Last weekend I drove to Ohio for a few very special celebrations. My grandmother turns 90 next month, and we planned a surprise party since she would never agree to one otherwise. She keeps a busier social calendar than anyone I know, so bringing her family and friends together felt extra meaningful. I packed my tinsel and craft supplies, and my family and I got busy with DIY details to honor this remarkable woman.
We created a short quiz to test how well everyone knew her and dressed each card up with a bit of tinsel for a festive touch. I also recreated the honeycomb ornaments I recently shared—those fold-flat honeycomb balls are perfect for travel and make instant party decor.
For party favors I used an idea that’s been floating around Pinterest for a while. It was the perfect moment to try it. I wrapped little treats and tucked them into decorated tubes—simple, pretty, and easy to make in bulk.
At the last minute I realized we needed simple stands for the food and favor signs. Thankfully I always have tinsel and styrofoam fillers on hand. I cut a small slit in a few fillers to hold the cards and hot-glued tinsel to the base—an instant display that looked intentional without the fuss.
I was in charge of the cake. Since the party was a brunch, a bundt cake felt right—but I wanted it shaped like a 90. I used a set of bundt pans to make one large ring for the zero and two smaller rings to form the nine, trimming one small cake in half. I made a red velvet bundt using a trusted recipe and the result was delicious. For a platter, I covered a cookie sheet in mylar and added tinsel to the corners to keep the theme cohesive.
Here she is—the guest of honor. Friends from her retirement community gifted her a crown, and she wore it happily all day. Everyone enjoyed catching up, sharing stories, and celebrating her life.
All photos by Studio DIY
Everyone had a wonderful time and my grandmother was truly surprised. The day included an extra special moment when she met her first great-grandchild for the very first time—double surprise and lots of happy tears. I was grateful to fly out and be part of this intimate celebration and thankful for a family that pulled everything together so beautifully.
Have you ever planned a surprise party?