Rainbow Birthday Party (Joan Walsh Anglund)

My inspiration for this birthday party was the amazing artwork of Joan Walsh Anglund.   Her artwork is immediately identifiable – she always draws children without noses and mouths.  You can find biographical information about this wonderful artist at http://members.shaw.ca/jwamail/.jwa-prints---coloring-book1

I found these never-opened paper plates and napkins in an attic of a friend of my mother’s.  I kept them for 8 years until I was inspired to use them for my younger daughter’s third birthday.  I also had a few small books of JWA art and poetry that I had picked up over the years.  Her illustrations of little children have always touched me and aroused that nostalgia within me for anything from my own childhood.

Image from The Decorologist

 

So, what was I going to call this party?  A Joan Walsh Anglund party?  My daughter would never understand.  So I looked for a common theme in JWA artwork and decided upon Rainbows.  That way I could use primary colors that would work with the plates and napkins.  I decided to hop on ebay and see what I could find of Joan Walsch Anglund’s.  I found 2 unopened Hallmark cardstock centerpieces put out in the late 70’s that featured little children sliding on rainbows.   It came with little cardstock clouds and stars that I could scatter all over the table.

Image from The Decorologist


I found a beautiful unused JWA coloring book that I snatched up for a few dollars.  Oh, and a DARLING  cookie cutter of one of her classic little girls!  Amazon has many of her books, new and used.  And finally, I found a JWA decorative birthday plate and coffee mug .  All my JWA “props” cost a total of $40.  The other props I used were just things that color-coordinated (yellow, orange, red, green, blue, purple) or looked rainbow-ish.  I color-copied artwork onto label paper and made stickers that I adhered to multi-colored party hats from Dollar Tree.

Image from The Decorologist


These are the only invitations I’ve ever had for my childrens’ parties that I did not make myself.  But I found these Joan Walsh Anglund invitations on her website and felt like I owed it to her to order them from her!

Image from The Decorologist

Image from The Decorologist

The food for this party was fun!  The rainbow cake was easy – just a round cake, skittles to create the rainbow, and mini-marshmellows for the clouds.

Image from The Decorologist

Here are the sweet cookies I made from the JWA cookie cutter I found on ebay!
Image from The Decorologist

My Fabulous Butter Cookie Recipe

1 cup melted/softenedbutter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 4 eggs, 3 tbsp vanilla +1 tsp water (or food coloring), 6 cups self-rising flour

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Alternately add 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp vanilla, mix, repeat.  Add 1 tsp water.  Chill in refrigerator 3+ hours.  Rollout 1/4 inch.  Cut and bake 335 degrees for 10 minutes on parchment paper.  Use royal icing mix – add more water for glaze.


I used red plastic forks from Dollar Tree, and found colored plastic mugs with built-in straws on clearance at Kroger’s for $1 each.   I made a jello rainbow in a glass trifle bowl – that took awhile to let each color gel before adding the next.  Cubed cheddar cheese looked special on a raised cake plate and rainbow-colored toothpicks.

Image from The Decorologist

I made a fruit tray using a rainbow of fruits set in a cream cheese, sour cream, sugar mixture – blueberries, peaches, oranges, green grapes, and strawberries.  I layed the cream and fruit in a rectangular tray with a lip so that it wouldn’t ooze out.

Image from The Decorologist

I ordered huge multi-colored swirly suckers from Oriental Trading and grouped them for a colorful centerpiece on the table.  Multi-colored balloons completed the rainbow tablescape.

Image from The Decorologist

Image from The Decorologist

As the party was for a 3-year-old, the activities were kept simple.  I made lots of copies of coloring pages from the JWA coloring book for the children to color.  We did a simple rainbow craft that you may download.  Print a page for each child and have them attach colored pompoms with glue.

Image from The Decorologist

Image from The Decorologist

Below is thumbnail of the rainbow craft.  Rainbow Download

 

Image from The Decorologist

We also made froot loop necklaces – what could be simpler?  Notice how Kelta wore a Gymboree shirt with embroidery in rainbow colors.

Image from The Decorologist

All our guests took home a goody basket.  I found these plastic multi-colored baskets at Dollar Tree and filled them with shredded colored paper from Michaels, striped hot air balloon bookmarks,  beaded jewelry kits, and colorful sticker letters (the last two were from Dollar Tree).  I attached cardstock gift tags of JWA artwork with red ribbon.

