Beach Themed Birthday Party

Last year it was 90 degrees on Kaylee’s birthday. I remember thinking how fun it would be to do an outdoor water party for her sometime. We bought the kids a big blow up water slide this summer and it has been a hit. I figured I would get it out, invite 15 of her closest friends and grill hot dogs. EASY party. Minimal set up. With the weather being in the high 90s lately, I thought that surely we would be fine with planning the easiest birthday party ever! Fast forward to the night before the party. The forecast went from sunny and in the 70s earlier in the week to 63 and cloudy, and finally settled at 60 and thunderstorms. I was in a panic. Almost everyone had RSVP’d that they were coming. 15 kids inside our house on a rainy day. We were scrambling with coming up with activities! We came up with “Hot Octopus” (passing around the octopus puppet to the music instead of hot potato), animal charades, freeze dancing and making oceans in a bottle (photo at the bottom of the post). We served lunch. We opened presents. We ate cake. Everyone went home. It was a whirlwind!

If you are interested in the details of the treats, keep reading!

This cake was so much fun to make. I stacked two square cakes and iced it using a fun scallop technique. Then I used a tiny round cake that had been cut on an angle for the island. The island is covered with white frosting and graham cracker crumbs. The little creatures are made from chocolate molds and colored melting chocolate. I love it when I don’t have to use fondant to get the look I am going for. I much prefer using butter cream.

Instead of passing out treat bags, we sent each child home with a cupcake.

I picked up these darling cupcake boxes, along with the cupcake liners and masking tape, from Wholeport. Their masking stickers are one of my favorite products. I use them for so many things.

My husband came up with the “Ocean in a Bottle” activity and helped the kids make them. He ran out of mineral oil and had to use vegetable oil for some (hence the yellow). They filled them with food coloring, glitter, jewels, ocean foamies, water and oil. They are fun to shake and fun to look at. He sealed each cap with hot glue and electrical tape.

The party was a success. The kids had fun and even though it rained we were still able to have a beach party. After it was over…I took a nap.

This post contains sponsored product (cupcake boxes).