Awesome Retro Robot Party Ideas

There was a time, a few years ago, that I had this wonderful idea to throw my son a Robot party.  At the time, he was watching the movie Wall-E constantly and I noticed he started gathering random things from around the house to create robots.  He would use old plastic bottles, cans,  pipe cleaner and screws from Dad's toolbox  and tinker around to make these little toys.  This, of course sparked the party side of my brain.  His little creations reminded me of those retro robots with the wind-up key.  So, I went searching online and found the perfect one on Etsy for him to have and add to his robot collection. From there, the idea of a Robot printable party was stuck in my head.

I immediately started creating the printables around this wind up toy, so they had a retro feel to them. I added gadgets and gears, and created a robot to look like the little toy I found.  Our robot man had this very retro blue color over the main part of it's body, and red accents I used those colors throughout the printable set.  It did not take me long to create the printables, but by the time I was done, my son was no longer in love with Wall-E or making robots.  There was a new hero in town....and his name was Spiderman.  I figured, maybe the next year, we could do a robot party.  Who was I kidding....?

Don't think that my son's new found hero du jour meant I didn't do anything with those printables.  They went right into my Etsy shop, where they've been living since 2012.  Years passed and I felt at some point I would need to showcase these printables with a real-ish party set up.  So, here ya go!

Using my Retro Robot Party Printable Kit, I set up a sweets table with ideas that I hope inspire you!

The invitation sets the tone for any party!  Think outside the envelope, and send your invite in a tin box and add a few nuts and bolts for fun! (There's our little robot wind up toy in the corner of the photo).

A friendly sign is always a quick way to welcome guests to your party.  It's particularly useful when you're running around tending to other guests and can't greet them promptly at the door.  You can also, add a whimsical robot for fun.  I made this one with a glittered box, a few nuts and bolts, ric rac and an empty soup can.

I'm a huge fan of party hats!  I would normally add a yarn pompom topper to the top of the hat, but I felt that just a rosette embellishment was just enough here.  I think they mimic the look of a gear and play off the theme nicely!

All inventors need to map out plans for their inventions!  To display my cake pops, I used small chalkboards that I drew  physics diagrams onto.  Notice each cake pop was placed into a foil mini cupcake liner and embellished with a small silver glittered ribbon.  I  added lots of tin materials, to this tablescape since robots are usually made from some type of metal!  You'll notice that the cupcakes are presented on an inverted tin cupcake pan!

Candy and treats like licorice, Nibs and Donuts are great for this theme.  You can give them fun and relatable names; here I'm using them as live wires, nuts and bolts and wheels!

For drinks, serve Blue Hawaiian Punch or 'anti-freeze' in glass bottles embellished with bottle wraps and outfitted with a red striped paper straw and coordinating drink flag.

I know that cupcakes can get pretty fancy, but sometimes, the fancy cupcakes aren't very purse friendly.  You really can find very delicious cupcakes at your local grocery bakery.  These came with sprinkles on them, but I wanted them to match my table decor, so, I just topped each cupcake with red rock candy crystals and a printable topper.

No party should end without a cute party favor.  I like to mix my favor containers up a bit because I usually have some store-bought take out containers in my party stash.  That's where printable tags come in handy.  Sometimes, you can't find the perfect container or want a more custom look.  So, the printable set has a small gable box that can be used to hold a bit of candy or small toys!

Simply recycling items from my personal party stash, raiding my husband's toolbox, making my own party decor and keeping the treats to a minimum, this whole sweets table cost me less than $50.  You can click on a few links throughout this post to purchase some of the items I used for this party.  If you do make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, which helps me maintain this blog and bring you more awesome content!  Thank you in advance.  The Retro Robot printable party set is currently available in my Etsy shop!

I hope these ideas inspired you to throw your Tech-loving little inventor or Transformer fan boy/girl an easy Robot Party with just a few little details that are very simple and affordable.  

{Real Parties} Adam's Sonic the Hedgehog Birthday Party Recap

My little Adam is CRAZY about playing video games!  His favorite game, at the moment, is Sonic the Hedgehog.  The whole idea of the party came about when he told me that he wanted a Sonic, Wall-E, Call of Duty birthday party.  Being that I am not a fan of him playing the last game (we have Dad to thank for that) and that I was definitely not sure how to combine those three all together, I took his favorite of the three and chose a Sonic theme.

PARTY ELEMENTS THAT INSPIRE:

• Golden yellow painted floral foam centerpieces made to resemble the 'rings' in the game
• Plastic gem vase fillers used as Chaos Gems 
• Paper Palm Trees that sit on either side of the sweets table just like the trees in the game
• Sonic action figures and toys used throughout the party for decoration

My favorite little dude!!!!

