My post is a bit late because I needed a couple of days to recover after the hoopla, the craziness, the extravaganza that was… Cappers’ rainbow birthday party. You know I like to go on a bit when I’m describing my parties, so do grab a cup of tea, settle in and prepare for lots and lots of colour!
After all the preparations are done and the ideas are sprung, it’s important to create an entrance for any party. You want to build the excitement as guests get closer. I think a balloon on the mailbox is great for directions, but add a few streamers and it becomes a fluttery, hello of a welcome (not that this picture does it any justice whatsoever… my lack of photo skills are really letting me down now that I’m blogging. Do you ever find that too!?). I also put streamers along the walk up to our house and a welcome sign at the top of the stairs. Little guests saying ‘wow’ before they even hit the front step is a really great feeling.
I decorated with streamers strung from one side of the room to the other with balloons and coloured fabric bringing the colours to life. The ‘chandeliers’ are just ribbon glued onto two embroidery hoops. I made the wands from a wooden chopstick and ribbon stuck onto cardboard, a little bit of wadding between the card and the printed cloud paper top and my trusty hot glue gun. The garland is from Down to the Woods.
The food was simple and fuss free. Skewers of ‘rainbow’ fruit, marshmallows, coloured popcorn, lollies of every rainbow colour, hundreds and thousands cupcakes (banana and chocolate), coloured meringues and jelly cups with each colour of the rainbow in a stripe. Having an afternoon party means the pressure to provide a proper hot meal is gone. Bring on the sugar!
A water bottle for each child with a personalised label. These are the easiest things to do and the kids love them.
And yes, I made ‘that cake‘. It was actually very simple in the end and I was very proud of our (my trusty sidekick, Zia Lucia and I) efforts. The children were absolutely fascinated and can you believe the entire cake was gone by the end of the day (we did ‘back to back’ parties with the rainbow party finishing at 4pm and LOML’s birthday dinner BBQ for 16 adults and 14 children starting at 6pm… oh. my. god. was I a tired woman when I finally crawled into bed at 1.30am!!!)
For all the fun of decorating and baking, a children’s party is nothing without some great fun, creative game play. Creating a story around the party theme is what I enjoy the most and planning the activities to suit is wonderful.
What to do with little guests when everyone is arriving? If you let them get too nuts, you just never get them settled and they are over excited and rather mental for the whole party. I decided that a colouring competition would be the perfect start; it was up to the children if they wanted to participate but just about everyone took to it with great enthusiasm. They all settled straight in, working hard on their entries and finished works were pinned on the wall for all to admire and a prize for the winner at the end of the party. Warning: do not try this with boys…
Once everyone arrived it was time for a game of musical cushions. I love this game and it’s always a lot of fun for the kids.
Next up we played pin the pot of gold on the end of the rainbow. I printed out a rainbow picture onto two sheets of A3 paper and taped them together. Then I printed and cut out a little cauldron for each guest. Blu tac on the back of the cauldron, a headband for a ‘mask’ and away we go! Lots and lots of laughs for not much effort at all.
I’ve avoided having a pass the parcel at parties up until this point. I hate how you have to have a prize for each kid these days and the painstaking stopping of the music at the required child… boooooring. But Cappers insisted, so I used tissue paper so each layer was a new colour, put little lollies in some layers and a more important prize in others and away we went. It was Ho Humsville if you ask me, it just went on and on with our music choice of ‘Rainbow Connection’ bleating along in the background with that bloody ukelele making it seem like some weird Deliverance moment. The kids really enjoyed it. See, look how much that little girl in orange up there is enjoying it… Ho Hum indeed.
Time to shake things up after the whole pass the parcel snooze, so a treasure hunting we went. I printed out a story with clues, each onto a different rainbow-coloured piece of paper (popped into a bag for weather proofing, although would you believe the weather was gorgeous after all the rain we’d had?). We had to find all the colours of the rainbow to get to the other end where our pot of gold awaited.
The delight on the girls’ faces when they saw the rainbow tutus was just magic. Total hit and worth every minute (although if I never have to cut another piece of tulle, I will be a very happy woman).
A ‘lolly bag’ (or, as my children shamelessly call them ‘loot bag’) is a traditional send off. I added a bit of fun to goodbyes by making the boxes into a ‘jarbola’ style event. Each child received a numbered ticket and got to claim their lolly bag by matching the number. There were three ‘special’ bags that three children were lucky enough to ‘win’. I made that part up because I instead of 5 I only bought 4 packs of 5 silver noodle boxes and as there were 23 kids at the party, I was three short…
Harry, Pink, Rainbow… I am absolutely done with parties for this year. I was planning a 40th birthday bash of my own for November, but I called it off a week or so ago because my heart is just not in it. I think I would rather put on a party for someone else than myself. I’m not sure why that is, but I feel absolutely fine about it.
