Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Easy, Colorful Toddler's Birthday Party
10 great tips for turning affordable, reusable finds into a festive luncheon kids and parents will love
Jennifer Bishop, met her passion for all things design at a young age. She was constantly inspired by color and pattern and loved how a beautifully designed space could have such an emotional effect on a person. There was no question she would choose Interior Design for her career. Jennifer went on to attend San Francisco State University and received her Bachelor’s in Interior Design.
Jennifer Bishop Design was launched in 2003. It was founded on the principal that a home must function as well as be beautiful. A hands-on approach is taken with each project to insure every project is completed with precision. With a bespoke design style, talent and experience, projects run smooth and become a place, in the end, that a client feels right at home.
You can browse current projects and...
Jennifer Bishop, met her passion for all things design at a young age.... More »
Entertaining at home is all the rage, especially with all the fun ideas available to us now. If you use items you already have or start collecting pieces that can be used over and over no matter the theme, your party can look like a million bucks, even when you don't spend much at all.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 1. Keep your décor items to a few localized areas. Your party will have more impact if you hit your guests with a few "wow" areas. Keep things simple for yourself. This can be a good tip for any type of party, but especially if you are trying to do this with toddlers! Instead of having decorations all around the house and in the backyard for my daughter's second birthday party, I focused my arrangements on only two tables. Look closely: Take the food away, and there really is not that much décor. Grouping it all together is what made the impact. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
2. Think outside the box. While the kiddos are still young you have a little more leeway with party themes. In no time they'll be asking for a party centered around their favorite cartoon characters.
Although I chose the theme for my daughter's party, I still wanted to reflect an interest of hers. She loves to play with our set of stacking Russian dolls, so that gave me a fun way to incorporate something she likes while still allowing me to use my design skills.
Although I chose the theme for my daughter's party, I still wanted to reflect an interest of hers. She loves to play with our set of stacking Russian dolls, so that gave me a fun way to incorporate something she likes while still allowing me to use my design skills.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
3. Find decor items that you can use again. I have a stash of items I use over and over again. They just get reinvented for each new party, but most people never notice.
The red stallion could be used as a home accessory or for a new party theme, and the Russian Doll Decal I placed on a canvas will hang in my daughter's room post-party.
The red stallion could be used as a home accessory or for a new party theme, and the Russian Doll Decal I placed on a canvas will hang in my daughter's room post-party.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
4. Display paper or plastic plates and silverware in a fun way. Disposable plates are a must for many parties. Instead of just laying out a box of plastic forks and spoons, wrap them in a napkin and tie them off with a ribbon. It looks prettier and makes it easy for your guests to grab a bundle at the buffet.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| This lined basket from a store's dollar bin made a perfect holder for the adults' plates. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
5. Make food easy. Kids make your life busy enough. Add entertaining and cooking on top of that — someone's going to need a vacation.
You can serve simple foods and just display them in a beautiful way. I lined this metal fish cooker with a beaded napkin and it became a great way to serve bread for the adults' sandwich bar.
You can serve simple foods and just display them in a beautiful way. I lined this metal fish cooker with a beaded napkin and it became a great way to serve bread for the adults' sandwich bar.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 6. Make food fun. Fun food does not need to be difficult. It's all about how it's displayed. In this case, the display became the actual show. I made this Wiggly Watermelon by pouring Jell-O into a hollowed-out watermelon. When the Jell-O is almost, but not-quite set, throw in mini chocolate chips for the "seeds." |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
7. Make healthy lunches that will please even the pickiest of eaters. Nobody thought they'd have that "picky eater" but let's face it — it happens to the best of us. By offering a variety of healthy finger foods you're sure to hit the mark with at least a few items on every kid's list.
Displaying the toddler lunches in ice cube trays was a fun way for the kids to eat. They were also easy for parents to just grab as their own children became hungry. I found these trays in the Target dollar bin — two for $1.
Displaying the toddler lunches in ice cube trays was a fun way for the kids to eat. They were also easy for parents to just grab as their own children became hungry. I found these trays in the Target dollar bin — two for $1.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The trays were a hit! |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
8. Use signage as decor. I always try to label foods or create a listed menu that I put in a frame. It gives you one more fun design element to add to your party and also gives parents a quick list to browse, in case their child has any food allergies.
This idea can also work for any activities you may be having. You can make signs explaining directions for any activities you have at the party. I once made a sign for a bubble station at my daughter's 1st birthday party. It read, "The Bean's Bubble Bar." We used her nickname in the title.
This idea can also work for any activities you may be having. You can make signs explaining directions for any activities you have at the party. I once made a sign for a bubble station at my daughter's 1st birthday party. It read, "The Bean's Bubble Bar." We used her nickname in the title.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 9. Make dessert part of your party theme. Serve dessert in a fun and easy way. Cake pops are all the rage and are easy for tots to eat. Cake pops can be made into so many themes, making it easy to cater to each party. Bakerella is a great source for inspiration on cakepop how-tos. There are also many sources popping up locally, should you want to hire someone to make some for your party. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The trays, sign and cake pops create a pretty vignette on a side table. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 10. Give guests a favor they'll love. Favors need not be expensive, but they do need to be something that won't just get tossed away. Food for me will always be loved by the masses, so for the most part, favors for my parties are always edible. I made a snack mix for the kiddos and then poured it into cello bags that I dressed up with a clip art image I purchased on Etsy. Instructions:
|
Comments
Janet Paik Great tips, and what a lucky kid! I love the ice cube tray idea, and the watermelon jello snacks. Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!
19 months ago · Like
· 
1
1
bubbletoes Just love the little ice cube trays! Great ideas for a childrens party!! thank you for this!!
19 months ago · Like
· 2
2
Erika Ward - Erika Ward Interiors This is ADORABLE! Love the use of the ice trays to serve the little ones! Where did you find the little red stallion. Been looking for miniature animals like that for a project.
19 months ago · Like
nicolenbruno So many great ideas! Love the nesting dolls theme. Thanks for sharing!!!
19 months ago · Like
Jennifer Bishop Design erikaward--The read stallion is from Ross. I bought it months ago. But I did just buy a white one a couple weeks ago so if you hurry, you might be able to still get one if Ross is in your area. They had tons of other really great white porcelain statues as well. I bought some elephants, fish and other shaped stallions too. Very inexpensive. Good Luck!
19 months ago · Like
thegreenbee So many cute ideas, I almost want to throw a kids party "just because"-- almost!
18 months ago · Like
· 1
1
teresaahteague Very cute and thank you for sharing!
18 months ago · Like
Molly Gaggiotti Everything shown is cute indeed, but if there are going to be toddlers it's really safer to have larger things that nobody can choke on! This allows the adults to relax, too!
6 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Nov. 8, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
