Friday, May 13, 2011

A Vintage Paper Doll Party

Several months ago, my girls and I found these Betsy McCall paper dolls  and cut what seemed like hundreds of dolls and dresses!  I decided to use them for my youngest daughter's birthday! For this chain, I sewed some of the dresses onto the doll and then just pulled the string to the edge of the sewing machine before adding the next paper doll.
I had several '5' metal numbers in my shop, so I pulled them out for this special occasion!  My youngest daughter just turned '5!'  This number acts as a paper weight to hold the napkins.
I made the vintage looking party hats and found the vintage style cake carrier at Hobby Lobby.
The bunting, made from old dresses of my daughters and some vintage fabric, hangs over the swing. 
The beverage station serves lemonade and Izze's Sparkling Apple Juice, along with bottled water.  I purchased the pink polka dot paper straws (biodegradable and eco-friendly!) from Can Do Chefs.
This little table is set up for the children to color and cut out their own paper dolls.  The Betsy McCall fabric came from Hancock and cost a few dollars a yard.  The black and white paper doll sheets came from Printables4Kids.
 A small red wagon holds a jump rope, a slinky, and other vintage toys for the little ones!
Which way to the photo booth?
Jars are filled with old fashioned candy, such as salt water taffy, Mary Janes, Sixlets and Bazooka.  The little stand-up paper doll comes with pages of clothes to cut out.
I purchased these at Amazon as a gift to our daughter.
You can't call it a 'Vintage Party' unless there are Cracker Jacks!  And who doesn't love Cracker Jacks!
More old fashioned candy is given as prizes! These Boston Baked Beans and lemonheads bring back some memories!  And who remembers getting a treat of Howard's Lemon gum?!
   
Since we cut out so many paper dolls and dresses, I decided to hang some of the extra dresses on a mock clothes line with small clothes pins.
Some old blocks, other found letters and two Mason jar lids spell out the birthday girl's name!  The food consisted of Party Vegetable Sandwiches and Ham and Cheese Dinner rolls.    These recipes came out of an old church cook book of my moms.
Other foods included were these pickles and celery with ranch dip; as well as, popcorn, pretzels, cheese rings and fruit...2+3=5!!  I found these cute jars at Tuesday Morning.
I wish I could say that I made this cake, but I wouldn't even know where to start!  But, I did make the banner for the cake and will give the simple tutorial soon!
The cupcake toothpicks were made out of some of the smaller dresses that were for Betsy McCall's cousin, Linda.  I topped the cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting.
  These small wooden ice cream spoons from Hobby Lobby add an old-fashioned feel to the individual ice cream cups!
The flowers are made from old dress patterns and fit with our theme!
These 'photo booths' are widely popular at weddings, but it was so much fun for this fifth birthday!
I found most of these props online (here, here, here and here), printed them on heavy stock paper, cut out and hot glued to a small dowel.  I made the speech bubble by sketching, cutting out and then outlining with a black marker.
If you can look past this huge dose of CUTENESS, as part of 'Earth Day' I made the newspaper table cloth with ruffled skirt in the background.  This was a great way to reuse our paper instead of buying another paper table cloth!  I stapled the paper in ruffled sections to the card table and trimmed it in ribbon.
Games included hoola hoopin'!  This is just some good outdoor fun! 
Grandma gave these vintage wind-up toys to my son for Christmas.  I believe they came from Restoration Hardware and helped to set the vintage vibe!
A game of hopscotch is some more great outdoor fun!
And of course...bubbles!
A basket of 'paper cootie catchers' is set out for the children to write notes inside or to take home!  Do you remember these?  We printed these from the adorable toymaker site here!
 
A game of 'pin the dress on the dollie' takes the place of pin the tail on the donkey! 
I took a regular copy of this paper doll (here) and enlarged it.
It seems that most little 'party favors' the children took home in the 50's consisted of these nut cups full of nuts or M&M's!  How sweet and simple is that?!
I included these paper dolls with some crayons and a set of jacks for our party favors.
Happy Day Brooke!
Thank you for stopping by our Vintage Paper Doll Party!
I will be linking to these Link Parties!  Check them all out for great inspiration!

Note: I am working on adding all of the link party buttons to my sidebar!  Thanks for your patience!  In the meantime, click on the red 'Link Parties' above and it will show you the list of all the great parties!
Thanks!

Thank you for the features!



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101 comments :

Shannon said...

Adorable, love all the vintage touches!!!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Absolutely adorable!!!

Jen @ EmbellishingLifeEveryday said...

What an adorable party! Love the paper doll theme. Thanks for sharing those links! The photo both with the props looks like so much fun. I'm keeping that in mind for my daughters 5th birthday in August!

Unknown said...

The party is amazing, and Brooke is adorable. Congrats, Mama!
~K

Unknown said...

