Construction Truck Birthday Party

Only a little over a month late, but I’m finally getting around to sharing John Davis’s construction truck birthday party! I know every mom must think this, but how in the world is my baby already two? I know it was just yesterday that he was born.

I (admittedly) tend to go a little (ok maybe a lot) overboard with party planning, party crafting and party DIY-ing. I just can’t help myself. I said I wasn’t going to this time, but of course I still did.

You may remember John Davis’s Peter Rabbit themed 1st birthday party. Obviously at one year old John Davis didn’t have an opinion on his party theme so I made it as sweet and “baby-ish” as I possibly could with whites, soft pastels, gingham and bunnies galore. But this year John Davis was all about trucks so I knew I had to go with this all-boy construction truck birthday theme. As you will see I still managed to incorporate some cuteness with polka dots, gingham, and fun DIY decor.

I made this construction wreath for the front door by tying yellow caution tape onto a round cardboard cutout (that I literally cut out of a cardboard box from our recycling can). I made the “2” in the center with scrapbook paper and our Cricut. The fun wreath made a cute statement as guests entered the front door.

The adorable construction invitations are from Etsy. I put one in the same white craft frame I used at John Davis’s first birthday party. I just swapped out the baby blue gingham ribbon for a black and white gingham ribbon instead.

The invitation was displayed on our front entryway table next to the party favors. These cute and inexpensive party favors were a hit with both the children and the adults. And I won’t ever tell you how many Reese’s Pieces were consumed during the making : )

I filled a clear treat bag with Reese’s Pieces and a miniature truck. I tied it up with a gingham ribbon and a cute little tag I simply created in Microsoft Word (I know, I’m so fancy) and printed on white card stock.

The TWO banner was made by cutting out letters using our Cricut. I just free-handed and cut out the truck shapes with good old fashioned scissors : ) and strung them on a gingham ribbon.

I bought a few yards of black and white gingham fabric and trimmed the edges with pinking shears to use as the tablecloth. I’ve mentioned it before but I always buy a few yards of fabric to use as a tablecloth at parties or showers. It’s less expensive than buying new table cloths and then I have the fabric to use for all of my sewing projects after the party is over.

I folded over some plain black fabric that we already had at home to use as the table runner and cut out a few strips of yellow scrapbook paper to use as “road markings.” I decorated the table with trucks that we already had, orange cones from the Dollar Tree, and construction hats from Oriental Trading.

This adorable construction confetti that I ordered from Etsy was the perfect finishing touch sprinkled on the table.

Orange and yellow utensils tied up with gingham fabric served as our eating “tools.” I made the Tools sign with our printer, card stock, scissors and a glue stick.

The yellow polka dot plates and orange chevron napkins are both from Party City.

A white metal tray housed orange and yellow cups, juice boxes and polka dot and striped yellow paper straws displayed in a mason jar.

On the menu we had “Nuts & Bolts,” better known as Cheddar Chex Mix.

And this Tonka truck (which was my brother’s and now John Davis loves playing with it!) served our chips.

For drinks we served water, lemonade and sweet tea in our drink dispensers that have been used for more parties and showers than I can even begin to count.

I created this mini candy bar by filling inexpensive yellow storage bins with sweet treats.

The candy bar consisted of Raisinets for “Dirt.”

Nutty Bars for “2×4’s.”

Whoppers for “Rocks” and miniature Oreos for “Wheels.” I’m not sure who enjoyed the candy bar more: the kids or the adults!

I filled my other white craft frame with a “Dig In” printable I created in Word and printed on white card stock.

The rest of the menu consisted of a few different party platters I ordered from Kroger. This tired pregnant Mama had no desire to cook and it was so easy and convenient to send Hubby one mile down the road to our local Kroger to pick up all of the food the morning of the party.

I took the food out of the black plastic containers it came in and displayed it on some of my white serving platters.

I have a problem with collecting white platters and plates but I love being able to mix and match them when you need to. I used the same white serving platters at John Davis’s first birthday and have used them for so many showers as well.

I made the construction barricade using a couple of pieces of white primed PDF and then added the orange stripes with craft paint and painter’s tape. One afternoon I was outside in the driveway cutting the pieces for it and my neighbor came out and looked so funny at me. He was so surprised that I knew how to use a miter saw. I just laughed and thought if only he knew!

An extremely talented lady in our neighborhood made the absolutely adorable and delicious cake. She does custom baking on the side but she should really do it full time! I just sent her a few pictures of cakes I liked and she brought it to life.

I wish y’all could taste it. As cute as it is, it tasted even better!

A simple birthday message adorned the white letter board and made a great backdrop for the dessert table.

We just happened to come across these cute truck chocolates at the Dollar Store and you better believe we scooped them right up!

I found these adorable customizable truck dessert plates from Zazzle and I just had to have them. Even on sale they were pricey for throw-away paper plates so I just ordered a few and stacked them on top of plain dessert plates. No one noticed once we started serving the cake.

A second Happy Birthday banner hung from the mantle in the family room.

And these construction truck balloons from Hobby Lobby dressed up our mailbox and entryway.

Y’all know I can’t go without including a few pictures of our sweet birthday boy!

I’m not sure he completely understood what was going on but he knew something special was happening and he had such a ball playing with some of his little buddies and his cousins.

He even got the hang of blowing out his candle this year!

I ordered his blank gingham Jon Jon online and used our Brother embroidery machine to embroider this dump truck applique. I say “ours” but it’s actually Mother’s machine. I just claim it as my own : ) My gingham dress was such a steal and has the cutest bow detail in the back. It’s non-maternity but was still perfect for accommodating my growing belly.

Happy, Happy 2nd Birthday to you our sweet boy! I still look at you every day and wonder how in the world I am lucky enough to be your Mama. I am so undeserving but this God-given privilege is not lost on me.

Thank you God for this sweet-hearted, hilarious, truck-loving, smart as can be, always on the go precious baby boy. John Davis, we love you more than you will ever know and there is not a doubt in my mind that God has BIG plans for you.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139: 13-15