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.
69 comments
becky
That is the coolest cake I’ve ever seen.
Amy
Can’t belieeeve it’s been a year since her 1st birthday party!! The cake (everything, really!) looks marvelous.
jja
Wow, this cake looks amazing!!!
Maggie
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)!
Zoe, Conversation Pieces
So beautiful… I love it all! Especially the cake and the gerberas :)
Emily
Perfect baby girl birthday party, lucky Eleanor!
Katy
that cake looks fabulous! I’m impressed with how well it turned out!
lyptis
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.:)
Alisa
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)!
Sierra
What a pretty party, well done!! I’m sure Eleanor loved it!
Nicole
Adorable! I love what you’re putting out lately. All this and you have a newborn? Yay you!
Brittany
I turned out beautiful!!! I want that cake….mmmm!!
Little Gray Pixel
That cake looks yum! And re paper straws: do they just soak through or what?
Hege
Wonderful and colourful:)
Jen @ RamblingRenovators
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 ;)
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.
laurenjanelle
How long did that cake take to make? It’s so pretty!
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d
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!
Ash
Sooooo cute – love it. Lucky little Eleanor, I have to try and make that cake :) Thanks for sharing.
Dimitra
Looks amazing, sweet and girly :)))
Job well done, Mom!
Happy Birthday Eleanor!
Katie
Everything looks lovely! I just made the exact same cake for my grandma’s 80th birthday! You’re never too old for rainbow cake!
Danielle
IT looks like a gorgeous day. love all the details.
LauraJane
I always love those rainbow cakes- so pretty. As is Eleanor- such a cute little girl. :) You did well, momma!
ArticulateArt
Wow it looks beautiful!!! The cake looks awesome!!! She must be a very happy birthday girl!
Sonja
Happy Birthday to your sweet liitle girl! Your party decor and cake turned out fabulous.
Erika
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.
Giulia
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!
Emmmylizzzy
Happy Birthday Eleanor! This is great inspiration – I’ve got to start planning my almost 2 year old’s birthday soon!
Mirakel
Your cake came out GREAT and totally matches the tablecloth! So cute.
You are so talented and creative, Eleanor is a lucky girl!
Brigitte
Such a happy scene!
amanda
Great job! Happy Birthday Eleanor!
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife
Very cute and festive!
Well done!
Jan's camera
Hi, can I ask where you got that adorable elephant teapot? It looks so pretty with flowers in it. Thanks.
Making it Lovely
Cost Plus for about $12.
amie
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.
Julia
Great photos! Where did you find Eleanor’s beautiful headband?
Thanks,
Julia
Making it Lovely
It was from J. Crew (crewcuts) last year.
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.
Katrina
Everything looks so pretty!! Love that cake, whenever I see one made I’m in ahh
luuvely
good job mommie :) the table cloth and the cake are just amazing! i think I’m going to try this!! :)
Katie
So cute! I would like the exact same party for my next birthday, please… only I`ll be turning 25, not 2 :)
liz @ bon temps beignet
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.
Making it Lovely
Soggy straws = gross. They sure did look nice sitting out on the table though.
soisses
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
Loren
Seriously fantastic. That cake looks really great :)
Ashley
such a cute party. I love the rainbow cake!
Tiffany
I couldn’t wait for this post. It all looks great!!!
Katie Truelove
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…
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.
liz
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!
Bonnie
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
dawn
sweet! what fun decorations + i’m oggling the rainbow cake :)
Alison
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 ;)
Audrie
It looked like a very lovely party! The cake is absolutely wonderful!
Kira
The party came out wonderful, fun and festive. I love the simple white vases. Where did you find them?
Making it Lovely
IKEA. They were very inexpensive.
Elizabeth
Happy Birthday to Miss Eleanor! I hope she enjoyed her party- everything was so vibrant and happy!
Lindsey King
Eleanor is SOO CUTE! & I love her 2nd party! I always think babies should have adultish family parties.
kelsey
how fun! looks like a great party. i’m very impressed with the cake!
Julie
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!
Making it Lovely
The mobiles were super easy, and really cute. Go for it!
donaville
It looks like it was a success! Nice work :)
Kerry
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!
jodi
completely adorable.
abeautifulparty
what a beautiful birthday party! I’m sure it was tons of of for little Eleanor!
Nelle
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?
Making it Lovely
The cake was in the plans all along, and a reader gave me the tip on the tablecloth!
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