Give your little party animals a barnyard bash

Start planning your farm party by sending out personalized farm invitations that have all of the party details printed for you. Or you can send out blank farm party invitations and fill in the details yourself.

Decorate your party area with fun balloons like a cow or pig mylar balloon, cow print balloons, or farm animal print balloons. Add a farm-themed piñata, such as pig, tractor or cow piñatas, to double as a decoration and an activity. And make the birthday child feel extra special by hanging a personalized farm banner in the party area.

Send your guests home with fun farm party favors like animal stickers, farm animal stampers, toy tractors, plush animal toys, and bandanas. Consider including personalized farm favors, like buttons, bag tags and bookmarks, printed with your guests’ names. Or to make things easy, give your guests these farm favor sets with everything already put together for you!

Check out Birthday in a Box for more farm party supplies.

It’s the latest thing to hit birthday party supplies….personalized party plates to match your birthday girl or birthday boy’s favorite party theme!  Choose from fourteen of the most popular kid’s birthday party themes and easily create custom birthday party plates, napkins, favor boxes and banners online!  It’s easy and you’ll be the super mom of the neighborhood!

Choose from one of the party themes below, then add matching birthday cups, tablecloths, party favors and all your favorite birthday party supplies!

Easy Tips to Save Money on Birthday Gifts

by Karen Gallagher
Owner, The Lollipop Book Club

Looking for affordable birthday gifts for children? Once your child reaches preschool age, the birthday party invitations start flowing, and you will find your wallet is quite a bit lighter.  Add a second or third child into the social circuit and you may need a calendar on your refrigerator just to manage trips to the toy store.  While some parents stick with a girl-only or boy-only theme, others extend a hearty birthday invite to every child in the classroom.  Either way, it can seem like there is a party every single weekend. And with that comes a hefty credit card bill attributed to birthday gifts.

When your child received the very first invitation, you probably spent some time looking for the most adorable, unique birthday gift.  You possibly had a budget in mind…and chances are you went a little over your mark.  Then throw in the cute gift bag, the matching tissue wrap, and the $3.99 card that took you several minutes to find (and a lot less time to find the trash can), and you have surely spent way too much on the birthday present.

To lighten the load on your wallet, keep these tips in mind before you buy the next round of birthday gifts for children:

•    Stock Up- Create a small stockpile of gifts that you can stow away.  Watch for sale items and grab the deals when you see them. This way you will always have a small supply of inexpensive birthday gifts for children to choose from when you don’t have time to get to the store.

•    Avoid Last-Minute Purchases- Do not stop at the store on your way to the party (we’ve all done it), because, in your haste, you will definitely spend too much money.  If you followed the previous tip, you’ll be able to choose a reasonable birthday gift from your storage cabinet.

•    Re-Gift- Please don’t think of this as a tacky tactic; rather, it’s a responsible way of recycling items your child does not need.  So, if your child receives a birthday present that is identical (or close enough) to one already in the toy box, it is completely appropriate to give this item as a gift to another child.  I am not suggesting that you pass along junk.  But if the packaging is still intact and the toy lives up to your standards, then pass it along to someone else who may enjoy it.

•    Resist Accessories- We have all done it.  We pick out a perfectly respectable toy for a birthday gift for a child. And then we decide that it just doesn’t look like enough. So we grab something else to go along with it.  The other thing may be a smaller item along the same theme. Or it may be a little knick knack to tie around the bow to make the package look cute.  Whatever it is, don’t do it.  It may make you feel a little better about your gift but its value is quickly lost on the birthday child. This kind of wasted money adds up quickly.

•    Gift Bags- Avoid buying your gift bags, tissue paper, and gift wrap at expensive card stores.  You can easily spend another five dollars just to wrap the birthday present.  Instead, you should visit a dollar store and build a small inventory of solid gift bags you can use for any gender and any occasion.  Also, always reuse the gift bags given to you, even if they are a little wrinkled.  Once you add the toy and tissue, they’ll hardly notice.

•    Birthday Cards- I cannot think of a bigger waste of money than birthday cards bought at a store, especially when they are attached to a birthday gift you are taking to a party.(It is different if you are mailing a card, especially if you take the time to write a special message in it.) Instead, you can save some money and give a more memorable card by making it yourself, with your child’s help. I am not talking about anything time-consuming or requiring artistic ability.  You can simply use a piece of construction paper, have your child add some stickers, and then sign it. I always keep a supply of brightly colored blank note cards that I use for every occasion.  It forces me to personalize the message. Plus I can usually buy 20 note cards for the price of 2 regular birthday cards.

•    Signature Gift- Come up with a signature birthday present that is flexible across ages and gender.  And then watch for when those items are on sale so that you always have a handy gift at home.  Art supplies are always a good one.  Crayons, markers, paints, paper, colored pencils…the list is endless.  Buy them up when they are on sale at the big box stores during the back-to-school shopping season.  Books also make great birthday presents.  Think about personalizing it with a special note inside so that the book stands out. Find your “signature gift” for every birthday present and save yourself the hassle of searching for yet another unique something-or-other.

By following these guidelines, you will greatly reduce the time and money you spend shopping for children’s birthday gifts.  You’ll welcome the next round of birthday parties and feel good about giving quality gifts without breaking the bank

Karen Gallagher
Owner, The Lollipop Book Club
“Give the Sweet Gift of Reading”
www.LollipopBookClub.com

Looking for a unique party favor?  Try one of these personalized lollipops!

