Cake pop with white drizzle, its stick toward the jawPink, white, tan. A round ball on a tan stick down the cheek; thin white drizzle lines across the ball.
Cake wedge showing three layers, a candle on its wide endPink, cream, brown, yellow. A wedge on the cheek showing three layers; a candle stands on its wide end.
Cupcake holding one leaning candle under a swirl of frostingBlue, white, pink, yellow. Frosting over a blue paper cup on the cheek; a candle leaning a little.
Cupcake piled with sprinkles and a cherryCream, pink, red, five sprinkle colors. Tall frosting dotted with sprinkle dashes; a red cherry on the peak.
Dark chocolate wedge crowned with one whole strawberryDark brown, cream, red, green. A dark wedge with one cream layer line; a whole strawberry at the wide end.
Frosting swirl on the nose tip with a cherry dotWhite or pink, red. Three stacked curved strokes on the tip of the nose, narrowing upward; a red dot on top.
Ice cream sandwich with sprinkles pressed into its edgeDark brown, cream, five sprinkle colors. Two dark bars with a cream layer between; sprinkle dots along it.
Pancake pile with one pink candle and syrup running downTan, brown, yellow, pink. Three flat ovals piled on the cheek; syrup drips; one pink candle with a flame.
Tall striped candle on the cheekbone, flame at the templeRed, white, yellow, orange. A tall candle with slanted stripes; a two-color flame; three short light dashes.
Three cupcakes in pastel wrappers along the jawMint, pink, yellow, white. Three small cupcakes side by side on the jawline, each a different wrapper color.
Three-tier cake on the cheek, a dot border on each tierWhite, pink, lilac, yellow. Three stacked blocks, the widest at the bottom; one tiny flame on top.
Wedge of rainbow cake, six thin layersRed, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white. Six colored bands inside a white-frosted wedge on the cheek.
Balloons, gifts and party things 12
ADMIT ONE party ticket on the cheekYellow, red. A small rectangle with a notch in each short side; two words and a dotted border.
Balloon animal dog on the cheekAny one bright color, white. A dog twisted from one long balloon: sausage body, four legs, ears, a knot nose.
Balloon arch from the jaw up to the templeThree bright colors, white. Small overlapping ovals in a curve around the outside of the cheek, a shine on each.
Bounce house castle with four round turretsRed, blue, yellow. A blocky castle with four round turrets on the cheek; an arched doorway; three bounce dashes above.
Bow at the hairline, as if the face were the giftRed, white. A large bow with two loops at the top of the forehead; one ribbon tail curls down each temple.
Invitation card with a tiny balloon and the word PARTYWhite, red, black. A small card on the cheek with a wavy edge; one tiny balloon above five capitals.
Party favor bag in dots with a twisted paper handlePink, white, purple. A paper bag shape with dots on the cheek; a twisted handle; a small tag hanging.
Photo-booth props crossed on the cheek: lips and a mustacheRed, black, tan. Two sticks cross; a pair of paper lips tops one and a curly paper mustache the other.
Round button badge reading IT'S MY DAYBlue, white, yellow. A circle with a white rim on the cheek; three short words stacked; a star under them.
Seated teddy bear, one arm up, a red balloon above its pawBrown, tan, red, black. A small bear on the cheek holding a string; the balloon floats toward the temple.
Three wrapped boxes piled up, one bow on the top boxPurple, green, yellow, white. Three boxes of falling size on the cheek; a ribbon cross on each, a bow on top.
Two balloons lifting a small gift box toward the templeRed, blue, yellow, white. A wrapped box hangs on two strings under a pair of balloons, tilted as it rises.
The birthday number 12
The age as a fat bubble numeral on the cheekAny bright color, white, black. One rounded numeral outlined in black; a white shine on its upper left.
Age in a racing circle, like a number on a car doorWhite, black, red. A white disc with a black rim on the cheek; the numeral in red, leaning forward.
Age numeral dripping with frosting from its top edgeAny bright color, white. A solid numeral on the cheek; white frosting drips hang from its upper edges.
Age numeral filled with sprinkle dashesWhite, five sprinkle colors. An outlined numeral on the cheek, short colored dashes scattered inside it.