I am so impressed, what a lucky little girl, and guests too!

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

I love this party. Such fun, cute ideas and a great theme. I especially love all the vintage, handmade touches. Adorable!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh how sweet -- I'm sure the birthday girl loved this!

birdie blue said...

l o v e all of the vintage sweetness of this darling paper doll party.
it's the little details that are perfection...
the hats,
the photo booth,
the cake,
the favors,
pin the dress on the 'doll',
and the darling guests.

it's all so sweet!!
happiest of birthday wishes to brooke owen.

xo
~molly

At The Picket Fence said...

OH MY GOODNESS! Be still my heart! I almost couldn't stand it Christie...every picture added another layer to this incredible party. The details are just perfect and all of the thoughtful, vintage touches just harken back to a day when little girls were LITTLE girls and their parties were less about the "bling" and more about being sweet and feminine. This comes as no surprise though as I know you are raising your kids to embrace tradition and wholesome values! :-) I loved the pic of all of you together and the photo booth idea was genius! I could really go on and on but I won't...just know that I think you are incredibly talented and that it is obvious that this party was not intended to impress others (even though it did!) but was intended to give your daughter the most special day of her little life...so far!
Blessings to you friend,
Vanessa

Janette - The2Seasons said...

That's the cutest little party I have ever seen. Those paper dolls really bring back memories.

At The Picket Fence said...

Seriously Christie! I am sitting here with my mouth hanging open. This is beyond fabulous and adorable and precious. What a blessed little girl to have you for a mommy. The memories you are creating will last a lifetime. I want to just look a the photos over and over again. Well done, sweet Christie, well done!

Heather

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Christie,
Everything is just perfect and adorable! You must have had a wonderful time! I love all of your special touches! I would love to come to this party!
Yvonne

Comeca Jones said...

How sweet!

Anonymous said...

I love your ideas for the Birthday party.
Where did you find Jacks? I have been looking for them for a couple of years. I have granddaughters that I would love to teach them to play Jacks.
Connie

Christie said...

I found the jacks at Books-a-Million. Good luck!

AsylumTanya said...

I loved paper dolls as a child! What great memories. My aunt had some that were considered vintage back when I played with them. What fun! I love the lips and mustaches on a stick!

malia said...

um i am in party nirvana!

Lil' Luna said...

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love EVERYTHING about this! I'm your newest follower. :)

Opie Dawn said...

The photo booth photos are the cutest! Absolutely fabulous party!

Julie Isa said...

i LOVE it all!!! what a wonderful party! i have to have that fabric. do you know who the designer and name of the fabric line is? take care and thanks for sharing your talent!

Sue said...

Such a cute idea for a party! Love the cupcake toppers!

The Martys said...

Oh my goodness. What an adorable party. The attention to detail is amazing. I love the paper doll banner. How clever. I just love your blog and all your creative ideas and decorating.

Amy

Krista said...

This is the sweetest thing. What a memorable party!

Mary Feagley said...

Is the No. 5 pitcher vintage or new?

Nancy Elizabeth Carey said...

how adorable! loved it all :) xoxo's nancy

Christie said...

The little pitcher with No. 5 is not vintage. I can't remember where I found it, but do remember there were others with different numbers!

Christie said...

Julie, I do not know who the fabric is by...I did buy it at Hancock Fabrics, which I believe is a chain. There were several different patterns with the Betsy McCall pattern! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

I love the family dog in a party hat! Adorable party ~ completely adorable! Love the paper doll dress cutouts as cupcake flags. Everything is so sweet. Well done :) Just darned cute!

Home Confetti said...

this is so charming! sharing on my FB page! facebook.com/HomeConfetti

Katie Olthoff said...

I ADORE the mini clothesline with the paper doll dresses! Those would be adorable in a little girl's room, too!

Pamela Gordon said...

What an adorable birthday celebration! I love all the vintage touches ~ just sweet! Pamela

DJ said...

wow how fun I can see that for a 50 something girls party too Remembering all the childhood fun!

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Hi Christie, I just found your GORGEOUS blog. I loved watching all your awesome party pictures! I feel like throwing a party myself right NOW ;)

Have a wonderful weekend! xx

lindaharre said...

OMGoodness Christie..........the extent to which you went for this party is absolutely amazing:D I hope your little girl remembers this forever! I used to do theme parties when my children were small....but nothing to match this...LOL! Great job!

Deana said...

How Fun!! Looks like a great party!

Amanda said...

Beautiful party. So interesting and just precious! I am having a photo booth at my Charlotte's 6th Birthday next month and would love to know where you printed the 'props' from?! The mustache, bowtie, etc...Thanks.

Crystal @ Ordinary Days said...

