Homemade Monkey Themed Birthday Party

Our youngest, Dean, just turned 3. He came up with the birthday theme, a monkey party with the color blue. Currently, blue is his favorite color, just like his coat and shoes. When he grows up he even wants to paint his house blue.

Our parties are fairly simple. We usually buy our kids only one birthday gift. The decorations are homemade or inexpensive and I usually make the cake.

I read in “The Magnolia Story” how Joanna Gaines initially had elaborate Pinterest birthday parties for her kids then she realized it was all for her and others. Since her kids didn’t care about all the effort she was putting forth she started only having balloons at birthdays.

To me, the third birthday is something magical. They are usually very excited and thrilled with anything (not picky yet). I love watching the excitement on their face when they see the decorated room or the cake for the first time. 

My Birthday Party Philosophy

I am not huge on giving party favors. I think it is an extra expense and creates clutter in homes, but I usually like to make sure each child takes home either a cookie, balloon or small toy. My rule of thumb is to always get the invitations out one month before the party. I have found this is enough advanced notice that schedules are usually not already booked.

I always use digital invitations because they are free and you can get them out immediately. Over the years I have used and been happy with Evite and Punchbowl.

Birthdays are expensive and a lot of work, so we alternate between small and large parties. Small years its just family and the large party years the kids get to invite a few close friends + our family.

          

This year it was a family only party. I felt very prepared for this party which has not been the case in former years. I recently read in the cookbook “How to Celebrate Everything” how Jenny Rosenstrach sets the table the night before a party, days in some cases.

Although we didn’t set the table, she inspired me to do things ahead of time. I prepped by washing and cutting up the fruit, laying out the paper goods, and decorating the cake before the day of the party. It made the monkey party day so much more enjoyable because I was not rushed and stressed.

Monkey Birthday Decorations

The decorations consisted of blue balloons, blue paper goods, and large cut-out monkey faces taped on the walls and windows. For a way to save money on paper goods, I usually buy the solid color ones and spend more on the napkins with designs or characters. I also like to use as decorations items we already have that fit the theme like an old sock monkey, which belonged to my husband when he was a child or a monkey knitted hat. I thought laying out a barrel of monkeys game would have been cute, too. The monkey piñata was store bought.

  

To make the large cut-out monkey faces:

1. Using brown craft paper cut out large circles or ovals.
2. For the ears, use the brown craft paper to cut one oval then cut that in half for the two ears. Using pink construction paper cut slightly smaller half oval pieces for the inside of the ears. Pay close attention to the ears position. They should be placed more on the sides of the monkey’s head than on top.
3. Use light tan construction paper to cut out the face of the monkey. Try as best you can to follow the shape of the monkeys shown. This part is what really makes it look like a monkey.
4. Now comes the fun and creative part; the facial features. Out of black construction paper make whatever shape eyes you would like, cut two little rectangles for the nose holes and whatever type of mouth for your monkey.
5. Glue everything on. I taped the ears on so they would stay up better.
6. Use to decorate all around the house, on walls, windows, doors, etc…

Monkey Birthday Themed Cake and Meal

Dean requested a chocolate cake and he loves cookies and cream ice cream. The final result was a chocolate cake layered with homemade oreo whipped cream and tiny chocolate chips on top.

How to make chocolate cake layered with homemade oreo whipped cream:

1. Bake this amazing cake in two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Locate a clear bowl for your cake. I have had this container for years and have never put a cake in it. Today was the day.
3. Whip 2 cups of heavy cream with a tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla until stiff peaks form.
4. Crumble up about 20 Oreos and whip them into the whipped cream.
5. Now its time to layer everything. The cake layer goes in first. I had to cut the round cake to make it fit. That is fine, just save the scraps you may need them for the upper layers.
6. Spread a thick layer of the whipped cream on top of the cake layer.
7. Continue with the layers ending with the whipped cream on top.
8. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips all over.
9. Serve right away or refrigerate overnight.

For the Cake Toppers:

Same directions as the large cut out monkey faces but all on a smaller scale. Use a black marker for the nose holes, that is easier than cutting out tiny pieces of black construction paper. I used popsicle sticks to hold up the head, ears and to serve as a stick so I could place them on the cake. Since the tape and popsicle sticks could be seen on the back of the monkey I cut out a circle the same size as the head and taped that over the mess. Nothing like hiding your taped up craft mess!

When we have a small party year we usually provide a meal. This year it was a pancake dinner with sausage and cheese eggs (Dean’s pick). Brent worked in the kitchen for the first half of the party preparing all the cooked food. He is the best pancake cook in our house!

In recent years we have had one surprise at the party usually a pinata or something of the like. It is always a hit. Dean told me after his party that his favorite part was, “Getting to punch that monkey with a stick!”

I’d love to hear how you handle birthday parties? Are they big events or small gatherings? Do you have them in your home or another location? What part is the most stressful for you?