Rebekah says
Wow wow and wow!!!!
You are one amazing and clever Mumma. What an effort you went to. Everything looked amazing. I bet the kids will be talking about that party for weeks to come.
Happy Birthday to your little sweetie xXx
Mum on the Run says
What a feast in every sense – and on every sense.
Congratulations!
I can’t choose my favourite part.
This is one awesome party – and one crazy day.
You are a lunatic – and I love it!!
(Love the ‘don’t try this with boys’ – you read my mind!)
🙂
Ms Styling You says
Can my kids adopt you? Please. And you need a 40th bash. You deserve it. I had a very long girls lunch – lots of chat, wine and good food – at a restaurant. No fuss just good fun.
Alice Becomes says
Fantastic party! Looks like a lot of love went into it. Thanks for sharing, you have some great ideas and you do parties well.
Nic x
Kirsty @ Bowerbird Blue says
awesome party. You should have someone else organise, feed and entertain you for your 40th. None of my kids wanted a party this year, hallelujah!
robyn says
That is insane!! You are such an awesome Mumma. I bet so many of those kids will have great memories of that birthday party. Well done you! I hope you still enjoy your birthday though- you deserve it 🙂
Adriana says
FANTASTIC!!!
It’s pretty obvious from your photos that they all had a fabulous time.
I love those rainbow tutus!
Alice Becomes says
That cake!!!! It looked very impressive, even if you say it wasn’t too difficult.
AaReAn says
oooh I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog…I am throwing a colorful/rainbow party for my baby girls frist bday! Thanks for all the great ideas!!
come on over and visit!
colorissue.blogpsot.com
xoxox,
Aarean
Lou says
Holy Toledo!
I want a party like that! That cake!!!!! OMG OMG
My baby is 9 on Thursday, do you think it’s too late to tell her that she’s not having a swim party (where I have to enter the wave pool looking like a whale because the 6yo can’t be unsupervised even though he swims like a fish… breathe) instead she can have a glorious rainbow party… jealous!
cathy@home says
Wow such a lovely little girls birthday party you have thought of everything.
And what a lovely smile to finush off Well done Mum
Rhi@FlourChild says
Wow. That is spectacular!! Incredible. The tutu’s look fantastic. The cake! OMG! All of it. You are the super-est party thrower there is, I love it.
BabyMac says
SERIOUSLY good party lady – well done! I had a rainbow party planned for Harper’s Christening & 2nd birthday in 3 weeks time and now there is NO way I am even attempting! I will have a crack and ‘that’ cake though – too good to rufuse!
Congrats Mama and Happy Birthday Cappers!
Jodi @ The Scribble Den says
Wow! You are most definitely the party queen. How lucky your kids are. Have you thought of doing this for a living? And that cake – wow! Well done Bron, just awesome.
Amy xxoo says
That looks seriously awesome – i wouldnt want to be the mama putting on a birthday party after one of yours!
Oh – and happy birthday Cappers!
Diminishing Lucy says
Sensational.
And her hair. Is. Divine.
xx
therhythmmethod says
AMAZING! I feel like a need a lie down from the sheer enormity of it.
Your children are very lucky to have you as their mama. A lot of planning and love went into that day. You should celebrate your own birthday somehow, you deserve to be showered with love too. x
Vicky says
Can you be my party planner?
This was amazing. You are amazing. And I think YOU deserve someone else to throw YOU a party!!
Kim H says
You should go into business, Bron. Honestly. You would be a hit and you would take so much stress off mum’s who aren’t as into the whole party thing as you are. You’ve got talent, girl! Maxabella’s Mad Tea Parties…do it, do it, do it!!
PS I love that photo of the girls on the tyre swing. Gorgeous!! xx
Kate Sins says
Just divine.
Crystal says
Yes, yes, yes! Amazing!! I may have to steal some of your wonderful ideas (my daughters name is Iris which is the goddess of the rainbow) I was planning on giving her a rainbow themed party. I’ve got some hard shoes to fill now though! Oh, and the cake! THE CAKE!!! 🙂 x
Cherie @ 'a baby called Max' says
Oh my! Oh my oh my oh my!
Wow. Just wow!
