Elmer Birthday Party

In need of an idea for your child's next birthday party? Why not turn to their bookshelf to get inspiration from their favorite bedtime stories. For Jayda’s second birthday I decided to create a modern color-block party inspired by her favorite book Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. The book is an absolute necessity in your child's collection! It’s an inspiring tale about self image, acceptance and diversity in little kid language.

Elmer!

Some people may call me stingy, simply because I think of any and every way to save money, yet still do all the aesthetically pleasing home and craft projects my little heart desires. I think of myself as pretty generous, specially when it comes to giving my time and talents. That is one trait I'd like my kids to adopt. So when it came to planning this party, I HAD to hit up my two favorite stores, the dollar store (the real dollar store! NOT the one that claims to be the dollar store, yet everything they sell costs more than a dollar), and the thrift store.

My first move was to make a pinata, because no party is really a party without a pinata in our Afro Cuban household. Find out how to make him out of a six pack of beer, the full tutorial is here!

While browsing through the dollar store I happen to see these medium sized color blocked paper pails which became the party favors when stuffed with dollar store goodies.

I used an inexpensive grey bed sheet (thrift store find) as a table cloth. The toddlers participated in a painting project during the party so I wanted to use something I didn’t care about. I try to stay away from the disposable plastic tablecloths whenever possible (that is a topic for another day.)

I purchased small green square plates from the party store. (it would have been cute to use mismatched plates, I just didn’t have enough guests to buy multiple packs) Notice the repetition of the square shape.

I enjoy planting and painting with my daughter and I wanted to incorporate an exciting and useful art project that was inexpensive. I bought small clay pots and trays from Micheal’s and permanent acrylic paints. I chose permanent because if the guests wanted to use them outside, they wouldn’t have to coat the pot to seal the paint. If I did it over again, I would have used washable paint, just in case little fingers touch their little cute clothes. I also gave each guest two flower bombs (purchased on Etsy) to plant in their pot and each guest had their own paint brush.

(note: Parent involvement is a MUST when attempting to paint with toddlers.)

They could also paint a small wooden elephant if they were inspired by the story. As a final treat, they all sat down around me for story time.

I absolutely love confetti! I found paper confetti at the dollar store, yippy!

Square garland made from string and card-stock colored paper and hung from the chandelier.

Gray balloons with colored strings brought that elephant skin color into the decor. Plus, balloons are tons of fun for a two year old!

Every craftsy mom wants to be able to say that they made everything from scratch at their child's birthday parties. Let’s face it, that isn’t always the case. We happened to find this orange ombre cake at the supermarket, and this orange ombre dress at Target! Sometimes keeping your sanity means letting some things go unmade (but not uncoordinated.)

Lastly, I made a photo backdrop out of foam-board and small water balloons filled with air (warning: Use a pump for these little guys, or your cheeks will start to burn after the second one). I taped the balloons to the foam board. My only downfall was that it wasn’t big enough, definitely bigger is better in this case.

 

 

We hope you are inspired to turn your child's favorite book into their next party and don’t forget to share your creations and ideas with us!

   

Elmer Birthday Party and Pinata Tutorial

In need of an idea for your child's next birthday party? Why not turn to their bookshelf to get inspiration from their favorite bedtime stories. For my daughter Jayda’s second birthday I decided to create a modern color block party inspired by her favorite book Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. The book is an absolute necessity in your child's collection! It’s an inspiring tale about self image, acceptance and diversity in little kid language.

Elmer!

I always like to approach projects by first asking myself, “what materials do I already have at home?” Maybe it’s because my inspirational moments happen at odd hours when the stores are closed, or maybe I truly am trying to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Regardless, I needed to find something to use as a base for an Elmer Pinata. A party is not a party without a pinata in our household.

What better than a six pack beer bottle carrier! It made a great body because it could hold candy but was fragile enough to break when hit by a two year old.

I cut the bottom out and replaced it with plain craft paper (any paper will work) I wanted the bottom to be weak enough for the candy to fall through without much force.

