Drinks

Party Recap

My little girl LOVES Dora the Explorer, so that was the obvious theme for her 3rd birthday party.

Children were invited to a Fiesta at our home and told to bring water clothes as they would be getting very wet! Once they arrived, they were greeted by Dora and Boots (ie wooden cut-outs that my daughter's god-mother painted) who welcomed them to the party.

As everyone arrived, the children played in the "kiddie-wash" (named by the 5-year-old) and, splash pool, and in "Benny's Bubbles." After everyone tired of the water fun, we moved to the backyard to dry off and play on the "Troll Bridge" and in "Diego's Animal Rescue Clubhouse."

When everyone was completely exhausted, we enjoyed "Tico's Taco Bar" and cake.

The children all took home custom Dora Backpacks or Diego Rescue Packs and explorer pith helmets.

Idea

Party Highlights

  • What People Ate

    Tacos, Guacamole, Salsa, Fruit Salad

  • What People Drank

    Water

  • Party Favors

    Dora Backpacks and Diego Rescue Packs

💬

62 comments

  • Lindsey S

    Lindsey S wrote:

    Where did you get all those signs?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    I made them! I borrowed a girl friend's projector and traced the characters on really thin plywood, used a jig saw to cut them out, and a friend of mine painted them. For the text signs, they're also thin plywood with vinyl lettering that I used my Silhouette cutter for.

  • Melissa N

    Melissa N wrote:

    Nice job Christine! Love all the colors!

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    Ashley F wrote:

    Looks amazing!! I'm having a Dora Party for my daughter next month. The cut outs look great, very talented. What fillings did you use to ticos taco bar. Great idea.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Ashley, we have friends who don't eat beef, so I used chopped chicken and had cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa for toppings. Good luck with your party!

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    Alysha B wrote:

    I absolutely love how you did the Dora backpacks and the Diego rescue packs. Mind sharing how you did them? My daughter 2nd birthday is this Nov. and we're doing a Dora themed party too!

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Alysha, I'm working on a tutorial, I just need to figure out where to upload it. :)

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    OK, the Dora backpack tutorial is up! Here you go: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/Accessory/Backpack-Backpack/26406 I hope to have the Diego Rescue Pack tutorial up soon too!

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    Alysha B wrote:

    Thank You! I'll let you know how they turn out...wish me luck =]

  • Kd T

    Kd T wrote:

    Are you interested in selling your signs? Love the party ideas. I am doing a Dora Party for my grandaughter in November.

  • Priscilla Y

    Priscilla Y wrote:

    Sorry I didn't realize my son was logged into his Facebook. I wrote the above post to see if you were interested in selling some of your signs or all of them? I am having my grandaughter a Dora themed party in November. I love the party ideas you had a awesome Dora themed party.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Priscilla, why don't you e-mail me at [email protected].

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    Carmen I wrote:

    Hi Christine, Where did you get Diego's hat? Thank you.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Carmen, the helmets came from the Dollar Tree of all places! I think they may have them available online too.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    The Rescue Pack pattern is finally posted. Check it out here: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/diego-rescue-pack-tutorial/30874

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    Carmen I wrote:

    Hi Christine, Everything is coming together for my little girl's birthday!! I have one more question? Did you use Diego's backpack face template for the maps? Thank you so much for your help!!

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Carmen, the entire pattern for Diego's backpack is on Craftsy at http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/diego-rescue-pack-tutorial/30874 It has the face template as well. I think I based it off of the face template you can download from the Nick Jr website, but I'm not certain if I modified it or not.

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    Nena P wrote:

    Hi Christine, Did you even end up selling those signs? If not, I'm interested!

  • Candice P

    Candice P wrote:

    very nice as well

  • Candice P

    Candice P wrote:

    this is fantastic, from where, in sri lanka we dont have any of these

  • Candice P

    Candice P wrote:

    swiper stand out is very cute too, I need one

  • Candice P

    Candice P wrote:

    love the colurs and love the pom poms

  • Candice P

    Candice P wrote:

    beautiful

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    Cat V wrote:

    Where did you get your Swiper, Dora, and Boots cutouts?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Cat, I made them. You can do it too with a projector and cardboard or really thin plywood!

  • Erin G

    Erin G wrote:

    i have been looking for cutouts everywhere online, where did you find these?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Erin, I made them from thin plywood. You could do the same with an overhead projector and thin plywood, cardboard, or insulation board.

