Centerpieces

For Sebastian's birthday, I have been trying to do some DIY things. One idea I thought would be really cute was to take some coffee bottles and transform them into vases to hold flowers. I think the way the bottles are made they really look like old fashion milk jugs, so I went with it. This is super simple and next to free. I already buy the coffee drinks and always have paint on hand. Next up is simply buying some foam and fake flowers. I really think these turned out really cute, and the kids love them AND that is what really matters!

Before

After
*as you can see, after I had them sitting in a bag the black got a little scuffed up. I will retouch it. No biggie.

Sebastian's Cupcake Tower

 Well the time has come to start getting things together for Sebastian's birthday. I don't know if you read his little ticker on the side of my page but Holy Crow, it's popping up fast! Today I tackled the Cupcake Tower. (As you may remember his theme is Farm)
Everything was purchased at Hobby Lobby. If you don't have a Hobby Lobby, it's similar to Micheal's. Just a giant craft land of wonderfulness.
ok, So Supplies for the "Topper" were:

*Cardboard House $2.99
*Sheet of copper textured paper 59cents (40% off)
*Sheet of wooden paper 59cents (40%off)
*Sheet if grass paper 59cents (40%off)
and I had glue and Popsicle sticks on hand

Then I cut up the Paper and glued it to the house. I also covered a couple Popsicles sticks with paper and "trimmed" the door. I also added some grass paper to the bottom edge.The chimney still isn't completed though, lol.

Finished (except chimney)

Then I made a tower..sorta, ha ha. I used Wilton Cake Boards and scrapbook paper for this.

*Wilton cake boards $3.49
*Same grass paper as I used in house
*Straw paper 59cents (40%off)
*Dirt paper 59cents (40%off)
*wooden paper 59cents (40%off)
*had regular white glue and hot glue on hand

 Ok, so the steps aren't so much complicated as they are tedious. I trimmed the boards to create 3 tiers. Then I covered each tier with paper. Then I used the scraps from he papers to create edges. Next I cut the cake board scraps and made a long cube out of them. I used Hot glue to hold the cube together and to attach it to the tiers. I am actually pretty pleased with the outcome! I hope you like it as well!

Total Cost For a completely custom tower: $8.58 plus tax!

Sebastian is nearly 2???

So the planning has begun. I can not believe it is time to plan my baby's second birthday already!! This is just pure craziness.
The idea behind "themed" birthday is to base it on what your child is "into" right? Well as far as cartoons go he only really watches Spongebob, but I can't truly even count that. He knows who Spongebob is, or as he calls him "bob-bob" and loves seeing him, but he barely ever watches the show. Maybe briefly if Sissy is watching it, but he has yet to develop a taste in TV at all.
BUT he adores animals. So, I have decided he will have a Barnyard Bash! Sebastian knows and loves all farm animals so this should be perfect for him.
I'm sure things will change as the date gets closer, but as for now here are the *plans*
The Location
* I am thinking of the basement of a local bank, but am not 100%
Menu (could change, in fact: everything could change!)
*fried chicken
*mashed potatoes
*mac&cheese
*rolls
*fresh fruit
*raw veggies
Cake
* I plan on making a large rectangle cake, not sure on flavor yet. I will decorate it like a farmland, and then Skylar will make some little animals out of gum paste
Invites
*I want to hand make these.
Centerpieces
*2 metal pails. One marked "hay" and filled with stick pretzels and the other marked with "chicken feed" and filled with chex mix
* Cake pops. (have never made these but will do a trial run first to see if I am able to pull it off, lol
Decor
*The decor will be simple. Basic balloons, streamers and "maybe" some tissue pom poms. I have made these before for Skylar's party, so I know what I'm doing now, haha. And they were a decent hit!
(to see how I did them you can click here)
Favors
*random stuff I find between now and then, haha. We all love rubber ducks dressed as stuff so maybe some farm ducks???
* Also the cake pops can be taken from the centerpieces.
Activities
* I want to make a photo corner
* I plan on getting something to paint. Sebastian loves to paint (as does Skylar) so you can be assured something paintable will pop up, ha ha.

and I think that about covers my plans. Now the trick is to execute it all, right?? I will make various post (a lot, more than likely) about where I am in my planning and prep, and as always I look forward to answering any questions and reading any comments!