Country Curious George party on a Tight Budget!

As you know I am right in the middle of renovations for Maddycakes party location but I am still doing weekend parties. I must be crazy!! The parties were scheduled long before I got the store so I must deliver. However, this party was not for a paying client. This party was won at a raffle over a year ago when the mommy was still pregnant. The raffle was supposed to be for a Maddycakes basic signature theme party but since it would be for a 1 yr old they requested a custom party. I agreed to provide a mini dessert table but ended up doing more. Since I am seriously penny pinching due to the store opening ~ I really had to be frugal. The most important thing to remember when doing any party on a budget...use what you already have! Look throughout your house, your family and neighbors houses to get things that can work with your theme and/or colors!

Got the cupcake toppers from Leslie of Bella Luce Originals. I used it on everything! I love printables ~ they make your life so easy! Leslie customized them for me and was quick and as sweet as can be! Thanks Leslie for these. Check out her Etsy shop here!!So you already know to just cover either a box or styrofoam with wrapping paper and coordinating ribbon, right....okay but can you guess where I got the Man in the Yellow Hat and Curious George from?? Well, I found Curious George fruit snacks at Big Lots and I just cut out the characters straight from the box!! Of course matching cake pops. (as a matter of fact~ I'm eating one right now yyuummmmmmm!!) Marshmallow pops are a staple at my kid's parties. They are so easy, candy coatings come in all colors or you can custom color white candy and I haven't found a kid yet who doesn't like them! Already had the lemon sours that are in the candy vases. Candy has a long shelf life so when you see it go on clearance...first check the expiration date then BUY it!!! Especially buy candy in solid colors that you frequently use. I got these banana flavor lollipops on clearance for 10 cents. (how perfect was the banana flavor for this theme, right??-mere luck I say) When having a kids party ~ simplicity is always the best! I love to prepackage food so that it makes things go smooth. A real simple but cute way of packaging the kiddos lunches is the good old fashioned paper lunch bag...if it ain't broke don't fix it! Just jazz it up with theme colored lunch bags, ribbon and tags. I got these cute wooden western motif pieces from Hobby Lobby on clearance for 5 cents each. I just painted them yellow and added initial letter stickers of the kiddos.

Inside each lunch bag~ a sandwich, bag of chips, cheese and cracker packs and Curious George fruit snacks. Another thing you cannot go wrong for the younger set are BUBBLES!! I have kids parties every weekend and even older kids who are trying to be cool when going to younger kids birthday parties end up blowing bubbles. Can't go wrong with an already packaged favor~cuts cost on packaging. Just try to find something that can work with your theme or colors. Personalize it with ribbon and a thank you. Easy Cheesy! I have gotten so much to show you with the DIY renovations going on at the store.I promise to share things this week. I have also found some amazing deals on Craigslist! I love Craigslist!! Do you?