Fondant, fairies and facepaints...a mum's guide: A woodland themed party...the whole shebang

My daughter's 2nd birthday, and like I said my first real attempt at something with a bit more going on, although it was very loosely speaking a woodland themed party. Truth be told, I didn't really have a clue what made a good kids party and was still getting the hang of what looked good and how to get the impact when following a theme. My littlest one was only 3 months old at the time and permanently attached to the breast so trying to do anything alone required military stealth and organisation. Anyway, here is the breakdown of what I did and where I got things from which will hopefully give some ideas...

We were blessed with a gorgeously sunny day which was great; we'd only just moved into our house and what with that and a new baby, it was nice to keep everyone contained in the garden!

The clouds and rainbow were made with my daughter from lining paper and kiddy paint, so simple but looked really effective as the room has very pale blue walls. For the rainbow, we roughly marked out the sections but to be honest, no one looks that closely (which was lucky) and the really crap bits were hidden behind the clouds.

Usually I have a real aversion to balloons, but these were fab. Ordered them online from "The pretty little party shop" which has some great bits and amazing balloons! I've put web link below-no I'm not getting paid by them! I took them into town to get blown up...why we didn't get a canister I've no idea as I lost one the second I left the shop...Saturday morning in the busy high street and I'm the idiot with 2 enormous balloons wafting around my head, bashing every passerby in the face whilst screaming "b****r!" at the sky and my lost balloon. We also didn't think through the journey home. I arrived back to my husband and kids waiting in the car. Clearly there was no way we were all getting in the car with the 2 balloons, let alone 3! They were about 50cm across each. I assume someone was smiling on us that day as a family member with a Land Rover was parked 3 cars back from us! One phone call and some fluttered eyelashes and we managed to blag a lift for the balloons! I literally haven't the vaguest idea how we'd have got them home again, even with a bit of a relay! Anyway, they looked great on Tabatha's house, but 3 would've been better!

These cute little party bags cost next to nothing from Party Pieces and I think they were 50p each; I refuse to spend a fortune on party bags but wanted something that was a bit different. The bits inside mainly came from Party Pieces and I stuck with the woodland theme; bug stickers, little book for the tiny ones, wriggly spiders, chocolate ladybirds etc. The grass table runner also came from there.

These are absolute God-sends for anyone entertaining, everyone can help themselves and you don't spend the entire time making drinks, and more importantly they don't drink your booze cupboard dry! Pimms and Elderflower spritzer; we'd managed to make the Elderflower cordial a week or so before (just cordial mixed with sparkling water) and it's always a hit. Big jug of squash for the kids and some decorated (garden twine wrapped around the rim a few times and tied) jam jars for adult glasses and you're sorted. These can be picked up from EBay/Lakeland/TK Maxx etc but I'd definitely invest in the glass ones.

Instead of hiring a bouncy castle, which we simply don't have the space for, we bought a small one from Mothercare for £45 and it has been brilliant! Out all summer!