We did it!! We celebrated Addie’s third birthday in major mermaid style. And I think all of the kids had as much fun as I did! All of the creative elements of the party came together just as I had envisioned and I think it was pretty darn amazing (am I allowed to say that?) We transformed our hot, weedy outdoor space into quite the beachy destination and I’m really excited to have that space to hang out in now that the party is over!! In fact, we were out there all day Sunday, and Graham and I even sneaked down there after the kids were in bed to have a glass of wine in the peaceful evening with our lantern candles flickering – bliss!
I have a lot I’d like to share about the party and some tutorials planned, but I’m going to just overload you with pictures today and then, when my brain functioning returns, I’ll post more of the details – assuming you’re interested, that is. It’s sort of a weird thing – this blogging gig – because I feel like I’m talking to you, but I don’t really have any clue if you’re interested…good with a little info….wanting more details or more pictures or tutorials or maybe just something else entirely? Such a guessing game, so speak up, I’m listening, okay?? Now… here’s a snapshot (or many) of the party:
My beautiful birthday mermaid! I think she looks pretty dreamy in her cute swimsuit and pettiskirt (full tutorial here) made by her mama.
Dining for mermaids and mermen – kid menu items included: goldfish, chips, watermelon, terriyaki chicken wings, and mac and cheese shells.
If you can’t have your mermaid party at the beach, you can have the beach delivered to you! I knew it would be cool to have a sand pile, but I didn’t anticipate just how much it would round out the beachy feel of the party. AND now my girls want to live outside covered in sand. They played pirates all day after the party and built a super cool “pirate ship” – see?
One of my favorite spaces for long term potential – this is across from our kiddie pool – great for hanging towels and admiring my – let’s call it whimsical – beachy art (get the beach art how-to here).
Homemade taffy. It’s not that the party needed homemade taffy, but how much fun is it to have a great excuse to give taffy-making a try?
The fabric banner found a nice place hanging above the seashell painting area. I kind of love this little seashell sign I painted up, but maybe not as much as I love this next sign….
I thought this would be a good spot for naughty children to have a time out. The Crab Shack – get it? sorry….I entertain myself with that kind of humor. Okay, moving on…
More candy on the dessert table – this is candy sea glass, candy making doesn’t get easier than this one! And I can’t get over how great raw sugar works as “sand.” Thank you, Pinterest, once again.
A zoomed out shot of the dessert table mostly set – I also had cupcakes out here, but they didn’t make it down from the house in time for their photo shoot. Do you recognize the dessert table?
And as long as we’re talking about dessert, let’s squeeze in some more yummy pictures of candy and cake. The candy seashells turned out pretty on top of that ocean-y cake, right?
I hear the cake was delicious – chocolate with rasberry filling and lemon with rasberry filling, frosted with swiss meringue buttercream. I’m not usually one for fads, but the ombre ruffles were a must for this cake!! (Full tutorial for the decorating the cake here.)
A pre-party picture of the cupcakes. I love those mermaid cupcake toppers!
Pillows are so simple to make – I whipped up a pile of them to cozy up the party space and add some extra color. (Read all about the pillows here.) I used remnants from the quilts I’m working on for the girls’ room so that the pillows are ready to accent their beds should I ever finish the quilts!!
And, finally, I even handed off the camera to get my picture taken with the birthday girl herself!!
Alright! Happy Monday everyone! It’s a new week, a new month, and I have just tossed my mermaid party to-do list in the trash. Checkity-check-check-check!! What are you working on?
Comments & Reviews
Amanda says
This is amazing! I am planning an u der the sea party for my daughter end of June…. A few questions; did you make/paint all the signs? Can you share the recipe/process for the glass candy? Also, can you share the invite? Thanks!!
girlinspired says
Thanks so much, Amanda! I did make the signs – here’s the post about them: https://thegirlinspired.com/2012/07/beach-signs-diy/
The sea glass candy is super easy – you can probably google it, it’s just like sugar and water and maybe corn syrup; you cook it until it reaches a certain temp, then add food coloring and pour into a pan until cool – I liked pouring it into a smaller cake pan so that it was nice and thick. I did not dust with anything afterward, that method didn’t turn out too great for me. As far as the invites…I think I ended up sending out an evite, can’t quite remember! Have fun!
girlinspired says
Thanks so much, Amanda! I did make the signs – here’s the post about them: https://thegirlinspired.com/2012/07/beach-signs-diy/
The sea glass candy is super easy – you can probably google it, it’s just like sugar and water and maybe corn syrup; you cook it until it reaches a certain temp, then add food coloring and pour into a pan until cool – I liked pouring it into a smaller cake pan so that it was nice and thick. I did not dust with anything afterward, that method didn’t turn out too great for me. As far as the invites…I think I ended up sending out an evite, can’t quite remember! Have fun!
Crystal Waggoner says
I borrowed one of your pictures and used it on my blog. Thanks for all the inspiration!!
http://fussymonkeybiz.blogspot.com/2013/03/sneak-peak-of-quilt-and-pillow.html
[email protected] is not optional says
How did I miss this party? What’s funny is that Sadie had a mermaid party a few weeks after this! I looove all the ideas you implemented, and that beach hut! perfection. the dessert table looks fantastic also! I thought about doing candy beach glass too but ran out of time. I love how your looked!
Leianne Stevens says
If I wasn’t already set on a theme for Lily’s second birthday, I would so be on board to give something like this a try. It all turned out so beautiful! You did a wonderful job and everything looks amazing. Looks like everyone had fun too :-]
Marissa says
Beautiful party! May I ask where you got the cute mermaid plates? My three year old loves mermaids and wants a mermaid 4th birthday party. Did you also make your daughter’s cute headband? Her outfit was adorable! Again, wonderful job! (sorry for the delete/re-post – 38 weeks pregnant and my brain cells are depleted!)
Marissa says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Emily says
What a sweet and perfect party!!! I love the picture of you two!!!!
Twinkle Star says
I totally love everything about this! I am preparing for a Vintage Mermaid / Faded Pirate Party I am doing for my daughter’s 4th Birthday in August, so I am doing a lot of research 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of your ideas – I just love looking at the pics!
Estelle xx
Allie says
What a beautiful, beautiful party! So gorgeous. Well done! I always love your ideas. I featured this post on my blog today! Hope you have a great weekend. http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-favorite-things-thursday-coming-to.html
SJ says
What a cute idea for a girl’s party! I love all the sweet details that you included. Might have to file this one away for my little gal’s next birthday.
Anonymous says
I love everything!!! This is one of the best mermaid parties I have seen!!! May I ask where you got that adorable hanging pink fish? Would love ALL your details!! 🙂
Stef says
Thank you so much! That cute pink fish is from Pottery Barn Kids – from about 3 years ago, although, I thought that I had seen a version more recently, but I could be wrong.
[email protected] says
Love it!! I’ll be doing a mermaid party in a month and definitely want details!!!
Ashley J @ MommyByDayCrafterByNight says
Ok… this is the cutest party I have ever seen! Everything you did is seriously to die for!! Great job! Thanks for linking up!!
Amy @ Positively Splendid says
You are the hostess with the mostest – seriously! I could be in heaven to attend one of these soirees! Just gorgeous, as always.
whirl + whisk says
LOVE this! I love mermaid everything, and so do my girls. Very nice!