Frozen Brrrrrthday Part 1: DIY Decor & Food

I know the bloggy world is in full-on Christmas mode but we recently celebrated a 7th birthday and I just can’t contain my excitement about it!  The theme said 7 year old chose?  A Frozen Brrrrrrthday!

Frankly, I’m shocked that we haven’t done a Frozen party for either of the girls yet so when Eva asked for one, I delivered.  In today’s post I’ll talk about “setting the scene” with DIY Decor & Food.  In Part 2 of this series I’ll talk about the DIY games and activities we created.

All of the DIY-ing I did for this party was to make sure we stayed on point and within a tight budget.  While I love a good party, I don’t want to break the bank when throwing it.  I hope this post helps you bring Elsa to life on a dime!

First, the invitation.  I created this little pretty using this background from The Fulltime Family and PicMonkey.  Have I mentioned that I love a good deal?  And even more, that I love free stuff?  Because I do.  BOTH the background and PicMonkey online editing software are free!  Doesn’t get much better!  I printed my creation in 5×7 format onto white cardstock and boom – for the cost of a few sheets of cardstock and some printer ink we had the perfect way for Eva to ask her fellow first-graders to celebrate her birthday.

Then Eva and I set to work making decorations.  I wanted to transform the dining room to make the party truly magical but I didn’t want to get too “character-y” or spend a zillion dollars.  In order to do this I started with 3D paper snowflakes.

People.  If there was ever an easier, cheaper, yet showier decoration to DIY I don’t know what it would be.  For real, Eva made one of them all by herself!  These bad boys are simply 6 pieces of square paper folded, cut, taped, and stapled together.  I followed this tutorial on WikiHow and they were perfect!

We added a little spray glitter (source: Joann Fabrics) for good measure – because what Frozen party is complete without some sparkle? – and hung them with fishing line to “float” in the dining room.  Since I had the paper and fishing line in my craft cabinet these huge, gorgeous decorations only cost me $5.50 for the spray glitter.  (Note: I had tons of spray glitter left over that I used later so technically the cost of these decorations was even less!)

The day I was decorating for Eva’s party was the same day my dear hubby was hanging our Christmas lights.  I snagged one of his white icicle lights and used it behind a white plastic tablecloth as a backdrop for presents and favors.  The lights were held up by Command Hooks (best. invention. ever.) that were camouflaged by an aqua plastic tablecloth and tulle “swag”.  I filled a hurricane with blue and silver ornaments that we had in our Christmas bins and called it a day.  Because I used some things I already had around the house, this display cost me about $4.  Talk about bang for your buck!  My little Elsa was tickled, that’s for sure. 🙂

On the dining table were white linens which I have used for basically every party I’ve thrown. If you don’t have any, start clipping Bed Bath & Beyond coupons or go looking at your local thrift stores or garage sales.  They are SO versatile, bring a hodge-podge of tables together, and best of all – you can bleach them when they inevitably get spilled upon!  Down the middle of the tables I spread more aqua & glittery tulle, some of which I had leftover from an Ariel birthday party last year.  I supplemented the rest with this fabulous aqua glitter tulle spool (source: Joann Fabrics).  My simple Frozen tablescape cost about $4 thanks to a coupon.

Also gracing the tables were these amazing vintage glass plate and cup sets from my wonderful MIL.  They were her grandmother’s – how special!  Atop the glass plate was a sliver snowflake napkin (source: Target) and a hot cocoa order form.   Because the plates were on loan and the hot cocoa order form was a DIY, the napkins were my only cost at $1.75!

About the hot cocoa order form – you may have noticed on the invitation that we were having hot cocoa to warm up on this brrrrrrrrthday.  Eva’s idea was to have a hot cocoa bar but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around first-graders toting steaming brown beverages all over the house.  So, we came up with this little doo-dad:

Each guest filled out their request and (thanks to a special big-kid helper) we delivered every girls’ personalized cocoa to their seat.  Find your own FREE printable version below!

Frozen Hot Cocoa Order Form from Loving Mountain Life

Here’s a peak at our Crockpot hot cocoa bar.  Not pictured was the whipped cream we had chilling in the fridge.  Yum!  Total cost of the hot cocoa bar was about $10 for supplies.

My favorite thing about the party was the cake though.  The cake.  It was Eva’s favorite chocolate-raspberry creation (here’s the recipe) on my grandmother’s cake stand but what made it truly special was Elsa’s edible ice castle.  J’adore!

I got the idea and rock candy recipe from this post by Chica and Jo.  I was super impressed by the results!  The cake-topper you see is Elsa printed onto some cardstock and taped to a toothpick.  SO easy!  I had to buy a candy thermometer to make the rock candy so this cake was my biggest expense at around $17 total, including all the ingredients.

The girls’ reaction when we turned off the lights and lit the candles was priceless!

All in all the day was beautiful and our big girl made memories for a lifetime.  For that (and for HER) I am so thankful!  Hope you enjoyed our version of Frozen DIY Decor & Food and found some inspiration to make your own Frozen party come to life on a budget!  (ICYMI: decor & food cost us about $42.25 total.)

For more check out Frozen Brrrrrrrthday Part 2: DIY Frozen Fun where I’ll share our games, activities, and indoor ice-skating.  Say what?!  Hint: there’s a secret kitchen supply item involved.  Until next time, friends!

Be inspired,
Meg