Easy Kids Party Decorating
Decorating for a kids party can be cheap and easy, yet impressive, if you have the basics in place and use a little imagination and advance planning. Follow these simple guidelines for kids party decorations: GREETING SIGN: A greeting sign in your front yard or on your door is a nice way to welcome party guests. Match it to the party theme and colors. For a construction party write "Caution: Work Zone" in black on a yellow background. For a luau party, draw orange, yellow and pink leis around the word "Aloha".
A western party sign could say "Welcome to the O.K. Corral". With just a little imagination, a homemade sign can be better than a store-bought one and you'll be complimented on your ingenuity to boot! BALLOONS: Balloons are a must for every kids party. They are cheap, colorful, and every kid loves them! Choose the balloon color to complement your party theme. For example, two shades of green for a jungle party, orange and black for a Halloween party, yellow and orange for a construction party, and so on.
Assorted helium-filled balloons can be bunched and anchored in the middle of the party table as a centerpiece, or attached from the light fixture in the center of the room. I always get a special birthday mylar which relates to the party theme and tie it to the birthday child's chair. A balloon arch is an impressive way to direct guests to the party area. Simply attach helium- filled balloons to a ribbon about every 12 inches and secure it to the ground on either side of your doorway. Remember to attach a few balloons to your mailbox to show guests where the party is.
Be sure you have enough balloons to give one to each party guest as they leave. CREPE PAPER: Another cheap and easy party decoration is crepe paper. Tie four to six pieces from the center light fixture in the room extending to the corners and walls. Twist as you go and secure with masking tape or rubber cement, both of which are easily removed after the party is over. For an extra fancy effect, twist two different colors of crepe together.
Attach a couple of balloons over the crepe paper ends to cover any tape or glue. Hang crepe paper strips in doorways similar to the 60's beaded look. Alternate colors for more visual interest. Balloons and crepe paper alone are enough to give your party area a fun and festive atmosphere. TABLE DECORATIONS: Personalize your party table with some homemade embellishments.
Start with a tablecloth designed by the party child. Cut a length of butcher paper and let him or her decorate it with colorful markers, crayons, pictures cut from magazines, construction paper shapes let the imagination run wild! Then, sandwich your child's creation between a colored plastic tablecloth and a clear one, so it can be appreciated by all, yet protected from spills. Use one or more of your child's toys relating to the party theme as a centerpiece. For example, a large teddy bear for a teddy bear picnic party, a grouping of Barbies for a dolly party, a cowboy hat for a western party - you get the idea. You can even anchor a balloon bouquet to your unique centerpiece.
Curl several lengths of curling ribbon and lay on the table surrounding your centerpiece. Add a few sprinkles of party confetti it even comes in different themes to complete the effect. COSTUMES: You may not think of costumes as decorations, but they are! They just happen to be adorning people, not walls or tables! It's fun for the party hosts and party child to dress with the party theme, even if it's just a hat, funny glasses, or themed T-Shirt. This conveys a playful mood to get your party going in a festive spirit. If you plan your theme several months ahead, you can anticipate your needs and take advantage of sales and discounts to keep the cost of decorations down.
Keep a storage container of party decorations you see on close-out throughout the year. If you throw an annual party on Halloween, Valentine's Day or other holiday, shop the day after the holiday for deeply discounted items and save them in your party container for the following year's party. Follow these simple kids party decorating tips, and you'll reap the benefits with rave reviews from party guests and parents alike!.
Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - your resource for kids party ideas and complete party plans for many popular themes, including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food. If you have a web site related to kids, kids parties, or another related theme, you may reproduce this article on your site, provided it appears in its entirety, including this resource box and live clickable link to: Kids-Party-Paradise.com where great kids parties are "a piece of cake"!Copyright 2004 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reservedarticles@kids-party-paradise.comBirthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
If you're looking for alternatives to pricey goodie bags, here are a few ideas that will make your guests--and wallet--happy. Any Fun Party:Take Polaroid photos of each guest with the birthday child, and decorate cardboard picture frames, or make frames with popsicle sticks.Dance Party:Let the birthday child create a mix CD of favorite music. Burn copies for everybody (and play it at the party too!).Hawaiian Party:Decorate inexpensive plastic sunglasses with artificial flowers. String together more artificial flowers for one-of-a-kind leis. Royal Party:Decorate paper crowns and make scepters from wooden dowels and plastic jewels.Sleepover Party:Decorate plastic light-switch plates with stickers.
