Saturday, March 5, 2011

Japanese Theme Birthday Party

My husband and I had decided our kids were only going to have birthday parties every other year. Last year, my daughter and twenty of her closest friends rode around in a limo for two hours. They felt like rock stars, and had a ton of fun with the girly music blasting. I thought I wasn't going to do a party for her this year, but it has occurred to me lately, that she is half way done with us (at least living with us)... give her nine more years, and she will be on her way to college. As long as she still wants a party, I am going to do it for her. Kids are only young once - right? We tossed around a few ideas for a theme, and came up with a Japanese theme. I scoured the internet for ideas, and let me tell you, they were few and far between! So, I had to come up with most of this stuff on my own. It turned out super cute!


I went to etsy, and found this shop called Art Cult that has the most darling printables. I decided to go from there.

Let's start with the invitation:




I created them in Piknic by Picasa. It was so easy, and the best part is it was free!


What Japanese party is complete without sushi? I knew the girls wouldn't want to eat raw fish, so I made dessert sushi! The tutorial is here.

This one is made of powder donuts, ju ju fish, and fruit by the foot.


This one is made of ho, ho's cut in thirds, and cut up pastel two tone gummy worms I got from Wal-mart in the specialty candy section.


I love this table, with the gift bags, and pink snow balls.

I am no Amy Atlas, but I gave it a shot. ;)


My mom bought the umbrellas at Hobby Lobby, and I used more printables to decorate the snow balls.


The bags are from the party section at Wal-mart. I punched a large hole in them, attached a tag from etsy, and closed them with tulle.


This fan was the inspiration for the colors. I got it at World Market.

Here is the other food table, complete with cherry blossoms.

Sobe's were on sale for $.50 each so I got each girl one, and replaced the wrapper with one of the cute printables I got from etsy.

Each girl got her own pair of chopsticks. I opted for the prettier ones, and spent a dollar or two more. I got them at an oriental market in Salt Lake City, UT. I put them in my second hand milk glass dish - one of my very favorites! In rice, which was my mom's idea, and very fitting.

After the girls got their chopsticks, we turned on music, and they sat in a circle, and tried to pick up marshmallows with the chopsticks.

As each girl won, she got to pick a necklace I made using the printables from etsy.



The way they won them, is whomever got the most marshmallows. They got better over time, and it was really fun.

Here is a close up:


My friend Lisa has a sister who lived in Japan for years, and she let us use some kimono's for the girls to try on. They loved it! Thank you Lisa! I will be sending a photo of each girl wearing a kimono out with thank you cards.

Next we did the thing I was the most excited about! Each girl got to pick her own kokeshi doll. I painted the heads in advance, and didn't attach the bodies. The girls got to choose the head she wanted, and paint the body however she wanted.


I have a talented friend who paints and sells dolls on etsy. I took some inspiration from her, and she gave me a few helpful tips. Thanks Tiffany! You can visit her etsy shop here.

Here are a couple of the finished dolls. If I have enough interest, I will post a tutorial on how I made the heads, and what I used.

*UPDATE!!! I have just posted the KOKESHI DOLL TUTORIAL Check it out!


After they dried, my husband screwed them together. Cute, right? I really liked the metallic paint. I also had intentions of spray varnishing them after they were put together, but I forgot.


Did I mention each girl had a paper crane that I folded in advance sitting at her place on the table? Ya, that took a while. We also folded fortune tellers out of real orgami paper.


In addition to the doll, this is what each girl got to take home.


One thing I did last minute, was to iron transfer some washi dolls onto a shirt for my daughter to wear to the party. I love this girl!


Please tell me what you think! I was so excited to share this with you!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

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45 comments:

Candy McCall said...

Darling Risa! It pulled together perfectly. Sophie's T-shirt is my favorite!

love.boxes said...

Oh heavens! That is the cutest birthday party ever! I love it! It looks like everyone had a fun time too.
Did you worry about having the kids paint, or did that go ok. Did you use the toothpicks or did you do the eyes with paint bushes.
Did you like the little extra weight that the screws ad. I always think that makes it nicer and I don't know why. It's studier though, I guess.
Great job! Thanks for posting all these pictures so I could see them :)

Unknown said...

That is such a wonderful party! So unique too! Everything turned out so wonderful. Congrats, I bet your daughter loved it. Also, I would love more info on how you made painted the doll heads. Those are so adorable.

Patty J. said...

This so reminds me of how much fun I used to have at my best friend's house in 7th grade. Her mother was Japanese and taught us to eat spaghetti with chopsticks!

Unknown said...

What a fun party! Well done!

Megs said...

Okay, I need your help. You did an a amazing job. Emma's party will pale in comparison.

Mel said...

Risa, my birthday is in July, will you throw me a party ;)? You are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Mama Mia said...

Love it~!

Josh and Becca said...

I'm just thinking, I don't have a little girl but I need to throw a party like this regardless. Soooo fun! I LOVED your sushi ideas. So awesome!!!!!

Wendy said...

You really should go into the party planning business professionally! I love the necklaces and the dolls!

Unknown said...

This is one of the cutest darn party ideas I have seen in a long long time! I love evereything that you did.

Unknown said...

I just love this post! You did a beautiful job with the Japanese theme. My family is half-Japanese and you have captured the beauty of Japan so well. Your daughter and her friends must have loved this party!
Cheryl at My Sister's Cottage

Rebecca Neville said...