You make every picture look gorgeous! I can't figure out if it is the subject in the picture, the photographer, or both. I ADORE every photo! :) Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter.

Anonymous said...

Christie,

LOVE LOVE LOVE this party! If my girls were little I would be copying your ideas. Everything is just perfect...and I'm sure the kids had a great time. I love all the old fashioned fun.

Also, wondering where you bought your lemonade dispenser - it's really cute?

Thanks,
Betsy

LuAnn said...

Christie: I've been reading your blog for some time and wanted to say "thank you" for all of your ideas. I especially love this party idea--I have a new granddaughter and can't wait to put together one of these for her and her friends. Thank you again.

Sarah @ Sugar Bananas said...

OUTSTANDING! What a beautiful party. Every last detail looks great!

Happy Birthday to Brooke!

Have a great weekend.

Sarah

...I'd love it if you added this to Sweets This Week!

Deanna said...

I loveeee this party! And the photo booth was so darling!

Deanna
http://deelitefulcreations.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

What gorgeous party ideas you have here! My little girl is five next year and will have her very first party with friends, I am sure getting lots of ideas!
I remember having a Betsy McCall Golden Book with the paper doll and clothes in the back- I loved playing with it!

Terry @ La Bella Vie said...

Christie,
What a darling little party, it makes me wish I had a little girl to do something like this for! I played with paper dolls as a young girl and have long since thought how fun such a simple pleasure was, thanks for sharing!
Terry
PS I think I saw a comment from you on my anniversary post, but it was MIA for some reason before I had a chance to reply. If that was you, thank you. I loved that post from last year and couldn't top it :0)

Unknown said...

what a sweet, dainty, vintage, adorable party. Love every detail. winks- jen

idesign said...

such a cute party!!! i love this post! found you over at embellishing life, come by for a visit sometime :)

Jackie
http://jaclyndesigns.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

How cute is this! I love the idea of using paper dolls as a theme, I've never outgrown my delight with them and still buy ones that strike me as special.

Esther Asbury said...

What an adorable theme! Cute pics

Wendy said...

I LOVE this idea! I may have to steal it for my daughter's 5th birthday in July! She loves paper dolls & plays with them all the time! So glad to have found your blog!

Kath said...

I am in love! I am a sucker for vintage and you brought it all out in this party. it's so sweet and a perfect party girl theme.

thanks for posting. I'm a new follower!
kathryn
www.thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com

Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things} said...

Oh my goodness! This turned out so stinking cute! I love it!!
Thank you so much for your kind words on my blog! :) The thesis is turned in now and I'm off to a GOOD night's sleep. hehe
xoxo,
Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things}

Unknown said...

Hi, I just landed here from the Making Monday Marvelous @Craft Link Party. I'm a brand new follower.

That's a super party set up. I'm sure all the kids had lots of fun.

Bella Vida by Letty

A Hint of Home said...

Looks like a fantastic party! What a unique party theme. Everything looks adorable.

Ana Cristina Caldatto said...

Formidavel!
amei amei!

Bec@littlelucylu said...

Oh goodness ... I absolutely, totally, 100% LOVE this. Gonna have to remember this one for when Lucy is a little older, for sure!
The "photo booth" is my favorite! I've seen them at weddings, but what a GREAT idea to do at a birthday party!!!
~Bec

Lizabeth said...

Absolutely the cutest party I've ever seen! You really outdid yourself! Love every bit of it! Lots of creativity and lots of fun! I'm sure they all enjoyed it! The cake was just adorable! Kudos!

PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

This is the best childs birthday party I have ever seen! You are very creative. In fact I wouldn't mind a birthday party of my own like this!!!

Unknown said...

This is the cutest party I've seen in a long time!! I looove the vintage theme you went with! And you were so elaborate. Great job, thanks for sharing!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Wow, this is totally unreal. I love the theme and your pictures are fabulous. Such fun. Thanks so much for sharing on TTT. Hugs, Marty

TheSuiteLife said...

Love every, sweet little detail! Very well done!

Julianna said...

I'd love for you to link up at Inspire Me Mondays @ Singing Three Little Birds
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2011/05/inspire-me-monday-thanks-for-stopping.html

Lynda said...

I'm your newest follower. Love all of your ideas and photos. I came visiting via My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Linky.

anna said...

These are just gorgeous. What a beautiful party!

Ever Green Tree said...

What a lovely n soulful Blog! Loved n Enjoyed the pix of Home n Hearth.

LrSchwtz said...

Absolutely love all of the ideas! My favorite are the pics of the kids with mustaches, glasses, and thought bubbles! Such a darling party! Thanks so much for linking up to Share the Wealth Wednesday. glad to have you! Laura from Laugh, Love and Craft

brooke said...

