A Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in B/W Birthday
Well, the vision I had for this party came through 100% with the help of some fantastic vendors. There was something about a bounce house IN the living room that really just cranked everything up a notch. For Jackson’s 3rd birthday, I wanted something different than what we’d done in the past. We usually do a table activity of some kind like last year’s Play-dough boxes. I planned a cookie decorating activity for this year, but I wanted something BIG for our big 3 year-old boy. Jackson is obsessed with his toy playhouses - castles, dollhouses, etc. Everything is a “castle” even when it’s a house, and I wanted him to have his own castle for his Mickey birthday.
Enter the all-white toddler-sized bounce house! I rearranged our dining room a little, and moved the kids’ table (from Presh ICT) a few times before the party for maximum foot traffic flow. But it was worth doing! The party day was cold and rainy, and I think the kids enjoyed bouncing out their energy between sugar rushes. Jackson kept saying “I love my Mickey house. I go bounce in my Mickey house.” I made the flag out of felt, hot glue, and grommets in the four corners. It’s held up with 260 white balloons tied around the front of the bounce house.
This backdrop with Mickey ears was one of my favorite things! I wanted something different than what I’d done in the past, so I texted my friend Brynne who owns Presh ICT to see if we could display Mickey ears in a fun way. The ears are held up with temporary command hooks. It was a fun way to guide our friends to grab their ears before entering the “Clubhouse” (bounce house), and served as a cute photo-op.
The thing about a black and white theme is that it’s so easy to do, but so hard to stick to because color is my favorite. When it’s all together and done, the monochrome theme really popped. I had cookies made by September Moon Cakery that were black and white outlines of different Mickey Mouse images. The kids were given food coloring palettes, brushes, and cups of water so they could paint their own cookies.
Our tableware was a mix of things from Love of Character and Hobby Lobby. I knew we’d have a bigger crowd so we mixed in some plain plates with the boutique plates and napkins. The tablecloth is a literal drop cloth that the kids and I paint splattered on a sunny day in the backyard. I wasn’t sure if I’d hang up the drop cloth as a backdrop or use it somewhere else, but it worked out nicely to tie-in our dining room table in as extra seating for our bigger group of guests.
I was inspired by the original Mickey Mouse Club tv show (no not the one with baby Britney and Justin!). When you do a black and white Mickey theme, you’ve got many options for Mickey over the years. There’s Steamboat Willie, Modern Mickey, Walt Disney Studio vibes, etc. I wanted it to feel like you entered into a timeless meeting of the Mouseketeers, complete with the blank slate that is a monochrome color scheme. Our guests added the color to the club/party - by painting their cookies and just by showing up for the adventure!
FYI when you’re planning decor for an all-white bounce house, mylar balloons are a no-go because they leave stains on the house itself. The felt flag was easy to hang, and because it was inside away from any moisture it was unlikely to leave marks on the material. I loved that the house was easy to get in and out of - a practical element that made it a lot safer for Jackson’s turn in the bounce house. Originally I had fallen in love with a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed bounce house on Pinterest, but it wasn’t carried in my area. This was a much better option ultimately because it was A. On theme, B. A total blank slate, and C. The right size and shape for our house and guests. We rented this one from The Sleepover Tiny Tent Co.
It’s so easy to celebrate this kid. I could go on and on about how much he loved his Mickey party, and how fun it is to spoil him. He is a joy! We are so thankful and honored we get to watch him grow.
