{GWD Parties} Dashell’s Race Car Party!

I don’t know about you, but when I start planning a party that is always the question for me. Sometimes I’m stumped and sometimes it just magically comes to me (or someone comes to me with a great idea). But it always starts somewhere: a color choice or a theme or a pattern or a cute saying. With Dashell’s Race Car party, I knew that I wanted a party with a theme that could incorporate at least one activity that would be good fun for a bunch of two year olds. Two is a tough age. They’re a little young for games and they don’t really play together yet, but they definitely need things to do at party or they get restless (and mommies can’t get in all the visiting we “need” to do!)

My son, Dashell, is really into garbage trucks, trains and cars just like most 2 year old boys. So when I started to plan his birthday party, a few months ago, I started there. At first I thought trains but I came up with SO many ideas that I decided it might be better to have that party next year when he could actually participate a little more. As far as garbage trucks…well, truth be told,  I just couldn’t come up with too many activities random pieces of recycling littered throughout my garden. That left me with cars. Race cars seemed like a really fun theme. And when I thought about it, I immediately had an idea for an activity (provided my husband agreed to help construct it!) So, it was decided… race cars!

Now all I had to do is decide on a color scheme. It should have been obvious, I guess, in hindsight. But it wasn’t. I got stuck on the whole black checkered flag thing for a little while. But black seemed so “big boy” to me. After all my little guy was only turning two! He had plenty of time to go through his “black period”. (I think I hit mine in my early twenties.) I definitely wanted a limited color palette but I still wanted it to say “race car”. So I thought about going blue and white or green and white or even green and yellow, but in the end I really thought about where I was going to stage the party… my backyard. You should know that I didn’t do my yard in a neutral palette (which maybe would have given me more fixability for staging events). Instead all my throw pillows and all my outdoor umbrellas are red. Bright red. So, red and white it was. Oh, and then I threw in a some yellow to give the color scheme a little zing. And there you have it. Where to start… at least for this party.

I designed some invitations to let everyone know right from the start what kind of party it was going to be…
And on the day of the big event, I decided to line the driveway with huge 3 foot balloons to kick off the red and yellow color scheme from the get go and mixed in a some of the traditional black and white flags as well…
Dashell had a blast running around with a giant balloon on his wrist! In fact there is so much helium in those things that it kept pulling his arm up into the air!
I pulled together a dessert and favor table that incorporated the theme and party colors…
(All the printable party items are available in my shop.)
As I mentioned, I recruited my husband to build the “activity”. A race track! All the kids had a blast…
And I purchased a blow-up race car and filled it with 120 tiny pillows for the kids to flop in…
We made sure that no one left empty handed. Each child was given a some bubbles…
 …and a crayon caddie made by the wonderful Melissa at Beau Melange
Originally I’d shipped her the fabrics to match our party theme, but now she has almost the exact same one in her shop!!
It was a pretty wonderful day. And most importantly, Dash had a blast!!
If you are open to sharing I would love to hear about your party inspirations!!

32 Responses to {GWD Parties} Dashell’s Race Car Party!

  1. Amy @ Blowout Party! August 31, 2010 at 7:50 am #

    Wow, this is an amazing party! That racetrack is incredible, and the table is gorgeous! Love everything about it!

  2. Shelley@DivinePartyConcepts August 31, 2010 at 9:30 am #

    What a WONDERFUL party with great details!!!

  3. A Blissful Nest August 31, 2010 at 8:42 pm #

    Gwynn you are AMAZING!! I love all your creativity!

  4. Brittany @ GreyGreyDesigns September 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm #

    This party is GORGEOUS! I am in love!

  5. Stefani September 3, 2010 at 11:03 am #

    Gwynn this is amazing! Can I ask where you got 3ft balloons and the helium to fill them up? 🙂
    ~stef

  6. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs September 3, 2010 at 11:18 am #

    Thanks so much for all the sweet comments!!

    Stefani, I got the balloons from: http://www.balloonsexpress.com/
    and the helium from the Party Store. Be prepared. These balloon take A LOT of helium!! I think we used 2 medium sized tanks to fill 22 balloons.

  7. Globetrottingbride September 3, 2010 at 12:18 pm #

    This is amazing!!! Can you tell me where you got the containers for the bubble favors? And I love the pipe cleaner wands!!

  8. Tori September 3, 2010 at 10:13 pm #

    Everything is precious! Going to incorporate several of your ideas into my twins race car party at the end of this month. Where did you find the race car doodle pad to go in the crayon caddy?

  9. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs September 4, 2010 at 3:57 am #

    Hi Tori! I got them at Oriental Trading Company.

    Good luck with the party!!

