Squirtle's Birthday Party with Cake and Balloons

A gentle color plan to get started — mix in your own anytime.

• purple
• lime green
• ivory
• light blue
• grass green
• mustard yellow
• red
• light orange
• sky blue
• warm brown
• pale blue
• aqua

A suggested order, zone by zone — skip around as you like.

1. 1Start with the big turtle head, flippers and neck in lime green, leaving the two round eye whites and the small shine spots white.
2. 2Color the turtle shell swirl and its edges in teal green, then fill the balloons with bright blue, red, orange, grass green and pink.
3. 3Paint the party hat in light blue with polka dots left white, add a red brim and a bright yellow pompom, and color the feather in grass green.
4. 4Fill the cake with ivory on the bottom, cream on the middle and light blue on the frosting, keeping the candles and star decorations white.
5. 5Color the tablecloth purple with aqua dots, the window bush grass green, the sofa light orange and the floor and shelves warm brown.
6. 6Optional: Add a little darker shade of green on the turtle's belly and a touch of pale blue on the window to add depth.