Recently, our oldest daughter had a birthday, and I thought it would be fun to share some of her birthday celebrations with you all.
In this blog post, I will share some easy, frugal birthday party ideas- as well as some inexpensive DIY birthday table decorations. I will also let you guys in on all my boxed birthday cake secrets.
Come join me and my Happy Hawks Homeschool crew as we create a vintage-inspired princess party- filled with all things feminine and delicate.
“Pretty pink, glamourous glitter, stunning sparkles, sweet treats, and fabulous fun!” If those descriptors sound swell, then follow along as well.
First up… the birthday party preparations.
~The Birthday Request(s)~
If you have read my birthday blog posts before, you may remember that for my children’s birthdays- I like to keep things meaningful and simple. For my family, this generally looks like a birthday cake made at home, and a favorite family meal which is shared around a decorated dining table.
Each year, I ask the said birthday child, what type of cake they would like. Sometimes their requests far surpass my skill level. These innocent requests range from a simple polka dot cake to a more challenging fairy cake with delicate, translucent wings, garments made of golden thread, vibrant suspended rainbows, and a flashy firework display. “Simple really.” (She writes in a facetious tone).
In order to grant some small element of their request- my secret weapon is often making homemade marshmallow fondant- and then using cookie cutters to cut out their desired character. This way, I can grant at least a small part of their birthday cake wish.
~Always Have a Plan B~
This year, my oldest child requested a horse cake. However, when we were not able to locate a horse cake pan at our local Hobby Lobby, we went to plan b:
“No horse cake pan- two days to birthday- hmm, think, think, think.”
“Horseshoes?”
“Yes, yes, I think I can do that!”
“Chocolate horseshoes?”
“Now we are talking.”
~Birthday Cake Decorations- Made of Chocolate~
As you may know by now, being a stay-at-home mom with four children allows me to be creative in keeping things frugal. I did not have a horseshoe silicon mold on hand, but I thought I could at least get a basic “U” shape with a few staple supplies.
For our chocolate horseshoe, we only needed five items:
- a piece of white paper,
- a marker,
- a piece of parchment paper,
- melting chocolate,
- and a piping bag (or a Ziplock bag if you don’t have a piping bag on hand).
This was very primitively done. I simply drew a basic horseshoe on a piece of white paper and placed my translucent parchment paper over the top. After this was complete, I melted my chocolate and allowed it to cool a little. Then, I poured the chocolate into a piping bag with a thin tip. Carefully, I traced my horseshoe pattern.
Once the chocolate horseshoe dried, I simply dusted the horseshoe with a bit of cocoa powder. Not wanting to be too basic, I added some edible gold dust to finish the horseshoe off.
~Making the Horseshoes~
~My Homemade Marshmallow Fondant~
Again, you may have seen my marshmallow fondant recipe from my previous birthday posts. This is my go-to for every child’s birthday cake.
Homemade fondant is easy to make, and it tastes much better than the store-bought kind.
Once the fondant is made and colored, it can easily be rolled out and cut into shapes.
The birthday girl requested pastel flowers…lots and lots of pastel flowers.
I let the children help me decorate the cake top and sides with these fondant cutouts. While this sometimes creates a slap-dash cake effect, it is well worth having their help.
~The Boxed Cake Tips~
As mentioned before, I often use boxed cakes for my birthday cakes. Obviously, I prefer to make a homemade cake, but for time’s sake, I make my birthday cakes from a box. This allows me to have time to make the fondant and the frosting.
A few tips I can impart to you are as follows: I substitute the oil for melted (salted) butter, I always add a splash of good quality vanilla, and I sometimes add a tablespoon of golden syrup to the cake batter (which adds moisture and a warm flavor).
In my opinion, these few tricks can elevate, an otherwise ordinary box of cake, transforming it into a delicious semi-homemade treat.
~The Chocolate Ganache~
Knowing that this cake would be very sweet, I wanted to balance out that sweetness with a bit of dark chocolate ganache filling.
My recipe was very basic: 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips. I simply warmed the cream and added my chocolate (stirring until smooth). Then, I let the ganache chill a bit before adding it in between my cake layers.
(Note: I typically use two boxes of cake mix which makes four layers.)
~The Frosting- Not Exactly a Failure but Not a True Success~
I decided to use seven-minute frosting for this birthday cake. Now, I will be honest, this was not my best batch. I did not give the egg whites quite enough time to stiffen properly (what can I say, I was a little pushed for time). That paired with a rainy, humid day- and well, my icing was a bit flat.
In the end, it covered the cake- and with a little time to firm up in the refrigerator- it tasted great. While not exactly as I hoped, my daughter said the frosting was her favorite- so there is that.
As I have said before, I am certainly not a professional cake decorator, but I do enjoy making creative birthday cakes, alongside my children. Baking together ensures that a fun birthday memory is made.
~Bunting Flag Cake Topper~
With the cake almost complete, it was time to turn my attention to the cake top.
Many of you may have guessed by now, that I love bunting flags. I sew my own fabric bunting flags for various occasions, but I also make paper bunting to decorate my table centers. I also enjoy making mini bunting flags for various crafts.
~How It Is Made~
For this special occasion, I decided to make a fun, birthday bunting, cake topper. With a few simple supplies, you can make this too. I used two paper straws (wooden skewers would work as well), a bit of twine, some scrapbook paper (or fabric). and a hot glue gun.
Firstly, I made a little template of a triangle and a heart (using computer paper).