Allow your young guests to embellish white pillowcases with fabric paints for a take-home sleepy surprise.Spring or Garden Party:Paint flower pots and include a pack of flower seeds for children to grow at home.Survivor Party:Send the children on a scavenger hunt equipped with compasses...
Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
Party > Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
Sweet 16th Birthday Party Ideas
Sweet 16th Birthday Party IdeasIs there any party more delightful than sweet 16? If you're stuck for 16th birthday party ideas, then you need to sit back and start counting! It's easy enough if you remember that a sweet 16 party is all about that magic number. How many sweet sixteen balloons do you buy? Sixteen, of course!Turning 16 can be the perfect time for an all-girls party or for a co-ed gathering. No matter what you choose to do, talk with your sweet 16 birthday girl first for her ideas. She might be hoping for a good old fashioned slumber party or something a bit more elegant that announces she is approaching adulthood.Sweet Party IdeasIdeas for an informal 16th party can take advantage of the classic teen foods like pizza, ice cream sundaes, sub sandwiches, nachos, and lots of soda. When thinking about a more "sweet" party, consider sixteen delicate and tiny birthday cakes surrounding one floral arrangement.
Another idea is to keep the guest list to sixteen friends.Need...
Sweet 16th Birthday Party Ideas
Party > Sweet 16th Birthday Party Ideas
Ten Classis Kids Party Games With a Twist
The most exciting part of a kids party is the party games, and why not start with the classics? We've all played musical chairs, pin-the-tail, and limbo. But have you played them like this? Learn how to give each classic child party game idea its own unique twist to fit your party theme. BEAN BAG TOSS/FEED THE MONSTER Draw a monster face on a piece of poster board or heavy cardboard and cut a hole in the box where the his mouth would be, large enough for the bean bags to be thrown through easily. Lean the monster face against a chair and place it 6-8 feet away (depending upon the abilities of the guests). Everyone takes a turn tossing three items of "food" (use beanbags, cloth balls, rolled socks, or other small objects such as squeak toys for dogs) into the character's mouth.
After each child's turn, retrieve the "food" and hand it to the next child. Every time a child successfully "feeds" the monster, he gets a small prize such as a sticker or wrapped candy. Twist: Use a character...
Ten Classis Kids Party Games With a Twist
Party > Ten Classis Kids Party Games With a Twist
Mr. Grown-Up Goes to a Party (Drinks a Little Too Much and Gets a Hangover
This quirky and amusing ebooklet centers around the activities of little people living in our heads. Mr Bob Hylton the author explains. ?Mr Grown-up is a series of small booklets about the ?carrying ons' in your head - or as we prefer to call it: Head Office. They have been created as an amussing insight into what on earth makes one think such strange thoughts. Are they your own thoughts? Or are there little people running around your head causing these strange thoughts as in the Mr Grown-up ebooklet.' Mr Bob Hylton continues.
?The characteristics of these little people comes from what I see to be the main aspects of our functionality, and I've called them: Mr Brain, Ego, Mr Soul and Nev - who's full name is Nervous System and is in charge of the BODY. A short introduction to each of the characters is on the website.' ?They live and work in the Head Office, and the first story concerns their trip to a party and the amusing effect of a drink or two.' Added Mr Bob Hylton.The ebooklet...
Mr. Grown-Up Goes to a Party (Drinks a Little Too Much and Gets a Hangover
Party > Mr. Grown-Up Goes to a Party (Drinks a Little Too Much and Gets a Hangover
Planning wine for your party.
Planning a Party with Wine.
Entertaining can be a stressful event, but one way to ensure a good for everyone including yourself is to plan ahead.
By taking care of as many details in advance, you will have time to enjoy your company and take care of the few unexpected things that arise.
One area that is especially easy to plan in advance is buying and serving wine.
What to buy.
What types and varieties of wine you purchase and offer will depend on what type of event you are hosting.
If you are having a stand-up party with mostly appetizers and finger foods then you will want to offer both red and white wines.
For white wine consider having two options, first a good Chardonnay with ample oak tones that stand up to the many different foods that will be offered.
A second good white wine choice is a lighter and drier Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
For red wines, avoid anything...
Party > Planning wine for your party.