Theme Party Ideas - DIYInspired.com
16th Apr2012

Tea Party Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

I have been contemplating what to do for my daughter’s 2nd birthday party.  For some reason I keep going back to a tea party theme.  I know she’s a little young, but I think it may work.  It’ll be a small and simple party anyway… we won’t go big until she turns five years old (at least that’s what I’m telling my husband).

I decided to get some inspiration from the World Wide Web and… man… there are some GREAT ideas out there… TONS of tea party inspiration right at your fingertips! I love it all!

Check out what I found.  The Better Homes and Gardens Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter party is tremendous!  One of my favorites is using colorful vintage tins as flower vases.  I found a ton of cool ideas from party favors to decorations, and centerpieces to finger food ideas.  I also dug up some of my past ideas that I thought would go nicely.  I added links at the bottom for tutorials and for sources for your reference.  I hope it helps.

If you have more ideas, please comment! I’d love to read them.  I need all the tea party inspiration I can get.

Tea Cup Candles

Mad Hatter Tea Party

Stacked Tea Cups

Pink and Purple Dessert Table

Fabric Flag Banner

Tea Party Dress Up

Accordion Flowers

Tea Cup Dessert Display

Mini Cupcakes in Tea Cups

Party Pinwheel How To

Paper Dahlia Favors

Tea Party Favors

Tea Pot Flowers

BHG Mad Hatter Party

 

Did anything on this inspiration board actually inspire you? Please fee free to leave a comment! :)

**Don’t forget to enter to win a $50 gift certificate to iStencils.com! The giveaway ends soon!

** Thanks to Amy from Pound For Pennies for featuring an article I wrote today for her Green Theme!  Check it out and peruse her site for some awesome coupon deals!

 

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4 Comm
12th Apr2012

Hello Kitty Themed Party

by Dinah Wulf

Most every little girl I know, including mine loves Hello Kitty. I have to admit that I was obsessed when I was little, and honestly I still am! I think the first stuffed animal I bought my daughter before she was born was a Hello Kitty doll.

From the cute bow in her hair, to all her cute little friends there’s nothing more girlie than a Hello Kitty Themed Party. This party was beautifully crafted and orchestrated by my friend, Maily Cano for her niece’s birthday. I don’t doubt that she lives by the “go big or go home” motto!

One of Maily’s hobbies and many talents include floral arrangement. With fresh flowers from LA’s floral district, she made these beautiful pink and white centerpieces for the food table.

The dance floor was surrounded by pink drapes and tinsel, and decorated with Hello Kitty images cleverly and inexpensively made out of felt.

Maily crafted large Hello Kitty heads out of felt and Styrofoam balls. Scattered around the room on the floor and tables, this is simple budget friendly way of adding pizzazz and creativity to the party decor.

There were plenty of activities for both boys and girls including dancing, a Hello Kitty piñata, and cupcake decorating. The kids also decorated small individual cupcake boxes to take home.

There was a pin the bow on Hello Kitty game as well. This project was also made out of felt.

Maily created a dress up station and called it Lana’s Beauty Shop. It was complete with vanity, boas, crowns, temporary tattoos, bracelets, and Hello Kitty bow headbands.

There were two homemade Hello Kitty cakes and homemade cupcakes for dessert.

And of course favor bags for both the boys and girls to take home.

Beautiful party, Maily! Thank you for letting me share it!

All Hello Kitty Themed Party photos were taken by Brendan Cao Photography.

What did you think of this party? I would love to read your comments! :)

 

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16 Comm
12th Mar2012

St. Patrick’s Day DIY Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

My husband LOVES St. Patrick’s Day (even though he’s not Irish).  We thought we’d start an annual St. Patrick’s Day party at our house… starting NEXT year.  Since we just moved in, we thought it’d best to just start with getting some ideas first.

There were so many inspiring St. Patrick’s Day ideas that I decided to do a photo gallery.  It was impossible to narrow it down to a few pictures.  I explored my usual websites like BHG and Martha Stewart and also some of my favorite blogs as well as Pintrest.

So, at the end of this photo gallery is a list of links for the sources, some with tutorials, and some with free printables, to all this amazing St. Patrick’s Day DIY Inspiration.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas:

St. Patrick’s Day Decorations & Crafts:

St. Patrick’s Day Sweet Treats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shamrock Paper Centerpiece

 

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5 Comm
08th Mar2012

Candy Land Birthday Party Part Two

by Dinah Wulf

So, because I had so many great pictures to choose from, here is part two of yesterday’s Candy Land Party post.

You can’t have a Candy Land party without candy and sweets, of course!  Jenny left no sweet tooth unturned as she had…

Colorful gumdrop cupcakes…

A homemade Candy Land Birthday cake… this cake was decked out with lollipops, candy canes, ice cream cones, starbursts for the track, gumdrops, kisses, and marshmallows.