Age numeral in polka-dot gift wrap with a bow on topGreen, white, red. A solid numeral on the cheek covered in white dots; a small red bow on its top corner.
Age numeral striped red and white like a paper strawRed, white. A wide numeral on the cheek filled with slanted red and white stripes, a thin red outline.
Age numeral with eyes and a smileAny bright color, black, white. Two dot eyes and a curved mouth inside the thickest part of the numeral.
Age on a pennant flag pointing to the earOrange, white. A long triangle flag on a short pole on the cheekbone; the numeral near its wide end.
Age piped in frosting on a round cake seen from abovePink, white, yellow. A pink circle with a white scallop edge on the cheek; the numeral in white on top.
Dotted age: the numeral tapped out with a brush tipThree colors. The shape of the numeral dotted out with a brush tip, the colors taking turns.
Number-candle age with a wick and a small flame on topAny bright color, yellow, orange. A thick numeral on the cheek with a short wick and a two-color flame at its top.
Prize disc showing the age under a V of ribbonGold or yellow, red, blue. A round medal on the cheek with the numeral on it; a V of ribbon above.
Fast designs for a line of guests 12
Bow from two triangles and a dotRed. Two triangles meet point to point on the cheek; a dot covers the join.
Cupcake from a zigzag and three scallopsPink, tan. A tan zigzag for the wrapper; three pink bumps above it; a dot on the top bump.
Donut ring with five sprinkle dotsPink, white. A thick ring on the cheek and five short white dashes around it.
Gift box from a square and a crossGreen, yellow. A filled square on the cheek; one line down and one across it; two loops on top.
Juice box from a rectangle and a bent straw lineGreen, white. A small upright rectangle on the cheek with one white stripe; a bent line for the straw.
One-stroke candle: an upright line under a yellow teardropBlue, yellow. A short upright stroke on the cheek and a yellow teardrop above it.
Popcorn cup: red stripes and three yellow puffs on topRed, white, yellow. A small striped cup shape on the cheek; three round yellow dabs above its rim.
Thumbs-up hand in one colorAny one color. A fist shape with the thumb raised, on the cheek, outlined and left unfilled.
Triangle hat with a dot on its tip and two dots insideAny two colors. A triangle on the cheek, a dot at its tip and two dots inside it.
Two-shape cake slice: a sideways triangle, pink icing on topYellow, pink. A triangle on its side on the cheek; a pink wavy line along its top edge.
Watermelon slice: pink half circle, green rind, three seedsPink, green, black. A half circle on the cheek, flat side up; a green edge on the curve; three seed dots.
YAY in three bubble lettersAny bright color, white. Three rounded capitals in a row on the cheek, a white shine on each.
How it works
These birthday face paint ideas are 48 designs in four groups of 12: cakes, cupcakes and candles; balloons, gifts and party things; the birthday number; and fast designs for when ten guests are waiting.
Read the full guide
The birthday number
Twelve designs put the age on a cheek, and each works with any numeral: Age numeral dripping with frosting from its top edge, Age numeral striped red and white like a paper straw, Age in a racing circle, like a number on a car door. The birthday child gets the number; guests get everything else.
Party face painting ideas for a line
Fast designs for a line of guests holds 12 built from one or two shapes: Triangle hat with a dot on its tip and two dots inside, Bow from two triangles and a dot, Donut ring with five sprinkle dots. None needs more than two colors, except the watermelon slice and the popcorn cup, which take three.
Questions and answers
What do you paint on the birthday child?
The age. The birthday number group has 12 ways to wear it, such as The age as a fat bubble numeral on the cheek and Prize disc showing the age under a V of ribbon.
What are good face paint designs for party guests?
Things from the party table: Cake wedge showing three layers, a candle on its wide end, Balloon animal dog on the cheek, Three wrapped boxes piled up, one bow on the top box. They suit any age and any party theme.
Is there a birthday design that is not on the cheek?
Yes. Frosting swirl on the nose tip with a cherry dot sits on the nose, Bow at the hairline, as if the face were the gift on the forehead, and Three cupcakes in pastel wrappers along the jaw on the jawline.
What face paint is used at a birthday party?
Face paint sold for use on skin. The US FDA says to follow all directions carefully and to keep makeup from getting into the eyes. A dab on the arm a couple of days before is its test for a first use.