For my daughter's 1st birthday we wanted something fun for summer. She loves strawberries so I decided to use that as our theme. I started by hand making strawberry shaped cut out invitations.
A good friend of ours is a graphics artist and airbrushed them for me. The detail was amazing. She used a layering technique that made them look good enough to eat. I then went to the
task of making our own strawberry garden tea party. I purchased deep red table cloths and shimmering red and white streamers. I had a few extra invitations so I used those a centerpiece on
the three main tables, I just added a ruffle of red and pink ribbons to the tops of each berry. I have a tea set from my childhood that is white and pink so I set that up on the main table.
I went to several antique and thrift shops to find additional tea cups that were pretty for the girls and some that were more masculine for the boys that would be attending the party.
I used the tea cups that I found as the favor holder and filled each one with gummy strawberries from our grocery store. I found strawberry smelling bubble bath in small bottles for about
$1.50 each, a small strawberry shaped notebook, pink and red shiny pencils and strawberry shaped erasers. I tied the tea cup in an iridescent red bag with curly red and pink ribbons. The cost
for each favor cost less than $10.00 total. I tied deep red and light pink balloons to the chairs, deck railings and even the "birthday high chair". For her cake I baked two
layers of white cake and put strawberry filling in between the two layers. The frosting was whipped cream. I topped the cake off with fresh strawberries and her one-year candle.
The food itself was a garden picnic. We served for a little opener strawberries dipped in white and dark chocolate and some fresh plain strawberries for those who didn't like chocolate. The main meal consisted a meat tray with rolls, fresh macaroni salad, fresh fruit salad(with strawberries), salt potatoes, and sweet corn. The beverages we offered were fruit punch and for the adults strawberry daiquiris. The activities I selected for the children were simple as well. Pin the strawberry on the strawberry plant a game we made ourselves, a design your own strawberry project with pre-cut paper berries and a strawberry piħata filled with candy and small toys. I contacted a local berry farmer and arranged for us to all go to the berry patch after the main part of the party ended at our home (the patch usually closes at 4pm so we would be there after they closed). I pre-paid for 20 quarts of strawberries and when we arrived, the farmer greeted us and gave us the empty quarts. Each family that attended her party was able to fill one quart with strawberries. We laughed so many times as we watched each other step on a berry or sit on a berry. It was great. Everyone was thrilled to hear her giggles when she was given her own berries at the patch. She loved all of the bright balloons at our home. Our day couldn't have been any better.