A chocolate fountain table… this table was filled with a ton of yummy chocolate dipped goodness including pretzels, strawberries, Rice Krispie Treats, graham crackers, marshmallows, and licorice.

And a candy table that doubled as a favor table…she made treat bags handy for each guest to fill with their favorite candies.

Here are some shots of the patio, covered in colorful tulle, giant balloon candies, and a cardboard castle top.

The yard itself was transformed into a game board with the track they spent hours hand painting. The kids had a blast pretending to play the life sized board game.

What’s crazy is that I left out pictures of the bounce house and the Peppermint table filled with fresh fruit and snacks. Jenny got creative and used peppermint Christmas ornaments to decorate Peppermint Forest.

Amazing job, Jenny! When’s the next one? Tee hee…

To see more of Jenny’s work, check the posts DIY Nursery Letters or Carnival or Circus Theme Party.

 

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9 Comm
07th Mar2012

Candy Land Birthday Party Part One

by Dinah Wulf

The famous Hasbro board game, Candy Land was first designed over 60 years ago, and yet it still seems to be a popular party theme. Today there are several different versions and spin offs of the game, with of course, an online version as well.

The theme is perfect for a party due to the famous Candy Land locations including Gum Drop Mountains, Lollipop Woods, and Peppermint Forest.

I wanted to share a real party thrown by one of my best friends, Jennifer Hostetler. Jenny is an extraordinary party planner and is one of the most detailed and creative people I know (Some of Jenny’s other projects include DIY Nursery Letters and a Carnival Theme Party). She transformed her back yard into a real life Candy Land board.  I have to edit so many pictures, that finally I decided to break it up into two different posts.

This first post will show the making of Candy Land, and tomorrow, I will post the fabulous results!

Candy Land has several characters including the Gingerbread People and Mr. Mint.  Here are a few of the characters Jenny created with cardboard and paint.  Her nephew surprised everyone and played the role of Mr. Mint!

One by one, her and her husband painted many signs for each of the lands…

Painted gumdrops…

Hand painted Styrofoam circles and attached sticks…

Blew up balloons and wrapped each one in cellophane and ties with ribbon to create oversized candies…

… And painted each winding space for the Candy Land game board track.

Wow! I’m tired just writing it! Come back tomorrow and see Jenny’s back yard Candy Land party transformation!

 

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8 Comm
01st Mar2012

Baseball Themed Baby Shower

by Dinah Wulf

Throwing a themed baby shower doesn’t have to break the bank.  My girlfriends and I hosted a small baseball themed baby shower for one of our best friends years ago and I came across some old pictures.  Here are a few quick and easy ideas.

Invitations:

Make DIY invitations that look like game tickets or scoreboards.  Here is a simple invitation tutorial that will fit any party theme.

Budget Party Decorations:

Borrow sports equipment like baseballs, bats, and gloves from friends or family to use as props, scatter them on tables, or use them as part of centerpieces.

Decorating with scrapbook paper is very inexpensive.  Print out each letter of the baby’s name and cut and paste it to a 12X12 piece of scrapbook paper to resemble blocks. Suspend the “blocks” with fishing line. Don’t forget to do both sides! Total cost of this preject? Less than $5 bucks!

Print out black and white photos of the Mommy and Daddy to be. Paste them on scrapbook paper and scatter them around the room and on tables. There’s no need to use photo paper.  Regular printer paper works just fine.

Party Favors:

Cracker Jacks and Peanuts make great party favors.  Tie them in a pretty bow and add a tag that says, “Coming to Home Plate!” Another option is candied or caramel apples.  Shopping at a club warehouse store for these bulk items will significantly cut down on costs.

Serve All-American Food:

Consider serving traditional All-American finger sized foods such as pigs in a blanket, sliders, and French fries in small paper cones or potato salad.  Fill cupcake liners for individual servings with peanuts, popcorn, or caramel popcorn. Use plastic colored baskets with paper liner as plates.  If the budget allows, rent a nacho warmer and have a nacho bar or rent a cotton candy machine.

More fun ideas:

Label areas around the venue:

  • Make a sign that says “Welcome to home plate!” or “Celebrating an All-Star Baby Shower!” by the front entrance.
  • Locker Rooms: Hang a sign above the gift table
  • Rest Rooms: Hang Women’s and Men’s restroom signs or symbols on the bathroom door
  • Bleachers: Hang a sign above a seating area
  • Concession Stand: Hang a concession stand sign above the dessert or food table

 

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4 Comm
02nd Jan2012

Wine Bottle Frames

by Dinah Wulf

I made these wine bottle frames out of recycled wine bottles for a wine tasting party.  It was also a bridal shower party, so I used them for a “who knows the bride best game”. I framed each question and placed the wine bottle frames all over the room so that the guests could mingle, talk, drink their wine, and play the game at the same time. Each guest wrote their answers next to the corresponding question number on their wine scoring card.

