Friday, January 22, 2010

once upon a time...

I'm deep into glitter and all things magical as I prepare for a Unicorn Party for my 5 year old. When researching unicorn craft/party ideas, I found that most people used a boxed kit for this theme. Disappointing! Of course, I was spurred on to make as much as I could with what I have lying around. I know you saw that one coming from a mile away! Recycling doesn't mean that you have to give up your daughter's dreams of shiny, sparkly, and pink! I found my bottle of glitter paint from my son's 5th space party... 6 years later and it's still going strong. We're calling it "magic paint" around here, and I'm adding a layer of it to everything possible. Newspaper bunting has never looked so sparkly! The insides of cracker boxes have never appeared so magical... and what better way to spiff up a horn! So here's a little background on a couple of the many projects I'm working on:
  • unicorn ears and tail: headband covered with batting scraps from leftovers bin and cream colored yarn from my stash.
  • party favor bags: inside out boxes coated with glitter paint and embellished with a unicorn stamped "medal".
  • unicorn horn: card stock covered in glitter paint and punched holes for an elastic band. They are the opening activity- horn decorating with jewels, etc.
  • bunting: newspaper, acrylic paint, glitter paint and stamps (tutorial here).
  • paper flowers: you know about those!
There's tons more to do, plenty to make... but can you tell I'm having fun?! I've always loved to throw parties for children, and this one's going to be a doozy! I bet you have some special party memories of your own. What's been one of your favorites? Have an enchanting weekend!

update: my little unicorn saw her new white ears after I posted this... she almost went to bed with them on! Pin It

34 comments:

  1. Wow! Can I come, even I'm 32, I would like to be part of your party. That looks like great fun to me. If my little girl ever will have such a party, I now know how to do it. Thanks a lot. Greetings from Germany, ines

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know the feeling! I have loved decorating all my life (I'll soon be 50-can't believe it) and when one has a theme it is heaven. I usually dream about how anything I see and hear and smell and taste can be turned to illustrate the decorating theme.

    May the fun continue and the joy be contagious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your unicorn party is going to be fabulous. Hope she has a happy day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, you're doing bunting today, too! You're is so sparkly and magical... I think you got it just right for the occasion! Will be a party to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  5. absolutely enchanting! what a vision they will be... :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Eight little unicorns prancing around! I just realized there might need to be a mama unicorn, too... one more horn to make!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How cute! I wish I would have seen this before my daughter's birthday party. She's a unicorn lover!

    Looks like your party will be a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds magical! I think it was my seventh birthday that I remember fondly. I had a My Little Pony themed party. I remember my father and godmother working so hard on my cake. They drew a flying pony on my cake with icing and I remember how in awe I was of how beautiful it turned out. We had pin the tail on the pony (which my dad spent the wee hours of the morning drawing the pony and making pony tails)and fun hats. I'll have to find some of those photos now. :)

    Enjoy your weekend filled with enchantment!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's all so "magical" ~ I especially love those banners! Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You make even newspaper bunting look fantastic. Seriously, isn't glitter the best thing in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So pretty! How does your son feel about all of this pink sparkle? My guys would be shielding their eyes, screaming, "They burn!!" LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  12. thanks everyone! Betz- my son is really comfortable with it... he's even planning on hanging out with eight 5 year old girls because his sister requested his presence at the party. I'm sure most of the time he'll hang out in his room listening to Rock, but he'll come down and play the piano for them while they dance. He's a good sport.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Everything looks magical. What a wonderful theme! My 4 year old would LOVE this - obsessed with unicorns. Have a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sooo, sweet!!!! That's a lot of love there...and magic...you are making great memories :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Here's a link for you:

    http://blog.whoisthisfabio.com/unicorns-are-special-horses

    ReplyDelete
  16. hi maya! i just mentioned you bunting in my post on wednesday and here you have another great example.

    thanks for sharing the tutorial. enjoy the party.

