Party Decorations

Your decorations can be simple or elaboratly adorned. Big or small, for adults or children. This is your choice, because it's your party. When you enjoy what you see, you make everyone else enjoy it as well.

Make your decorations festive, colorful and fun. Use your imagination and your party will look spectacular. There is such a great variety of party decorations, from store bought to homemade. Choose your party theme decorations and let the party begin.

To make your party planning easier, have a list of what party decorations and supplies you will need. What decorations do you have available? What decorations will you make at home? Can you borrow any decorations or supplies from family or friends? Are there any decorations you can rent at a local party store?

Your list will help minimize any doubts you may have when shopping on what supplies you need and help you stay within budget.

• Float balloons from your mailbox, lamppost, front door, even a tree.

• Make sure to have plenty of balloons indoors too.
• Order balloons from a florist or specialty shop or rent a helium tank from a party supply store.
• Mylar balloons are the most dramatic and stay up longer.
• Party balloons will stick to the ceiling if you rub them first against wool.

CENTERPIECES

An unusual centerpiece helps create a spectacular and party themed table. Personal touches make decorations look and feel festive.

Here are some ideas:

• Decorate a box appropriate for your party theme. Place it at the center of the table.

• Goldfish Bowl. Dazzle your guests with real fish swimming at the center of your table.

• Pumpkins or Indian corn for Fall Festival, Halloween, or Thanksgiving.

• Sprinkle confetti along the table top for added sparkle.

• Stuffed animals, dolls, animals, rockets, cars, trucks, or any favorite item pertaining to your party.

• Treasure chest for a pirate party. Fill with gold coins.

• Votive candles placed on a mirror can be used as a reflective base on which to set flowers surrounded by flickering candles.

• Wrap a small gift for each guest and tie a ribbon to it. Place all gifts on the guests’ plate.

Other

• Boot Centerpieces. • Eiffel Tower Candle Lamp. • Enchanted Castle Centerpieces. • Jazz Nights Candleholders. • Mini Palm Tree Centerpieces. • Movie Camera Centerpieces. • Music note centerpiece. • Nautical Lantern Centerpieces. • Popcorn Centerpieces: Cardboard box can be filled with popcorn. • Silver Stargate Centerpieces. • Standing Rose Centerpieces. • Straw Bale Centerpieces. • Vinyl Record Centerpieces. • Western Lantern Centerpieces.

While place cards are not essential, they provide a warm welcome for your guests and eliminate potential bickering.

Some simple ideas:

• Baby Photos or Photos of Guests in small frames.

• Balloons: fill with helium and tie with a string to the back of each chair. With a sharpee, write guests name.

• Card with flowers: Punch a hole on each side of a standard white place card and thread a flower horizontally through the holes.

• Chef's Hats for a Cooking Party.

• Construction Paper: Create personalized place cards in a shape that relates to your theme. For example: a cowboy hat for Western Theme, train or caboose for Railroad Theme, or a diaper for Baby Shower.

• Decorated cookies.

• Lollipops or candy sacks.

• Mexican sombreros for Fiesta Party.

• Personalized favors: Mugs, tea cup, stationary, boxes, etc.

• Pictures: Take a picture of each guest as they enter. Print and place the picture at her seat.

• Tiny baskets: Fill with candies and wrap a ribbon around each basket. Label with guest name.

• Victorian bonnets for a Tea Party.


CASINO NIGHT • Black jack confetti • Foam dice • On a wreath glue poker chips and die. Place on front door • Playing card Mylar balloon • Slot machine

LUAU: Your serving table will be the center point of your party. Decorate the table with raffia skirts, table top torches and hibiscus flowers. Use a giant clam shell for your punch bowl or serving bowl. Place Ti leaves under your serving dishes, centerpieces and place settings for a tropical flair. Hang leis from chairs and door knobs. Place white stringed lights along your tables, bushes or fence for an added sparkle.
OTHER DECORATIONS: • Aloha Sign. • Bamboo Limbo game and music. • Beachcomber hats. • Coconuts, coconut cups. • Hibiscus flowers. • Hula skirts. • Leis. • Palm trees, palm tree centerpieces. • Parrots. • Pineapples, pineapple cups, pineapple centerpieces. • Shells. • Starfish. • Sunglasses. • Surf boards. • Tiki bar. Tiki candles. • Tiki masks. • Tiki umbrellas. • Totempole stand in. • Votive Candles. • Volcano standee placed in background. • Waterfall. • Wrist and ankle leis.

ROCK AND ROLL • Drive in movie screen • Elvis standee • Inflatable musical instruments • Jukebox • Musical note balloons • Poodle skirts • Rock ‘n roll confetti • Rock and roll hanging swirls • Sock hop • Twist ‘n shout music and posters • Vinyl record wall

TEDDY BEAR • Tiny teddy bear place cards: Tie a thick ribbon around tiny teddy bears, write guests names on ribbon.

THE MOVIES • Awards night statuette • Decorative filmstrip • Director’s clapboard • Director’s megaphone • Entrance rope • Hollywood balloon arch • Hollywood boas • Hollywood VIP passes • Hollywood walk of fame stars • Movie camera • Paparazzi standees • Popcorn plastic containers • Red carpet • Star luminaries • Ticket booth

WESTERN • Paint a saloon sign on a large box or piece of wood.

• Make a tepee out of three long wooden sticks tied together at the top. Drape with crepe paper leaving pinned up flap for the entrance.

• Make a Hoedown barn entrance, farm animals or a saloon entrance from a large card board box. Red or blue checkered tablecloths and napkins also add a western flair. Purchase straw bales (hay stacks) and place around the party area.

• For your serving table, use glass boot mugs, a tin bucket filled with peanuts, and Wild West confetti sprinkled on your checkered tablecloth.
OTHER DECORATIONS: • Bandannas. • Barbed plastic wire garland. • Cactus. • Cornstalks. • Cowbells. • Cowboy cutouts. • Cowboy boot candles. • Cowboy hats. • Cowhide balloons. • Longhorn skulls. • Rope. • Wagon wheel. • Wanted posters. • Western cutouts, such as OK CORRAL, SALOON, etc. • Western hats. • Western vests. • Wild West covered wagon. • Wild West silhouettes.

AROMAS AND SCENTS

• If you have a fireplace and plan to use it during your party, tie together dried stems of lavender, rosemary, thyme and lemon verbena to form bundles. Add them to your winter fire to create a heart-warming aroma.

• Place scented candles around the sitting area to create a calming atmosphere.

• Mixed spice potpourri: Mix together the following ingredients in a large bowl: 2 cups dried lavender flowers, 2 cups dried rose petals, 1 cup lemon verbena leaves, 1 cup cornflower petals, 1 tbsp ground allspice, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp ground cloves. Add a few drops of essential oil. Place in paper bag, seal and shake. This can be stored for up to six weeks.