- The traditional paper chain can be used as garland that you can drape from light fixtures, and along windows and walls. It is a quick way to add noticeable decor to the room. To make one, the parenting website Mommy and Me suggests cutting strips of paper 1-inch-by-6-inches in length and forming a loop (which you can secure with a staple rather than glue to keep the mess at a minimum.) Build the chain from this first loop by inserting a second strip through the first loop before securing. Make the chain as long as you'd like and then hang on walls, doorways, windows and ceilings with removable tape.
- Make strips of paper dolls and personalize them with markers to resemble the guests that will be attending the party. Scatter them on tables and they will quickly become ice breakers for party goers as everyone tries to find their own likeness on one of the strips. If your paper doll chain skills are rusty, check out Proud Parenting (See resource section) for step by step instructions that will have you churning out newspaper dolls in no time.
- Fashion flowers from newspaper. Make stems by folding small sections of various lengths into rectangles approximately a quarter inch wide. Take long sections of newspaper trimmed to 1 inch in width and wrap them around the stems at one end securing the bottom to the stem and letting the top remain loose to create layers of flower petals. These newspaper flowers can be arranged in bouquets and tucked in various places to add to the party decor.
- Use the large font of the headlines to cut letters that you can use to spell out messages related to your party. For example, trim the letters to spell out "Happy Birthday Grandma" and then glue them to a page of newsprint against which they will stand out (such as black letters on a page of yellow and red advertising.) Hang these messages at entry points to remind everyone what you are celebrating.
- Trim bits of confetti out of newspaper and scatter the confetti in unexpected places to add a bit of whimsy to the celebration.
