Cardboard Train (Locomotive)

Choo Choo! All Aboard the cardboard train...



The front light even turns on for an evening train ride.



This project started with three boxes of the same size and one a bit larger. They were all the same width. I first used an exacto knife to cut off the top flaps of the boxes. All it took was 1 1/2 cans of black spray paint to cover three boxes.

I used my flap scraps to help create the front of the train. I cut off a small triangle on one side. See below. I then used that triangle as a pattern to cut the same size off the other side of the flap.

I cut four of these out and taped them together. The easiest way to describe the finished product is it looks like a lampshade.

I carefully taped it to the front (larger) box starting at the top.

A few more cardboard cuts and a little more black spray paint later...the front grill...

To make lines on the front grill I spray painted tape silver and then pressed the tape on at even intervals. I also took an old battery operated push light and painted it black.

I used hot glue to help attach the grill and light to the front.



I also cut circles out of the cardboard and painted them silver. I attached them on the sides as wheels with glue. Almost done...but then I decided it would be so much cuter if there was a front window to peek out and a cardboard box seat inside. Luckily, I had a little helper testing it all out as I went.

The party is over and my boys are still having a great time playing on the train.

Ok. Apparently the fun is over! Lol! Time to get off the train...and fast.





Train Candy Puzzle Game for Birthday Party

A while back, I saw a cute idea on a website for a candy puzzle. I wish I could remember who to give credit to. (Sorry!) I adapted their heart theme from Valentine's Day to a train theme for Reese's birthday party.

The candy is pushed out the top opening where an engineer would sit.

I  bought some black and silver speckled vinyl at JoAnn Fabric. I used a train to trace out the patterns on the back of the vinyl.

This is what they looked like once they were cut out...  (About the size of my hand)

Next, I sewed a Ziploc bag on top to create the candy maze. An extra line across the middle increases the challenge. After sewing you will also need to cut out the remainder of the Ziploc bag in the train shape.

I ended up not using these for the party because of the level of difficulty to manipulate the candy. Most of our kids were three and under. They would be better for age 4 and up. My three year old loved the challenge!



Train Birthday Party Train Cakes and Cupcakes

I borrowed an amazing train mold from a friend to make train cakes. (It was from Nordic Ware)

I was not exactly up for making 40 individual trains so I made some railroad cupcakes as well.

Here is a picture of my little engineer.

My little guy loved his first cake. His train did not stand a chance. He ate the whole thing!

Train Birthday Party Decor

Last step for the party...the decorations...

I used several blue vintage suitcases I found at an estate sale to display food. I also added an old railroad lantern, vintage baby shoes, antique pocket watch, vintage teddy bear, vintage train and tracks, and a railroad crossing sign.

Shoe boxes wrapped in newspaper with tissue inside served as perfect chip holders.

I can't believe party day is finally here. What fun. My little one is turning one!

Hint: Go to the labels section on the right hand side of the page and select train birthday party to see all ten posts with DIY steps and ideas for this party. Thanks so much for visiting!

As seen on:

Train Birthday Party Snacks Part 2

I am still really working hard on coming up with train themed snacks. This is a tough one. I decided to incorporate the railroad crossing signs. I searched the Internet once again for graphics and found a traditional railroad crossing sign.

I picked up some party picks and glued on my printed signs. Strawberries, grapes, and cheese squares were stuck on the sticks and my signs were simply glued to the top.

The next easiest snack option was train sandwiches. I decided to make peanut butter and turkey and cheese sandwiches cut out with a train cookie cutter. I found sets of ten small white bags at the dollar store and decorated them to look like old luggage with pictures and stickers. "Luggage Tags" were tied on to display the sandwich descriptions.

Train Birthday Party Baggage Claim Favors

When thinking about all the things that could go with a train station...baggage claim came to mind. What a fun way to display the kids party favors!

First I sewed what felt like a million little blue and white striped bags. I sew the lazy/quick way. I am sure most of the children's parents are not sewing teachers and might I say...thank goodness. I cut out two 9 x 5.5" rectangles first. (There is no perfect size) To give the bags a finished look by the casing I just turned in the top inch or so. (Yes, this is what I meant by lazy)

I stiched about 1/2" down. Then, facing right sides of the fabric together, I sewed around the bags on three sides ending right where the scissors are pointing in the picture below. (Leave the top open!)

Turn the bags inside out and thread a string throught the casing with a safety pin. Our railroad bags are now ready for treats.

Train Birthday Party Snacks Part 1

When I was originally planning a vintage train theme party for my one year old I had difficulty finding any clever food ideas besides animal crackers.

 I did like that idea but did not want to buy twenty plus little boxes with the cute train on them.

I found a package of twenty small blue circles of toule precut on clearance for 50 cents. I found a cute graphic of animals on a train and added the text to say animal crackers. After cutting out the tags and backing them on blue paper, I tied them on the blue toule circles with some decorative brown ribbon (On sale at Michael's for 50 cents).  Basically all of this including the animal crackers came to a whopping total of $3.50. Much cheaper and time consuming then Barnum's Animal Crackers.

I thought peanuts would be a fun touch too. I just printed PEANUTS on white labels and put them on some brown lunch sacks. I cut off the tops of the bags and tied on some rafia.

Make Train Birthday Party Favors

I looked at four party stores before I determined there were not many options out there for train party favors. I ran into a few train whistles and tons of Thomas the Train but they were not exactly what I had in mind. I eventually came up with this idea...

I bought these yellow mini frisbees at Party City for 10 cents each. What a steal! I used a black sharpie to draw on them and create a railroad sign.

You don't have to be a perfectionist on these. Mine definitely are not perfect but I was very pleased how they turned out.

Train Shirt 1st Birthday

In order to stick with the whole train theme, I decided my one year old, Reese, needed a shirt for the party. Of course, it needed to be engine #1.

I used iron on adhesive on some precious blue and white material. It reminded me of the material engineer caps are always made of. I traced a train on the back and cut it out.

Next I ironed it on to a simple white shirt. I found this shirt on sale at Children's Place last year for 99 cents. I love to stock up on plain shirts when they are on sale.

I used a zig zag stitch to sew it on the white shirt.



Next I sewed on the #1 in the same way I did the train. This train is now ready to head down the tracks!

Train Birthday Party Invitations

My youngest, Reese, is about to turn one! We have decided on a vintage train theme for his party. First thing is first...Invitations

I will warn you...these are a little time consuming to make but they are so worth it. It does not help that with all our family and friends I am sending out more then thirty invites. Absolutely ridiculous, but we can't and don't want to leave anyone out.

I started out with a cream background and a brown textured paper for on top. I found this fabulous punch stamp from Martha Stewart to produce the train silhouette at the top. Blue and white striped fabric was cut by hand into small pockets for the train ticket to slide into. I found tacky glue to be the easiest way to affix the pocket on the card.

Luckily, we recently had some precious pictures done at the train station by Melissa at ebonyblancimages.com. These wallets made the perfect addition to the invites and can be easily removed by our guests for an updated picture of Reese.

The train ticket was a lot of fun to design. I made them in advance because all I had to do when I picked the date was punch out the correct month and date.

The address to the party was under Boarding at 2 pm

The tickets easily slid into the pocket and once they were finally all assembled I sent them out!