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Colorful & Modern Barbie Birthday Party Ideas

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Barbie Birthday Party Ideas - by HWTM

 

As a mom of 3 and 5 year old girls, I was thrilled when Mattel® recently asked me to design a “Super Style” inspired Barbie Birthday Party filled with creative DIY ideas …and so were my girls, of course! ;)

This project is part of the #TRUBestBirthday campaign and features Barbie® toys and products that can all be found at Toys”R”Us.

This was my first time designing a Barbie theme, but I’m definitely not one to shy away from a good excuse for glittery fun and DIY! So, I set out to create a fresh, Barbie-inspired look that felt happy and fashion-forward – incorporating bright pops of yellow and aqua with the traditional pink, black, and white Barbie colors. I just wanted it to feel like pure girlie FUN…

Barbie Birthday Party Beauty Station

FREE PRINTABLES

As always, paper designs played a huge role in the look of the party. You can download the new Colorful Barbie Birthday Collection that I designed for this party… for FREE. 🥳

What You’ll Find In This Post:

Because there is LOTS of info to convey within this one post, I’m going to do my best to be SUPER organized with the ideas so that they really live up to their purpose of serving as helpful inspiration! I’m dividing this post into sections by idea and am going to let the images do a lot of the talking. I’ll keep the tips as streamlined as possible – however, please feel free to ask questions in the comments section. I will also be co-hosting a #TRUBestBirthday Twitter party this Thursday, April 23rd at 2pm EST and can answer questions then as well!

Here’s how the post is divided up, in order:

1. General Look & Feel (intro images)
2. Beauty Bar
3. Kids Table
4. STYLE Station
5. Photo Booth
6. Fashion Designer Activity
7. Dessert Table
8. Play Time
9. Party Favors
10. Sweepstakes Entry

Barbie Birthday Photo Booth

DIY Barbie Birthday Centerpiece

DIY Light Up Marquee Letters

Barbie Birthday Place Settings

•  •  •  •  •  T H E  B E A U T Y  B A R  •  •  •  •  •

Barbie Party Beauty Bar

The party guests (my daughters and some preschool friends) were treated to mini glam sessions at the “Beauty Bar” right when they arrived. Everything was kept very light and fun… little glittery hearts and rhinestones on their faces, lip gloss, hair bows from the Barbie TuTu Cute Bun Kit, etc. They loved this – especially my youngest daughter, Rylie, who is pictured above in the pink dress.

To decorate the beauty area, we used makeup items from the Barbie Doll-icious Makeup Case and toy hair accessories from the Barbie Rainbow Hair Dolls to make a cute little table display:

Barbie Party Beauty Station Decoration

Barbie Party Beauty Station

Make sure to have a mirror nearby that the girls can use to check out their mini makeovers. It was really cute to watch their reactions!

•  •  •  •  •  T H E  K I D S  T A B L E  •  •  •  •  •

Barbie Kids Table

I had so much fun designing the kids table! I wanted it to have kind of a “Malibu Barbie” vibe. The key elements were:

  • DIY Plastic Plates with printable plate liners (part of the free printables)
  • Glitter Tape Forks (see my DIY tutorial here)
  • Plastic cups embellished with washi tape and mini bows
  • Paper garland “table runner” made from paper circles sewn together
  • Plastic palm trees (purchased at Michaels) spray painted pink & silver
  • Pink Paper Chandelier hanging overhead… just like in the Barbie Malibu House!
  • Mini sunglasses on the chair backs… I found some cute laser-cut wooden glasses in the scrapbook section at Michaels, then painted them & filled with patterned paper and rhinestone ribbon

Malibu Barbie Table and Place Settings

Barbie Party DIY Chandelier

Barbie Party Kids Table Fun

Barbie Party Guests

•  •  •  •  •  T H E  S T Y L E  S T A T I O N  •  •  •  •  •

Barbie Party Dress Up Station

What Barbie party would be complete without a little dress up, right?! Accessories are so much fun for the kids and also one of the easiest stations to set up. Just set out some fashionista sunglasses, beaded necklaces, Barbie rings, etc, and create a little accessories buffet for guests to help themselves.

We also hot glued mini bows to cheap beaded costume necklaces to give them a little more Barbie flair!

You also might have noticed the marquee “STYLE” letters at the beginning of the post – which were also part of the Style Station. These are made from the Heidi Swapp Marquee Love Letter Kits from Michaels + spray paint and patterned paper from the printables. So fun!

•  •  •  •  •  T H E  P H O T O  B O O T H  •  •  •  •  •

DIY Heart Fringe Photo Booth Props

Once the guests are all styled up, it’s time to strike a pose! I used black and white striped fabric from Ikea and paper garlands for this “photo booth” – which is basically a designated photo area with a fun backdrop.

