Sunday, August 26, 2012

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!


80 comments:

  1. This is really very nice. Nicely prepared birthday party. Decoration is very nice and i like the idea of tickets. toddler birthday parties long island

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  2. how can i get the image to print off to make those lovely train table ends? is there a link that you could send me?! LOVE THE PARTY! :-)

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    Replies
    1. James, are you referring to the whole thing or just the faces in the middle?! I used colored tri fold display from office Depot. Then i printed the faces really big. I think it took 9 pages each face, its a setting when you print. Then i drew around it the rest. Here are the links for the faces
      Thomas the train: http://www.kevincooney.com/images/blog/halloween2010/thomast.png
      James: http://www.kevincooney.com/images/blog/halloween2011/james_shadow.png
      Let me know if you have any more questions :)

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    2. How do you enlarge to print that big, because I can only able to enlarge max to print within the page 8x11
      thanks

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    3. Print them as a poster. Use your regular printer.Here are the settings on the printer:

      When you click on the "print" button, a box will show. Then go to "options". Then "printer properties". You will find several options like two sided printing, edge to edge printing... etc. One of them is "poster printing". Choose it then you choose the size. For this one I chose 3x3 which is 9 sheets.

      Good Luck!

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  3. AMAZING party!!! Thanks for the inspiration~!

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  4. HI! I love all of your party ideas! for the thomas/james board did you color the cardboard red and blue? and if you did what did you use? Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Michelle for the nice words. I bought them as it is from office depot. They sell them with all different colors but if you didn't find the color you want, you can spray paint them :)

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  5. I totally love your Thomas & James.I will definitely use them on my upcoming Thomas party. I have been going crazy looking online for ideas, and this one by far is the best. Thank You!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I am glad that you found something you like and happy birthday to your little one :)

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  6. Your ideas are amazing! I am bout to plan my sons 2nd Birthday and it's Thomas themed! Could you tell me how you did those large Train pictures at the ends of the tables? I want to try something like that... did you paint them? They look incredible. Any advice or ideas you could share would be so very helpful. Thanks so much! This is my email.
    beth.pendleton@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Beth,
      Happy Birthday to your son. When is the party?! I can email you on Thursday 7/25/13 how to do it. I am out of the country now and the net here are very slow. I will be back tomorrow.

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    2. Beth,
      Sorry for the late reply. I didn't paint the faces. I found the pictures online and I used the printer settings to print them. I did it as a 3x3 poster. You will find it in any printer settings. As for the pictures, I have them on my pinterest. The board called " Thomas the train party" and you will find more ideas there. There was something I wanted to do for my son but I found it too expensive here, and it was renting at train. Good luck :)

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  7. Hi, I'm following you on Pinterest and was trying to get the fronts of the tables and all it has is a link to this page. I'm with Beth (above) and really want to know how to do them. THanks!

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    Replies
    1. Liz,
      I used the printer settings as a poster. I am out of the country now and i will be back tomorrow. I will email you the details and the setups when i get back.

      Delete
    2. Iiz,
      I used colored tri fold display from office Depot. Then i printed the faces really big, using the printer settings 3x3 poster. Then i drew around it the rest. Here are the links for the faces

      Thomas the train: http://www.kevincooney.com/images/blog/halloween2010/thomast.png

      James: http://www.kevincooney.com/images/blog/halloween2011/james_shadow.png

      you will also find the picture faces on my pinterest.

      Delete
  8. Was wondering if you could email me the instructions on how you changes your printer setting to print the faces out on the printer?? thanks.. my email address is ronigonzls@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. I think most of the printers has it. My printer is HP. When you click on the "print" button, a box will show. Then go to "options". Then "printer properties". You will find several options like two sided printing, edge to edge printing... etc. One of them is "poster printing". Choose it then you choose the size. For this one I chose 3x3 which is 9 sheets.

      Delete
  9. I absolutely love the train tables and all the other decorations! I bet he was one excited little boy! Thank you for sharing it all!

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  10. Hi! Your party looks amazing! Is there any way you could email me with specifics on how you created the themed table ends? I have to faces to print out and know you used colored tri fold boards, just wondering how you created the rest...paint, markers, cutting out, etc? My email is jl_iannucci@hotmail.com. I wish I had seen this sooner, our party is next week, but "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" pull it together!!

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    Replies
    1. I used colored tri fold display from office depot. I used them unfolded and placed lengthwise. The first thing i did is printing the faces. You will find the faces on my pinterset. Print them as a poster. Here are the settings. When you click on the "print" button, a box will show. Then go to "options". Then "printer properties". You will find several options like two sided printing, edge to edge printing... etc. One of them is "poster printing". Choose it then you choose the size. For this one I chose 3x3 which is 9 sheets.

      Then, glue the faces in the middle. Draw with a pencil. For the top, I drew the funnel, then used an oval pan shape for the curved edge then i cut it.

      The yellow: is colored yellow paper cut and glued.
      The grey and the black : is thick markers.
      The bottom of Thomas the train is red and black poster board, cut and glued.

      If you have any other questions, please let me know. I am sure you can do it :) . Good Luck!!

      Delete
  11. I am so happy that I came across this post! I am organizing the Thomas party for my 3-years old girl, thank you so much for sharing the game ideas!

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  12. are you still able to email the train faces? ms_hurtado@yahoo.com My son really likes them.

    Thank you

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    Replies
    1. Done! Let me know if you have any other questions :)

      Delete
  13. I love all of your ideas! My almost 3 year old son is requesting a Thomas party next month! Could you send me the train faces, also? Please and thank you!! LRobin09@yahoo.com

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  14. I would love the train faces as well. Great party!!

