I geeked out big time on this party with word play and details that doubled for my son’s birthday and the existence of Nessie.  Rarely do I geek out…this was full on geek.  I prefer ganster rap, but every blue moon, I get nerdy….

I loved doing this party, aka the first one I’ve ever done for a son!  I did a little party for my friend’s son (Food Fight Party), but other than that, this is the only other boy shindig I’ve ever done.

I for real believe in the Lochness Monster, but don’t let that run you off.  You have to at least believe in him for 5 seconds with me.  Come on, it’s magical.

For those of you that don’t know, Lochness is a sea dinosaur that has been spotted hundreds of times over decades from Scottish locals around the Lochness Strait, to tourists, to images from Goggle Earth.  It’s basically my favorite mystery.

Check this party out, buddy.

I drew these Lochness guys freehand on scrapbook paper while looking at shilouette images on-line.  I was pretty proud of them, because even though I am somewhat artistic, the more life-like, the harder.  And for an even sweeter detail?  Read the caption on the picture below!

 

I wasn’t sure if anyone would say anything about me using a gold glitter banner for a boy’s birthday, but since my son can’t talk or have opinions….gold glitter it was!  I had this custom made from Contagious Events on Etsy.  The quality was great and I love the black and white baker’s twine it came with that the letters hung on.  HIgh five team, Contagious Events.

I was super giddy at how the “so happy you exist” idea was perfect for a birthday and for believing in Lochness.  I’m not gonna lie. I stole it from a greeting card.  Good job, whoever you are who thought to put that on a card with a creature like this.  You win today’s favorite person award!

If this cake doesn’t give you all the monster feels, than you must not have feels.  I drew a detailed color diagram of the cake that I wanted for 3 reasons:

1- I am a past cake decorator and I have a specific vision for my cakes.

2- It’s the only way to almost guarantee you get what you want!  I recommend drawing your orders if you can if it is a cake you are creating.  If not, definitely bring a good picture of what you want.

3- I’m a dork about cakes.  Here is one I made for my daughter’s 1st birthday party many moons ago.  But let’s get back to Nessie…

This cake was made by Sweet Temptations, a local bakery in my hometown that I use for all of my cakes when I can’t muster the strength to make one…which is almost always.

The detail on the face was a million times above and beyond what I had hoped for.  I drew the most simple Lochness head of all fondant times.  I ADORED this little guy!

I deserted the “Happy Birthday” for “Love You A LOCH”….get it….wordplay….fun for days.  And don’t miss the tail detail on the side of the cake there.  LOVE!

These Target plates by Cheeky were perfect for my party because not only was the color scheme correct, it looked like waves/Nessie hump.

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’

AND my favorite….

I NEVER LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

Ha ha, get it…people are always trying to get good pictures of him….

I found some Lochness stamps on Etsy at  The Crafty Carvery .  They were very fast and 3 cheers for them providing something unique!  The Lochness was whimisical enough to add some childlikeness to this 1 year old birthday party.

Using waterproof inking pads, I stamped Nessie and each sentence individually.  It actually doesn’t take that long and after I made my own napkins with stamps for the fiesta baby shower I just threw, it’s become a love of mine!  Whenever you can, go custom!  Keep it original!

In case you missed it above, and I can’t allow you to, “I never look good in photos” is what these high five napkins say.

I found this Lochness figure (Elasmaosaurus) on Amazon and made him appear to float in the chocolate milk for the kids.  It looked like he was right at home in his lake water.

Somebody call the doctor!  I’m going to have a stroke for these little favors I gave to the guests. I bought these little glass candy jars from Amazon and spray painted the lids to be color appropriate. It took less than 5 minutes to get them all coated and finished sooooooo that is pretty super.  I purchased these stickers that I used on the side of the jars from my favorite custom, has anything you want site: Zazzle.  This image is of the famous scam picture taken many moons ago that became famous.  I know that because I’ll give you a hint about me and Lochness and it rhymes with…week.  No, it’s not that I’m on fleek.  But this party might be…

These super sweet jars hold 5 Hershey Kisses and the stickers on the bottoms with my son’s face, hold about all of my dreams! I found them at Silly Wise Kids  on Etsy.  This shop offers several face customizable party products.  I thought it was an unexpected and fun little detail!

I simply cut the huge letters out of gold poster board that i laid vertical for extra height.  If you aren’t too good at free-handing, and trust me, I didn’t want to freehand these, I have a stellar tip. Go with a pencil in hand to Hobby Lobby to purchase your poster board and while you are there, go get some of their huge wall letters and trace them on to your poster before you buy the poster.  I meant to but I left my pencil, because something always goes wrong when I go on kid free errands.  Truth.

The Nessie details I cut out of left over scrapbook paper from the Lochness famiy I made for the backdrop.

The kid’s table was sooooo much fun!  A grass tablecloth underneath a blue flowing water tablecloth, which is just a plastic one I cut a bunch of curves into. This grass cloth here is really a heavy plastic lined printed one from Party City, but I really wanted a textured grass one like this one here on Amazon.  It is technically a rug but thin enough to be on a table.

Last but definitely not least, I bought a Styrofoam cake dummy, cut it in half, and spray painted it to make look like humps coming out of the water.  When this idea hit me, I couldn’t wait to find something to make the humps with and these cake rounds were perfect! I bought my cake dummy from Hobby Lobby, but you can buy one just like it here on Amazon for 9 bucks and some change.

I used plastic tablecloths to turn the adult tables into huge Scottish flags.  Hip hip hooray!

 

If this balloon garland doesn’t change your life, nothing will.  I don’t want to throw anyone for any curve balls here, but I had the colors customized and ordered it from Twigs and Twirls LLC on Etsy.  In my heart, I hoped it never deflated, but in real life, my kids ripped it apart after the party and had a blast with it.  I love this Etsy shop/site and I will use them again for a party source!

Since Lochness is all about sightings, I used the stamps I used for the napkins and stamped 45 of these critters and cut them out to hide around the room.  Whoever gathered the most sightings, won a Target gift card!

“You’re my favorite Monster” so sweet for a 1st brithday!  This is a tiny bag I stamped and stuffed for the prize for the Lochness sightings game.

Just like for my daughter’s Ketchup and French Fry Party and my oldest’s Diaversary party, I bought a custom party shirt for the person of honor which was this little man this time.  I bought this shirt from Zazzle, one of my 2 favorite custom sites.

This just in:  he’s been caught!  I knew I was right.

Happy birthday my sweet boy!

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