Theme

There are not too many online party ideas  for this theme that don't include the mass produced licensed party decor.  It also didn't help that I didn't know much about this game.  So, I had to go with the very small bit of info I had on the game and from looking on You Tube to see how the game is played to work with an overall theme.  In the end, I just decided a full fledged Sonic filled party would suffice.

Decor 

I learned a lot and after all my research, I designed the printables for the party and a few key ideas to focus on for the decor!  Adam's favorite color is blue, and there are a lot of party items in the party shops with this cool blue checkerboard theme.  It also plays off of the brown checkerboard theme that's seen throughout the game.  I incorporated some of that in the design of the printables. 

The game also consists of Sonic running through various worlds, collecting golden rings.  I can't remember why, but I believe it's how points are tallied.  So, I created gold rings using floral rings I got from the craft store and painted them yellow.  I initially wanted them to hang from the ceiling, but instead chose to use them in the centerpieces I created for the main table.  To create the centerpieces, I attached each ring to a bamboo skewer and then slid a striped paper straw over it to conceal the stick and to make the rings look more festive.  I then anchored two rings into  Styrofoam that I placed in wooden crates and topped them with green paper shred to play off the greenery that is featured throughout the video game.

My goal was to try and incorporate a few of the key elements from the game and recreate those themes into the decor.  In the game, as Sonic runs through the various worlds, there usually is a bright blue sky.  I found the perfect backdrop for my sweets table when I came a cross a cloud filled sky roll of bulletin board paper.  It was a major score and saved me tons of work & time, as I initially was going to create clouds from paper and hang them against a sheet of blue paper. I also wanted to add palm trees to the decor and found a few ideas online on how to make them with paper bags and pool noodles!  It was such and easy and creative project.  Between my husband and I - we made two trees within 2 hours.....and he McGuyvered the trees to be able to stand using PVC pipe, C-clamps and jumbo rolls of toilet paper (don't ask). 

Anytime I'm forced convinced by my kids to do a character party, I stick mainly with toys to add to the decor and not store-bought party supplies.  Adam had a small selection of Sonic toys but it wasn't nearly enough for the party.  So, I found a good mix of toys online, that also served as his presents and I used them as decor - they didn't stay on the table long, he snatched them up quicker than I could snap the pictures!  If you're not into using mass produced party supplies or having trouble finding them, using your child's toys are a perfect and usually economical way to give them the party they want and add a personalized touch!

Activities

Thing 2 loves to color, it's on of his other favorite past times.  So, I created small coloring books that the kids could use as an activity and they also served as party favors.  I placed two big boxes of Crayola crayons on the table and let them have at it....it was a no-fuss kind of activity.

Another fun activity the kids enjoyed was a Pin the Ring on Sonic game that I found while I was out getting plates and candy for the party.  It was a lucky find, because there aren't too many Sonic themed party supplies available in stores.  

Since the party only consisted of the kids in our family, we also let the boys (and The Mini Diva) have a water gun and balloon fight and they also had turns at playing Adam's new Sonic Video Games!

Table Setting

I heart kraft paper, just like Thing 1's cupcake party, I covered our dining room table with brown kraft paper, and added the gold ring centerpieces that I made to the table.  I found gem shaped vase filler at the craft store that I used as table scatter to represent the Chaos Gems that Sonic collects in the video game. 

Food

Adam's request for food was easy, he wanted hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken wings.  To make the cuisine really fit the theme, I came up with some names for each dish.  We served Tails' Windy Wings (Buffalo wings), Sonic's Lightening Quick Burgers & hot dogs and Robotnik's Devilish Eggs (deviled eggs).  We also put our popcorn machine to use and gave the kids popcorn served in custom popcorn boxes that I created for the party.

The sweets table was very simple as we had a very small group of family only guests!  I ordered cupcakes and used the most awesome custom fondant toppers by Edible Details to dress them up.  In addition to the cupcakes, I also ordered a small bakery cake and asked for it to be decorated with just blue icing.  I added a small Sonic figurine to the top and a #6 sparkler candle.  You might notice the candle has a striped straw around it.....let me warn you now....do not use a paper straw to cover up the stick of a sparkler candle.....bad idea......very, very, bad idea.  

In addition to the cupcakes and cake, I made chocolate covered Oreo Cookies. You can make these with special molds, but luck was not with me the day I went looking for them at the craft store.  So, in a pinch, you can do what I did and use a muffin pan to make them.  Using a different chocolate mold I ordered online, I added a number '6' to each cookie.  These are really delicious treats, but they are SUPER sweet - major sugar rush.....MAJOR.
 

Favors

For the party favors each child received a mini tote bag filled with goodies.  I included a bag of Funyuns (remember the gold rings?) large swirlpops, noisemakers, Sonic stickers and a glow stick in each bag!  I also added a personalized tag on each bag for the kids.  As mentioned earlier, the kids also got to take home the coloring books that I created.

