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Beyond Birthday Invitations: Finding Birthday Party Accessories And Supplies
March 31st, 2009Birthday invitations are the key to getting guests excited about your party and any theme you might choose. Once you’ve sent out the invites, however, you need to gather the perfect party accessories to fulfill the promise of fun your birthday invitation delivered.
Why Birthday Party Decorations are Important
Whether you’re having your birthday party on a boat, at a park, in a restaurant, or at your home, it is essential to carry on the theme you’ve chosen with appropriate decorations. The birthday invitations set the mood; now it’s time for you to prepare to dress up the party venue and live up to everyone’s expectations. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to accomplish this feat, however. You just need your imagination and some good advice!
The most important element in finding perfect birthday party decorations is thinking outside of the proverbial box. Instead of simply choosing balloons and streamers, what other types of accessories could you include to make your birthday celebration truly shine?
For example, if you are planning a 1920s flapper’s party, you don’t have to be relegated to only black and white tablecloths. Think about incorporating feather plumes into centerpieces or giving out boas to the women to wear. Intertwine faux pearls with strands of Christmas lights to exude a glamorous aura. What about buying wholesale derby hats to pass out as party favors?
Where to Find Party Accessories and Supplies
Use your birthday invitation as a springboard to choose coordinating colors. For example, if you buy birthday invitations with a luau theme, you can use the cheerful magenta, lush greens, and turquoise colors as inspiration for buying brightly colored tablecloths, leis, tropical dishes, cups and napkins, as well as party favors.
You can also bring your birthday invitations directly into a party supplies store to pick accessories that are perfect for your theme. Extending the luau theme, you can look for grass skirts to attach to your tables, as well as faux banana leaves you can use as centerpieces. Why not buy a few tiki torches to really set the theme for your birthday party?
Of course, it’s easy to get carried away with party accessories because there are such a wide variety of choices. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make a note of the type of party you’re having, the number of guests, setting, and your budget. This way, if you are hosting a more formal party, for example, you won’t be swayed by colorful noise makers or more casual party supplies since they wouldn’t match the ambiance you initially desired.
Tips and Ideas for Preparing the Party Scene
When choosing the right birthday party supplies, keeping it simple will still create a festive atmosphere without the danger of going overboard. If there will be food at your party, a colorful tablecloth that picks up a color in your theme or incorporates your theme through pattern can really help set the mood. Props are another great way to highlight a theme. For example, if you are planning a Mexican fiesta party, you might decorate with bright colors, and to put everyone in the mood, you could hang a couple of sombreros on a focal wall and even set up a pi?ata.
As long as you stay true to one color scheme and keep your party accessories consistent with your birthday invitations, your guests are sure to enjoy a memorable party and leave you with lasting memories of a fantastic birthday party.
To plan a memorable birthday celebration, be inspired by the vast array of birthday invitations and choose birthday invitations that will set an exciting theme for your special day.
Express Your Birthday Invitations With Glitter
March 29th, 2009Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to send out plain, boring birthday invitations. Glitter spray will not only enhance your birthday invitations and lend your event some sparkle, but it’s a budget-friendly method for adding zest to otherwise lackluster invitations.
Where to Buy Glitter Spray
Your local craft supply or scrapbooking store should have a wide variety of glitter sprays for you to choose from. These typically cost $3 to $4 per can. Each spray can should give you enough glitter to cover most of your birthday invitations, depending on how large your party will be and how much surface area of the invitation you want to spray.
It’s a good idea to purchase extra invitations, which will give you ample practice to get just the right glittery look. In addition, it’s always wise to have extra birthday invitations on hand in case you forget to invite someone, and you can also create one just to keep for your scrapbook or to frame.
How to Enhance Your Birthday Invitations with Glitter Spray
Glitter can add a touch of elegance to any birthday invitation, or it can liven up a casual invitation by enhancing certain elements. Again, buying a few extra to practice on is a good idea because there are several ways to incorporate glitter spray. First, you can spray it all over, especially if you’re hosting an evening party outdoors and choose silver glitter spray, for example. The silver glitter in this case could mimic a starry night and indicate a formal atmosphere.
You might choose to spray a design or a border using cutout shapes that perhaps go with your theme. If you choose to spray into a shape, however, choose a simple shape like a balloon or even a champagne glass. Don’t be afraid to layer colors or even create a two-toned image, like a birthday gift with a striped glittery design.
Finally, you can choose to embellish certain elements already present on your invitations. For example, if your birthday party theme is a Mexican fiesta, and your invitations feature a colorful banner stretched across the top of the invitation and a border of maracas and sombreros, you might choose to spray glitter only on the banner and the border designs, so they stand out with a little shimmer.
Glitter Spray Tips and Ideas
It is a good idea to work in an open, well ventilated area and to cover nearby surfaces (and work surfaces) with newspaper for protection. You might consider wearing a mask as well, even if you work outside. Most glitter spray will advise you to hold the can 12 to 18 inches away from the target. If you want to apply extra coats, simply turn the invitation 90 degrees to avoid uneven coverage. Once you’re finished and have the look you want, let your invitations dry flat, preferably for several hours or even overnight, just to make sure the glitter spray sets. You don’t want to work hard personalizing your birthday invitations only to ruin some by handling too early.
Whether you choose gold, silver, or a colored glitter spray to enhance your otherwise dull birthday invitations, they are sure to make your party shine.
To plan a memorable birthday celebration, be inspired by the vast array of birthday invitations and choose birthday invitations that will set an exciting theme for your special day
Modern And Formal Or Casual Birthday Invitations For Kids
March 29th, 2009When you’re planning your child’s birthday party, along with choosing the logistics, you also need to choose a theme and corresponding invitations. Your birthday invitation choices will depend largely on whether you are planning a formal or casual birthday party.
