Thomas the train

My son LOVES Thomas the train. He is been asking for a Thomas party , 3 month prior to his birthday, which was really nice and helpful. I knew what he wanted and i had plenty of time to prep for it. Of course i looked for ideas online and found several neat ones on Pinterest. I love that site. It is very helpful and creative.

The invitation:

I found a ticket invitation online and used paint shop to edit it then i added the words that i want to add. The invitation says:

All Aboard

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
Jump on the trucks and chug on over
for cake, ice cream, and more…
our little conductor is turning 4!
Mrs. Conductor is waiting to take you
on the Magic Railroad to the Island of Sodor.
Come help us celebrate.
It will be great. 

Departure Date , Departing from, Boarding Time, Departure Time

Aiden's Station is located at (address)

Please reserve your seat at (phone #)

Font used on tickets is OCR
 

I used a red card stock. I cut as a rectangle. Then i used  the conductor pattern to make a pocket and insert the ticket in it. I also used name tags and i put the guest's names on it. I added a wallet size picture of my son as a souvenir.

Decorations:

The Entrance:

I used black electrical tape on the driveway as train tracks. I added Rail road sign and the lights. I used card stock to do that. Instead of saying rail road, it was "Happy Birthday Aiden". 

On the door, I added a sign says " All Aboard, Welcome to the Island of Sodor" and put a poster picture of the Island.

Inside:

I purchased some Thomas the train  danglings. I also added a banner. I wanted inside to look good as outside because i was serving the food inside and it was hot outside. I didn't expect everyone to be outside all the time. 

He is telling me "Stop Sign" :)

The yard:

I ordered a conductor costume for my son from Amazon. It was on sale for $6.00 (included the costume, engineer cap, gloves and red bandanna). I didn't even pay shipping because my husband has the prime account. Can't beat that price, right?! :):)

I took few pictures of my son. One he was holding tickets and the other he was carrying luggage. 

I wanted to make a station. I used a tri display fold. On top I added a clock that says 1'oclock (when the party starts). Then, i wrote "Sweet's Station".  I also, wrote "platform 4" (because he was turning 4). I made two windows on each side and a door in the middle. I used red electrical tape for that. I put a picture of my son holding  tickets in one window and wrote"Tickets". On the other side, i put the other picture of him carrying luggage and wrote "baggage Claim". I saw this done some where else and i loved it. The way i did it, is smaller and simpler though . I changed minor things as well. 

I did a sweet table. The table cloth was red. Did tracks in the middle. Then i used his Easter Thomas basket (from Target) as the first part of Thomas the train, then i added some carts behind it. (switched colors between red and blue). They were white boxes from party city. It was less than a dollar the box. I painted them then I filled them with candy and named the candy, train theme items.  

Logs for pretzels

Coals for black lickerish

Gravel for grey chocolates shaped like rocks.

Train smoke for Cotton Candy or marshmallows

Cho Cho Chewy  pops for train shaped suckers.  

Diesel/fuel for the ice chest that has the drinks.
Train tools for spoon, forks and knives 

I added a luggage on the side and put the party favors inside it.

So, i forgot to take a close up picture at the party. This one was prior to the party by few weeks.

I did 2 huge characters out of colored tri fold displays. One was Thomas and i put it at the front of the table with a blue table cloth as if the table is part of the train. The second was  James and i used a red table cloth. I used those two because i was using red and blue for my party theme. I have the faces on my Pinterest board. If you are not a follower and you want them, send me a message and i will send it to you. 

I also added a back ground scenery for picture time.

I made Thomas the train for my son to ride. I took the idea from this blog. The blog explains in details how to do it. I just didn't do it as a costume. I did it for him to ride. I also used red electrical tape for the details instead of construction paper. I put it as part of the decorations and for all the kids to ride and for picture moments.  

I also printed some pictures online of the trains on a card stock and put them on the posts

Games:

I ordered some wooden trains from factory direct craft. It was o.47 cent a piece.  I let the kids paint them. 

They played pin the number 1 on Thomas. 

I asked a party character that i used couple of times before as a princess for my daughter's birthday parties, if she could come over as a conductor. She didn't have a conductor package or costume but she made up a package for me . I love working with her. She is very affordable and professional. 

She did face painting and games for the kids.

The kids had a blast!!

Cake:

I ordered the main cake because last time i did a cake, it took me all day long but i did a small cake for my son. He is allergic to eggs and can't have cakes, cup cakes...etc . He requested to eat a cake on his party and it just broke my heart. So i decided to make one for him. This is my first time to use fondant.

Party favors:

I bought boxes looks like a train and put Crayons, tatoos and small coloring sheets in them. I also ordered an engineer caps, train whistles and red bandanas from oriental trading. Wrapped the cap and whistle inside the bandana and added a name tag for each child. Made them feel more speacil.

"Little conductors" All the kids with the caps, scarf and whistles

Thank you for stopping by. I love to hear what you think.I read every single comment and they make my day!

Superheros

My friend called me the night before her son's party asking me to help her with games. She didn't have time to prepare much. I wasn't sure that i can do it in this time frame. I didn't want to disappoint her and i wanted to do something for her. Then finally, i had the idea to do treasure hunt. It took me along time to put the clues together. It was 9:30 pm. I was tired, had a long day and the next day was going to be long for me too. She was doing it in a park and in an area that is far from the play ground too.

The theme was superheroes. So, i looked online for all superheroes pictures. I used paint shop to edit them and then i added my clues. I printed them on card stock.

