REAL PARTIES: Little Miss Birthday
categories: birthday party ideas, real parties
Get ready for a dose of “Real Party” inspiration that’s pretty much beyond adorable… just like the pint-sized guest of honor!
Created by mom/hostess Jess Newman for her daughter’s 3rd birthday, this “Little Miss Birthday” theme would be fun for older girls too! Read on for all the details behind this perfectly sweet & sassy celebration, as told by Jess herself…
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Ready…Set…Party! Little Miss Avery’s 3rd Birthday
“I have to say that I obsess a bit about my kids parties. Not obsess in the way I have to have the best or anything over the top, but obsess meaning that as soon as one is over I start thinking about what I will do for next year’s party.
That sure came in handy this year when I found this Little Miss Birthday shirt at Gap Kids last spring. Although my daughter’s 3rd birthday party was 9 months away I knew it was perfect because we’ve called her Little Miss Avery since she was born, so I bought it on the spot. I am not one to be into theming a party around licensed characters, so I decided to make Avery herself the character for the party so that I didn’t have to put the actual Little Miss Birthday logo all over everything.
After finding the perfect coordinating pieces for her outfit (tutu instructions and supplies from Angel Babes Tutus) and leg warmers from Crawler Covers & More, I drew a picture of Avery for the invitation and then let the hot pink, orange, and purple in the shirt and the argyle on her leg warmers become my focus for decorating inspiration.
I used the Roger Hargreaves’ book of the same name as a guest book for everyone to sign.
Since my sister’s and Avery’s birthdays are only 2 days apart I got her her own matching shirt and used a picture of the two of them wearing their shirts for a centerpiece as well.
I purchased plates from platesandnapkins.com, bought bulk jelly beans (you can get them in ANY color) from Super Target, and served strawberry, grape, and orange Fanta to our guests using that color palette. The rest of the food was a buffet of family favorite shredded beef sandwiches and various salads.
My friend Tracie is responsible for all of my adorable (and even more importantly de-lish!) cakes, that are as much decor as they are dessert.
I made most of the decorations myself, but enlisted the help of my friend Rachel from *golden* help me design and then make a table runner, which I kept moving around during the party depending on where it was best suited to give that pop of color.
It is important to me to have the parties in our home so that the kids look back and see familiar places that bring back happy memories of their childhood. Although the party decorations don’t always match perfectly to my home decor, it is nice to have lots of toys and activities for the brood of children (all under age 5) that attend the party. We had a wonderful day with family and friends…now on to dreaming of the next party!”
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Thanks for the inspiration, Jess!
Note: Jess’s creative work can also be seen in the Modern Circus Soiree first birthday party we featured last year. Be sure to check out the Polkadots & Pirates etsy shop to check out more of her party designs!
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Cute idea! How did you make the silverware packets?
Apr 13, 2009 at 5:47 am -
This is SO adorable! I love the colors and argyle pattern – and how everything perfectly matches the leg warmers!
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:42 am -
ADORABLE!
Apr 13, 2009 at 7:56 am -
I love these colors! Everything is sooo cute especially the bday girl!
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:13 am -
So cute! My daughter just wore that same shirt on her birthday, too:)
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:35 am -
my birthday is friday! may i borrow her tshirt? this is adorable… those books were my favorite when i was little bitty. i was always begging my parents to take me to toys r us for another one! ha!
Apr 13, 2009 at 8:49 am -
I LOVE this party idea. Thanks for all of the great ideas–I love this blog!
Apr 13, 2009 at 12:47 pm -
I LOVE this! I totally starred it in my reader. Everything is so well put together. It shames me how not creative I am. lol!
Apr 14, 2009 at 2:59 am -
Oh my goodness, this is just too cute! What a great idea and the cake is AMAZING!! great party idea
Apr 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm -
I am in love with this party and all the details. The colors and argyle keep me opening this page over and over and over again to look at it!
Apr 15, 2009 at 11:41 am -
Very cute! Love the idea and theme. Great job!
Apr 15, 2009 at 4:06 pm -
How cool… this is a birthday girls dream! Loving the whole theme!
Apr 18, 2009 at 7:31 am -
That is a great theme!!! I love the retro style! Great job. Where did you find the t-shirt. I am dying to get one for my daughter.
Apr 28, 2009 at 6:45 pm -
i love those books & this party is just too cute… i posted it on my blog as well! (www.birthdaygirlblog.com). especially love the colors & patterns!
May 1, 2009 at 8:19 am -
I Love the invitations and i was wondering how you made the invitations or where you got them. they are too cute!!
May 7, 2009 at 12:46 pm -
Love this idea – pics are adorable! Those are the colours in my daughter’s room and she just loves Mr Men & Little Miss. I’m going to surprise her with this theme for her birthday next month.
Jun 29, 2009 at 8:37 am -
Your ideas were CLASSIC! So adorable. My daughter is turning 1 and I wanted to base the party off LIL Miss Birthday as well. I’m in a pickle though because I can’t find the t-shirt anywhere in a toddler size:{ Your link to the 80’s website only shows sizes for Julniors being the smallest. Could you share your secret on where you purchased your 3y/o’s tee? Thank You so much for your help, and keep Rockn’ with your awesome ideas!
Angela
Arlington, TX
Jul 27, 2009 at 9:10 am -
I purchased the tee from Gap Kids, but they no longer carry the shirt. I have been searching the internet all morning for it, but can still only find the teenage sizes. I will keep searching and let you know if I find the toddler sizes again. I should have bought a stock when they were available! Thanks for all the compliments.
Jul 30, 2009 at 10:04 am -
angela, you can print a little miss birthday image on some iron on paper and do it on the cheap! that’s what i plan on doing.
Aug 14, 2009 at 8:26 pm
love this idea jess!!! -
Thanx, I never thought to do that!
Aug 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm -
Love the invitation. I’m planning for my 3 year old daughter’s birthday party and I’m thinking of ideas for invitation. Is the invite printed off from the computer. How did you draw the picture of Avery? Please explain. Thanks.
Sep 8, 2009 at 6:52 am -
Hi , Jakki! Yes…I print all my invitations from home. As far as the picture of Avery…I drew it on my computer. Just play around with shapes (it took me a long time before I actually liked it!). Just keep playing with it until it looks like you want it to! There are people on Etsy who will draw an image like this for you if you don’t want to go for it yourself, too!
Jess
Sep 17, 2009 at 12:57 am
Polkadots & Pirates -
CUTE AND FABULOUs
Oct 27, 2009 at 3:39 pm
