5 Fantastic DIYs for your New Year's Eve Party

After the craziness of Christmas, I love a simple New Year's Eve celebration at home... but simple doesn't need to mean boring. The key to an easy, inexpensive and fun party is to focus on a few DIY details. Check out these 5 fantastic DIYs for a New Year's Eve party.



1) Reflect on last year and look forward to the year ahead. Print these fun "year in review" sheets, and take a few minutes to remember the past and look ahead to the future. Click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it on an 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of paper.




2) Create activity bags. Every year, I fill several bags with different treats and activities, and the party guests open a new bag every hour. It's a lot of fun, and it's something my kids look forward to every year. (For some ideas on items to include in the bags, you can click here.)



3) Have fun party food options. A milk and cookie toast is perfect for kids, and adults will love store-bought fortune cookies dipped in melted white chocolates and sprinkles. 




4) Set up a simple photo booth. Party guests of all ages love an opportunity to take a fun photo. Use dollar store accessories and the photo props below. To use the photo props I designed: click on the photos below, right-click, save them to your computer, print on 8 1/2 x 11" card stock, cut them out, and attach them to sticks.



5) Send guests home with fun party favors. Put chocolate kisses in plastic cups with "midnight kisses tags, or attach "ring in the new year" tags to candy rings. To download the cute tags I designed: click on the tag (below), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4 x 6 photo.






Will you be hosting friends this year? Or will you be celebrating at home with family? Either way, there is something on this list that will help you make your New Year's Eve even more special. Happy New Year!!!


Gina Bell
(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)

Simple "Grinch" Movie Night

There is no better way to celebrate the holidays than with a festive movie night with family and friends, and you can "up the fun factor" with some movie-themed treats, decor and party favors. Today, I'm sharing all the easy and inexpensive DIY details of my family's simple Grinch movie night.



First, you can set the stage with a little DIY decor. I turned a door of my house into a Grinch vignette. with some card stock, cotton batten, and a dollar store ornament. I cut out the pieces (see below), and attached them to the door with painters tape. Cute, right?





I also took a picture of my door, added some details using Picmonkey.com, and printed it out to display on my table of movie treats. 

You can download your own copy by: clicking on the picture below, right-clicking, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8x10 photo.




And what's a movie without festive treats? I set out some popcorn mixed with red and green M&Ms, a jar of green candies, and some cookies decorated with "grinchy" green icing and green sprinkles.




And what's a party without a party favor? This homemade Grinch ornament (using dollar store supplies) is simple to make. You can can find the instructions and the free printable tags here.





A Grinch movie night is the perfect way to spend an evening this holiday season. With some simple decor, food, and party favors, it can be a really special Christmas celebration.



Gina Bell
(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)