    sana

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is going to be a great party!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Can I come too? I have wonderful memories of the parties my mum organised for me when I was a wee girl. My absolute favourite was a teddy bears picnic. Since my birthday is in November and we lived in Scotland it was an indoor picnic but it was magical all the same. My mum spread out a big table cloth on the living room floor and she prepared a little individual picnic box for each of the guests. All of my little friends had to bring their favourite teddy along and we played all sorts of teddy themed games. it was fabulous. I can't wait til I have my own kids so I can throw them great birthday parties. You are providing your children with some very happy memories just like my mum did. Enjoy the party xxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my! I have to say that I used to be the best mother in the world when it came to birthday parties. I'd do wonderful decorations and make fantastic party bags, organise wonderful crafts. One year my daughter was having a princess party and I'd planned to do everything outside. The day of the party it rained buckets, so I just took every scrap of wafty, sparkly fabric I had and stapled it to the ceiling- it looked like the inside of a magical tent. But I have to admit, that now my oldest of 4 is 15 and my youngest 9, I've run out of steam. None of the kids have had any sort of party in the last 2 years. Isn't that terrible! I think I over did it early on. Have a wonderful time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. a girl after my own heart! ... so much more fun to make it yourself...your unicorn party sounds fantastic!!
    we enjoy themed parties here too and over the years we have had mermaids, pirates, nursery rhyme characters, fairies, animals, disco divas...
    my eldest sister always creates a decorated cake to go with the theme and when the girls were smaller she would find stories on the theme and bring those along to to read to the children. As my girls got older they have become part of designing and creating the themes. my youngest girl at age 7 had a dinosaur party... and she and her big sister created a wonderful 'pin the horn on the triceratops' game.
    wishing your daughter a very happy birthday and lots of fun to you all x

    ReplyDelete
  21. magic indeed is the power of making things for children. beautiful! five is such a special age isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  22. love, love love it!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  23. Where's the game, Pin the Horn on the Unicorn? Great party!

    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  24. What an amazingly creative mother you are! Your little one is so lucky.
    Have fun!
    xo
    country girl

    ReplyDelete
  25. it all looks perfect!

    i'm making a newspaper bunting for my ds' upcoming party too. his is a japanese theme, so i'm using japanese newspapers :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. that.is.so.cool.

    I loved unicorns when I was little [sweet valley twins unicorn club!]- but my mom wouldn't let me play with them. I'm not quite sure why.

    So you're a pretty cool mom in my book. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Awesome!

    My girl's 3rd birthday is coming up in 6 weeks. I should start planning now, lest it sneak up on me.

    My almost 5yo has already requested a rainbow party for July.

    ReplyDelete
  28. We had a little unicorn action going at my 4-yr-old's 'mythical creature' bday this summer. Check out the unicorn version of fox and hen if you need a quick non-competitive game!
    http://themcauleys.blogspot.com/2009/08/party.html

    ReplyDelete
  29. dearest maya,
    thanks so much for letting me share your nature cubby with my readers; i've just included it in my most recent post:
    http://mayallseasonsbesweettothee.blogspot.com/2010/01/little-treasures-from-around-world-1.html
    thanks again...
    xo
    country girl

    ReplyDelete
  30. How wonderful! From some of your comments, I think this is definitely reaching into the little girl in all of us.

    It is wonderful to have a reason to create such beautiful things (I can't wait for my daughter's 3 yr old party!), the desire to do so, and the knowledge & creativity on how to follow through. You go, super mommy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have seen glitter paint before and never bought it. But now I am inspired. I think a trip to the art store is in my future.

    OnceUponAParent.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great stuff! can you review or point to a tutorial on the reconstructed cracker box bags? love them but can't picture how to do them.

    ReplyDelete
  33. awesome! I made unicorn horns for my daughter's birthday party a few years back but, regretfully, they came out a little...rough around the edges. Love what you did!

    ReplyDelete
  34. OMG! This is such an amazing website! I'm actaully having a "Once upon a time" birthday party for my 21st in April and was just looking for ideas when your site popped up! I never thought of bunting and thought that giving gift bags would be a bit childish, but actually, when they're as classy as yours look, who cares! I know I'm gonna have a blast with this! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
    Btw, I like to make all the decorations for my birthday parties although we are going clubbing, a lot of my friends are coming to my flat first, so I wanted it as fairy tale as I could make it! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete