Celebrating During Social Distancing: A Party In A Box!
This is a sponsored post; payment, trade and/or products have been received in exchange for promotion for Oriental Trading and as always, all opinions are my own.
Do you have local friends or family, even a neighbor celebrating a birthday or milestone during our unprecedented event of social distancing? It can be hard; I am not looking forward to the possibility that I may be celebrating my own May birthday at home.
With help from my friends at Oriental Trading, I’m sharing how you can create a Party In A Box for about $100 with just a few clicks. With fast, free shipping on any purchase $49 or more using the code SQUAD20 leaving a little fun of handmade and store-bought party items at the celebrant’s door is a guaranteed smile. Despite the social distancing order, we are still going to party safely!
Now, to be fair, I do have some of the items to make crafting and assembly easier, like a paper cutter and scoring board. Don’t worry, I’ll share some pro-tips if you don’t have some of my items. Added bonus, you will have some supplies left over for future projects.
Let’s kick things off with the packaging. Instead of a standard box, use a wood crate! It can be repurposed, so it’s a gift within a gift. I love this crate because it has chalkboard sides that can be personalized with a special message.
PRO-TIP – Have paint and other supplies on hand? Purchase a less-expensive unfinished wood crate and decorate it yourself.
And what’s inside? Handmade party items, banner letters, balloons, plates, napkins, novelty cups and a kraft roll for a table runner.
Handmade Party Items
Using paper pads is one of my favorite crafting tips because they are filled with coordinating colors and patterns for a variety of projects!
I used the American Crafts™ Pebbles Birthday Wishes paper pad to create all of the paper decor, from the paper rosettes and paper chains to table scatter and party picks!
Because the paper pad is 12″ X 12″, you can use the full size to make both. Don’t know how to make rosettes? Check out this step-by-step tutorial…I used a scoring board with 1″ spacing and two paper designs for each rosette. Punch a 3″ circle of paper to cover the middle.
PRO-TIP – No paper punch? Trace the rim of a small glass on your paper and cut out.
The paper chains are 1″ wide and 12″ long, but you can make them wider and shorter, like 2″ wide and 6″ long, totally your preference. Use a variety of patterns for a festive look. Just don’t forget to put a note on your paper strips in the crate so the celebrant knows to assemble the paper chains.
One of the pad’s designs was hand-cut to create table scatter, while I punched other paper designs with a triangle paper punch. Round, square, use whatever punch you may have.
PRO-TIP – No paper punch? Just trim your own shapes with scissors.
More trimmed designs were hot-glued to decorative food picks…long toothpicks can be used instead.
Tableware
OTC has so many tableware options, you are only limited by your budget! I wanted to choose something that wasn’t birthday-centric. After all, a just-because party is always a blast. I couldn’t resist this design so I could layered a dessert plate with a dinner plate.
My love for novelty cups runs deep and of course, who could resist these teddy bears. Want to save some money? Check out their paper cups…
Setting the Scene
I can’t remember the last time I created a party table without a wrapping paper runner of some type! I love kraft paper because it is a blank canvas for everyone to write a special message.
These fun balloon letters are for bulletin boards, but clipped to baker’s twine or ribbon, become an instant party garland. Use them to spell out any message you wish, from birthday wishes to non-HBD sentiments like CELEBRATE and PARTY TIME.
I do love reusable party decor but there is something about latex balloons that I just can’t get enough of, especially when they are two-toned.
Using my own stash of sprinkles, along with a small container of homemade frosting…one just adds add cupcakes or doughnuts. This frosting recipe is hands down my favorite, makes quite a batch, and I had all the ingredients on hand.
PRO-TIP – Don’t have sprinkles on hand? Add them to your OTC order!
Here’s my party box breakdown….
- Two-Tone 12″ Latex Balloons $9.39
- Gold Mylar Balloon Uppercase Bulletin Board Letters $9.99
- Bear-Shaped Cups with Straws $17.69
- White Marvy Uchida® Jumbo Bistro Chalk Marker $4.39
- Kraft Paper Roll $7.99
- Happy Day Paper Dessert Plates $2.09
- Happy Day Paper Dinner Plates $3.09
- Large Stained Wood Crate with Chalkboard Label $16.08
- American Crafts™ Pebbles Birthday Wishes Paper Pad $16.09
- Party Balloon-Shaped Beverage Napkins $6.69
Frosting, sprinkles, food picks – my own stash
Total OTC purchase with free shipping (pre-tax) – $93.50
I hope you have been inspired to help someone special celebrate even if you can’t physically be present.
Check out everything in the box in action to give you some ideas of your own….
