Pirate P-arrr-ty!

Inspired by two of my favorite boys on this here planet, this Pirate P-arrr-ty was so much fun to create! It was a joint party for my cousin’s kids, Drew (age 4) and Will (age 2). Everything you’re about to see (and more) is also now available via Etsy as DIY Printable files!

First off, my creativity was put to the challenge when thinking of centerpiece ideas. Flowers just didn’t seem appropriate. I really wanted pirate ships, so I tried Googling ideas and I came up empty handed. I thought for sure there would be some sort of DIY idea, but nothing. I did find a couple ship & boat ideas but they just weren’t quite right. So after a bit of brainstorming, I came up with these super easy, yet super cute (if I do say so myself), paper pirate ships. Here’s what I did:

Materials:

• Paper for the sails, skull flag and base – I designed mine, but you could cut the shapes out of 8.5 x 11″ paper. My designs are available for sale on Etsy (Click Here). If not purchasing the DIY files, simply cut out the following:
  • 1- 5.25″ x 3.5″ rectangle out of white cardstock (small sail)
  • 1- 6.25″ x 4.5″ rectangle out of white cardstock (large sail)
  • 2- 8.5″ x 5.5″ rectangle out of black cardstock (ship)
• 18″ dowel rod
• Styrofoam or floral foam block (we used floral foam blocks that were 2 5/8 x 3 1/2 x 7 7/8 and cut them in half)
• Black and white tissue paper (or wrapping paper)
• Double-sided tape
• Hole punch

Instructions:

1. Cut out shapes for sail, ship and skull flag.
2. For Sails: Punch hole in the center of the top and bottom of the small and large sails (see picture). Thread onto 18″ dowel rod like pictured. If you have the skull flag – fold in half. Place the top of the dowel rod in the center of the fold and using the double-sided tape tape the flag shut.
3. For Ship: Place 1 ship piece face down on table. Put double-sided tape along both of the short ends. Then line-up the 2nd ship piece on top (face-up).
4. Wrap the styrofoam/floral foam block with the tissue paper or wrapping paper.
5. Open your assembled ship piece and place over your wrapped styrofoam/floral foam block.
6. Stick your assembled dowel rod into the center of the styrofoam block. Your ship is complete!

The other favorite – Drew & Will Pirate Heads! How can you not love heads on a stick! Especially when you add an illustrated eye patch and pirate scarf. They were perfect to use on the ship centerpieces and the cupcakes. I also created treasure maps, pirate hooks, anchors, skull flags and balloons for the cupcake toppers. I love that we went with cutout shapes instead of just the typical circle designs.

Lots more was created. For example, what’s a pirate party without a treasure map? The table runners were created by blowing up a 8.5 x 11″ black and white drawing I created. The maps were perfect running under the pirate ships and created a place for kids and adults to color!

See more pictures on our Etsy shop! Party on me hearties! Yo ho!