These wine bottle frames are very simple to make. The materials needed are, an empty wine bottle, a wooden frame, picture frame hangers, and string or ribbon.  I purchased the wooden frames from IKEA which were only $1.99 for a set of three…CHEAP!

The pictures speak for themselves, but all you need to do is to screw each picture frame eyelet into the wooden frame by hand in the desired area.  It takes a little pressure at first, but it should screw in fairly easily.  Use a ribbon or string to hang the frame onto the wine bottle.

Also consider, decorating the bottle with wallpaper remnants or scrapbook paper, or ribbon or you can also paint the inside of your frame with chalkboard paint.  I preferred to remove the wine label with warm soapy water.  There is something beautiful about a plain wine bottle.  Arrange your display with other wine bottles of different colors and sizes.

Another option is to frame a letter and place several bottles in a row to spell out the bride’s (guests or honor’s) new last name.  Use decorative paper as a boarder.  Make displays by using other recycled wine bottles and recycled wine crates.

 

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4 Comm
10th Nov2011

Budget Butterfly Birthday

by Dinah Wulf

Having a party and hosting a party doesn’t have to break the bank.  There are always alternatives to spending a lot of money on party decorations.

One of my best friends had a butterfly themed party for her daughter’s first birthday.  On a strict budget, we had to get creative. Here are some creative party ideas for a budget butterfly birthday theme (or any theme for that matter) for less than fifty dollars.

Rule Number One: Use your resources.

It always helps to have fellow mommies as best friends.  We borrowed these butterflies from some of our best friends who also has a young daughter.  These wire butterflies were decorations that were in her daughter’s bedroom.

We also borrowed these lanterns and butterflies from another friend who recently threw a pink and purple baby shower.

Rule Number Two: Raid the dollar bin and the dollar store!

It’s amazing what you can find for parties in the dollar bin at major retail and craft stores.  These purple butterflies were perfect and only a dollar and doubled as party favors for the little guests!

Rule Number Three: Get Crafty on the Cheap (my motto)!

I made this DIY party banner from ribbon and scrapbook paper already in my craft closet.  I printed the butterfly pictures from Google Images.

The hostess spent half the budget on colorful party napkins.  We made over 60 napkin tissue paper flowers and dispersed them throughout the backyard; super cheap for such whimsical decorations.

Rule Number Four: Repurpose and recycle your party supplies.

The hostess had her treasures showcased in her China hutch, however it distracted from the party theme.  We used an inexpensive plastic table cloth to cover the glass windows and created a pretty butterfly and banner display.

For the cupcake dessert display, we used cardboard cupcake towers from two previous parties and added a topper to fit the theme.

Click here for a DIY tutorial on making your own butterfly wings!

 

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4 Comm
08th Nov2011

Easy Monkey Banana Treats – Free Printable!

by Dinah Wulf

One of the best parts of blogging, at least for me, is developing relationships.  Thanks to the World Wide Web, I am introduced daily to creative people with my same interests from across the globe. Recently, I was introduced to Anneke van de Langkruis from Holland.  She sells items at her Etsy Shop, Villa Figura, such as prints and gift tags with her whimsical illustrations, perfect for a nursery.

The tutorial and free printable below  is courtesy of Anneke van de Langkruis!  Follow her on Facebook here.  Thank you, Anneke!

 

Easy Monkey Banana Treats by Anneke van de Langkruis

 

 

Preparing fun birthday treats for one or two year old’s can be a real challenge. Forget about hard candy, chocolate and chips. Too sweet and hard to chew with no teeth! Don’t bother coming up with original and complex ideas those little ones won’t even understand. Think simple and healthy!

Here’s a fun, fast and easy idea I designed for my son’s first birthday. Banana Monkeys! Their tail curls all the way around.

 

 

How to:

1. Print this simple design on craft paper or brown paper.

2. Cut around the monkey and cut out the tail into a spiral.

3. Curl the tail around a banana.

4. Fasten the little feet with a staple or small piece of tape.

 

Looking for a jungle-theme? Present the group of monkeys in a cane basket
and cut some green jungle leaves to affix to the basket.

- Enjoy!

 

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16 Comm
26th Oct2011

Halloween Party Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

This is the 7th annual Halloween party for some friends of ours (Aka, Anthony and Cleopatra) and I must say that they do have this Halloween thing down!  It may be a little late to share some of the party decorations and ideas for Halloween this year, but maybe it’ll give you some inspiration for next year!

Their home is located in the beautiful hills of La Habra Heights in Southern California.  We parked the car on a steep slope as close to the house as possible and walked towards the purple and orange lights to a large driveway and grand entrance. We had to stop to put on our headless zombie costumes once we reached a flat surface.  We were greeted by Daphne from Scooby Doo and walked through the arched doorway to find a Halloween mecca to say the least.

