Birthday Party

Planner

40FUN IDEAS THATTAKE THE CAKE

PLUSUNIQUE DIYs & CREATIVE INVITATIONS

makelastingmemoriesnow!

6 weeks ahead 1. Pick a theme...

One cohesive idea from invitations through thank-you notes will have the biggest impact. Ask yourself... What does your baby like? What theme did you pick for the nursery? How about your baby shower invitations? You could go with one of those or use your imagination! Top Ideas

Look to Kissy Kissy’s adorable prints for inspiration!

owlsballerinas

teddy bearsrace carsduckiesrobots

cowboyscupcakes

sportssafari

polka dotscircushearts

Need Help? 2. Make the guest list

3. Select a location

Create your own Pinterest board to organize your ideas. But make it a secret board so no one is tipped off in advance.

Click below to visit Kissy Kissy’s birthday board on Pinterest. Prepare to be inspired! We’ve curated the best ideas for décor, cakes, food, invitations and more!

Decide between the comforts of home and the convenience of an outside venue. (No cleanup!) You’ll need to make reservations now. Great off-site ideas include local ice cream shops, aquari-ums, zoos and indoor entertain-ment centers.

4. Set the date & timeSchedule the party when your child will be at his/her best. Also, decide on how long you want the party to last. One to two hours may be as long as your little one can last.

Allow your older children to invite one friend so they don’t feel left out.

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Tip:

Family members and friends are top of the list, but don’t forget daycare pals, neighbors and the little one’s best friend.

Click photos throughout to find the source for each.

4 weeks ahead

1. Write out invites.Match invitations to the theme. Include the date, location (with directions) and RSVP information. Add specifics. For instance, if it’s a pool party, ask guests to bring suits and towels. And if a meal will be served, mention that too!

InvitingOptions

etsy.com has loads of printable invitations

Shop for unique invitations with cool themes and person-alized photos at sites like these:

PrintTinyPrints

MintedSnapfish

OnlineEvite

PunchBowl

BothPaperlessPostCelebrations

Hallmark

Get Crafty!Find a DIY invitation project that you can customize to make it as unique as your baby.

Tip:

Choose simple games and activities that will be easy and fun for parents and youngsters to do together. Also, book any performers and entertainers you would like present.

3. Create the menu.Keep the food selection simple. You want it easy to serve, eat and clean up. Jazz up the presentation to bring a hint of fun and carry your theme through. Decide what will be homemade or what you’ll order in.

Love those lavish cakes on TV? Find a blogger with detailed photos to show you how it’s done.

2. Choose the activites.

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3 weeks ahead

1. Mail Invitations.

5. Shop for baby’s outfit.Remember, there will be tons of pic-tures. Dress your baby well. Kissy Kissy’s got loads of prints to match any birthday theme, including this tulle-embellished cupcake bib!

4. Arrange for extra help.It’s going to be a busy day, ask a respon-sible friend or family member for backup.

2. Get all party supplies.Make a list of all decorations, DIY supplies, serving utensils and goodie bag items.

3. Start making DIY projects.For a party they’ll never forget, whip out your glue guns and fire up a few YouTube turorials.

Ask for themed stamps at the post office.

Tip:

Click here to learn to make it!

1 week ahead

1. Schedule activities.Your best chances for a great party start with a plan. Know when you’ll be doing what.

2. Make sample crafts.If you’ll be keeping the littles busy with a few DIYs, make a couple examples to show’em how it’s done.

3. Follow up with guests.Call all guests who have not responded. Sometimes invites get lost in the mail.

Learn to paint faces!

1. Buy food.Make your list and check it twice. You don’t want to open your doors to a crowd of kiddos only to realize there’s no ice.

2. Assemble goodie bags.What’s a party without parting gifts?

Dress up store-bought goodies with festive picks and wrappers.

3 days ahead

3. Create a playlist.Need help? Check out our choices!

Check out our selection on YouTube (Click each song title):

1. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas

2. Mamma Mia by ABBA

3. What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction

4. Forever by Chris Brown

5. Wannabe by Spice Girls

6. Happy by Pharrell Williams

7. Get Jiggy Wit It by Will Smith

8. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough

by Michael Jackson

9. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

10. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

11. Cups by Anna Kendrick

12. Who Says by Selena Gomez

13. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

14. Baby by Justin Bieber

15. Roar by Katy Perry

16. Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day

17. Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men

18. Whip My Hair by Willow Smith

19. Let It Go by Idina Menzel

20. Cha Cha Slide by Mr. C The Slide Man

Crank up the tunes!

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3. Decorate.Decorate your home if it’s the party location. No need to break the bank. Repurpose things around the house or get crafty.

2 days

ahead

Define party area with bal-loons and streamers, and close doors to other rooms.

If the party is off-site, gather and pack all sup-plies, including tape, string and removable self-adhesive hooks.

2. Prep make-ahead foods.

If you’re making a relatively simple cake, start now. If you’re going for a masterpiece, make like a cake expert and start earlier. Make it in stages, baking one day, assem-bling another and decorating it in the end.

1. Bake the cake.

Tip:

The

DayBig1. Pace the day.Change up the activities every 10-15 min-utes so kids don’t get bored. If something’s not going well, drop it. If they love some-thing, let it run over.

Schedule in no more than 20-30 minutes for a performer or entertainer.

Allot 15-20 minutes each for eating, cut-ting the cake and opening gifts.

Write down the schedule on an index card to refer to throughout the party.

2. Greet Guests.Have an activity area ready for arriving guests. Point them to the toys where they can play individually until others arrive.

Have someone helping to greet and direct guests to the event area.

Hire a photographer or ask for a volunteer to take pictures during the party.

3. Have a Present Plan.If you want to open gifts the day of the party, make it a game for all the kids. Pull names out of a hat to choose whose gifts get opened next.

If you want to wait, take a picture of your child with the gift to send with the thank-you note.

3. Say Goodbye in Style.Have your child personally say thank you and goodbye to each guest. Make sure to hand them a goodie bag as they leave.

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Tip:

Capture the

memory

Go for photos when your baby’s at his or her best.Try to take some shots before guests arrive and distract baby.Photography’s all about lighting. Pick a room with the best natural light.Create a festive backdrop. Snap lots of frames, and you’ll have lots of options from which to pick.Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be adorable.

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Timeless.Adorable.

Comfortable.