The whole time I read this, I was smiling, & ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ was playing in my head.
What a beautiful childhood memory you’ve created for cappers.
… and that’s what it’s all about xox
Leanne says
What a wonderful party- you are so clever!
Felicity says
Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt!
Bron I’ve been waiting and waiting for this and I am truly gobsmacked!
So much thought.
So much effort.
So much delight.
The tutus are a sensation and I’m sure they’ll be worn for ages…loving the way that you brought lovely drama to their discovery.
I was walking along the Noosa River on Sunday afternoon and a little girl about Cappers age was riding a tricycle wearing a tulle ribbon tutu. I was tempted to stop the Mum and ask if she was a Blogerista who read your blog but resisted but smiled thinking about your special weekend instead.
I hope someone you love treats you to a party to celebrate your own special birthday – filled with everything that makes your heart sing.
xx’s my friend.
Jen says
WOW! I loved reading all about your amazing party. Thanks for sharing all the details and photos. And the cake is unbelievable!
Amba @ Team Mummy says
That was amazing, you are such a thoughtful party planner/mum!
Thanks for many great ideas as my kids grow there will be some great parties like this one so thanks for giving me some inspiration !
x
E. says
Wow. Absolutely amazing. I bet Cappers and all the guests were ectastic. I would have been. Even about the pass the parcel.
I’m happy if you want to do all our parties. Happy to be adopted.
Rhi @ Hummingbird's Song says
Oh.My.Goodness. That looks incredible! What a fantastic theme, and that cake looks amazing!
Caz (The Truth About Mummy) says
You seriously are the party queen!! Love it all. 🙂
Taryn says
FANTASTIC!!! WHAT AN EPIC PARTY…well done and I hope you can get a bit of relaxing in now to recover…I love every little detail – stunning, gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, clever, SO MUCH FUN! hooray xxx
Jen R says
WOW, not showing my Little Bit those pics she will have party envy for sure and no way I could compete with that cake DEVINE!!
jody says
you are too clever! what a beautiful party, everything looks divine! x
MissPosy says
Oh my gawd. Absolutely amazing!
Miss Mandy says
So much detail, just gorgeous. Love the skirts, oh and of course the cake.
Tas says
Two words: Awe. Some.
Would you like to come here and be my mum? I am having a 43rd birthday in January and one like that would be v. cool.
Leisa says
Love it! Love it! Love it! Such a beautifully well-planned party and yet so simple. I’m inspired!
deux chiens et un garcon says
Happy happy birthday. There appears to be parties everywhere. This one is prety sepcial.
Phew.
Best wishes for the big four O.
Denwise aka Denyse Whelan says
A m a z i n g.
A w e s o m e
and
A w a r d
To
The
Mum
Of. The. best Rainbow Birthday. cake EVER!
Btw. You did this & you work full time crazy hours….. Sheesh! Gotta love what you do & how you do it! Xx
E says
Long time blog stalker.. first time commenter.. I think…
That party is AMAZING! I might have to *cough* BORROW *cough* some of those ideas for my little one’s party next year!
And that cake looks amazing but enormously tall!
Naturally Carol says
Hi Maxabella..I’ve been looking forward to reading about your rainbow party and seeing all the pics. You did not disapoint..it was gloriously colourful! Looks like the Birthday Girl & all her special friends had a ball too..yay!!
Coal Valley View says
I’m SPEECHLESS!!
You did such a fabulous job. OMG, the effort you have gone to – craziness!!!
So many great ideas too. I actually love the jelly cups and am impressed you had the patience for all the cooling required between each layer. LOVE it!!
babygalah says
beyond AMAZING !!!!!
That is all so very cool and colourful and did I say amazing ?
and I love that you HANDMADE so MUCH of it all.
ok, enough of the capitals and exclamation marks.
Just well done you !
Dee x
Mrs Woog says
Oh my giddy aunt! Aren’t you just fabulous. That cake is a fricking masterpiece!
You NEED a party! You off all people deserve one xx
Kelly Exeter says
You’re seriously amazing. This is my favourite bit:
“The delight on the girls’ faces when they saw the rainbow tutus was just magic. Total hit and worth every minute”
I have no doubt there will be a 40th birthday party waiting for you in November – completely agree that organising something for yourself is not quite the same!
Lib says
I made so many oohs and aahs just then that my work colleagues must have thought I was having an orgasm!!!!!
You are the queen of the party world my dear :))
Truly divine…Cappers is a lucky little girl!
