I’ve always had a tendency to go a bit overboard when it comes to my boys’ birthday parties. It’s partly because I like choosing a theme and seeing what kind of creative ideas I can tie to it. It’s partly because I love seeing how impressed kids are with the food, games and decorations. But mostly it’s because when the party is over and everyone has gone home, I get to see the look of utter contentment on the face of my children.
This year, my oldest son turned nine and we decided to have an outer space birthday party. I started with the Space Blast Ultimate Kit from Costume SuperCentre to take the pressure off of decorating. With themed plates, napkins, cutlery, streamers and a fun balloon cluster, it had the outer space look I wanted at a great price.
After that it was time to move on to the food. I turned hot dogs into rockets with a simple swirl of puff pastry, a triangle cheese top and a cupcake liner bottom. I also made fruit rockets with pineapple, watermelon and strawberries. Chips, vegetables and dip rounded out the table. And for extra fun, I couldn’t resist making a batch of sugar cookies decorated to look like planets!
For the cake, I stayed fairly simple with a cake mix baked in a round bowl to create a half moon. But since the cake was already in a great shape for hollowing out, I decided to cut the centre out of the cake and fill it with candies! Then I used a whipped buttercream frosting to simulate the surface of the moon. An alien on top provided the perfect finishing touch!
With the food planned, all that remained was the games. Having a trampoline in the back yard came in handy; I simply renamed it the “Moon Bounce” for the day. I also painted ten rocks with metallic colours and then buried them in the sandbox so that the kids could dig for moon rocks. Because the weather was chilly at the last minute, I cut out a large paper circle and printed an astronaut figure to create “Pin the Astronaut on the Moon” in case the boys wanted to come inside for a while.
But the highlight of the Outer Space Birthday Party was one that Zackary himself requested just a few days in advance…water bottle rockets! I foolishly assumed this would be a fairly simple addition to the party but soon learned the project required constructing an actual launch pad!
Luckily, the NASA website came to the rescue with downloadable Water Rocket Launcher plans and a detailed shopping list!
The rocket launcher took some trial and error to get just right, but with the help of my ex-husband we managed to get it shooting into the sky with impressive results. While a bicycle pump will work for creating pressure, an air compressor makes the job of pumping the bottles with air much easier. Watching the boys chase the bottles as they launched was one of the highlights of the day for me!
The Outer Space Birthday Party ended with treat bags for the kids containing Meteor chocolate bars, sour candy and “Space Blaster” water guns. And when the parents arrived to pick up the kids, we couldn’t resist sending a few more rockets up in the air for them too! Overall it was the perfect party and surprisingly easy to put together, aside from the water bottle rocket launcher.
And since I’ll be able to use that for years to come, the work was worth it in the end! Thanks to the Space Blast Ultimate Kit, which you can learn more about when you follow CSC on Twitter, easily prepared food like the hot dogs (which I actually prepared the night before) and simple active games, Zackary’s outer space adventure with his friends was a hit with everyone!
jan says
I really like the idea of a kit to take care of the ‘set the stage’, but your cookies and moon cake finish it off. Love seeing the picture of them digging in the sand.
Richard Saechao says
The snacks are really killing it!
Monica H says
You are so creative thanks for sharing!! I know what theme I will be copying for my step sons B-Day this August!
kristen visser says
water bottle rockets!! absolutely love that idea. and love the theme too. looks like it was a lot of fun!
Cheryl says
This is such a great and creative theme! I’m not much for being creative but this seems so simple!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
what fantastic ideas embedded in this post, marvellous. I especially liked the water bottle rockets, cool!
Lynda Cook says
I loved your theme!! and by all the pictures you did an awesome job and it looks like the boys had ton’s of fun!! I used to love doing themed birthday parties when my girls were youing, so much fun and the best part you get all bragging rights..lol.. I’m happy your rocket launcher worked I can just imagine the boys reaction to it!!
Doris Calvert says
Outer space party what a cool idea, so cute!
heidi c. says
This would be the perfect theme for my little guys’ upcoming birthday!
Wanda Tracey says
You did an awesome job of the theme and I think you are very cerative with your ideas.It looks like they had a wonderful time too.Your cookies and cake look very good too.Nice job!!!
Maggie C says
WHat a great mixture of various goodies on the table! I am really loving those hot dogs and fruits!
kathy downey says
What an awesome creative party
Julie F says
These are all great ideas and I know my grandsons would love a party like this, those cookies and cakes are brilliant!
Judy Cowan says
Great ideas, sounds like it was a fun party!
jamie hall says
great ideas very creative, and different than the usual
sarah sar says
What a great theme for a birthday party!! Those sugar cookies look way too pretty to eat.
Stephanie LaPlante says
Looks like it was a fun party!
Athena says
It looks like they had a blast!
nicolthepickle says
What a fun party. I’m impressed by your “earth” cookies.
Karla Sceviour says
Looks like a fun time!! 🙂
Aliya D says
Great ideas! I did an astronomy themed birthday party for my youngest a few years ago with a sleepover and telescope, stars and planets lesson out in the back yard. It went over like gangbusters!
joanne darrell says
Great maps on the cookies.
tasha may says
This is such a neat and inexpensive b-day idea! Ty for sharing :o)
Silvia D says
what a great birthday party theme..my kids are winter babies so no outdoor stuff with their parties…love the world cookies!
Heather Howard says
Looks like the boys had lots of fun!
Lots of great ideas!
Florence C says
What a great and creative Idea. Kids always have fun with something different and hos great to get them outside.
LisaM says
okay that just looks pretty awesome! I love all of the ideas!
janet aycock says
great ideas
Mishelle says
This is so cute!! I think it would be a wonderful way to celebrate!!
M
Doris H says
This is so creative and fun for the kids. Love this idea for a party!
Laurie P says
How awesome are those hot dog rockets…..very clever!!!!!!! Love the planet earth cookies too, someone’s pretty creative!
Well done!
Soozle says
You did such an amazing job making a great spaced themed party! Those hot dog rockets & planet cookies are super cute… the rocket launcher? Amazing 🙂
Treen Goodwin says
such a cool birthday love the cookies , great ideas thanks for sharing 🙂
Dream24 says
Wow this theme party is out of this world! Kudos on the rocket ship and foods 🙂
Elva Roberts says
This was some party or, as my grandchildren say, “awesome!”. I would think the water rocket was the ‘piece de resistance.’ I would have loved to have seen it in action, live, myself!
You certainly worked to have the food in theme and I really loved the ‘moon’ cake.
I shall have some ideas now if my grands or great grands want this theme. Thank you.
Linda Bragg says
You have given me some great ideas.
Theresa C. says
Wonderful ideas! Kids always remember their birthday parties 😉
Caroline says
Not only does this look like a lot of fun, but the kids end up learning something too!
Linda says
Those are beautiful cakes and cookies! Kids would have a lot of fun making and eating those.
Debbie W says
The sand activity would be great for our next family reunion. The cookie idea, I like as well.
Erika Letson says
I love this creative party! My boys would love that moon cake!
Jeannie says
What a great birthday theme! I love how everything goes so well together.
Carol M says
Great theme, well done!
MOHAMMAD ANJUM says
love the cookies , great ideas
Kristin B says
How fun! I’ll have to keep this in mind for my little rocketeer!
Shirley O says
Very creative ideas! I love the cookies and the hot dog rockets. It looks like everyone had a fun time.
Shirley O says
Great party ideas! I loved the space themed foods, especially the cookies.