American Girl Party

Sophia turned NINE this past Saturday, nine years old on the Ninth. She is growing up into a smart, sweet, funny, loving, determined, lanky kid. I am so glad she’s in our family.

Over the past two years Sophia has devoured American Girl books, moving from the traditional stories to the mysteries. Once she and her sister realized that the dolls collecting dust in their closet (Grandma had given them years ago) were meant to be played with as a mini me to make projects for (rather than a baby doll to be cuddled), they have been creating mini books, beds, parties, etc for their dolls. So it was only natural we had an American Girl party and celebrated her love of all things miniature and historical (while she still thought it was cool).

Sophia over the last few weeks with her doll, Caroline, her favorite American Girl. Sophia was Caroline for Halloween and she dressed her doll up as Inkpot, Caroline’s black cat in the books.

We made some invitations over fall break, gluing on metal star confetti (white elmers glue worked ok to keep them on)  and using stickers from a sticker pad from Michael’s.

To decorate I pulled out all my pink and purple and silver pom poms, and my girly scrapbook banner (basically cut up a girly themed dcwv book and made a banner years ago, that works for any floral or girly type pastel colored party).I made a master star page, printed out on dark pink/ light pink/beige cardstock, then we cut all the stars out. I sewed the small stars into a garland, sewing right down the middle of the paper. We just punched holes in the large stars and hung with thread.

At the party we had the girls arrive and make a mini dining set for their dolls- they decorated a construction paper place mat with more stickers, had a 1/4 of a normal napkin folded up, a mini paper plate, and painted the inside of a shot cup to look like liquicd, with a cut straw in it.  

Next we used sculpey clay in red, pink, and various shades of brown and white to make play food  (pretzels, cupcakes, cookies, cake balls, candies, etc). The girls really started brainstorming once they did a few pieces, then they were out of clay. 5 packets of sculpey clay for 8 kids ended up being not enough. If I did a similar craft again I’d used salt dough or try out homemade sculpey/fimo to make tons of cheap dough and dye it so there'd be no size/quantity limit. We baked the sculpey for 15 mins at 275 degrees per instructions. Or you could cut things out of foam and glue/color, but I liked the sculpting aspect and how realistic it could look if done right.

While the sculpey baked the girls made sleeping bags for their dolls. I cut out fleece in 24 by 30, folded in half to be 15 by 24, then put 3 or 4 inch slits on the open side and bottom. The girls tied the slips together. It was a great craft- easy to prep, easy to explain, only a few girls needed help. And then they had a sleeping bag for their girls.  You could also do pillows or simple doll clothes- scarf, poncho,or blankets

Then we went outside for some games. The girls played Statues- the sculptor spun each girl around and they struck a pose, then she picked her favorite, who became the new sculptor. We played until everyone got a turn, the poses getting sillier with each round.

 

Next we played missionary tag, where the girls are in pairs, and one chaser has to get another girl, who escapes by linking arms with a pair. The girl on the other side of the pair lets go and is the new person being chased.

We also tried to walk with apples balanced on their heads and in between pairs foreheads.

Next we came inside for hot chocolate with whipped cream (polar express hot chocolate from scratch in the crockpot, so yummy!) and cupcakes and gingerbread cookies. We made mini ones for our dolls, but they ate them up. I borrowed some china from a friend with a large set of white and gold plates, and I bought some white mugs at goodwill, which was only a few bucks more then buying disposable, and now we have tons of hot cocoa mugs I don’t mind if they break.

We sang to Sophia and opened presents and then the party was done! (Can you tell she’s an introvert, looking glum because all the attention is on her as everyone sings!). The girls took home their mini place setting, a sheet of stickers, their play food, sleeping bag and mini hat for the doll.  We’re thankful for all her friends that could come and make it a special day!

Hooray for smart, fun, amazing girls and their mini me dolls!

Carrie is married!

My sister was married this past weekend.

Here are some highlights from a jam packed week.

 

Bachelorette Party in Gettysburg- Pizza, cupcakes and a Ghost Tour

My sister’s colors were robin egg blue and creams and coral. Gray suits and bow ties with Gray Van sneakers, wildflowers and burlap for the flowers.

 

Some tips for taking pics of kids at weddings. Have them do some smile poses, then whatever they want. It keeps em happy and into the shoot.

 

I enjoy taking all the candid and funny shots, and leaving the huge list of group shots for the official photographer. My favorite shots of the group shots were all the silly ones- or the bridesmaids below, where we were told to laugh hysterically, some of the girls thought we were jumping, and the aftershot and reaction was priceless.

I made the girls dresses with white cotton fabric embroidered, and sewed them dresses so it would fit and be cool enough, yet have sleeves. I also wanted a lace underskirt.

 

Leo’s vest and shorts were from a pattern, but I shortened the shorts to be a little past the knee.

At the wedding dinner with our close families, the groom’s family had Carrie and Keaton play a game. They faced away from each other, each holding a shoe of their own and their spouses shoe. Then the caller would say “Funniest” or “Most organized” etc, and each would hold up the shoe of the person that fit the description. It was hilarious to see what they agreed and didn’t agree on.

We also played a musical chairs type game, where each person had a wedding related word, and the person in the middle called out half a dozen of the words, and all those people had to get up and find a new seat. It was a great game for a variety of ages to play together.

 

 

At the reception,we had tents set up at a family friend’s farm. When guests arrived, they put their gifts and cards in the back of an old pick up truck.

 

Jenga blocks were signed along with the guest book, and little pieces of paper for writing down your “favorite memory of us” “date ideas” and “marriage advice” in mason jars.

An old oven had the wedding cupcakes waiting to be put out. The wedding topper was a wooden M with buttons all over.

 

Drinks were in a old canoe with ice, and hanging from the trees were burlap art with button messages.

 

One of Carrie’s good friends made this Moon, with a chair behind, so you can take a pic of you and your loves “over the moon” with love.  I missed pictures of the teapot centerpieces filled with flowers and the twine bows on mason jars with tea lights.

 

 

Last but not least, the highlight of my week wasn’t the wedding, which was wonderful, but spending time with my mom and her sister Sally, my sister, and all of us having fun together in the midst of the crazy.

 

Hooray for weddings and big parties! Congrats Carrie and Keaton!