need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

into the surface of an asteroid planet???

I wasn to stage Luce' first birthday as if it is being held on the little prince's planet.

he has small volcanoes, and a flower

I was thinking of throwing dirt on a tarp, but every mom I know would probably kill me so I need other suggestions.

I think I can get my nieces to make papier mache volcanoes (the NON erupting kind, even though the Little Prince uses one of his volcanoes to toast his bread ) but I am still kind of stuck.

ideas would be so very much appreciated!!!

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

how about wood chips or mulch instead of dirt??

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

how about just grass?

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by pinkandblue

how about wood chips or mulch instead of dirt??

Posted by Shorty

how about just grass?

Message edited 8/5/2010 10:43:35 AM.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

A canvas painter's tarp is often a sort of grey color, which would be good for asteroid "soil".

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

I wouldn't do anything to the yard, but I'd use canvas tarps as tablecloths, and rope your nieces into painting craters on them and making the volcanos as the centerpieces. Maybe use vases as the base and stick flowers in them? I don't know the story.

ETA: If you have trees you can make papermache asteroids to hang from them.

Message edited 8/5/2010 10:52:49 AM.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

what if you leave the grass but have little (like 3-4' in height) 'rock outcrops scattered around the party area? you could get a bunch of gray tarps and cut them to go under the 'rocks'. you could use old tires as the base of the rocks for height and could spray paint them. doing this could define a play area for the kids too and help corral them.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

I like the tarp idea. .you could spray paint it and cut it into an asteroid like shape. you could get those garden spike things to hold it in place.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

ooohh..this is good.

I can use THIS spot in my yard for the tarp and hang the stars and asteroids from my baobabs (trees)


definitely going to have to do some weed pulling back there!



then, set the tables and chairs up to the right of it all


and have the food on the deck?????




with all the overgrowth in my yard, maybe I should just switch to a jungle theme

what do you think? I am really loving the tarp idea!!!! should i extend just a plain tarp across to where the tables should go or leave it for the kids area only?

TIA!!!!

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by pinkandblue

how about wood chips or mulch instead of dirt??

how long do you think KJ would last before he'd eat the wood chips? luce wouldn't last 30 seconds!!!!

true enough, didn't even think of that

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

this is the insurance agent in me, but i wouldn't put any ground covering, especially a tarp, for fear that someone would trip/fall.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by Shorty

this is the insurance agent in me, but i wouldn't put any ground covering, especially a tarp, for fear that someone would trip/fall.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Tarp for the kids area only. You can probably get some beach balls that look like planets some where.

How many people? I probably wouldn't put food on the deck depending on the number. I feel like you need a clear place to get in & out of the house without a crowd of people around a buffet.
I would set up the cake up there - because it's high enough that everyone can see the Prince blow out his candles.

Oh & this is just a pet peeve of mine - for your photo op - the cake faces OUT toward the guests - so any photo of him blowing out the candles will show the cake, not the back of the cake & the number 1 backwards.

Message edited 8/5/2010 11:45:06 AM.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

you could also make planets/asteroids by getting styrofoam balls at a craft store, and then either carving out craters or even melting them into the ball using a soldering gun. you can then paint them gray and hang or mount them for table centerpieces.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

In searching online for some ideas for you, I found this

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by ChrisDee

In searching online for some ideas for you, I found this
IMAGE

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Instead of a tarp, what about a tan sheet? (Or a few sheets?) You wouldn't want someone trying to climb under a tarp and getting trapped. And if you want to surrounded them with 'rocks', use styrofoam.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by waterspout4

Instead of a tarp, what about a tan sheet? (Or a few sheets?) You wouldn't want someone trying to climb under a tarp and getting trapped. And if you want to surrounded them with 'rocks', use styrofoam.

you think that could happen!

I'll see. sheet could possibly work too.

thank you. I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by waterspout4

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by waterspout4

Instead of a tarp, what about a tan sheet? (Or a few sheets?) You wouldn't want someone trying to climb under a tarp and getting trapped. And if you want to surrounded them with 'rocks', use styrofoam.

you think that could happen!

I'll see. sheet could possibly work too.

thank you. I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Kids are creative with places to hide. Also, a tarp could be slippery.

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by waterspout4

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by waterspout4

Instead of a tarp, what about a tan sheet? (Or a few sheets?) You wouldn't want someone trying to climb under a tarp and getting trapped. And if you want to surrounded them with 'rocks', use styrofoam.

you think that could happen!

I'll see. sheet could possibly work too.

thank you. I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Kids are creative with places to hide. Also, a tarp could be slippery.

the tarp I was thinking of getting is canvas. does that make a difference or is is still no good?

I don't want moms leaving my house b/c of safety concerns

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

drooling over your backyard
its so beautiful!!!


i think a tarp will be okl.. i mean, everything can be a potential hazard..
just make sure someone is always keeping an eye on the area...

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

Is this a tribute to Madame Cecile Aubry who died last week??? Don't forget, she also wrote Belle et Sebastian! Perhaps you could have a Pyrnees theme with a giant white dog!

Re: need creative ideas....how can I turn my grassy back yard

What about an asteroid craft table with playdoh?