Deb @ home life simplified says
Fantastic party and so happy you got the good weather! (2 parties back to back – crazy woman ; ) am sure they all loved it)
ClaireyHewitt says
Amazing! But I couldn’t get past the first picture, Popps is also an Arabella, we are yet to met too many more.
Ms Jelena says
I’m speechless!!!!! So amazing, bright and colourful! That cake looks deliciousss!!!!
Chantel says
Wow Bron!!!! That looks unbelievable! You are one creative lady and the looks on the girls faces show it went down very well!
sassandspice says
Ummm where do I start with how amazingly awesome this party looked??? The clouds, the rainbow cake, the fruit skewers (going to steal that idea) and the rainbow skirts…you’ve have done such a fabulous job! All kids should have a great mum like you! x
Mum's the word says
wowsas what an amazing party! You really did a fabulous job! I am loving the rainbow theme that is so popular right now but I think your daughters bday really tops them all!!! x
flowerpress says
Legendary. Just think of all that rainbow twirling you have inspired. Great idea for a theme 🙂
Lauren says
LOOKS fabulous! that cake oh YUM!!! I hope I can remember some of these great ideas for when I have some kidlets!
Mrs Bok - The Bok Flock says
Awwwwwwwwwwww Maxabella what a wonderful party 🙂 The tutus are GORGEOUS as is pretty much everything!! Love that cake.
My turn next…oh dear…
Cook Clean Craft says
That sounds like such a cool party! Love the rainbow tutus (and everything else for that matter). Can’t wait to have fun parties like this for my kids one day (except for all the work that goes in).
Anonymous says
Wow!! Just an amazing party! Love the cake and making the tutu’s. Liv xoxo
Miss Pink says
I feel the same about parties and me. It’s just not as fun for yourself. Someone should be throwing one FOR you. My party totally fucked with my head and heart. Of the very few who got back to me that they were coming 2 people turned up on the night. TWO. How fucking pathetic. Thanks guys!
Lucky cocktails make me incredibly bubbly and I was all “Fuck it, I am making friends”
This party is EPIC. Just beautiful I heart it so so so much. You have no idea. It’s totally something Bluey would love too. Wish I did parties for my kids more often 🙁
Kelly says
WOW, such fabulous rainbow party! You did an amazing job. Love your rainbow cake – I tried to make one of those but I gave up after making only four layers. Our oven is old & crappy and couldn’t take it the hard work –Oh wait maybe that was me lol!
Mama of 2 boys says
Amahhhzing! You throw a seriously cool party. I would LOVE to steal your rainbow idea, but know I’d never do it justice… AND I’m not sure if it would suit the rough and tumble nature of boys! Well done indeed. I think your photos are wonderful.
ally says
you are now my party host guru and my blogging guru
hope you have broad shoulders!
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
OMG!!! Seriously between you and Emma from FGB, I am always in birthday party envy!! This looks amazing, totally divine, and the look on your daughters’ faces are just priceless!!! I love love love the cake, whoo hoo to you (best mother in the world status for that one I’m sure)….I’m totally bummed I missed out on having a party for my daughter this year…well we wear overseas…i think that was party-ing enough!!! You are one inspirational party freak! xx
Bungalowgirl says
My god, you absolutely rock a themed party. Love the tutus, the cake is sublime and that photo on the tyre swing is so beautiful. melx
Megan.K. says
Wow, that was intense sensory overload, and I’m just looking at the photos! not even at the party.
You are a legend Bron (and I think a lunatic too as someone has already mentioned???)
That looks like one awesome party. All kinds of awesome, in every colour and every flavour! esp love the tutus 🙂
Don’t pike on yourself mama – get someone else to do your 40th – you deserve it.
xo
Jane says
Unbelievable. How you manage to pull off such amazing feats each birthday never ceases to amaze me, Bron. Your children are so lucky to have you as their Mum! J x
Kylie @ The Rockgarden says
Holy freaking shiz, woman, you are a freak! That party is AMAZING.
Tammi says
You sure know how to throw a party 🙂
This looks FUNtastic!
MultipleMum says
Bright colourful happy children! Awesomeness! x
supermac says
My jaw just dropped on the floor. You are a fantastic mom. xx
Toni says
The other mums are all talking about you, you know — all wondering how the hell they’re going to top that party!! Your attention to detail is exquisite — it looked utterly delightful. XX
Rhonda says
just total amazingness. i love your party style. you may have missed your calling as an event planner!
Privet and Holly says
Smiling as I threw a
rainbow birthday party
for my {now 16 year old}
girl when she turned three.