Then I tied a string to the top handle

I used paper towel rolls for the trunk and legs. The legs were easy, just cut and tape. The trunk needed to curve a bit and gradually narrow. I started with a medium sized piece of tube cut at an angle.

Then the next piece of tube was cut short and then cut lengthwise and re-taped to make it a bit skinnier. I then stuck the skinnier tube into the first tube and taped it into place.

To finish off the trunk, I cut one more short tube lengthwise and taped it so it fit the previous tube. Voila! a trunk!

Next came Elmer's ears, they were easy enough to make out of the same craft paper (grocery bag) that I used to cover the bottom. I just creased them across the center before taping them to the body so they looked flappy. (yes, I used a word that's not really a word)

To close elmers body at the top, I cut two more over sized rectangles of craft paper and taped them to the roof of elmers body. I left the second half open so I could insert the candy into the top.

Time to add the patchwork to Elmer!

I used streamers because they came in the colors I needed and they were at the dollar store. You might also be able to paint it with acrylic or tempera paint, or cut square construction paper and glue them to his body. I wanted to keep the pinata flair so I used the streamer paper. 

I prepared each color by making long strips first, then cutting them into shorter chunks. I created a double layer by glueing two strips of streamer together on one side.

I cut slits into the unglued edge of the streamer. Then cut them into chunks.

I started gluing chunks of varying colors working from the bottom row and gradually layering until I reached the top.

I cut eyes out of construction paper and glued them above the trunk.

We filled him with organic lollipops from Trader Joe’s, and taped him up!

 

Why I personally started this blog.

I won't bore you with my life story, (ok maybe I will, because it has so much to do with how I parent)----but this blog is an idea I had because I woke up one morning thinking about my mother. 

My mother, with my brother, my niece, and my nephew (my brother is taken btw.)

In my dream that night, she was sitting on the edge of my bed in the Bronx (all of my best and worst dreams are always in this apartment that I lived in for some creepy reason)-----but anyhoo. I was telling my mother how I felt about this or that, and I started talking about my husband, who at that moment walked into the room, rolled his eyes, and left. I said "I wonder if he heard me", and my mother said, "It doesn't matter. You need to speak your truth." Then of course, I realized I was dreaming and I started yearning for her, and she faded away. 

My father cheated on my mother after I was born, and she got HIV from him. He then killed himself, after my little brother died from it, and my mother herself succumbed to AIDS related illness in January 2004. I was 19, and I changed on the inside. Some fiber of whoever the hell I am, lit up like a spark. I realized if I did not live life to the fullest, I would die immediately. (Also known as hypochondria lol)---anyway, I watched my mother struggle with homelessness and drug addiction as far back as I remember her, but she was SO WISE and KIND, and CLASSY, and yes I can go on, regardless of what she had been through! I did not see it until she was gone, like we tend to do, but I intend to live her legacy through my own duty to my children. 

Look at this sexy beast. 

So Mommy, and cyber-world; here I am, pretty well-rounded despite it all, and with plenty to be thankful for. I have a budding marriage, and two amazing children. I want to be the best mother on the planet, and every single day, I think about how I can be a better person, and instill these values in my offspring. But most of all I want to speak my truth about it.              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I met Erika Layne a summer ago, and seriously within 2 weeks we were best friends. I have never connected with another woman like that, and I didn't expect to make besties at age 28! We are both hard-working self-employed millennials (minus the sense of self-importance)----ok eff that I feel pretty important---and we find enjoyment in everyday things.  Erika is like, the softer, kinder, more whimsical half to my cynical, driven, competitive spirit, and we complement each-other well.  When we are not making up our own really stupid lyrics to a pop song, we are thrift shopping, creating art, or drinking wine and having "work sessions", where she is editing her photos and I am talking non-stop about any and everything. (And I buy her bubble-gum ice-cream on special occasions.) We love to shop organic, live green (Ok Erika is more green than me, Im more of a teal?)---and we live for the hand-made.