Sunday, June 28, 2009

Zoo Party Idea Board

While talking over party plans with my friend, I told her that Sheridan was going to have an Ice Skating party in November. The colors are going to be lavender and ice blue and lots of snowflakes. Enter Sheridan. "No Mommy. I want to have my party at the Santa Barbara Zoo".
Don't you just love it when your kids switch gears on you?
I needed new inspiration NOW so I checked out Etsy. They always have original and creative things (that's what I'm ALL about!) Most of the zoo/safari partyware was a little to "baby shower/1st birthday" for me. Then I found this adorable banner in giraffe paper with fuschia/lime/orange paper by wburley74. Very girlie and sophisticated! It will be hung up by bamboo poles.
I went on the zoo website to check out the different party locations. I chose the 3 hexagon tables on a big grassy area. I ordered satin tablecloths from http://www.efavormart.com/ in fuschia, lime and orange. They will lay over chocolate round tablecloths.
I know I want the kids to stuff animals as part of their favors so I bought reusable shopping bags in chocolate from efavormart as well. I will have a decorative tag to match the banner on each for the guests to carry their animal around in while they are enjoying the zoo. Each animal will also get a zookeeper outfit to wear.
My friend Risa at Colorful Face Art posted these amazing faces on her blog. A great alternative to the usual animal faces. I'm going to visit her in July so maybe I can pick up some tips!
I've been going in overdrive about this since it is ONLY 5 months away (I usually like a year to plan!) Since the zoo has most of the decor and activities planned, I'm not going to stress too much about it :)
Any ideas for the centerpieces?
at

11 comments:

  1. michelleJune 28, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    What about animal shaped lollipops or cookies set in either vases or cute little pots with shredded green paper as grass. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joanne KennedyJune 28, 2009 at 11:11 AM

    How cute! I know what you mean about when you have one idea planned out and then the child decides they want something different.

    I'm with you on the year planning. You really need that to come up with different ideas and find unique items that are not the run of the mill type items.

    I'm sure you will put the best zoo theme party ever!

    Hugs,
    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  3. LWJune 28, 2009 at 7:49 PM

    Color paper mache animals with topical flowers. Something like the bird and snail that Anthropologie has on their web site…
    You could find yard ornaments and paint them colors to match your theme…
    Or chocolate candy animals. The possibilities are endless…

    I love the zoo idea and the face painting is just wonderful.

    I am working on a Sept. party in the same colors for my ten year old granddaughter...

    Louise

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cottage RoseJune 28, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    Hey Donna; Wow what a fun party, can I come, I promise to be good and not eat too much cake.... I can act like a little one I do it all the time.... lol Really though it looks like it is going to be wonderful, love all the colors and the details you came up with, wish I could see inside your brain, and get a good look at how you pop up with all these ideas.....lol;

    Hugs;
    Alaura

    ReplyDelete
  5. amy & lisaJune 29, 2009 at 7:08 AM

    This party looks fabulous! I can hardly wait to see it all put together. You have such amazing ideas. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Blushing HostessJune 29, 2009 at 9:32 AM

    Wide, flat bottom, glass vases with sand and leaves and sticks and miniture plastic zoo animals with be such fun! This should be a great event to plan...

    ReplyDelete
  7. JessicaJune 29, 2009 at 11:11 AM

    Zoo party sounds absolutely fun! I think it would be cute to get toy safari cars and other mini plastic toy animals and arrange them on each table like a safari scene.

    Or you can maybe find safari hats and put them on their backs, filling the inside with some type of moss and grass and birds.

    GOOD LUCK!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. danaJune 30, 2009 at 5:36 AM

    OMG---between your ideas and those offered by your readers, the Zoo Party will grrrrrreeeeeeeaaaat!!!! (Remember Tony the Tiger?) :) That's the only zooy thing I can think of! :)

    L, Dana

    ReplyDelete
  9. Natasha Smith-ClaytonJune 30, 2009 at 4:50 PM

    I did a zoo party many years ago and I utilized pineapples and fern leaves to create palm trees. The pineapple made a great tree trunk and I then used animal faced pillows from oriental trading peeking out of the tree. I will have to forward you pictures. They came out great.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The ParTea PlannerJuly 23, 2009 at 1:48 PM

    Okay, now the pressure for me to try to get up there to face paint at her party is ON like DONKEY KONG.....

    Risa
    Colorful Face Art
    and
    The ParTea Planner
    et al

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    i used palm trees that i bought from the dollar store, added bananas, and animal blocks from the oriental trading company (they have removable appendages and come in packages of 12).

    ReplyDelete