  10. Sisterly Love Bake Shop September 12, 2010 at 3:26 pm #

    I love love this party!! I wish I had kids lol

  11. Party Box Design September 12, 2010 at 3:29 pm #

    such an ubbbber cute party!

  12. Kim @ Frost Me! September 12, 2010 at 3:31 pm #

    What a fantastic job! Details are so professional! And the red checkered really pops on that yellow! Thanks for the share!

    hugs! Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
    party inspiration

  13. The Party Animal September 12, 2010 at 4:46 pm #

    WoW That is great – I love the race track set up – what a great Mommy u are.

  14. Lorena @ sueniosencantados September 12, 2010 at 5:17 pm #

    What a wonderful party! Congrats!

  15. brandyjo October 2, 2010 at 9:35 pm #

    This is amazing! My little man is almost 2 and LOVES race cars also…we have about one hundred of those around here…could you please let me know where you purchased the inflatable race car from? Thank you!

  16. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs October 6, 2010 at 10:11 am #

    Brandyjo, I got the inflatable race car from Toys ‘r’ Us.

  17. Anonymous October 21, 2010 at 4:28 am #

    Hello I am new to this So I hope I am doing this right. I want to say everything is beatiful My son wants the same kind of party I just wanted to ask how do you create the party labels is it a software (if so what kind) also what about the invite.
    Thanks

  18. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs October 21, 2010 at 6:06 am #

    Hi Anonymous! I designed all the paper goods and you can buy them all as either Printables (where you can print them and cut them yourself) or Made-For-You (where I make them for you). Here is the link…

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/GwynnWassonDesigns

  19. Anonymous April 8, 2011 at 8:46 am #

    how do i build the race track

  20. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs April 10, 2011 at 6:55 am #

    Hi Anonymous! The blueprint for the race trick is here…

    http://www.gwynnwassondesigns.com/2010/08/tips-hints-race-car-party.html

  21. Anonymous June 30, 2011 at 7:41 pm #

    Hi Gwynn,
    What a fab birthday party! My son would LOVE this – thank you for sharing!

    I’m hunting for a cute red race clipart, to no avail. May I know where you found yours?

    Thanks in advance!

  22. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs June 30, 2011 at 7:45 pm #

    Hi Anonymous! We created it for the printables. 🙂

  23. Anonymous July 18, 2011 at 11:46 am #

    Gwynn,
    My son is turning 1 I’ve looked everywhere for race car themed ideas along with a 1 year old theme. I’ve found all kinds of them but no race car themed ones. I love your idea with the red and yellow! Do you have any ideas of how to incoporate turning 1 into this theme. Any ideas would be great
    thanks Cindy

  24. Anonymous July 18, 2011 at 11:51 am #

    where did you find all the red and white checked flags ect.

  25. yesmin seligson August 19, 2011 at 11:51 pm #

    Love it! where did you get the race track and all paper goods. Popcorn holders < banners invites etc. Can turn around be in 2 weeks …
    looks faboulus and so much fun

  26. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs August 20, 2011 at 5:38 am #

    Hi Yesmin! So glad you like the party!! The printables are all available in my Etsy shop…

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/GwynnWassonDesigns?section_id=7846094

    Yes, they can be turned around in two weeks.

    The track is from BluTrack…

    http://www.blutrack.com/shop/27/all-products/

    We bought the 24 foot Challenge Pack.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions.

  27. Anonymous September 2, 2011 at 4:59 pm #

    Quick question on the red and white checkered as well as the yellow and white checkered liners lining your square plates….are they just scrapbooking 12×12 cardstock or did you design them(I didn’t see them in your shop) Thx in advance!

  28. Anonymous September 2, 2011 at 5:07 pm #

    GREAT party! Did you design the cookie toppers as edible images? Are they available to purchase from your site?

  29. Anonymous December 15, 2011 at 8:04 am #

    hi, thanks for such a beautiful party, tell me please how do you desing that blue race track?

  30. Anonymous January 4, 2012 at 7:00 am #

    Hi, Yes can you pls let me know where did u make those cookie toppers ? i would like to incorporate that into my lil one’s party.

  31. Gwynn @ Gwynn Wasson Designs January 5, 2012 at 12:27 am #

    Hi Anonymous! You can purchase the Printable Party Circles/Cupcake Toppers through my etsy shop…

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/61612602/printable-party-circles-race-car-party

    If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at…

    GwynnWassonDesigns@gmail.com

  32. Anonymous January 9, 2012 at 1:45 pm #

    Love this idea..:) my son is turning 2 in 4 months..so its a great idea and his fav thing is cars…amazing job!!! Question where did u get the bubble tins??? They r super cute…

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