Hello! My name is Allison and I’m the one woman show (though my hubz has been helping out a lot lately and deserves credit 🙂 ) behind a little Etsy shop called hoop~da~loop. You can find it at hoopdaloop.etsy.com. I specialize in unique shower and party decorations, especially the custom kind and today wanted to talk to you about some easy ways to decorate for a baby shower, birthday party or other such event on the cheap! I know that many of you are mommas-to-be, current mommas, or at least know a momma and because of that, attend lots of baby showers and birthday parties for little ones. With hoop~da~loop, I find that most of my customers are moms or friends of moms looking for party decorations that don’t cost an arm and a leg, but add a pop of whimsical fun and color and thus, I’ve done lots of research on some great ways to decorate.
A couple of tips for you on decorating for your next party:
1) Try as much DIY as possible! You may not think you are crafty, but find a good tutorial on the internet (and there are lots!) and you can make decorations for little of nothing really easily. Two of my favorite resources, pinterest.com (just search ideas for party decorations and you get about a million) and Oh Happy Day! (ohhappyday.com), a blog full of tons of ideas (some easy, some harder) that add tons of unique décor to your next event.
2) Look for “printables.” I am new to the “printables” world, but I am amazed at the number of free and extremely cute banners, invitations, cupcake toppers, favor boxes, etc that you can print off of the internet for free. Just buy some cardstock and grab your scissors (decorative edged scissors will make it easier to make a festive and fun border and can be found at your local craft store for $3 or less) and start printing. Printables are an easy internet search away or check out blogs like Oh Happy Day! (http://ohhappyday.com/
3) Less is more! I love parties that are simple and fun. I think it’s very false that you need to spend a big hunk of money to make a party special. Decorations don’t need to be a big fuss or costly to create a great atmosphere. To save, try using or reusing what you already own and then think about how you can make a few decorations go a long way! For example, use white tablecloths (that you probably already own), solid bold color napkins and paper plates, and grab a hole punch and some construction or scrapbook paper and punch other bold color confetti to sprinkle in the middle of the tables. So cute and so simple! You can even add some balloons or garland you can find in my shop if you want. Creating a white background allows your decorations to really pop.
4) If all of this DIY sounds a little too time consuming, check out etsy.com. There are lots of artists that are more than willing to create custom work for you, sometimes for no extra charge (like in hoopdaloop.etsy.com). Because almost everything is handmade, you can send us your invitations or inspiration pictures so we can create the perfect party, invitations and all!
5) Or even better! Win a party pack from hoopdaloop.etsy.com! Enter below for a chance to win 3 ten foot garlands and two packs of confetti in your custom colors! It’s a great excuse to throw a party or decorate your little one’s room even if you weren’t planning on it 🙂
Don’t forget to reuse your decorations if possible! Lots of my customers will buy garlands for a party and then hang them up in a baby’s nursery or kids room or even in the background of a photo shoot for their kiddos. All great ways to keep saving and create whimsical one-of-a-kind decorations and photos!
Edit: this giveaway is now closed.
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the party pack mentioned in tip #5!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
Disclosure: This giveaway is pure love from the sponsor and from yours truly. No products were received in exchange for this post. Allison is a former student of mine and she rocks my face off!
jen h. says
Pink and white, for my friend’s baby shower!
Lily Kwan says
I would choose pink and white.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I would love black and silver!
michelle tucker says
Greens and browns, nature like.
Michelle
paige jagan says
yellow, black and blue
Dawn Reid says
A rainbow of colors
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
trixx says
I’d pick hot pink, pink, white & light green for my daughter’s bedroom
Natasha Tucker says
I would pick rainbow colors!
Melanie Montgomery says
green and blue please.
Amber Porter says
The blues and the lime.
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
Ann Council says
I like the red, green and gold colors opf Christmas.
Diana Hatch says
I would love pink, yellow and lime green
Solducky says
red, blue, aqua and pink!
soluckyducky at gmail dot com
Storm, the Psychotic Housewife says
My daughter would like pink and purple.
amber says
Red and Grey
Claire says
Pink and purple!
Lisa L says
I would pick rainbow colors for my kids’ joint birthday party since rainbows are the theme
Debbie Dodson Haas says
Pink and purple!
Bonnigene says
I would love to have blue, purple and black for my garland….
