Whether planning for a child’s party or an adult birthday party, homemade decorations give the event a personalized look. Before purchasing materials at an art store or a party supply shop, look around your own home for supplies. Look for pieces you can repurpose into DIY party decorations, including fabric, boxes, leftover art materials and colored paper. For a child’s birthday party, leave some of the projects for the guests to do themselves. They can draw a banner, create a birthday collage with thematic images or personalize their favor bags.
Step 1
Establish a theme. For a child’s birthday party, themes may center around a favorite storybook character or cartoon, or they may involve a setting, such as the beach, the rain forest, under the sea or a castle. For adults, a color theme may suffice. You might also consider creating party decorations that reflect the individual’s tastes, such as favorite places to visit or foods she likes.
Step 2
Create a centerpiece. Nearly every party has a main table for food, gathering or cake, and a centerpiece can set the tone. A bouquet of handmade flowers has style. Fold different colors or patterns of tissue paper accordion-style. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle of the folded paper to affix it. Spread the edges of the paper gently and a tissue paper rose will bloom. Place the flowers in a vintage glass jar or vase.
Step 3
Decorate with a bright backdrop. Hang a large swatch of fabric from the ceiling for a canopy effect, or attached to a wall for a subtler look. If you want to decorate with fabric outdoors, use clotheslines strung between trees to frame a canopy.
Step 4
Adorn place settings. Tie ribbons around chairs or wrap fake flowers around table legs. Decoupage patterned paper onto glass jars for decorative drinking glasses. Glue paper onto cardboard for eye-catching place mats.
Step 5
Personalize the cake. Jump onto the cupcake trend by cooking a tower of cupcakes that guests can personalize with colored icing, sprinkles, gummy worms, crushed cookies, chocolate chips and gumdrops.
Step 6
Add homemade party favor bags. Cut fabric swatches into squares and gather them with a ribbon or bit of string.
Step 7
Finish with a homemade party game or favor. Stuff hollowed eggshells with confetti and glue a piece of tissue paper over the opening. These party favors, called “cascarones,” are a traditional party game in Mexico, where children crack the eggs over each others’ heads.
Photo Credit
- Balloons image by elmgrover from Fotolia.com
