaded a Muppet invitation from the Disney website. Animal is one of Nolan's favorite Muppets, so we decided to send an Animal invitation. I used "snag it" on my computer so that I could capture just the Animal invitation and then type the birthday info right on it. I then printed them on heavy cardstock paper and cut them on my paper cutter.

Nolan and I found some Muppet posters at Michael's for $6.99. He was thrilled because I told him he could put them in his bedroom after the party.

We also found these "make your own button" thingys at Michael's.

I found some Muppet pictures, by Googling "Muppet pictures" (duh). I went to Avery.com downloaded a template. I filled the template with my various Muppet pictures.

Popped the buttons open and used this circle as a guide.

I cut out my Miss Piggy circle...

placed Miss Piggy in the circle...

And popped the back of the button back on. Nolan is demonstrating here:

...and then repeat 25 times until you can't feel your fingers.

We had bought The Muppets Movie soundtrack on iTunes. My kids love it so much, I thought what a great party favor. I bought blank CDs and a CD/DVD Label Maker Kit at Target.

I burned some of the songs from the soundtrack and then found a few other funny Muppet songs...for example, The Muppets singing Bohemian Rhapsody! Check it out on YouTube, it's hilarious!

The burning of the CDs, although time-consuming, wasn't the toughest part. It was the CD labels. I designed the label, which was the fun part (Disco Animal), but then trying to get it to line up and my printer to cooperate was the--pour yourself another glass of wine--part. But I finally got it to work!

The CD/DVD Label Maker Kit comes with software and these labels.

After you have designed and printed your label you use this little device to attach the label to the CD.

Carefully peel off the label...

Place it on the device sticky side up.

...and then place the CD shiny side up and press.

Ta-da!

If you want to go ALL out you can design CD cases. The kit has all the stuff for that as well. Maybe next time (see note below). Instead I used colorful CD envelopes.

Note: if you are going to attempt to do this, give yourself a lot of time...like a few weeks before the party, not two days before the party. Yes, I got this bright idea two days before the party and was determined to figure it all out, which meant staying up until 2AM. But who needs sleep, right? Oh and another tip, buy extra CD/DVD labels, so you don't have to make several trips to Target within a 24-hour period and look like a crazy person. They also sell the labels at OfficeMax.

My final Muppet party project was Muppet cupcake toppers. I used another Avery template to print out little Muppet pictures and then cut them out.

I used toothpicks and tape to secure them...and then I bought (nut-free) cupcakes at the bakery! In all my creative wisdom there was no time for baking.

Nolan made these "favor bags"

Yes, he used all my Ziploc bags and staples, but it keep him busy for hours while I got the house ready for the party.

He also printed out some pictures, and also drew some pictures for decorations...

These are is my favorites LOL!

The party was a success :)

Party pictures to follow...

Helpful hint: if you click on anything highlighted in red, it links to a websites or products I used for these projects :)

My youngest son Sean LOVES Mario. Sean's birthday is the day before Halloween. We always have a Halloween costume party, but I still let him pick a birthday party theme. There was no question that this year it would be Mario!

We got Mario and Luigi plates, napkins, decorations, favors and...we made mustaches on a stick!

Here is the how-to:

I found a mustache template online. I forget exactly where I found the template, just google "mustache on a stick" and you will find some templates and a lot of other funny things!

I used black felt, a glue gun, pins and wooden sticks from Michael's.

I cut out the paper mustache patterns. I folded the felt so that when I cut it I had two mustache sides that match up perfectly. Pin the patten on to folded piece of black felt.