One of the best things about receiving party invitations is that it opens the door to a wonderful human emotion – anticipation.

Right away you can see yourself at that future event, having fun, speaking to friends and meeting new people.

Creating that sense of anticipation is the first step in designing a fun event.

When your guests arrive full of enthusiasm and anticipation, it sets the tone for the party.

That’s why invitations are so important. The better the design, the more the anticipation for fun will be created.

Many of us resort to email invitations these days. They are practical and paperless – always a good thing.

However, when it comes to children’s parties, a fun invitation that the invited guests can actually hold makes all the difference.

Children are tactile and holding a beautiful invitation they can show others makes a world of difference from looking at a colourful square on a flat-screen.

When they open an invitation that has been cleverly crafted, it heightens the anticipation even more.

Themed parties make it easy to come up with fun party invitation ideas.

Here are some fun ideas for creating beautiful, easy to make invitations – and they cost virtually nothing to make.

FOR THE UNICORN LOVER

1. POP-UP UNICORN INVITATION

This card is so sweet and the fact it pops out makes it a tactile pleasure.

MATERIALS

• Blue A4 paper or thin card. TIP: Don’t have blue paper or card? Have your child colour white paper with crayons. Kids love to be involved in planning their own parties.
• White paper
• Coloured paper strips – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown – about 2 mm wide and 3-4 cm long. TIP: Again, if you don’t have coloured paper, cut small strips of white paper and have your child colour them with bright markers.
• Scissors
• Glue

METHOD

• If using the thin card, fold in half, short end to short end and cut at the fold line. This will be the base for two invitation cards.
• If using paper, fold in half short end to short end, then fold in half again, short end to short end. This will give the card more strength.
• Use a small jar or jar lid to trace a circle on the white paper. Fold the paper so that you can cut around the traced circle to make six circles.
• Fold each circle in half. Place glue on one half of one circle and glue another circle on top. Continue until you have used all the circles, creating a paper bauble.
• Glue the flat side of the bauble to the centre of the card, leaving little glue-free areas around the edges to slip the paper strips, head and legs under.
• Using the rest of the white paper, cut two small rectangular strips to fit under the bauble for the legs.
• Draw the unicorn’s head on the remaining white paper and cut out and glue into place.
• Cut a small triangle ‘horn’ and glue into place at the top of the head.
• Line up the coloured paper strips to form a mane, tail and a little head hair.
• Glue into place and trim as necessary.
• Draw on the facial features and colour the bottom of the legs to make hooves.

2. UNICORN FINGER PUPPET

What better way to create anticipation for children’s birthday parties than by giving the invited guest a toy right from the start. These little finger puppets are so easy to make and could fit any theme. Instead of a unicorn, you could make a penguin, or a giraffe – whatever interests your child the most.

MATERIALS

• Thin white A4 card
• Hole punch
• Assorted ribbon or wool.
• Googly eyes – optional
• Scissors
• Glue

METHOD

• Cut out a basic unicorn shape, as per the picture below. TIP: If you create the body and head separately, it’s easier to cut several of the shapes at one time by stacking the shapes. Then you can glue the head and neck to the body.
• Use the hole punch to make four finger holes at the bottom of the unicorn puppet. The children’s fingers will be the ‘legs’
• Cut the colourful wool or ribbon into small strips and glue along the neck for the mane and head.
• Make a small hole at the tail end and tie some more colourful ribbon/wool there for the tail
• Draw or glue on eyes and other facial features.
• Write the party details on the back.

Change the animal to suit your party theme.

3. FOR THE RAINBOW LOVER

One of the Goddesses is absolutely nuts about rainbows and this little card is so simple to make.

MATERIALS

• A4 thin card
• White paper
• Ribbon scraps in assorted colours

METHOD

• Fold the card in half, short end to short end and cut at the fold line. Fold each card in half to create two cards.
• Cut simple cloud shapes from the white paper and glue near the top of the cards.
• Cut ribbon strips so that they reach from the bottom of the cloud to nearly the bottom of the card and slip them under the cloud and glue into place.
• Write the invited guest’s name on the cloud and the party details on the inside of the card.

FOR THE ELEPHANT LOVER

My little grandson – a prince among the Goddesses – has an elephant themed room and these little invitations would work wonderfully for his first birthday party.

