Get creative with guests' birthday party invitations.
Whether you're planning a milestone birthday or just want friends and family around to help you celebrate another year, getting guests excited about the party starts with the invitation. While you'll find boxes of birthday party invitations in card stores, taking a few steps to make yours stand out may make a difference when the R.S.V.P.'s start rolling in. Does this Spark an idea?
Not-So-Buried Treasure
Let party guests experience the thrill of the hunt while also enjoying the relaxing glow of a candle when you send their invitations inside a treasure candle. Treasure candles are large candles, which, as they burn, melt down to reveal tiny trinkets buried inside the wax. The treasures are removed and cleaned with tweezers; getting them inside the candle requires a few steps of pouring the wax partway, adding a few treasures, adding another layer of wax, and so on until you reach the top of the candle. Write out your invitation and roll or fold it up into a small plastic bubble, such as those dispensed by toy gumball machines. Make candles with large mason jars, wax colors to match your birthday theme colors and long wicks; materials are available at craft stores and candle shops. After your wax fills and cools halfway, add the invitation bubble and pour the rest of the wax, sealing your invitation inside.
Take the Cake
If the way to someone's heart is through his stomach, tempt him into coming to your party with an edible sweet treat. Bake a giant chocolate chip cookie cake, with ingredients such as brown sugar, eggs, chocolate chips and butter (take care to avoid any ingredients your guests may be allergic to). Once the cookie has baked and cooled, divide it up into large slices and use fine-tipped icing tubes or icing piping bags to add the birthday party details, such as the date, time and location of the event. Add a bit of edible birthday "bling" with colored sugar crystals, sprinkles or sugar metallic balls to decorate the slices. Hand-deliver in plastic take-out food containers or pack into boxes and take to the post office to ensure proper postage on the mailers.
Up in the Air
Get birthday guests in the party mood by inviting them to your special event via balloon. Create your party invitation on the computer or write out a standard boxed invitation card, including information about the location, date, time, theme and other details of the party. Starting with one of the edges of the invitation, roll up the paper into a very thin, tight curl, like a diploma. If the invitation is long, such as a sheet of 8.5 in. by 11 in. copy paper, fold it in half or quarters before rolling. Select balloons that go with your party's theme colors or buy balloons with a "Happy Birthday" logo printed on them. Insert the invitation into the neck of the balloon. Use a silver glitter marker to write "Invitation Inside!" on the balloon, slip into an envelope and send out to your intended party guests.
Tags: birthday party, your party, birthday party invitations, date time, invitation roll, party guests