LOVE THIS!!! Wonderful job. Great details. And the pictures are amazing. This is so original and has so much thought in it. Not your average party. Very nice.

foreverdecorating said...

You know, to us, this is a vintage party made new, to these cute little ones, this is all new and fun. So creative and what fun this would be to scrapbook!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous theme! Can't believe I never thought to do it!! I absolutely adored paper dolls as a child as so of course introduced my daughters to them too, but an entire party theme - just priceless!!!

Amanda said...

August 26th (my birthday)....are you busy? .

Linda said...

Marvelous photos!

Glad to be following you now...

abeachcottage said...

What a beautiful party. Everyone looked like they had so much fun! Lovely ideas and your pics are great too. Thanks for sharing this at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.

Jeannies Bottle said...

What a great party...wish I was there! I loved my paper dolls when I was a kid!!!

Cait said...

Lovely photos, I love all the Cath Kidston florals <3

Southwest Cottage Designs said...

I must be vintage! I LOVE your paper-doll party. It reminds me of the fun I had as a little girl cutting out paper dolls.

Joeylee said...

love this idea...i love the photobooth idea, so cute

Debbie--http://refreshrestyle.com/ said...

Great party! Love your style!
Debbie

Kae said...

adorable blog. I am new follower! Found you through WILW! Happy Wednesday!

My Captivating Life said...

What a super fun party!!!! :) I see lots and lots of circles. I want to talk one of my kids into having a vintage sock monkey themed party. I am not sure they would go for it though.

Denise Phillips said...

I love it! It's would also make a great party idea for 60years too!
For those of us who never want to grow up:) :) :)
Cheers!

Arabella said...

Cuteness overload!! I wanna be a kid again 'cause this is the cutest theme I've ever seen. ;o)

Happy Outdoor Wednesday

Mary said...

Hi Christie, I wanted to thank you for sharing your masterpiece on Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage! I love every single clever detail of the paper doll party you created. I featured it this week on my top favs. Hope you're having a great week, Mary :O)

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

What a great party! Your daughter is one lucky girl:-) Love all the attention to detail and that garland of paper dolls and dresses is so charming!!
Bella

Anonymous said...

This is adorable! I would love to have you do a similar post with the paper dolls for A Fanciful Twist's Tea Party. I know so many readers would love it.

Ann said...

This is every little girls dream party. You have encorporated every fairy tale story I can think of. Such ceativity gone over the moon.

Leslie said...

What a sweet party! I can't wait for my little one to be old enough for something like this!

kayce hughes said...

That it the cutest party ever! I love paper dolls. We sell those same ones. I might like them more than my girls do.

GardenOfDaisies said...

What an amazing paper doll party!! I love the Betsy McCall garland you made, as well as the dresses on top of the cupcakes! LOVE!!!

Shauna said...

Fabulous party. My girls adore paper dolls & they would just love this type of a party. Everything you did was just beautiful.
Shauna
myshaenoel.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

You have been featured at CraftOManiac, thanks so much. winks-jen

Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things} said...

This looks like such a wonderful party! Amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing this @ {nifty thrifty sunday} last week!
Hope to see you again tomorrow! :)
xoxo from Germany,
Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things}

Jamie said...

Oh my goodness! How wonderful is this?! Thanks for the inspiration. My youngest daughter is turning five in a few months and this is so full of ideas that I'm excited to begin! Thank you for sharing with us.

I found your beautiful blog through Craft-O-Maniac and am now following, 'cuz I just can't wait to read more!!

Sachiko said...

Oh my...I was looking at all those pretty items in the picutes. Very creative and fun!

Cynthia Rahardja Clancy said...

WOW! I would have loved to be Brooke :)
Beautiful Birthday!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

You always have the neatest ideas and this is spectacular. Featuring you in the WUW features post. Thanks for joining my party!

Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} said...

You are amazing! I love the open frame they held up for the photos. Ah-mah-zing!

SLR said...

everything is just perfect! you are so creative and clever!! this party is seriously the cutest EVER!!!

Unknown said...

Blown away by this...super cute and creative party, could be and should be in a magazine!

a vintage party said...

Love this post! so many wonderful vintage inspired ideas for a children's (and adults) party!!

No.35style said...

love. this. party. i sent you an email via the email listed in your profile. let me know if you don't get it!

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure I am much older than you, but would you please adopt me? I want a party like this for my next birthday; I'll be turning 42.

Seriously, I stumbled upon your blog while googling paper doll images. I used to love them. Seeing the photos of your daughter's party put some a smile on my face!

God bless you and yours!

ewe scrap said...

Adore your vintage party! This is beyond fabulous and adorable and precious! Amazing effort! Lovely photos! Love the old paper dolls- my mom still has a collection!
Blessings!

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Thank you for sharing this great party idea! We are currently looking for a fun idea and this one is up there!

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