On the Go DIY Birthday Theme

For a birthday boy who is always on the go, why not throw a birthday party with a cars and trucks theme? Using your child's toys as decorations, as well as creating your own using cheap materials, this theme is perfect for the do-it-yourselfer.

Invitations: For invitations to the big day, cut stop signs out of red paper. Use transportation language to invite guests, such as "Stop by for _____'s (your child's name) birthday on (date/time/place). Roll on in for great snacks and a truckload of fun!"

Decorations: Decorations are easy and cheap for a cars and trucks birthday. For the table, draw a road on a plain white tablecloth and use your child's toy cars as table decorations. Fill the back of a large truck with candy or other snacks and use it as a centerpiece. Make large road signs, such as stop, yield, and speed limit signs out of construction paper and hang them around the party area.

Snacks: For a healthy snack, let the guests create their own wheels using Ritz circle crackers with an assortment of cheese, ham, peanut butter and other toppings. Spread graham crackers with icing, then top each with a red, yellow, green gumdrop to make traffic lights.

Cake: For a simple cake idea, frost a sheet cake with green frosting. Then, create a road using black or gray icing and place toy cars and trucks (preferably new toys) on the road. Decorate the road side with plastic trees, signs, etc. to complete the landscape. Another possibility is to frost a rectangle sheet cake with white icing to resemble a speed limit sign, then use a piping bag to write your child's age on the sign.

Games: Play the red light/green light game with the guests. Have the children line up side-by-side, then call out "green light". This tells the children to start walking or running. Call out "red light" to have the children stop. Whoever doesn't stop when you call out "red light" has to go back to the starting point. The child who crosses the finish line first wins. Play musical chairs, explaining to the guests that when the music stops, they have to act quickly to find a seat on the bus before they all fill up.

Treat Bags: Fill treat bags with an assortment of prizes, such as metal or plastic toy cars and trucks, pencils, and red, yellow, and green M&Ms. Include small pocket games for the guests to play on their own road trips.

These are just a few of the many ideas for an on the go birthday theme using cars and trucks. Customize the decorations and treat bags to suit your birthday boy or girl, adding police cars, fire trucks, or even NASCAR if that is what he or she enjoys. Use what you have on hand and make whatever else you need, and this birthday won't be a speed bump in your budget.