The Ultimate DIY Movie Night

Movie nights are fun for all ages. A movie night can be a weekly event for a family, or it can be a perfect theme for a party or fundraiser. I love the idea of making a movie night special by focusing on a few special DIY details. Today, I am sharing some of my best movie night DIYs, tips and tricks.

Set up a concession stand - Watching a movie is synonymous with snacking on special movie treats, so setting up a movie night concession stand is a "movie night" must. I love the idea of building a back drop from a tri-fold or piece of foam core. Just add stripes using red duct tape, and tape on the "concession stand" sign I designed. 

To download the concession stand sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

Make individual movie trays for the guests - Nothing makes people feel more special than something you have created "just for them". I love the idea of turning an old cereal box into an individual treat try. Just use duct tape for the sides and contact/shelf paper for the bottom. They are reusable too!

Display candy like a pro - To create a treat table that will wow your guests: use a variety of glasses and containers, use cake stands and other props to vary the heights of the goodies, play with colours, and use individual containers. Find more tips for displaying party treats here.

DIY snack boards are fun too!

Pick the right movie - When picking a movie for movie night, carefully consider the age and interests of the people who will be watching. Classics like "Star Wars", "Back to the Future", and "Harry Potter" are always wonderful choices for older kids and adults... and Disney movies are perfect for younger viewers.

Party favours - Handing out a party favour at the end of a movie night is always a simple way to leave your guests with a positive impression of the evening. Glow sticks, a trinket related to the movie, or edible goodies for the next day are fantastic choices.

I love movies, don't you? Movie nights really are a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, and these simple tips are guaranteed to make you the perfect movie night host. I hope you enjoyed my ideas for the ultimate DIY movie night! Feel free to leave some of your best ideas in the comments below.

♥
Gina Bell
(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)

You might also like this "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie night.

Party Prize Punches

Several years ago, I created a simple DIY party prize punch. My goal was to create a fun way to distribute hockey cards at my son's birthday party, so I headed to the dollar store and purchased some supplies. I made a fantastic prize punch with: a piece of foam core, plastic cups, tissue paper, and a glue gun. Since my first creation, I have made many different versions for all my boys' subsequent parties. Today, I am sharing everything you need to know to make your own prize punch... and trust me... if you can work a glue gun, you can totally make this DIY party game.

To make a party prize punch:

1) Fill plastic cups with prizes. 

2) Cut squares of tissue paper slightly larger than a plastic cup.

3) Use a glue gun to make a ring around the top edge of the cup, and quickly seal the tissue paper over the top of the cup. Repeat for all the cups.

4) Use hot glue to attach the base of the cups to a piece of foam core.

The best thing about prize punches is that you can fill them with whatever you want. My first prize punch was filled with hockey cards. I've also used mini chocolate bars, coins, candy, and dollar store trinkets.

You can also make prize punches in different shapes and designs. I made a pumpkin for Halloween and a heart for Valentine's Day. You could also make a Shamrock for St.Patrick's Day, an egg for Easter or a tree for Christmas.

You can also make them coordinate with any party colour scheme. I've also coordinated them with sports team colours and made them to match NERF gun bullets.

Usually the party guests just poke through the tissue paper, but you can be creative. For our carnival party kids threw bouncy balls, and at our NERF party guests had to shoot through the tissue paper.

Party prize punches really are easy and inexpensive to make, they add a custom detail to a DIY party, and they are a lot of fun. Give one a try at your next party. I guarantee that if you can work a glue gun, you can successfully create one using my step-by-step tutorial.

♥

Gina Bell
(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)

Party FOOD ideas

Let's face it... good food is the cornerstone of a great party -- it's something that everyone will talk about and remember long after the guest have gone home. Setting up a fantastic food table isn't difficult. In fact, with a little effort, party food can easily be pleasing to the eyes AND the tastebuds. Today, I am sharing some tips and tricks for creating the perfect party food presentation for any party theme. 

CAMPING party food - Camping party food is simple and fun... and really kid-friendly. Set the stage with a red and white table cloth. Then, set up a BBQ, and serve: s'mores, bug juice, fire, camp candy, fish from the lake, etc... Check out the details (including simple DIY campfire cakes here.

CARS party food - Create a "Grand Stand Snack Bar" that is sure to be a rip roaring hit with party guests. Use dollar store foam core and decals, duct tape, and letter stickers to create signage. Then, fill the table with fun snacks named after characters from the movie "Cars". Luigi's Tires (chocolate cookies), Mater's Diptsticks (chocolate covered lady fingers), McQueen Sandwiches (sandwiches cut out with a car shaped cookie cutter), Grand Stand Popcorn, Fillmore's Fuel (juice), Sally's Specialities (fruit, cheese, and crackers), Finn's Finest (licorice), and Doc's Pops (marshmallow pops dipped in red chocolate with black and white sprinkles). You'll also want to serve a simple race car cake for dessert.

Carnival party food - Create a "Concession Stand" backdrop using a dollar store cardboard tri-fold, a sign printed on the computer, and some red duct tape. Then, add some pizza, popcorn, chips, cotton candy, and other candy treats... and don't forget a fun cake!

Easter "Bunny Bar" - Putting together a self-serve "Bunny Bar" is an excellent Easter entertaining idea. It's simple, inexpensive, and fun! You can find Easter recipes, DIYs, and a free printable sign here.

First day of school - The first day of school is a milestone, and therefore, requires a special celebration. How cute is this "back to school buffet"? You can all the info you need (including free printable tags) here.

Graduation party food - This graduation party candy buffet is perfect for celebrating this important milestone. The free sign and printable labels are adorable, and can be downloaded here.

