KidStyleFile

Today, Miki brings us some great tips on how to make your kids party a stunning success.

You can get all your party supplies from the well stocked online stores below, so there’s no need to rush all over town; instead, sit back, relax, and shop in style from home (you’ll save money, too!)

This post is inspired by KidStyleFile reader Vanessa

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Is there anything more fun than a kid’s party? The fairy bread, the silly games, the excited kids (and parents!), the fairy bread, Pass The Parcel, blowing out candles, the cool decorations and did I mention the fairy bread?

It’s actually incredibly easy to organise and run a kids party these days – just ask Angela and I as we’ve both recently done it and survived to tell the tale.

First thing to think of is occasion. Birthday is the most common, but there are also Christening and Baptism days and plenty of other reasons to hold a party.

Next is to decide whether you want a theme, and how elaborate you want that theme to be. Is everything to be in keeping with your circus theme or do you just want the colours to more or less complement each other?

If you need some help with themes, have a look at the great range of ideas at Hullabaloo Parties – www.hullabalooparties.com.au, Smarty Party – www.smartyparty.net.au and Kids Gift List – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au. There’s guaranteed to be something there that’ll get you started!

Invitations are a great way to get all your guests excited about the party too. There’s such a massive range of invitations out there, but make sure you check out the ranges from Poppies For Grace (exquisite!), Imprintables (another of my favourites), Smarty Party, Kids Gift List, Mummy’s Favourite, Gifts4Kidz, and plenty more out there.

Now think about how many people – both kids and adults – you’ll be inviting and make sure you have enough crockery, cutlery, glassware and, of course, food for them all! Smarty Party makes life very easy by offering packages which you can tailor to the number of guests.

On to the really fun stuff: decorations!

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box here. Angela used gorgeous paper lanterns from ChinaTown – www.chinatown.com.au – to decorate her garden for her girls’ birthday party. These are an incredibly cost effective decoration option, and they look so happy and festive.

Also, have a think about table runners and/or table scatters, streamers, balloons of course and banners. Browse around through the links provided in this post and I can guarantee you’ll find something you love. Smarty Party in particular have a fantastic range of balloons, both plain & printed and packages.

Lastly, the bit that all the kids look for: the party bags. A couple of lollies is usually plenty, and that leaves you plenty of room to include some of the adorable (and very cost effective) toys shown in the image collage below.

Not only will the kids have a lasting and very cool keepsake from the party, the parents will thank you for not sending their kids home sugared up to the max! Urban Child and Kids Gift List both have an excellent range to choose from – and as for the bags themselves, we love the ones from Poppies For Grace.

From top left in rows:

‘Bug In A Nut’, $1.10 ea from Hullabaloo Parties
Personalised Stamp, $45.00 including coloured ink pad from Imprintables (these are both a great gift idea and a neat way of making personalised envelopes, cards, gift-wrap, you name it!)
Wooden Spinning Top, $1.20 from Urban Child
‘Birthday Sweets’ Lolly Bag, $12.95 for pack of 15 from Poppies For Grace
Animal Castanets, $2.95 from Urban Child
Zoo Table Runner, $3.00 per metre from Smarty Party
‘Hip Hip Hooray’ invitation set, $22.95 for 15 invitations and 15 button envelopes from Poppies For Grace
Lion Bookmark, $1.95 $1.65* from Kids Gift List
‘Cowboy’ invitation set, $26.95 including 15 invitations, 15 button envelopes and 15 matching magnets from Poppies For Grace
Large Crocodile Magnet, $2.95 $2.50* from Kids Gift List
Pink Butterflies invitation, $4.00 per set for invitation, matching envelope and thank you tag, from Imprintables
HP Royal Whistle, $2.95 from Hullabaloo Parties
DragonFly Baptism Invitation, $4.00 per set including invitation, envelope and thank you tag, from Imprintables
Collapsible Paper Lanterns, $39.95 $24.95 for a pack of 24 (amazing value!)
Yellow Loot Pail, $1.00 ea from Hullabaloo Parties

Please check individual stores for shipping details.

*Discount shown is using the Shop 4 Kids magazine code. Email Angela if you don’t have a copy of the mag, and need the code.

