Mermaid Magic
Hey, HypedNHandmade fans, this post is EXTRA special and gives you a peek into the origin of my passion for creating beautiful and inclusive celebrations for my loved ones. Before HypedNHandmade had a name, before I knew this would become my creative language, there was just a mom trying to plan a magical party for her daughters. I’ll bring it all together at the end of this post. Happy reading!
More Than a Mermaid Party: The Celebration That Changed Everything
Some parties are fun. Some parties are beautiful. And then there are the ones that quietly change the direction of your creativity forever.
This mermaid-themed birthday party was all three, but more than anything, it was the moment that sparked my passion for creating party décor that looks like and feels like my beautiful brown babies.
The Moment That Sparked It All
When I started planning this party, I did what most parents do, I searched for decorations that fit the theme. Mermaid parties were everywhere… but something was missing.
I found a mermaid design I loved and reached out to the seller to ask if they offered a digital version of their African American mermaid. The image already existed, but it was only available pre-printed. I was told they weren’t taking custom orders.
Here’s the thing though:
Being Black isn’t custom.
They already had the file. It just wasn’t made accessible.
That moment stayed with me.
So, I made a decision: if I couldn’t find what my girls deserved, I would create it myself, or work with designers who could help me build a party world where my daughters could see themselves fully represented. That was the beginning of everything.
Creating a Mermaid World That Looked Like Us
For this party, I went all out, because representation matters, and joy deserves effort. As I have always done, I decorated a photo wall and dining area in our home. I also created prize-worthy materials for our daughter’s first real birthday party. I worked with a friend, bought one off files, and ambled on my own to create pieces that met our needs.
I made sure that the materials I created featured African American mermaids with big, coily hair, rich tones, and magic that reflected my girls. Seeing their faces light up when they saw themselves in the décor? Worth every late night.
The Home Spaces
The home-crafted décor included a fun photo wall brought to life with blue and green streamers styled to look like seaweed and cardstock fish in varying sizes, colors, and textures swimming across the space wall. I also made a balloon arch in the party’s colors and a giant number 3 covered in mermaid scales.
The Party
A Fully On-Theme Mermaid Menu
The food was playful, creative, and completely under-the-sea inspired:
Blue Jello cups with gummy sharks
A coral reef veggie tray
A dolphin-themed fruit tray
Candy kelp for sweet snacking
Crab-decorated croissant sandwiches
Thematic meal names that made everything feel immersive
The most beautiful mermaid cake and cupcakes to tie it all together
Every detail was designed to feel fun, cohesive, and magical.
The Shirts
As with other parties, I also made shirts for the birthday girl and her underwater crew, mommy, daddy, and big sis. Wearing our cohesive shirts made it feel like a full family celebration, not just a party, but a shared moment.
Transforming a Kids Gym Into an Underwater Dream
The party was held at a kids gym, but they allowed us to fully decorate and truly command the space, and we did. When the staff told me I could decorate and bring food, they definitely did not expect their space to be transformed into an underwater paradise. The gym’s party space disappeared, and a mermaid lagoon took its place.
We hung a beautiful underwater backdrop across their expansive mirror and set a table full of on theme foods in front of it. We used a second table to house the drinks, snacks, and fun party favors.
The favors were one of my favorite parts: kinetic sand jars that doubled as an activity and a keepsake.
Each jar included:
Kinetic sand
Toy shells and aquatic creatures
Glittery sea grass for extra sparkle
For a bit of extra pizzazz, we stored the favors inside an upcycled paper box that I transformed into a pirate treasure chest. The pirate chest started as a simple blue box. With a little imagination (and a lot of love), I:
Painted it brown
Added a treasure map
Included a skull and crossbones
And just like that, the treasure chest was born. It became a focal point and a reminder that sometimes the most magical pieces start with the simplest materials. This party was absolutely a labor of love, my Cricut made it manageable. Custom files, layered details, personalized elements… It allowed me to bring my vision to life without burning out.
And that’s when I realized something powerful:
This isn’t just about parties. It’s about representation, creativity, and telling our stories beautifully.
This mermaid party wasn’t just a birthday, it was the beginning of HypedNHandmade. A space where crafting is my love language, and where my children, and others, can see themselves reflected in the joy we create.