Harry Potter party food - Every Harry Potter fan knows that "Honeydukes" sweet shop has the most magical food. Set up your own DIY sweet shop by making a sign from a piece of dollar store foam core, some colourful duct tape, and some letters printed on a computer. Then, serve treats like: Bott's Every Flavour Beans (no name gourmet jelly beans), Ollivander's Edible Wands (black liquorice), Fizzing Whizbees (popping candy), Mad Eye Moody's Eyeball Gum (eyeball gumballs), Chocolate Frogs (chocolate frogs made from frog shaped chocolate molds), Remus' Werewolf Fangs (candy corn), and Golden Snitches (made by hot gluing feathers onto gold foil wrapped chocolates). You'll also want to serve a simple Harry Potter themed cake... a crest or a Quidditch cake.

Hockey party food - Every hockey party needs a fully stocked "canteen". A simple backdrop can be made with a piece of dollar store foam core, hockey tape (around the edges of the sign), a team log, and a computer printout. You'll also want to stock the canteen with rink chips, hockey pucks (chocolate cookies), playoff pizza, and Olympic hockey gold coins (chocolate gold coins). And don't forget the hockey rink cake!

LEGO party food - Fun food options provide the building blocks for a successful LEGO party. Set the stage with a backdrop of giant LEGO men made from coloured paper taped to dollar store foam core sheets.  A LEGO cookie decorating station is another fun option. Rectangle cookies, coloured icing, and coloured candy can be put together to make fun and simple LEGO cookies. And chocolate LEGO bricks make yummy treats and wonderful cupcake toppers. And, of course, you'll also need some fun and simple LEGO cakes.

Movie party - Movie parties are ALL about the snacks. To create a fun concession stand, make a simple backdrop using a piece of dollar store foam core or a dollar store tablecloth to match your colour scheme. You'll also want to serve traditional movie treats like popcorn, chocolate, candy, juice, and pop. Make sure you have plenty of treats that guests can easily grab and enjoy in their seats during the show!

Pirate party food - There are lots of great options for pirate party food. "Fish" sandwiches can be made by using a fish shaped cookie cutter to cut out peanut butter sandwiches... just add a chocolate chip eyeball. You can also serve: pixie sticks (filled with Tinkerbell's pixie dust), fish and chips (chips and goldfish), gummy sharks, and (chocolate) gold coin necklaces. Simple pirate cakes can be served too!

Pool party food - Set a party food table with a blue table cloth and a beach/pool themed backdrop. Use pool noodles, beach balls, and dollar store foam core decorated to match the theme. Then, serve food like: chips in (new and clean) beach buckets, gummy sharks, goldfish, fish and chips (chips mixed with goldfish), pool noodles (liquorice), and pool water (blue juice). You can also serve simple pool party cakes made with blue icing, sand (graham cracker crumbs), gummy candies, and drink umbrellas.

Red and White buffet - A strong colour scheme creates a cohesive and professional-looking food table at parties. Using inexpensive containers and carefully chosen food makes it easy to create an impressive buffet. I love red and white for a carnival, Canada Day, or picnic theme.

Star Wars party food - Pinterest is full of fun Star Wars party food ideas, but my favourite idea is to serve cookies with a "Come to the dark side... we have cookies" sign. It's easy to make with some computer printouts, tape, and a piece of foam core from the dollar store. Serving cupcakes topped with Star Wars rings or trinkets is also fun... and they make perfect party favours too. And don't forget the cake! A simple Star Wars cake can be made by topping a simple sheet cake with Star Wars toys, and the birthday boy/girl will love the extra present.

Summer - Celebrate summer with this simple DIY "self serve" lemonade tray. It's made using a dollar store picture frame. Find all the details here.

Tea party - Tea party food is simple. It's all about the tea (or juice), tiny sandwiches, and cakes. Check out my favourites here.

Valentine's Day - A simple dollar store hot chocolate bar is perfect for serving friends, family, and/or party guests on Valentine's Day. Find out how easy it is to put together here.

ANY PARTY THEME - Here are some ideas that work for any party theme:

• Serve treats in a variety of colours or in just one or two colours that match the party theme/decor. Playing with colour creates a wonderful visual impact.

• Use fun containers to serve treats (fancy glasses, dollar store candy dishes, bowls in colours that the match the party theme/decor, etc...

• Use cake stands, boxes, books, etc... to create different levels of food/treats.

• Serve some foods in individual containers so that guests can grab them easily. It also allows you to buy in bulk and control serving portions.

The food you serve at a gathering can really can make or break a party. Make sure there is plenty of food, add some DIY details, and display the food in a fun and deliberate way. And... don't forget to have fun!

♥

Gina Bell

(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)

           

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION tips, tricks, recipes and ideas

DIY details make holiday celebrations special and memorable. I love all things EASY and INEXPENSIVE, so today, I am sharing some of my best tips, tricks, recipes, and ideas for simple and fun holiday celebrations.

Click the links (below) for celebration info, activities, ideas, and recipes. (I've sorted everything by when the events occur in a calendar year.)

NEW YEAR'S EVE

VALENTINE'S DAY

ST.PATRICK'S DAY

EASTER

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

MOTHER'S DAY

FATHER'S DAY

CANADA DAY

THANKSGIVING

thanksgiving crafts

thanksgiving party favours

HALLOWEEN

CHRISTMAS

What is your favourite holiday? Don't forget to bookmark this post... or "pin" your favourite ideas so that you can find them easily when you are ready for your seasonal celebration!

♥

Gina Bell
(Mom and Amateur Party Planner)