Here is the invitation.
The first circle is the caterpillar's head. The second circle has the poem:
We can hardly believe
two years have passed.
Our little caterpillars
have grown up so fast.
Join the Dunnes and Heinleins
as we debut
Kiah and Audrey
are turning TWO!
The third circle has a photo of each girl, and the fourth circle has the party info. I used mini brads from Michael's craft store to attach each circle. I then rotated the circles so they were stacked and slipped it in a large greeting card envelope to mail them off to the party go-ers.
A couple weeks before the party, we got the kids together and made these artworks. Celia (the other mom and party planner) bought these canvases, acrylic paint, and toddler friendly paintbrushes. I made the butterfly body forms with brown construction paper and glued them on top of the paint once it was dry. I also had googly eyes to add once the art was dry. We made this art as samples and displayed them at the art table at the party. All the guests who came got to choose which artwork they wanted to make, make it, then take it home as their party favor! It was a big hit with the kids AND adults alike!
I later hung the art in my kids' room as display of their artistic ability!
I made the girls birthday shirts out of felt and fabric. I bought the plain white shirts at Kohl's. I loved the little ruffle detail near the neckline. I cut out the number two from polkadot and strawberry fabric and ironed on interfacing to the back, then ironed it to the shirts. I zigzag stitched all around the two to adhere it to the shirt. I then used my embroidery attachement to embroider the name letters onto different colors of felt. The eyes on the caterpillar head are just little zeros! I cut circles around the letters, trying to get the letter as centered as possible. I used my 2" circle punch to make a paper circle template that I pinned on top of each letter, then cut around. This worked well, but some letters are more centered than others. You can tell it is handmade! :) I then sewed each circle to the shirts using coordinating thread. This part took awhile to change the top thread and bobbin each time, but I am really happy with how it turned out. I wasn't going to sew the purple antennas on the caterpillar heads, but in the end I did.
Here is Audrey in her shirt. You can see the antennas.
Celia bought green tutus for the girls to wear, too. They were adorable!
My mom also crocheted the girls caterpillar hats. Here is Kiah modeling hers at her house:
I bought a book of the Very Hungry Caterpillar just to cut up and use for art. I got a butterfly punch at Michael's and made these two frames: one for each girl to take home after the party.
I also used the book to make signs for the food table. We served food from the book! The big lollipops are from Dylan's Candybar. Instead of an actual pie, my friend Janae made pie pops - they were adorable and delicious. And instead of cupcakes, I made a table runner out of cupcake fabric.
Celia made delicious sandwiches with the salami and swiss cheese, and in honor of the leaf the caterpillar eats to make his tummy feel better, we had salad.
I made name banners for each girl and displayed them in the dining room with the food. Here is Kiah's. The letters are punch-out letters from a teacher supply store. The colored polkadots around each letter are the girls' fingerprints!
Here is Audrey waiting patiently for her cake. My mother-in-law is a fabulous baker and made this cake.
Here I am enjoying the party with Audrey, my friend Carla, her daughter Kennedy, and my other friend Erin. A ton of work went into pulling this off, but everyone had fun, the food was good, the decor was cute, so I was a happy mama!
No, stripes nor black and white clothing were a prerequisite for attending the party. My friends and I just have very similar taste in clothing! Ha!
