the rainbow birthday party: part two
October 13th, 2010
When we were thinking about what food to have at the party, my kids and I made a list of all the rainbow colors and the foods that matched. Turns out an assortment of rainbow foods makes for a pretty fantastic sandwich. So we had salami sandwiches, fruit, and chips. And I bought some grape jelly for pb&js too. My daughter wanted to know where the blueberries were, but they are very much out of season and at 4$ for half a pint I opted for blue chips instead, which are pretty much purple. Oh well. You try and think of a blue food that isn’t jello.
So the food was easy, the cake on the other hand was a pain the in ass, but I knew it was going to be. The cake is what started the whole rainbow thing in the first place, so we had to have it. My daughter was sitting next to me while I was on the computer one day and spied this rainbow cake. That was sometime in the summer and she has been talking about it ever since.
So I knew I had to make a six layer cake filled with buttercream and covered with piles of fluffy white frosting. I’m sure she must have told her friends she was having a rainbow cake, but it looked like a plain old white cake, so I’m guessing they just didn’t believe her. But when we cut the first piece everyone lit up. And it was an awesome surprise–sort of like a cake pinata (except this is a cake pinata–do not let your children see this, or you will be cursing me the night before their birthday).
If the cake weren’t a rainbow honestly it wouldn’t be a very good cake. It’s tastes a little like a wet sponge, but you are eating a rainbow so your brain tells you it tastes like a rainbow. It’s virtue lies in it’s dye-ability,if I were to make it again (ha) I would use a different recipe. The frosting is a swiss meringue buttercream with some lemon flavoring thrown it. The recipe calls for an obscene amount of butter. I used less than half and it was delicious.
For the favors we made rainbow glitter playdough. After cranking out six batches of playdough I can make it at the drop of a hat now. Why I didn’t make a big batch and split it 6 ways, I don’t know. Whatever, it’s a good recipe for a mom to have memorized anyway. We packed it in jars and I wrote the guest’s names on paper rainbows for the top. Luckily my daughter got an awesome playdough kit for a present, because I forgot to make any playdough for us.
There were definitely a lot of projects for the party, but my kids helped with all of them and none were really all that complicated. I’m not usually an all out crazy birthday party mom (or at least I didn’t think I was), but I had fun with all the projects. And the anticipation make the actual day even better I think. But rainbow fever has not abated–my daughter now wants me to make her a rainbow costume for halloween. Any ideas?
the rainbow birthday party: part one
What an awesome party! I LOVE the cake and the play dough jars. Very clever!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! You go mamma!
Wonderful party !! For the costume, me I would go with a simple shirt and leggings with one of those tutus with the elastic and tulle tied on in rainbow colors with rainbow colors of ribbon mixed in, plus rainbow striped hair and rainbows on the cheeks….
How about a rainbow my little pony?
Her party looks amazing, so inspiring!
loving everything about your party.
So many great ideas. I’ve seen those rainbow cakes before and thought “pain in the ass” so it’s nice to hear someone admit it! It’s really stinking cool though.
And I love the playdough to take home!
What about Rainbow Brite, rather than an actual rainbow? There is a McCall’s pattern for a costume but I don’t know if it’s available anymore. You can see it here: http://www.80stoysale.com/newrainbow.html (closer to the bottom the page). I’m sure even if you couldn’t find the pattern that you could come up with something pretty awesome on your own!
How about a bubble skirt made in white tulle for a cloud and then a striped top. That way the top may have a life well beyond halloween.
I have been poring over your blog since discovering it a few days ago. My girl (4) also wanted a rainbow birthday (last year), and I had no creative ideas like yours!
Anyway, all the rainbows were making me think of some good projects I could do for her for Xmas. A black shirt with buttons sewn on to make a rainbow was one idea I had but it will take a lot of patience to sew on all those buttons. It’s not impressive enough to be a whole costume, but it looks like you’re pretty handy with the pinata – make another out of cardboard and put armholes in.
far out! I want that cake for my birthday!
OMG. This is all so lovely! I don’t know what I love more, the beautiful cake, the lovely fresh food, or the cute decorations! Very nicely done
Am so not showing son #1 that cake!
I was a rainbow when I was six…my Mom sewed me an awesome costume. She made my baby sister a cloud to go with. :)
I threw what I thought to be a pretty good rainbow party last year. That was until I saw your ideas. I love love love your rainbow/ cloud decorations and also the play dough. Luckily I have 2 more daughters so there’s a couple of chances for a do over!
I wish you were my mom. I want a rainbow party. Seriously, I am envious of you daughter. Lucky girl. Love the cake, love the playdough, love the sandwich fixings lay out…and also, that pinata cake is pretty awesome. Hard to say which I like more–the pinata cake or the rainbow cake…might have to make both at some point.
WOW! I think that this is just incredible. You did a great job.
LOVE the food table. It prob wouldn’t work for halloween, but I popped a photo of a very silly rainbow skirt with matching legwarmers in your flickr group recently.
Oh, I think you might have snuck into all out crazy birthday party mom territory, but it all looks so cool that I don’t blame you. I’m just hiding this, so that my kids don’t find out what other mums do for parties…
Rainbow costume? How about the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so the rainbow is kind of the addition rather than the costume?
I have just finished catching up on your posts (busy week over here) and I loved each picture, each wonderfully exicuted idea, and well just the whole thing. You took me back to the memories I have of staying up every night till three for nearly two weeks in order to prepare for my oldest daughters fifth birthday. Something about five is just magical. We did a five star theme that year but like you, I handmade every decoration, every game, and all the favors (not including the very hefty pinata brought in from dear friends in Mexico, they insisted). Thank you for taking me back. I really just love reading your posts, you have a wonderful imagination.
For the costume, you could do a tutu style skirt in tulle or netting ( I know hacked!! :( )but It will go well if you do a head scarf or veil also in layers of rain bow colors. ( sort of 16th cent. things ladies wore. ) I didn’t a similar one for my daughters fairy party . Girls loved wearing it!! ;)
You must be the best Mum ever right now! Amazing birthday party!
Oh, how brilliant is the cake. I think I want to have a rainbow party now too ;P
i’m surprised there’s only 1 mention of rainbow brite in the comments so far! a blue skirt with a white poof at the hem, a colorful shirt and leggings, and a blue star painted on her face… TADA!
whatever you go for, if you go for it as all-out as you did on this party, your daughter will be the best dressed rainbow-themed halloween costume out there!
great job!
The play doh is very cute. My nieces would love it! And what a gorgeous cake! Too bad the flavor isn’t quite as good as it looks.
I LOVE THIS PARTY!! I love everything about it! so fantastic!
Incredible. So inspiring! I LOVE the cake!
wow. you are so creative! how wonderful!
hands down that’s the best party theme i’ve seen ever!
please post the playdough instructions, i’ve made it before but feel there must be a better way than the one i used.
also, i’ll stick my 2penn’oth in re the costume… as it’s so darn cold here in madison i’d use fleece & make a cape. the kids will use it for dress up for ages after
and thank you thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas ! ;o) and being SO down to earth about the whole thing ;o)