I'm back! ....let's get our party back on with an Ant Picnic!

Quick update... Thank you all for your well wishes as my little guy, Elias, turns 2 weeks tomorrow! I am so glad I took the time to not focus on anything buy my new family, it has been such a blessing and dream come true.  My recovery (c-section) is going well and I am feeling up to being back in the party world! Thank you all for supporting me while I had a hard pregnancy! many hugs!
note: picture cannot be re-posted without prior permission from me


Back to the party life! With the weather getting very warm it's the perfect time of year to hold a picnic party! Here are some ideas to Frost your Ant Picnic theme!

Set up a fun station complete with ant hill cake, jello "puddles" and leaf-topped drinks! Source and tutorial

These cookies would be awesome additions! Source and tutorial

Use fun patterns and cutout ants & watermelons on sticks for props... Source

Send your guests home with a treat in a fun ant themed favor bag! Round circles and googly eyes make this approachable for any level of crafter!
Source unknown :o(

Ants Go Marching Picnic ... my "almost" summer emag!

Through house and yard work, stepson visit, regular work and lots of other things that crept up this summer, I ALMOST got a summer issue out an emag out... I didn't want to do it without feeling really good about it and I felt too rushed... so instead of wasting the progress I did make, I wanted to share it with you guys!
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Parties for toddlers can get pretty repetitive (princess, elmo, etc).  I love parties based on books... but my not songs?! Do you remember singing "The Ants go Marching" when you were little?! It was my favorite song to sing with the kids at the daycare I worked at when I was young - we sung it every day when we "marched" to the restrooms for diaper changes!...

 
...I thought... let me do a spin on a summer ant picnic... Hope you enjoy!  (p.s. I am not grand photographer, it rained and had to do the shoot inside... so definitely could have been better!)


Setup
Lots of rain, leaves and ants married with pinks and reds to make it a more girly day! You could easily swap out for more traditional boy colors to make it perfect for a boy! 

DETAILS

Food: Picnic lunches in mini picnic baskets for everyone! Sandwich, fruit and a few ants along for the ride!  Name tags coordinated with the theme using watermelon note pads!

 
Food: Since this would be perfect for a toddler party... I carved a "2" out of a half of watermelon using a cookie cutter for trace and a carving knife...  Popsicle sticks and some pretty twine make watermelon slices ready for snacking!

Decor: Raindrops cut with the Cricut using glitter paper (2 glued together) where used hanging from the leaf with fishing wire! 

Snacks: "Puddles" were made using jello in clear mini bowls, tied with twine... to add that extra Frosting, I cut out leaves, raindrops and ants with the Cricut.  I glued the leaves stir sticks I had colored with marker and adhered with tape to the container (not inside the bowl so that it wouldn't touch the food).

Drinks: I cut grass with the Cricut, adhered to mini milk jugs and filled with juice.  I cut green fondant leaves, scored, added a hole, bent and let dry before topping off the drinks.  Adorable detail AND it keeps the flies out! only ants allowed ;o)

Cake: I created this unique ant hill cake baking in two different sized, metal bowls.  I covered in thin icing and crushed graham cracker.  I made a coordinating "happy birthday" pendant and grass made from the Cricut to make sure the ant hills were cute, not icky!

Favors:  Everyone gets to take home a mini picnic basket full of "raindrops"!  I found an icecube tray that was raindrops... I added blue coloring to white chocolate melts and packaged with a leaf and metal ant brad!

Hope you are inspired to think outside the traditional party theme box!


Supplies:  
Ants with eyes - Marshall's HomeGoods
Book (ants go marching) - Amazon
Clipped ants - Michael's Craft Store 
Overhead leaf, green carpet "grass" -Ikea
Mini favor baskets - AC Moore

Milk bottles - Save-on-crafts
Twine - The Twinery 
Watermelon (stuffed) - JoAnn Fabrics




 

Watermelon party ideas!

I don't know about where you guys are from but OMG it's been OVER a hundred degrees here and we are melting!!! I thought it might be refreshing to do a post about watermelon ideas!

