Birthday Blueprint: Themes, Locations, and Invitations!

If you know me, you know I love to *plan* things. Moving up or down the West Coast (our specialty)? Let me get my notebook. Want to go camping? Let me pull up my Excel Spreadsheet and start a grocery and supplies list. I think you get the picture. I even made and sold party decorations for six months to fill the planning void after Harlow's first birthday was over. #icantalwayshidethecrazy

Last year's party turned out as I had hoped,  for the most part. However, it was very stressful, rushed, and expensive. We flew up to Washington late on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, and only had Saturday to prepare for Sunday's party... which meant one day to put into action all of the many ideas I had come up with over months of planning, and no time to search for the best deals. This year we will be in town for over a week before her party, and since Seth will be driving up with our doggers,  he can bring party items I've already made.

To help keep myself organized, I'm going to be blogging a guide to planning a party, Reil-style. Who knows, maybe it will inspire someone to get a little crafty! First things first - choose a theme your little will love! Right now, Harlow loves to make animal sounds, visit petting zoos, and dance to her favorite song, Old McDonald. So, we will be having a Barnyard Birthday!

Selecting a location is the very next step, because if you choose carefully, and get a little creative, it can provide natural decor. For example, Harlow's first birthday party theme was Butterfly Birthday. By holding it in a gazebo between the Grange Park rose garden and splash pad, we were able to use the garden as a backdrop filled with flowers, bees, and butterflies. The gazebo provided shade, and the splash pad was the activity for all of the little ones. We will be having this year's Barnyard Birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Reil's farmhouse. They have a large tree for shade under which we will set up the tables, a trampoline and swing-set, and most importantly, sheep. The farmhouse and fields will be a great setting, and there is plenty of space to set up some petting corrals and activities. We are so lucky to have a place like this in the family! If you don't have a large enough house or yard to host a party, then look at your city's website for buildings, gazebos, and picnic tables for rent. These places are usually very affordable for residents.

After I have settled on a theme and chosen a location, I begin my search for the perfect invite. To me, the invite sets the mood for the party, lets guests know what to expect, and provides me with an item that I can base the party's decorations around. It's easy to take with you to the store, so keep one in your purse or diaper bag at all times so that if you find a good deal on something you need for the party, you can make sure that it compliments the invite, therefore keeping your theme on track.

For invites and announcements, I have a little obsession with Tiny Prints, but decided to stay away this year in hopes of being more budget friendly. I spent a lot of time looking at personalized photo invites on Etsy, but after several failed toddler photo sessions (she is always a blur!) I happened across a homemade invite. I honestly wouldn't recommend making invites by hand because they are so very time consuming, but I just couldn't shake the "this is it" feeling. So, I am making 45 invites by hand, with scissors, ribbon, buttons, and glue. #worthit

This is a finished invite (with location and RSVP information blocked out). I am still looking for slightly smaller envelopes. The font used is a free download, called Dingle Berries. I printed the invitation wording in a deep red font color (think barn red) on white card stock ($3.99). The sheep cookie cutter can be ordered from Amazon - I received mine in just two days! It was $9.95, but can be reused in our kitchen. The Clear Tacky Glue ($2.49), buttons ($4.58 for 150 black and white buttons) and 1/4 inch gingham ribbon ($5.98 for two spools) were purchased from Jo-Anne Fabrics and Crafts. The total cost (without envelopes and postage) was $26.99, making the invitations about $0.60 each! Considering the cookie cutter and Tacky Glue will be reused over and over, I'd say this is a great budget friendly invite option! And remember, you could use any shape of cookie cutter to make an invite to fit your theme!

This invite is the perfect mix of sweet, simple, and vintage. I think I'm also going to sprinkle a little oatmeal in each envelope... the sheep food equivalent of envelope confetti!

Up next: Some Things Old, Some Things New, Some Things Borrowed (But Not Too Much Blue)!