Rainbow Birthday Party

Wait...you're wondering where the dessert picture is, right?

I'm taking a little break from desserts today to show you the party I threw for Jordan last weekend. It was her "fake" 7th birthday (she says "fake" because her real birthday is this coming weekend, lest we forget to celebrate it with more cake and presents). Right around Christmas she told me she wanted a rainbow party. I was excited because there is so much that can be done around rainbows.

Enter Pinterest.

Just search "Rainbow Party" on Pinterest and you come up with tons of great ideas. Many of which I incorporated here.

First up, an invitation.

It was inspired by one I found on Etsy. I lucked out and found a digital scrapbooking layout on Etsy, at a shop called hellolovetoo. I created everything I made from that simple, $4 kit, using my Creative Memories scrapbooking software.

Then I went a little crazy with the making of labels and such. Waterbottles, name tags, bag tags, goody bags, a pennant, oh my!

Making the water bottle labels was way easier than I thought it would be. I designed the graphics using my software and rainbow kit. The labels are 8 1/2" long and 1 3/4" wide. I printed them, four to a sheet, on regular printer paper. The trick for getting them on the bottles? Packing tape! You just lay out a strip of tape, place the label face down, and wrap it around the bottle. These were so easy, Jordan helped me do it. Here's the tutorial I used from Glorious Treats.

I also printed labels for the cups and Jordan wrote each guests' name on the label. You can buy circle labels (1") or Booklet Seals (1 1/2") at office supply stores.

Each bag had a name badge label (also from the office supply) printed with "Thanks for coming to my party" and Jordan again wrote names on each one. I made rainbow cookies (tutorial and recipe coming soon!) to go in the goody bags.

I'm all about giving goody bag items that are usable. I included a crayon melt, pack of pens, and pad of paper. And I made tags just like I did with my Elf and Heart Munch, using the rainbow kit and regular printer paper. (The pens were from Party City. They came in a bag - not sorted. Jordan actually did all the sorting and helped me tape them together. She also taped all the bag labels on. I'm really liking this "able to help" age!)

We had a bounce house - because we could. See, in our old house I always wanted one but it wouldn't fit. So I had to get one this year because we can finally fit it. And then I prayed it wouldn't rain (it didn't).

When they weren't bouncing, they crafted. Jordan requested I buy the masks. I also bought beads and string, and tissue paper. The sequins were the biggest hit. Unfortunately I have shag carpet. I have a feeling I'll still be finding sequins on her 17th birthday.

Of course, the place setting was rainbow. The straws are from Cupcake Social on Etsy. The rainbow fruit kebabs were a great idea...until they became weapons.

The bubblegum was  huge hit - there was none left. I *think* a few girls pocketed bags full.

I was most proud of the cake and cupcakes, of course! I'll be posting the tutorial for those on Monday.

And, most importantly?

She was happy. She said it was her favorite party. And I especially loved that she helped so much. It made it even more special.

Thanks so much for reading! Back to the yummy goodness tomorrow.

Have a Linky Party you want me to join? Add it HERE.

These are the fabulous parties I link to each week:

Monday: Mingle Monday (Add a Pinch), Joy of Desserts, Creative Monday (Clairejustineoxox), Mix it Up Monday (Flour Me With Love), Things that make you say mmmm Monday (Cooking with Karyn), Mop it Up Mondays (I should be mopping the floors), Show me what you got (Our Delightful Home). Tuesday: 2 Maids a Baking (2 Maids a Milking), Tea Party Tuesdays (Sweetology), Mushki Loves My Stuff (Mushki Loves), Totally Tasty Tuesdays (Mandy's Recipe Box), Talent Show Tuesday (Chef in Training), Trick or Treat Tuesday (Inside BruCrew Life), Let's Do Brunch (My Sweet & Savory), One Stop Shop Linky (The Southern Product Queen). Wednesday: Mrs. Fox's Sweet Party (Mrs. Fox's Sweets) Made It On Monday (Lark's Country Heart), This Chick Cooks, Cast Party Wednesday (Lady Behind the Curtain), Famous Linkz Par-tay (Made-Famous-By), Bakes with Bizzy (Bizzy Bakes), Whip it Up Wednesday (Crockpot Ladies).  Thursday: Sweet Treats Thursday (Something Swanky), Chic-and-Crafty (Frugal Girls), Turning the Table Thursdays (Around My Family Table), Tasty Thursday (The How-To Mommy), Tastetastic Thursday (A little nosh), Sweet Temptations (Talking Dollars and Cents), Taking a Timeout Thursday (Mom on Timeout), Things I've Done Thursday (BearRabbitBear), (RHW Recipe Round-Up) The Real Housewives of Riverton, BFF Open House (The Answer is Chocolate), Recipe Round Up (Eat, Pray, Read, Love). Friday: Sweet Tooth Friday (Alli-n-son), I'm Lovin' it Fridays (TidyMom), Friday Favorites (Simply Sweet Home), Latest & Greatest Friday (Days of Chalk and Chocolate), Bacon Time, Fusion Friday (Jane Deere Blog), Foodie Friday (Not Your Ordinary Recipes), Dwell on Joy, Fun Finds Friday (Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons). Saturday: Country Mom Cooks, Sweets for a Saturday (Sweet as Sugar Cookies), Seasonal Inspiration (Crumbs and Chaos), You inspire me (Polka Dot Pretties). Sunday: A Well-Seasoned Life,Sharing Sundays (Everyday Sisters), Strut your Stuff Saturday (Six Sisters' Stuff), Seasonal/Occasional Linkys: Moms Crazy Cooking, Southern Mom Cooks, Cheap Crafty Momma, Susie QT, Sharing Time (Raising Memories)