Feb 3

Feb 3 Donut Grow Up - Birthday Party

Birthday Party, Kids Party, , Theme Party, Balloon Installation, Baby Shower, Sprinkle

The teen years have arrived in our household, right in the middle of quarantine! Our sweet donut-loving girl has has managed to navigate this crazy year with her head up despite loosing a lot of connection with her close friends. We normally love throwing her a big bash, but going into the holidays it was clear that a big in person celebration was not possible, but we couldn’t let the day pass without a little festive hoopla and of course, DONUTS!!

We did this fun little set up for a little family party to make her entrance into the teen years sweet. Clara loves donuts, just like her daddy, and when I found some adorable sprinkle napkins and then some balloon sprinkle backdrop inspiration, I decided to run with it the fitting donut theme.

It was surely different not to have a big party, but a number of her closest friends showed up on the porch with gifts, treats and sweet messages to make her feel loved. A few days we are we hosted a zoom party to help her connect with some friends she hasn’t seen in a while and we created a Kudo Board to collect birthday wishes for her since she does not have social media.

If you have not used a Kudo Board before, I highly recommend it for an older child, like Clara. The board works a lot like facebook where you can post pictures and messages. For a small fee, you receive a sharable link and can collect up to 100 messages (more if you upgrade) and then have the board e-mailed to the person at a time you select. Our friends and family sure showed up for our girl, filling her board with messages and photos, making her feel so loved.

I used an adorable printable set by File Fly Studio on Etsy. This printable set included banners, signs, treat bag toppers, favor tags, straw flags, and donut of various sizes that could be used for banners, embellishments, like I the milk glasses, banners and name cards. I love working with printable sets because are very affordable, easy to use if you have access to a printer, are often customizable and provide cohesiveness with the different party elements.

On these milk glasses, I cut out the straw banners, but the weren’t a good size to use with the glassware and straws I used so I attached them along with a small size donut on the front of the glasses with foam double sides tape. When paired with a… — On these milk glasses, I cut out the straw banners, but the weren’t a good size to use with the glassware and straws I used so I attached them along with a small size donut on the front of the glasses with foam double sides tape. When paired with a donut cut out at the top and a coordinating straw, they look adorable!

The printable banner collection from File Fly Studio comes with the entire alphabet of sprinkle letters. If you wanted to, you could print out any word or phrase but I liked the simplicity of just having Clara’s name. I used a collection of pastel… — The printable banner collection from File Fly Studio comes with the entire alphabet of sprinkle letters. If you wanted to, you could print out any word or phrase but I liked the simplicity of just having Clara’s name. I used a collection of pastel balloons to make the small balloon arch around the party table and then then on the back wall, I added mini long balloons or various sizes and colors that mimicked the look of sprinkles.
To create the small sprinkle balloons, I tied off each full size long twisting balloon into 4 sections and then blew up and trimmed each section individually with a hand pump. It was a little time consuming vs. working with larger balloons but I quickly got into a rythm making them and the sprinkle effect really helps elevate the look of the pastel balloons. This look could also be done for a cupcake or ice cream party, or maybe even just a baby “sprinkle”.

I paired the most adorable pink sprinkle napkins I found with the teal plaid Spritz napkins from Target and added pops of lovely color to the white clothed table. I also used both of these napkins layered over yellow plates to create a playful tabl… — I paired the most adorable pink sprinkle napkins I found with the teal plaid Spritz napkins from Target and added pops of lovely color to the white clothed table. I also used both of these napkins layered over yellow plates to create a playful table setting that carries out the colors and theme of the little event.

If circumstances were different, I would have had this sign printed professionally in a larger size to fit this frame and personalized it with a vinyl overlay, but I ran out of time and ended up printing at home and using sharpies to include her nam… — If circumstances were different, I would have had this sign printed professionally in a larger size to fit this frame and personalized it with a vinyl overlay, but I ran out of time and ended up printing at home and using sharpies to include her name in sprinkle letters.

