How to Throw a Disney Princess Party on a Budget

If you do not watch your expenses, the princess paper goods alone can cost nearly $100.

The Disney princesses have never been more popular. They are great role models for young girls and are beloved by children of all ages. As a result, many parents are spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on Disney princess theme parties for their 4- to 12-year-old girls. However, if you don't want to spend that kind of money but your little girl thinks she will die if Cinderella is not at the party, there are ways to throw an equally memorable princess party on a tight budget.

Things You'll Need

• Disney princess stickers
• Colored paper plates
• Colored napkins
• Paper tablecloth
• Wooden skewers
• Ribbons
• Poster board
• Disney princess cake decorations
• 5-by-10 sheet of newsprint
• Scotch tape
• Crayons or markers
• Body glitter
• Ice cream
• Colored sugar sprinkles
• Princess dress in the birthday girl's size
• 6 colored balloons
• 1 princess balloon with Disney princesses on it

Instructions

1. 

   Ask your child who her favorite princess is. You will use this princess to determine the color themes. Cinderella will be light blue and yellow. Aurora is pink and yellow. Snow white is blue, red and yellow. Ariel will be blue, purple and green. Belle will be yellow and white. Use these colors to pick out solid colored paper goods and balloons. All should be available at your local "dollar store" or discount center. Solid colors are much less expensive than exclusive designs. This princess will also guide your sticker selection at the same store and the purchase of a single princess dress, generally available in discount toy stores for about $20.

2. 

   Decorate the paper tablecloth with the Disney princess stickers. This will add to the theme of the party and make your tablecloth cost between $2 and $4 instead of $10 or more.

3. 

   Make your daughter the guest of honor. Instead of having an adult princess impersonator join the party, make your daughter the main event. She can wear her princess gown and be announced at the start of the party as her favorite princess.

4. 

   Dress up a plain cake, princess-style. A plain white sheet cake will magically become a Disney princess cake with the addition of cheap sugar princess decorations and lots of pink sugar sprinkles.

5. Serve princess ice cream. Regular ice cream becomes princess party ice cream when it is topped with pink sugar sprinkles that match the princess cake.

6. Seat your daughter on a throne. Tie the multicolored balloons to the back of a chair to make a princess throne for your daughter to sit in while she eats her princess cake and ice cream.

7. Glitter the guests and guest of honor. Use body glitter as "fairy dust" to decorate the guests' hair and faces when they arrive. Watch out for eyes, though.

8. Make magic wands. As the guests arrive, give each one a wooden skewer with a poster board star glued over the sharp end. Send them over to a table with ribbons, glitter and markers to decorate their own magic wand.

9. Design your own enchanted forest. Tape a large piece of newsprint to the wall. Sketch in trees, hills and a castle. Then direct guests to draw themselves or other characters in the woods and castle. This is a fun activity and makes a wonderful keepsake after the party is over.

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt, go pink. Every princess loves pink things that sparkle.