To my immediate left was a grand staircase littered with scary pictures and orange lights.  Just below a Halloween village complete with a skull carousel and countless pumpkins.  We turned into the living room where I met a witch, her pirate husband, and their two young goblins.  It looked amazing in there.  Above is a picture of the fireplace.

We went through the doors outside to the patio.  The city view was breath taking.  Take a look at the detail in these photos.  The hosts created a great balance and inter-mixed Halloween decorations with their existing décor like candle sticks, mirrors, and lanterns.  I love the use of fabrics and ornate furniture and rugs.  The theme was Harry Potter for the kids, which included a scavenger hunt, a cookie decorating station, and a spooky castle bounce house.

Dressed as a headless zombie complete with make-up, I failed to think of how frightening I must look to over fifty 3-9 year olds!  I had to make peace with the handful that came up to me with their parents to ensure that I was in fact a fake zombie. Several of them kept their distance but it felt good to get the thumbs up gory costume approval from the parents.

Here are a few more pictures of the inside include one of three food tables.  There was a lot of detail in the food as well including shortbread fingers, sutured ham and cream cheese celery sticks, and black cat deviled eggs.

We had a great time and stayed late (it was tough to leave the margarita machine)… but I can’t help but think about what I’m going to be for Halloween next year???

 

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2 Comm
20th Oct2011

Wine Tasting Party

by Dinah Wulf

I don’t know much about wine, but one of my best friends, and bride to be LOVES it.  Her mother, sister, and I decided to throw her a wine tasting bridal shower party. I have to say, it was one of the best showers I have been to.  Between the bridal shower games and the wine tasting itself we had such a great time that all the guests stayed for quite a while.  Here are a few easy DIY decorating ideas for a bridal shower wine tasting party theme.

Wine Tasting Score Cards

I made cards out of card stock and scrapbook paper that doubled as wine tasting score cards and an answer sheet to a “who knows the bride best” game. On the wine tasting score card I had instructions and a rating system for five different wines.  There were five categories including, appearance, aroma, body, taste, and finish. I supplied pencils with the letter “W” all over them, the initial for the bride’s new last name.

Wine Charms

I made personalized wine charms with each guest’s monogram.  For a complete tutorial on how to make wine charms click here.  Each guest took the glass and charm home as a party favor.

Wine Tasting

The wine tasting was so much fun.  I’ve never really done it before at a party.  I went to a local wine specialty store to help me choose the featured wines.  They were able to assist me and curtailed it to my budget.  I displayed the featured wines as part of a centerpiece as well as the wine tasting steps.

Bridal Shower Trivia Game

I wanted each guest to be able to mingle and meet one another, so I had a “who knows the bride best” game. Instead of the traditional ask and answer game, I displayed each question in a wine glass picture frame and placed them all around the room and outside on the patio.  It allowed each guest to walk around, talk, and look at the decorations. Some sample bridal shower trivia questions I used were:

  • What is the bride’s biggest pet peeve about the groom?
  • What is the bride’s most favorite feature of the groom?
  • What is the bride’s favorite sports team?
  • How many countries has the bride visited?
  • What is the bride’s favorite food?
  • Where did the bride and groom meet?
  • Where is the bride and groom going on their honeymoon?
  • Who asked whom out first?
  • Where was their first date?

If you are throwing a wine tasting party only, and not a bridal shower, consider using wine trivia questions instead.

Recycled Wine Bottle Centerpieces

Wine bottles come in so many sizes and colors and are so beautiful when they are grouped together.  I asked my friends to save their wine bottles and collected them to use as party decorations.  Click here to find out more on how to make wine bottle frames.

Hanging Tissue Paper Flowers

I made hanging tissue paper flowers out of cocktail napkins instead of tissue paper.  I decided to do this because it was cheaper than tissue paper, and the color scheme of the napkins fit the décor.  Click here for a full tutorial on how to make tissue paper flowers out of cocktail napkins.

Decorate Your Own Wine Glass

This party game was a hit!  I had a wine glass decorating station.  At the guest’s leisure, they were able to sit down and anonymously get creative.  The bride chose the winning glass. At the decorating station I had craft markers in all colors especially made for glass, gems in all sizes, shapes and colors, googly eyes, ribbon, and other embellishments. The winner received a prize and each guest took their glass home to remember the occasion.

Other Simple DIY Decorating Ideas

I framed the letters of the bride’s new last name, “Mrs. Walker”.

I used recycled wine corks to labeled the food by cutting a flat side and a slit on top with a sharp knife.

I made easy DIY cupcake decorations with the couples monogram.

I placed framed pictures of the happy couple everywhere.

I picked up recycled wine crates from a wine specialty shop to use in the décor.  Check your local wine shop.  They sell them for about $5.00 a piece, or give them away for free!

I used scrapbook paper, ribbon, and twine to embellish recycled wine bottles.

P.S. Today is the bride to be’s birthday! Happy birthday, Sara! I love you!! Thanks for always being an inspiration in my life!

