Ladybug Party for my 1 year old! My daughter was turning one and my husband and I wanted to do something very special for her. I selected a ladybug party because my mother-in-law collects ladybugs and it seemed like such a sweet party for a little girl. My husband and I aren't wealthy people so I found some free printable ladybug invitations off the DLTK.kids website. Then, to make them a little more personalable I wrote this little poem in each one. Polka dots and little black spots, that's what ladybugs are made of.  Our sweet baby is becoming a little lady so come and have some fun because (our daughter's name) is turning one!  For decorations; first I did the traditional thing of using red and black balloons and streamers on the walls and ceiling.  Then, I put red and black tablecloths on the tables. At Menards I found the cutest ladybug lights and stretched them across the buffet.  Next, in the American Girl's Party book I found instructions to make these patriotic flags. Using construction paper, I made the background flag green and attached a red oval to it.  Take a black marker to add the head and spots and we had ladybug flags! I attached the flags, I had 6 in all, to a red ribbon I had left over from Christmas and hung them up. At Factory Card Outlet I found the cutest large ladybug balloon.  It even had a ladybug weight. Finally, I went and bought 3 large white posterboards at Walmart.  Using markers, I made 3 signs with ladybugs, butterflies, bees and caterpillars drawn on them. The first 2 signs said; Greetings all ladies and bugs, and Welcome to our buggy BBQ!  These signs I hung on the front and back doors. In the party room I hung the sign, (my daughter's name) is cute as a bug! We found some cute ladybug plates, napkins, and cups at the grocery store and for food we served the traditional fare for hot dogs and hamburgers.  For the cake, I baked a yellow cake in a round oven-proof bowel, from Pampered Chef. I decorated most of the cake with red frosting and an upside down circle at the top, the head, I used chocolate frosting.  I used York peppermint patties for the spots and M&Ms for the eyes and smile.  Then, I baked chocolate cupcakes and decorated them the same way, except using junior mints for the spots. I dyed some coconut green to look like grass and placed them all on a large serving tray to look like a mamma ladybug and her babies.  Since we had a large number of older kids attending the party I planned a few games.  First, we had a guess jar. I filled a large jar with red and chocolate liquorice and the one with the closest guess won the jar.  Then, we played pin the spot on the ladybug.  I used my markers and another posterboard to make the large ladybug and black construction paper for the spots.  Then, we had a ladybug pinata.  On the Dltk.kids website I found instructions for some cute ladybug beanbags. My husband built a stand with a hole in it and we used posterboard again to make it look like the kids were sending the ladybugs home. Finally, we had a bug drop game using bug erasers I found from Oriental Trading and dropping them into a milkjar.  For prizes, I gave out ladybug stickers, ladybug pez and the erasers themselves. Also, for the baby guests I found cute ladybug play balls at Factory card and we had a little ball pit set up for the babies to play in while the older kids were playing the games. Last, I found red favor bags, at Factory Card, and filled them with Ladybug necklaces, ladybug poppers and bug temporary tattoos. (All found at Oriental Trading.)  It was a fun day and everyone is still talking about how well everything went.