Secondly, I used the computer paper template to cut out uniform shapes in my patterned paper.
Thirdly, I hot glued the paper bunting onto the twine- and tied the end of the strings, to each straw.
Lastly, a gentle push into the cake, and the topper was complete.
~Alas, The Birthday Cake is Dressed for the Party~
~The Napkin Rings and Straws with Bows~
Princess birthday parties need to look fancy, but they don’t have to cost much. I am a firm believer that fancy does not always mean spending money. Fancy can simply be a mindset of appreciation and thanksgiving.
For my rolled cloth napkins, I simply cut out a rectangular strip of the same scrapbook paper I used for my bunting flags. I wrapped the paper around the napkin’s center and taped it at the back.
Using three different pieces of patterned scrapbook paper allowed me to vary the patterns. Therefore, I cut two rectangles of each patterned paper and alternated them on our table. Super easy, and inexpensive.
~The Paper Napkin Cuffs: ~
~Bows Always Add a Touch of Elegance~
I could have stopped there, but I thought the napkins still needed a bit of glam. To remedy this, I again used what I already had.
- I took one paper straw and a length of ribbon (that I had previously bought from a thrift store).
- I tied bows with long tails.
- Once my bows were tied, I hot glued them onto the top of my straws.
- Lastly, I curled the end of the ribbon tails with a pair of scissors.
~A Few Molded Chocolates with Gold Dust, a Party Must!~
One last party table touch: molded pink and gold hearts. These sweet, sparkly treats can be used to decorate the birthday cake, the birthday themed table, or placed on each plate as a little party favor.
The process is simple:
- First, melt the pink, white chocolate melts (from Hobby Lobby) and pour into a silicon heart mold.
- Second, chill the chocolate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- Third, de-mold, and dust with edible gold glitter.
“Ahh, the sparkles, and the glitter and the pink!” (She says with a wry smile and a wink) -“It’s where the ordinary and the fancy meet.”
~All Together Now- the Princess Birthday Tablescape~
How wonderful it is when ideas come together to create beauty.
I love the whole process of creating. For me, this exercise begins in the thrift store… when I source my treasures. Then, when an occasion arises, I begin to mix and match my thrifted items with my baked goods and my DIY crafts. I never know exactly what the end result will look like. Yet somehow, someway- all the collected finds come together to create a considered theme.
This “coming together” is where the imagination becomes the creation. And this is my happy space.
~The Inspirations~
For my daughter’s birthday occasion, the inspiration began with the vintage jewelry boxes that I layered on my homemade table runner.
Originally this table runner was a curtain panel that my sister gave me. I sewed it into a table runner for my youngest daughter’s birthday party several months ago. You can see how I transformed the curtain panel into a birthday runner here:
Once I had the centerpiece started, I layered in some lovely candles, an estate sale find, some personal gifts, and my grandmother’s vintage costume jewelry.
I love to use my grandmother’s items, but I often acknowledge the fact that many of my thrifted finds also belonged to someone’s grandmother.
~The Photograph Illustrations~
Unsurprisingly, each item, I chose has significance or a story tied to it. Therefore, I will illustrate this to you using the medium of photography. So go ahead, grab a cuppa tea, sit back, and enjoy the story.
Picture this:
Once upon a time, in a home filled with love, there lived a family who liked to thrift. One fine day, the lady of the home stumbled across a charming water pitcher from England. And as she did, she exclaimed, “How delightful! You would be lovely on my dining table.” (And it was!)
~The English Pitcher~
~Cue the Estate Sale Find: ~
Several years later, an estate sale led the lady to another lovely treasure. “You too will be an interesting addition to my table; I shall surround you with a candle and dried flowers.”
And so, she did. And as she did, she smiled to herself muttering, “I knew you would be perfect!” (And it was).
~The Antique Jewelry Box~
Still striving to make her table feel cozy like an English cottage, the lady suddenly remembered an antique jewelry box her husband had given her as birthday gift. So, she added the box to her table too.
From there she uncovered a few pieces of her grandmother’s costume jewelry… and before long, all these collected bits of history and love- told their own new story. A new-old creation, forever buried in a birthday princess’ heart and mind.
For the treasures helped to celebrate the most wonderous gift: the wonderful life of a little girl.
Welcome to her birthday table.
~How Beautiful When Ideas Come to Fruition~
We all love a happy ending.
Princess birthday parties and sweet treats do not only exist in fairy tales.
You can create your own happy birthday table with your own thrifted finds. Beauty is not in how much money is spent, but it is instead found in the people you share the table with.
~Beauty in the Details~
~Until Next Time~
Finally, I shall conclude my princess birthday party post (having hopefully left you all with a few lovely birthday party ideas and inspirations).
Remember, use the box cake if doing so makes your life easier. For the real quality ingredient in your box cake is love.
Love and time, don’t have to cost a dime. The impact they make is something you cannot fake.
Right, I shall stop with the poems and rhymes- and bid you all adieu… until next time.
Be sure to follow my Facebook and Pinterest pages for updates and ideas. Also, I would love to hear if you have ever used vintage or thrifted items to create a birthday tablescape. (Tell me about it in the comments if you have.) As always, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to share with others.
I will look forward to seeing you all again next Friday.
~Elizabeth~
I love all your decor and recipes. I think for some pushed for time, maybe an abbreviated plan would be good. I love your thrift finds and your lovely decorations. I look forward to reading your posts.
Thank you, it surely is fun to create and enjoy the time doing it with the babies! Thank you for your continued support.