A Party Fit for a Lady(bug)

Since her brother was having a bug party, Riley insisted she wanted a bug party too. I finally talked her into a LADYBUG party, knowing that I could do a lot with the red and black polka dots, throwing a couple of ladybugs in for good measure. This is probably my favorite party I've done to date.

I started with the invitation (created in Photoshop):

Probably my favorite invitation design to date. Or is it just that I finally got to do something girly? I don't know, but I love it!!

I decided I didn't really want to play up the "ladybug" thing, but more the color scheme. Here's how I did it:

Lots of red flowers, mason jars and burlap for that rustic look, polka dot ribbon and a few ladybugs set the mood on the tables outside.

Of course no party is complete without a few balloons.

I made the banner in photoshop, using digital paper I purchased on Etsy. The red theme was a great excuse to break out the Christmas plates I bought last year! the red oval bucket was a lucky find in the Target dollar section.

I decided this party was going to just be cake and ice cream, but couldn't helping have a few other selections as well.

For the food table centerpiece, I used a galvanized tub, filled it with old ball jars burlap and flowers. Then wrapped some burlap casually around the base and of course added a few ladybugs.

The black, white and red theme was carried on with even the food:

A fruit plate with apples, strawberries and blackberries, with vanilla yogurt for dipping, and white chocolate popcorn (recipe to come later this week).

Sweet treats included chocolate covered marshmallows (on the left: red candy melts with black gel icing dots; on the right: dark chocolate with red sprinkles); and regular and dark chocolate covered licorice.

I was inspired by the Halloween chips I found at the grocery store, so I separated the black and orange and had black tortilla chips and salsa!

See those little crackers? Cutest. Snack. Ever. And delicious too. Even the kids gobbled them up and were looking for more!

For the recipe, click here.

I made devil's food cupcakes and decorated them with white icing, red sugar sprinkles and black gel dots.

They were so yummy!

For party favors, I put some little bug nets, magnifying glasses, and ladybug chocolates (paying homage to my German Grandma!). Here's the bags, but I guess I didn't get a photo of the favors!

So that was our party! This being the third party in just 10 weeks (see here and here for the others), I wanted something super casual and fun, so we just had a bounce house and let the kids play while the adults chatted. Everyone had a great time!

And Miss Riley loved being the star of the show!!!

Be sure to check out my other kids' parties:

Hawaiian Inspired Birthday Party

Carnival Birthday Party

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