The "Scales Only" Birthday

When I handmade invitations for Socrates' birthday party, I definitely got some eyeballing from my mom.

She didn't expect her 23 year old daughter to be planning every last detail of a tortoise's birthday party on her days off from college. With an eye of skepticism, she watched me use my tiny grade school scissors to cut out his party hats and assorted favors for the guests. Everything had to be glittery, cute, and ready to go for his treasured extravaganza! As you can already tell, I spent a lot of time in preparation for the day.

Yet, I can see why people would think this immense effort is a little strange!

For starters, I am not throwing a party for a cute golden retriever named spike. Rather, I have a grumpy tort wearing a droopy party hat staring at me from across the room while I make his supplies. No one's loveable pup would be frowning at them from under a wooden hut, munching on some yellow squash cut meticulously into star shapes!

The point is, I have too much time on my hands to do this. But being involved in an activity like this, and bonding with my pets, brings me so much joy. Even with the strength of crafting tools and brain power that I had to put in gear for his party...it was all well worth it!

Does this make me overdramatic, or just an artsy pet mom?

Who knows!

Socrates is pet sulcata tortoise in his toddler years. He isn't your typical cuddly fluff ball companion, and he eats platefulls of veggies every week. You can't toss him a toy and expect him to catch it, because he will just look at you like you're lost. Socrates isn't necessarily under the same popularity scale as a dog, bird, or even a guinea pig. However, he is a shelled friend that always deserves to be celebrated.

Socrates is such a quintessential member of the family, that I couldn't imagine not overdoing it for his life's milestones. In order to celebrate his 3rd year around the sun, I planned on throwing him a small get-together with a couple of close friends! Using COVID precautions and assmebling everything with a mask and gloves, I wanted to provide a wholesome experience for my best friends who showed up to support. Socrates was thrilled to have people stop by, mostly because he would receive more gifts and tasty food.

To begin the project, I wanted to make a sparkling birthday sign for his table of presents. While I didn't have the money to be buying extra supplies, I figured that I could revamp what I had right at home!

For this sign, I took an old picture frame and stapled a screen to the back of it. Next, I cut out gold paper I had from my scrapbooking supplies and hot glued it onto the screen. Then, with a heavy cardstock, I wrote "Happy Birthday Socrates" using a thick sharpie marker. While it seemed like a lot to do, it was actually fairly simple! I loved how it came out, and it shined brightly against the other decor!

Now for....the favors!

These were quick, cute, and fun photo props I added to everyone's treat bags! I used some cake pop sticks and more glitter paper to cut out various shapes. I added on layers for embellishments and to made it pop with a few pom poms!

For Socrate's presents, I cut out some paper products and reused it for his wrapping paper! As you can see, he really enjoys having the spotlight on him!

The final look had some handmade treat bags clipped with mini clothespin tags, party bags I reused from old gifts, and some decor I found in our basement. Although it was a mismatched aesthetic, I think it pulled the tortoise theme together so well. It was fun, vibrant, and a blast to make! The only main purchases for me were the candy and soda, as everything else was crafted for socrates using items I already had!

Thinking outside of the box for this craft was difficult, but I am glad I made it work! Luckily, I have a storage box full of art supplies that I frequently use at my disposable, so that made the process a lot easier. It makes me incredibly happy to be around my torts, see them thrive, and share that time with friends. Throwing a small celebration for this little life means a lot to me, and I really respect his presence each day. Combining my love of crafting, art, and writing with pet care is something I would love to continue to do. While I admire studying neuroscience as my major in college, these other activities have become part of my main priorities in life.

Hope you enjoy my final setup!