First Communion and 8th Birthday Party Prep

FINALLY!  I am back with something to blog about!  It's been quite a hiatus for me.  Work, life, kids, etc.  I'm sure you can all relate.

I am SO excited to share with you our party prep for Grace's First Communion/8th Birthday Party.  Grace's actual birthday is 6 days after First Communion so we are combining her family birthday party and First Communion celebration.  She is pretty excited because that means she gets a friend party "off sight" - meaning Mom isn't going overboard at the house for some crazy themed party and she gets to have a party like all of her friends (or so she thinks :). 

When I started thinking about how to combine a First Communion and Birthday Party, I had a hard time focusing and narrowing down exactly what we wanted.  Nothing on Etsy was tricking my trigger.  Thankfully Carli from Dimple Prints came to the rescue!  After looking at a few of my ideas I had pinned on Pinterest, she came up with an adorable theme for us.  Not only is it adorable, it is sophisticated, girly, simple and sweet. 

So here is a sneak peak at the invite and the "packaging" of the invite.  I just LOVE it!!!

I used an oblong paper doily from the $1 store and wrapped it around the invite.  I then took pink baker's twine and wrapped it around the doily to hold it in place.  Simple!

I am also sharing the backdrop to the sweets table that I put together.  I re-used the frame I had from our Valentine's Day breakfast that I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby due to a small crack.  I found the perfectly coordinating fabric on clearance at Hobby Lobby. 

 

To make the letters, I purchased the cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby.  I then took 2 sizes of paper doilies and adhered them randomly to the letters using Modge Podge.  After they were dry, I took pink baker's twine and randomly wrapped an area of the letter.  I then hot glued the pre-made yo-yo flowers (purchased from Hobby Lobby) and the ruffled lace flower I made using this tutorial.

I made the doily garland, stapled the baker's twine to the back of the frame and then stapled the fabric to the back of the frame.  After the letters were dry, I adhered the letters to the fabric using Epoxy Glue (probably overkill for strength of glue, but I was out of fabric glue and hot glue did not work.)

I have to say, I love how the backdrop turned out (not that I'm biased.)  I originally planned to do those adorable ombre yarn letters that are everywhere, but the amount of time I imagined it taking overwhelmed me.  The 3 letters took me less time than the Muppets movie (that I shamelessly turned on to occupy the kids so I could get this done!)

Given the craziness in our life right now, party prep is very subdued this year.  Nothing crazy, over the top like the Enchanted Prom was last year!  That's okay - simple and sweet seems more appropriate this year.

Thanks for looking and can't wait to show the rest of the party in a few weeks!