Saturday, February 8, 2014

Rainbow Party--How to Throw a Tween Party on a Budget

Somehow this little 2 year old 
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
became a 12 year old.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html


I have always only thrown friend birthday parties every other year for my kids.  We have family  parties the other years.  And this was a friend party year.  And quite honestly, I tried to talk her out of it.  Dear daughter wasn't having it.  I decided this was probably one of the last birthday parties I would be throwing since she is my youngest so I happily put something together.

The girl wanted rainbow colors, but not rainbows.   We decided to make a photo booth.  
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
The girls had a lot of fun with this.  I used $1 store plastic tablecloths.  I folded the top over and taped it with packing tape to make a pocket and put these on a dowel for a backdrop.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
I made simple props out of fun foam and dowels.  The glasses and mustaches came together as a party favor from Target.  I took them apart to use separately.  We grabbed a Halloween wig from our stash and a few scarves.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
As guests arrived they guessed how many skittles were in this jar and took photo booth pictures.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
Next we made a craft because the daughter loves to craft--these are great time fillers.  I found 6 packs of 11x14 canvases at Wal-Mart for less than $2 a canvas.  I had the crayons leftover from preschool teaching days.  
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
The girls peeled crayons and made their designs and I hot glued the crayons on.  They used the hair dryers to melt the crayons.  WARNING--they were messy and I have crayon wax all over the counter, backsplash, and floor.  It will scrape off, but if you do this, put down a plastic tablecloth or something.  The girls loved their finished art.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
Next we played some Minute to Win It games.  The first one was hilarious.  
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
They had to get a cookie (a rainbow chip one to fit the theme) from their eyes into their mouths without touching it.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
 They played twice because they liked it so much.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
The night before the party we blew up 75 balloons--5 different colors.  We spread them around the room and then they had to pop one of each color using only their bums--no hands.  Loud, but a blast!
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
We had a bubble gum blowing contest.  I gave them each 12 pieces of bubble gum--this was nice and quiet.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
My daughter wanted ice cream cone cupcakes with marshmallow cream frosting.  These are messy, drippy, not Martha quality at all, but yummy.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
I made a tie dyed pattern on top using this type of food coloring (I don't know the brand, hubby had bought it and the box is gone.).
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
I used skewers and made an X out of 2 colors
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html

Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
 and then swirled it together.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
We cut holes in a shirt box to set the cupcakes in and I tied a little ribbon around it to add some more color.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
Rainbow colored fruit salad added a little something healthy.  Plates, napkins, cups were all bought at the dollar store.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
Favors were the crayon art canvases, a box of Skittles, and my daughter made a rainbow loom bracelet for each girl.
Tween birthday party Rainbow theme minute to win it http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/02/rainbow-party-how-to-throw-tween-party.html
The party was a great success and lots of fun, and whew, over!

Happy 12th birthday sweet girl!

8 comments:

  1. Wow! You should get the Mom of the year award...what a party! I cannot blame you for going big...soon she will be grown and gone...:( They all look like they had a blast.. I especially love canvas crayon art... great idea... Happy Birthday to your daughter and "Great Mom Award" to you! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Birthdays at that age can be so tough. I think you nailed another one!!! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That looked like a lot of fun and it made a great memory!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great job, Becky! Looks like the girls had fun.
    Blessings,
    Nici

    ReplyDelete
  5. You made memories, which is more important than making Martha cupcakes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a sweet party! I will definitely be using some of these fun ideas for our next shin-dig!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my goodness...I can't believe how grownup Tess is. What in the world--the years are flying by!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy birthday to your baby girl! Love the photo booth and props! Looks like everyone had a great time! Good job mom!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!