This past 4th of July I had the joy of helping my sister's boyfriend's family plan a birthday party for the cutest little boy. After much debate he decided on a pirate party. I was brought in to help with the decorations and overall party theme. Below are some of my creations. I tried posting a link to the original blogger where the ideas came from, so if any are inaccurate or missing, please let me know so I can update! As general practice, I stick with photoshop for all of my designs. I'm most familiar and comfortable with that program.
So a few weeks before the party, I was at my favorite crafting store, Michaels, on the look out for anything pirate related. To nobody's surprise, they didnt have much, but in the $1 aisle I found a whole bunch of circus themed stuff. I got these cupcake wrappers there for like $0.50 for a pack of 10 or something so it was pretty cheap and pirate-esque enough for a bunch of 4 year olds. Plus I was able to tie in the red/white theme to my other more pirate-y designs so it flowed nicely.
Creative Ingredients:
1. Boxed cake mix - bake according to box directions :)
2. Cheap red/white circus cupcake wrappers
I was looking around for pirate themed cupcake holders, or anything I might be able to pass off as a pirate ship...and after a few days of searching I realized there was probably something easy and cheap I could make from the billions of Amazon boxes I have in my basement. So, after some creative brainstorming, I came up with the above Treasure Chest design. Pretty simple and only used a few items.
Creative Ingredients:
1. Empty boxes - taped shut with packing tape
2. Wrap empty boxes with brown paper
(I used the packing paper that came with the boxes since it was already wrinkly, but you could also use brown packing paper and crumple into balls first. Makes it easier for wrapping as its not so stiff)
3. Purchase gold duct tape - actually found this at AC Moore
4. Black sharpie - draw side clasps and "nail holes" if desired
Now the funnest (is that a word?) part! Decorating! I found a couple of different ideas on Pinterest, but none of them looked right. They were mostly of pirate faces. So then I found this idea for a pool party and adapted it for my pirate theme. Super cute and a HUGE hit with the kiddies!
Creative Ingredients:
1. Cream cheese icing - pillsbury. Pipe onto cupcakes in a swirl
(I find this much simpler than trying to spread icing with a knife. Plus its less messy when grabbing from a platter, and the icing doesnt get all over fingers when pulling off the cupcake wrapper!)
2. Teddy Grahams - black gel icing with a toothpick to draw the eyepatch
3. Chocolate cannon balls - AC Moore sells sixlets in pretty much any color
4. Graham cracker sand - just throw them into a food processor or into a baggie and roll with rolling pin
I couldnt find any flags I liked at a store, so I make these using sticker paper and tooth picks
Finished product. Special thanks to my sister Marissa Schwarz and her friend
Tori Behnkie for helping me make all of these a few hours before the party...
I tried finding some of those chocolate gold coins you see at Hanukkah, but since it was July they were in short supply, and the ones I did find were way too expensive. So I went to Michaels...you know, by now I should learn to just go here first :) I found these molds for...I guess its a regular candy shape?...the picture on the package had them in white/blue/pink, probably for a baby shower. I just used yellow instead!
Creative Ingredients:
1. Chocolate Mold from Michaels
2. Wilton Yellow Chocolate - prepare using instructions on bag
(as a side note, I made these a few days ahead of the party and kept them in the fridge)
The mom I was helping came up with the menu, so I'm not sure where her ideas came from, but I made the above signs for each item.
Creative Ingredients:
1. Peg Legs: Soft pretzel bites
2. Treasure Chest: Crockpot Mac & Cheese recipe here
(altered: I only used American cheese and substituted elbows for spirals)
3. Pirate Booty: my sister found this somewhere, blue jello in cups with Swedish fish and oranges
4. Fish & Chips: Potato Chips & Gold Fish
5. Cannon Balls: Cheese Balls
At the end of the party, when the kids left with their goody bags, we had a candy buffet. I made these signs. On the left was the buffet table sign, the right is a square sticker we put on the bags each kid put their candy in. Both designed by me in Photoshop. I had to google different pirate sayings to make sure I used them in context :) We used plain white bags with handles so it was easy for the kids to carry. I dont think we got a picture to show what it looked like, but use your imagination and search Pinterest for "Candy Buffet" TONS of really good, creative ideas!
If you have any questions about what you see, shoot me an email: JenniferLCarelli@gmail.com
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