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  15. I am having a Thomas party for my little man in march. I'd love to try to recreate those tables. Can you please email them to mllekimmi@yahoo.com? Thanks so so much!

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  16. These are awesome ideas. I'm so happy you put so much description. I am able to print out the James & Thomas faces on a large printer. Do you know if there is a Percy one as well. Thank you for the awesome party planning steps!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. Details helps me too.
      I don't have Percy face but you can search the web or you can scan a face from any of the kid's books :)

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    2. I found one for you.
      http://www.percyengine.com/James-Costume-Train-Face.pdf
      Hope this works for you.

      Delete
  17. Somehow I stumbled upon your blog. Thanks for posting this!! Its awesome!! Totally borrowing your ideas for my son's 2nd birthday. He's obsessed with thomas!

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  18. Nermeen, do you still have template for the tickets? I am prepping for my grandson's 3rd birthday and the tickets you created are exactly what I am looking for.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I do. please send me your email and I will email it to you.

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  19. can you email the faces
    courtnie.james@gmail.com

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  20. Could you also email the faces to me? Kyah2000@hotmail.com

    Thanks!! Love your post!

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  21. Hi would you be able to send the faces to aweder@sbcglobal.net? I love this idea! You did such a great job! :-)

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  22. I am thinking about trying to do this I am not an extremely crafty person. But, I am going to give it a try :)

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  23. I am thinking of enlarging the face as one copy at kinkos. Could you please email me the face newsomdeb@gmail.com

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  24. Loved this. Just in time for my sons birthday. Can you email me the faces at tllam26@yahoo.com.

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  25. hi Nermeen Tardie
    I am preparing for my sons second birthday and was wondering if I could use the invitation template ticket please i really love how it came out thank you my email is marisabelgomez15@yahoo.com

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  26. You did an amazing job :)
    Could you please email me the links to the Thomas and James faces. Thank you! medic_girl84@yahoo.com

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  27. I love your unique touches for this party. I am doing the same for my three year old son in December, I really would like to know if its possible you could email me the instructions to making the table fronts you did. I saw where to buy the cutouts from but need to know how you went about putting the details on them. I loved your wonderful ideas. Here is my email Mariestone5953 @gmail thank you

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  28. What a great looking party! I am hoping to make the character cut outs at the ends of the table. It will be for my son's 3rd birthday party. Would you mind emailing me the details of how you constructed it? I would love to replicate it for his party! I am at fxtracur@yahoo.com. Thank you so much in advance!

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  29. Hello,
    Are you still sharing the invitation template? if so, can you email it to elizabethcavinee@hotmail.com? thanks so much!!

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  30. Can you email me please brt41188@gmail.com.

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  31. I love our idea can u email me the face for the table mshavers20@gmail. com

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  32. I love our idea can u email me the face for the table mshavers20@gmail. com

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  33. Hi! I love your idea! Can you also send me the face for the table. Thank you so much. ivblossom@gmail.com

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  34. Everything looks awesome! I was wondering if you could send me the template and how to make the ticket invitations and the link to the face and how to do it and the train station. My little boy is obsessed with Thomas and his 3rd birthday is next February but being the non crafty person I am I figured I should get started now lol. Any help you could give me to make my little boys day special would be greatly appreciated thank you my email is honey050705@gmail.com thank you so much

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  35. I love the idea for the end of the table. Would you be able to send me the template or the link? Jnegi1030@gmail.com

    Thank you! You did an awesome job.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. Just email it to you Let me know if you didn't get it.

      Delete
    2. I don't see it. Would you mind sending again? Thank you

      Delete
  36. love your table ends and would appreciate the file also if possible. thanks
    jtmeeks@sbcglobal.net

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. The file is sent :)

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    2. Hello! May I have the file sent to me as well? Thanks! AyeshaDTraylor@aol.com

      Delete
  37. can you send me a template or a link on how to make these please

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  38. can you send me a template or a link on how to make these please

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  39. can you send me a link or face template and other ideas on how to.make this please

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  40. can you send me a link or face template and other ideas on how to.make this please

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  41. Would you please send me the file for the face template? Your stuff is so cute and my son is having his Thomas Bday party this weekend. Thought I might have time to make these for the table ends. So so cute and what a fun idea! Thank you!! My email is mrs.azzi@yahoo.com

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  42. I love your Thomas decorations. Could you email me the instructions to make Thomas and James' table decorations. How did you get the posterboard to stand without falling down? Thanks Diann ldahrens@yahoo.com


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  43. I love everything on your page . Can I get the instructions on how to do the Thomas board and get the face template please . my email is karlap399@gmail.com
    Thank you

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  44. Can you email me the template for all the Thomas my son love Thomas and I'm planing his 5th birthday for February please and thank you Porshon_1@yahoo.com

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  45. Can you send me the template of the faces
    Bluminnie_mouse2@yahoo.com

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  46. Hello! Love your giant Thomas and James faces...could you send them to me at amytee621@yahoo.com? How exactly did you get them printed so big? Do you have directions on how you made them on the trifold?

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  47. If you dont mind can you please send me your giant thomas and james faces and can you tell me how you printed so big and directions on how youace them on trifolds and do you happen to have percy and gordon and henry faces please send to wrghttnk@yahoo.com

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  48. Can you email me the template for all the James and Thomas my son love James and I'm planing his 6th birthday for February please and thank you iekwere03@gmail.com

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  49. Hi! Please email the James and Thomas templates. Also, can you share the island of Sodor map? I have been looking for something like that! Walshjes@yahoo.com Thanks much!

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  50. Can you email me the James and Thomas faces please? My sons 2nd birthday is in August! Truax42@gmail.com.

    Thank you so much!!!

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