A Smiley Face Birthday Party

My little M is about to turn 1 year old and while I’m not ready to really believe that, I am ready to throw him an adorable birthday party. Since he has always been the happiest baby ever I decided long ago that a simple smiley face would be the theme of his first birthday party (we had a very small party this past weekend for local family, his actual birthday is still over a week away). Of course I was willing and excited to make a bunch of the decor I was surprised that there was minimal options out there to buy smiley face decor. In fact, M and I spent a good 1/2 hour one morning traipsing through every aisle in a party store and came up empty on smiley face birthday party decor. So! Here is how to throw a smiley face birthday party with some handmade decor and some decor purchased from a store (well, Amazon actually).

As with any good party, I sent a little handmade invitation to set the date AND the party theme.

I found a roll of smiley face stickers on Amazon and made a few items…these plates where I simply found clear plates at Target (in the paper plate aisle where they were $6, not the party aisle where they were $15!) and taped a sticker on the bottom of the plate using clear packing tape.

I made little toothpick decorations by sticking 2 stickers back to back with a toothpick in the middle.

I ordered a shirt on etsy so he would coordinate with his smiley face theme. I couldn’t find a smiley face shirt so I worked with Jen, owner of the Bowdacious Baby shop and she customized one for us, it came out perfect.

I made a cake for the adults and these little cupcakes for M, Z, and their cousins.

My niece got really into the theme and helped me decorate with the smiley faces! With some balloons, a simple yellow pennant banner, and these pinwheels stuck in the ground, it was a pretty happy day…

….I mean – cutest (almost) one year old ever, right?!