Bunny Themed Punch Box

Pinatas, with all their stick wielding fun, have been a popular party pass time.  'A Casarella, though, is doing her best to take down pinatas and replace them with punch boxes and she isn't even using a stick to do it.  Her tutorial for making your own punch punch has gone viral and I can see why. 

Instead of getting a bunny shaped pinata, and subjecting said bunny pinata with a lashing, we decided to make a bunny themed punch pox for Grace's Bunny Themed Birthday Party.

I decided to share just a few tips for making your own punch box (for the full tutorial, you'll have to visit 'a Casarella).

Finding a thick box is the key, it makes it easier to cut your holes and cover.  I found my boxes at Aldi, the thick cardboard boxes their produce comes in AND, I painted it white, with regular household paint.

To personalize the outside of your punch box, incorporate your theme.  Since Grace's party was a bunny theme, I cut out some 2 inch bunny silhouettes and grabbed double sided tape...

And I gently placed them centered in the punch box hole.

Though I used bunnies, the possibilities are endless to personalize the punch box but even plain, it still makes for a fun party game.

 

The kids, well, they certainly liked being encouraged to 'punch' something and retrieve a prize. 

*I filled the punch box with prizes I found at Goodwill.  Right after Easter, Goodwill got in a shipment of new Target brand Easter toys (stuffed animals and crafts).  I was able to find a prize for each punch box hole for  .50 cents, spending $6 total on prizes. 

This is our second year of opting to go pinatas-less and I suspected, though I haven't started to plan for next year's party yet, that we'll have a punch box for Grace's 6th birthday as well. 

Grace's circus themed birthday party.

For a more detailed tutorial on how to make your own punch box, visit the very talented Elena at 'A Casarella.  

Some Bunny Is 5

Can you guess what Grace's 5th birthday party theme was?

As we have in years past, instead of putting balloons on the front of the house to signal 'this is where the party is', I use my silhouette and some black vinyl to decorate our front porch stairs with a birthday message.

For Grace's 3rd birthday, an arts and crafts birthday, the stairs simply said, 'Happy Birthday Grace'.  Her guests posed, with fake mustaches, using the stairs as another prop for pictures.

Last year,  we celebrated Grace's 4th birthday with a circus themed birthday party.  And, though, 2 people inquired what 'up right step' meant, I think her 'Step Right Up' stairs fit right into the birthday theme.

For each of her parties, I have enjoyed incorporating the front of our stairs into the decorations.  Not only does it set the tone for her party but it has also made for a memorable photo each year.

No matter how different Grace's birthday have been, or how much she has changed over the years, I have to smile that the one thing that hasn't changed is Grace remains barefoot.

I Survived 5

It's official.  Grace turned 5.

We celebrated.  (Don't worry, you'll get your post party invitation in a few days.)

And, then came the aftermath of the celebration.

The mess.

After completing nearly everything on my list, for the big celebration...

I was exhausted.  When all was said and done, this momma decided to celebrate that I survived.

 

And, then we decided we needed to escape. 

So, we packed up and went to Wisconsin...for an entire week. 

 

The entire family escaped for the adventure.

And, now we are home. 

Did you miss me?  Because I missed you!

Circus Themed Birthday Party (repost)

Last year, we celebrated Grace's 4th birthday in 'big top' style.  *Don't forget to come back Friday and link up your own party posts.
Without further ado...

Step right up.

And join us...

as we, welcome you to the circus.

AKA Grace's 4th birthday extravaganza.

The Big Top awaits.

Please feel free to clown around.

Or enjoy some cotton candy.

While hopped up on sugar, visit the tattoo station.  Don't worry, they are temporary, like your sugar rush.

Games more your speed? Join in a game of Bozo buckets, pin the fez hat on the elephant, walk across the 'tight rope' OR

visit the duck pond.

 
What will you win?  A goldfish, of course.

Then, join us center stage, as we sing happy birthday to the birthday girl...

And wish her well.

Help yourself to a piece of cake or a carousel cupcake.

Work off those cupcakes by testing your strength with the 1000 pound barbell.

Perhaps you are stronger than Sammy The Strongman.

Then, Madame G will read your fortunes.  I wonder what she predicts next year's birthday party theme will be?

What Madame G did predict, the pinata will soon be replaced by the super cool punch box.

Before you go, don't forget to sign the guest book with your fingerprint.

It's now official, the circus has left town.  Please make sure you take your shoes when you leave, or don't :)