In thinking of a theme for Sweet Pea’s 2nd birthday party, a watermelon theme seemed like a really cute idea for a really cute little girl who LOVES watermelon!

So, I jumped on Pinterest to find watermelon party ideas and I was floored! Everything was just way too complicated and I’m telling you, these people must have spent hundreds on these parties.

Give me simple and cheap, please.

And so I ditched Pinterest ideas altogether and decided I was going to create this party from ideas in my own head (scary!) using mostly the clearance isle at Michaels, items I already had in the house, and any items I could find in the stores that were less than $5 each!

And, I must say, I’m quite proud with the way this party turned out for my little Sweet Pea who is TWO!

We had the party at a local park on Saturday and set up everything under the covering with two picnic tables.

This turned into a brief crisis because I thought there was FOUR tables under this covering. Not anymore! (We did Little Bug’s Flower Party there for her 2nd birthday.) Wesley ran back to the house and grabbed our long table for me to use for the food and cupcakes. I was still setting up when the first guests arrived, but oh well. Such is life.

Here is the main table with the food and cupcakes!

For centerpieces for the tables, I bought adorable watermelon cups off the clearance isle at Michael’s for $2 each. Then, I stuffed white tissue paper and pink flowers in them! Do those flowers look familiar? They should! They were recycled from Little Bug’s Fancy Nancy party.

I did a little phootshoot with Sweet Pea using a watermelon and a watermelon slice as my props! The photos came out adorable and were the perfect centerpieces along with the watermelon cups and flowers. Underneath it all was one piece of scrapbook paper. It was actually a Christmas print, but it went perfectly with this watermelon theme and the colors I was using (pink, red, green and black).

There were five pictures in all. Three on the main table and one each on the other two tables.

I bought red table clothes from a party store and then cut out black seeds which were taped down the center of the tables.

I wasn’t going to have balloons but Grams insisted we needed balloons so she got them and they really were a nice touch to the décor! She got bright pink, light pink, green and black balloons.

The “Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea” banner hung between two poles of the covering and above the main table where the food was served. The balloons were flying on either side of the banner. I made the banner simply using green and red cardstock (to make the watermelons), black letter stickers I had, orange yarn (it’s what I had!) and a glue gun to glue it all together on the orange yarn.

The favor bags came from Hobby Lobby (a dozen for $3).

I just drew a watermelon on the front. Red ones for the boys and pink ones for the girls! Each child received bubbles, a pack of watermelon gum and a piece of candy.

We served watermelon, cheese and grapes and it wasn’t until the party was underway that I realized these are the three foods Sweet Pea could seriously live off. There is not much I can count on her eating consistently but watermelon, cheese and grapes are her absolute favorites! Dave thought I had served these foods because of that very fact, but I honestly had not even thought about it!

Grams made watermelon cupcakes!

Green cupcake paper, red icing and chocolate chips for the “seeds”!

I searched all over creation for a watermelon outfit for Sweet Pea to wear. Everything just wasn’t in my budget at all. So I gave up until a friend of mine insisted that she wanted to make this outfit for Sweet Pea to wear for her party!

It was absolutely precious and Sweet Pea looked so adorable!

And to surprise me even further, my friend made a matching shirt for Little Bug to wear, complete with a pink bow! (Sweet Pea had a bow too but her hair would not hold it.) The sisters were TOO CUTE in their matching outfits!

I love park parties. They are an easy set-up, easy break down and the entertainment is obviously right there in the park equipment. And you don’t have to clean the house!

The kids had fun playing and then once the party was underway everyone enjoyed some watermelon, cheese and grapes.

Sweet Pea loves the park!

Sweet Pea requested ice. She loves ice and wants it in every cup she drinks!

Sweet Pea was very cautious during the singing of Happy Birthday but she didn’t cry! She blew out her two candles on her cupcake with the help of Daddy.

She was loving that cupcake!

After cupcakes it was present time!

We had so many friends at her birthday party. It was so special to have so many special people in our lives gathered in one place to celebrate our daughter’s birthday with us!

Mimi and Papaw got to be there with us too which was extra special. Papaw worked overtime the day before so he could fly in the morning of the party!

It was the perfect party for my watermelon-loving Sweet Pea!

- Elaine