Use a watermelon and a keg spout to setup a fun drink station! Source

Cut off top half of the watermelon, scoop out and then and fill with fruit salad - I love the extra Frosting touch of cutting off a bit of the rind around the rim! Source and tutorial

How pretty are these watermelon squares?!? They have balsamic in them - not sure if I am too scared for that! ...so how about filling with a little fruit dip! Source

Ok, not REAL watermelon, but cake pops are still IN and these are super clever! Source found via cupcakestakethecake blog

...while we are on just looking like watermelon - this sherbert "pie" would be seriously refreshing right now! Source and recipe

BBQ idea/inspiration: Fruit

Though we had an early 4th celebration to allow Douglas to participate, but I think we may do another one this weekend... can't have enough BBQ, right?

Here are a few ways to add Frosting to your BBQ with fruit...

I've seen watermelon done SO many ways, but somehow this simple "fry" style is one of my favs! Source found via bedifferentactnormal blog

 How cute is this!? Fruit stuffed fruit! I guess you could do this with a peach or apple or whatever... dice up other fruit and stuff away! Great alternative to a bowl full of fruit salad! Source found via ediblecrafts blog

Waffles aren't just good for icecream (though I argue you should have some with both ;o)  ... fill them with fresh fruits for an easy serving idea (just don't put in too ahead of time or risk getting a little soggy).  Source

Frozen fresh fruit cups are a great way to cool the kids down and make them healthy! 2 cups of chopped fruit, 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tsp of lemon juice - throw in a blender, then freeze! Source: BJ's Journal 2011

Picnic Theme!

I love a great picnic - we try to go at least once a week to the park to have one.  I also love a great indoor picnic! The kids always think that is so silly and fun! A picnic theme party would fit right in for the summer!

How perfect would this be for an invite? Source unknown

This picnic setup is just darling! Use lots of red checked fabric - if you click on the pic to see it larger, you'll see a set of mini picnic baskets for each guest in the right corner! cute! Source

Wrap up a fresh roll with silverware and a coordinating napkin, secure with twine and you have a great idea for any party! Source

How fun are these little guys?!? Metal ants would be adorable to use as napkin weights or just decoration! Source found via ilovelolliblog

Serve juice in jam or mason jars and use a metal bucket to give a more outdoor feel! I love how the tied the bandanna on for an extra pop of color! Source

...or if you are serving open glasses, try this idea! This has to be one of my favorite this year! Attach beads to 4 corners of fabric and va-la! For people like me...I would suggest cutting the fabric with pinking shears and glue buttons or something with weight to each corner and leave the sewing machine to collect more dust rofl... Source

Even something as simple as packaging cookies in brown bags with a wraparound label, a little twine in a cute basket sets the scene! Source

Bandanas!

Bandanas can be used a lot of party themes! Horse, cowboy/girl, cookouts, etc. Here are a few dabs of frosting to inspire you to incorporate them in your next party theme!

Use cuts of fabric or bandana themed scrap paper and adhere to a toothpick with either glue, double sided tape or my fav - no sew fusing! You can even have each one mean a different doneness (guess that isn't a word lol - well, medium, rare) or different kinds of cheeses, or onions vs non-onions! Source unknown (in a secret location and can't search for it....shhhhh.....)

Wrap up a fun favor for your guests in a bandana, tie with twine and a coordinating favor tag! These awesome favor tags are handcrafted and can be customized with your order from blog bff Purple Pug - Source

Wrap sandwiches or cookies for a camping trip or picnic for an extra little frosting on your event! Source

Tie them together to make an adorable garland! Would look great on a buffet table too! Why not cut letters and hang them with twine from each knot to spell out "happy bday" or whatever the occasion! Source found via bedifferentactnormal blog

Use bandana inspired fabric as your guest napkins or use one as a placemat.  p.s. left the pic big so you could see the adorable juice box cover they made! Source














 party add-on

Grab a few multicolored bandanas to use in your party theme (buy here: link)