My daughter loves the new show on Disney “Princess Sofia.” Once the show is over, she races to her room to don all her dress-up clothes at once! So for her next birthday party, the theme will most certainly be princesses.
Planning parties for my children brings me so much joy. They always seem to appreciate the effort that I put in to them, and especially love the fact that we have them at home in a relaxed environment. I wanted to share some of my ideas with you on how to throw a memorable princess party without breaking the bank.
Decorating the Palace
Letting your daughter sit on a throne might seem a bit extreme any other day of the year, but her birthday should be an exception. Take one of your dining table chairs and cover in an unfinished piece of pink material. Wrap a big pink ribbon around the lower half of the back of the chair, so that it is flat against the part where she will sit. Tie the ends in a big bow on the back of the chair.
Using the same ribbon used for the bow on the chair, make a sash by measuring the proper distance on your daughter from one shoulder to the opposite side of her stomach. Then cut a triangle out of the tip on each end to finish it. Using a glitter pen write out “princess (your daughter’s name).”
A fun idea to personalize your party and make is special for everyone would be to make sashes in a different colored ribbon for all your guests. Making it a different color will leave your princess standing out, but not leave the guests feeling left out.
Your table scape can be done using a simple pink tablecloth. Pink paper plates, napkins and plastic forks can be found at dollar stores very inexpensively.
Royal Feast
For the cake for this party, I have several ideas that can be done separately or all together, depending on how much you want to do. I have always been a big believer in cupcakes for little kid’s parties; they are easier to make, serve and clean up after. Simply bake a boxed cupcake mix using pink or yellow cupcake holders. Then wrap a pretty pink one-inch ribbon around the bottom half of the wrapper so that just the top part of the wrapper is showing like a ruffle. Tape the end of the ribbon with clear scotch tape. Tint the pre-made frosting pink. I would go for a really vibrant hot pink, but you do what your princess likes. Put the frosting into a gallon plastic bag, with or without a tip. Cut a small hole in one corner of the bottom of the bag and push out any air bubbles. Now using a circular motion frost the top of the cupcakes from the outside to the inside, this way it mounds upward. You could top them with a little piece of plastic jewelry or small crown from a party store as a party favor.
For those a little more adventurous, I love this princess doll cake idea from Betty Crocker. The video gives complete instructions and excellent tips on making it look professional. You can use a boxed cake mix and ready-made frosting for this cake as well, and while the person in the video uses a pastry bag, you can also buy Easy Flow Icing that comes with decorating tips for the finishing touches. If there is a certain doll your child has been asking for, this is a great way to surprise her with it.
We have friends with children who don’t care for birthday cake — shocking I know. So we like to have extra food around to include them. Make a pan of rice crispy treats as directed and then cut out stars using a cookie cutter. Place a cake pop stick between two points to make an edible wand.
Activities
Piñata’s are fun and easy to make. Using a piece of cardboard, cut out two hearts one and a half feet to two feet tall from the point to the top of the heart. Then cut a strip of card board about 2 inches wide to go in between the two pieces. You will tape the strip along the edges of the heart from the inside of the top of one part of the heart, all around it to the other side, and then top it with the other heart. There should be an opening at the top of the heart about 3 inches wide to allow room for filling. Poke holes in the middle of this space on the hearts to hang the piñata later.
Masking tape works well when taping it together, because it is inexpensive and will make it easier to break apart later. Use crepe paper to cover the heart in strips going around the whole thing starting from the outside edges. To make it easier to round corners, scrunch the paper together a little at a time as you go. When the entire heart is covered front and back, fill the heart three-quarters of the way with candy or small toys. Push an undone wire hanger through the holes to hang your piñata. Use two small strips of crepe paper to cover the opening at the top. Hang your piñata and let the kids swing away with a foam or plastic baseball bat.
I find that kids have the most fun when they can just be silly. Crank up the radio and let them dance, their parents will appreciate you wearing them out a little after all that sugar.
