This imaginative “Grocery Store” themed birthday party {or playdate} from Abigail of Paper & Cake is such a clever idea for little ones that love to shop and pretend!

It’s always fun to see a unique theme come to life – and Abigail used colorful retro-mod paper designs to do so here – for everything from the super stylish food labels and personalized market signs to the clever DIY striped “awning” fashioned from paper, foam core, and some PVC pipe. {The entire Grocery Store Printable Party Collection is available at Paper & Cake.} I also love that the sky’s the limit when it comes to the food at this type of theme… you could go with anything from fresh fruit & mini sandwiches to alphabet soup for the main course… then let party guests stop off at the “bakery” for a treat!

Read on for lots more fun pics and all the playful details…

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Abigail…

Does your little one just love to pretend with fake food and shopping carts? Does she child insist on being your “little helper” at the grocery store?

There is just something about a Grocery Store themed party that really resonated with me. The idea of creating a place, or party that encouraged genuine, imaginative play was the ultimate inspiration for what you see here. In conceptualizing this party, I was imagining a fresh & modern, yet somewhat retro farmers market feel. Initially my plan was to go out and purchase chalkboard spray paint and buy bits of wood to make some grocery signs – but then it hit me – why not use paper? That is of course what we do :) I didn’t want customers to be required to do an additional crafting project that could cost them more money and time. With our faux bois and “faux” chalkboard printables, some paper and a printer is all you need!

Having a couple of kids of my own helps me, I think, to understand and create age-appropriate themes for my customers to then take, and run with on their own. I was able to style this shoot with so many things that were already in my house – the green bookshelf belongs to my son as well as the little white table. I encourage others to do the same! Two pieces of PVC pipe, covered in brown craft paper, were easily added to the back of the bookshelf. Foam core board topped with printed pages of the (included) green and white striped design make an easy and cute awning.

The shelves were fully stocked with some amazing felt foods from The Sewing Loft: including loaves of bread, strawberries, corn-on-the-cob, green beans, carrots, & fish. We also used the adorable pink bakery boxes, blue berry boxes, and the striped candy cups from Shop Sweet Lulu.

The pasta in “bulk” was showcased in wooden boxes from my pantry, and all the pretend food packages (soup, cereal, milk) were straight out of the kitchen. We just covered them in the same brown craft paper and added our own food labels (which are included in the set).

Edible Details provided the ridiculously cute fondant toppers. I mean come on, check out that register! The coins brought this mini sweets table all together for a fabulously retro look.

Hopefully, everyone from preschool teachers, to daycare providers and grandmothers, will take these ideas and make a “party” for their favorite little one.”