We also made DIY tissue fringe hearts to use as photo props. The smaller ones had glittered letters that spelled out “BFF” …or just “BF” depending on how many girls were using them! ;)

DIY Heart Pinata Photo Booth

•  •  •  •  •  F A S H I O N  D E S I G N E R  A C T I V I T Y  •  •  •  •  •

The Barbie Be a Real Fashion Designer kit pulled triple duty at the party as an adorable themed decoration, a party activity, AND a take-home party favor! I used the dresses (from 2 sets) to create the little fashionista dress garland, and then the girls actually decorated the dresses as a party activity.

Barbie Fashion Designer Party Activity

I could tell the girls really enjoyed this activity because they actually sat still and concentrated on it for a while, which was amazing given how much energy they were generating together. ;)

•  •  •  •  •  B A R B I E  D E S S E R T  T A B L E  •  •  •  •

Barbie Fashion Inspired Dessert Table

And now for the dessert table! I went for a more streamlined look here that’s still really fun & playful, but not overdone.

It took me forever to settle on a DIY backdrop idea, but I’m so happy with the where it landed! And it’s surprisingly easy to recreate… promise! I’ll do a more in depth tutorial later, but this project is basically printable paper silhouettes (part of the free printables) glued to blank artist canvases that are wrapped in fabric. I set the printables up in pieces so that they can easily be printed at home using standard 8.5×11 paper.

Barbie Cake Topper and Candy Heart Containers

Since there are already a lot of Barbie “dress cakes” all over, I decided to just use a Barbie Fashionista Doll as a cake topper in the traditional sense (SO EASY!), then added a glittered wood “5” and a party flag to customize the design a bit. You’ll need a doll stand to keep Barbie upright and frosting-free. I used these doll stands here and throughout the rest of the party. The cake itself is from the bakery in my local grocery store. I asked for a plain, 2-tier cake, added some sixlets and the doll topper, and done!

A large white picture frame that I owned also served as a makeshift “tray” for the candy heart containers, which were embellished with ribbon and filled with Sixlets.

Pink Glittered Frame - Sweets Table

Two unfinished wooden heart frames from Michaels were given a glittery makeover and used as bookends for the table, along with more of the spray painted palm trees.

These “Fashion Cookies” are another semi-DIY treat. I bought black and white cookies from my grocery store, then used Wilton Candy Melts in pink and yellow to make hearts for the top. To make the hearts, you just pipe the melted candy into a heart candy mold, chill them in the fridge for a bit, then pop them out.

Black White Pink Fashionista Heart Cookies

Barbie Dessert Table and Fashion Cookies

Last but not least is the treat that was definitely the hit of the dessert table… little DIY treat bag “purses” filled with “Posh Popcorn”, which is essentially kettle corn tossed with pink candy melts, then sprinkled with nonpareils and clear sanding sugar for sparkle. (DIY on the treat bags coming soon!)

DIY Purse Treat Bags

•  •  •  •  •  P L A Y  T I M E  •  •  •  •  •

Barbie Party Banner

Setting up a play area is another great way to both pretty up the party and keep the little ones entertained. I set toys out on a small side table and designed a “LET’S PLAY!” Barbie banner to hang overhead. (This banner is also available for free download.)

The girls especially enjoyed playing with the Barbie Color Me Cute Dolls, where you use ice-cold water to make the doll clothes and pets magically change colors. They also loved the Bubble-Tastic Mermaid Doll, which has a tail that gets dipped into bubble solution and blows bubbles when you pull a string to spin it.

Barbie Bubble-Tastic Mermaid Doll

The Barbie Malibu House was definitely the highlight of the toy area though and got played with the most. It’s exclusive to Toys R Us and ended up making for a fun impromptu “photo prop” as well! Here’s my youngest daughter peeking through. ;)

Barbie Malibu House

Coloring is always a great go-to activity in a pinch… I love to have crayons and themed coloring books or sheets on hand when younger kids are around!

Barbie Coloring Book and Ring

•  •  •  •  •  P A R T Y  F A V O R S  •  •  •  •  •

DIY Pink Black Heart Confetti Favor Bags

The party favors were simple and fun… heart pastries in paper bags embellished with scrapbook stickers. They’re inspired by and were displayed next to the Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse Cafe and Doll Playset.

Barbie Malibu Bakery Cafe Doll

•  •  •  •  •   T H E   E N D   •  •  •  •  •

Phew! I’m pretty sure I just broke my own record for the longest post ever! 🤪

Thanks for sticking with me to the end… I hope you found some useful ideas for your own Barbie party here.

 

43 Comments

  1. Shawna Triplett Brockmeier April 19, 2015 at 1:55 am

    Love the Barbie house it reminds me of the Barbie dream house I had when I was little!!! Adorable party–so fun!!

  2. Bianca Schiffman April 18, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    I want this party for me! Love all the black and white mixed in!

  3. @AllAboutNuptial April 18, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    Colorful Barbie Birthday Party Ideas + Sweepstakes! http://t.co/gduXtRZz63

  4. Nicole ambata April 18, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    Such a fun party! Love the beauty bar.

  5. Alexandria April 18, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    I definitely love the photo booth idea. So cute!