Choosing Kids Birthday Invitations
Kids birthday invitations almost always incorporate an element of fun since the audience is children instead of adults. Even the most formal children’s party still needs to entertain and be fun for the guests. This can include games or an activity that everyone can enjoy.
The invitations you choose should reflect the overall tone of the party you’re planning. If your child wants a modern formal party, perhaps celebrating a 13th birthday, the invitations should reflect elegance. Of course, if it’s a backyard event with active games, you should send kids birthday invitations that reflect the casual atmosphere of the party. This will ensure the kids are prepared and dressed appropriately.
Modern and Formal Birthday Invitations
Milestone birthdays could be celebrated with a more formal tone. Girls might want to have a tea party, whereby you could host one in your home or invite a group of girls to a local teahouse for afternoon birthday tea. Your kids birthday invitations could feature delicate ivory or even pale pink paper with a teacup border or perhaps be shaped like a teacup. Don’t forget to match the envelopes to the invitations with a pastel foil liner.
Another modern yet formal birthday party might include a sit down dinner in a nice restaurant or a spring fling dance for budding teenagers. The invitations could sport an elegant silver border to denote a formal party, but use modern dark purple block lettering to offset the formal invitation and inject a modern, young color.
Casual Birthday Invitations
In general, kids birthday parties tend to be more casual, and finding invitations to suit your party and theme shouldn’t be difficult. If you’re having a sports theme, you might choose invitations with a border of various sports balls and even ask guests to bring the ball for their favorite sport. This tells guests that the party will be casual and active, and kids can dress appropriately.
Another outdoor hit with kids would be a pool party. Your birthday invitations could feature a giant swimming pool with a slide or diving board and let guests know to bring towels and bathing suits for the party. If you have a budding race car driver, you might take a group of kids go-kart racing for the afternoon, and then cool off with some ice cream cake and soda.
If your child is young and has a favorite cartoon character, you might incorporate that character into your theme. For example, you might host a general Disney party where each child comes dressed like their favorite Disney character, or you could specify a particular movie or TV show as your theme. Your invites could then feature one or several characters fitting your theme and the fun nature of the birthday invitation will denote a casual affair.
Whether you choose a formal or casual celebration, as long as your birthday invitations match the atmosphere and tone of the party, it’s sure to be a success.
If you are planning a fun surprise birthday party, be inspired by the vast array of available birthday invitations and choose unique kids birthday invitations.
Surprise Birthday Party Ideas For Kids
March 29th, 2009A person is never too young to enjoy a surprise birthday party, kids included. If you’re considering giving your child a surprise party this year, read on for some great ideas that will not only surprise him, but give him lasting memories of a great birthday.
How to Plan a Kids Surprise Birthday Party
Kids often have a difficult time keeping a surprise party under wraps, so you might consider, depending on the ages of the kids, simply mailing the birthday invitations to the parents and informing them to keep the party a secret until the date gets closer. This way, the kids are less likely to accidentally spoil the surprise for the guest of honor.
You don’t have to go overboard and blow your budget with an elaborate surprise party, but you should have a theme and some activities lined up that are age appropriate and will entertain your guests for the duration of the party.
Movie Extravaganza
Kids love entertainment, and you could throw a surprise movie celebration. Send out birthday invitations with movie reels on them, but clearly indicate that you are throwing a surprise party.
You could tell your child that you are going to the movies to celebrate his birthday, and then surprise him with a group of his friends gathered outside the theater to join him. Afterwards, everyone could go out for pizza and talk about the movie.
You could also bring a movie party home by renting several movies in one genre, like action movies or romantic comedies, for example. Then, invite a group of friends over to surprise the birthday girl, enjoy some dinner, cake, snacks and soda while they watch movies. You might even organize a surprise sleepover and arrange for guests to spend the night.
Ice Cream
Another budget-friendly surprise party option would be to host an ice cream social. You could easily host this type of party in your home, and through the birthday invitation, even ask guests to bring their favorite ice cream sundae topping to share. An hour or two before the party, get the guest of honor out of the house so you can set up for the party – you might even send your child to a friend’s house (who’s in on the surprise) until it’s time for the party.
Bowling Party
Kids have a lot of energy, and what better way to expel that energy than by going bowling? Send out surprise birthday party invitations featuring bowling pins and balls, and let everyone know to bring their bowling shoes, if they have them. If you will be paying for the rental of bowling shoes, indicate this on the birthday invitation as well.
You could simply tell your child that the family is celebrating with a quiet afternoon of bowling, but have a group of your child’s friends gather at the bowling alley to surprise her once she arrives. You could have your spouse or friend get to the bowling alley early to make sure everyone arrives and gets into position to jump out once you arrive. You might even decorate the birthday lanes with balloons, streamers, and a happy birthday banner.
Pool Party
If your child’s birthday falls in the summer, you might consider a pool party at your neighborhood pool. Of course, if your child’s birthday occurs during a colder month, you could find an indoor pool, perhaps at your community center, that would host a winter pool party. You could organize games like Marco Polo or water volleyball for the kids until it’s time to get out and enjoy some birthday cake. Make sure you send out birthday invitations that show the swimming theme so that all children arrive with their swimming trunks and towels.
Whatever type of surprise party you plan, it’s sure to be a success and ensure your child’s birthday is unforgettable.
If you are planning a fun surprise birthday party, be inspired by the vast array of available birthday invitations and choose unique kids birthday invitations.