John Deere Theme!!

Carson's 1st birthday was my first ever full party planned by me! So many handmade decorations, so many hours and fun crafts to prepare for his first big day!! I still look back on this party and smile:) It is where I began in my party planning obsession. I am completely addicted, and always wonder how many more years I get to be this crafty for his parties! I dread the day when he asks for a Chucky Cheese birthday or something of that sort. We have began the tradition of taking him somewhere special ON his big day, and then have the party for friends and family to celebrate with us...so maybe that will allow me to keep planning these parties for years to come;)

I didnt really know where to start party planning, so I glued my eyes to the computer searching Pinterest! I got so many inspirations that I modified to our own! And others I just had fun with!

We do live pretty far in the country, meaning we needed quite a few sign to help guests find us that hadnt been to our home in a while! These were dollar tree poster board and construction paper, with the letters free hand cut out and pasted on. I know what your thinking, "Wow! that sounds like it took forever!" Well, yes...it DID!! Parties after this have all consisted of MUCH simpler signs. I SO wish I would have just kept these to use for his 2nd and this years party! Live and learn! Still cute!

Signs

Next is the entire party area! We were very unlucky with our yard, or lack of, to have a party. BUT we did have a big giant beautiful "bowl" we called it, below our house next to the creek that I decided would be a perfect setting! That it was! Although setting up everything took WAY longer than expected as dragging and carrying everything down a pretty steep hill was much harder than planned for HAHA. All well, it was worth it to have a nice big area to party!

We utilized Caution tape to enclose the safe areas to walk and hang out for all the kids. We had limited chairs, SO i loved the idea of using straw bails for extra seating, which worked AMAZING and matched the country theme perfect!!

Overview of party area from our driveway

All the decor for the party; signs, banners, posters...All homemade by me! The posters are poster board purchased at the Dollar Tree and construction paper, just like the street direction signs to the party. I found a cute tractor design I loved from an Etsy store (Design Here sold for $18...I probably paid a total of  $3 for my homemade one!), and free handed cutting out a large scale size! One saying "Happy Birthday" and the other "The Big 1". The banner on the highchair was made out of felt squares bought at JoAnns for .30c a piece! Then there are always coupons for better pricing! Cut out the triangles and hot glued them to some super cute thick brown yarn. I also used the same technique for the Happy Birthday Carson banner but sadly dont have a picture snapped:( (i have so far made one for both his birthdays and plan to do another this year!) I did save it though!! And if anyone really wants to see its cuteness, please let me know and I will dig it out for a picture!!!

Of course had to borrow Grandpa's tractor to bring down for pictures!! 

Grandparents have tons of antique farm pieces like that seat leaning against the tree...I loved being able to borrow a few to add to the decor of the party!

Ladder I literally found in a burn pile and saved it! So cute for added decor! The signs are pieces of pallet I painted with chalkboard paint! 

Scrapbook paper and mason jars make adorable centerpieces for the food table!!

Carson and I worked hard on making this adorable canvas of tractors with his feet!! And of course another sign made from pallet and chalkboard paint!

I decided to have a "Memory Table" to add a fun trip down memory lane! The poster leaning against the umbrella is a picture of Carson each month! Below is a shadow box I made of his first outfit, hospital bracelet, and birth info! I wish i had a little bit of a closer picture, but the jars on either side are baby food jars filled with homemade yellow and green play-doh for party favors!! They turned out AMAZING! Used Jello for color and an added bonus they smelled delicious! 

Recipe For Jello PlayDoh

Love my old window made into a chalkboard!!

"Thank You For Rollin' By Carson's Party!"

Drinks! 

((you can even see the very corner of the felt banner i made!! bummer there arent any actual pictures!!!))

Food Table is a must of course! Loved an idea I found of using handkerchiefs as an accent so went with it to add some flair:) 

John Deere "country" themed food of course! Pallet was an idea I loved right when I saw it laying outside my boyfriends work! And the little baskets were perfect for $1 a piece at the Dollar Tree!

Yumm!

The Cardboard is NOT pretty lookin I know haha BUT i really wanted to try this bunched cupcake idea. It was much harder than i though it would be! I spent all night putting this together!!! Still, at least it did turn out looking like a tractor!

My neighbor made this amazing little smash cake for Carson! We all loved it....

....especially him!

I actually impressed myself with coming up with the idea of green and yellow rice!! Ive seen tons of sensory bin ideas before, and decided that would be so much fun to include in his party! The kids LOVED it, even the older ones! I hid bugs and little tractors in there too:) Be sure to dye the rice outside as that vinegar smell is stroooong!!

We put out all sorts of Dump trucks and tractors to play with:)

Bummed we didnt get the picture I wanted of all the kids that came in the bucket! But still cute!

The tractor was awesome for pictures!

And my final picture I must share is my yearly photoshoot favorite of Mr Carson!! We used this shot for his invites, and it still is one of my all time favorite pictures!! 

Happy 1st Birthday Love!!