Belinda Shaw says
Purple, Orange, Green, Gold, and Red
Joye Rast says
I like the Baby boy colors with blues, brown and green.
Kaye says
We’re doing a rainbow themed party, so I’d go with her circus colors – or anything that reflects a rainbow idea. =)
DAMIAN JARREAU says
purple and yellow
Jena says
I love the baby blue, deep red, light yellow and cream colored garland!
Sonja S says
I would enjoy either pinks, browns and greens for my daughters room or sage green, browns, and greyish blues for my son!
Amy Wels says
green and yellow
Brittany Boardley Renaldi says
I would love pink, purple and gray!
chrissyb says
Pink, purple and mint green for my baby shower!
Virginia Wright says
I would love to have a rainbow one! To go with a tye dye cake!
christine jessamine says
i love the christmas, red, green and gold!
amy deeter says
pink and purple
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com
jessica schueler says
Pink and green
Nancy says
I like the Circus Paper Garland!
jamie says
I would like blue, white, pink, and yellow 🙂
dani marie says
i would love yellow, bright blue, hot pink, and white i think.
ferriz says
i would love yellow, bright blue, white, and hot pink!
sindy murray says
teal, baby blue, navy, bright blue, citrus green!!
Kelly says
Pink & Lavendar.
Ger says
I would like Pink and Gray!
Gianna says
Pink & Purple.
Anonymous says
I like the one that is a “custom listing for Sarah” light blue. Blue. Light green. Perfect for Mg daughter ocean pool party
Thanks
Kristie D. says
I would like red and purple please. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
Miz Vickik says
I like green, blue and white — thanks!
Dagmara Hawkins says
I like pink , orange and grey garland
Nikki Muroski says
Anything pink (for my baby shower!) 🙂
Jen L. says
Orange and Blue!
Heather Garcia says
Orange, grey
Laura says
i would like pink and purple
Christy Johnson says
I would love the Pink Paper garland for my daughter’s first birthday!
Lara N. says
pink and purple
lara at twiceblessedlife dot com
B.J. Bernal says
I like the Halloween Garland (bjnalex(at)yahoo(dot)com)
Wendy says
I’d like a combo of blues and red for the 4th of July.
hiwendyhi at yahoo dot com
catherine says
hot pink, pink, orange, grey- Thanks for the chance.
Lindsey @ Wee Share says
LOVE the hot pink, orange, grey and light pink!
Kasi says
pastel pink, green, and yellow 🙂
Brenda Elsner says
I would like red and black!
Susan Chester says
Pink and black for my granddaughter’s sixth birthday.
Maria P says
I would like hot pink, pink, and purple <3
sevenmichele@gmail.com
Brittani says
Pink and red:)
kenia says
I would love pink and red=]
d moniz says
red white and blue a lua themed fourth of july
Pam says
Hot pink, purple and yellow!
Ang Alford says
pink green brown grey aqua ! belensmama at gmail dot ocm
SweetPanda says
I would love blue, grey and purple
Karen Gonyea says
Orange and Blue 🙂
Robyn Galloway says
Red, orange, blue, and brown!
Monique Rizzo says
Red and Black.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Kelly Falcone says
I would like purple and yellow : )
renee says
I would choose purple, pink, and white to go along with my daughter’s birthday theme this year.
Marlene V says
I really like the colours on the Custom Listing for Sara picture
Marlene V says
I found out that they have a 60 Day Risk Free Trial
Sunnie says
I like the vintage book paper or the Halloween party
Kris says
I like pink and brown
Maria Kiguthi says
I like red white & blue
Brandi Westmoreland says
I’d like pink and brown.
Tamara Sz says
I really like the colors in the Autumn Paper Garland. These are the colors in my daughter’s room. I also love the Circus garland!
renee walters says
I like the pink and gray! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Reneewalters3@yahoo.com
paige chandler says
I like hot pink and purple
brandy g. says
Love the Pink and grey
Shannon Baas says
blue and white.
Jessica E Ledford says
Red, black and white!
sarah says
I like the hot pink, pink, orange, grey
elven johnson says
I like the vintage printed paper ones or shades of blue!
Aspiring New Moms says
Love the blue!! So pretty 🙂
Rikki-Dee says
I would like purple and lime green. I am going to make one for my daughter’s bday next week.
Sapphiregyrl@hotmail.com