My two tots turn four and two years old respectively in September. They’re quite keen on a combined party. I’ll admit I’m a little relieved – only one (large) cake to bake, only one (large) mess to clean up and only one party theme to dream up. Whew!
I’ve been listening out for novel birthday party ideas and abolutely la la love this one I discovered on Babyccino Kids.
Pony party anyone? 
Esther van de Paal, the creative and insanely courageous Amsterdam mama behind these gorgeous stick horses threw a pony party for her five-year-old daughter a mere nine days after the birth of her second child! This crazy, infinitely talented lady made the horses the night before the party. Unsurprisingly they were a massive hit. “Part of the party was about personalising the horses with letters and glitters, and part was a horse racetrack, and of course all the girls got to take their own stick horse home. The kids absolutely loved their horses and are still playing with them today,” she says.
The best part for me (besides being so endearing) is the fact that you need little more than an old broomstick and an old (large!) sock to pull this craft off. No sewing machine necessary. Nice! 
Esther made seven stick horses using broomsticks she bought at the market. You’ll find similar rod-like ‘sticks’ (curtain rods) at Builder’s Warehouse – you could even use bamboo, also available at Builder’s Warehouse. You’ll need to cut the sticks so that they’re an appropriate height for your child and make a groove in each one, roughly 30cm from the top. 
Esther managed to find some really cute stripey socks (Accessorize have completely fab options as do Mr Price – at half the price!). She then filled each sock with stuffing. 
Esther used wool for the horses manes and buttons for their eyes. 
She cut 1/4 circle ears out of felt (in two different colours). She achieved the ‘wrinkled look’ by pinching and sewing them together loosely. The ears where attached with a needle and thread. 
Apparently the trick is to get the stick to go all the way to the sock’s heel. Tightly secure the sock around the groove in the stick using a piece of twine and voilla! 1 x very happy stick horse (and herds of even happier children!).
Esther used leather strips, bells and curtain chords to make bridles, and each little girl got to personalise her very own horse as one of the party games. How cool?
Now that’s the kind of party idea that’ll get kids’ hearts galloping. I’m off to find me some stripey socks. Giddy up!
For more detailed info and pics hop on over to Esther’s post on the very lovely Babyccino Kids.
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[...] ya quite keen on making your own stick horses, you’ll find step-by-step instructions here (I made them for my tiddlywinks’ combined birthday party last year and they were such a hit [...]