Get ready for your next party with these Epic Birthday Party Ideas for Kids, Teens and Adults!
You’ll find everything you need for Creative Party Games, Decorations, Fun Party Food and Punch, and more!
Are you ready for the BEST Birthday Ever?
Here’s what you need to do…
Birthday Party Ideas
Related: Most Popular Party Ideas!
Fun Birthday Party Punch Recipes:
30 Party Punch Recipes {5 minutes prep}
Birthday Party Decor:
DIY Party Napkins
This trick is so easy, and SO cute!
Use rubber stamps and an ink pad to create customized napkins on solid paper napkins!
Corinne writes: “I’ve done this and also use embossing powder and heat to set them. It does not come off.”
Pretty DIY Flower Poms
Birthday Party Games:
Birthday Balloon Game with Hidden Dollar Bills
Fun Birthday Party Themes:
Girls Slumber Party Ideas
20 Winter Wonderland Party Ideas
25 Beach Party Ideas at Home
Easy Football Brownies
Star Wars Birthday Party Ideas:
Planning a Star Wars Party? Here are some fun ideas…
Heather writes: “Han-burgers, Hoth dogs, Vader Taters, Yoda Soda, Wookie Cookies, Obi Wan Kabobies, and Galaxy Far Far Away Trail Mix.”
Wendy writes: “Porg Chops, Obi Wan Kabobbies; Tie Fighter Fruit; Yoda Cucumbers, Han in Carbonite jello, and Bacta Tank Water to drink.”
Childs Birthday Party Ideas:
43 First Birthday Party Ideas on a Budget
46 Preschooler Birthday Party Ideas
Birthday Party Ideas 5 Year Olds and Older:
22 Boy Birthday Party Ideas at Home
44 Thrifty Birthday Party Ideas for Tween Girls
Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas {21 Amazing Party Tips}
FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY CAKES:
How To Make a Butterfly Cake
Frugal friend Heather made this adorable butterfly cake, and emailed over this photo to share the idea with all of you. Isn’t this the CUTEST cake ever?
How to Make a Butterfly Cake:
1: Bake 3 heart-shaped cakes {using a 9″ heart-shaped cake pan}
2: You’ll use two of the hearts for the top wings
3: Cut and trim the remaining heart cake to use as the lower wings
4: Place 4 frosted cupcakes in the center for the body.
5: The cute lil’ antennas are icing piped directly onto the cake board {which was just 2 layers of foam board covered with material}
6: Frost your wings with the colors of your choice, and you’re done! SO cute!!
Great job Heather ~ thanks so much for sharing your photo and this fun idea!!
Christina writes: “So adorable and easy. I’m thinking to use small swirled lollipops for the antennae.”
Peeps Sunflower Cake Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe
19 Crockpot Dessert Recipes
FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY CUPCAKES:
DIY 2-Tiered Party Tray
Red Velvet Apple Frosted Cupcakes Recipe
Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes Recipe
Peeps Cupcakes Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cupcakes
Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe with Cocoa Powder {5 Ingredients}
Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY COOKIES:
90 Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
{5 Ingredients or Less}
Best Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe
Reese’s Skillet Cookie Recipe
Oreo Pops Recipe
MORE FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY FOOD IDEAS:
How to Get Free Domino’s Pizza {Genius Deals + Ordering Hacks}
Not in the mood to cook? Use these Domino’s hacks to score free or cheap pizza instead!
12 Easy Crockpot Dips {Party Recipes}
5 Easy Salsa Recipes
18 Creative Ways to Serve Food at Parties
Party Fruit Kabobs Recipe
Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Sheet Pan S’mores Recipe
FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY FAVORS:
Wrapped Candy Bars = Thrifty Party Favors
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BIRTHDAY GIFTS:
I received the following question from frugal friend Madeline…
“My child is invited to a lot of birthday parties, and several are for twins. I would love some ideas on inexpensive gifts to give! Any ideas on ways to save??”
Dorothy writes: “I hit the gift packs during the after Christmas sales. You can get the bath baskets, girls’ glamor kits, etc sometimes up to 90% off”
Kim writes: “I have an old 3 drawer upright dresser in my home office that is my ‘gift center.’ The top drawer is the shallowest so it contains ribbons, tape, scissors, etc and cards. The second is gift bags and paper. (Which we reuse from gifts given to us.) The third, which is the deepest, keeps a small stockpile of generic kids items that I find all year. I have 3 kids and get invited to so many parties that we could never afford to go out a buy a specific gift for every one of them. After Christmas, during back to school sales, etc., I pick up really cheap things to add to my stash.
The things I tend to give most are art/craft supplies. I have had so many parents tell me that they prefer this stuff for their kids over cheap, plastic toys that just take up more room in their homes. For instance, during back to school sales, many places like Target will have crayons for 20 cents each.I will buy 50 boxes for $10. I also pick up drawing paper, journals, stickers, glitter, white glue, glue sticks, coloring books, etc at similar prices.
We also save our empty cardboard oatmeal containers and cover them with white paper. My children will decorate and customize the canister for the birthday child and we will fill it with art supplies, top with a big bow and homemade card and give this as a gift. Many people have commented that they appreciate the homemade touch.”
Becki writes: “When it’s time for back to school, I stock up on inexpensive crayons, markers, paper, etc – and give “art” themed birthday presents. Moms love it because they are always useful, and I usually spend less than $5 per present when it’s all said and done!”
Dina writes: “When I was a foster mom I would send gift certificates for a sleep over at my place with the kids as gifts.”