Here are my clues:

1- In the front, you'll find a tree. If you look all around, it's a clue you will see. 

Answer: Tree

2- Jump for Glee when you find clue # 3. By the sidewalk it will be.

Answer: Sidewalk

3- You'll have a clue to keep and to hold. If you go to a place where you keep drinks cold.

Answer: ice chest

4- Go to where the fire gets hot. It's black and metal, like a pot.

Answer: Grill

5- on top of me you put your plate. Now under me go find your clue.

Answer: table

6- It's a clue the you want, a clue that you seek.. Go to the bushes and take a close peek.

Answer: bushes

we hid a treasure chest in the bushes

I had a treasure box from one of my kid's birthday parties that i got from City plus. I took it with me to the party. My friend did caps for the kids and i did superheroes masks that i printed and cut from a link online.

The kids loved it. Here are a sneak peak of the treasure hunt.

Found the Treasure Chest

My daughter and her friend. Super heroes!!

My Super hero son

Group picture with the capes and the masks

I think i did good in this short time. What do you think?!

Tangled Birthday party

The minute my daughter saw the movie " Tangled" She fell in love with it. She is so girlie and she loves all princess. She wanted a "Tangled party". I couldn't find a lot of items out there yet. So i decided to do my own.  I looked online for ideas. I used some of them, changed others a bit and added my own. I started two month in advance. I tried to do everything by hand as much as i could. It just feels more special.

Invitation:

I used purple card stock and fold it as a card. I cut the top as a triangle shape to resemble the tower. On the front , i cut a window and i glued a rock paper design (from the internet)on the whole thing to give a feeling of the tower look. Inside, i  also glued a rock paper design. The third page was my daughter's picture and the party info which as follows:

Once upon a time, in a beautiful tower, not far away,

the kingdom was summoned for a special day!

Please come, let down your hair and get tangled in fun for 

Anastasia's 7th Birthday!

Your presence is requested on (date and party info)

The back said "RSVP and my info". 

I braided a small yellow braid with yellow yarn and glued it as if it is coming out from the window in the tower on the front.

Decorations:

Our walk way to the house: My daughter drew with chalk on the ground  some yellow suns from the movie.

The Entrance door: I found a picture of Rapunzel peeking from another party blog. I added a braided yarn and "Birthday"sign on the door.  Here is the link for the picture.

Note: You will need at least 1 person to help you to do the braided yarn. I had my husband and my daughter helping me.  

Inside: I printed "wanted Flynn Rider " poster and placed it around the house.

In the back yard: 

- Banners: I cut purple card stock as triangles and glued  in the middle yellow sun from Tangled movie. Here is a link  for the sun template. And here is another one. If you don't want to do a lot of work and you don't mind using a lot of your printer ink,  Here is a ready made ones.
- I also did lanterns. Here is a link for a template for it, but i didn't use this one. I only used yellow card stock and glued purple sun  on it.
- I did a big braid made of yarn hanging out from the top and going over the table on the center .On the table, I made a TOWER. I used the template from here but didn't do the exact thing. I added my own creativity. This site has other things too, you might find interesting for your party.
- I made a corner saying "Tangled Hair Salon." with a table and two  chairs. I decorated it with small mirror, hair brush and confetti. This was for Rapunzel character later on.
- I purchased a Rapunzel Scenery for picture time. 

Games:

- I purchased from Oriental trading (item #IN-57/6095) , some lanterns  to paint them. Rapunzel loved to paint and she painted Lanterns on her wall. This was one of the activities. Every body loved it including the adult. This is site is very affordable.

- We also, did pin the pan on Flynn's face.  Here is the printable frying pans link. And here is the link for the poster. I drew it on a big card board though.

Notice Anna's hair?!! I did a braid with tinny flowers to represent Rapunzel's hair

- I also added a sign says "Tangled Art Studio" , and i hung braids from the top of it. At  the end of each braid, i attached a marker. Each child did a  hand print on it and the kids signed under their hand print and wrote a comment for my daughter. 

- Rapunzel Character came and did make up for the girls, face painting for the boys, played with them some games, did craft  and stayed to blow the candles on the cake with them. She is very good and affordable. I used her last year as well.

                                   Rapunzel lend Anna a dress                                   Make up time for all kids

                                                    Craft with Rapunzel

                                               Games with Rapunzel

                                     Blowing the candle with Rapunzel

There was another idea but my daughter didn't care for it very much and i thought it is more aimed to younger kids but i decided to share it with you guys, in case anyone likes it and want to use it. Basically use yellow streamers and tangle all the  kids together with it (as Rapunzel tangled Flynn in the movie). Also if you want activity kit, you will find it here.

Cake:



The cake was made by a friend of mine. She is very talented. I looked online for ideas and sent her a picture of what i wanted. Half was vanilla and the other half was Chocolate. The tower part itself took 5 hours from her. She did an awesome job. I can't thank her enough.

Party favors: 

I went and  bought small plastic pans from the dollar store. I filled them with necklaces, rings, brushes and bracelets for the girls. Telescope, horses, whistle, etc for the boys (the horse to represent the horse in the movie. I tried to stick to the theme as much as i could). I also made charms for them. Here is the link of how to do the charms. I found Rapunzel bookmarks online, so i thought that will be nice as well.

I put the pans in a transparent party bags and used publisher to do " Thank you for coming"  labels.

Girls party favor

Boys party favor

The kids had a blast. It was all worth it when you see the smile on your child's face.

Most of the kids (I had 24)

Thank you for stopping by. I love to hear what you think. I read every single comment and they make my day!