  6. @JSGEvents April 18, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    Colorful Barbie Birthday Party Ideas + Sweepstakes! http://t.co/69LotHTtr4

  7. keshakeke April 18, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    I love everything about this party! Barbie is my favorite forever!

  8. Phyllis April 18, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    The idea to use “plate liners” underneath plastic plates is borderline genius! Endless possibilities.

  9. Lindi April 19, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Super cute Jenn! Love everything you do.

  10. @housescouches April 20, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Colorful Barbie Birthday Party Ideas + Birthday Sweepstakes! #TRUBestBirthday http://t.co/RfHlxAktRx

  11. Leslie Swan April 20, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    What an absolutely adorable party idea! So fun for a girl of all ages!

  12. Leslie Swan April 20, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    BTW, the barbie rings are so cute!

  13. Kim O. April 20, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    My girls would love a party like this! So many fun ideas:)

  14. Elizabeth April 20, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    I love the cake idea and the goody bags. My girls would love this party.

  15. Mimi Radman April 21, 2015 at 12:03 am

    LOVE this Barbie theme! Brings me back to when I was a little girl except all this stuff is way better!! Planning on using this theme for my daughters birthday. Your Barbie ideas are super creative. Thanks Jenn!

  16. @besswitt April 21, 2015 at 6:14 am

    Colorful Barbie Birthday Party Ideas + Birthday Sweepstakes! #TRUBestBirthday https://www.hwtm.com/2015/04/style-inspired-barbie-birthday-party-ideas-sweepstakes/

  17. Bess Ann April 21, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    I love the creativity!

  18. @PinkiesCarousel April 21, 2015 at 8:18 am

    Colorful Barbie Birthday Party Ideas + Birthday Sweepstakes! #TRUBestBirthday https://www.hwtm.com/2015/04/style-inspired-barbie-birthday-party-ideas-sweepstakes/

  19. @Barbie April 21, 2015 at 9:28 am
  20. alyssa April 21, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I LOVE it all!

  21. Lor Herrera April 21, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    love barbie even at 60!!

  22. lorraine herrera April 21, 2015 at 11:24 am

    loved barbie all my life….(60 yrs old now) will always be a barbie girl!!

  23. catherine good April 21, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    Love it, such gorgeous ideas

  24. Mary April 21, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    My daughters would love the fashion designer activity. They love to be creative, plus get to use their own creation on their dolls!

  25. Ashley G Thompson April 22, 2015 at 1:42 am

    I would love this for my daughter. I feel so inspired now I hope I can make her day in August magical

  26. Stacey Curry April 22, 2015 at 2:50 am

    Super cute ideas. Loved the chandelier.

  27. Kayla Coleman April 21, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    Love the Barbie Malibu House and I know my 6 year old would as well!

  28. Kayla Coleman April 21, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Oh my goodness I am losing my mind! My daughter is 5 but will be 6 in August! Can I say mom brain/pregnancy brain is to blame on that?

  29. Angela Barnes April 22, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Love to win this, would be great for my granddaughter who is turning 5.

  30. Carla Rosales April 22, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Love the photo booth. The whole thing is so adorable.

  31. Maria Healey April 22, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    Barbie has come such a long way since I was little! Such an adorable party!

  32. Elizabeth April 22, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Love the sunglasses on the chairs!!

  33. Michelle Knox - Ellery Designs May 21, 2015 at 6:10 am

    This is AMAZING!!! Love the style and hip/mod feel to it. The BFF photo props are too cute! Cami wants her next party to be Barbie themed – we’ll see if she sticks with it since it’s 11 months away. :)

  34. Darla September 29, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Did you post the diy on the popcorn purse treat bags?

    • jenn s. September 30, 2015 at 6:21 am

      Hi Darla –

      Not yet, unfortunately :0 Got swept up with everything else!

      Here’s the quick info though in case this helps:
      You’ll need small treat bags (I used the 2.5×4″ mini sacks from Michaels), patterned paper (from the free printables or any pattern of your choice), and plastic bead necklaces (I purchased mine at Party City). Cut the sacks down to around 2″ tall, then cover the front and back sides with patterned paper. Cut small pieces of the necklace to act as the handles, and hot glue them to the front and back. Done!

      Hope that helps :)

  35. Crystal August 2, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    What did you use for the sparke glitter hearts you used on the girls faces? Doing similar party and love this idea.

    • jenn s. August 3, 2016 at 5:24 am

      Hi Crystal – The girl that did the faces was a makeup artist, so she just used what she already had in her palette. I think she drew the pink heart first, then added a glitter gel on top. The glitter was similar to this type of thing.

      Some of the girls also got rhinestone hearts on their faces – you can use skin safe adhesives for these, or search for “body jewels”.

      Hope that helps & good luck!

  36. Tamara May 20, 2017 at 10:43 am

    Hi Jenn,
    Love the color scheme for this barbie party. I would love to know how to make the barbie silhouette wall canvas. I cant seem to find your tutorial for it.

    Thanks so much in advance!

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