Image from The Decorologist

The children also got to take home a large swirly sucker (from Oriental Trading Company) and one of the plastic mugs they drank from earlier.

Image from The Decorologist

Now, this is absolutely the coolest thing about this party – when I ordered the party invitations off the JWA website, I left a message about the party I was planning for the site manager.  Soon after, we received a special package in the mail.  Mrs. Anglund sent us a precious pencil drawing personalized for Kelta’s birthday with a sweet note wishing her well.  We framed the artwork and treasure it!!!

Image from The Decorologist

Below are the gift tags, 2 sticker sheet images, and several coloring pages that you are welcome to download!  Click on the link below for all.  Enjoy!

Joan Walsh Anglund – Download

22 Comments

  1. Michelle

    I recognize some of those beautiful children! We still love the rainbow-colored mugs we took home. Such a sweet party.

    Reply
  2. kristiebarnett

    Yes, Michelle – Gibson looks like he’s really loving that rainbow craft!

    Reply
  3. Lora

    I’m SO impressed. What an awesome party! I love your ideas and the way they come to fulfillment…and what a special treasure for Kelta to have a personalized drawing!

    Reply
  4. mary diane

    This is the coolest thing yet! The fact that she sent a hand drawn rendering is amazing. Wow!

    Reply
  5. vanessa@silly eagle books

    So lovely–I always love your birthday party ideas! I will be sharing this with my readers soon! Thanks for leaving me the link!

    Reply
  6. Nancy

    Please post the JWA website address!

    Reply
  7. kristiebarnett

    Nancy, the JWA website was cited in the first paragraph. Apparently, it is no longer active (as you may have discovered) – this posting is from about a year ago. Anyway, I will try to see if there is a new one I can post. Thanks for letting me know!

    Reply
  8. Bitterroot Mama

    I found you through a link from Silly Eagle. I love your birthday party theme! Way to make it special, beautiful, and simple (for you). Thanks for sharing your great ideas.

    Reply
  9. Ladette

    I LOVE JWA!! I have a book by her that I was given as a child still tucked away in my trunk (I’m only 37). I would love ot do this type of party for my little girl (who is 4 now)… do you have a link to a JWA website or is it no longer in existence? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Ladette,
      I did have the link, but apparently it’s no longer working! I don’t know what’s happened – there used to be a nice man that ran her website. He told me she (JWA) didn’t have a computer herself. That was several years ago, and I know she was quite old then – she must be in her 90s (?). Thanks for stopping by The Decorologist! 🙂

      Reply
  10. LuAnn

    I would be interested in a web site for joan walsh anglund as well if someone has found it. Thanks

    Reply
  11. Pam

    Kristie,
    I was wondering if you might have a site that gives an e-address for Ms Anglund? I tried the one you list at the top of this post, but it no longer exists. I would love to tell her how much her artwork meant to me as a child (I’m planning to post something about her on my blog… how she influenced my own artwork and would love to share it with her as soon as it’s written). I love your party… and how wonderful for your daughter to have that drawing! I’m going to browse your site more… love the theme 🙂

    Thanks for any help you can give me… Pam

    Reply
  12. Ericka Geary

    Excellent article.

    Reply
  13. Barbara

    Hi, I had the coloring book and it was lost during a move. Would you be willing to sell it? I have been looking all over for one, it brings back so many fond childhood memories.

    Barbara

    Reply
  14. Mary Diane

    The website is now working although you can no longer buy anything. Joan Walsh Anglund is coming to visit her fans in Lexington Kentucky on September 19 and 20th, 2014. If you are interested in attending, call me at 859–263–4231. Kristie is planning to come! Kristie, as I wrote you, I loved this party and, if you look above, you will see I commented about it along time ago. MD

    Reply
  15. Kelta

    I loved this birthday party (i dont care that i was only 3 i still sorta remember it)!!!! I still have the signed picture from her!!

    Reply
  16. Danielle

    Thank you for this amazing PDF! I’ve been trying to find all I can of JWA for vintage deocrations from my childhood. I just love the adorable children she draws and inspirational messages.

    Reply
  17. Jennifer David

    Thanks for such a great post and PDF. Loved the embroidery on cute Kelta’s shirt. I wish I could do something quite like this.

    Reply

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