I'm finally coming out of my post party zombie-like state. My gait more closely resembles normal instead of the sad little shuffle I've been doing over the last several days, and I've wiped the drool that had started to dry into a scaly crust from my face.
The party was a success! The weather was touch and go up until--and including--that morning, which made me even crazier than I usually am on event days, but it all worked out. No rain!
The birthday boy was ecstatic!
The party was a success! The weather was touch and go up until--and including--that morning, which made me even crazier than I usually am on event days, but it all worked out. No rain!
The birthday boy was ecstatic!
We created a fair feel throughout the back yard. We opened up our back gate and plopped a couple of bales of hay down for accent. I had a multicolor pennant banner that I cut and strung from the fence down to the hay on each side of the gate. This made the entry to the back...err...the Fair...look more like a carnival entrance.
Out a bit in front of the gate, we have utilities, which includes a small concrete block. I didn't want anyone tripping over it upon entering, and, really, it's a bit of an eyesore if your're entering the yard from that side of the house. So...we had some leftover lattice from the deck skirting we replaced (more on that in a separate post) that Vern put together into a U-shaped cover. This was painted white, and I hung little homemade chalkboard signs onto it with jute. On the chalkboards was written: Games, Fun, Food, Ethan's Country Fair, This Way (with an arrow pointing toward the entrance). I forgot to take a picture of this as a finished shot--doh! I did, however, remember to snap a few shots of the chalkboard signs being made.
Out a bit in front of the gate, we have utilities, which includes a small concrete block. I didn't want anyone tripping over it upon entering, and, really, it's a bit of an eyesore if your're entering the yard from that side of the house. So...we had some leftover lattice from the deck skirting we replaced (more on that in a separate post) that Vern put together into a U-shaped cover. This was painted white, and I hung little homemade chalkboard signs onto it with jute. On the chalkboards was written: Games, Fun, Food, Ethan's Country Fair, This Way (with an arrow pointing toward the entrance). I forgot to take a picture of this as a finished shot--doh! I did, however, remember to snap a few shots of the chalkboard signs being made.
These were just leftover pieces of plywood that we had in the garage, cut into different sized squares and rectangles. Vern drilled 2 holes into the top of each piece so that I could string and hang them when they were finished. Once he finished up his cuts and drilled his holes, I gave each piece 2 coats of Valspar chalkboard paint.
In the back itself, we had an area set up for games, which included:
Lucky Duck- Duck matching game purchased through Oriental Trading.
Tin Can Alley- Tin can game purchased through Oriental Trading, but I used scrapbook paper to cover the cans in colors and themes that were a better match to the party theme since they came circus themed.
Feed the Pig- I purchased a display board from the dollar store, freehand painted a big pig on it and cut the mouth away to leave a hole for tossing balls.
Ring Toss- I purchased a smallish wood tray, 3 small embroidery hoops and 9 milk bottles from Hobby Lobby. I took the interior section of each of the embroidery hoops and painted them a different color, and I painted the tray white.
Ball Toss- Purchased from Oriental Trading Company
Hot Shot- We used Ethan's mini basket ball goal to create a game station for shooting hoops.
Putt-putt- We happened to have a putter and a return, so it was easy enough to create this station.
Clothespin drop- I set out a step stool and a mason jar on the ground in front of it. 2 tries to drop a clothespin into the jar.
Penny Pitch- I used poster board and printed out red and blue circles in 3 different sizes. I just glued the circles in random places all over the poster board. The varying sized were worth different ticket values.
Knock 'Em Down- I purchased three floral foam blocks, wrapped them in scrapbook paper, stuck golf tees into the foam and placed ping pong balls on the tees. The participant just needed to knock off the ping pong balls to score tickets.
In the back itself, we had an area set up for games, which included:
Lucky Duck- Duck matching game purchased through Oriental Trading.
Tin Can Alley- Tin can game purchased through Oriental Trading, but I used scrapbook paper to cover the cans in colors and themes that were a better match to the party theme since they came circus themed.
Feed the Pig- I purchased a display board from the dollar store, freehand painted a big pig on it and cut the mouth away to leave a hole for tossing balls.
Ring Toss- I purchased a smallish wood tray, 3 small embroidery hoops and 9 milk bottles from Hobby Lobby. I took the interior section of each of the embroidery hoops and painted them a different color, and I painted the tray white.
Ball Toss- Purchased from Oriental Trading Company
Hot Shot- We used Ethan's mini basket ball goal to create a game station for shooting hoops.
Putt-putt- We happened to have a putter and a return, so it was easy enough to create this station.
Clothespin drop- I set out a step stool and a mason jar on the ground in front of it. 2 tries to drop a clothespin into the jar.
Penny Pitch- I used poster board and printed out red and blue circles in 3 different sizes. I just glued the circles in random places all over the poster board. The varying sized were worth different ticket values.
Knock 'Em Down- I purchased three floral foam blocks, wrapped them in scrapbook paper, stuck golf tees into the foam and placed ping pong balls on the tees. The participant just needed to knock off the ping pong balls to score tickets.
I decorated the area with pennants and table skirting I purchased from Oriental Trading Company.