 

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22 Comm
18th Oct2011

Haunted House

by Dinah Wulf

OK, So Martha has to be the Queen of Halloween Crafts.  I am in the running for Princess ;) I HAD to share my favorite Martha Stewart homemade Halloween ideas.  There were so many to sort through so I decided to go with the haunted house theme.

Here are some fun ideas for Halloween by Martha Stewart.  These DIY Halloween props are perfect for haunting your home!

Let’s start outside. Make your own tombstones Martha style. Spook up the yard by covering it with leaves and scattered lanterns and pumpkins.  Find some old gardening tools and prop them up.  Pile the leaves in a mound in front of each tombstone.

As your guests walk up your driveway, you can make the hairs on back of their necks stand with these eerie silhouettes. It’s a simple idea with a great impact.

While entering your front doors, infest your steps with these creepy invaders. Martha even has the templates ready to use on her website.

I love the look of these black curtains.  It reminds me of the haunted house at Disneyland. Don’t forget the cobwebs!

Speaking of cobwebs, this is an easy and inexpensive way to creep out your candles. Use plastic bugs and dead leaves for an added scary effect.

Last but definitely not least, check out her tutorial on making this spine-chilling coffin coffee table.

There you have it; some of my all-time most favorite Homemade Halloween ideas by Martha Stewart. If you’re feeling like a crafty hostess with the mostess, these will surely make your Halloween party a hit!

You May Also Like:

Halloween Costume Ideas:

DIY Halloween Decorations:

 

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2 Comm
07th Oct2011

How to Make Angel Wings

by Dinah Wulf

OK, I am admitting to the World Wide Web that I cheated. I committed DIY blasphemy… The pink butterfly wings pictured here, I didn’t make, I bought (sigh)… BUT they were free technically!!! That’s my excuse and I stand by it! Because of my mini extreme couponing and thriftiness, I got these wings absolutely free, so I couldn’t pass it up!

Being the DIY Diva that I am, that was really hard to admit because I think DIY costumes or homemade costumes are the way to go, but I felt better when I glammed them up a bit with glitter (of course, Martha Stewart glitter) to match my daughter’s dress for a butterfly themed birthday party for one of her besties.

I DO however, know how to make angel wings (or butterfly wings), so I thought I’d do a quick tutorial, especially since it’s so close to Halloween, my FAVORITE holiday.

Here is a quick tutorial for How to Make Angel Wings. You will need:

  • Four wire hangers
  • Wire cutters (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Two pairs of panty hose or tights (any color or pattern you wish)
  • Duct tape
  • Thick ribbon
  • Glue and embellishments such as gems, glitter, feathers (optional)

Note that if you want to make smaller wings, you can use a wire cutter to cut your hanger in half; you will only need two wire hangers for this project.  Each wing consists of four shaped hangers, two on each side.

Step one:

Straighten your hangers as best you can. If you are making small wings, cut the straightened hanger in half.

Step two:

Curve the wire to make a tear drop shape and twist the ends together. Repeat this step for all four pieces.

Step three:

Place the wires in the shape of wings (two on each side) and use duct tape to secure the center. At this point, the structure of your wings is shaped.

Step four:

Cut off one leg of the panty hose about twenty to thirty inches and pull over one of the four wire pieces.  If you are making small wings, use children’s tights. Tie the end over the taped wire closure in a knot. Repeat for all four pieces. An alternative option is to use four knee high socks.

Step five:

I find it easiest to shape or reshape your wings when the panty hose is already on, be careful not to tear a hole.

Step six:

Use thick decorative ribbon to wrap the center of your wings to cover the duct tape and wire.  Leave two long pieces of ribbon on both sides to create straps.

Step seven:

Ribbon can be tied in bows around your shoulders to attach.  Another option is to use two pieces of elastic. Consider embellishing your wings with artificial flowers, glitter, rhinestones, paint, or feathers.

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3 Comm
03rd Oct2011

No Cost Pirate Themed Party

by Dinah Wulf

Ever thought you could throw a no cost or VERY low cost pirate themed party?  Here is how I did it.

One of my best friends asked for some help with decorating for her 5 year old son’s pirate themed birthday party.  Try out these DIY Pirate props.  I gathered the skulls, bones, and netting from my Halloween decorations, some of her son’s toys, and old Mardi Gras beads. Also, another great friend, and fellow crafty mom Jennifer Hostetler, gathered some fabulous knick knacks from around her house and we came up with this. It cost us absolutely nothing.

We created a pirate’s treasure trove by displaying small vignettes around the house.  Each area had skulls and bones draped in plastic colorful beads, plastic gold coins, and red, black, and gold fabric.  Previously for Haloween one year, I had made poison bottles out of recycled wine bottles by creating my own XXX and skull images on scrapbook paper labels.

