This time of year is full of celebrations in my family. Festivities kick off at the end of June when my dear, little boy celebrates his birthday. That is followed by my birthday, my sister’s birthday, my sister-in-law’s birthday, my husband’s birthday, my father-in-law’s birthday, my husband and my anniversary and my daughter’s birthday! Throw into that mix the birthday’s of a bunch of aunts, uncles and cousins and July and August are one non-stop party for us!
How do you keep the celebrations feeling special when there are so many of them right in a row? We try to work a handmade/homemade element into every birthday celebration. Bean, especially has grown to love and anticipate this tradition. If you’ve been following my site for awhile, you know that my girl is animal obsessed… From sweet and cuddly animals, to creepy crawly bugs, she loves them all.
Last year for her birthday we had a bug themed party here at our home. The homemade/handmade element started out with the food.
We had Fly In My Punch to drink, a homemade punch with strawberries and blueberries floating in it!
Caterpillar Cabobs
Ants on a Log
A veggie platter complete with an egg carton caterpillar
Dirt Cups
And plenty of fresh fruit!
The names of all of the food were written on chalk board signs placed around the table.
Of course the bug theme was continued onto the birthday cake where we had a bug infested chocolate dirt cake! It was so much fun placing the worms having them stick out from around the cake!
I told Bean that I would like to make her a special, handmade gift for her birthday and she asked me to make her birthday dress. I have quite the stash of fabric and gave the birthday girl free reign to pick out whatever she wanted for her dress. I love the two fabrics that she picked!
Why is she holding a rat? Well, no bug birthday party is complete without a visit from a critter guy! This was the second year that Mike The Critter Guy came to our house for Bean’s birthday. She had so much fun visiting his website and picking out the 8 animals who she wanted to come to her birthday party.
I love that my girl is equally as comfortable holding the tarantula as she is patting the bunny.
To round out the handmade element of the birthday, each party attendee went home with a customized Bug Catcher made just for them!
Bean still talks about this birthday and how special it was for her. I hope that it’s a birthday that she remembers for years to come and that it let her know how important she is to us during a time that is crowded with lots and lots of birthdays.
In a recent survey that Enbridge did on birthdays, 82% of Canadians agreed that they feel special when someone puts a lot of energy into celebrating their birthday. Do you agree?
Tell me… What is your favorite birthday memory?
Disclosure: Thank you to Enbridge for working with us on this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions on Hello Creative Family are 100% our own.
Share your favorite birthday memories at the @PTPA #BirthdaysCount Twitter Party! Aug 14, 12pm EST. RSVP for your chance to win one of 10 Visa Gift Cards here!
Monica says
Wow, what a spectacular birthday celebration! Everything from the adorable dress you made your daughter to the bug themed food and a visit from the critter guy to a worm/bug infested cake is perfect.
The Flying Couponer says
Wow, this is so beautiful! You are super creative, I love the fly in my punch!
Randa @ TBK says
I absolutely love all of these ideas, you’re so creative! The dirt cups look delicious 😉
Elizabeth L says
I love all these super ideas – and what a fun theme! What a great video, all birthdays are special 🙂
torviewtoronto createwithmom says
love the ideas especially the dirt cupcakes, the pictures are really cute 🙂
Holly @ The Inspired Home says
My favourite memory still remains from celebrating my birthdays at home (complete with homemade cake). The most special in recent memory was when my YMCA leadership crew threw me a surprise birthday with all my favourite activities (Dance Dance Revolution, a giant cake, and Horses, Knights and Cavaliers). They sure got me!
paula schuck says
I love reading these birthday posts! They are each so precious and it goes to show there’s no one single way to celebrate a birthday! Love this so much. This site is super creative and your daughter looks so happy there!
Lori says
I love the idea of the dirt cups and caterpillar kabobs for the themes play dates that we do during the winter. Thanks for the inspiration for this one!
Victoria Ess says
Oh, this is an AMAZING theme and the party is SO well done! I hope to remember to do this when my niece is old enough to appreciate it!
Meri says
This is a SUPER AWESOME party idea! I love everything about it! I think I may try this for my son’s winter birthday…thanks for the idea!