Minnie Mouse Party

I have had TONS of emails asking how I made Emileigh's Minnie Mouse topiary that we used as the centerpiece for her second birthday party.  

I wish I could take total credit for the idea, unfortunately my creative juices are a bit low.  Thanks to Pinterest my juices are beginning to flow again.   I began my search  about a month before the big day. I could have spent a year getting ready for this party, however I had days... so I improvised.

Here are a couple of the projects I completed for the big day:

Minnie Mouse Topiary

Pillow case dress :) 

Cupcakes

The Topiary was the most time consuming project, but it turned out GREAT!  

It was super easy- you will need the following:

* Foam Topiary base found in most craft stores, I got mine from Hobby Lobby

* Foam floral balls, also from Hobby Lobby.  

* You will buy two sizes, bigger ones for the bottom and smaller for the top

These will be Minnie's ears :)

* Go out in the garden shed and grab a plastic pot, you're going to paint it, so it won't matter the condition.  

* Pull out your paint and paint brushes.  The fun is getting ready to begin :)

Miscellaneous:

*you will need tooth picks to apply the ears

*Ribbon of your choice for Minnie's bow

*Floral pins

*Ribbon for the outside of the pot (if necessary)

*Flowers of your choice to place at the bottom of the topiary

*hot glue gun and glue sticks

I also used these:

*They are dimensional stickers I found in the scrapbook section at hobby lobby.  I used them on the invites, the topiary, and anywhere else I could find that could use some "bling" :)

Directions:

1. Clean, dry, and paint the plastic flower pot and set aside to dry.
2. Paint the foam balls on the topiary tree.  I chose not to paint the wood rod, but might in the future.  It turned out okay with leaving it wood.
3. Paint the foam balls used for Minnie's ears.  Once you have an ear painted, stick a tooth pick in the ball and then stick it onto the topiary base.  Remember, use the bigger size on the bottom and the smaller size ears for the top.  
4. Cut your ribbon and place bows on the ears.   I hot glued mine 
1. I took advantage and "blinged" mine up a bit with the scrapbook stickers :)
5.  Wrap the pot with whatever ribbon you choose, I used zebra with a pink polka dot accent.  
6. You will need to weight the pot- I used coins, it was the closest and easiest thing I could find at the time.  Rocks would work too.  Even sand if your pot doesn't have holes.  Coins worked for me - bonus birthday gift, right?
7. Place the topiary in the pot.
8. Cut and place flowers at the base of the topiary.  I used floral pins to stick them in the foam, they worked GREAT.
9. Stand back and look at your creation- it is super cute and super easy!

Emileigh's room is decorated in Minnie Mouse theme, so this looks really cute sitting on her dresser.  I am really pleased with how it turned out.

The Dress was made by my grandmother.  I was happy with the way it turned out, however it hung a little strange for my liking.  Next time, we'll try a different style.  It was cute for the theme though.  We used the same ribbon on Minnie's bow on the dress and the topiary.  Keeping it in sync. HA.

The cupcakes were made by the bakery down the street.  Simply frosted with white icing and I added mini-oreos and pink ribbons for decorations.  I couldn't find any candy bows that I thought looked pretty enough for my princess, so I tied two dozen pink ribbon bows thirty minutes before the party.  It worked out.  Everyone knew to pull them off and pitch them, but my good ole grandpa.  He wanted to make a scene... it wouldn't be a party without him :)

Here are a few of my FAV pics from the party.