Backyard Camping Birthday Party

So, who is tired of my kids' birthday parties yet? :) It has been a crazy busy summer full of parties and special events. I need to get pictures up here from the backyard southern wedding I styled and planned, as well as a library themed first birthday party I styled and planned for a sweet little girl. But first, I want to share these pictures from my oldest son's SEVENTH birthday party last weekend!

We hosted 10 little boys, ages 4 to 10 for an overnight Backyard Camping Birthday Party. Whew! What a night! :) The party started around 7:00 pm with drop-off and hot dogs, chips and fruit served in aluminum pans. These were handy because they helped keep all the food contained easily without any food sliding off a flimsy paper plate. The boys enjoyed drinking old fashioned sodas out of glass bottles as well.




I made homemade milk chocolate cupcakes with chocolate fudge icing topped with graham cracker crumbs. The cute unbleached kraft brown liners were ordered from Etsy seller BakersBling Shop.
I made my signature chocolate pops in fish shapes and mushroom chocolates made with molds purchased off of Ebay. I also made smores marshmallow pops with gigantic marshmallows. The camouflage twist lollipops were purchased from Oriental Trading.


We borrowed a huge 12 person tent from a sweet neighbor and I hung inexpensive denim curtain panels purchased from Goodwill on the front of the tent to "fancy up" the entrance.



I purchased party favor camouflage hackie sacs and mini flashlights also from Oriental Trading, and plastic canteens from Birthday Express. I designed 3 inch labels (from Etsy seller ClutterBugStudio) to match my custom invitations and attached to the canteens. Then used camouflage ribbon for hanging. I love how they turned out! It just shows how a little personalization can take an ordinary object into a special favor.





I purchased brown kraft take out boxes from Etsy seller LeBoxBoutique and filled them with camouflage bandannas from Birthday Express, Slim Jim, and individual bags of trail mix. I used the same 3 inch labels to design a "Midnight Snack" label for the boxes.







After dinner the boys played camp games of "People to People" where they had partners and had to match random body parts together. This caused lots of laughter, especially when we got to "bottoms to bottoms" and "nose to toes". :) They also played "Human Knot" which was really funny to watch as they tried to untie themselves.


Happy 7th birthday to my biggest baby boy! Graham you have grown up so much this year. Not only in appearance (like a weed) but also in intelligence and maturity. You are SO stinking smart, even your teacher says so, not just mommy! We are all amazed at your abilities. You are the best big brother (most of the time) and you have a huge heart.

I hope you had the best time at your camping birthday! We love you to the moon!