At the end of every month, I go through our family spending and “consolidate” our spending and our budget. I used to always hate doing the May and June consolidations, because that’s when my girls birthdays are, and I would always go way over budget buying things for them. So, this year, I came up with a new plan of attack.
All images belong to The Simply Crafted Life, with the exception of the straws (Make Something Happy) and the tissue poms (Design Dazzle) |
First of all, I started stocking up on certain items that I knew I would use. This spread the cost out over the year and easily fit it into our budget. I kind of think of my party supply stock like a pantry. I buy things when they go on sale and try to keep a steady stock of certain items. (Picking your theme and color scheme as early as possible helps too. I try for 2-3 months prior to the party to give me lots of time to fully develop my vision.) What kind of consumable things should you keep on hand? For instance…
1. Streamers. You can buy these 2/$1 at the Dollarstore, and even at our small fancy party store here in town, they are only $1.50 a roll. I try to stock a roll in each color so that I can go to my supply when its party time. They can be used as a backdrop or decorations, and they can be straight, twisted, dip-dyed, fringed, or ruffled. That’s a pretty versatile supply for a buck!
Column 1: BHG / My Hands Made It / Dandee Designs / Dana Made It Column 2: Glorious Treats / Design Dazzle / Fiskars Column 3: Annie’s Eats / Perfectly Imperfect / Martha Stewart |
Column 1: The Sweetest Occasion / BM’s Budget Party Favors / BM’s Monster Cookie Bar Column 2: eighteen25 / Wants & Wishes / BM’s Monster Cookie Bar Column 3: BM’s Paper Bag Favors / Fiskars |
3. Tissue paper. Again, super cheap at the dollar store. I find they usually only have solid colors, but WalMart has some cute patterned ones for about $2 a pack.
Clockwise from top left: Design Dazzle / Fiskars / Hip Hip Hooray / Sugar & Charm / Little Pumpkin Grace / Mary Janes & Galoshes |
4. Kraft paper. It’s brown and neutral and makes a great backdrop for banners, tissue poms, folded flowers, or any other decorative background. You could also use the white kraft paper but I love the brown.
Column 1: Baker’s Royale Column 2: decor8 / A Place For Us |
Column 1: A Bit of Sunshine / A Darling Day / Sew Many Ways / How About Orange Column 2: BM’s Paint Chip Garland / Capital B / My Hands Made It |
6. Straws. I bought a huge package of krazy straws, so whatever color I need, I almost be guaranteed to have. I also try to buy big mixed packages of striped paper straws, with different colors so that the leftovers might suit the next party. Don’t want to shell out the money for paper straws? You can make plain old straws fancy too with a tag or strip of washi tape.
Row 1: Make Something Happy / Preppy & Pink Row 2: Plucky Momo / Craft & Creativity |
7. Ribbon. Michaels often has the basic thin ribbon on sale 3/$1 and I honestly do have every color of this. It is so easy to use and a quick added decoration to finish things off. I also shop their special value ribbon bin a lot – it’s a pain to dig through, but there are often good finds hidden in there! The dollar store often sells cute ribbon too in a variety of sizes.
8. Cardstock. Keep lots of solid colors on hand, and any patterns that you find on sale. Michaels often has open stock sheets on 4/$1, so stock up! Those suckers are expensive to buy full price. I found the cheapest place for white cardstock was WalMart, its about $6 for 100 sheets. And I always buy my colored pads at Michaels with 40% off coupons.
9. Paint. Small bottles of acrylic paint are always on sale at Michaels for 2/$1, or you can shell out $1 for them at the Dollar store. I also keep a can of each general color in spray paint – so I have one red, one orange, etc… It would be too costly and too space consuming to collect them all, so I find one in each color area works for now. (If I need to, I run out and buy one more can closer to the party date.)
If you keep those very inexpensive things on hand, you have the basics to a great party already. There are a few things you should invest in, however, and they will last you for eternity… hopefully. Some examples of things I put the money down for?
1. Cake stand. A good cake stand, usually in a neutral color like white, will last for years and years. Mine has a beaded pearl edge (very similar to the PB one above), and I am dying to find one that you lace ribbon through! I just find it’s a classy touch, and you can use it for so many things. I also have a three tiered glass stand that is super handy, since the three tiers separate to make individual stands as well. You can easily make your own cake stand – do a pinterest search and you will find tons of tutorials – but I love the elegance of a “real” one.
