A High Flying Birthday Party Planning

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

The Birthday Boy had a name that fit perfectly as the name of our airline so that became our standard refrain. Irina, our graphic artist, had created a winged logo for all of our items.

We used Inflatable and small tin airplanes as table decor.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

As guests arrived they were greeted by me and one of my staff dressed in airline attire, which included vests and those little scarves they always used to wear.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

As guests were given passports with their pictures (The Fuji Instax Mini takes perfect instant passport photos) and after typing their names into our “computer” system (an old, non-working laptop) they received their boarding pass.

From here they had to pass through airport security - which was a hoot!  We had made an actual rolling belt out of PVC and wood. Guests slid their gifts through in bins and were then "wanded" (we used a lumiton from one of our bar mitzvahs) to make sure they weren’t concealing any deadly devices, such as a party hat or noisemaker.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

Parking lot limbo – using pool noodles as the arms of a parking garage that the guest had to run through without getting whacked.

Air traffic control – a version of red light/green light using cool flashlights like the ones used on the tarmac.   

The “Full Upright and Locked Position" obstacle course

Stage 1 - The car or plane wash - if they wished, guests donned a wearable airplane, they made their way down the line where they were misted with water.  

Stage 2 - The car wash tunnel - a pool noodle that Freda had brilliantly covered with strips of gossamer and mylar.  Two of my staff moved it sided to side to create that “washing” effect.

Stage 3 - The buffing - A dollar store feather duster spun in a staff member's hands to buff the vehicle.

Stage 4 - The drying.  A balloon pump to air dry any leftover mist from the plane.

Stage 5 - Gas up and go - The planes were filled with gas from our pretend gas pump, then the pool noodle arm lifted and they ran down the light lined runway for a big finish.  We used LED tube lights to serve as both the runway and the pathway lights in the airplane interior

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

On the way to their gates guests were encouraged to stop at our luggage store, where they received their own paper mache suitcase to decorate.  I found these adorable paper suitcases at Consumer Crafts and the most amazing Cavellini travel stickers to embellish them.  

We had discussed a few other options including coloring balsa wood airplanes and decorating sleep masks.

 

Corkbott Paratrooper

Jump into action with your Corkbot Parachute! This little cork paratrooper uses his parachute to float down to safety from way up high! How far can your corkbott go?

read more ...
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

As lunch time approached, our guests under 12 were invited to board the plane and take their seats.  The plane was yet another creation by my genius team.  Steve and Freda created actual working windows each with a different little scenic view out of cardboard mounted on PVC frames.  We used our kid-sized folding chairs to make the seats and constructed “tray” tables using thin wood and PVC.  I printed labels for each seat on removable labels.  The kids actually used their boarding passes to find their seats.  Once everyone was seated we gave them their safety instructions and used a rolling cart to serve them lunch.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

No one wanted to leave.  However, as they did, we slid their previously decorated luggage, which now contained their goodie bags, back down the rolling conveyor belt to be lined up in the baggage claim area.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print

By the time we got to the cake - an amazing creation by the award-winning team at Studio Cake -  everyone was flying high!