Eleanor’s Second Birthday Party (Complete with Rainbow Cake)

We celebrated Eleanor’s birthday on Saturday. You’ve already seen the invitations, so you know I was going for a colorful kind of party. The Marimekko tablecloth and colorful gerbera daisies were a good start to the decorations.

The main attraction though? The rainbow cake. My mother-in-law helped me with it. We followed the Martha Stewart / Whisk Kid recipe; She made the cake layers and I made the frosting and assembled it.

That cake was a smashing success! Delicious and very pretty.

The paper mobiles above the table were made according to these instructions (I used card stock instead of vellum).

There were twenty balloons scattered everywhere, but somehow I missed photographing them. I got a giant gold “2” balloon too (like these), but it blew away! Here are a few paper daisies hung in the window.

These polka-dotted paper straws were cute, but odd to drink out of.

You know that rainbow-colored, yarn-wrapped “Happy Birthday!” banner that I was going to make? Yeah, that didn’t happen. It was taking waaaay too long and I had to scrap it, so I used a “Happy Birthday” banner that we already had on hand instead.

And I filled my elephant teapot with more gerbera daisies.

Happy second birthday, my sweet little Eleanor.

Comments

69 responses to “Eleanor’s Second Birthday Party (Complete with Rainbow Cake)”

  1. Nelle Avatar

    That is one sweet looking party for a little girl’s birthday :) I love the cake themed table cloth, or was it a table cloth themed cake?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      The cake was in the plans all along, and a reader gave me the tip on the tablecloth!

  2. abeautifulparty Avatar

    what a beautiful birthday party! I’m sure it was tons of of for little Eleanor!

  3. jodi Avatar

    completely adorable.

  4. Kerry Avatar

    Oooh! Love the cake. I am going to attempt it for my daughter’s second birthday later this month. Thanks for the inspiration, and happy birthday to Eleanor!

  5. donaville Avatar

    It looks like it was a success! Nice work :)

  6. Julie Avatar

    Love it all! Beautiful! Gorgeous cake. Hanging mobiles are great! Might make those for my almost 2-year old’s party. Looks like she’s a lucky girl! Happy Mother’s Day!

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      The mobiles were super easy, and really cute. Go for it!

  7. kelsey Avatar

    how fun! looks like a great party. i’m very impressed with the cake!

  8. Lindsey King Avatar

    Eleanor is SOO CUTE! & I love her 2nd party! I always think babies should have adultish family parties.

  9. Elizabeth Avatar

    Happy Birthday to Miss Eleanor! I hope she enjoyed her party- everything was so vibrant and happy!

  10. Kira Avatar
    Kira

    The party came out wonderful, fun and festive. I love the simple white vases. Where did you find them?

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      IKEA. They were very inexpensive.

  11. Audrie Avatar

    It looked like a very lovely party! The cake is absolutely wonderful!

  12. Alison Avatar

    Lovely! And I love a good rainbow cake — totally making one for my own birthday this year!

    I know, some say it is lame to make your own birthday cake, but I don’t trust anyone else, er, don’t want to trouble anyone else to make it correctly ;)

  13. dawn Avatar

    sweet! what fun decorations + i’m oggling the rainbow cake :)

  14. Bonnie Avatar

    Love all the color. Eleanor is the pretties flower of all, however. Can’t believe that it has been two years since I “met” you in the Chicago Tribune.

    Best,
    Bonnie

  15. liz Avatar

    looks fantastic! we have similar taste…I have same vases, cake stand, and ‘old’ birthday banner and we also had my daughter’s birthday party on saturday!
    great job on the party and for getting through years one and two!

  16. elisabeth Avatar
    elisabeth

    really, really great job on the cake….i want a piece terribly right now it looks so good. i cannot believe your little girl is two already. Already? Really? Of course, I understand how fast time flies with a little one, for my little is not 7, almost 8, and well, I really don’t understand how that happened either.

  17. Katie Truelove Avatar

    Beautiful and so much fun! So glad it turned out well- especially the rainbow cake:) Now I’ve just got to think of an occasion to bake one…

  18. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    I couldn’t wait for this post. It all looks great!!!

  19. Ashley Avatar

    such a cute party. I love the rainbow cake!

  20. Loren Avatar

    Seriously fantastic. That cake looks really great :)

  21. soisses Avatar

    happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday 2 u, happy birthday lovely eleanor, happy birtday 2 u….

    i think it was a fantastic party :) i love that coloured cake and all the lovely decoration.

    dani

  22. liz @ bon temps beignet Avatar

    Awww, Happy Birthday Eleanor! That cake is AWESOME

    And I know what you mean about the paper straws. Sea World uses them and they start to fall apart after the 4th or 5th sip. Blech.

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      Soggy straws = gross. They sure did look nice sitting out on the table though.

  23. Katie Avatar

    So cute! I would like the exact same party for my next birthday, please… only I`ll be turning 25, not 2 :)

  24. luuvely Avatar
    luuvely

    good job mommie :) the table cloth and the cake are just amazing! i think I’m going to try this!! :)

  25. Katrina Avatar

    Everything looks so pretty!! Love that cake, whenever I see one made I’m in ahh

  26. Jan's camera Avatar
    Jan’s camera

    I can’t believe that she is two already! So cute. I love that cake. I’ve never seen that before. And I am loving that elephant teapot.

  27. Julia Avatar
    Julia

    Great photos! Where did you find Eleanor’s beautiful headband?