With Halloween right around the corner, this theme can also be used for an Adult party or for a Halloween party.  Items around the house to fit a Pirates of the Caribbean theme are globes, maps, candelabras, trunks, empty wine or liquor bottles, gold and silver trays and/or utensils, wine goblets, and mirrors. Gold and beaded costume jewelry intermixed with plastic beads add to it as well.  Don’t forget to look in your child’s toy chest.  In there I found rifles, plastic armor and plastic gold coins, snakes, and spiders.

There you have it! Homemade halloween ideas for a pirate themed party on the cheap! I am so excited that it’s October already.  I have some great Halloween projects to come!

 

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9 Comm
26th Sep2011

Boarding Pass Invitations

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Invitations add a personal and creative touch to any event.  These cute Boarding Pass invitations are perfect for a bachelorette party, birthday party, or destination wedding.

What I love about these, is that there are limitless fonts, colors, graphics, and free clip art that is available to fit any theme, destination, or travel plan.

I made these invites for a bachelorette party.  We are driving to Las Vegas; however a few personalized and altered touches made it work. For example, on the bottom I put “Full capacity.  Please one small carry on only.”  For the brides invite, I wrote “shotgun” as her seat number.

When designing these boarding pass invitations on your computer, consider adding the following information to make your boarding pass invitation look realistic.

  1. Name of the airline. I used “Lady Luck Airlines” because we are traveling to Las Vegas.
  2. The words “BOARDING PASS” in all caps and in a larger font.
  3. The passengers name is, of course, the invited guest.
  4. The date of the event, “boarding” time, flight number, gate number, and boarding “zone”.
  5. For the departure enter the place you are meeting.  For the arrival, enter the destination.
  6. I also added a perforated line to the right on the boarding pass and on the bottom of that section I wrote “Passenger Ticket and Baggage Claim” in a small font.
  7. Add a barcode.

I also added a free Las Vegas Sign clip art that I found on Google Images. I printed the invitations on cardstock and cut them out.

These actually didn’t cost me a dime because I already had the cardstock and black envelopes… super cute, easy, and free!

Check out my other DIY invitations with full tutorials including a Rocker themed VIP pass invite and a simple invite to fit any occasion!

Here are a few more pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

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4 Comm
19th Sep2011

Do It yourself Wine Charms

by Dinah Wulf

Did you know that September is California wine month? Me neither…

Since writing a DIY blog, I’m constantly looking for DIY projects both big and small.  One of my best friends is getting married and her family and I are hosting a wine tasting theme party for her for her bridal shower.  For the favors, I decided to give away the wine glass with a personalized wine charm with each guest’s initials.  Making custom-made do it yourself wine charms is an inexpensive way to personalize a wine tasting party.

These disposable do it yourself wine charms are very quick and easy to make. The materials needed are as follows:

  • Decorative paper and blank card stock
  • Craft punch in two sizes (I used a 1” diameter circle and a ½”
    diameter circle punch
  • Small hole punch
  • Decoupage medium
  • Paint brush
  • Wire earring hoops
  • Computer (optional)
  • Double sided tape (optional)

I have also made blank charms as well.  That way, your guests can write down or initial their own name.

Step One: Punch out desired amount of 1” circles.

Step Two: Punch out desired amount of ½” circles.  For this tutorial, I printed and punched guest initials for the front and a personalized message and date for the back.

Step Three: Use double sided tape or decoupage medium to adhere 1/2” Circles to 1” circles.  I find it easier and less messy to use double sided tape.

Step Four: Punch small hole in the top of each charm and fasten an earring hoop onto each charm.

Step Five: Use decoupage medium to seal each side.  Paint two coats on each side, allowing the glue to dry completely in between each coat (approximately 15 minutes).

Note: When applying the decoupage, the circle will curl, however after two coats are dried on both sides, the charm will flatten.

Tip: If you are making blank charms, skip step three. Then after you paint on your second coat, lay the ½” circle on top of the wet second coat and allow it to dry.

Click here to view the DIY tutorial for the matching invitations for this wine tasting party.

 

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Category : DIY Budget Party, Special Occasions
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7 Comm
31st Aug2011

Carnival Theme or Circus Theme Party

by Dinah Wulf

Carnival Theme or Circus Theme Party

One of my best friends, Jennifer Hostetler, ALWAYS comes up with amazing ideas for a theme party.  This year, for her daughter’s first birthday, she decided to do a Circus theme.  With a little do it yourself creativity and a lot of imagination, Jennifer hosted a fabulous party on a budget.  Carnival theme or circus theme parties are great party theme ideas.

DIY Centerpieces

If you read this blog, you KNOW what a HUGE fan I am of dollar bin decorating, especially for a kid’s theme party.  Jennifer found these great circus themed pieces for the centerpieces. She took it one step further and glued popcorn and peanuts to give them a more realistic look. I love the way she made them all different.