4. ELEPHANT PARTY BLOWER

The first one, using a party blower, is only an option if you don’t need to place the card in an envelope. It would make an excellent party decoration though.

MATERIALS

• Thin card
• Party Blowers

METHOD

• Draw a simple elephant shape on the card and cut out.
• Use a knife or scissors to create a hole in the centre of the elephant shape.
• Write your party details on the back of the card.
• Slide the blower into place to form a trunk.

5. ELEPHANT BALLOON

I have to admit I’m not loving balloons as I once used to because of the plastic issue. However, this is one of the sweetest and easiest cards I’ve seen and, like the party blower elephant and unicorn puppet, it is its own gift as well as an invitation.

MATERIALS

• Thin card or paper
• Black marker
• Glue/double sided tape
• Balloon

METHOD

• Fold the card as per instructions above to create two cards.
• Glue or tape the balloon to the top of the card so that the opening is facing the bottom of the card. I used double sided tape so it would be easy for the kids to remove the balloon to play with.
• Draw a simple elephant shape around the balloon so that the balloon becomes its face and trunk.
• Write the party details on the inside of the card.

6. FOR THE FAIRY LOVER

The ideas are endless here, but this one is super simple to make.

MATERIALS

• A4 thin card
• Coloured paper
• Scissors
• Glue

METHOD

• Fold the card in half one way and then the other.
• Cut at the centrefold between the short ends.
• Draw a simple mushroom shape on one of the halves and cut it to create two identical mushroom shapes.
• Draw a simple arched door at the bottom of one of the mushroom shapes.
• Cut around the right side and top so that it is still attached but can open.
• Cut some coloured paper to fit inside the stem of the other mushroom shape (or you can colour it).
• Glue the mushroom shape with the door to the other mushroom shape, ensuring there is no glue on the door.
• Write the birthday invite details on the coloured paper, which will be behind the door. The guest has to open the little door to find the information.
• Use coloured paper circles (or draw them) to make the mushroom spots.

7. FOR THE BUDDING BALLERINA

Again, the possibilities are endless here, but this one is super simple.

MATERIALS

• A4 thin card – any colour or colour your own white sheet.
• Shower buff to match the colour of the card (only a couple of dollars at the cheap shop or supermarket).
• Bead embellishments – or draw your own.

METHOD

• Draw and cut out a simple torso shape from the card.
• Glue the bottom to the top of the shower buff.
• Glue on bead embellishments at the top
• Add the party details to the body.

FOR THE PIRATE PARTY

8. THE MAP INVITATION

This is also a great way to make a treasure map for the party activities.

MATERIALS

• A4 paper
• Tea
• Marker
• Draw an old-style map directing people to your party venue, using a black marker.
• Soak the paper in tea overnight.
• Allow to dry completely then carefully use a lighter to burn the edges.

9. THE SHIP INVITATION

MATERIALS

• Thin card – white and black or you can colour the white one black
• Template – or draw your own.
• Scissors
• Glue
• Marker

METHOD

• Use the template to trace and cut the boat shape (from the black card) and sails (from the white card).
• Glue together and write the party details on the sails.

10. WATCH ME PULL A RABBIT OUT OF MY HAT FOR THE MAGIC PARTY

MATERIALS

• black cardboard
• white paper
• craft stick
• scissors
• glue

METHOD

• fold the black card in half and cut out a simple top hate shape, so that you have two identical shapes.
• Cut a simple bunny shape from the white paper – be sure it can fit inside the two hat shapes without any part showing.
• Write the party details on the bunny.
• Glue the bunny to the craft stick
• Glue the two hat shapes together at the sides only, leaving the middle, top and bottom open.
• Slide the bunny into the hat and make it pop up and down.

The possibilities for creating fun and exciting birthday invitations that are guaranteed to heighten anticipation are endless.

Having a garden party? Why not give each invited guest an artificial flower with a label on it containing the details?

A space party? Buy a cheap Frisbee (about #2 from cheap shops), cover with foil or spray paint silver so it looks like a flying saucer. Use the black marker to outline the party details.

Check out these easy ideas for making your own party games. Discover more money-saving tips when hosting a children’s party.

Follow me on Pinterest for more fun craft ideas.

Happy crafting, partying and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.