DIY: Elegant (and cheap) Party Decorations

Here is a list of my favorite decorations and materials to create an elegant party. These can be used for any birthday, reception, shower or event. Hey, you can even use them for a small dinner party! They are easy to make and inexpensive. Use your imagination and feel free to leave a comment below!




Colors:
Pick a color scheme and stick to it! My recommendation to get the most bang for your buck is to visit your local dollar store or local wholesale party store and see what is available. You can get really creative depending on what's in stock. For instance, below I needed pink tissue paper, but the only thing the dollar store had was white. So I used pink in other areas to create a light, girly effect! It was easier to find pink favor bags than pink tissue paper. Being flexible on a budget make such a difference in stretching a dollar!




Balloons create pops of color throughout the space. Whether you decide to string them without helium or have them floating in the middle of the room. Balloons can be elegant when the colors are monochromatic setting.


 


Tissue paper:
I love to use tissue paper to create flowers. I like to use pipe cleaners to secure the middle. They are easy to hang on Christmas trees, tie to the backs of chairs, or even create hooks. You can find a great tutorial http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to. Below, I tied three to the back of a chair and used tulle ribbon to attach. Then, balloons were tied in a cluster to the back of the chair. Every third chair had a single white tissue paper flower attached.

Crepe paper and tulle ribbon:

Create a tablescape. For this table, I took strips of crepe paper in pink and white and weaved a pattern onto the table. Then, a thin square piece of organza was laid on top of the weaved pattern.Miniature pink pacifiers were scattered across the table. Tulle ribbon was also tied in alternating pink and white bows to the back of every third chair. We also used the paper plates and napkins only on the dessert table. The dining tables used linens opposed to paper items. Miniature pacifiers were also added to the top of each strawberry cupcake.

Plastic Serving ware:

A cake and cupcake stands add dimension to any dessert table. This was one of those ideas I got from Pinterest. I saw this done using a candlestick and small plate as a cupcake tray on Pinterest. Well, we had 18 massive cupcakes. A candlestick wouldn't work in this scenario. So, the two tier cake took center of the table and then the cupcake stands were made using cement, two clear plastic bowls and two clear plastic serving plates. I found all of the items at the dollar store and the total cost was $5 for two cupcake stands.

Small Candles and Party Favors:

Double duty the packaging for the party favors as place settings and table decor. Pick a small item as the party favor, and then package prettily. The bags used below were found at Hobby Lobby. Here each guest received a small angel key chain placed inside pink polka dot bags. The bags were placed at the top of each placemat. For a more formal seating arrangement, you could add a tag that read each guests name. Disperse small glass candles throughout the dining tables for added ambiance.

Faux Flowers Centerpieces and White Linens:

This is another favorite trick of mine to create a formal centerpiece. By using floral foam balls, flowers and a candlestick you can create a mound of flowers. After glue the candlestick to a foam ball, you can hot glue on a low temperature each flower around the foam ball. I placed one on the center of each table and then a few on the dessert and food tables.

Display each centerpiece on white linen table cloths and white napkins. If you host your event at a restaurant, many have a rental event room and provide the linens for you. This can save you beau coup money when you are looking at an outdoor event.

Hope you enjoyed these tips!