Make your own decorations and invitations to save money on a kid’s birthday party. When every dollar counts, it’s important to stretch the party dollar and cut corners where you can. The money you save on paper goods can be used to invite extra guests to the party, to purchase special party favors or to order a bakery-grade cake from the store.
Step 1
Discuss a party theme with your child. Themes may also be subject-based, including teddy bears, transportation, science, arts and crafts, or space. The theme will determine the type of invitations and decorations you make, as well as give you ideas for color schemes.
Step 2
Build a child’s anticipation for his party by making party invitations and decorations together. Use this time to discuss the guest list and write down names of school friends who need to be invited. This is also a good time to ask the child what types of activities, games or special treats and foods he would like at his party.
Step 3
Create invitations and decorations by hand in shapes matching the party theme. Use stencils or cookie cutters in the shape of dinosaurs, stars, tools, animals or letters of the alphabet. Fold a piece of card stock or heavy paper in half. Trace the image on the front side of folded paper and color. Or cut out the shape, leaving the fold end intact, to make a special folded invitation.
Step 4
Locate images matching the party’s themes in your child’s coloring or activity books. Cut images out of them to use for the invitations. Glue the images onto folded card stock. Use extras to decorate the party table and the door.
Step 5
Use premade invitations designed with TV character or TV show on the official websites. The invitations are black and white and color images specifically made for printing (see Resources). Fill in the party details after printing.
Step 6
Print out extra images that kids can use to make crafts at the party. Supply brown or white paper bags and let kids color the party theme printouts and glue them onto the bags. Do the same for party hats.
Step 7
Draw or glue images on the backsides of plain, white paper plates to keep the party budget low. Kids can turn over the plates when it’s time for cake and snacks. Or use plain paper plates that match the party’s theme.
Step 8
Create homemade paper tablecloth using printed photographs of the child and his friends. Print out 15 to 20 pages of the same photos or different photos and tape them together to create a custom tablecloth for the party.
