DIY Dinosaur Birthday Bash

Have a dino lover with a birthday? A do-it-yourself birthday party is easy with a dinosaur theme. Games, snacks, and decorations can be kept simple and cheap, making it a great party for a small budget.

Decorations: No need to buy decorations with dinosaurs printed on them. Instead, keep your party supplies, such as cups, plates, and napkins in bright solid colors of green, red, and yellow. Buy large artificial palm leaves from your local craft store or cut your own large leaves from green construction paper to look like the giant plants present in prehistoric times. Tape the leaves to the table for a lush display. For a centerpiece, make a giant egg using paper mache. First, blow up a large balloon (the bigger the better). Mix a paper mache paste using one part flour to two parts water. You want a thick glue consistency, but not as thick as paste, so add water or flour as necessary. Tear newspaper into strips. Dip the strips into the paper mache paste, then use them to cover the balloon. When the balloon is totally covered, let it dry completely. Then paint the egg whatever color you wish in order to look like a dino egg.

Cake: For a great dinosaur cake, cut a dinosaur shape out of a chocolate sheet cake. Frost it in green or yellow, then use round candies, such as M&Ms or Skittles for spots. Set gummy fruit wedges on end along the dinosaur's back to look like spikes. If cake decorating isn't your thing, not to fear! Simply frost a round cake green, then place a large plastic dino on top.

Snacks: For a healthy dinosaur snack, stand a watermelon up on its end and cut a large triangular notch out of the center to resemble an open mouth. Then cut small triangles around the opening to look like teeth. Scoop out as much of the melon as possible. Fill the hole with melon balls, grapes, and strawberries.

For another snack, make dino nests. Melt cooking chocolate, then mix with corn flake cereal. Spoon the mixture into cupcake papers, place malted chocolate balls or peanut M&Ms in the center and let harden.

Games: Make a pinata in the shape of a dinosaur egg using the paper mache method described above. When the glue is dry, use a pin to poke through the top to pop the balloon. Then cut a notch in the top to put candy inside. If the party is for young children, bury small plastic dinosaurs and other trinkets in a sandbox. Then let the kids be archeologists and unearth the treasures. Another fun game for younger guests is a dinosaur egg hunt. Fill plastic Easter eggs with candy and small toys, then hide them for the guests to find.

These are just a few of the many simple ideas for a dinosaur birthday party. Use what you have on hand (such as dinosaur toys that your child already has), then make the rest using cheap materials. You'll be well on your way to a DIY dino birthday bash that won't break your budget!