This small party was a lot of fun this weekend. For the record, I threw my daughter’s fifth birthday celebration.
This was a low-maintenance, enjoyable, and uncomplicated birthday. Is there such a thing as a low-maintenance birthday party, or is it a contradiction in terms? Unless you’re a sensible person (like most regular people) and have the party at your local Chuck E. Cheese’s, that is.
But, every now and again, it’s fun to try something new. This was a bit sweet, a little special, and it provided me with a much-needed burst of color and pleasure in what I like to call the winter doldrums.
This was a bit sweet, a little special, and it provided me with a much-needed burst of color and pleasure during what I like to call the winter doldrums. After all, I’m only allowed to be incredibly cheesy while they’re little, right?
First and foremost, I created a ‘ 5’ giant number.
The use of actual watercolor paper is crucial in creating this piece. I originally attempted this with some craft paper that I had purchased with the intention of making a watercolor runner, but it turned into a wet, wrinkling mess.
As a former art major, I suppose you could slap a large DUH on my brow. I was attempting to save some money and wasn’t sure how well it would work out.
So I propose purchasing a sheet of large watercolor paper from your local craft store. The week before, this sheet was on sale for 9.95 (with a coupon).
Keep in mind that you may always save money on painting supplies if you plan beforehand. Take my not-so-wise comments with a huge grain of salt, because this may apply to anything. It was a hot pressed paper for me. The paper is smoother as a result, and the paint dries faster.
I also purchased a watercolor kit from the craft store, which included a wide range of colors in addition to the traditional primary colors. (As seen in the top photo) If you buy watercolors in individual tubes, they can add up quickly… just something to keep in mind.
I began by lightly sketching a five on the paper with a pencil. If you’re not comfortable freehanding, you could easily trace or use a projector. I recommend using a 5 as a reference, and you can remove it if you draw softly). I just painted around it from there, adjusting my texture and layers as I went.
A few short points about watercolors and watercolor paper.
If you’re new to this medium, start with a little piece of paper (like a watercolor pad) and work your way up. Watercolors are forgiving to a degree, but only after they’ve been thinned out with water. This isn’t the same as working with acrylic paint, for example. I’m aware. There’s no need to stress.
The colors are simple to confuse and do so rapidly. Keep colors from the same groupings together for this look, then gradually blend them together. Purples and blues, reds and yellows. But, if you think about it, even inside those colors are additional hues.
You can see a hint of pink… or blue… within the right shade of purple, so if you plan to join them, leave room for bleeding them together. Consider the following formula: yellow + red = orange (so sprinkle some pink in there as well). Play with the same colors in different spots to bring them together.
Unless you have a large piece of wood to presoak your watercolor paper and staple it down, watercolor paper will buckle. I couldn’t be bothered, so I just started painting. It simply contributes to the authentic, artistic aesthetic, in my opinion.
As if it were an old parchment or a piece of art that had been found. We’ll put this in her room once we’re finished, so it’ll be fun to have it as a work of art.
Just remember to have fun while you’re doing it and blend the colors as you go. To make the area stand out, leave the actual number area blank. If you make a mistake, just keep trying until you get the desired outcomes. Note: We used a dab of hot glue in the corners to hang this piece, and we’ll just pop it off after we’re finished.
Use Watercolor Banner
When I was thinking of a cheap way to decorate for her celebration, I decided to try using coffee filters. I painted each filter after cutting it into a triangle (leaving the top curled).
After they’ve dried, flip the top side over a string and tape it in the back. These can be soaked, but I loved how the painted look had different colors. I spread them out on my kitchen table to dry, and then used a clorox wipe to clean up the mess.
I was running out of time at the end, so I stacked a bunch of them together and painted on top. Simply ensure that the paint is completely dry and that they are separated to dry.
Party Food Ideas
The party’s menu was simple. Strawberry, goldfish, carrot sticks, guacamole, and salsa are all that’s on the menu. I was also looking for something entertaining in the candy department, so I ordered these small sour balls. They had a watermelon flavor and were chewy. Here, you’ll find a lot more confectioner’s candy.
Shop Sweet Lulu provided the striped straws and the small (breakable) milk bottles. This is where I go when I need something special for a child’s party.
Free Blue Gold Flower Invitation Templates
Everything will be much better when you see a wonderful and stunning invitation with a classy centerpiece, and these Free Blue Gold Flower Invitations will not let you down.
To add a touch of whimsy to your occasion, I created these invites. It has a well-organized layout and well-designed element, as can be seen.
How to Download
- Right-Click each one of your selection.
- Then Select “Save Image As”, locate the destination folder.
- Click “Save” or tap “Enter” to start the download process.
- Once the download process is finished, check the file and you can begin the editing process by opening it (template file) with Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft word.
Print the final draft of your invitation card on any printing paper you have chosen. For me, I’d rather use a quite pricey paper for better quality than using a cheaper one but sacrificing the quality.
