9th Birthday Harry Potter Theme

My girls are both mad for Harry Potter, and with my youngest's 8th birthday just around the corner, I thought I'd revisit my older daughter's 9th Harry Potter birthday party to reuse some ideas. Aparecium!

Party: 9th Birthday Party
Location: Sydney, NSW

Theme: Harry Potter
Organised by: Me (Steph Bond-Hutkin, Bondville)

Photography: Steph Bond-Hutkin for Bondville

How To Make A Puppy Cake

If you'd like squeals of delight from your little animal-lover on on their birthday, make a puppy cake, just like the two cute puppies that I made for my daughter's 6th birthday! These cakes are inspired by the dog cakes from Breadtop bakeries, but I decided to make them myself using my own flavours (and much more within my budget!). Read on for all the tips and tricks...

My daughter's high tea party 7th birthday

My daughter wanted a high tea party - as girly as they come - for her 7th birthday. Of course the kids had to have proper mini tea cups (found at a St Vinnies for a steal) and apple juice, poured from a tea pot. What a great theme! It's really easy to pull together a party that's inexpensive and effective by keeping the palette to pastels and pinks, and using an abundance of flowers. The perfect party for Spring. Lots of tips below...

Party: 7th birthday party
Organised by: Mum Steph Bond-Hutkin (that's me!)
Location: Sydney, NSW
Theme: High Tea party

Simple and chic flower garden 4th birthday party from My Poppet

Blogger and Craft/DIY maven Cintia Gonzalez (My Poppet) put together a simple and chic birthday party for her daughter Emma who recently turned four. Don't you just adore the giant crepe paper flower on the table? This is proof that a party doesn't need to be too elaborate or expensive to look fantastic. I also love the healthy food on offer and... no goodie bags (yay!). Cintia shares her tips and tricks for Emma's flower garden party:

Party: Emma's 4th Birthday
Organised by: Emma's mum, Cintia (My Poppet)
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Theme: Flower Garden party

Very special Birthday goodies - Dinosaur Designs

It was a pretty special birthday for me yesterday. I know I'm tough to buy for (a blue Tiffany box doesn't really float my boat), but Mr Bondville nailed it. When I opened up my presents to find three small Dinosaur Designs drawstring bags, I just about flipped my lid. Aren't these pieces amazing! I couldn't be more thrilled. Thank you Harris!

You can find Dinosaur Designs resin jewellery and homewares in the online store and stockists around Australia and the US.

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Budget 3rd vintage toy birthday party

We got home from our summer road trip on Saturday afternoon and after some unpacking, thought we should probably get ready for our little Miss 3's birthday party on Sunday.

I had picked up a few vintage toys from Kmart on the way home for only $5 and some $1 lollipops, and had already sent out invites with a cute vintage paper doll on the front. With limited time we thought we would theme it loosely around old school/retro/vintage toys/games/food and use what we had on hand in the house. It was our easiest, simplest party yet, and very low budget. All the details below...

Party: 3rd birthday party
Organised by: me! (Steph Bond-Hutkin and Mr Bondville too)
Location: Sydney
Theme: loosely based around vintage toys and games

Party Ideas: Sambellina Airplane and Stars 4th Birthday Party

This glorious airplane and star-themed birthday party comes to you from party expert, Kate from party stationery and accessories company Sambellina. You know the one! Kate used her airplane invitation as a starting point for the colours and decorations and created an aviatory masterpiece for her son Christian's 4th birthday party. Enjoy!

Birthday: Christian's 4th Birthday Party. A very small indoor "do" with family, his cousins and a couple of his very closest friends.

Organised by: Mum Kate (from Sambellina).

Theme: Airplanes and Stars.

Invitation: Invitation by Sambellina.

Party Ideas: Justin's Football Birthday Party

Our friend Justin celebrated his 4th birthday party on a cold, windy morning in Sydney recently. That didn't deter the kids, who got into the spirit of the Football/Soccer theme with gusto.

Clever Mum Bron enlisted a football expert friend from Football Development Australia to set up lots of self-play ball activities for the kids at a local park. The parents warmed up with cups of tea and coffee before heading indoors to the park hall for candle-blowing and goodies.

Bron made a cake in the shape and colours of Justin's favourite football team (Liverpool) with soccer ball candles. There were football player gingerbread men on sticks, football cookies, popcorn, fruit skewers, football patty cakes, and warming hotdogs of course.

All the kids were given whistles to practice referee skills. Liverpool team coloured bunting and balloons completed the decorations. So many great ideas. And the kids had a ball. Happy 4th Birthday Justin!

Images: Steph Bond Hutkin

Baby Bondville's First Birthday

Baby Bondville turns One! Well, almost. Her birthday is actually 28th December, but as it's such a tough time of the year to get everyone together, I banded with my buddy Bron whose little boy is also just One and we hosted a wee party together at the park. It was a great, low-key way to share the day with friends, split the hard work, and the hosting. We're already planning to do the same for the number 2's!
The cake! Melt and Mix Chocolate and Coconut cake from Donna Hay Modern Classics Book 2* with vanilla bean buttercream frosting from Donna Hay Kids magazine volume 7.

Featured on Hip Hooray!

I was thrilled to discover today that my big girl's 3rd birthday was featured on the fantastic Hip Hooray! blog on Monday.

Have you checked it out yet? Hip Hooray! is written by Siobhan Watkins and Vanessa Baird who manage the excellent Details, Details online party boutique. Their blog is one of the preeminent party websites in Australia and features lots of inspiring birthday parties, baby showers and events to make you drool.

Stop by and say hi (although I must warn you that you might be there a while checking out all the gorgeous posts). Thanks Siobhan and Vanessa for including our party too!

Image: Hip Hooray!

Lola's 3rd Birthday Party

We LOVE birthday parties at Bondville and were lucky enough to attend a simply lovely party on Sunday for our friend Lola's 3rd birthday. It was such a gorgeous day at the park and all the kids went ga-ga over the amazing rainbow cake that Lola's Mum and Dad made together (Mum made the cake, Dad did the icing). And how about gorgeous bunting that Dad also made? And the cool tent? A lovely, sweet day for a lovely, sweet girl. Happy Birthday Lola!