My favorite little dude is very easy going and in a matter of words very ho-hum about things.  So, I didn't expect much excitement from him about this bash.  However, when the party was over, he was playing quietly with some of his new toys and casually said, 'Momma, thank you for my Sonic birthday party.  It was the best party ever.'  Yup!  Best party ever for the best son ever!

Vendors & Where to Buy:

Styling & Design  - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams
Fondant Toppers - Edible Details
Sonic Action Figures & Toys - Amazon
Mini Tote Bags
Number Molds

(FYI - The FTC would like me to inform you that I may or may not receive payment/commission for some items linked to Amazon on this post.)

{Sneak Peek} Adam's Sonic Birthday Party

My little dude is now a big 6 year old!  He is so proud to be 6 now and I'm so excited for him to learn all the new things that come with being 'a big kid'.  I wanted to share a few sneak peeks of the Sonic themed party we threw for my son a few weeks ago! 

 

Can't wait to share the rest of the fun and excitement!!!!

{Guest Post} Camping Party Ideas from Spaceships and Laserbeams

The idea of a camping party offers a lot of appeal for a range of ages. Perhaps it’s because the entire theme conjures up wholesome images of nature, fresh air, sunshine, open sky…and no electronic games! If the call of the wild appeals to you for your next kid-friendly party, plan for needed supplies. On my blog, Spaceships and Laser Beams, we specialize in boy birthday party ideas, so I have tons of suggestions! From invitations to decorations to cakes and take-home favors, we have lots of considerations to help you.

One of the first decisions you need to make is where you’ll host this party; do you have room on your own property? A backyard campout is very convenient! I’ve also seen moms successfully plan for the entire campout to be inside. One mom had kids roasting marshmallows in sterno pots on her dining room table—and the guests had a great time!

Outside, a tent is not a have-to, but it does add to the kid excitement. One large tent or even the A-frame DIY tents, can work wonders for party atmosphere. If weather permits, just sleeping under the stars in a sleeping bag is fun or have your guests bring their own pup tents! Don’t forget to provide anti-bug bracelets or bug spray to make sure the party stays enjoyable.

Camping Party Invites

Once you know your party venue, get the invitations ready. An invite that reflects some aspect of your party is a good way to jumpstart anticipation. An invitation in the shape of a tent with an envelope embellished with trees, for example, is more exciting than a plain square of white. If your campout is a sleep over, be sure to let guests know if they should bring sleeping bags or tents.

Camping Party Games

Here are just a few activities that work well with a camp out theme: a nature scavenger hunt; classic games like tug-of-war and sack races or flashlight tag; star gazing; tall tales storytelling or retell true stories of wilderness explorers; catch lightning bugs; nature crafts such as leaf identification and crayon rubbings; give a lesson in knot-tying or some other wilderness survival skill; sing around the campfire; go fishing (for the younger set, this can be a game with magnetic poles and fish-no water necessary).

Camping Party Food Ideas

Food is a major consideration at any party! At a campout, preparing the food can be part of your activity. Of course most people expect hot dogs and s’mores at a campout and that’s fine, but there is other camp friendly food.  Pre-made stews can heat in a kettle over the campfire (or on the stove). Look up some camp recipes.  There are a lot of foil packet meals that can be nestled in fire embers. A couple of cast-iron pans can produce some delicious culinary treats, too. Have you ever cooked bacon over a campfire?  Um…mmm!  Add potato chunks, onion, eggs and cheese and you have a feast.

Camping Themed Desserts

Don’t forget the birthday cake! It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Top it with (edible!) miniature trees and a tent or hire your favorite bakery to produce a woodland scene. Cupcakes, brownies, cookies in theme shapes and hand-held pies are welcomed at any birthday celebration, too.

Decorating Ideas

Whether you are hosting a camp-out or a camp-in, remember to decorate the food and dessert tables. Think texture and rustic. For example, table coverings can be a plaid blanket or burlap or even painter’s canvas. Old tin ware, wood platters and baskets make excellent serving pieces.  Lanterns, vintage thermos jugs, even deer antlers, can add to the out-of-doors ambiance. Don’t forget the possibility of using rocks, leaves, twigs and moss in your arrangements.

Favors for Happy Campers

Send the happy campers home with favor bags. You can include something as simple as a theme-shaped cookie. If you want to be more elaborate, you might add a compass, binoculars, a canteen, a flashlight or trail mix.

As with any theme, you can be as ambitious as you want in planning your party, but a camping idea gives you the opportunity to simplify and still pull off a great bash. Happy trails!

What's your favorite idea for a camping themed birthday party?

You can find Stephanie on the Spaceships and Laser Beams Facebook page to keep up with even more great boy birthday party ideas!