Plastic Popcorn Tubs for Movie Night! – 1 Jumbo Tub and 4 Individual Tubs

Carnival Giant Decorating Kit
Carnival Game Ideas

Jennifer came up with these easy and inexpensive party game ideas to fit the carnival theme.  To keep the little guests busy, some of her party games included, a ring toss, baseball toss, and balloon dart throw.  For the ring toss she secured each empty beer bottle with glue onto a square wooden board.  I give it two thumbs up just for the beer bottle recycle factor!  Jennifer also recycled baby snack containers for the baseball toss by removing the label, painting the can, and weighing them down with pebbles.  She simply stacked three cans on a bar stool.

Candy Dessert Table

Big Top Carnival Treat Boxes – 12 per unit
I’ve posted before that a candy dessert table has a trifecta factor.  It is beautiful to look at, gives the guests something to do, and is tasty to eat.  Check out Jennifer’s gorgeous and colorful candy dessert table. She used a round table, which looked beautiful and yummy from all sides.  She created height with wrapped boxes and color and pattern with ribbon.

Do It Yourself Decorating

One thing about Jennifer is her attention to detail.  Check out these other great do it yourself decorating ideas for a circus theme party.

Jennifer is definitely someone who inspires me.  I didn’t even post half of the amazing details of this party.  Look out for her upcoming budget party blog to see the rest!!! I’ll be the first to let you know when it launches!  Thank you Jen for the inspiration! Love you!

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Category : DIY Budget Party, Inspiring People, Kid Stuff, Sweets and Treats
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14 Comm
29th Aug2011

Baby Shower Dessert Table

by Dinah Wulf

Baby Shower Dessert Table

Dessert tables are becoming more common for baby showers, weddings, and birthday parties.  It’s a simple party idea that can spruce up your decorations and can also be affordable.  A set of various sized candy jars is a great investment for any Host or Hostess.  You can find inexpensive sets at discount stores, or buy unique pieces at thrift shops.  Hosting a party can be stressful and a dessert table adds triple duty as décor, food, and entertainment.

This particular dessert table is one I did for an Asian themed baby shower.  The guest of honor is having a baby boy, so I chose hues of blue and green.  To fit the party theme, I used an Asian style font for the labels, served almond cookies, wafers, and chocolate dipped fortune cookies. I also made blue and green Chinese take-out boxes stuffed with useful goodies for the baby and mommy to be.  Each box was embellished with ribbon, a charm, and wooden chopsticks. I printed a Chinese character on the front that stood for “family”, “baby boy”, “happiness”, etc.

To make the labels and “sweets” banner, I used coordinating scrapbook paper, cut slits on both sides, and inserted a matching ribbon. The candy I chose also coordinated with the theme and colors.  The candies included were chocolate, coconut, almond blue M&M’s, assorted blue and green lollipops, blue vanilla Tootsie Rolls, and blue cookies and cream Kisses.

To create height, I used boxes covered in wrapping paper and matted the top with black scrapbook paper cut to size. I used photo holders and frames for some of the labels and made sure to put out napkins, tongs and scoops for the guests to use.

 

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8 Comm
15th Aug2011

Candy Dipped Fortune Cookies

by Dinah Wulf

I made these blue and green candy dipped fortune cookies for my cousin’s baby shower.  I had never done this before and found it quite easy. Here is what I did.

Materials Needed:

  • Candy Melts
  • Fortune Cookies
  • Spatula
  • Double broiler or Saucepan and glass bowl
  • Water
  • Vegetable Oil (optional)
  • Wax Paper or Parchment Paper
  • Baking Sheet

I didn’t have a double broiler so I used a small saucepan, glass bowl, and strainer.  Add enough water to simmer over medium heat, but make sure the water does not touch the glass bowl. Another option is to melt the candy in the microwave.  Heat and stir the candy at thirty second intervals at half the power.

When the water is simmering, add the candy melts.  Make sure the water does not boil. Gradually and gently stir with a rubber spatula as the candy melts. If desired, add vegetable oil a teaspoon at a time to achieve the desired consistency.  Adding vegetable oil will thin out the candy, make it easier to dip, and will not alter the taste. Another option is to use chocolate squares.

Dip each cookie one by one and gently rest them on a wax paper covered baking sheet.  Allow the candy to set by placing the baking sheets in the refrigerator.

After the candy hardens, place each cookie in a 4” by 8” treat bag and tie with a ribbon.  I added a personalized tag using colored card stock, my computer, and a heart shaped punch. These candy dipped fortune cookies made perfect favors for each guest to enjoy immediately or take home for later.

 

Check out these Sweet Treats, perfect for any party:

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15 Comm
25th Jul2011

Poker Party Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

Poker Party Ideas

A poker party or casino night is a fun theme party idea.  Need some Poker Party Ideas? With a little creativity, decorating for a party like this does not have to be expensive. One of my best friends hosted a poker tournament party for her husband’s 30th birthday and I helped her out with a few simple and inexpensive do it yourself party decorations.

