Skip to Content

Cupcakes and Polka Dots 2nd Birthday Party

Description

A second birthday party with the theme of cupcakes and polka dots! Colors were purple, lavender, and hot pink. Food served included chili, mac-n-cheese, veggies, and fruit. A cupcake bar was used for the dessert!

Design Inspiration

A special dress from her Godmother gave me the perfect inspiration for Julianneā€™s party. The Bonnie Jean dress has a cupcake on the hot pink top and a dark purple skirt with polka dots. Perfect for a fun loving second birthday party for our sweet little cupcake!

Project Details

{Invitations}
I designed the custom invitation around the dress design. I created a swirly cupcake design similar to the one on her dress. Placing the cupcake in the center of the invitation design, I then added the polka dots and a picture of Julianne. I used purple cardstock as a backing to the invitation to simply give it more weight and depth.

{Decorations}
After designing the invitations everything else fell in to place. I incorporated the swirly cupcake design and polka dots through all of my party printables. I decided the backdrop for the dessert table had to have polka dots. I remember seeing polka dots sewn on string, but my sewing skills are not great. I knew I had to find something that did not require sewing. Using fishing wire, cardstock, glue, and circle punches in two sizes I was able to create the polka dot backdrop for the dessert table.

I used a plain white tablecloth for the dessert table and placed a lavender piece of cloth to the top of the table. I added a long string of polka dots to the front of the table and a few balloons on the sides.

Folded and flat food labels were used to help guests identify the food and drinks available. I used mason jars that I already owned to serve the drinks in and added purple polka dot straws with straw flags to dress them up.

{Food & Desserts}
I knew from the start that our party food would include something warm since the party was in the middle of January. I finally decided on a menu of hearty beef chili, white bean chicken chili, chili toppings, cornbread muffins, macaroni and cheese, veggie tray, and strawberries. Perfect for a chilly wintery day! Drinks served included water, sweet tea, coke, and sprite.

What else do you have at a cupcake party but cupcakes! The dessert table held 3 dozen chocolate, strawberry, and yellow cupcakes with buttercream icing. I decided to create a simple cake to place in the center of the table as well. The cake was a layer of strawberry and chocolate with buttercream icing. I topped the cake off with a 4ā€³ party circle on a long lollipop stick and tied a ribbon on the stick.

I thought it would be perfect to have a Decorate Your Own Cupcake bar at the party! Guests were welcome to choose from mini M&Ms, mini Reeseā€™s Pieces, mini chocolate chips, coconut, sprinkles, and crushed mint Oreos. Many guests went back for seconds!

{Activity}
I created a cupcake and polka dot coloring page for our younger guests to color. Even some of our older guests joined in the fun!

{Favors}
Julianne and I baked homemade sugar cookies shaped like cupcakes to send home with the guests. I placed two cookies in each bag and attached with bakerā€™s twine and a 2.5ā€ favor tag. While doing some last minute shopping the day before, I came across some clearance toys and picked up three for our tiny guests in lieu of cookies.

Cheap Easy Party Food Ideas For The Ultimate Budget Party. - NICS ELECTRONICS

Sunday 8th of August 2021

[…] This DIY cupcake bar is perfect for birthday parties, sleepovers, or weekends that require a sweet treat.Ā  Quick, easy, and awesome is what EVERYONE will be saying!Ā  You can get the full instructions hereā€¦ […]

10 Ways to Entertain Kids at Birthday Parties - Pretty My Party

Thursday 1st of September 2016

[…] I think anyone would love to decorate their own cupcakes. You could do this with cookies too.Ā Decorate Your Own Cupcakes […]

Eivi

Thursday 12th of March 2015

I loved everything you make/did for your daughter's birthday! Could you please share the company you used for the party printables and the printing of the invitations? Would you also e- mail me a copy of the invitation. I would apreciate it very much!

Anjie

Monday 23rd of July 2012

Hi LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this theme!! I am going to do the same for my little girls 2nd birthday in November! Is there any chance I could get you to email me a copy of the invite so I can use????

Thanks heaps

Jo Castro

Thursday 12th of April 2012

Hi! I like what you did on your daughter's 2nd birthday! Im from the Philippines and have been visiting project nursery for ideas on how to go about my daughter's 1st birthday.Like you, I have been organizing events (weddings most especially) I'm excited to do my first child's birthday and you just gave me ideas and inspiration. I don't need to buy lots of apothecary jars anymore, thanks to you:) I just need to learn how to bake my first real big cake now. You did a nice job on the decorations too.