It’s party time for KidStyleFile readers! Hullabaloo Parties – www.hullabalooparties.com.au – have decided to gift your grace and beauty with a very generous 20% off their wonderful boutique range of party supplies store-wide. Now that’s a cause for celebration!

Hullabaloo Parties stock the best of everything you need to have (and even attend!) a party, from the cake, to invitations, balloons, loot bags, dress-ups, and decorations, to gifts Ideas and Inspiration, and a FREE online Gift Registry service for your child.

You can party harder by entering the discount code ‘KSF’ at checkout; this will discount your purchases by 20% – Hip Hip Hooray!

For those new to KidStyleFile, I have raved before about Hullabaloo Parties brilliant site and products; check it out for my previous hot picks.

And now for some piping hot picks, straight out of the oven.

Images at top, left to right: Jungle Animals Balloons $0.80c each after 20% discount, Pirate Girl dress-up Party Kit $11.00 per kit after 20% discount (also available in Pirate Boy), Astronaut costume $39.96 after 20% discount, Candy Spot Paper Plate $4.76 pk/12 after 20% discount, Paper Eskimo Big Top Circus Invitation Kit $15.16 pk/12 after 20% discount.

Check out this cool-as mini Mini Cooper! At only $3.96 after the 20% discount this is the best way to get your hands on such a funky-luxe vehicle. Have a ‘Cars‘- themed party and pop this in the loot bag to win lots of tiny fans forever (not to mention me ) For sizing think of a Matchbox car, and you’ve got it!

Looking for a gift, or to accessorise your Farm Animals party? This super-cute mini Barn and Animals Shape Sorter is only $7.96 after the 20% discount.

Wooden toys are classic gifts, and this Timber Tool Kit promises years of quality fun. At only $11.96 after the 20% discount, you don’t often find timber toys this affordable.

And if you have just a few more shekels in the budget, create the perfect centrepiece for your Pirate-themed party table with this Plan Toys Wooden Pirate Ship, just $55.96 after the 20% discount. Afterwards your little Mr or Miss gets to keep it, and they’ll remember their fab party every time they play with it.

There’s so much more in store at Hullabaloo Parties. Every time I visit I’m buzzed! Head on over there yourself to check it all out.

Hullabaloo Parties charges $8.95 Australia wide for party supplies and gifts. Postage varies for cakes. Check each cake for details. International postage is also available (excluding cakes). Check the Hullabaloo Parties site for full information on postage charges.

I just adored parties when I was a kid (who didn’t?!) Going to them, having them, bursting with anticipation and having my breath taken away by the marvelous Women’s Weekly creations my mother turned out for us.

Nothing much has changed actually. I was more than happy to trade the cocktail hour in for the jelly cakes. I love kids parties more than ever now I have my own kids. Every party is a celebration of fortune, happiness and joy.

I just discovered Hullabaloo Parties – www.hullabalooparties.com.au – and, boy, am I in heaven now!

Hullabaloo Parties provides the most glorious boutique party supplies via their superlative website, which makes me want to have a party just because! From balloons, decorations and loot bags, kids for the birthday boy or girl, to dress up costumes, not to mention the awesome designer cakes, the presentation of each item is comprehensive and clear. With a large range of party themes for both boys and girls to choose from, planning and catering for your child’s next party will be a snap.

Hullabaloo also offers an Ideas and Inspiration section on the site, and a FREE online Gift Registry service for your child. They really have thought of everything!

You can enjoy a little more Hullabaloo for your dollar by entering the discount code ‘KSF’ at checkout, which gets you a tasty 10% off.

Here are just a few of the fabulous products on offer to get you in party mode:

Princess Dress-Up Party Kit $13.75 per set ONLY $12.37 with 10% discount

Chef dress up set $29.95 ONLY $26.95 with10% discount

Circus Puppet Theatre $19.95 ONLY $17.95 with10% discount

Shooting Stars Ceiling Decoration $9.95 /pack of 15 ONLY $8.95 with10% discount

Designer Cupcakes – $7.95 each ONLY $7.15 each with10% discount

Farmyard Mural $349 ONLY $314.10 with10% discount

Postage for party supplies and gifts is $8.95 Australia wide. Postage varies for cakes. Check each cake for details. International postage is also available. Check the site for charges.

Hip Hip Hooray!!……..Now……… pass the cake