Here are a few easy and budget-friendly poker party or casino night decoration ideas.

  1. Playing Card Centerpiece
  2. Poker Chip Favor
  3. Simple Drink Umbrellas
  4. Party Banner

Playing Card Centerpiece

Materials Needed:

  • Recycled Food Containers
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Playing Cards
  • Ribbon

Begin by slightly bending each playing card.  Using hot glue, attach each card one by one in the desired pattern.  Embellish each can with coordinating ribbon.  I used them for pretzel rods and plastic utensils.

Poker Chip Favor

Materials Needed:

  • Poker Chips
  • Decoupage medium
  • Paint brush
  • Circle punch 1½ inch in diameter
  • Paper
  • 3” by 4” Transparent Archival Bags
  • Computer
  • Stapler

This project actually started by mistake.  My friend ordered personalized poker chips and they came in incorrect.  The company could not correct their mistake before the date of the party.

Using decoupage medium, paint on a 1½ inch paper circle with your custom design and let it dry completely.  One coat will suffice. Insert each chip into a transparent archival bag. Create a personalized tag on your computer and staple.

 

 

Simple Drink Umbrellas

These drink umbrellas are perfect for any party.  Simply cut the desired sized circle out of decorative paper.  I used circle shaped playing cards.  Using scissors cut one slit at the radius of the circle.  Fold over and attach with double sided tape.  Use a small dab of glue to attach a BBQ skewer.

Party Banners

This DIY craft is very simple and takes little time.  Just print out the message in any font and size you wish. Cut out the words and use double sided tape to adhere the words onto decorative scrapbook paper. Next, hot glue the words onto ribbon and hang. If you choose, add some pictures as shown.

Using the same instructions above, you can make this playing card banner.  I used it to embellish each cocktail table.


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14 Comm
13th Jul2011

Paul Frank Party Centerpieces

by Dinah Wulf

Paul Frank Party Centerpieces

I am having a Rock N Roll Paul Frank birthday party for my daughter because my husband loves music and I love Paul Frank, and well my daughter’s only turning one so she didn’t have much say. I knew it’d be a tough theme, so I had to get crafty and creative. I made these party centerpieces in purple, green, pink, and yellow. I went with colored plastic grass and paper flowers in “pots” because it is a summer birthday party.

Materials:

  • Square containers
  • Scrapbook paper
  • Wooden sticks from any craft store, or BBQ Skewers
  • Floral foam
  • Paul Frank stickers (optional)
  • Plastic Grass or colored candies
  • Hot Glue gun
  • Scissors
  • Craft punches (optional)

These are very simple to make, as the pictures speak for themselves.  Just cut out the desired shapes and glue or tape them to wooden skewers.  Insert them in decorative containers to make a decorative bouquet.

You can make these arrangements in any theme you choose.  Here are some tips.

  • Click here to find out how to make pinwheels
  • Use Google Images to look for your theme’s pictures to use in your arrangement
  • Use assorted craft punches or cut out flowers by hand
  • Click here to find out how to make paper flowers
  • Colored candies, like M&M’s can also be used to conceal the floral foam.
  • The dollar bins at major retailers like Target, always have cute containers in a variety of colors and patterns.
  • Use rocks or pebbles at the bottom of your arrangement to weigh it down if your party is outdoors.
  • Click here for ideas on making matching party favors.

You May Also Like:

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0 Comm
12th Jul2011

Creative Rocker Themed Party Invitation

by Dinah Wulf

Creative Rocker Themed Party Invitation

These do it yourself Rocker themed party invitations, using scrapbook paper, are SUPER easy to make.  I wanted them to look like VIP concert backstage passes, so I purchased lanyards to attach to each one.  You can purchase lanyards online for about $4.00 for a dozen.

The party details fit on the front and I made a medallion for the back encouraging “rocker attire”.  Each guest can wear them to the party as well if they choose.

Tip: Stuff temporary tattoos in the invitation envelope to get guests started on their Rock Star outfits.

 

Consider these other Rock Star themed ideas:

  • Make invitations that look like concert tickets or an ad looking for a new member of a band
  • Make a CD invitation and include the guest of honor’s favorite songs
  • Decorate with a VIP sign at the entrance of the party
  • Include a red carpet area with disposable cameras where the guests can be photographed by Paparazzi
  • Have a “Dressing Room” station with boa’s, sunglasses, hats, wigs, beads, ripped T-shirts, and face paint for guests to get creative
  • Include a “Hair and Makeup” station with glitter, mousse, mirrors, makeup, and colored hair spray
  • Have a “Tattoo Shop” with application instructions where guests can apply temporary tattoos of their choice
  • Set up a “Rehearsal Stage” and set up Guitar Hero
  • Give out favors like an autograph book or an inexpensive inflatable guitar

 

Need More DIY Party Ideas? Try:

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5 Comm
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