Every now and then I think my patience for creating kids’ parties is reaching capacity… and then a birthday rolls around and before I can stop myself I’m enthusiastically bleating, “what theme do you want for your party this year?”
Well, Cappers wanted a Fiji theme, which we successfully turned into ‘island party ideas’ and then morphed into more of a luau. A colourful, chaotic, crazy luau with girls giggling and crafting and dancing and leaping into pools and rolling coconuts and… well, see for yourself!
We went with colour, colour and more colour for the decorations. I bought the felt at K-Mart for $3 for a pack of 10 different colours, put the blacks and browns aside for another date, and went to town cutting up the triangles. I then roughly sewed the felt with some brickies’ line ($3 for huge roll at Bunnings) and a fat needle and we were in business. Making a whopping 10 metres of bunting took me about an hour and a half and cost me less than $9.
The fooooood – oh my word, what my partner-in-party Auntry Zia (best aunty zia in the whole wide world) and I can’t do when we get together. I take on savory and Lucia does the amazing sweet stuff. Do you want me to hire her out?
I made:
- Mini-croissant crabs
- Island cheese plate complete with cheesy palm trees
- A giant watermelon “cocktail” – this took forever but would you believe they ate the lot?!
- A little atoll of island villages
Aunty Zia made:
- Hula skirt shortbreads
- Sugar biscuit thongs
- Chocolate biscuit clams with kool mint pearls
- Pineapple banana-cake pops (because I have sworn off cake pops for life but Lucia has not)
- Caramel cupcakes with pretty flowers and surfie motifs
This is what party food looks like during the actual party:
And the cake… a triumph! It’s difficult to accurately describe this cake as I found it hard to photograph, but what you’re looking at is a blue chocolate waterfall flowing from a caramel cake island into chocolate crackle rocks. There were lolly skewers ready for dipping in the chocolate waterfall and many, many children eager to make that happen…
The island itself was volcanic and it ‘erupted’ into a chocolate gold coin lava rush, much to the excitement of all children present.
And did the kids have a good time? You bet! We started the party off down on the deck with a ‘design your sea creature’ crafting competition. The girls were given a lump of clay to mold and shape and then decorate or paint to their heart’s content. I am fairly certain at least half of the party would have been happy to do this task all day.
The finished results were put before “Mr Hipster” for judging. Long time readers may remember “Mr Crocodile” from the mouse slumber party? Well, he’s gone all hipster in a Florida shirt, Missoni shorts and a trilby, but took his responsibilities no less seriously, taking time over his deliberations and keeping the girls on edge as they waited the final verdict.
It never ceases to amaze me how seriously children take a competition, nor how generous and mature they are when they do or don’t win. Always impressive and lots of fun to be a part of.
Next up was the traditional treasure hunt. I told the kids that a pirate had come to the front door during the judging and handed me a treasure map where ‘X marks the spot’ where treasure could be found. To say that at least five of the party-goers asked me later in the day whether the pirate was a ‘real’ pirate or not goes a long way to proving that nine year olds are still our darling babies after all.
The girls raced around the garden, finding one clue and rushing to the next. I hid seven different clues that took them here there and everywhere before finally ending up at the X – the grate beside our pool where the party was set up ready to dazzle.
After that the pool fun began and I was only able to drag them away for one party game (coconut bowl – think lawn bowling with coconuts and you’re spot on). The fun was all in the pool and the BEST GAME was our simple family favourite – ‘jump in if you like’. “Jump in if you like monkeys”, “jump in if you like chocolate”, “jump in if you like… boys!”. The kids absolutely loved it and begged for more and more. All I could think was how tired they would all be once they hit home, having jumped in and climbed out of our pool about 137 times.
Happy, almost comatose with tiredness, guests took home a sweet little BLANK box of lollies with a frangipani hair tie on top. Which reminds me, when we renovate the area, I want to plant a frangipani tree up by the pool. I hope to take a branch from the frangipanis that grow outside my parents’ house. Sorry, just a side note there – these days I find that I need to write things down immediately or they are gone…
Happy birthday dear Cappers. We love every single thing about you, especially your creativity, your tenacity, your generosity, your loyalty and your laugh. You’re just the right amount of crazy.
Jump in if you like… island parties!
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Kirsten and co. says
What a gorgeous party! So much colour and so much fun!! And how clever are you and your party partner to make all that incredible food?! It all looks amazing.
Maxabella says
The bits I do are so simple, Kirsten. The talent is all my sister in law’s !! x
Kate says
I’m totally jumping in!!
