birthday supplies
If you are planning a birthday party for that special birthday girl, it can be overwhelming once you start looking at the costs that seem to multiple as you go. Fortunately, there are many ways you can save money on a birthday party by making your own supplies or buying discounted supplies at the store. Does this Spark an idea?
Invitations
One of the most inexpensive ways to send invitations is to make your own. If the party is for a young girl, let her draw pictures on pieces of paper. Then write the invitation information on the back. Place them in letter size envelops and mail them off. Or better yet, deliver them by hand to save the stamps and envelops.
Another option is take a photograph of the birthday girl holding something that relates to her party theme and have the pictures printed at your local drug store. For example, if you are planning a tea party, have her holding a tea pot and tea cup. Prints are inexpensive and then you can treat the back of the picture as a postcard, writing the party details on one side and the mailing address on the other.
If you prefer not to mail or hand deliver invitations, create your own invitations on the computer and then email them to your guests.
Decorations
Supplies to decorate for your party can be expensive. If you want to use store bought decorations, look for clearance designs at your local party supply store or discount stores. Another way to save on store bought decorations is to look for seasonal decorations after the season has ended. For example, purchase rabbit themed decorations after Easter is over or luau themed decorations at the end of summer. If you prefer to make your own decorations, use your birthday girl's toys to decorate your party area. If her theme is unicorns and she has stuffed or small plastic unicorns, place them on the table as a centerpiece. You can also create your own decorations by drawing pictures onto poster board.
Games
Games are one of the easiest ways to save money in planning a party. Most games require little to no outside props. Those games that require some added element can be made by you. For example, if you are planning a Princess and the Frog party, make your own pin the kiss on the frog game by drawing a picture of a frog onto poster board and then putting lipstick on the girls. Have them kiss the frog instead of using lip cut outs.
Or choose games that use elements of your decorations. If you used the birthday girl's stuffed cats as a decoration, use one of the toys to pass around for a game of hot potato.
Food
Instead of planning an elaborate menu, choose a time of day that you would not be expected to feed the guests a full meal, such as earlier in the morning or mid-afternoon. Snack foods such as popcorn or chips are inexpensive and easy for the guests to eat. If you want to make your own foods, go simple and follow the theme. For example, if you are planning a butterfly party, make butterfly pretzel treats by connecting two twisted pretzels together using peanut butter to create the wings. Connect two rod pretzels to the top of wings for antennae. Or incorporate the food into an activity for the guests. Make sugar cookies in shapes that match the party theme and let your guests decorate them with colored icing and sprinkles.
For the cake, make it yourself using a store bought cake mix and icing. Choose colors that complement your birthday girl's party theme. Then decorate the top of the cake using small plastic toys that match the theme as well. For example, if you are planning a Disney Princess party, place plastic princesses on top of the cake and the toys can also double as a birthday gift for her.
Tags: birthday girl, example planning, make your, party theme, store bought, your decorations