You can also buy or get a birthday themed book from the library and have a storytime too. One fun activity would be buying some cheap socks and bobble eyes/colored cotton balls and such to make sock puppets. Those could always be the party gifts, instead of gift bags.

you can go to www.orientaltrading.com it has save valentines day and last christmas already for me! You can even buy in bulk for classes and things. Personalization is even free BONUS.

all good tips, but I have one to add. If the dollar store is too expensive for paper goods, don't use paper plates, use your regular ones.

Also, ask on freecycle or craigslist if anyone has any party stuff left over from a party. For instance, I had my son's 1st birthday party and just gave a whole package of invitations I did not use to goodwill. You would be surprised at the stuff people have in their house and don't want!

We don't spend a lot on birthday stuff here. We always use some streamers and just blow up some plain balloons. Put some tape on the balloons and stick them on doors and cabinets. We hang streamers from the light over our kitchen table. And we always use streamers to put the child's age on one of our doors (family tradition from hubby's family). So a roll of streamers and a few balloons do wonders here.

A friend of mine had a Jedi Training party for her son and it was so cool! She got it off a birthday idea website. They had all kinds of games that were Star Wars themed: pin the light sabre on the Jedi, use the force to bop a balloon with a "light sabre" (short stick) 10 times, etc. It was all so cute and didn't require purchases for the activities. For the craft/take home item, since it was just before Christmas, they decorated R2D2 ornaments out of craft foam and glitter glue. No other favors were necessary!

This year to save on throwing bday parties, I am combinding all the kids parties into one. My kids bdays are 1/24, 1/27, 3/18, 11/03/08. For the older kids bdays we are having one party on 3/21/08. Can you do that, just do one party?? We only do family parties and everyone comes over and I have a huge feed plus cake and ice cream. I know that doing one party will save me tons of money. Instead of getting cakes from the bakery, each boy gets to pick out something for me to make. Here is what they have requested chocolate chip pan cookies, rice krispies and strawberry pie. I can make all of that for the cost of one cake from the bakery!!

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A treasure hunt with things that don't cost money. A leaf, string, rock, a quarter, a green piece of paper with an x on it, a button etc, then hide them in the house. Give each "team" a list of hints and the winning teams gets a cheap prize, like a candy bar.

Another game is dropping clothespins (or something similar) into a glass mason jar, or a cup. Whoever gets the most in wins. Have the kid stand on a stool or small ladder. It's fun for the adults too!

Have a line and pass life savers on toothpicks that are in people's mouths. NO hands allowed!

Sounds like the mama's here set you up with decorations and the works!!

I wanted to ask before giving you some gift ideas...can you sew or craft of any sort?

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Happily married to my geek
Proud homeschooling, cloth diaperin, attached parenting, slinging, simplier, breastfeedin, sewing mama mades, christian and funky mama to my precious daughters and a little BOY