Jennifer writes: “Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep a supply of gifts on hand:
1. Target has awesome clearance sales. I check there weekly for their 75% & 90% off deals.
2. Once a month, my local Claire’s will have a 10 for $10 sale. If you have a Claire’s near you, check it out and ask when it is! I get a ton of lip gloss, earring sets, necklaces, purses, makeup kits, etc., that are normally priced $6 to $11 for only a buck each!
3. I also check out my local Consignment shops and thrift stores. I can usually score a new toy still in it’s original packaging for a fraction of the price I’d of bought it for anyplace else. For example, last Wednesday I got a Hello Kitty Diary set (new in it’s original package) for 75 cents, a Barbie of Swan Lake DVD (still in shrink wrap) for $1.50, and a new Tinkerbell Memory Stone craft kit for $2! I also got a bunch of new (with tags) Gymboree tops and bottoms for my daughter priced at 99 cents each! Then I had to hit 3 different stores, but I had fun with the hunt!! I also check out my local Flea Market often too!
Lastly, I always check out stores for clearance in stores I normally don’t shop in. Last month I scored some wooden car project kits at Lowes. They were originally $19.99 marked down to $3.50…..all because they were getting rid of them to replace those kits with bird house ones! Seasons are just as good as certain holidays to score good deals! Best of luck!”
Brandi writes: “I recently stocked up on little bubble bath, lip gloss, etc., gift sets at the deep after-Christmas clearance in Walmart. I have girls, so this should cover us for gifts for this year!”
Cindy writes: “I also have a Gift Cupboard that I keep stocked with gifts for all ages. I frequent clearence sections for toys especially. Boys seem to be easier than girls. Any action figure or hotwheels die cast cars are inespensive. I like it when there is a Theme to the party that usually represents what the child is interested in. It’s nice to give Hair Bows to girls they are good for anytime of year. They are fairly easy to make too.
Summer time is a good time to give FlipFlops, hair bows and Chapstick in a gift pack. Be careful to double check before you give any type even kids make-up or nail polish some parents do not want thier little one useing it. Gift certificates to the movies usually come in $10 increments and I make up a Movie gift pack with goodies for at the movies.
My kids always liked to get Gift Coupons to mcDonalds too. They felt so grown-up going in and making their own purchase. Think outside of the box most kids have way to many toys.”
Linda writes: “For younger kids I like to give bubble bath, wrap it in a water themed or rubber ducky paper and use a big puffy (pink for girls, blue for boys)as a bow.”
Thrifty Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List
Get ready to load up on creative gift ideas for men, women, coworkers, kids, teens, college students, grandparents… and more!
Christie says
Super helpful especially for anyone who wants to celebrate their birthday without having to break the bank!
Heidi says
Thanks, Christie… I’m so glad you liked the tips! 🙂
Tonneau Cover says
Sweet ideas! My daughter gonna love that rose flower cupcake design.
Beth Bishop says
Chelsea I truly love this post. We are very minimal when it comes to gift giving. Gifts are usually handmade, second hand or a ‘needed’ item for a new stage in development. We do similar gift giving at Christmas time amongst family and friends but never thought to do this for birthdays. I will certainly be keeping something tangible like this in mind for next year and am off to visit the blogs mentioned above now!
sd says
These are great ideas!
Diane says
Love the cake creations
Brett M Jones says
We just used your idea of balloons with hidden treasures ($1 bills) in them at our sons birthday party and everyone loved it! Thanks for sharing these great ideas!
Jeff Perry says
Going to celebrate the birthday of my Son on 14 October, he is turning out to be a Seven. Was looking for fun things to do on birthday. Got your post, found very interesting. Cheers
Emily Stone says
I definitely need to try making some of these treats! They look wonderful!
Ms. Q says
Should the material be ribbons on a spool, or some other type of fabric?
Lizzette Mulkin says
If I had two kids, I would totally try to have one party, even if their birthdays were months apart. I don’t know if I could do it twice in a year!
Lilliana says
Make a list in your planner of who you plan on buying gifts for during the year.
It is not necessary that every cheap item available on the sale
banner would be a low quality. I can’t believe how much they’ve
improved simce I had Haley.
Florence Keenan says
So many great DIY ideas, I especially loved the cupcakes, because it’s such a great idea for a birthday party, and the frosting ideas can be worked into whatever party theme your child wants. Taking a bite and seeing a rainbow would thrill any child. The rose petals were absolutely exquisite, and probably even taste better than they look. Great photos!
Joseph J. Horton says
I completely agree with you Florence. These are the great ideas. I am also very much fond of sweets and I personally like the ideas of cakes. Next week its a birthday of my daughter and I really want to create such a great ambiance that my daughter and her friends can enjoy a lot.
Thanks buddy for such great information. I hope my daughter will like it too. 🙂
Jillian freeman says
I love the website so much
Heidi says
Aww ~ thanks, Jillian! 😉
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above says
Great ideas. I just pinned it and will retweet it.
Debi
Heidi says
Thanks so much, Debi!
valene says
If you have a Kona Grill in your town sign up for their e-club you get a $20 certificate for your B-day, and no other purchase required. just free, but on my b-day I go w/ my husband so he buys an entree & I would feel bad if I did not purchase something. But up to you it can be simply free.
Hannah says
If you live in or around the Portland, OR area and you like Thai food check out Racha Thai at Clackamas Town Center next to the theater. They have amazing food and if you sign up for their rewards club you get a $20 certificate for your birthday and free desert! The certificate is good for about a week. They also give you certificates for anniversarys and other special occasions.
Suzanne Pichardo says
For any of you who have a “Black Angus” in ur town, B sure 2 sign up for their FREE Birthday Dinner, it is TRUE U do get a FREE Steak Dinner, as long as someone else in ur party is buying a dinner, & that is up to a $19.99 value, I have done this for the past 3 yrs, it’s GREAT!!!