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    Stephanie M wrote:

    Hi, I'm sure you've already sold your signs if you decided to sell them, but I just wanted to check to see if you still had them. Thanks so much!!

  • Michyloo

    Michyloo wrote:

    ok I don't hava a projector so is there another option you know of?

  • Michyloo

    Michyloo wrote:

    where did you get the swiper no swiping sign?

  • LaLaLa

    LaLaLa wrote:

    How did you get the #'s on the cups?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    The pink and white on the cup are vinyl that I cut with my Silhouette cutter.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Michelle, you could use the grid method to scale them.

  • Ashley P

    Ashley P wrote:

    Where did you get the backpacks? So cute!

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Ashley, I made them.

  • Michyloo

    Michyloo wrote:

    What is the grid method?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Michelle, draw a grid on the image you want to enlarge - say 1/2 inch squared. Then, draw a grid on the material you're enlarging to - say 2" squares. Use the squares to help you transfer the image.

  • Amanda K

    Amanda K wrote:

    I too am very interested in purchasing the character's. Would love to buy them for my daughter's 3rd bday. Please let me know if they are still available. Thank You so much. Have a blessed day!

  • Amanda K

    Amanda K wrote:

    Yes, I too would like to know where you got the sign and if you made it how?

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    I made the Swiper sign with a scrap piece of plywood painted purple and white vinyl cut with my Silhouette.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Did you actually draw the cutouts? Or, did you have them printed and glue on? I'm stumped on how to make these. Any help would be much appreciated!!

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    I used an overhead projector to project the images onto plywood, jigsawed out the image, sanded the board, and painted the characters. For the boards with the text, those are just painted with vinyl lettering on them that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Amanda, they were sold a very long time ago, I'm sorry.

  • Amanda K

    Amanda K wrote:

    Thank You I appreciate you writing me back. :)

  • Amanda K

    Amanda K wrote:

    Hi, I know you told me the signs were sold a long time ago, but you wouldn't happen to have any prints of the characters you could e-mail me do you? Or tell me where I could find them at? Thanks again Amanda

  • Amanda K

    Amanda K wrote:

    Can I ask how you painted the characters? Thanks

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Amanda, if you'll e-mail me at [email protected], I'll be happy to send you line drawings that I used. And, the characters were painted with plain acrylic paint. :)

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    Sindy M wrote:

    Hi Christine, I just emailed you in regards to the line drawings. Do you mind providing me with those? Thanks!

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    Chrsitina C wrote:

    Christine you did an amazing job. I really need those cut out for my daughter first birthday they are so cute.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Christina, I'd be happy to email you the line drawings that I used to make the signs if you would like.

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    Chrsitina C wrote:

    Oh my gosh that would be awesome. [email protected]. Thank you so much.

  • Peggy C

    Peggy C wrote:

    Christina, My niece is turning 2 and we are planning a Dora party for her, I would love love the line drawings as well. What a fantastic project you did!! [email protected].

  • Christi C

    Christi C wrote:

    Where did you get the little cloth backpacks? I can't find them inexpensive. I love your props. I did my whole Dr. Seuss nursery with a projector. I think I'm going to do props for this party after seeing yours. Thank you. Beautiful job, I love it!!!

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Christi, I made them. I posted the tutorial on Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/backpack-backpack/26406

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    Rachelle F wrote:

    Hi. I'm also sending you an email for the line grids. I would love those signs

  • Charlene P

    Charlene P wrote:

    are you willing to sell the cardboard cutouts?

  • Charlene P

    Charlene P wrote:

    where did you find these cutouts

  • Charlene P

    Charlene P wrote:

    would you be willing to sell these and ship them to me? My daughter's birthday party is Feb 6th 2016 an I need this and the Benny's Bubbles.

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Charlene, I made all of the cutouts, but I no longer have them, I'm sorry. I would suggest blowing up coloring pages, mounting on foam core, and painting! Best wishes for a great party!!

  • Dawn H

    Dawn H wrote:

    Hi Christine B, I know your baby girl's party was a few years ago, but do you remember what size your plywood cut outs were? Also would you consider doing cut outs if paid???

  • Christine B

    Christine B wrote:

    Dawn, The cut outs were ~30" high I think. And, I'm sorry, no. They were certainly a labor of love and I don't have the time right now to do anymore. Good luck with your party!

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    Raquel T wrote:

    This is so impressive!! What font did you use for your signs?