MY, my ,my Ris!! So cute! How do you do this when you have a newborn!?? Sophie is the luckiest girl in the whole world!

Rebecca Neville said...

So, So cute! How do you find the time with a newborn?!! Sophie is the luckiest girly in the whole wide world! Love ya!

trn2him said...

Very, very cute. My daughter is turning 11 in May and want's a Japanese Theme party. I love your idea for the little dolls, I think I'm going to steal it. ;) Everything looked so beautiful, you did a wonderful job.

Decor To Adore said...

What a lovely vignette! I adore the "sushi".

Have a wonderful Fat Tuesday!

Anji* said...

I LOVE this party! Awesome theme and I love all your little details. I am having a Japanese theme for my wedding in October!

Donna at the Scarlet Petticoat said...

really one of the most adorable parties i have ever seen! i want to do one for myself and i am a grown up!! you and your family (love the rice!)really made a special event for your little girl! i love, love, love the tiny dolls for a craft. i think parties where the guests get to make something to take home are the most fun!

Shauna said...

Wow, you are the craftiest person I've ever met in my left. You impress me every day. And to do all this with a new baby too? You rock Risa!! :}

Niki said...

Love this! So adorable! I did a Chinese bday party for my niece and nephew in January.

B's Mommy said...

What a darling party! One your daughter will never forget! Your attention to detail was spot on!

rick said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rhinestone Beagle said...

Such a great idea. This has to be the most original birthday party idea that I've seen.

dancilhoney said...

Thank you for helping show me a better way to plan parties for my children 'special' day. Birthday Party Checklist

Patti said...

I wish I was 9 and lived in your neighborhood so I could get invited to the coolest birthday parties ever! You always do such a great job. Soooo super cute--all of it! Thanks for sharing.

Brittany Schwaigert said...

So, so, so CUTE!!

Helby said...

Wow, that is crazy creative. Great job!
May I ask where you picked up the necklaces? I've been looking for a pendant that I can put my own piece in.

restlessrisa said...

I got the pendants at Ben Franklin Crafts, using a 40% off coupon. That was the best price I could fine. I also found then at Hobby Lobby. Hope that helps :)

<3

Risa

restlessrisa said...

I don't know if you were wondering, but I got the ball chains for the pendants at Hobby Lobby when they were 1/2 off. They come in a 5 pack.

<3

Risa

Nancy Elizabeth Carey said...

super cute! how much fun! xoxo's nancy

Rebekah Lindenmayer said...

This is amazingly adorable, I am planning a kung fu panda party for my son and I am having a really hard time finding ideas to copy. Thanks for the inspiration!

Events DEE-signed said...

This party is awesome!! So many tiny details. You have lots of really great ideas!!

Events DEE-signed said...

This party is awesome!! So many tiny details. You have some really great ideas. I especially love the dessert sushi.

Pams Party said...

My daughter has been thinking of a Domo & Japanese themed party. I love your ideas and might have to borrow some.. Great Party!

Ms Muffin said...

I am loving this!!!!
My daughter has a japanese name ... hope one year in the future I will be able to have a similar birthday party for her! Right now she is 5 and more interested in princesses and stuff! ;-) But I am kinda hoping that will wear off soon ... :-)

Thanks so much for sharing. Especially love the wooden dolls. So cute!

Steph Marie said...

Such great ideas, my daughter is having a Japanese themed party for her 8th birthday this September and I love the doll idea and would love to know how to make them for her party as one of the activities.

Gail said...

I am sooooo glad I found this post. My daughter wants to have a japanese themed party for her bday in February and I had no idea where to start!! Thanks for all the links and the tutorials as well!! I can't wait to start planning!! :)

mother goose said...

i love it. Thanks for the help. This year my YW are doing an olympic theme and we have Japan. I was looking for some fun ideas and you provided.!

mother goose said...

thank you, our YW have an olympic theme for girls camp this year and our ward has been given Japan. This will help a lot.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful ideas! You did a wonderful job! What a lucky little lady you must have!

Lolisse said...

Risa!! You are so creative! My daughter just informed me that she wants a Japanese Party for her 8th Birthday. I was worried because even though she likes sushi and trying new things, I wasn't sure about the other guests. But your dessert sushi is perfect! And I love the idea for the goody bags!

Preeti M said...

lovely girls birthday party theme and ideas. I like your concept of party game & price too.

Alysa@atticgals.blogspot.com said...

I loved your post. I am just a newbie to your site as I found you through watching your Studio 5 on Unconventional Christmas Cards. I love what you did for this party! I'm a volunteer Japanese teacher for my son's 4th grade class and I'm always looking for fun ideas for those children. We are making crane ornaments next week for the Christmas party. I LOVE the Kokeshi doll idea. Where did you purchase those? LOVE it and it would be such fun. Love the picking up marshmallows with chopsticks. Thanks for sharing your talent!!!

Alysa@atticgals.blogspot.com said...

I found you this morning from watching your unconventional Christmas card segment on Studio 5. I love this post. I'm the volunteer Japanese teacher at my child's 4th grade classroom. I'm always looking for new ideas. I LOVE the kokeshi doll idea. Where did you purchase those? So much fun! Thanks for inspiring and I will definitely be back for some more inspiration. You've got skills! :)

Kat's Purrfect Boutique said...

Your ideas are so clever. I want to do a Japanese Themed High School Graduation in June so I'm googling ideas.

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