I started this little blog almost five years ago. And at that time, our little daughter, our Babygirl, was four. Last week she turned nine…no longer so little, or so baby. #uglycry I’ve thought about changing her nickname on the blog, but regardless of her age, I think she’ll always be our Babygirl…so the name stays.
Another thing that stays the same, is her absolute and complete love of art (and horses). So when her birthday rolled around last week, no one was surprised that she asked for an art party. For the fourth year in a row. Four. Years. In. A. Row. Can I just say the creative well has dried up when it comes to art parties around here?!?
Year One of the Art Party was game-on…we hosted it at home and there were projects at every turn. Year Two we moved it to an actual art studio, and still went a little cuckoo with rainbow decor and treats. Last year was same art studio, slightly scaled down excitement (but still a fun polka dot theme!).
This year was chicken strips, cheese puffs, fruit and gum balls. (Which, fyi, apparently all that’s needed for a successful nine-year-old party, is a giant tub of cheese puffs, and gum balls.) But I did follow tradition, and baked her cake (with Betty Crocker’s help). And while the rest of the party decor was low-key, the cake was pretty dang cute.
We’ve done rainbow, tie-dye, and polka-dot cakes for the Art Parties…the only thing left was splatter. I contemplated flinging watered-down frosting, dyed in bright colors, all over the cake. But shuddered at the thought of it ending up all over my new backsplash. I thought I’d have to conquer my fear of fondant, until I found these genius guys…sugar sheets!
Have you seen them before?! They are in the cake decorating aisle of craft stores, and come in tons of colors. They have a vellum backing, so you can draw out shapes before cutting, then place them on a freshly-frosted cake. I didn’t eat them, but the kids said they were good.
We topped it with a little chalkboard banner and extra-tall candles. And to make the cake itself fun, I stacked two 6-inch layers on two 8-inch.
The invites followed the splatter theme, as well.
The birthday girl chose the invites and napkins, and I coordinated around them.
Tables were covered with white butcher paper, and a ‘runner’ of craft paper…the kids had fun drawing and writing birthday messages for her.
Whomever invented mini-cans is a genius.
The last two parties they’ve painted animals, but this year she chose a zen blossom tree. It’s amazing how quiet and attentive the girls are as the instructor walks them through the steps.
It may have been the fourth go-round, but she loved it just as much as the first. And was thrilled with her splatter cake.
 |
| I’m wearing this outfit. |
This precious, kind, quirky, silly, sensitive, smart girl has our whole hearts. Happy birthday, Babygirl.
Excuse me while I go bawl my eyes out! Where has the time gone?! How are my kids getting so old, yet I’m still the same age?! 😉
*The party was held at Pinot’s Palette in Fairview, Texas, and they did a phenomenal job. All decor is from Target and invites from Minted.*
I know how you feel. My daughter is 8. I hate how fast everything passes. Your daughter is beautiful. Happy birthday. Looked like a fun time with an amazing cake 😉
happy belated birthday Sloan! What a great party Cassie. Love the idea of sugar sheets. And the Zen tree is beautiful.
My goodness, that looks like a fun party … one I'd love to go to as a grown up (minus the cheese puffs and gumballs). No wonder BG loves art; she's vey good at it. Loved her tree. Hope she likes it as much and it shows up in the future on the wall…
What an adorable cake! I love this party idea 🙂
Such a fun party, and you did a great job on that cake! We did a rainbow art party for my 9yo daughter a few years back, and she still raves about it and the multi-colored rainbow cake. HBD to your sweet girl!
Happy 9th Birthday to your Babygirl! She's precious and quite talented….kind of like her mom. ;~) She will have such wonderful memories of her special birthday parties that her mom put together just for her.
Such a fun birthday idea for a little girl!
Wow what a beautiful tree – she's done so well.
IMO, nine is the last age of innocent, its so fast from then on – my daughter is now 15 & as much as I love the grown women she's become, it doesn't mean I don't miss the baby, which does still comes out from time to time :oD. I'm sure you'll treasure this year.
Loving your posts & I'm very excited to see what you're doing with your beautiful bedroom tomorrow & BTW I didn't think you were even vaguely obnoxious (cheek that someone suggested as such) – just wonderfully natural the same as always.
All the best Angie – West Sussex England
I cracked up when I saw it was another art party! Girl knows what she wants and her mom manages to mix it up a little each time! I agree about the mini cans of soda and gumballs/cheesepuffs do make a party for that age group!! So fun! Great job on the cake again!!
She is so precious, and goodness, quite the artist! Happy Birthday, Sloan !
What a cute cake, good to know about the sugar sheets! Those will probably come in handy one of these days… Happy Birthday Sloan! (Just wait until you're enrolling for High School…) ;(
looks awesome and happy birthday! I feel the same – my sweet boy is turning DOUBLE DIGITS this year! I'm all wait, I must have missed something he was just a little guy a few days ago!
My oldest, the baby in pink in my profile pic, is turning 7. I was just on pinterest last night looking for art themed birthday ideas, and of course…here you are. So much fun. I'm going to make your polka dot cake. Thanks for a good excuse to buy that 3-in-one cake pop thing. Use it waaaaay more than I should. Yum!
cute! and look how talented she is!! #ineedthatartinmyhouse
Aww, Happy Birthday Babygirl! What a fun party, love the fun splatter cake and invites!
What a cutie! Happy Birthday sweet girl!
Your daughter is quite the artist! I love her painting. What a fun birthday party. Happy Birthday to your adorable daughter!
Love this! I found your original home art party on pinterest 2 years ago when my daughter was 6 and I used several of your great ideas for my daughter's art party back then. My daughter just turned 8 and she loves art so much too!
I just love your pictures and your parties. Happy Birthday to your Babygirl – my youngest will always be my Babygirl too and she turns 9 next month. 🙁
Art parties are so much fun! My daughter loves art too! It's fun watching them create! Thanks for sharing your babygirl's day with us!
Such a fun birthday party and love the cake!