(A comprehensive party supply source list can be found at the end of this post.)
Our kids get big invite-all-the-friends birthday parties every other year. 2016 is a PARTY year and we did it up big for Bug turning four!
Bug has a crush on all things Avengers right now. He especially enjoys the Lego versions of all the superheros, so naturally we put together a party to follow suit. Below is the invite I designed and sent out to his friends (the real version of all these things had Bug’s given name, of course).
We moved the studio table into the living room to create a coloring station.
I designed the large scale party decor to be printed at Office Max as black and white “engineering prints.” It’s only $3 for a 24″ x 36″ print! I added the color with crayons and mounted them on foam core with spray adhesive.
As we waited for all his friends to arrive, the kids colored pre-printed superheros or designed their own Lego characters.
Awhile back we were gifted two big bins of Lego Duplos as hand-me-downs. They came in handy as a little activity center during the first part of the party too!
The food table was decked out with a Lego wall, oversized superhero signage, and themed snacks.
A vast majority of the party was DIYed, but I draw the line at a homemade cake (to thine own talents be true)! Instead, I ordered a plain white cake with the blue and red dollops along the bottom. These Lego Avenger characters were found on Amazon and were easily popped on top, each holding a color coordinated candle.
No superhero party is complete without costumes. It’s a good thing Handsome is home right now to help, because for a solid 2 days I zoned out the world and sewed 11 different capes for Bug’s friends. Initially they were displayed on the wall using small Command hooks.
Once all his friends had arrived, we held a “Caping Ceremony.” Each child was called to the front and learned which superhero alter ego they would take on for the remainder of the birthday celebration. In lieu of typical party favors or candy, all the guests got to keep their handmade capes.
After everyone was fitted with their superhero identity, they stepped into the studio where I had a green screen taped to the wall. I took photos of each kid in 2-3 different poses…
… and then used my Photoshop skillz to transform them into actual superheros! (more info here)
Because I had to do the editing work post-party, a print of each child’s finished picture was included with the “Thank You” notes for Bug’s gifts.
A January birthday means unpredictable weather, so I try to plan indoor party games. We prepped small boxes with paint and made a “hammer” out of a kleenex box, a paper towel roll, and duck tape. Then the kids took turns throwing “Thor’s Hammer” at the blocks from behind a tape line on the carpet in an attempt to knock them all down.
Bug’s friends also tested their superhuman strength with a couple rounds of good ole’ fashioned Tug-o-War! I honestly wasn’t sure if playing this inside would lead to casualties, but the teams were evenly matched (each team won once) and no one got hurt (all the praise hands!).
Gifts and cake rounded out what proved to be a pretty SUPER celebration!
Bug and Handsome Lego-ed the night away together until Bug slipped into the best sugar-lego-superhero-too-much-fun coma that a brand new 4-year-old could ask for. Party success!
*****
party supply sources:
spray adhesive, yellow dot fabric, silky cape fabrics, striped candles, cake, beverage server – Walmart
green screen, Avenger Lego figures (cake toppers) – Amazon
invitation – created it myself in Photoshop
oversized “engineering” prints – designed myself and printed at OfficeMax
sheets of foamcore – dollar store
lego coloring pages – free printable here
lego duplos – hand-me-downs, find similar ones here
lego statement wall – paper plates from Party City (tutorial here)
cake stand – plate atop a candleholder from Ikea
Thor, Ironman, Captain snack markers – designed myself
hulk power punch – green apple KoolAid
popcorn cones – made with scrapbook paper, hot glue and this tutorial
mason jars – Michaels craft store
captain snacks – strawberries, regular and mini marshmellows, blueberries
napkin & utensil holder – built it out of Lego duplos
clear jello cups – mini clear plastic pedestal cups from Party City
m&m glass cups – thrift store
Thor hammers – cheese blocks cut down, pretzel sticks
super hero capes – hand sewn by myself – silk fabrics bought at Walmart
blue & white rope – Home Depot
Thor hammer game – 16″ shipping boxes from Walmart, sample sized paints from Home Depot; hammer made from kleenex box, paper towel roll, hot glue, silver and black Duck tape.
