Are you looking for a unique theme for your daughter’s birthday? Are you tired of the same princess and fairy parties that you have every year? This year, try a Rhinestone Cowgirl theme – it’s sure to be a hit!
The invitation sets the mood for every party. Make your own for this Cowgirl party. On a light purple cardstock print a picture of a cowgirl with the words: “Giddy up and ride on over – it’s ____’s (8th) Birthday!” Fill in the when and where’s. At the bottom include – “Wear your western best, if you’d like! Lunch will be served at high noon – don’t be late!” Then glue the invite onto a darker purple cardstock, and then glue that onto a magenta/hot pink cardstock. Purchase rhinestones at your local craft store, and decorate the cowgirl’s hat on the invite.
Next, you will need to determine your menu. Keep it simple – hot dogs, chips, and watermelon. If you are having a bigger crowd or a lot of adults, make sure there is plenty of baked beans and potato salad, too. For drinks, get a galvanized steel bucket and fill it with ice and root beer. You can also make cactus punch – just add some green food coloring to lemon lime soda, and float star shaped ice cubes in it.
When the girls arrive, make sure you are prepared to get them dressed for the party. Have bandanas in pinks and purples for the girls to wear. You can also purchase cowgirl hats. Have pony tail holders on hand to put the girl’s hair in pigtails. You can also get an eyeliner pen and give the girls freckles.
For place settings, pick up pink and purple gingham 12×12 scrapbooking pages at the local craft store. These will make cute placemats. Also at your craft store, you can find wooden sheriff badges for about 25 cents each. Paint half hot pink and the other half purple. Decorate the points with rhinestones, and get a silver sharpie and write each girls name on it. If you want to make them into pins, just pick up the backings at your craft store and glue them on. Place a pink badge on a purple placemat and vice versa. For your centerpiece, paint small terra cotta pots chocolate brown. Fill with seasonal flowers – mums, impatiens, etc.
You will also want to set up special areas for the fun. For each area, make a sign indicating what it is. Paint cardboard pink or purple. Then use twine to write the area’s name – just hot glue the twine into cursive letters. It takes some patience, but it is well worth the effort. Turn your dining room or patio into the “Rhinestone Saloon.” Purchase “WANTED” signs at a party store, or make your own. Make sure they are decorated with rhinestones or glitter puffy paint. Hang these on the walls. Set up the tables for eating in this area. Also, have a small table set up with condiments. You can also have your cactus punch and bucket of root beer out here. And don’t forget the saloon doors! You can purchase a wall covering with the doors on it at a party store, or make your own out of cardboard.
Your backyard can easily be turned into the “Cowgirl Corral.” You can have all of your games set up out here. First, play Tin Can Shoot. Set up tin cans on sawhorses, and let the girls take turns using water guns or the hose to knock off the cans. Next, set up an obstacle course. You can purchase stick horses and orange soccer cones at the dollar store. The girls can have horse races and wheelbarrow races. Have a picnic blanket set up where the girls can play Rattlesnake Toss. This is the same as Hot Potato, but the girls will be passing a plastic rattlesnake. Also, set up a Bean Bag Toss area. Find a boot shaped rug, or cut one out of cardboard. Girls will take turns trying to score points. Also, if you can find a kid’s horseshoe set, the girls can play a game of horseshoes.
Turn your kitchen into the “Buckaroo Sundae Bar.” Instead of plain old cake and ice cream, have cupcakes and sundaes. You can purchase a cupcake tree at any craft store. Decorate the cupcakes with pink frosting and purple sugar sprinkles. For the candle, Target sells pink and purple glitter number candles. Fill the sundae bar with all kinds of goodies – vanilla and chocolate ice cream, gummy worms, mini chocolate chips, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel, etc. The girls will have a blast making their own sundaes.
And of course, don’t forget the General Store! Try a name like “Pinkie’s General Store.” This is where the girls can go to get their loot bags. Or, if they are going to win “gold” for playing games, they can trade it in here. For their favors, purchase pink picture frames, and write “Rhinestone Cowgirls” on each frame. You can also decorate with a hat or boot. At the beginning of the party, take a picture of all the girls together in their cowgirl outfits. During the party, have an adult get the pictures developed and added to the frames. In addition to the frame, you can give each girl a gift bag with some goodies – bracelets, stickers, candy, pencils, etc.
You will want to make sure you have plenty of country music playing for the party. Another fun idea, is to set up a picture area. Get a scene setter at your party store – it can be a saloon, desert landscape etc. You can also purchase a blow up cactus at the party store. Have each girl take an individual picture in front of the scene. Get these developed, and put on a WANTED poster. You can make this by purchasing a silver poster board. Print out letters in a Western font that say WANTED, and glue across the top. On the sign, place pink and purple rectangles with each girl’s name underneath. When the pictures are developed, tack them onto the board. The girls will be on their very own WANTED poster, and they can take the picture home with them when they leave. Get some balloon bouquets to place around the rooms, too.
With these simple do-it-yourself ideas, you will create a fun and exciting atmosphere for your birthday girl and all of her friends. Your party will surely be talked about for a long time to come! Have fun!
