This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I. Am. Exhausted. Now, I’m going to warn you up front, this is going to be a long post, but I have so many fabulous photos I have to share them all!!

Yesterday was my son’s 4th birthday party. For months he’s been asking for a “bug party” and I was determined to make it happen for him!

Here’s the invitation:

Bug Birthday Party invitation

I didn’t want a “cutesy” bug theme, but more like “nature.” I purchased artificial grass at Home Depot. It was enough to cover three tables and cost me just $12. The burlap, also from Home Depot was just under $4 for each 80″ x 80″ sheet. I added a few potted mum plants and a whole mess ‘o plastic bugs, snakes and lizards.

Bug themed table and decor
Birthday balloons and decor on tables
Flowers and bug decor on tables

For the food table, I utilized the same tablescape design. The Happy Birthday banner was created in photoshop and the flash card garland was from a Target Dollar Spot pack of insect flash cards.

Happy birthday banner and bug pictures on a hutch
A kitchen with food, birthday signs, punch, and decor.

The menu was my favorite part:

Plates of food on a table
Cricket Nuggets (chicken nuggets)
Snail Shells (Turkey Rollups)
A bowl of food on a table
Butterflies (Italian bowtie pasta salad; recipe here)
Caterpillars & Cheese (Mac ‘N Cheese)
Food on a table
Antenae (Carrot sticks)
Ants on a Log (Celery with cream cheese and raisins)
Roly Polys (Black grapes slice in half lengthwise)
Wings (potato chips)
Green punch with cups on a table
Bug Juice (Lemon Lime Hawaiian Punch)

My friends and I had fun coming up with silly bug themed names for all of the food! I really wanted to float some gummy worms in the punch, but it didn’t work (note the red figure at the bottom of the container!).

The dessert table:

Flowers and food on a table
\"Worms in dirt\" treats on a table
Glass jar with treats and label that says \"worm holes\"
Cupcakes on a tray

Cupcakes and matching rice krispie treats made by my good friend Diane. I also added some white chocolate dipped marshmallows.

A little boy blowing out birthday candles
A little boy blowing out birthday candles
Little boy eating gummy worms

Who needs birthday “cake”? Cooper isn’t a big fan of cake/cupcakes so he asked for Worms in Dirt for his birthday dessert. I think he just wanted the worms!

In my online searching for party inspiration, I came across a party that had featured Steve the Nature Guy. We hired him for the party and he was awesome! He brought a scorpion, lots of lizards and snakes, a tortoise and a frog!

A wooden box that says \"Live Cargo\" and \"Cool Critters\"
A couple of people and a scorpion

At first Cooper was unsure, but he warmed up pretty quickly!

A small boy and a lizardA group of people holding a big lizard
A little boy that is sitting on top of a turtleA little boy holding a snake
A little boy and an alligatorA little boy holding a small frog

The kids all got to take a photo with this albino boa which they thought was pretty cool.

A group of kids holding an albino boa

I, however, did not.

A woman holding an albino boa

Cooper enjoyed the presentation so much that he was playing “Steve the Nature Guy” all evening!

A woman and children sitting on a couch

Each of the kids got take home a goodie bag with a bug catcher as well as their own set of insect flash cards.

A close up of a red goody bag with bug picture on topBug gards on a table

They also got a bug hat (which I made with construction paper, black pipe cleaners and puffy balls and hot glue),

A group of children posing for the camera with bug hats
A little boy wearing a bug hat

and a bug coloring book (can’t find the photo) that I made in photoshop.

If you made it all the way though this post, thank you! I had so much fun putting some creative touches on this party. We all had a really great time!

An image that says \"As Seen On Bird\'s Party\"

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

Free Email Series
5 Secrets to Dinnertime Sanity
Free email series with tested, tasted & terrific dinner recipes!

You Might Also Like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Bob Kubik says:

    I noticed that a couple of the little ones are wearing Big Ben’s #7. Are you in/from Pittsburgh? I am, born and raised. After high school graduation I moved to California (46 years ago) but still remain loyal to the Black and Gold.

    1. Kristin Maxwell says:

      I’m not sure! Those are the children of a friend and this was a while ago.

  2. Alora says:

    Love your ideas! We’re having a similar bug themed party for our 5 yr old daughter. How did you affix the pipe cleaner antennae to the construction paper band?

    1. Kristin says:

      Hi Alora, It’s been so long I can’t remember! I think I just taped them though. You could use tape or hot glue would actually be my recommendation.

  3. BlueCat says:

    Amazing birthday!

  4. Gwen says:

    Just came across your blog through a pinterest pin. Adorable birthday parties you are having for your children. Mine are in their 20s but, like you, I had so much fun with their birthdays. My oldest let me throw him a ‘theme’ party every year until he left for college. I love seeing that you are having such a great time and putting so much creativity into your children’s life. And I’m busy converting your daughter’s ladybug party into something for adults. 🙂

  5. Anonymous says:

    So super awesome!! “borrowing” a couple ideas – thanks!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    wow..that was very creative and awesome! I Loved it!

  7. April says:

    What is the name of the font in your invitation…the Cooper is turning Four part?

  8. Vanessa says:

    What a fun party!

  9. Kim @ seven thirty three says:

    WOW! What a fun party and that Nature Guy was pretty amazing! EEK!Thanks for linking with What are little boys made of?

  10. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says:

    Looks like a great time!

  11. pam {simple details} says:

    He is too cute!! You get Mom of the Year for letting them wrap the snake around you, that is the ultimate in being a good sport!

  12. Gwen @ Gwenny Penny says:

    Another fantastic party, Kristin. I love the names of each food item… too clever!

  13. Adriana says:

    Such an amazing party and Cooper looks like he had a blast!

  14. the cape on the corner says:

    you are seriously amazing! you covered everything with this birthday, down to the smallest (and creepy crawliest) detail. i LOVE the turf as table runner, and all the labeled food. holy smokes!

  15. Noelle says:

    My birthday is Wednesday. I’d like a ‘No More Hospitals’ theme please. ;)You are AMAZING!!!

  16. Sue says:

    What great photos of happy times for you and your little ones. Wow, how did you handle that snake on you? I think I would have freaked out! Seriously, there isn’t much that frightens me, but snakes and lizards, yikes! Cooper is so darn cute. I enjoyed all the pictures.

    Take care, Sue

  17. Kelli says:

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! Great job Mama =) What a memory to last a lifetime, what a blessed little 4 year old =)

  18. michelle says:

    What an adorable party!!! You did such an amazing job with everything!! I love the food and you are WAAAYYYY much more braver than I am with that snake! I would have been in another state. 🙂 I am so glad that he enjoyed himself, he is so adorable.
    xoxox

  19. Korrie@RedHenHome says:

    I hope my children never EVER see this post! My birthday parties are pathetic next to this one! I’m glad everyone had a wonderful time, and I hope you get to relax a little this week!