Wednesday, July 13, 2011

"A Kiss for Lily" ~ A Giraffe-themed 1st Birthday Party

I am so excited to announce that I am a Guest Designer for the Decorate to Celebrate Kid-Themed Birthday Party Challenge that runs July 13-26.  Amy and Rhonda created this awesome challenge blog to showcase decorations for every celebration.  These girls know how to party!

Welcome to Lily's 1st Birthday party!  Lily is the daughter of our dear friends and former across-the-street neighbors, Kelly and Brent, and she recently celebrated her first birthday with a giraffe-themed birthday party.  Kelly is a Chef and caterer who is known for her killer parties!

This party's inspiration was taken from a children's book that Kelly and Lily love called "A Kiss for Lily" by Lia Nirgad.  The story features a giraffe name Lily.  So the color scheme for the party was a given -- brown, orange and yellow.

Get ready -- there are lots of pictures!  Don't forget, you can click on the pictures to zoom in! 

Thanks for stopping by and checking out Miss Lily's fabulous 1st birthday party.  And thank you, Amy and Rhonda for featuring me on your blog -- I'm honored!

~ Jen

Digital invitation created in Adobe Photoshop.
Decorated paint cans (partially filled with
sand) with helium balloons were used as
decorations in various places at the party location.









Paint can detail - Cricut cartridges used:
Create-A-Critter and Pooh Font












Guests were invited to write a blessing or birthday
wish for Lily and hang it on the "Blessing Tree." 
The large giraffe on the chalkboard was created
using the Animal Kingdom cartridge.  She measures
approximately 23" tall.
Kelly painted an old wooden highchair a glossy
bright yellow.  I created the min-banner using the
following Cricut cartridges:  Pooh Font, Create-A-
Critter and Calligraphy Collection (pennants).
Kelly's mom, Diane created this beautiful fondant
covered cake.  They used several different ribbons
on the layers and topped it with a silk flower and a
bejeweled monogram letter "L".

This banner measures about 13' long and is being held by two 23" tall giraffes.
Cricut cartridges used:  Animal Kingdom, Pooh Font and Calligraphy Collection.
The buffet tables were covered with orange tablecloths and featured
a huge stuffed giraffe, a tall metal pail filled with greenery and
sunflowers, orange plastic cutlery wrapped in yellow napkins
and a giraffe-patterned paper napkin "ring."  The yellow frame
holds the buffet menu.
The cupcake table!  Kelly got creative and used plant stands
to hold the cupcakes.  Two wooden wine cases were used to
add some elevation.
Dee created the cupcakes and they were yummy!  They also
disappeared in about 2 minutes flat!  The cupcakes with orange
buttercream are chocolate and the yellow buttercream cupcakes
are french vanilla.  I created the cupcake wrappers using the
Cricut Cupcake Wrapper cartridge.  The toppers were created
using Create-A-Critter for the giraffes and Cupcake Wrappers
for the scalloped circle.  I created  inside layer on the circle in
Adobe Photoshop.
Here is Miss Lily all decked out in the tutu
and onesie I made for her.  Getting her to keep
the hat on proved to be an issue!
The tutu is made with a plain orange tulle and a glittered yellow
tulle.  It is hand tied with five different ribbons in various colors,
widths and patterns were tied in too.  A large giraffe patterned bow
topped with a silk gerber daisy and a giraffe tail complete the tutu.

The tail totally makes this tutu!  I took six long
strips of tulle and braided them; added a loop of
brown marabou and hid the connection under a
piece of giraffe ribbon.  I then attached it to the
back of the tutu with some heavy-duty thread.

I hot glued medium sized pale yellow rhinestones to the center
of the gerber daisy.  After all, a girl's got to have a little sparkle
and bling on her birthday!
A white onesie with an appliqued number
one and matching birthday hat.  A big
thank you to my Mom for doing the
applique on the onesie!  We struggled
with the onesie and Mom saved the day!
And it wouldn't be a birthday party without a party hat!
This cute little fabric party hat is made with two different
fabrics fused together with ultra Heat 'n bond.  Dee appliqued
the number one before she sewed the hat together.  I hand
stitched the marabou to the edge and then hot glued a brown
pom-pom on top.  The little orange flower is a felt scrapbook
embellishment -- also hot glued.  I then tacked on an elastic
chin strap.

22 comments:

  1. I saw your work over at Decorate to Celebrate. I had to come on over and check it out. I am so glad I did, so many more pictures. You really did an absolutely amazing job!!!! Just spectacular.

    Laurie
    serenityscrappers

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  2. oh my you did such a great job on these decorations what a cute cute party and that tutu is just adorable thank you for being one of our guest designers for this challenge you rocked it.

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  3. This is the most adorable party I have ever seen! Great job and very creative! TFS!!

    Jenn
    jenniferreavis@sbcglobal.net
    http://scrap-a-tude.blogspot.com

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  4. How cute!! Love all of these and the tutu is adorable!

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  5. Oh my goodness this had to be one of the cutest parties I have ever seen!! How fun for Lily!! I enjoyed seeing all that you and your daughter created! What talent you all have:)
    ~Kim

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  6. You really did outdo yourself, great job on every detail!

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  7. Your decorations are beautiful!!

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  8. Oh my gosh, this has to be the cutest party idea! The tutu is so adorable! What a fabulous party - you did an amazing job! Love it all :D

    Lisa
    http://indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  9. This is absolutely the cutest! Wow!! I am in awe!! What a lucky little girl!
    Tina
    www.myhoppyplace.blogspot.com

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  10. Wowzers....this is awesome!! What a wonderful party it will be:)
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com
    jskoning at msn dot com

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  11. WOW!!!! You did such an awesome job! I absolutely love everything, especially the little tutu! I'm having fun playing with you at Decorate to Celebrate and I'm happy to be your newest follower!
    Hugs, Jenni

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  12. I love miss Lily's little outfit. Sooooo cute! Love the wonderful decorations. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  13. Absolutely adorable. I can't imagine the time it took to do all of this.
    cstephenson at q dot com

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  14. Hi I'm visiting from Decorate To Celebrate and think your creations are amazing!

    Carol
    4evercarolscreations.blogspot.com

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  15. AMAZING party!!! just beautiful!
    kacee
    Here from Decorate To Celebrate!
    youhadmeatscrap.blogspot.com

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  16. Wow! You should win! Super cute! I saw teh giraffe theme from Decorate to Celebrate. Congrats. Thanks CallyAnn(new follower)
    I would love for you to check my blog out. Thanks
    http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com

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  17. wow!! loving the birthday theme! What a cutie your lil girl is, especially in the awesome tutu!
    parkernana5@cox.net

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  18. Jen,
    As usual, my extremely creative friend, you have left me speechless!! :) What an amazing treat to have you as a DTC Guest Designer!! :) Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

    Thanks so much for decorating your celebrations at the Decorate To Celebrate! Challenge Blog!

    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com
    and Decorate To Celebrate!

    Join the FUN on Facebook!! :)
    Love To Crop! facebook page
    Decorate To Celebrate! facebook page

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  19. i am in love with this tutu!! i was wondering if you do special orders for these and if so how much yo would charge just to make the tutu? my daughters 1st birthday is giraffe theme and i have attempted at the tutu and it did not turn out!

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  20. Jocelyn --

    I would love to make a tutu for your little one's special day! Please contact me at jlhudson2(at)cox(dot)net.

    ~ Jen

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  21. Where did you find the balloons? My son is turning 1 in august and I want those balloons!!
    Please contact me

    Krazycutie4you@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete