{Party Planner Thursdays} Futuristic Robots

I'm helping a friend of mine create a robot themed birthday party for her soon-to-be 4 year old.  This is such a fun theme and you can really get creative with decorations, food names, games and activities.  I wish  I had a picture of a 5 foot robot I built back in 6th grade for a class project.  My mom had to drive me to school and since the robot was so tall we had to hang him out the sunroof of the car! 

{Sources: Robot Craft, Boy's Shirt, Robot Decor, Pinata with directions, Invitations, Tablescape, Futuristic Decor}

{Sources Finger Puppet, Tablescape, Food, Robot drawers, Wall Art, Cupcakes, Lollipops,  

Robot Costumes, Funnel & Gas Can}

Decorating for this party is lots of fun!  Use aluminum foil as table runners and scatter nuts, bolts, and washers on the tables (for the younger crowd you can use kids' plastic ones found in their tool boxes - see my invitation picture above; I borrowed Luca's toys for the photo shoot!).  Slinkies and coil tubing found at the hardware store would be great too!  

Go to your local auto body shop and pick up oil funnels and gas cans.  Serve beverages out of the gas cans (cleaned, of course!) and make up fun names like Out of this World Punch and Robotic Fuel.  In lieu of traditional paper hats, give earch child an oil funnel as their hat.  You can create fun robotic costumes for your guests with cardboard boxes, silver spray paint, paper plates and cardstock.  Or, you could create the basic robot structure and allow each guest to decorate their own!

Use a projector, posterboard and paint to create giant robots, cogs, and gears.  Afifix them to walls and  hang from the ceiling or chandeliers.

Place Chex Mix in a bowl or individual baggies and label them nuts & bolts.  Cheez-its or SunChips can be called computer chips.

An empty metal paint, found at hardware stores, can hold favors such as a robot finger puppet or lollipop and other goodies.  

If your party will be outside, consider making large yard props of cogs and gears from styrofoam, wood, or foam board.  Scatter them throughout the yard and call it the 'Junk Yard'

{Party Planning Thursdays} Leprechaun Hunt

I received an email from Cassidy who is looking to host a St. Patrick's Day party for the children in her son's preschool class.  She made it very clear that she did not want paper shamrock cutouts or the glittery party supplies that are everywhere.  In her email she described how much her son enjoyed being in the backyard and discovering trinkets of twigs, rocks, and bugs.

Aha!  The idea was born!  Enjoy this Woodland Leprechaun Hunt Inspiration Board!

 

{Sources  Potato Wreath, Tulip Arrangement Photography by Adrian Briscoe for Elle Decoration UK Edition, Woodland Ornament, Potted Shamrocks, Tablescape, Cauldron, Cupcake with recipe, Terraniums}

A Potato Wreath greets your guests at the door, hinting of the rugged and woodsy feel that lie ahead.  Create a tablescape with burlap table coverings, containers of moss and wheatgrass and miniature leprechaun homes made from bark, twigs, rocks, and assorted natural materials.  Use tree stumps as seats for your guests for a wonderful outdoor feel.  Hang clear ornaments with moss, twigs, and berries to hang from trees, chandeliers, and ceilings.  Guests can create terraniums to take home.  For an alternative to candy or toy favors, send home shamrock plants in terra cotta pots for the children to take of.  

Onto the Leprechaun Hunt!  The hunt can be modifed for indoors or outdoors depending on the space you have available.  Create a path of flat walking stones with woodland leprechaun houses, woodland creatures,  and miniature leprechauns scattered about.  Ultimately, the path will lead to none other than the leprechaun with his pot of gold!

{Party Planner Thursdays} New!

I've decided to add a new feature here at Belleza e Luce. 

Are you planning a party and have no idea where to begin?  No time to think up ideas?  Every week I will take 1 or 2 of your party ideas and create inspiration boards, menu &  favor ideas, and how-to's so you can have a sensational soiree!  

Send me your party ideas and include any details you want me to keep in mind while creating your inspiration board.