Oh my goodness, that looks like the best fun ever!!!!!!
I love the look of every single little bit!!!
You are ace Mrs, I think your kids are lucky ducks!! xx
Maxabella says
Thanks sweets, I’m a lucky duck myself. x
Lila says
Your parties are divine! I think you and Aunty Zia make an indomitable team.
Maxabella says
If only she wasn’t a dedicated GP she might join me in a party planning business. Ha! Actually, I reckon she would anyway, but neither of us can figure out how to make money from it. Once you factor in a decent hourly rate to make everything, it’s just not viable. I wonder how other people do it… do you think party packs with instructions might work?? Anyway… x
Nicole- Seeking Victory says
Amazing! That is the most amazing party I think i have ever seen. I almost died when i saw the crab croissants- and those cake pops!
Maxabella says
The crab croissants are just the cutest! I would make these for any old brunch to give guests a chuckle. The cake pops – well, my SIL is an angel. Cake pops are so fiddly to make!! x
The Exercise Hitlist says
OMG that is amazing! Looks like a wonderful time was had by all and I bet everybody went to bed early that night!
Maxabella says
You would think, right!!! x
Emma says
Bron once again you’ve excelled! Totally amazing. Looks like so much fun! Yes, yes I would love to go to one of Capper’s parties!
Maxabella says
One day, Em, one day… x
Carly Findlay says
I want this for my 33rd birthday please! So much awesome! Well done, party planning team 🙂
Maxabella says
Do it! A luau birthday theme would be awesome for grown ups too, Carly! Or a luau wedding… 🙂
Vicki @ Knocked Up and Abroad says
oh man you are the partay queen! I want you to design my party!! I LOVE IT ALL x
Maxabella says
Wouldn’t it be great if I could host a blogger party one day… hmmmmm… x
babs - Patchwork Cactus says
Wow, amazing!!!!!
Maxabella says
Those pineapples are just your thing, Babs. x
Debs says
Looks gorgeous. Love all the colour and little details!
Maxabella says
Thanks mate. I just wish I gave myself enough time to really do a party the way I see it in my head. More little details! x
Mother Down Under says
I would come to any of your parties…they always look so amazing!
And thank you for reminding me of the summer days of my childhood…also spent jumping in and climbing out of the pool one millions times.
Happy birthday to Cappers!
Emily says
I love your party posts! I will never ever do one so strictly to theme, but I will certainly use bits and pieces. I borrowed your balloon pigs from the farm party you did – my daughter had a pig-themed party this year. Not farm. Not animals. Just pigs. We made paper plate pigs to hang on the wall, had a pig cake, played pin the tail on the cake and wrapped a pass-the-parcel in different kinds of pig paper. That was as far as I went on the theme I think!
Maxabella says
A pig theme is a classic and while you say you’re not partyish, making paper plate pigs is definitely right up there. x
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
Bron, every time I see one of your parties, I just know it’s the best one. And then I see the next…..
Lucky babies are yours. No doubt everyone slept very well that night xx
Trish says
OH sensational = I’d love to come to one your parties Bron.
Maxabella says
I feel like you’ve been coming to our parties for years, Trish. 🙂 x
Mardi from Party Ideas in a Box says
I love how there is so much colour to set the theme of the party. I also love how you show how easy it is for children (especially that age group) can have a fun party time at home, either with planned games and unstructured play that they can then make up their own games. It looks like everyone had a fabulous time!
Maxabella says
Once the kids get older, I reckon every party needs a little unstructured time so they can make their own fun with their friends. It’s my favourite bit 😉 x
Josefa says
Oh Bron this party is simply stunning!! It is so beautiful and the images not only capture all your hard work and patience, but just how much a mother can love and adore her daughter – that is what it is all about after all isn’t it? I know we get caught up in the details, but I know on my boys’ birthdays my heart swells almost outside of myself with how much I love them and would turn the world over on itself for them – so of course these are the birthday parties we throw. Beautiful memories, well done amazing mumma xx
Maxabella says
It’s my little creative outlet that lights up my kids’ faces – there is huge joy in that. x
cathie avraam says
That looks like So much fun! I bet big and small enjoyed themselves. Those cupcakes are so cool by the way x
Maxabella says
My SIL is a genius. She should have been a pastry chef instead of a GP… 🙂 x
Kymmie says
Is there no end to your creativity? Your parties are actually getting better and better, and I didn’t think it was possible! Beautiful. Truly amazing!
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