We went overboard on the props and DIY decor for Liam's first birthday last year so we promised to keep it simple for his 2nd. So simple we almost forgot about it, caught up in planning his birthday trip to France and Disneyland instead. With no Jo-Ann Fabric, Michaels, Target OR 24 hr Walmart in Naples, last minute planning is nearly impossible. Luckily we kept everything from his Storybook/Winnie the Pooh/Mad Hatter/Peter Pan birthday party (yup, overboard) reusing the wood slices, chalk boards and crafts. I have never seen my husband so relieved - I actually fulfilled the promise I made last year every time we were at the register that it would all be used again and the same promise when we brought them thousands of miles with us, using up valuable storage space. See, told you so ;) Also ordered some stuff from Amazon. With Prime taking about a week and a half to ship to Italy, not everything arrived on time but the dinosaurs did. That was the most important thing for our little 2 year old's dinosaur obsession.
Last minute decor:
From Amazon - dino figurines, dino masks, inflatable dinosaurs
From Idea Casa (the value store next to Savaris) - chalkboard easel, #2 figurine, latex balloons, gold letter balloons (unfortunately they don't float)
From the NEX flower shop - bouquet stuffers and plants (I asked for eucalyptus leaves but this is what they had on hand at the time)
Reusable decor:
From Michaels - wood slices, craft paper, mini clothespins
From Amazon - apothecary jars, wooden tongs, wooden disposable spoons
DIY decor:
"Roaring 2's" - printed letters, taped them on to poster board and used an x-acto knife to cut them out
Dinosaur floor mats - used a roll of floor protector from the garden section, drew out a paw print stencil on packing paper (from the move), stapled it to the mat and used a box cutter to cut it out
Table Runners - craft wrapping paper
Cake toppers - BBQ skewers, card stock, twine
Cake from Anna Holiday
Order details: two simple and small round cakes with very thin buttercream. I asked for one cake to be lemon flavored and the other to be a surprise. Anna chose Pineapple using organic ingredients. Both were delicious!
"Warning, Dino-mite Party this way" sign on a chalkboard arrow and DIY Dinosaur floor mats
Pennant Banner - card stock, fishing wire, craft glue
Happiest sugar-high birthday to our dino-mite boy. Enjoy your roaring 2's! We love you!