Save some money this year; have a party but don’t break the bank.
Email the invitiations – you can design them yourself or use pre-designed ones available onseveral packages – do a search for “invitation templates” – this method is free and you can be sure the parents get to keep a copy.
Have a party at home instead of in an expensive venue - put a gazebo up in the garden and decorate it to provide a theme: Princesses like pink curtains (especially voille) and cushions to sit on – add a throne for the birthday girl – use a chair and tie a throw around it (Red, gold or purple) tied with ribbons. Use false tea lights to add mystery and serve juice in plastic goblets. Aliens/Spacemen like kitchen foil silver with wire ariels and tubes made to mimic spacecraft. Faries have tea surrounded by flowers – make large ones from crepe paper and stick them all around the house and garden! Pirates need a trunk and a treasure map – you can hide something for them to find in the garden too.
Forego the entertainer and run party games yourself — there are plenty of party games ideas on this website. If the idea of 20 bored kids really terrifies you then hiring games may be a cheaper option and kids won’t have played some of these old fashioned garden games before.
Make your own decorations – this might help keep the children busy while you get on with other tasks.
Get the children to make something as part of the party entertainment – this can become their present to take home – save a fortune on party bags! One idea is to make some plaster of paris objects to paint and decorate – you’ll only need to buy a couple of latex moulds and the plaster – though admittedly it needs some planning – you’ll need plenty of time in advance to make them.
Let all the children loose with some face paints – they can paint each other, their arms, legs or the dog… or perhaps not!!