DIY Flower Power Birthday Theme

For a girly birthday with a punch, throw a party with a flower power theme. Simple snacks and cheap decorations you can create yourself make this theme great for a do-it-yourselfer. The secret to success revolves around two words: big and bright. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Invitations: Invitations for a flower power birthday are easy. Cut a flower shape from heavy, brightly colored cardstock (bright pink, orange, and green work well), or begin with a circle and add different colored petals around it. Write your child's name in the center circle, then add party information on each petal, such as date, time, place, and any special instructions.

Decorations: Make large flowers from construction paper and hang from the ceiling of the party area. Decorate the table with artificial (or real if you like) brightly colored Shasta daisies. Or, sprinkle flower petals on a white tablecloth. Buy party supplies in bright colors to match your decorations.

Cake: Make a cake to match the decorations by baking a large round cake for the center of the flower. Then bake a sheet cake, and use it to cut petal shapes. Arrange the petals around the round cake and ice with bright frosting. Or, bake a large sheet cake, ice it with bright green frosting, then cut flower shapes from fondant or molding chocolate (tinted with various bright colors) and arrange on the sheet. If a cake isn't your thing, make several batches of cupcakes, frost, then arrange on a platter in the shape of a flower.

Snacks: Use a flower-shaped candy mold to make chocolate flower suckers. Arrange the suckers in a piece of Styrofoam. Make sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly, ham salad, ham and cheese, etc.), then cut them out using a flower shaped cookie cutter.

Crafts: Provide all the materials for the guests to plant their own flowers. Give each child a small terracotta pot, potting soil, and a variety of flower seeds. Let each guests fill their pot with soil, then plant a seed of their choice to take home with them.

Goodie Bags: Fill goodie bags with brightly colored pencils, stickers, and notebooks. Tuck in a flower seed packet for your guests to plant in their own flower bed.

These are just a few of the many ideas for a flower power birthday party. Use cheap materials or things you already have on hand to create a great party that's easy on your budget.