Top cost cutting tips for parties

I have been blogging about parties for about two weeks now and I have decided that it is time to let you in on a little secret!!! Parties can be expensive but you can also save a few dollars by shopping around! The one thing I recently found on the internet is free printable party goodies!

One I particularly love is the ice cream parlour party printables found on Eat, Chic, Drink by Amy Moss. It may have something to do with how much I love ice cream and so want to host a party like this that I like this little freebie.

Amy gives step by step instructions how to make your ice cream parlour come to life as well as free printables to make your stylish kids party look professional!!

Another cool website with Easter just around the corner is Bird's Party Blog. It has lots of cool free Easter printables. Below is just one of the free party printables on Bird's party blog and there is lots of Easter ideas there as well.

When looking at party goods I also try and buy party goods that are reusable from party to party. For example little milk bottles are awesome! Just add what ever drink you are having just add a paper straw and you have a beautiful way to present drinks for any occasion.

 

Also cooking your own sweet treats.  Now I am not very clever in the baking department but a little recipe that can be used in a number of different ways is coconut balls (see photo above). One can of condensed milk,3 1/3 cups of icing sugar, 4 1/4 cups of coconut and mix well. Add what ever food colouring that suits your party and roll into balls.  You can also make these into pops. Just wait til they have set in the fridge and stick a cake pop stick in them seen in the photo below - a cheats way to get the pop look!

One of my other top tips is buying fabric to brighten up your party. Often it is cheaper then the plastic table covers and it is reusable just throw it in the washing machine and good as new.

 

Also fabric bunting is a fantastic way to brighten up any party and can be reused over and over.  Just make sure you get enough different shades and patterns to fit with different themes.

A lot of the decorations that you can buy now can be reused like paper tissue pompoms and paper lanterns.  If you are on a budget tissue pompoms (originally designed by Martha Stewart)  are really easy to make.

What you’ll need:

• Tissue Paper
• Piece of floral wire to tie the middle
• Ribbon to hang

Step One:
Martha recommends eight sheets of tissue paper to make her tissue pompom.  If you want fluffy smaller pompoms cut the sheets in half and stack

Step Two:
Accordian fold the tissue paper really tight one way and then back on top of itself. Keep folding until it looks like accordian.

Step Three:
While the paper is lying flat tie the wire around the centre of the paper and twist off. Tie a ribbon around the centre so that you have something to hang the tissue pompom.

Step Four:
Cut the ends of your strip into a rounded or pointed depending on the look you are after. A rounded edge gives a soft flower look. The pointed end give a sharp pompom.

Step Five:
Separate out the tissue folds by pulling gently so it opens out like a flower. DO it carefully so not to rip the tissue paper.
Pull half the sheets out towards the top and half the sheets out towards the bottom. Keep separating until all the sheets have been separated.

Step Seven:
Now you have a tissue flower!  You can manipulate the tissue pompom to be as fluffy as you want. 

Well I hope some of these tips help! If you have anymore cost saving ideas please comment below and share with others.  If the idea is a good one you may even receive a giveaway!

Felicity