I have been crazy about silhouettes for years. My sweet friends incorporated silhouettes into Henry’s baby shower last summer…it was so sweet. Then recently, Emily from Jones Design Company made these silhouettes of my boys. Emily conveniently had Henry’s image in her computer (via illustrator or mac draw or whatever magic program she uses) so she was able to generate THIS precious invitation with his actual silhouette.
To say I love it would be an understatement. I didn’t intend to carry this silhouette theme from his shower to his first birthday but it sure is fun! And that background design, also not intentional but very similar in feel to his nursery drapes (lattice by Waverly) ….drapes that I must admit he will be outgrowing VERY soon..they will be giving way to cowboys or burlap …so this gorgeous invitation ended up paying homage to sweet things you can get by with boys only for a short time…pretty patterns and silhouettes..in a short time it will be Transformers and Star War so i am enjoying the “sweet” while I can…
Emily also made these adorable stickers for the favor bags. Actually I can’t decide if I like or despise favor bags..I may use them on little bakery bags with gourmet cookies inside..now that’s a favor! What is your thought on favor bags for parties..if you are a mom, do you love or hate???? If you are a fan, what do you like to fill with..so far I have bubble gum and organic raisins..that’s an odd combo huh?!
[Edited to say, great favor ideas on the Jack & Izzy blog, check out here…love the water bottle idea and just might do the chalk bags especially since I have a huge chalkboard door on my backporch where the food and favors will be!]
{Next I will share party inspiration from girl parties–both birthdays and baby showers..stay tuned}
I do not like goodie bags. I feel that they tend to say, I am sorry that you didn’t enjoy the party and here is a gift so that “maybe” you will change your mind. As to what could be put in them? Don’t spend another second thinking about it, put your time and energy into the celebration and I promise you no one will even miss the bag at the end!
very funny! i might do boxes of animal crackers…they can eat at the party or take home! ihad monogrammed white take out boxes for cake at our wedding..hardly used.,i still have some of those boxes in my attic i think!
Oh and I have to say I have seensome cute party favors lately on blogs..a batman party with handmade capes for each child,one party had appliqued onesies and/or tees for each child…nice favors! Emily from JonesDesign m mentioned in the post had beautiful handmade flower pins for guests at her sister’s baby shower (I think it was her or another blog???)…but i think i might be over the bags with play dough and candy! (although I may be doing it!lol!)
It’s not that I’m not a fan of goody bags, I’m just not a fan of the stuff that is usually in them. A lot of dollar store “junk” that ends up either broken or cluttering up the house and is never played with 2 minutes after they first see it. When I throw my kids’ birthdays I do goodie bags filled with homemade cookies and some candy treats, maybe some stickers as well. They are things that will be enjoyed and won’t clutter up anyone’s house or be accidentally swallowed by little ones.
you are sooo right. enjoy it while you can… star wars is right around the corner! Hoot informed me he wanted to be a transformer this halloween… i was hoping for a bat… or mummy… the good ole days are OVER!!!
i’m glad you posted this. i’m thinking about doing silhouettes for my daughters 3rd birthday. i love them and i figure before long she is going to be wanting to have a dora themed bday or something. looking forward to some more ideas.
I have always done favor bags but I don’t like them, go figure. They are usually filled with bubbles, stickers and junk food and most of it ends up broken or in the trash. This year we are doing a book exchange. Every child is asked to bring a book, in lieu of a gift, and then books are exchanged before everyone goes home. It’s a win/win for everyone – we don’t get a bunch more toys we definitely don’t need and every child gets a favor they will actually use.
I should mention that I love the water bottle idea though, I might do that, too, since we’ll be outside.
Love, love the invitation and stickers! I always do goody bags, but I don’t do the typical ones filled with junk. Last year we did the water bottles filled with m&m’s (Brady had an Incredible Hulk birthday party). This year we did pirate hooks and eye patches (a pirate party, obviously). The year we did a jungle theme, I had iced cookies in the shapes of elephants and giraffes wrapped in cellophane bags.
So do something different! I like the chalk bag idea a lot!
Oh, I love the silhouettes…very classic. These remind me of a Victorian brooch…with a country twist! I like the animal cracker box idea…and growing up, my favorite party favors were stickers – no sugar added! Although I’m not sure if my mother appreciated them as much…
So absolutely adorable Holly! Emily did a great job! Personally, I’m a fan of favor bags. I think it’s nice for all the kids to walk away with a little something and it’s a nice way to say thank you for coming. Can’t wait to see how the party turns out!
Rachel
xoxo
So classy and cute and still boyish! Love them!
Birthday parties are a big deal at our house, and my children seem to plan out their themes years in advance. They actually stick to their choice and so I have a long time to think and plan, so finding inexpensive and creative items for party favors is fun. We rarely give more than one piece of candy in them- for a Pooh party, I found $2 hardcover Pooh books at the dollar store, for example. Since my children prefer the old fashioned parties at home with games,I make the cakes, and the guest list is limited, the cost is fairly minimal.
Hello, my name is Amy, and I love your blog. I’m sure there are fellow new addicts out there as well. You are so talented! We received a puzzle once as a favor – my girls loved it! You can find some for only a few dollars at Wal-Mart or even the dollar store. We also got books once which my girls also loved.
For goody bags (my boys are 6 and 3), I like to do bubbles, play dough, sidewalk chalk, and lately I’ve been doing iced cookies wrapped in a cello bag and tied with a cute ribbon. The cookies go with the theme of the party and I have several different kinds so the kids can pick which one they like. I also always have tons of balloons at my boys’ parties and give one to each child as they leave. They LOVE the balloons, even the 6 year old boys! 🙂
As for your son outgrowing that fabric on his curtains at age one…. I don’t think so!!!! Keep the “baby” stuff as long as you can, at least until age 3! They are still babies until then and maybe beyond that. The Star Wars will come soon enough… enjoy the baby stage while you can. 🙂
I love this silhouette invitation! Your party idea is fabulous! I always did big involved parties for my son…now 17…such good memories. I did the treat bags…but with clever things in them going along with the theme. I don’t even want to add up how much $$$ I would spend. Anyways…I had always wished I could do a little girl b-day party…make it a “Tea Party” and have someone come and do silhouettes of the kids for them to take home. Maybe I can do that for a grandaughter someday! 🙂
Love the silhouette! I made some of my 3 oldest boys (before #4 was born) for my MIL for Christmas…I need to make myself a set of all 4 now.
I personally don’t like favor bags…don’t like getting them as they’re usually filled w/ too much candy and “junky” toys and don’t like giving them because isn’t fun at the party and cake and ice cream enough???? I don’t do them at all. They add work and cost to the party too.
Happy Birthday to your sweet boy! It’s all Star Wars all the time around here LOL! Even my 16 mo wields a light saber from time to time.
America’s premier silhouette artist, Cindi Harwood Rose, can hand-cut a finely detailed silhouette from a profile photo e-mailed to Cincere@wt.net , with an intricate and accurate likeness. Cindi Rose is a third generation paper cutter, who does the French lost art of real silhouette cutting, the work must be seen on her website, the computer generated silhouettes are crude, with no interior details.