I've been holding on to these pictures for a while now. I just really needed to edit them down a bit. There were so many good ones that I find it nearly impossible to choose.
Anyway, as the title implies, this year Aurora chose a unicorns and rainbows party. Actually she chose unicorns and I convinced her to add the rainbows by describing the candy buffet. She had been reading this series of books about a unicorn school and was really into them. And who can't get behind that idea? And for the boys, dragons were permitted to attend.
While the party followed a VERY hectic summer and Theo's party, it went off with very limited hiccups. Much less stressed out that at Theo's. That's not to say it wasn't a boatload of work. This stuff doesn't just happen, people. :)
The day was darned near perfect. Great weather. Great Friends. Great fun. The kids enjoyed a day full of sugar as well as a craft and even a treasure hunt for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I asked everyone to come dressed all in one color so we could be our own rainbow...
You'll find the sources and inspiration at the bottom of this post, and I'll be back soon with a summary of the day's events.
Photography: Evan Foster
Invitations: custom made by me
Dessert Table: inspired by the infamous Amy Atlas
Uncicorn cookies: made by me, inspired by this photo
Yarn balloons: made by Aurora and me, tutorial found here
Paper mobiles: tutorial found here
Cake: made by me, lots of inspiration around the web
Craft: freezer paper stenciling (tutorial found here), used unicorn clip art found here, and a dragon I drew
Face painting: Bella Facia
Favors: a bag filled with a unicorn lollipop, mini unicorn (or dragon) coloring book (available on amazon), set of mini rainbow markers, rainbow and unicorn stickers, wooden unicorn to color and a sewn matchbook notebook (tutorial found here) - plus a whole container full of the candy!
Wow! Looks fantastic.
Posted by: Kate | February 09, 2011 at 11:45 PM
wow!! gorgeous!! I will save this to come back soon to read all the details on who & what! beautiful fairytale bday!
Posted by: Julie {CalleLillyCafe} | February 09, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Fantastic! I love this :-)
Posted by: Fabiana | February 10, 2011 at 03:44 AM
Wow!!! I did a rainbow cake for my daughter last year but this was amazing! I wish I would have read this a year ago. You did a great job.
Posted by: Kate@http://twomessyhands.blogspot.com/ | February 10, 2011 at 04:48 AM
OMG! I LOVE IT! You are the best mommy in the whole world! (Second to mine, of course, who threw great birthday parties, but nothing like yours!!)
Posted by: Tina in Boston | February 10, 2011 at 07:06 AM
I LOVE IT! those cookies, the yarn balloons - love.
Posted by: craftytammie | February 10, 2011 at 07:40 AM
My daughter's birthday isn't until September, but I love this idea! I bookmarked it to come back to; hopefully I can talk her into it. :-)
Posted by: Jeni | February 10, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Okay- you are unbelievable! What an awesome party! and the phtographs are gorgeous- what a wonderful idea!!!
Posted by: HannahJ | February 10, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Whoa! That is gorgeous. It reminds me of my bedroom as a kid: full of rainbows and unicorns too! Perfect for a little girl. Its so fun to plan a party. Great job!
Posted by: kbonikowsky | February 10, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Want to come and replicate this for my baby shower? This is absolutely STUNNING! The cake, the balloon string sculptures the candy and the way you arranged the fruit!? FABULOUS! I see the stuff you put together and I wonder where on earth you got your super powers because no ordinary human could do what you do pretty much all on your own.
Posted by: Erin | February 10, 2011 at 03:03 PM
As a child of the 80's ... I LOVE it!!! :) You did such an amazing job.
Posted by: Tanya | February 10, 2011 at 03:37 PM
There are just no words. This is beyond amazing.
Posted by: Mary | February 10, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Wow wow wow wow! Nothing short of extraordinary!!!! I'd like everyday to be a rainbow party.
Posted by: Jan | Daisy Janie | February 10, 2011 at 10:39 PM
Wow! I love this party! You did an amazing job on all the details. What an inspiration!
Posted by: shannon | February 11, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Oh no !! Now my 12 year old wants a party just like it for her birthday in a couplse of months :-( I'm not sure I can live up to this.
Beautiful and awesome !!
Posted by: Viv | February 11, 2011 at 01:09 AM
Just fantastic! I love all the details! Favorite parts... rainbow "string balls" and the activities - I love when I see people make parties pretty AND fun! I think I have seen too many parties that are pretty... but kids want fun too!
hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!
Posted by: Kim | February 11, 2011 at 09:30 AM
This is seriously amazing. Great job!!!!
...I want this party. XD
Posted by: AJ | February 11, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Holy cow, that is one amazing-looking party! Must have been a lot of fun.
Posted by: Angela H. | February 11, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Love it! I wish I could throw this part for myself!
Posted by: Lorena | February 11, 2011 at 10:36 AM
This is wonderful and I am sure your daughter and friends had a great time! You could redo this party another year when she is older and still have it as fun. I remember still being very interested in rainbows and unicorns when I was 12 (course Mork and Mindy was the rage then so maybe it was the time. ;-))
What were the books your daughter was reading? My son, 4 1/2, is interested in unicorns. We tried to get books at the library but most were too old or checked out.
Posted by: julie | February 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Wow! I love seeing pictures of your kids parties... they are so awesome!
Posted by: Amber | February 11, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Wow. It's like you just transported us back to 1983. But in a good way... You seriously amaze me, Jess. My wedding isn't going to be this impressive!
Posted by: Doris | February 11, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Wow, how beautiful! I looked at the tutorial for the yarn balloons and it seems lie quite a few people had a lot of trouble with them. How did you find it?
I think i could only imagine up a party like this as a kid!
Posted by: linden | February 11, 2011 at 12:42 PM
This is so fun - I especially love the yarn balloons!
My boyfriend threw me a surprise unicorn themed 27th birthday party last year. No rainbows, but lots of fun! (It was as ridiculous as it sounds, if not more)
Posted by: Mallory | February 11, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Wow! Now I want to have a raibow-unicorn themed birthday! lol
I love the yarn balloons and the unicorn cookies look fantastic!
Posted by: Nicole | February 11, 2011 at 12:47 PM