ella's pettiskirt

i have had several people contact me and ask where i got ella's pettiskirt she wore at her candyland party.  so i figured i would just add the link.
i bought it from chic baby rose on etsy.  so much adorable stuff..you must check it out!
here is the listing for this skirt here.  i absolutely loved watching ella run (and jump) in it. ;)

DIY: gumball wreath

remember these adorable gumdrop wreaths from the candyland party?  well, melissa, (who so kindly made them for me) just posted a tutorial on how to make them! :)  go on over and check it out! :)

Candyland Birthday Party!

i would just like to warn you..you are about to experience A LOT of pictures..haha!  i couldn't help myself.  i gathered pictures i took along with my sister, melissa, and friend, sarah (thank you so much girls!).  i feel like each picture offers a little something different. ;)  there isn't a rule that puts a limit on pics, right? haha!  and they are not in any particular order.  as i went to organize everything, and make it more "flowy" i got overwhelmed and quickly realized i would be here for hours..haha!  i figured you guys wouldn't care. ;) now with that being said...

let's follow the path to candyland!

i set out a display to welcome guests

my sister, melissa, made these adorable wreaths for me

this display was to the right as you entered...it consisted of a "buffet" of candy...i had plastic candy bags set out for guests to load up on their way out...

ella's birthday collage

ella is 3!! :)

i made this frame to display my little candy princess ;)

and it also consisted of favors to the right

each kiddo left with a big lollipop, a tootsie roll bank, skittles lip smacker...and a toothbrush!!  it was the least i could do for the parents..haha! ;)

the birthday girl...

up, up and away!!

i loved using chalkboards throughout the party...i decorated this one as well...it was the menu for the day!

treats and goodies!

the ever so popular pretzel sticks!

i made sure to tell guests as they entered that EVERYTHING was edible..and to feel free to eat from any displays, arrangements, centerpieces, etc. they fancied..nothing was off limits!

the cones on display were for the kids...i decideded to forego the traditional cake (if they wanted cake instead, there were cupcakes aplenty) and do ice cream cones/ice cream and hot out of the oven cinnamon rolls/ice cream for the adults.

cupcake kabobs...i have seen these on a couple of different blogs..and i can't remember them right now...sorry about that.

i made a couple of arrangements of bright flowers

one of the drink stations..lemonade and iced tea...and the candy topiary (see tutorial here)

i made this frame as well..i love personal touches

licorice for straws...doesn't that just bring you back to childhood?

chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies and sugar cookies with pink frosting..yum! :)

one of the banners i made

remember that banner i mentioned in an earlier entry from hearth song?  here it is :)  i attached the cupcake and candy..and cut out a 3 to hang.

another drink station...homemade pink lemonade thanks to melissa!

bottled izze and coke

i had so much fun making all of these arrangements

candy lanterns :)  i first saw this idea on hostess with the mostess

ella loves bubblegum..any gum actually..so i made sure to use a lot of bubblegum in the centerpieces.  i got a lot of the candy/bubblegum from candywarehouse.com

picnic area (after the kids got into it..haha)

melissa made these adorable gum drop wreaths too...there was two on either side of the kids table

lots of candy pillows throughout..i bought some of them from candywarehouse.com and some off of ebay.

taking it all in ;)

i made lollipops to put throughout the yard

for the princesses ;)

the kiddo's table

chocolate drizzled popcorn, cheddar popcorn, and cotton candy!

luke sneaking into one of the centerpieces..haha

the family :)

enjoying his candy necklace..and always a balloon in hand

i made little candies like this to throw around the picnic area

ella was so spoiled!

another chalkboard creation

i found this big chalkboard at home goods and wasn't leaving without it! haha!

so simple..so fun!  i just used plain ol' regular chalk with this one.  this was also in the entrance

another banner i created..first time actually making banners and they were so fun to make!

i made a candy tree...

chocolate dipped marshmallows

the letters hanging are the letters i decoupaged (see them up close here)  naturally the wind had to kick up when we were taking the pics..haha!

candyland banner


face painting station...again, another chalkboard that i simply drew "options" on with chalkboard markers :)
the picnic area...i threw down a blanket, candy pillows, and picnic baskets filled with fun activities for the kids...chalk, ice cream cone bubbles, balls, squirt guns, etc.

i put beach balls in the jumpy for the kids to play with
i always splurge on coke bottles for ella's birthday parties.  it's become a tradition, and i never have one leftover.  something about a refreshing coke (in a bottle) on a hot summer day :)
one of my favorite pieces.  i found this hanger tree at an antique store..i knew i could do something with it!  i decided to poke the "branches" into gumballs.  i loved the way it turned out
m&m's anyone?


as you can see, i put pictures of ella (from her candyland shoot) throughout the party

ella loved walking the candy path that went from the front yard, through the house, and out through the backyard and ended at the castle of course! ;)

running around with balloon and cotton candy in hand!  exactly what you're supposed to do in candyland, right? haha!

enjoying that refreshing coke ;)
here the path continues outside..
and ended at the castle!
or the jumpy that is ;)  i was so excited that i found a candyland bounce house!


enjoying some lemonade with a licorice straw

even annabelle, our dog, was enjoying herself in candyland..haha

the face painting was an absolute hit with the kids...what 3 year old doesn't love paint?!

one of the beautiful displays from our caterer, kenny (debran's blog if you want to contact her husband for catering)

ice cream cone bubbles!
naturally she had to stop off to play a little candyland
having a blast with her friends

squirt gun fight!!

ella ringing the dinner bell!
the food was absolutely DELICIOUS!!  smoked chicken
bbq chicken salad
sweet corn and green bean salad
baked potatoes with ALL of the fixins!
chicken breast 
pasta...everything was so, so good!
time to make candy necklaces!

i used different types of "o" cereal...fruit loops worked the best.  the kids loved it!
averie's art to the left...ella's art to the right..haha!
next up was the candy walk (think musical chairs) to the song, lollipop! :)
too cute to watch!
kaelyn won...her prize..a candyland game of course!
ella's big cupcake!
so excited!
happy birthday to you....
serving up the ice cream cones

as i mentioned earlier, the adults had cinnamon rolls for dessert. melissa made pans and pans! here they are about ready to go into the oven! we served them straight out of the oven..and added ice cream to the side.  heaven is all i have to say!  see recipe here.  we had a lot of leftovers so some guests left with their own pan of cinnamon rolls to go!

present time!  she was so excited!
a martha stewart banner (bought it from michaels) i assembled
the party went into the night since we changed the time of the party from 2 to 4 (since it has been so hot).  so we lit up the tikis!  great for summer night lighting!
and our patio twinkle lights...everything always looks so magical at night..so i thought i would share a final couple of night shots and the mess!! haha!





ahhh...we made it! haha!  

  after months of planning this party, it was so exciting to see it all come together.  the party was really fun and a lot of fun to plan!!  i hope it offers some inspiration to all the candyland party planners! ;)