Super Mario Birthday Party

As my family and friends can attest to, I totally get into planning parties for my kiddos.  I love the process and put quite a bit of thought into the details.  I can't bring myself to just pick up themed party plates and what-not and call it a day.  Now, I am not criticizing anyone else who rolls this way.  I am just a weirdo that has to be different.  Last month my video game lovin' son was turning seven and I really wanted to make it special for him.  What better choice than a Super Mario party?



Super Mario Birthday Party



Invitation

Mario Invitation & Homemade Envelope

Invitation

I got the inspiration for my invitations from Chica and Jo.  If you click on this link, it will take you to a fantastic tutorial they created showing how to make them.  They even have a handy template you can download!  I didn't actually use the template, but pulled images off the Internet and printed them on paper.  The card stock and envelopes I made from scraps I had around the house.  Total Cost = FREE

Decorations

Balloons, Mario Cubes, Hats, Crowns

Balloons - Probably the biggest splurge in the decoration department was a helium tank to fill up red, green, and blue balloons.  I just love lots of balloons for kids parties and I think they make a big impact on setting a festive mood.  I already had the balloons and string leftover from other parties so I only paid for the helium tank.  Total Cost = about $20-$25 (Can't remember exactly)

Birthday Banner

Birthday Banner - this took more time than money.  I created each letter on a different page in PowerPoint.  I used PowerPoint because it is easier for me to edit than in word.  There are probably better ways to do this, but this way works for me.  I also made a couple of ones with Mario characters to place in between the words.  Although it has a layered look, I actually layered the different color squares on the same page (one behind the other) so I would have fewer to print.  I printed these, cut them out, and attached them to some scrap ribbon I already had.  Total Cost = FREE.

Sign for the Party Favors

Party Favor Sign - I made this on the computer using graphics and clip art available online for free. Total Cost = Free.

Tablecloth - the table cloth I found at the dollar store for....a dollar.  I used dollar store table cloths for my kitchen counter and I used that as a buffet. I used another one on a counter for the cake and cupcakes.  Total Cost = $3.

Mario Question and Brick Cubes

Question Mark and Brick Cubes - I made out of old diaper boxes (FREE).  I just cut one side off them to make them shorter.  I printed the question mark and the brick background in a PowerPoint doc.  I can't remember where I found the images, but a quick Google search (or Swagbucks search) will give you some good ones to choose from.  I printed them and glued them to the box. Total Cost = FREE

Mario Characters - these are actually from a Mario Chess Set that my husband got for Christmas one year.  Total Cost = FREE.

Mario Visor (for the Boys)

Princess Peach Crowns for the Girls

Princess Peach Crowns (For Girls) / Mario Hats (For Boys) - these are one of my favorite parts of the party.  The kids went crazy over them and I was surprised that most of them wore them for the whole party. I found plain red visors at a party supply store for $1 each.  I bought a white foam sheet, drew the Mario symbol and cut it out.  I think I may have eyeballed this.  I glued the foam on the visor.  The crowns took a little more work. I bought gold colored felt, "jewels" and gold pipe cleaners. Crafty Corner has awesome directions on how to make these. This could easily be my very favorite part of the party!  The kids loved their crowns and hats.  Total Cost - I don't actually think I added this up, but I think I spent about $25-30.  Having said that, I bought way too many supplies and have a bunch of things left over to use for other projects.

Wall Decoration - I had leftover bulletin board paper from work that I got for FREE that I used for the background.  This was stuck in a supply cabinet and we haven't used it at work for six years so they told me I could have it.  I found some great Mario Wall Stickers on eBay for about $25 (including shipping).  My son and I had so much fun creating the Mario scene with the stickers.  This picture does not do justice to how HUGE this was.  (Our couch is really big!) This took up an entire wall in our living room.  When the party first started I took a group shot of all the kids on the couch wearing their Mario hats/Princess Peach Crowns.  Now that the party is over, my son wants me to cut around these stickers and put them up in his room because he loves them so much.  Total Cost = $25

Food/Drinks

Beverages



Snacks (Sorry - No Pic of the Pizza)



Cake Pops, Cake, Cupcakes, Yellow Chocolate Stars

This is where most of our money went.  I bought fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, and carrots with ranch dip.  I was glad I did, because the pizza delivery guy was late and I was happy folks had something to munch on.  My husband found a really good deal on pizza and spent about $30.  I bought green and red punch at the dollar store (can't remember the cost, but cheap).  I made peach tea.  I put silly labels on these for "Power Up Juice", "One Up Juice", and "Princess Peach Tea".  We also had soft drinks available.

Super Mario Cake

Cake - I had the bakery make cupcakes that were supposed to look like Toad (red with three white dots).  I didn't think they turned out that well, but the kids loved them. They also made a small green cake. I added yellow chocolate stars that I made from candy molds and candy melts I had leftover.  I put more Mario Chess guys on the top (Mario and Luigi).  Super simple, and my son absolutely LOVED it. 

Toad Cake Pop

Cake Pops - my very first attempt at cake pops, which I admit was a flop.  They were supposed to look like Toad.  They are pretty homely, but they tasted good anyway! Total Cost for Food - ??

Party Favors

Gumball Machine Party Favors

All the Gumball Machines

Gumball Machines - This is always one of my favorite things to plan for parties.  I got this idea from Maddycakesmuse.  You absolutely have to go check out her Super Mario Party right now.  Seriously, right now.  I will wait.  Was that not completely fantastic?  I love the details.  She is my hero. Anyway, the gumball machines were about $5 each.  The cards I made on the computer and the ribbon I already had.  "Wii hope you had a ball".  Get it?  I crack myself up! Total Cost = $50 (I made two extra party favors "just in case".) 

Super Mario Gummies, Chocolate Coins, Atomic Fireballs

Wii Candy Remotes

Other Candy - I started finding other things and couldn't refuse:  Mario Gummy Candy, Wii Candy remotes (works like a pez, but has "Smarties"), Mario Gold Chocolate Coins, atomic fireballs, Bomb Ombs. Total Cost = I confess I don't even remember nor did I add it up.  I bought a few things here and there as I found them. .(Keep in mind this was before my renewed commitment to saving money.)

Activities

I had planned to make up all these games from ideas I found, but that just didn't happen.  An unexpected death in the family had me out of town the week before the party and I just ran out of time.  You know what? It didn't matter.  The kids were happy to just run around and play.  They were having such a good time that the party ended up lasting a lot longer than I expected. It was so nice to just hang out and talk to the parents while the kids played and no one even noticed we did not have "planned activities." It turned out to be one of the most relaxing parties I have thrown.

Other Mario Ideas

During my brainstorming for the party, I came across so many cool ideas.  Even though I didn't use them, I think they are worth checking out.

• Nintendo Paper Crafts - templates to make various 3D Mario characters (Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, Mario)
• Mario Pinata
• CoolPartyBlog.com - do a quick search here will give you different Mario parties.
• Yoshi Egg Smash  - fun game
• Yvonne Byatts Family Fun - this mom blogs about the coolest Mario party she put together. You really have to check this out.
• Givers Log  - free pattern for Mario hat (and some other neat ideas!)
• Super Mario Cupcakes  - cupcakes
• Downloadable Cube Template
• Downloadable Mario and Luigi Box Templates
• One Pretty Thing - more DIY Mario projects
• Instructables  - another downloadable coin cube.
• Super Mario Character Templates
• Mario Cake Pops

I was very pleased with how this party turned out. Even more important, my son was talking about this party for weeks.  Happy birthday boy = mission accomplished!

Me in the Princess Peach Crown



Linked to:

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