Monster Truck Birthday Party

My youngest boy is really into planes, trains and automobiles. Most recently, the monster truck variety – thus the theme for the party.

His favorite color is blue – so the main color was decided. I used red and orange and black and white check to set it all off. This allowed me to use race car and other truck decor and design elements as well as his toys and things we already had around the house. I created the flag bunting out of paper and ribbon (he still has it on the wall in his room) and printed a  flame pattern, black and white checkered pattern and repeated the invitation design, then cut them into triangles and taped them to ribbon. Also, I borrowed a bunch of collectible oil and gas cans and auto signs and even a small gas pump (my father is a collector). Placed outside the front door and around the house, along with a couple of “parking” and “truck route” signs printed off the internet, really gave it a vehicle feel.

His birthday is a winter one – so we were able to have our main activity as sledding (we happen to have a pretty good hill behind our house, and it is my boy’s favorite thing right now) so the party games and activities were sort-of skipped. Though I did use our Mac Book’s photo booth app. I found monster truck rally photos on the internet and added them into the custom backdrop. Then set up a “green screen” photo booth so we could have our photos taken “at a Monster Truck rally.” Every one left with several souvenir photos. Also, we streamed an “All About Monster Trucks” video for the kids to watch right after sledding, while we got the food heated and ready to go. Each got a cute black and white box for popcorn (bought from “circus” themed set – but totally worked for this!).

Since it was cold outside, I had hot spiced cider in a galvanized insulated cooler and labeled it “anti-feeze” and had some lemonade available as “coolant.” Other snack foods labeled with auto-themed names and set up with vintage oil cans and other large truck toys completed the party buffet.

The table was pretty simple with checkered flags, traffic cones (bought at the Dollar Store in the educational/teacher section) and red and orange balloons. I did customize each guests’ plate with a cutout monster truck. Each in different colors with their name on the flag. Then I used two small black plates for the large tires. I used a large craft (or popsicle stick) to connect them together with hot glue. They then just simply sat on top of the cut out truck.

The goody bags were red with a black and white checkered ribbon and contained small monster truck toys, stickers and erasers. Simple. No candy needed.

The cake was created using loaf pans and a mini-bundt cake pan. A smaller loaf pan created the cake (leveled and split for layering) base. I used two mini-bundts for each wheel after leveling and “glueing” together with chocolate butter cream. I then piped the buttercream on the wheels to look like mud, but hide the seam. The wider of the cake pans was used to create the truck itself. I used the rounded tops from my leveled layers to create the curve of the hood and roof of the cab. Licorice and Smarties are my roll bar and lights. Keeping with the same coloring as the plates – I made it a blue truck with flames. Three candles (two stars and a number 3) were placed in the truck bed.

That pretty much did it for his birthday. I usually never go any bigger than 12 kids (including my own) when we are having the party at our house. My table can’t handle it, and frankly… neither can I.  Happy Monster Truck Birthday planning!!