Top: Layla Grace / Amazon Bottom: Pottery Barn |
2. Frames. I have a selection of frames that I repeatedly use for parties. For starters, there is the frame that I swear appears at 90% of the parties out there – the Ikea Tolsby frame. At 99 cents a piece, I think I bought 10. They are double sided and hold two pictures (or menu cards or activity station signs, etc). You could also use the frameless plastic stand up frames that you find at the Dollar Store. Lastly, I like to keep one pretty, more ornate frame that I use as a sign on the table. Mine started ugly plastic thrift store gold, but I spray painted it pink… and then red… and then orange… and you get the idea.
Column 1: BM’s Lovebird’s Party / BM’s Ballerina Birthday Column 2: BM’s Silly Summer Photo Booth / BM’s Monster Bash/ BM’s Lovebirds Party |
4. Beverage Dispenser. I finally invested in one of these things this year, and I love it! I managed to score a big glass one over at Liquidation World (Big Lots) for $14! I wish I bought two. They are so simple but so elegant, they add a perfect touch to the table.
Left: Amy Atlas / Right: Kara’s Party Ideas |
5. Mason jars. I buy mine at a local thrift store where I pay 4/$1.00 for the small ones and 4/$1.69 for the big ones. These beauties can serve so many purposes, so make sure you grab them whenever you see them!
Column 1: BM’s Boo’s Monster Party Column 2: Elizabeth Anne Designs / BM’s Lovebirds Party |
6. A White Sheet. This wasn’t really an investment for me, as I don’t use a flat sheet but they always come packaged together. I put my flat one aside and I always use it for a table cloth. It fits perfectly and that way I don’t have to worry about fancy linens. If you see sheets on clearance, its a great thing to snag them up for, and you can use the lower thread count ones perfectly!
Silhouette America |
7. A Silhouette Cameo. Okay, so this one is a stretch, but it makes life so much easier. I received mine as a Christmas gift, and I use it to cut out letters and pendants for banners, cupcake wrapper shapes, and many, many more things.
Our Pinteresting Family says
These are all fantastic tips! The paint chip ideas are amazing ones! Thanks so much for sharing this. Megan
Carrie @ My Favorite Finds says
What a great idea!
fromoverwhelmedtoorganized says
These are amazing ideas! I have a small bin with party supplies but nothing like your pantry 🙂 Thanks for all the great tips.
Hilda
Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. says
I am so glad you posted this! I have the same problem around Reed’s birthday (which is right before Christmas). Now I can slowly stock up on supplies and add them to my craft closet! Thanks friend!! =)
Claire @ a little something in the meantime . . . says
What a fantastic tip list. Now I want to throw a party!
Karri Reiser says
Great post. I love all your tips. Pinning so I can have it on hand.
CAS says
These are all such great ideas and really ones, too!
[email protected] says
Sarah! I love this post! I am in the middle of party planning for my son’s 5th birthday and these are all great ideas of what I need and where to get each and every little thing or detail.
Just became your newest follower :)Hopping over from Blissful & Domestic’s Blog Hop 🙂
[email protected]&Fuzzy
http://www.warmfuzzypurpleandgold.blogspot.com
Alison @ mommadidit.blogspot.com says
What great idea! I love to throw my kids parties and these tips will definitely come in handy for years to come. Thanks for sharing!
Hubba says
Love all of these party ideas. I have that Pottery Barn cake stand and love it! I’m excited to be a new follower. I would love if you stopped by and followed me back at http://www.iheartpears.blogspot.com
Mama Jodi says
What a great collection of ideas. This is a really fun and inspiring post. Jodi @ http://www.meaningfulmama.com
Thrifty says
Awesome line up of ideas. love it
Angela says
You are obviously a lady after my own heart. I keep many of these items as year round staples and always buy cute partyware if I see a great bargain – if I don’t have a party coming up I can always invent a reason to throw one 🙂
Jenn Lifford says
Fabulous post and so many fun ideas!! I would definitely love to come to one of your parties!! Thanks so much for linking up at Clean and Scentsible. I’ll be featuring this on my Facebook page. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Jenn 🙂