Lego Party

UPDATE!  I'll also post this as a comment below.

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Apparently this is the most interesting thing I've ever done.  I get lots of emails about the pinata and the sign. 

I downloaded a free lego font from TypeNow (it's #270 on that page) and just printed the letters of his name out in a large font size (one per page for the size I needed), then drew a thicker outline with a permanent marker.  I cut out each letter and glued them to the yellow posterboard, then cut around the general shape the letters had made.  I glued those to the red square. 

I used a pull-string pinata tutorial.  The pinata is just a diaper box covered in tissue paper fringe.  The circles on the top are made from a corn meal canister.

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Knitting.  Umm, yeah.  This summer has been really busy and I'm working on a baby blanket that shows no signs of growing despite working on it regularly.  But I did just have an awesome Lego birthday party for John.  These things all took much longer to make than I'd planned, but he was so excited about them that it was worth it.

This is what started the whole party idea -- a Lego pinata filled with Legos.  I liked the idea so much that when John insisted he wanted a Kung Fu Panda party I stonewalled on buying anything until he changed his mind.  It's a mega box of diapers with cylinders cut from cornmeal boxes on top, all covered in blue tissue paper.  I made it a pull string pinata since breaking corrugated cardboard with a bat probably wouldn't have worked.  I did add one bag of candy, since it is a birthday party after all.

The kids all really liked it.  They probably spent five minutes picking up all the little pieces and everyone got enough to build a small project.  (Ignore my messy bookshelves.  The kids did.)

Because I love them so much it's not a birthday without a bunting.  Although lego fabric apparently does exist, I didn't feel like buying it off ebay, so we went with a paper bunting this year.  My knit group thought I was just a bit nuts for working on this all of Thursday night.

The John-as-Lego-logo sign completed the mantle, as did John's prized Lego AT-AT. 

I like to do little projects with the kids, so I had them make their own mini figures from a blank one I made.  Pete is of the Rothko school with big blocks of color.  John is more traditional.

Then came the Lego cake.  I followed these directions, which did say that it would take 3 hours to make, which should have been fair warning to start before 9 p.m. the night before the party.  Add to that the hot kitchen which gave me some frosting consistency issues and you get a so-so result.  I went to bed triumphant at 1 a.m. with eight completed Lego brick cakes in my refrigerator.  The kids quite liked them even with the incredibly uneven frosting job.

The party went so well I couldn't believe it.  Last year was sort of crazy, but I'm wondering if kids just grow up a lot from four to five.  After everyone went home, the boys hit the leftovers and Pete finished off one of the party trays I'd made.  Hey, who needs a separate plate?

Comments

[Luise]

I'm always impressed by how much you enjoy your kids, and now Lego cake! I have to remember that for when my quite young great-nieces and -nephews get a bit older.

[Amy]

You are one crafty momma! I can tell the kids were over the moon.

Amy

[Walden]

Such a wonderful idea. It looks like it was great fun!

[Johanna]

Awesome! My mom used to throw me parties like that every year, and now people are amazed if the cake is home made.

I love to see it! Happy Birthday John!

[grace]

oh my gosh. that looks so cute. i especially love the lego cakes. :) and the pinata? yeah. you're crazy, woman. you obviously love your children very much. ;)

[Annette]

Excellent! How did you get his Lego- style name board?

[Karen]

What a fabulous idea! Loved the Lego cakes!

[jennifer]

awesome job, mama! and that lego cake looks especially yummy :)
xoxo

[Regina DeDominicis]

Hi. I did a LEGO party for my son and this year we're on LEGO party II. When I did my son's cake, I froze the cakes as well as the mini muffins. They frosted MUCH easier. I only made three cakes (bread pans) and put the bottom two together to form an L and then put the third one on top as if it was holding the other two together.

This year, he built a simple car and we ordered the parts from Pick-a-Brick online and still ended up with only $4.75/car. Obviously, it will be the main element of the gift bags.

[Katie Epstein]

I just did a lego party for my little guy and got some great ideas from you. Thanks for sharing!

[Erica]

how did you make pull string pinata i've been looking everywhere and can't find out how to make it all online tells me to do is buy one and make it a pull string which i do not want to do.

[Laura]

How did you make the Lego - font name sign? I would love to do that!

[Edith]

That sign looks so good how did you make it??

[Tiffiny]

How did you make the lego name sign?!? That's awesome!

[lisa]

how did you do the lego logo with your child's name ?? can you share???
eatmywords40@yahoo.com

[Kids Parties NJ]

It is a nice blog. Yes you have written good things here regarding party ideas. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

[Samantha]

hi i was wondering if you could tell me how you made your lego block pinata? it looks awesome,and i cant find anything suitable for my 6 year olds party. I've never made one before and you made it sound super easy,though I'm sure it wasnt!
many thanks!

[christina]

yes where did u but that pianat?? i been looking.. any ideas???

[christina diaz]

sorry my name is christina am my son going to turn 5 i wanted to knw where u buy the pinata lego i been tryin to look for that soon b4 june??? any ideas thank uu

[christina diaz]

yes am christina again here my email christinacampos4@yahoo.com i was wondering about the lego pinata show me how u make it... thank uu

[madia]

Hi I love you lego pinata, I would love to knoe how you made it a pull string im throwing a lego party for my sons sixth birthday!!!!! love you idea's

[Kristen Hostutler]

how did you make the name sign? I want to do that for my son's birthday coming up!

[Evie Bermudez]

How did u get the giant lego sign wit his name on it. I want to do that for my son's party. He's turning six.

[Karen]

I'm hoping you replied to above questions through private emails as I don't see the answers anywhere and I have the same two questions: How do you make the pinata a pull string one and how did you get John's name in the Lego print? My son's party is in a week,so I'm crossing my fingers that you will get back to me ASAP. :)

[Brynne]

I downloaded a free lego font from TypeNow

http://www.typenow.net/themed.htm

(it's #270 on that page) and just printed the letters of his name out in a large font size (one per page for the size I needed), then drew a thicker outline with a permanent marker. I cut out each letter and glued them to the yellow posterboard, then cut around the general shape the letters had made. I glued those to the red square.

I used a pull-string pinata tutorial.

http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2006/06/how_to_make_a_p.html

The pinata is just a diaper box covered in tissue paper fringe. The circles on the top are made from a corn meal canister.