1. 56 • FamilyFun • March 2014
Everything
you need to
throw five
amazing
birthday
bashes.
By Kimberly Stoney, Lisa Stowe,
and Ellen Harter Wall
Photographs by Dana Gallagher
Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez
Craft Styling by Morgan Levine
Prop Styling by Deborah Williams
Wardrobe Styling by Don Sumada
Grooming by Sylvester Castellano
ready,
set,
party!

2. race car
party
party #1
Kids will flip for our
double cake, which
features a rip-roaring
surprise: tunnels for cars
to zoom through! Turn
the page for more.

3. Our turbo-charged cake was inspired by a similar
confection that Marion, Indiana, reader Brittani Schmidt
made for her son, William. See page 76 for directions.
A container with
a tap and a fun
sign lets thirsty kids
fill ’er up.
self-
service
drinks
To make stoplights,
slice mozzarella
sticks in half
lengthwise, then add
circles of green,
yellow, and red
peppers. (A straw
works well to punch
out the circles.) For
cars, push 4-inch
skewers through the
ends of hot dog
buns and thread on
wheels made from
cucumber slices and
cherry tomatoes.
Set your hot dogs in
the driver’s seat.
pit stop
food
raceway cake
Fold a 54- by 108-inch black vinyl tablecloth in half
lengthwise to create a strip 27 inches wide. Line the edges
with checkerboard duct tape and add white duct tape
lane markings. Adhere the cloth to the floor with a
low-tack tape, such as painter’s tape, then let kids
race—or, more likely, crash!—their cars. Note: Tape may
damage the finish on certain hardwoods, so set up the
track on concrete or linoleum, if possible.
roadster roadway game
previouspage:StripedsweatshirtandStart-shirtbyBODEN;dottedshirtbyUNIQLO
ThisPage:boy’sshirtbyLANDS’END,jeansbyH&M;jacksonvilleglassdispenserbystylesetter

4. 60 • FamilyFun • March 2014
it’s a doll’s world
party #2
A candy cottage takes center stage, with a
supporting cast of gumdrop treats, a dress-up
doll craft, and personalized cups of tea.

5. Scan any page in this article to pin.
See page 78 to learn more.
Candy shingles and fruit-slice shrubbery make
an inviting abode for gumdrop dolls and a
scrumptious treat for partygoers. See page 76
for directions.
home, sweet home cake
Serve your party guests herbal tea, but give it a
custom touch. Simply replace tea bag labels with
handmade paper labels that fete the birthday girl.
a spot of tea
It’s dress-up time! Set out a supply of washi tape
(available at craft stores), fine-tip markers,
self-adhesive jewels, and ribbon for party guests
to create dolls on paint sticks (paint them white
and let them dry before the party).
all dolled up
For each oh-so-sweet mini doll, use frosting to
join Necco Wafers, a large gumdrop, and a
gumball in a stack, as shown. Draw hair with
writing icing, add facial features with edible
markers, and let dry. Use frosting to adhere
Skittles candy pigtails.
gumdrop gals
sweatshirtbyGAP;dressbyLANDS’END

6. 62 • FamilyFun • March 2014
This serpentine
creature is
surprisingly quick
to assemble. The
only thing faster?
The speed at which
young dragon
slayers will devour
him! See page 76
for directions.
candy-
breathing
beast
At the party, kids can turn plastic goblets
into royal drinking glasses using
self-adhesive jewels.
glorious goblet craft
dragon party
party #3
Methinks young lords and ladies will shout “Huzzah!” at the
unveiling of medieval-themed crafts and a ferocious cake.
Any self-respecting
knight needs a
shield with a crest.
Set your guests to
work making theirs
from cake boards,
washi tape, and
card stock symbols.
See page 77 for
directions.
super
shield
craft
Transform party
horns with streamers
into fire-breathing
dragon masks. Get
our templates at
familyfunmag.com/
printables, cut them
from card stock, and
glue the red horns in
place. Use a punch to
make a hole for each
party horn.
party favor
mask
62 • FamilyFun • March 2014
ArgylesweaterbyH&M;StripedtopbyGAP

7. A cake that looks this
good and is easy to
make? Consider it
mom’s new best
friend! See page 77
for directions.
doggone
cute cake
Pretzel rods make
fetching party food.
doggie
treat
snacks
puppy love
party #4
This party just may win Best in Show, thanks to a sweet-faced
cake and a matching litter of balloon pets.
Helium allows these
balloon pooches to
“walk” behind their
owners. See page 77
for directions.
see spot
party craft
For howl-worthy take-home trinkets, hand out candy bones and paw-print stamps.
(Ours are from orientaltrading.com, $7.25 for 72 candy packs; $6.50 for 24 stamps.)
doggie bag favors
March 2014 • FamilyFun • 63

8. Draw the kids away
from the computer
screens with this simple
but refreshingly active
target challenge. Cover
cardboard boxes in
paper as shown, then
let partygoers use sock
bean bags to knock
them down.
knock his
block off
game
Throw the perfect bash with the birthday party planner tool (parents.com/app/birthdayplanner/),
which serves up additional exciting ideas for cakes, party favors, food, and games.
Inspired by the popular Minecraft video game, this
celebration brings the cube-filled world to life.block party
Fun-to-sculpt
fondant
animals top this
creation, made
from a simple
sheet cake.
See page 77
for directions.
craft a
cake
fold-up
party
favors
The Minecraft Papercraft
Animal Mob Set lets kids
fold precut pieces of card
stock into their favorite
characters for some
unplugged fun. $12.99 for
30 animals and blocks;
toysrus.com
64 • FamilyFun • March 2014
party #5