    Thanks,
    Julia

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      It was from J. Crew (crewcuts) last year.

  28. amie Avatar

    Love it. I can’t wait till party time comes around here again. The photo of the cake cut and the table cloth is awesome.

  29. Jan's camera Avatar
    Jan’s camera

    Hi, can I ask where you got that adorable elephant teapot? It looks so pretty with flowers in it. Thanks.

    1. Making it Lovely Avatar

      Cost Plus for about $12.

  30. Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife Avatar

    Very cute and festive!

    Well done!

  31. amanda Avatar
    amanda

    Great job! Happy Birthday Eleanor!

  32. Brigitte Avatar

    Such a happy scene!

  33. Mirakel Avatar
    Mirakel

    Your cake came out GREAT and totally matches the tablecloth! So cute.
    You are so talented and creative, Eleanor is a lucky girl!

  34. Emmmylizzzy Avatar

    Happy Birthday Eleanor! This is great inspiration – I’ve got to start planning my almost 2 year old’s birthday soon!

  35. Giulia Avatar

    This is lovely. I’m in love with rainbows these days and your version is great. Love the table covers, the cake, the mobile and the banner you already had is lovely as well.
    I love the look of paper straws, are they really that bad? I was hoping to order some for my daughter’s birthday party…
    I did a rainbow theme for my hubby’s b-day last week – not 2, but 37!

  36. Erika Avatar

    Ok, that cake is absolutely FABULOUS!!! I am thinking I might want one for my B’day in June. Too much for a 30-something? ;o)
    Looks like the day turned out really nice! I am crying a little tear for you though for the 2 year milestone. My little guy is fast approaching his in August and it makes me so very happy and sad all at the same time.

  37. Sonja Avatar
    Sonja

    Happy Birthday to your sweet liitle girl! Your party decor and cake turned out fabulous.

  38. ArticulateArt Avatar

    Wow it looks beautiful!!! The cake looks awesome!!! She must be a very happy birthday girl!

  39. LauraJane Avatar
    LauraJane

    I always love those rainbow cakes- so pretty. As is Eleanor- such a cute little girl. :) You did well, momma!

  40. Danielle Avatar

    IT looks like a gorgeous day. love all the details.

  41. Katie Avatar

    Everything looks lovely! I just made the exact same cake for my grandma’s 80th birthday! You’re never too old for rainbow cake!

  42. Dimitra Avatar

    Looks amazing, sweet and girly :)))
    Job well done, Mom!
    Happy Birthday Eleanor!

  43. Ash Avatar

    Sooooo cute – love it. Lucky little Eleanor, I have to try and make that cake :) Thanks for sharing.

  44. Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d Avatar

    Oh, Nicole, you did a great job! Love the colorful party decorations and the cake is fantastic! The sprinkles are so fun, too. I might have to make some of the paper decorations for Vincent’s 4th birthday. Happy Birthday to Eleanor!

  45. laurenjanelle Avatar

    How long did that cake take to make? It’s so pretty!

  46. Rebecca Avatar
    Rebecca

    I’m going to attempt that cake! I’ve been thinking about it ever since you mentioned it the first time. Hope it goes well… never made a layer-cake before!

    Happy birthday to your sweet girl :) And congratulations on the great party.

  47. Jen @ RamblingRenovators Avatar

    Awww, what a cute birthday party! They can be so much work, but they’re so much fun too. And to think, now you get to do this twice a year ;)

  48. Hege Avatar

    Wonderful and colourful:)

  49. Little Gray Pixel Avatar

    That cake looks yum! And re paper straws: do they just soak through or what?

  50. Brittany Avatar

    I turned out beautiful!!! I want that cake….mmmm!!

  51. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Adorable! I love what you’re putting out lately. All this and you have a newborn? Yay you!

  52. Sierra Avatar

    What a pretty party, well done!! I’m sure Eleanor loved it!

  53. Alisa Avatar

    OMG, your posts are so gorgeous. Happy birthday Eleanor! She is sooooooooo cute!! And the colors on your site- so beautiful, they almost make me cry. She’s a lucky baby (toddler)!

  54. lyptis Avatar

    So cute! No wonder the cake was a success, it looks absolutely stunning. It must have takin you ages! The combination of the tablecloth/cake, that picture nearly gave me a seizure, coz it’s so colourful and stripy.:)

  55. Katy Avatar

    that cake looks fabulous! I’m impressed with how well it turned out!

  56. Emily Avatar

    Perfect baby girl birthday party, lucky Eleanor!

  57. Zoe, Conversation Pieces Avatar

    So beautiful… I love it all! Especially the cake and the gerberas :)

  58. Maggie Avatar

    Love it! I’m using this as inspiration for the ice cream social I’m throwing next month for my three-year-old (also named Eleanor, by the way)!

  59. jja Avatar

    Wow, this cake looks amazing!!!

  60. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Can’t belieeeve it’s been a year since her 1st birthday party!! The cake (everything, really!) looks marvelous.

  61. becky Avatar

    That is the coolest cake I’ve ever seen.

  62. […] cakes have hit full-fledged trendy status (I even made one for my daughter’s second birthday), and it’s easy to see why they’re so popular. They’re adorable, and if you frost […]

  63. […] it isn’t pastel or overly cutesy, but it’s still fun and colorful. Something like a rainbow party might feel too young because you know, they’re soooo grown up at that age (can you hear the […]