Only three guests but I
did it up right : ) Although
not nearly as RIGHT as
you did, amazing mama!
That whole fete was just
a labor of love and I bet
the guests were walking
on air {and maybe a bit
of a sugar buzz} when they
left with their cute goody
bags!!
xx Suzanne
PS: When I turned 40 my
hubby took me out to a
swanky restaurant and we
ordered champagne and had
a proper grown up time. I
didn’t want a party, although
I felt very grateful to be turning
40.
Lizeylou says
Your such a great Mum Maxabella .. this made me cry (honestly I cried!!)
one claire day says
I’m seriously late to the party here… but can I just say WELL DONE!! Those kids are having the time of their life and you’ve executed this party so brilliantly! The detail and personal touches are astounding! Love it Love it Love it! Lucky girl… happy belated birthday!
X
emma @ frog, goose and bear says
Of course, I absolutely love it! I love how the theme follows through to every aspect little aspect of the party! Those skirts are amazing! I had a go the other day and made one for my 2 year old, using orange tuelle for an orange dress-up day at our playgroup and we had nothing orange to wear. Thanks for the inspiration!
I am still in awe that you had so many kids at the party and then went back for more later that same day!! I would have been a wreck!!
Don’t forget to link your party!
Fay says
Wow, it looks fantastic! Love the theme.
Jill says
WOW! What an amazing looking party – and so much detail and thought and HARD WORK has gone into it! I’m not surprised the girls loved the rainbow tutus – and the cake – FABULOUS! Phew! I really am not surprised you’re partied out – maybe someone needs to prepare your 40th party for you!! So you can sit back and relax for a bit!
Thanks for sharing this – I’m amazed,impressed and very inspired!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Wombat's Picnic says
Wow, what a fabulous party! I am sure the birthday girl had a wonderful time, as did all the guests. And that cake, really I think I need to try and make that cake. You deserve a well needed vacation after all of that:) Cyndy
Kylie says
Wowee! I don’t think ANYBODY does parties like you do – just fabulous 🙂 Kx
Paula says
As commenter #79, there’s not much more I can add here Maxabella. You’re awesome at juggling is all I can say 🙂
Miriam says
That looks like a wonderful party. I’d quite like someone to make me a rainbow cake sometime but I suspect it will never happen. I do hope you don’t manage birthday parties this elaborate every year you’ll make the rest of us look bad!!
Rie says
Wow! A rainbow is a fantastic idea & not so girly that boys can attend! It looked like fun was had by all! Great job with the decorations & yes, you deserve a well-earned rest!!
Lea says
oh my goodness this is amazing. you did a fantastic job. you have certainly dotted all your i’s and crossed your t’s. perfect! love the tutu’s, the cake and the gorgeous drink labels. gosh you would have been one tired mama.
sweet emmelie says
love that rainbow cake to peices!! and all the othe rainbow filled fun!
m.e (Cathie) says
oh my goodness!! you are just the party queen! you & Emma FGB are all about themed parties. love it.
love that cake, the decorations, the kids smiles.
you are an awesome mamma, really truly, rooly!
have an awesome day!
♥
paula @ pod and 3 peas says
that cake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am in love 🙂
sascedar says
the wise mama with her colouring in competition at the start. well done, you. well done.
Kymmie says
You do parties so well Bron. Just a STUNNING party! I’m sure Cappers will remember it (and those tutus) for a very long time!
Understand totally about being the star of your own party. I ended up having a brunch with just the girls. Low key, and lovely. But the idea of a ‘do just wore me out.
Have you a Plan B?
xx
Sarah says
I am late to this. But oh my word. EPIC. And please have a 40th celebration. If not a party, celebrate it, celebrate you. You spend lots of time doing things for others, make sure you do something for your fabulous self xxx
edenland says
I DIE!!!!!!!
Ok so you know you could quit your corporate and start up a kids birthday party planning business?? You are the BEST.
Wow. Amazing, well done. I bow down to you. X
Joni Llanora says
This is so glam! I had a dog party recently & it was tiring to do the games. But seeing your post was jus WOW! You are such a super woman! A great event planner!
Cherie says
Mind Boggling, what a sensaish Mum you are … wish I’d been on the guest list what a stupendous day. No wonder there were the uninvited (your post today) … heartfelt applause, applause♥
Mammamusing says
I just found your post while researching for my own little girl’s rainbow party.
I’m almost rethinking Amelie’s theme now knowing from your photos I’ll never match that!
Kate