Art is the Theme part 1

My little girl has just turned three and I just do not know where the time has gone. This year we had an art themed party which turned out so much fun.  This entry is only one of three parts: Set up of party, homemade party favors, and party goodies.
I had so much fun putting together the party.  For each child I made art smocks and art party favors. These favor buckets where filled with paints, shaped crayons, coloring books, homemade play dough, homemade moon sand, bubbles, and pencils.

 

To welcome everyone we had a sign and balloons at the front door and as they made their way outside they walked past Livy's masterpiece art wall.

In the dinning room I had the dessert and finger food tables set up.  I wanted finger foods to make things easier for the kids to eat and play.  Over the dessert table we hung an art project that Olivia and I did for her party.  Crayon art: canvas, crayons, hot glue gun, and hair dryer.  Once you have the crayons glued to the canvas use the hair dryer to melt the tips of the crayons to make a fun dripping pattern.

 

Now we venture outside to the set up of different stations: Face painting, Chalk board, Canvas painting, Rice garden, Photo booth, and bubble pit.  It was so much fun to watch the kids play and play at these stations.

Face Painting:

 Chalk board:

 

Canvas Painting:

Rice Garden:

Photo Booth:

 

 
Bubble Pit:

Stay tune for part two that will give you recipes on how to make fun shaped crayons, moon sand, and Kool-aid play dough.



Chocolate coverd strawberry cupcakes

I just love a chocolate covered strawberry so why not turn it into a cupcake!!

Strawberry cupcake:

1 stick unsalted butter; at room temp.
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tea. salt
1/3 cup milk
1 tea. vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries

1. Preheat over to 350
2. In a mixer cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, 3-5 minutes on medium speed.  Add one egg at a time and beat well after each egg.
3.  In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4.  Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk.  Mix for three more minutes.  With a rubber spatula, fold in the vanilla and strawberries.
5.  Fill the cupcake liners, bake for 18-20 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Chocolate butter cream frosting:

1 pound of unsalted butter, soften at room temp.
7 1/2 cups of powder sugar, shifted
1/2 cup dark chocolate powder, shifted
4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

1. In a mixer use the whisk attachment, cream butter for 5 minutes.  Make sure to scrape down sides a few times during the five minutes.
2.  In a separate bowl shift powder sugar and dark chocolate powder.
3.  Begin to add powder mixture into the creamed butter a little at a time.   Every once in a while begin to add in the Heavy whipping cream.  Once everything was added beat on high for 5-8 hours.
4.  Put frosting into piping bag and decorate your cupcakes.  Finish cupcakes with a choc. covered strawberry.