Smart and Sassy Science Party

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Pin It I had so much fun styling this bright and beautiful science-themed party for a sweet (and smart!) seven-year-old girl over the weekend.

I designed her name banner to resemble elements of the periodic table. The significance of the "7" is that it's her seventh birthday! The significance of each "element"? I have no idea. I am your stereotypical English major, I'm afraid. The backdrop is a sheet of foamcore covered with aqua fabric (I bought a sheet set specifically for this party--it was actually less expensive than buying yardage of aqua fabric, and I thought it would look better than painting the foamcore). The lettering is Cricut's "Short Stuff" font from the Extreme Fonts cartridge, and I cut the big Erlenmeyer flask freehand, with one-inch and one-half-inch hole punch "bubbles."

We went with simple orange- and aqua-frosted cupakes, with a special fondant sculpture inspired by the birthday girl. The cupcakes and fondant work are by the talented ladies at Nashville Sweets.

The rest of the dessert table was chemically inspired. Molecular gum, crystallized sucrose (rock candy), potential energy pellets (Nerds and Jelly Bellies) and (not pictured) molecular chocolate (blue sixlets). I filled labware and other science-y shaped glass bottles with colored water just for a little extra color.

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen me working on this atomic mobile. I think it came together nicely--it's just spraypainted Dollar Tree hula hoops, zip ties, and balloons! I wanted to make two, but thunderstorms kept me from getting outside to spray paint the night before the party. I thought it looked pretty cool hanging over the kids' table:

Each place setting had a pair of goggles, and in the middle of the table were some foam letters, stickers and jewels, with instructions to customize them.

I created  a little photo booth for the guests/"future scientists," with another backdrop, a lab coat, some wacky oversize glasses, test tubes filled with colored water, and the hosts' own fabulous vintage chair, which was conveniently within our color scheme.

For drinks, we had Citric Acid Solution (lemonade) and H2O (well, even I know what that is) labeled to coordinate with the theme. Speaking of this theme, I had the idea of molecular models in my head, and I was delighted to find that I could make a number 7 out of "molecules." This little design sort of became the party's logo and inspired a lantern-and-dowel version, pictured below.

I had planned to make a few of these and hang them, when we had planned to have the party outside. However, the rain drove the party inside, where there were no handy hooks and nails, just lovely white walls that I was afraid to damage. But I think the "molecular seven" looks pretty awesome in this window, if I do say so myself.

The guests were entertained by someone from Mr. Bond and the Science Guys, and I myself learned a lot about dry ice from her presentation.

My talented friend Niki had left at this point, so I snapped this blurry pic with my iPhone.

Little scientists took home their goggles and a test tube full of candy from the dessert table.

Excuse the hurried iPhone photo here.

This party was stylish and smart, two things that Smarty Parties always aims for. I really enjoyed it, and I think the birthday girl did, too!

Photography: Stella Dolce Photography, except where noted
Party planning and styling: Smarty Parties
Cupcakes: Nashville Sweets
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Lexi's Rainbow My Little Pony Party

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Pin It What's more fun than rainbows? How about rainbows, unicorns, and magical ponies? For Lexi's 4th birthday, she wanted to celebrate all things My Little Pony. Her mom and I decided to use rainbow colors as a jumping-off point, with MLP-themed activities and treats for the kids.

I love this backdrop--it's just lengths of simple crepe paper streamers. I taped them down at the bottom because we were outside and I didn't want them blowing around into the food, but for an inside party, you could leave them loose. At the top of the "rainbow," I placed tissue paper pom pom clouds and rainbow colored honeycomb balls. 

One of my favorite parts of a party is coming up with a menu and thinking of themey names for the dessert. As the mom of two boys, My Little Pony was a whole new world for me. I watched a few episodes on Netflix with the boys in preparation for this party. We all really enjoyed it--it was like a whole new mythology to learn. I double-checked all names and activities with Lexi's mom, just to make sure I wasn't violating some My Little Pony code or anything. 

We had Apple Jack's farm fresh fruit, Fluttershy's bunny snacks (veggie cups), Rainbow Dash's Cloudsdale sandwiches (PB&J in cloud shapes!), Twilight Sparkle's Friendship is Magic cookies (sugar cookies iced with "cutie mark" designs), and Pinkie Pie's balloon cake pops. Lexi's mom scattered mini MLP figurines from "blind bags" around the table for extra decoration.

To quench the August thirst, we offered lemonade and water for the kids, some beer for any adults who wanted it. We dressed up the table with a rainbow tassel garland and some rainbow-colored poms hanging in the trees. Ice pops are a must for August outdoor birthdays. 

We kept the activities pretty simple, as it was a hot day, and the kids preferred to splash around in the pool for most of the party. I turned a slip-n-slide into a "Wonderbolt Academy Obstacle Course" with some pool noodles bent into rainbows. I tied strips of vinyl tablecloth to each archway for a little added fun. We had some pegasus wings up for grabs, and a decorate-your-own-unicorn-horn station--made with paper cones with ribbons woven through them, and some stick-on jewels to choose from.

I made a Pin the Cutie Mark on the Pony game by painting a mark-less pony on a big sheet of drawing paper and taping it to a magnetic dry erase board. Then I used my button maker (which also makes magnets) to make some Cutie Mark magnets. The kiddos had fun trying to pin them.

Happy Birthday, Lexi! Thank you for letting me share your magical, colorful birthday with you!


Styling, decorations, activities, cake pops: Smarty Parties
Photography: Stella Dolce Photography
Cutie Mark Cookies: Lady Sprinkles Pin It