The crafts that went with the birthday

There were a lot of things that I needed wanted to make for Amber's birthday.
In my life there is always that dilemma: will I go mad and try to make everything myself, or will I make it easy on myself and simply buy everything? In the end it's usually a mix of both these things. For instance, I can't remember ever having baked a proper birthdaycake. However, I do make it a point to always make Amber's birthday dress.

Another thing that I find important is to think up of something creative for birthday treats for school. Last year I made fabric flowers and the year before that we made boats. I was wondering whether it's a Dutch tradition to hand out treats at school? It's just that I can't remember ever having read about it on any of the international crafty blogs that I read.

Anyway, to my mind the best treats are unique, but also simple to make. This year Michel and I came up with the perfect idea: fish rods.

Now, I would love to tell what I used to make them, but I'm afraid I'm only able to do so in Dutch: soepstengels, rode en zwarte dropveters en snoepvissen. Thanks to Nichole I now know that I used breadsticks, red & white shoestring licorice and Swedish fish. All sweets came from Ikea, so you might be able to get them there.

This was so easy to put together. We made the fish rods on Sunday and kept them fresh in ziplock bags. We decorated a cardboard box with blue wrapping paper and fish stickers (both Ikea). Then we punched holes in the box and all I had to do the next morning was put all the rods in there.

This is how we tried to transport the whole thing to school:

Amber carried it when everything started to collapse on Linus.

It was a huge success with both children and teachers (and parents).

After this there were still some things to make for her party on Wednesday. Of course I didn't start until the very last minute ;)

For the treasure hunt I made oilcloth letters that the children had to collect during the game. I used a cup to draw the circles unto the oilcloth. After cutting them out and sewing them together, I attached a letter sticker... finito!

For favours I made small oilcloth bags.

I used my girliest oilcloth... I actually love the pink gingham myself! Again, the bags were very easy to make, it's just a shame that I had to work on them so late into the night...

I made cupcakes to put in the bags. Although I don't think I can call them cupcakes...my cakes don't even come close to all the wonderful creations that I so often spot in blogland, but they looked cute enough and were tasty as well :)

In the end, this was the result:

Please notice that I re-used the letters from the treasure hunt to create bags with the girls' initials on them... pretty clever or not?!

And that was the end of that... I promise no more posts on Amber's birthday! Oh, by the way, I'll announce the two winners of the give-away in next post. Enjoy the last bit of weekend, everyone!

Comments

[Nichole]

Love the fish rods! Kids often take treats to school on their birthday here in the US. Usually cookies or cupcakes. In English your fish rods are made of breadsticks, shoestring licorice and what we call Swedish Fish!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Fish

[the pesky bombolino]

so much goodness, Amber is a lucky girl! In the UK some children take chocolates into school on their birthdays but it never happened when I was little. I kind of wish Amber was in school with my daughter!

[heidi]

man that girl is lucky! what a great mom to put so much effort into her birthday!

[Levineke]

hey!
we don't really do party treats for the school here. i used to take in cupcakes but these days so many children have allergies that they prefer it if you don't:(
i love the oil cloth bags you made - that's such a clever party bag. and i agree that the pink gingham is gorgeous.
l
x

[emily]

Amber is a lucky gurl and her parents are ever so resourceful!!

[Kristy]

A belated happy birthday Amber.Love your new dress!

[anne]

Amber is a very lucky girl to have a mum like you!!! Those little favour bags are fantastic..:-)

[PJ]

Simply WOW! What a wonderful birthday tribute...and all the little things are homemade with love and look absolutely grand!

[Thimbleanna]

Wow! What a beautiful party. And you worked so hard! The fish rods are adorable and your cupcakes are beautiful and they're making me REALLY hungry LOL! Very, very clever, you Are!!!

[Ellen]

Lovely little pink bags and cupcakes! You were busy. I had to giggle at your previous post when you said that you now had a year to 'recover' before the next party. How true!