Kids Birthday Party Ideas on a Budget

Here are some thoughts on keeping it simple:

1.  Choose a theme.  Centering your party around one idea makes it easy to plan everything else.  It is also an easy way to give your party a personal touch.  This year, we chose a Firetruck theme because Mr. Cheeks loves transportation.  Also, use a color scheme throughout your invitations, decor, and thank you notes to create a cohesive look for your party.  More ideas for decor are coming next!

2.  Use Printables.  There are numerous Etsy shops that offer customized printable designs for stationary and decor.  I used Anders Ruff Designs and loved the result.  Here are a few examples:

Square Graphic blown up to create yard sign

Here I printed the design on photo paper, trimmed it, and used it as a cute hang tag on the party favors:

Cute cupcakes were so easy with printables.  I simply printed a sheet of the circle design on cardstock, punched them out, and taped them to a lollypop stick.  Then, I arranged them on the cupcake tree and used as my centerpiece for the dining room table.

Cupcake Toppers

3.  Limit the guest list.  Mr. Cheeks is two and is often unaware that other children are in the same room – especially if there is a ball involved.  Until children are older, limiting the number of kids can make the afternoon calmer and cheaper!

4.  Cook all of the food ahead of time and buy in bulk.  We went with a Taco Bar for our dinner, in keeping with the “2-Alarm” Fire idea.  The food was served buffet style, so the party maintained a relaxed atmosphere.

Fire Truck and Helmet as a Centerpiece

6.  Have the party at your home.  Yes, I know, scraping red icing off the hardwoods after entertaining two-year olds and relatives all day can be a bit of a drag.  I have definitely enjoyed taking Mr. Cheeks to the newest “jumpy place”, but kids always enjoy playing with different toys and playing outside.  I didn’t have any specific activities planned (because of the age group) and the kids seemed to have fun!