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.
Nelle
May 2, 2011 at 1:37 pmThat 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
May 2, 2011 at 4:23 pmThe cake was in the plans all along, and a reader gave me the tip on the tablecloth!
abeautifulparty
May 2, 2011 at 1:39 pmwhat a beautiful birthday party! I’m sure it was tons of of for little Eleanor!
jodi
May 2, 2011 at 1:39 pmcompletely adorable.
Kerry
May 2, 2011 at 1:39 pmOooh! 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!
donaville
May 2, 2011 at 1:40 pmIt looks like it was a success! Nice work :)
Julie
May 2, 2011 at 1:41 pmLove 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
May 2, 2011 at 4:24 pmThe mobiles were super easy, and really cute. Go for it!
kelsey
May 2, 2011 at 1:41 pmhow fun! looks like a great party. i’m very impressed with the cake!
Lindsey King
May 2, 2011 at 1:44 pmEleanor is SOO CUTE! & I love her 2nd party! I always think babies should have adultish family parties.
Elizabeth
May 2, 2011 at 1:47 pmHappy Birthday to Miss Eleanor! I hope she enjoyed her party- everything was so vibrant and happy!
Kira
May 2, 2011 at 1:50 pmThe party came out wonderful, fun and festive. I love the simple white vases. Where did you find them?
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2011 at 4:24 pmIKEA. They were very inexpensive.
Audrie
May 2, 2011 at 1:51 pmIt looked like a very lovely party! The cake is absolutely wonderful!
Alison
May 2, 2011 at 1:53 pmLovely! 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 ;)
dawn
May 2, 2011 at 2:04 pmsweet! what fun decorations + i’m oggling the rainbow cake :)
Bonnie
May 2, 2011 at 2:09 pmLove 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
liz
May 2, 2011 at 2:17 pmlooks 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!
elisabeth
May 2, 2011 at 2:21 pmreally, 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.
Katie Truelove
May 2, 2011 at 2:27 pmBeautiful 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…
Tiffany
May 2, 2011 at 2:39 pmI couldn’t wait for this post. It all looks great!!!
Ashley
May 2, 2011 at 2:55 pmsuch a cute party. I love the rainbow cake!
Loren
May 2, 2011 at 2:59 pmSeriously fantastic. That cake looks really great :)
soisses
May 2, 2011 at 3:00 pmhappy 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
liz @ bon temps beignet
May 2, 2011 at 3:04 pmAwww, 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
May 2, 2011 at 4:48 pmSoggy straws = gross. They sure did look nice sitting out on the table though.
Katie
May 2, 2011 at 3:27 pmSo cute! I would like the exact same party for my next birthday, please… only I`ll be turning 25, not 2 :)
luuvely
May 2, 2011 at 3:29 pmgood job mommie :) the table cloth and the cake are just amazing! i think I’m going to try this!! :)
Katrina
May 2, 2011 at 3:50 pmEverything looks so pretty!! Love that cake, whenever I see one made I’m in ahh
Jan's camera
May 2, 2011 at 3:51 pmI 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.
Julia
May 2, 2011 at 4:21 pmGreat photos! Where did you find Eleanor’s beautiful headband?
Thanks,
Julia
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2011 at 4:26 pmIt was from J. Crew (crewcuts) last year.
amie
May 2, 2011 at 4:42 pmLove it. I can’t wait till party time comes around here again. The photo of the cake cut and the table cloth is awesome.
Jan's camera
May 2, 2011 at 4:46 pmHi, can I ask where you got that adorable elephant teapot? It looks so pretty with flowers in it. Thanks.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2011 at 4:47 pmCost Plus for about $12.
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife
May 2, 2011 at 5:29 pmVery cute and festive!
Well done!
amanda
May 2, 2011 at 6:10 pmGreat job! Happy Birthday Eleanor!
Brigitte
May 2, 2011 at 6:14 pmSuch a happy scene!
Mirakel
May 2, 2011 at 6:22 pmYour cake came out GREAT and totally matches the tablecloth! So cute.
You are so talented and creative, Eleanor is a lucky girl!
Emmmylizzzy
May 2, 2011 at 7:50 pmHappy Birthday Eleanor! This is great inspiration – I’ve got to start planning my almost 2 year old’s birthday soon!
Giulia
May 2, 2011 at 8:00 pmThis 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!
Erika
May 2, 2011 at 9:17 pmOk, 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.
Sonja
May 2, 2011 at 9:31 pmHappy Birthday to your sweet liitle girl! Your party decor and cake turned out fabulous.
ArticulateArt
May 2, 2011 at 9:35 pmWow it looks beautiful!!! The cake looks awesome!!! She must be a very happy birthday girl!
LauraJane
May 2, 2011 at 9:40 pmI always love those rainbow cakes- so pretty. As is Eleanor- such a cute little girl. :) You did well, momma!
Danielle
May 2, 2011 at 10:15 pmIT looks like a gorgeous day. love all the details.
Katie
May 2, 2011 at 11:22 pmEverything looks lovely! I just made the exact same cake for my grandma’s 80th birthday! You’re never too old for rainbow cake!
Dimitra
May 3, 2011 at 5:18 amLooks amazing, sweet and girly :)))
Job well done, Mom!
Happy Birthday Eleanor!
Ash
May 3, 2011 at 8:54 amSooooo cute – love it. Lucky little Eleanor, I have to try and make that cake :) Thanks for sharing.
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d
May 3, 2011 at 9:29 amOh, 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!
laurenjanelle
May 3, 2011 at 10:06 amHow long did that cake take to make? It’s so pretty!
Rebecca
May 3, 2011 at 10:19 amI’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.
Jen @ RamblingRenovators
May 3, 2011 at 10:40 amAwww, 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 ;)
Hege
May 3, 2011 at 3:07 pmWonderful and colourful:)
Little Gray Pixel
May 3, 2011 at 3:18 pmThat cake looks yum! And re paper straws: do they just soak through or what?
Brittany
May 3, 2011 at 3:40 pmI turned out beautiful!!! I want that cake….mmmm!!
Nicole
May 3, 2011 at 3:59 pmAdorable! I love what you’re putting out lately. All this and you have a newborn? Yay you!
Sierra
May 3, 2011 at 4:00 pmWhat a pretty party, well done!! I’m sure Eleanor loved it!
Alisa
May 3, 2011 at 4:51 pmOMG, 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)!
lyptis
May 3, 2011 at 6:16 pmSo 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.:)
Katy
May 3, 2011 at 6:30 pmthat cake looks fabulous! I’m impressed with how well it turned out!
Emily
May 3, 2011 at 10:52 pmPerfect baby girl birthday party, lucky Eleanor!
Zoe, Conversation Pieces
May 4, 2011 at 3:34 pmSo beautiful… I love it all! Especially the cake and the gerberas :)
Maggie
May 4, 2011 at 10:16 pmLove 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)!
jja
May 5, 2011 at 4:10 amWow, this cake looks amazing!!!
Amy
May 6, 2011 at 12:22 amCan’t belieeeve it’s been a year since her 1st birthday party!! The cake (everything, really!) looks marvelous.
becky
June 7, 2011 at 10:33 amThat is the coolest cake I’ve ever seen.
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