If you or your child is addicted to Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes, this party theme will be right up your alley. My daughter is convinced she wants to be a professional baker at this point (rather than her previous aspirations of farmer and architect). So it was up to me to create a birthday party around her obsession!
I made the invitation for this party by scanning a photo from a vintage Better Homes & Garden’s cookbook for children then laying my info over it in Photoshop. (For the blog) I smudged out the address and altered other pertinent info for privacy, of course:
vintage Better Homes & Gardens
Here are my little bakers. I found a bunch of cute vintage-styled aprons at TJ Maxx and decided to give each party guest one to use and take home after the party.
I ordered inexpensive chef/baker hats from Oriental Trader. The girls used stick-on letters to personalize them with their names. Pink pom-poms are from Martha Stewart.
I helped the girls make “flowers” for their hats with colorful cupcake liners. I got that great idea here.
I found ideas for making cupcake liner garlands here. I used various sized liners, paper doilies, and embroidery thread to string them together. You can also use coffee filters as part of this kind of garland!
I loved the delicate effect of light streaming through these garlands, and they were so cheap and easy to make!
Ok, for the table! Each chair was wrapped with a vintage-style apron. Everyone had a cake plate on which to decorate their respective cakes. Green paper pom-poms are from Martha Stewart..
The table was set with different colored icing, sprinkles, candies, tiny marshmallows, and icing tips and bags. See the bouquets of cupcake liner flowers? I got that idea here from Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books (I love her blog!).
I pre-made cakes to simplify things. The girls could hardly wait to get started decorating!
Even though I knew there would be a lot of cake, I also made a small cupcake cake as a centerpiece on the table.
The girls were so creative . . . 
Each of the cakes were so unique!
What fun would a cake decorating party be without one silly girl sticking her face in the middle of her nicely-iced cake?
The girls got to take home their cakes to share with their families (or maybe not!).
Well, I know I ALWAYS say this – but this was one of my favorite parties ever! It wasn’t near as messy as I feared it would be – the girls were so meticulous and focused in making each of their cake creations special. Hope you enjoyed!
I loved this post…the whole party must have been amazing..the girls created some real masterpieces didn’t they!
they really had so much fun, carol. they all were so proud of their creations!
what a FABULOUS idea for a girls party….loved the cupcake papers on straws…is that a flower arrangement? how did you make those?
i got that idea off Silly Eagle Books’ blog – the link is in the post. you stick pipe cleaners through a couple of cupcake liners (varying sizes works best), then threaded an old button to create the center of the flower. easy-breezy
Once again, what a darling party! Kristie, you take the cake! (well, someone had to say it!) And by the way, I have the kids’ cookbook you used for your “vintage” invitation. Got it when it was brand new and used it to make fried chicken, among other things. Does that make me vintage??
that is so funny, michelle!!! but don’t despair – “vintage” just means more than 25 years old. Now, “antique” is another story . . .
You are brilliant! Thank you.
Not only a Super Mom but a party/event planner and stylist too! Have you considered shifting careers ? I would be the first to sign up as your apprentice!
heather, it’s fun planning for your own parties – but it’s too stressful to plan for someone else’s! 🙂
What a fabulous idea! I was just wondering lately what you were doing for this year’s birthday, and fondly remembering last year’s. Please give your precious birthday girl a big hug from her country friends!
Love this post!!! Little girls are sooo much fun. The party looked adorable, wish I had gotten a invitation!!! My two daughters are the best thing that ever happened to me. Make sure you enjoy every second with them, even when driving you absolutely crazy. You will miss those times later on too, trust me on this. They grow up waaayyyy too fast. Mine are now 21 and 16… XoXo
in 10 years, that’s exactly where i’ll be. i’m trying to savor every minute. they are so precious to me!!!
Oh Kristie, that is such a fun cute party. I love all the details you did. I think it would be fun to do a grown up version of this for my friends. The aprons on the chairs, the cupcake garland, just so darn creative. The girls made some pretty cakes as well! You might have some bakers in the family.
now THAT’S a fun idea – didn’t think about that, but that would be really fun 🙂
That’s so adorable!! What a fun idea. My son is also obsessed with that show. I think it’s so great all the things you can now dream of growing up to become.
more ideas: use edible flowers like violets, nasturtiums, chamomile for more decorations
or fun edible garnishes like strawberry fans or frosted grapes
Make a giant double recipe of buttercream frosting and then have folks tint their own with natural food colors – art lesson and decorating all in one 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/India-Tree-Natural-Decorating-Packages/dp/B001EQ5BXA
love those paper liner garlands!
thanks for sharing those ideas and the link, lee!
this is WAY cool! and those girls are a lot more talented that I am in the cake decorating department!!
Oh my goodness, how fun & inspiring . I suddenly want to be a little girl again! I’ll surely be copying these ideas ASAP!
Warmly, Michelle
You are SO the best mom party planner! My daughter is 16, and even though she LOVES Cake Boss, I would not be very popular if I tried to convince her to do this…now 🙂 …actually it’s more like 🙁 for me. Katie is absolutely right, they grow up WAY too fast.
Your parties are seriously the best! I love every detail, but especially the vintage invite image, the doilies added to the garland, and those aprons and hats for the girls! So much fun!
On a side note, I’m kind of drooling over your ruffle curtains–so pretty. 🙂 Thanks for the link! I love how your bouquets turned out.
thanks, vanessa! those curtains are made out of painter’s drop cloth! i’ve got a seamstress who makes them custom – let me know if you want me to price some out for you!
Oh wow, this is so awesome. Those girls are so cute in their hats, too. I wish you could have thrown me a birthday party 15 years ago!!
What a fabulous party! I bought the ‘ one charming party’ download awhile ago & want to give it a go for a Hen’s afternoon! I hope the adults will be as creative as your little ones!beautiful photos! LovT
Hi Kristie, I linked you up to this party as one of my favorite blogs: http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/2011/04/who-is-your-blog-crush-linky-fiesta.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20VintageRevivals%20%28Vintage%20Revivals%29
Warmly, Michelle
michelle, thank you so much!!! you are awesome!!!!! and you made my day 🙂
I love this! very cute. My daughter did a cupcake party similar to this with cousins.
Thank you!! For posting this wonderful blog on the Cake Boss party. My two children, 3 and 5, are obsessed with the show and when I asked what type of theme they wanted for their party they both said CAKE BOSS! Which left me thinking how would I do that? So glad I found your blog! you made it fun, whimsical and chic. I cannot wait to start planning and get our cake on! 🙂
great ideas i ust found this page. i am planning my 8 years old birthday party i need help with invitations can anyone help with ideas for the invitations
Is that Martha Stewart’s house? Looks like something out of her magazine. Amazing!
oh, you are too sweet! thanks 🙂
Love it!! You stopped by my blog last April and commented on the ruffle cake post. So glad to see your daughters party was a hit. I will definitely be doing a cake decorating party for my kids once they learn to not throw food at each other:)
Love this! I own a kids cooking company and my own daughter has insisted on a cake decorating party at home (and not at my studio!!). Found lots of wonderful ideas here! Thanks for sharing!