I found a picture of a sign I liked online, so I laid out a template based on this image that I could work from to make up all of my game signs. I printed them on card stock so that they would have a little weight to them. Zack and Ryan did a good job of hanging all of my signs and running the games during the party!
You can download and print the game signs here.
I found a picture of a sign I liked online, so I laid out a template based on this image that I could work from to make up all of my game signs. I printed them on card stock so that they would have a little weight to them. Zack and Ryan did a good job of hanging all of my signs and running the games during the party!
You can download and print the game signs here.
We built a prize display (for when the kiddos cashed in all of their hard won tickets) out of two pallets. Vern broke them down and rebuilt them into one solid piece with supports to hold it up. The spacing was determined by the size of the containers I purchased, which were buckets and baskets from the dollar store.
I picked up prizes for the kids from Oriental Trading, the dollar store, Target and Michaels. I wanted to offer a good assortment that would cover different ticket values.
We plopped a couple more bales of hay next to a bench we brought out, stood the boys' lacrosse goal behind the bench, and then clipped a red, white and blue quilt to the goal with clothespins to create a backdrop for photos. It worked out well!
We plopped a couple more bales of hay next to a bench we brought out, stood the boys' lacrosse goal behind the bench, and then clipped a red, white and blue quilt to the goal with clothespins to create a backdrop for photos. It worked out well!
We had a mobile petting zoo come in with some animals that the kids could pet and help feed. It was great! They brought a mini horse, a donkey, goats, sheep and bunnies. Ethan was so excited!
Of course, we had helium balloons everywhere and tried to keep the country aspect of the fair theme alive with accents of burlap, paper pinwheels and flowers, as well as some rustic accent pieces used here and there.
The wooden tags shown below on the beverage dispensers were a quickie copycat project from--my favorite--Ballard Designs. I had spare plywood and jute twine, so I couldn't see spending the $$ to order these from the catalog when I could make them myself. I just used a sharpie and my best effort to write on the tags once they were finished: Under 21, Over 21, Lemonade
The wooden tags shown below on the beverage dispensers were a quickie copycat project from--my favorite--Ballard Designs. I had spare plywood and jute twine, so I couldn't see spending the $$ to order these from the catalog when I could make them myself. I just used a sharpie and my best effort to write on the tags once they were finished: Under 21, Over 21, Lemonade
All of the drinks shown above were punches made with real fruit juice that I hand squeezed. My kitchen smelled awesome! I made a Sangria (over 21), a fruit spritzer (under 21) and a fresh squeezed lemonade.
Now, on to the fun part: FOOD!
Now, on to the fun part: FOOD!
I decided I would do a blueberry lattice pie instead of a cake for Ethan boy's country fair birthday. I used the recipe featured on the home page over the last two weeks, and I have to say, it is a good one--so tasty! I baked this up the day before and just added a pennant when it was time to set it out.
I also made up a bunch of mini pies to go with the theme. I opted for cherry and apple. You can see them pictured in the center of the pic above. I just used refrigerated pie crust and cut circles with a mason jar lid. For the cherry pies, I did lattice, but for the apple I just did a vented top crust. I used these mini pie tins from Amazon, and I have a TON leftover. I'll likely be baking up mini pies for every occasion from now until after Christmas.
I decided to also do fair themed cupcakes, as everyone's not in to pie. I know, right? Who are these people and what is wrong with them??? And, more importantly, what constitutes a fair themed cupcake? Well, I decided a funnel cake cupcake would definitely work for this theme, and because I just can't stand--or comprehend-- someone rejecting pie, I made banana cream pie cupcakes, too. Both cakes were yummy!
I decided to also do fair themed cupcakes, as everyone's not in to pie. I know, right? Who are these people and what is wrong with them??? And, more importantly, what constitutes a fair themed cupcake? Well, I decided a funnel cake cupcake would definitely work for this theme, and because I just can't stand--or comprehend-- someone rejecting pie, I made banana cream pie cupcakes, too. Both cakes were yummy!
In addition to my baked goodies, I offered a build your own burger bar, corn dogs, corn on the cob on a stick, veggie ranch dipper cups, skewered cream puffs and strawberries, apples, popcorn, peanuts (in the shell) and caramel popcorn.
I laid out more signs for my different stations that you can download and print here.
I laid out more signs for my different stations that you can download and print here.
I had a few other sweet treats, too, like swirly pops, taffy, m&m's, rock candy, animal crackers, basketfuls of fruit (like cherries and blueberries)and twizzlers/licorice.
Pennants and balloons were everywhere, and I worked red, aqua and cobalt into the color scheme wherever I could.
Pennants and balloons were everywhere, and I worked red, aqua and cobalt into the color scheme wherever I could.
I had made and jarred up some homemade strawberry jam, too, and had that in a basket ready to hand out as a take-away from the party for each family. See my step-by-step on how to make this tasty jam with only 3 ingredients.
There were smiles, balloons, pies, jam, quilts, animals, food on sticks and laughter all around.
There were smiles, balloons, pies, jam, quilts, animals, food on sticks and laughter all around.
Pssst-- Contact me to order custom invitations for your themed party! I also now offer party planning services... Email me to ask me about how to book or to request package pricing.