Look at this great selection of Wizard of Oz props and standees that you can use to instantly set the mood and get the kids really excited as they walk up the door. There is a group standee of the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. At 6 feet tall it makes a dramatic statement and also works great as a photo prop to take pictures to create your own party invitation.

There are also Dorothy and Wicked Witch of the West standees to choose from - one is better than the next. After the party, these standees can find the perfect home in your child’s bedroom or playroom – so is money well spent.

You’ll want to take photos of party guests with the Wicked Witch Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. or Dorothy cardboard standups and if you are just a little bit creative, use your photos as part of your party favor or thank you note.

Create a yellow brick road right in your own home some yellow tablecloths and a black permanent marker draw your own bricks.  Set out the yellow brick road and have games and activities at stations where the children stop and play before continuing down the yellow brick road to the next activity.

All your  guests can participate in a ruby slipper scavenger hunt. Simply hide these Plastic Ruby slippers with candy necklaces inside and other favors and hide around the party area.  The kids will love finding them and it’s an easy and age appropriate activity for them.

If you are lucky enough to know an adult or high school student who likes to “ham it up” a bit using these authentic looking Tinman, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow masks can provide just the entertainment you need and you won’t have to spend a fortune on professional entertainment.

One of the most loved Disney Princesses, Snow White, will make all of your little princesses dreams come true.

Disney Princess Party Supplies>>

View all Princess Costumes>>

View more Disney Princess and Party Supplies at our very own party store, Celebrationz4U.makesparties.com

Create a Homemade Princess Costume on a Budget

You’ll be amazed at how little you can spend on a Princess Costume by simply using things you already have and adding some accessories!

First, check that dress-up box for dresses or skirts that your angel forgot she even had. If you can’t find something there, look in your own closet – even if your princess is tiny, you can turn one of your old fancy tops into a dress by simply adding a belt (a glittery one if you have it)!

Once you have your costume’s foundation, it’s time to add accessories! Of course, every princess must have a wand! Whether it’s something simple like the Princess Star Wand for only $1.99 or something a bit fancier that has magical lights and sounds for $4.99 ,your princess is sure to be thrilled. Or, even better, you can get a wand and a tiara for only $1.99 !! Would your princess rather a hat? No problem! Check out the Pink Princess Hat for only $6.99 !

Finish the costume off and kill two birds with one stone by making your diva safe for trick or treating with this fabulous light up jewelry set for only $6.99 ! As you can see, you don’t need a trunk full of gold to dress your princess properly; with just a little imagination you can create a perfect, one-of-a-kind costume that’s sure to be a hit!

If you’d rather buy your princess a costume, take a look at all our princess costumes for any size, any budget and any princess!

If you are planning a Halloween birthday or need a Halloween Princess costume,  be sure to visit our sister site, HalloweenKidz.com, for the latest Princess costumes and ideas!

Find more fun princess party supplies at our very own party site, Celebrationz4U.makesparties.com!

The Littlest Pet Shop Party Theme has a big selection of birthday party plates, napkins, favors, and decorations featuring these pint size pets. You’ll also love our Littlest Pet Shop party ideas!

Create an exciting birthday adventure with Diego party supplies. Diego and all of his friends are sure to be a great birthday party idea.
Happy Birthday! Feliz Cumpleanos!

View all of our Diego party supplies>>

Everybody loves getting invited to parties, but kids REALLY love getting invited to parties.  This year when planning a birthday bash, why not create your own birthday party invitations.

There are so many high-quality and beautiful papers to select from, both from arts and crafts stores like Michaels and A.C. Moore, to great online options. They really are not hard to make and you will be able to create some unique and individualized cards.

What to Write?

Of course you want to include all of the party particulars, like, What, When Why, Who and Where. Some great ideas are to include a home-made poem or some verses from a popular movie or favorite book. Make sure to include your telephone number for RSVPs and print out directions.

Accessorize It

Once you have your paper selected, text prepared, and invitation printed it’s easy to dress it up with some accessories. Here are some simply and easy ideas: 

Tie a pretty or colorful ribbon around the invitation .

Just add a pretty ribbon or a piece of raffia, tie a nice bow, and you can dress up any invitation.

Make a paper sash out of coordinating paper.

Print or buy an invitation and then cut a piece of 8 x 11 piece of paper in a coordinating pattern into a 2 inch piece (lengthwise). Fold both edges to meet in the middle, wrap around the card, and insert one end into another. It gives the card just the little extra touch it needs to really stand out. If desired, you can adhere a sticker in the middle of the sash for extra decoration and to keep the sash in place.

Make a pocket wrap

Use this template (link to template) to create a card with a matching envelope. Just cut the template out of a pretty, decorative piece of paper. The inside of the card will remain solid while the outside looks bright, bold, and beautiful.

Make a petal pocket card

Use this template (link to template) to create a card and envelope at the same time. Just cut the template out of a pretty, decorative piece of paper. Follow the directions and you can quickly have your own three dimensional card complete with its own envelope made out of any cardstock of your choice. Simple, easy, and makes a statement without even trying. 

Package it in a Box

box with ribbon

Fold the invitation up and put it in a small box instead of an envelope. Include a festive bow or ribbon to let your guests know how special you think they are and how much you are looking forward to their attendance at your party.

We want to make it nice and easy for you and are including some free, downloadable templates that will create an artist out of you, even if you’re missing the arts and crafts gene. Let the party begin. It’s easy with the right invitation. Use some of these beautiful papers for inspiration. Use the colorful patterned ones to create the paper sashes, pocket wraps and petal wraps. Then use a pretty solid color in a coordinating color to print the invitation.