Place cards were made by printing the favor toppers from File Fly Studio in a full size and then realizing they were too big to use with my bags. Instead I cut each of them in half, used a rectangle of sticker paper and added a donut with foam tape… — Place cards were made by printing the favor toppers from File Fly Studio in a full size and then realizing they were too big to use with my bags. Instead I cut each of them in half, used a rectangle of sticker paper and added a donut with foam tape and wrote names on each one. Layered over the top of the napkin and plates they tied the place setting together.

The puff ball garland in bright spring colors was purchased from affordably from Target last Spring. Elements like this can be re-used over and over at events and with seasonal decorations. For the balloon arch I used multicolor pastel balloons in… — The puff ball garland in bright spring colors was purchased from affordably from Target last Spring. Elements like this can be re-used over and over at events and with seasonal decorations.
For the balloon arch I used multicolor pastel balloons in 9 inch and 5 inch size. I purchased a collection of pastel balloons but only used coordinating colors for the banner and printable decorations. I combined different colors into pairs and then twisted those tied pairs together to make quads. Then I used fishing line to connect the quads into a long arch that I attach to the wall.
After the balloon arch and name banner were hung, I went back through and added the sprinkle balloons on the wall and onto the balloon arch with glue dots. Doing this helped tie the balloon to the rest of the backdrop and made the design feel cohesive.
For more information on how to create your own balloons arches, check out the First Trip Around the Sun and Pink Balloon Baby Shower Posts.

Instead of celebrating with a cake, we used donuts and then added ice cream. Our family loved the local Top Pot donuts and donuts on birthdays are a family tradition. The printable kit came with a few different sizes of printable cake topper “Happ… — Instead of celebrating with a cake, we used donuts and then added ice cream. Our family loved the local Top Pot donuts and donuts on birthdays are a family tradition. The printable kit came with a few different sizes of printable cake topper “Happy Birthday” signs. I used the smaller one and if we would have had a big group, I probably would have also offered guest white cake. This would look so cute on a white cake with pink, pour over frosting with sprinkles and then the paper toppers along with a few of the paper donut cut outs.

For Clara’s zoom party, I created favor bags to drop with donuts before the event. They included a fun face mask, lip gloss, nail polish and cozy socks. I really had hoped to find something useful as a party favor that also fit with the theme, I us… — For Clara’s zoom party, I created favor bags to drop with donuts before the event. They included a fun face mask, lip gloss, nail polish and cozy socks. I really had hoped to find something useful as a party favor that also fit with the theme, I used pastel treat bags with the printable favor tags, pink ribbon and a sprinkle napkin instead of tissue paper.

These treat bag toppers were included in the Donut Printable set from File Fly Studio. I printed them at 50% so they were 4 per page and they fit the small treat bags purchased from Michaels crafts perfectly. I used tropical Mike & Ike candy t… — These treat bag toppers were included in the Donut Printable set from File Fly Studio. I printed them at 50% so they were 4 per page and they fit the small treat bags purchased from Michaels crafts perfectly. I used tropical Mike & Ike candy that resemble large sprinkles.

These adorable donut eraser Valentines fit the theme perfectly and were included with the favor bags.

These donut party supplies are equally adorable but with a different color scheme. Also available on Etsy. Click on photos for links to products.

To create donut celebration balloon backdrop, we used the mylar donuts, pastel collection of 9 inch balloons and pastel long twisting balloons. Click on the photos below for links to order.

Here are some of our fun picks for Donut themed gifts. One of our family favorite games is Go Nuts For Donuts, if you have kids over 10, this game is a must have for family fun! Other ideas include Donut blanket, donut scented pillow, donut maker, donut toys and donut ear buds. Click on links below for ordering information:

Erin

I am currently a stay at home mom to three kiddos (Clara who’s nickname is Scout, Janie & Callen) from Issaquah, Washington. I love celebrating life and am drawn to party planning, paper crafting, and decorating as a creative outlet. In my party planning, I strive to be economical and resourceful, aiming to repurpose as much as I can while trying to make each celebration unique. To me it is less important to have the perfect celebration that costs a fortune, but find ways to make a big impact with a realistic budget.