This past Friday my handsome nephew turned one and on Saturday I helped my sister-in-law throw him a Sesame Street-themed birthday bash. We had so much fun with all of the details of the party that I decided to show you all the decorative elements today and the actual party tomorrow.

Let’s start with the invitations. Like most of the party decorations, we found some we liked on Pinterest and I designed them.

Using this pin as inspiration,

I painted some paper mache letters that spelled out ONE in primary colors

and tied a bunch of balloons to them for a festive welcome to the guests.

I also used some cardboard from a box in our garage to cut out and paint a personalized street sign.

My sister-in-law painted a wooden M and 1 and attached them to a board covered in polka dots for an adorable door sign.

So, when the guests walked up to the house, they saw this:

Cute, right? How awesome is my brother-in-law’s shirt?

I printed out a familiar Sesame Street saying and stuck it in a cute frame next to a tissue pouf.

I also made a ridiculously (and easy-cut circles and simply run through sewing machine) long felt circle garland that we cut into sections and strung around the house.

I made the signs on the mantle from styrofoam sheets and cardboard.

My sister-in-law made a banner with a picture from each of Maddox’s first 12 months.

Sommer bought rolls of polka dot wrapping paper that we used as runners for the coffee table and food table.

For favors, the kids got a bag with crayons, a bouncy ball and other goodies.  I also designed stickers that we put on brightly colored paper boxes and filled with one of Elmo’s favorite things-goldfish. The cheesy cracker, that is.

And last, but certainly not least, the FOOD!

I made a ton of tissue poufs that we hung in a cluster over another awesome banner my sister-in-law whipped up.

My sister-in-law made the menu and I designed little cards and toppers with to go with each dish.

Obviously, the star of the party was the tower of cupcakes topped with Maddox’s ‘smash’ cake.

We were really happy with how everything came together.

I’ll be back tomorrow with pics of the birthday boy and all the other party festivities!