Ashlyn's Ice Cream Party

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I had my first child, Ashlyn Rose!  Wow, how time flies.  Ashlyn loves ice cream and cake, and pretty much anything sweet.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but her mama loves them too, so I'm not surprised.  I ate a lot of sweet and yummy fruit when I was pregnant with her, and you know, some other things that were probably a little less healthy in the sweets department.  So, for her 3rd party, I thought an ice cream party would be right up her alley, and mine, of course!  We talked about her party for weeks.  And when asked what she was most excited about, she said, "Ice cream and cake!"   I wanted lots of color and made everything with lots and lots of elbow greese!  I was eager to try out some new party ideas.  Here's what I did!

I found lots of free printables online.  I am in the process of learning how to design them myself.  Maybe even turning it into a business, but for this, I just used free designs. 

In keeping with the ice cream party theme, I was dead set on finding an ice cream cone cookie cutter and making decorated sugar cookies for favors.  None of the craft stores sell them, so I had to either get it online, or go to an cake decorating store/school.  And so I did.  They had everything there! 

I found this great blog http://www.thedecoratedcookieblog.com/ that gave me a cookie and frosting recipe and instructions on how to decorate them.  When the cookies came out of the oven, they looked like big blobs, and I was a bit worried.  But with lots of time and practically breaking my back, they were colorful and delicious and I think they turned out just right. 

A special princess cake for a special girl.

   

    Don't they look like ice cream cones?  They're cupcakes!  Easy breezy!  Just make your cake mix as usual and then fill the cones half way with mix and stand them up in a cupcake pan in the oven.  I frosted them with buttercream frosting and sprinkled with a little color and added printable cupcake toppers! 

                                                           Yummy!  I'll have one please!

The look on her face when we sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  Priceless!

Handmade pom poms!  Tissue paper, floral wire, and invisible wire.  And bam, you have colorful decor!

Handmade banner.  I handcut all the flags, the letters and the center scalloped edged circles.  Lots of work, but so cute.  I made one with just her name and hung that in my hallway as you enter the house. 

The birthday girl playing in the jumpy with her friends.  She was still one of the last to fall asleep that night!  This kid can party!  I think she had a great time!  Till next year when we do it again!  Said I wouldn't, but there's just something so fun about making your child feel special!  Afterall, it's her birthday!