Thursday, March 8, 2012

Cowboy and Cowgirl party!

Maddie and Will

With Madeline and Will's birthday's just two weeks apart (even though I was due BEFORE her birthday, remember? Longest two weeks of my life) we decided to combine birthdays and have one big shebang this year. I've discovered that I just love planning parties, and since this was my only chance for the year to throw and fun, themed birthday party, I really got into it.

Western Invitation Birthday girl!
Hats, stick horses and badges for all the kids! 
Cowboy party time!
 Cowboy guests
My sister Kelly helped me assemble the cake - to be totally honest, when I was mixing all that fondant, I had SERIOUS doubts that there was even going to be a cake, so I was really pleased that it turned out just like I envisioned! Maddie's eyes seriously turned into saucers when she saw it, so...mission accomplished!
 Let's eat cake! Maddie's cowgirl party
Will got his own little smash cake, which he dug right into! Will loved his first taste of cake!
We had such a fun time - and I'm only a little sad I don't get to plan another party until next year! :)

Molly

Notes:
Oriental Trading company has a ton of great party supplies for cheap! That's where I found the hats, the bandanas for decorating (they wouldn't have worked for the horses, they are just a super thin poly), the cowboy cut-out for "pin the badge on the sheriff" and the sheriff badges.
I made the bandana stick horses with supplies from Hobby Lobby - $1 bandanas, $1 dowel rods, felt ears and eyes - total cost per horse? $2.50. Can't beat that. I took some basic pictures, so I can post a tutorial if anyone is interested. Super easy.
UPDATE: Stick horse tutorial can be found here: http://meandmadeline.blogspot.com/2012/07/bandana-stick-horse-tutorial.html
The fabric for the kids outfits (even the plain white tshirts) came from Hobby Lobby.