i scream, you scream...

We all scream for ice cream! Ice cream parties are everywhere these days. I thought I'd share my "old" one with you. For my daughter's third birthday, we had a "Sundae Social". This has been a couple of years ago and so much is different in my little party planning world. There is a lot I would do differently now - so much inspiration out there. But still worth the post to share a couple things I would probably still do the same way.

To start, I want to tell you the two reasons this party theme came about. First, my daughter's actual birthday fell on a Sunday that particular year, so I translated that to "Sundae". Secondly, I had randomly seen an ice cream sundae cake picture on CakeCentral (if you love cakes, you'll love this site. Beware it's VERY addictive). The cake had the three scoops of ice cream on top. Three, just perfect! So there you have it - a Sundae Social for a third birthday. Another lesson in finding inspiration everywhere - even days of the week!

Check out these interactive invitations I made. I mailed these invitations in tube mailers, but unfortunately I don't have pictures of that part. The invitation is a little beat up since it's been in a box for two years (promise me you won't be too critical), but I thought it was important to include in the overall party details. Before being bent, it use to roll up so nicely. You get the idea anyway.





I used brown and cream cross-hatched paper (in the Martha section at Micheal's) for the "cone". I made myself a template that had a tab closure system (kind of like on a cereal box) and a shape that allowed it to roll up nicely. This definitely took some time - trial and error. Then I printed the actual invite on pink card stock, cut the edge with decorative scissors and drew on little ice cream cones. Then I waded up pink tissue paper for the "ice cream" making sure to shape it so there was a good amount to go down into the cone. Hot glue on a red pom pom (in the kids craft section at Micheal's) and you've got it! I packed the invitation in brown paper shred to secure it in the mailer tube. I also drew the same little ice cream cone on the mailing labels so the guests would know there was something fun inside.

I happened to find this shirt right before the party. Sorry I don't remember where - even if I did, it would probably be moot anyway; I'm sure they wouldn't be selling the same thing 2+ years later. She was sure proud of her shirt! Side note: She had matching ice cream panties on too! No, we didn't show anyone, it was just our little secret.


Now for the good stuff... ice cream! I wrapped the table in a black and white checkerboard wrapping paper that I found at Ikea. I thought it very reminiscent of a old ice cream parlor. Any good ice cream shop has black and white checkered floor right!?




I got inspiration for the "cone stacks" while in Italy. All the little gelato shops stacked their cones and I just loved it. Some went WAY up in the air and really made a statement. I wish I would have had a deeper container, then I could have done them a lot higher too. See what I mean!



Truth be told, we ended up with almost all the cones still there at the end of the party. Everyone used bowls to make their own sundaes. I found little ice cream dishes at Wal-mart for 97 cents. Again, reminiscent of the ones you would find in an old ice cream parlor. Perfect! I also bought some larger bowls for the guests who wanted a BIG sundae.

I put the ice cream containers in a galvanized bucket that usually holds drinks because I didn't want the labels showing. I nestled them down in the ice and all was well - I was happy and the ice cream didn't melt. We kept the flavors simple - vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. Neapolitan anyone?

Speaking of Neapolitan, I used those colors for the spoon and napkin detail. Notice the "e" (for Ella) I formed out of the pipe cleaner used to secure the napkin to the spoon.



And here's all the goodies... As you can imagine, some kids piled them high!



-bananas
-crushed oreos
-peanut butter cup
-m&m's
-sprinkles
-chocolate, strawberry and caramel syrups
-whipped cream
-brownies
-nuts
-and of course, a bowl of cherries!



Now for the cake. Ohhhh, the cake! I have to tell you all this was actually the second cake I made for this party. I had made the first one and left it my office for safe keeping while we went to dinner and a show with some family in town for Ella's birthday. We got home late the night before the party to find the cake in a crumbled mess on the desk. We are still not a 100% positive what happened, but obviously the structure was lacking. So after getting Ella to bed, several of us started in on cake number two. Luckily, the "scoops" had stayed somewhat in tack and all I really had to redo was the base. Nothing like baking, building, frosting and decorating a cake a few hours before the party. I will say, even those this was my first major cake-tastrophe (and still my only one to date), it was the perfect cake for it to happen to for two reasons. 1) it was for my family, not some clients that I would then assume hated me for the rest of my life and 2) being a sundae it didn't have to be perfect. I just piped whipped topping (frosting) all over the top and we were good to go. The bananas and cherries were molded out of fondant and the syrups were colored chocolate melts.

Watching her blowing out those candles still makes me smile. Don't you love it when little kids blow straight up and not out leaving the candle still lit. And then they look so bewildered - why is the candle still a flame!? Too cute!




Unfortunately, I can't find any picture of the favor bags I did, but I do remember two things about them worthy of sharing. I bought bubbles in ice cream cone shapes. You can actually see a couple of them on the table by the toppings. I found those at the Dollar Tree. I also found some "ice cream cone" guns at Micheal's. You know, the ones where you push the button and the foam ice cream scoop pops off at you. I didn't do this, but wish I would have thought of it then. You could buy little ($2-3) gift certificates to your local ice cream shop. What kid wouldn't love that!? Heck, what adult wouldn't love that!

I hope you enjoyed this "Sundae Social" post and I hope it helps you ready for an ice cream party of your own. If nothing else, it gets the creamy concoction in our minds for the coming dog-days of summer. Like today here in the northeast! I just checked our thermometer - 97 degrees! Maybe the girls and I will go get ice cream right now!