Hi Party Gals! This 2nd birthday party is absolutely one of the cutest we have featured - a GOLDFISH BIRTHDAY PARTY! The running commentary in my head while I looked at the photos was “oh my gosh that’s so cute… OH MY GOSH she MADE That… OH that’s SO CUTE… AAAH MUST SHARE“. So now, you lucky fishies get to see what all the fuss is about! See Vanessa Craft is the party-styling mom behind this party and happens to be a fellow blogger that I got to meet at one of my book signings. HEART her.

Vanessa planned this party from out-of-town (it was held at the grandparent’s house out of state) so she had to figure out decor + food from miles away! She did lots of DIY projects + reused old party supplies for the party decor!

PARTY DECORATIONS

• Vanessa reused the “O” from her son’s first birthday and added the “T” + “W” to her collection. She purchased them from Jo-Ann and spray painted them (isn’t spray paint the best?). She added mini cardstock-bunting to the “O” for extra party pizzazz!
• Orange and blue balloons were used to make the adorable party wreath! Get the full “how-to” for this wreath here on How Does She!
• Under the tent and around the patio, Vanessa hung fish lanterns and crepe paper chandeliers! “My very awesome mom and grandma sewed blue and orange crepe paper together to give it a ruffled look and I glued them to large metal rings that I found at the craft store. For the fish lanterns, we glued giant googly eyes and tails to orange paper lanterns I found at Hobby Lobby.” – Vanessa
• LIVE fish were the centerpieces! Don’t worry, no fishies were harmed (Whoever wanted a fish bowl at the end of the party took home a new pet with baggies of fish food and care instructions).

SWEET TREATS + PARTY FOOD

• She served up chocolate covered pretzel rods with orange + blue sprinkles, polka dot chocolate dipped blue filled Oreos, fishy marshmallow pops (SO CUTE), orange + blue cupcakes, fishbowl cookies, and cake!
• The cake even had ORANGE + BLUE layers in it! This is SUCH a cute party tip for adding a little pizzazz to birthday cakes. Food coloring can be a great thing, can’t it?!
• The kids were served PB&J cut with a fish cookie cutter and gummy fish jello. She found the orange gummy fish at the dollar store, score! Blue Hawaiian Punch (aka OCEAN WATER) was served up for drinks! Vanessa cut a fish shape out of sticky chalkboard paper to label the “ocean water” and had matching polka dot straws and blue cups complete with a fish on each one.

PARTY FAVORS

• Goldfish Cracker Bar (SO clever) – guests got to bag up a variety of goldfish flavored snacks to take with them!
• Goldfish cookies were also given out for a little sweet treat on-the-go!
• Vanessa’s like me – she likes favors! She also gave out little kid’s craft gifts. “My rockstar grandma and mom sewed fish pouches for everyone and we placed goldfish crackers inside. I made fish crayons for the kiddos using ice molds from IKEA and fish soap in a bag using Little Birdie Secrets tutorial.”

PARTY GAMES

“Because we had a wide range of ages at the party, I decided to have activities available that the kids could do at their own pace if they want to. The kiddos colored fish puppets, fish cutouts glued on popsicle sticks, and enjoyed a bubble station. We also had a bubble machine going, which the birthday boy loved! Mostly, the kids just ran around! We also made sure to take a photo of the guests with homemade party hats on, a tradition we started last year. I made the birthday boy’s hat and shirt out of felt.” – Vanessa

CREDITS + RESOURCES

Party Styling: See Vanessa Craft
Fish graphics, party printables: Kindly Reply
Polka dot cups & straws: Bake It Pretty
Orange cupcake liners & nonpareils: DK DeleKtables
Orange paper lanterns, polka dot plates, goldfish bowls: Hobby Lobby
Cardboard TWO letters, polka dot oreo molds, bubble machine: Jo-Ann
Cricut cartridges used: Cricut Lite Cupcake Wrappers (purchased on ebay) & Create A Critter (purchased at Michaels)
Cake, cupcakes, cookies: Vanessa’s Mom