Girl's Sock Hop 50's Birthday Party

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

This Sock Hop 50's birthday party was a blast for my 7-year-old daughter.  It incorporated all of her favorite things:
Hula hoops, jump ropes, hopscotch, dancing, books, American Girl dolls, and our home diner.  It made sense to do a Sock Hop to pull it all together.


Sock Hop Birthday with Hula Hoops, DIY Poodle Skirts for girl and doll
Inspired by her current favorite book and movie, Molly, The American Girl who grew up in the 1940's/50's war era.  My daughter was so excited to have a 50's themed party.
Here are some pics from our Sock Hop.

Yes, our kitchen is a diner. We can seat 16 people including our bar. (I'll be posting pics of it and a tutorial for the long indoor awning I just made for the window in May.)

Birthday Banner printed on cardstock using Horseshoes and Lemonade font (get it free here).  Then I used mini clothes pins to attach each letter to a red ribbon and hang across the window.

 You make me want to SHOUT!
GRAFFITI WALL GUEST BOOK:
The girls loved signing the Graffiti Wall. We nailed up a thin board and had guests sign it. We decided to keep the board all the time and let anyone who visits our diner sign it. Once the board gets full we will keep it and put up another one. We love having this visual reminder of our favorite friends and family.
I also enjoy the vintage sign that reads "Best buns on the beach."


Graffiti wall in our home diner, used as a guest book.

Girls in 1st grade love jumping rope.


GAMES
There were so many options for 50's games that these girls loved.  Jump roping, hula hooping, dancing to the Juke Box, Limbo, hopscotch and hand jive. 
It was raining when the party started so we quickly made a hop scotch with blue painters tape down our hallway.  Every time the girls went back and forth they hopped on the squares. Then they'd go through the hanging record door I found at a local party shop.

Limbo (using a curtain rod) was a hit. Dad and brother were soda jerks.

My mom had the Elvis cut-out so we put him on the front door to greet the girls as they arrived.
We also made an adjustable, no-sew, poodle skirt for each girl. (DIY Tutorial here.)

Cat Eye sun glasses from the Target dollar bins. Jump ropes and hula hoops from the dollar store. (All of these items are best found in the summer, harder during cold months.) Popcorn favor boxes were 2 for $1.00 at the Dollar store (I've seen them at Target's dollar bin too).
The mini Coke glasses were at the dollar store 2 for $1.00. The straw holder came from our local grocery store in their cookware isle.
The Diner silly bands happened to be at the Family Dollar Store.
I made the no-sew felt poodle skirts for $6 each. See how here.
I happened to catch this great pic of my daughter that looked similar to my mom's from the 50's.

MENU: You have to use diner slang.

DINER FOOD
1. Soda Jerk Hat, hat from party supply store, we printed the words then glued onto hat.
2. Mini Menu so we could teach kids diner slang.
3. Hot Dogs in diner baskets. 4 for $1 at Target Dollar section. I've had mine for a year for our diner but I've seen them off and on at Target.
4. Coke glasses from the dollar store
5. Ice cream cone and hamburger cupcakes. See Hamburger Cupcake Tutorial Here.

* Update, May 16. I just found another 50's party online. See Kim's Kandy Kreations 50's desert table and record banner. And a behind the scenes treats here. Great ideas here for table decoration, juke box candy bouquet, hanging music notes. Printable 50's BINGO game.
And this adorable 50's Sock Hop at Busy Me, Busy with Three has great 50's ideas.

The girls kept asking for refills on root beer floats in mini coke glasses.
We listened to 50's Music on the CD Juke Box.
I found a cute cake topper of Mickey and Minnie Mouse sipping soda at a diner. I just put it on top of a bunt cake to have a cake with candles to blow out. The guests ate the ice cream and hamburger cupcakes.

50's MUSIC
It can't be a Sock Hop without music.  Below is the playlist I put together for the party.
Their favorite was the new version of Lollipop by Sophie Green. They played the first 2 songs over and over. We used the limbo song during that game.
We had the rest on in the background while we ate and opened presents.


All dressed up 50's style. Auntie, Birthday Girl, Mom, Elvis, Grandma. My mom borrowed the adult skirts from her neighbor.

50's Invitation
I mixed and matched quite a few graphics to create this invitation. You can add your own fonts in a photo program. I wanted the girl to be blonde to match my daughter's hair.

Free Printable 50's Invitation

Sweet Craft Cakes has some awesome 50's Free printables for teacher appreciation.
Some tags are blank that you could adapt for signs or labels at a 50's party. Go to Sweet Craft Cakes for the Free download.


CHECK OUT A BOOK:
Here are some great American Girl books to help your child learn about the 50's.


Additional Pictures of this party can be seen at Catch My Party
See more great parties and crafts:
Today's Creative: Get Your Craft On
Tip Junkie handmade projects

9 comments:

jenharruff said...

Oh, this is so precious! I think I want to throw a party like that just for myself!

Michelle @ Delicate Construction said...

Adorable!! I am visiting from TT&J and new follower!!!
Michelle
www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com
p.s. I am having a giveaway this weekend, you should come check it out!

B's Mommy said...

Love this party!! What a lucky little girl! All the ideas are wonderful!!

Gwen @ Gwenny Penny said...

Can I just say that this is the coolest party ever and that you have the coolest kitchen ever?!? I remember going to an 8th grade dance that was a 50s theme and my mother made me a poodle skirt and my uncle drove me there in his '57 Chevy. Great memories. I am bookmarking this party for when my girls get older. LOVE it!
Gwenny Penny

Jazz K said...

I love that you incorporated the American Girl dolls into the party. I remember having a bring-your-own-doll party when I was younger but mine was a tea party. I wish I had thought of a sock hop because your party was adorable!

Julie H said...

Super cute! I just did a 50's party for my mom. I love that everyone dressed up, we were going to do that but ran out of time.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to use your creative ideas for my daughters 8th birthday. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

So fun! I love the graffiti wall! Thanks for the ideas.

Sinai Urban Health Institute said...

This is awesome! Where and how do I find the molly American girl book and movie to teach my 8yr old twin girls about the 50s sock hop, which they want to be for Halloween. Thanks!

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