We all have favorite blogs, right? One of mine is Katie’s Pencil Box. Her posts are full of warm, family-centered moments that feel genuine and beautifully styled. Recently she welcomed a new baby, Phoebe (sweetly nicknamed Bee), and because the arrival was close to her son Max’s 8th birthday, she celebrated with an early “unbirthday” party—a delightfully messy paint party that any kid would remember.
Katie kept decorations simple and playful. She splattered an old sheet with bright paint to create a colorful backdrop and added a few handmade paper dot garlands for extra charm. The result felt carefree and festive without being overdone.
For the main activity, she offered washable paints in both spray bottles and buckets. The kids went to work painting a white drop cloth that was hung from a clothesline outdoors—an open-air canvas perfect for creative chaos. When it was time to rinse off, Katie set up a water slide and water balloons so the cleanup doubled as another round of play.
All photos by Katie of Katie’s Pencil Box
If you don’t mind a bit of mess, this is an affordable, memorable idea for a kids’ party. It’s simple to set up, encourages creative play, and ends with water games that double as cleanup. Many thanks to Katie for sharing Max’s celebration, and congratulations to her family on their new baby!