Easy Homemade Kid's Birthday Decorations

Kids birthday parties don't have to be elaborate or expensive to be fun. Just make a room colorful and bright with some fun decorations to create a festive atmosphere. There are lots of ways to make your own decorations with minimal supplies, and it won't take a huge bite out of your party budget.

Banner

Make a big banner out of a roll of paper found at most office supply and craft stores. Paint or draw "Happy Birthday" on it, along with the child's name. If you draw or paint well, make designs on it. If you're not confident in your drawing skills, look for pictures in magazines or coloring books. Another option is stickers or die cuts, found at scrapbooking stores. Cut them out and paste them to the banner.

Tablecloth

Use another roll of paper to create unique tablecloths for your party. Lay the paper on the table and cut it to size. Put some poster paint in a dish. Cut sponges into fun shapes, such as stars or hearts. You can also purchase sponges in fun shapes at craft stores. Look for letters and numbers so you can spell out the child's name and age. Press the sponge into the paint and stamp them onto the paper. Allow it to dry.

Centerpiece

Make a fun table centerpiece with candy. Get a cone-shaped piece of florist foam and set it in the center of a bowl of candy. Buy bags of lolly pops and cover the cone with them by pressing the tips of the sticks into the foam. Top it off by cutting out a number---the age of the child---gluing it to a stick, such as a chop stick or skewer, and sticking it in the top of the cone. This doubles as a source of party favors that the children can take as they leave.

Balloons

There are countless things you can do with balloons as decorations. Fill them with confetti and small treats before blowing them up with helium. Collect them into a balloon "bouquet" and place them in corners around the room. Cover the ceiling with balloons with strings tied to them so that the children can pull them down and play with them. Tape them around a doorway to frame it.

Poster

Make a keepsake poster for the birthday child to treasure. Get a large piece of poster board and tack it up on a bulletin board. Glue a picture of the birthday child in the center of the paper. Make a border with stick-on stars and use a marker to write the child's name and age. Then give your guests colorful pens or markers so they can write their own messages to the birthday child right on the poster board.

Resources

• Birthday party planning guide