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Archive for the ‘Parties’ Category

How to Launch a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

Tuesday, November 1st, 2022

chocolate cookies

Getting social again after our long, Covid-19-induced isolation is wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming. A cookie party is an easy, stress-free gathering to throw.

For an even easier gathering, make it a cookie exchange party!

How do you throw a cookie party?

macaron cookiesFirst, let’s talk about when you should throw your cookie swap party. We’ve found the best date is the weekend after Thanksgiving. People are off work, are just starting to get into the holiday spirit, and don’t have too many commitments to worry about yet.

Send out your invitations well in advance. We also recommend scheduling your party in the mid-afternoon hours; you’ll only be serving cookies, not primary lunch or dinner foods. You don’t want to spoil anyone’s appetite. Of course, you might also serve cookies while directing your guests to just wrap theirs and gift them to one another; if you have many guests it could be easy for everyone to get sick trying to eat all the cookies at once. Put some out on a plate for your guests to enjoy all the same.

Then, add some cookie-themed decorations to your home to get everyone in the mood.

What do you serve at a cookie party?

Don’t just think about the cookies; think about everything else, too. For example, what will your guests be drinking?

We recommend milk as the perfect stand-by, but there are other options.

  • Eggnog is a classic choice (especially boozy eggnog)!
  • New Orleans Milk Punch offers a classic twist on “cookies n’ milk”
  • Milkshakes
  • Hot coffee
  • Hot chocolate
  • Sparkling punch
  • Sodas

heart cookiesIf you want a fun twist, you could use disposable, yet festive, cups, glasses, and plates to serve up the cookies and their beverage accompaniment.

If you’re having a longer party, you might add some protein-rich party foods just to ensure that your guests don’t go into sugar shock. Savory appetizers like cheese and sausage can ensure that everyone stays healthy throughout the gathering.

What are the rules for a cookie exchange?

The rules are pretty simple. Everyone makes cookies and brings them to share. Need cookie wrapping ideas?

While asking everyone to bring their favorite recipe is ideal, people are pressed for time and energy. We recommend making sure that your guests know that store-bought cookies are just fine.

Finally, you might consider a recipe exchange to keep the conversation flowing. If you ask everyone to submit their recipes beforehand, you could even use index cards and a pretty box to make a beautiful party favor that will help build a happy memory of your party every time one of your guests makes the recipe!

Ready to throw your holiday cookie exchange party?

If you need supplies for decorations or dishware, come on down to Paper Plus! We’re open and ready to help you throw a lovely social!

How to Get Ready for Rush Week

Thursday, September 1st, 2022

When every sorority and fraternity does its part, Rush Week lends a festival-like atmosphere to the Greek strip of any campus. Sorority rush and fraternity rush are the key to recruiting new members. New to the planning process? Here’s a rundown of what you and your Greek brothers or sisters will have to think about.

Spare nothing! Rush isn’t just another fraternity party or sorority party.  It’s the number one way your organization will recruit new people. Pledges bring in fresh revenue and social capital. You want to encourage as many people as possible to join up, and the best way to do that is by being extra impressive.

Pick a Theme for Your Events

Some sororities are content to pick a color and weave decorations around that color. Some fraternities don’t bother at all, choosing to focus on the entertainment instead.

Yet a well-thought-out theme can add excitement and interest. Why not focus on both the entertainment and an awesome theme? One can in fact inform the other.

Casino Themes

large playing card casino party decorationsFor example, you could pick a casino theme, and center a bunch of cool frat house decorations or sorority decorations around becoming a mini-Vegas, complete with various gaming tables and high-class (possibly non-alcoholic) cocktails.

The classic colors for a casino theme are red, black, white, silver, and gold. You can make your own decorations if your sorority or fraternity is on a budget, or you can make your own: painted boxes make awesome giant dice, for example. It’s also easy to find a ton of pre-made casino decorations.

You’ll want to check your university’s guidelines and state law before gambling anything more serious than Oreos of course.

Pick a Decade, Any Decade

boom box in front of graffitiChoosing a decade is another easy way to punch up frat house decor or sorority room decor. There’s plenty to choose from: the 1960s, the 1940s, the 1980s, or the 1920s are all popular.

Dress up, play that era’s music, and have someone on hand to teach the most popular dances of that decade. Any of these activities can help you put together a sorority house party people won’t forget any time soon!

Think decorations like psychedelic confetti or disco ball balloons. Props and memorabilia will make your decade-themed party a rip-roaring success.

Get Creative

The truth is you can pick any theme as long as it offers you a way to tie all the festivities together.

Make sure the theme you pick is something your frat brothers or sorority sisters will be interested in and love. You want your own members to show up en force while you’re trying to recruit new ones!

Rent Equipment

You’ll need tables, chairs, and lots of them. You might want to get these reserved well before Rush Week so you aren’t having to scramble, calling around to find them at the last minute.

Figure Out Food

pizzaNobody wants to be at your events if the food isn’t great. Food boosts attendance, keeps people there, and leaves potential pledges with good feelings about your sorority or fraternity.

Or, as The Fraternity Advisor notes, “Pizza=pledges.”

Gather Decor Supplies

You can start ordering supplies once you’ve picked your theme. There are a few things to think about, such as:

  • Lawn decorations.
  • Plates, cups, & napkins in theme colors.
  • Garlands & streamers.
  • Light strings.
  • Balloons.
  • Tablecloths.
  • Signs.
  • Sorority or fraternity recruitment flyers.
  • Event advertisement fliers.
  • Pictures of past events or volunteer projects.

Make sure you have something fun for every area and event.

Don’t forget the fun!

Rush is serious, and you’re trying to communicate what your fraternity or sorority is all about. Yet your recruits and pledges want to know they’ll have a great time with your organization.

What makes that happen? The people. So, while you’re getting stocked up on party supplies, don’t forget to smile lots, extend the hand of friendship to potential recruits, and make people feel welcome. It’s that feeling of being welcomed and fitting in that will ultimately get people to join your ranks. The fun surroundings and events just make it a little easier for your best selves to shine.

Want a save your sorority or fraternity budget? Stop by Paper Plus to get all your Rush Week supplies!

80s Party Ideas for Adults

Monday, August 1st, 2022

boom box in front of graffiti

Got some 80s nostalgia? Plenty of adults do right now, which is why 80s parties are all the rage.

You don’t even need a reason to throw one! You can throw one just because things are finally opening up again, and you’re ready to have a good time with your friends.

Use these tips to create a night to remember!

What can you do for an 80s party?

duran duran recordAn 80s party is the perfect opportunity to:

  • Bust out your favorite 80s tunes!
  • Create a glow-in-the-dark party!
  • Set an 80s dress code!
  • Serve up some retro sweets!
  • Rent some 80s arcade cabinets, set to free-to-play!
  • Get a green screen and a karaoke machine to make your own music videos!
  • Get a button machine so that guests can make some bling!
  • Set out some board games like Topple, Win Lose or Draw, Wheel of Fortune, Twister, Chinese Checkers, Uno, Battleship, and Connect Four.
  • Don’t forget the decorations!
  • Clear the dance floor!
  • Throw lip-sync battles, karaoke contests, and dance-offs!

Believe it or not, adults can really connect and enjoy all of these activities, even when they seem silly. Especially when they seem silly!

What do you need for an 80s party?

Retro snacks are a must. We’re talking everlasting gob stoppers, Tootsie Pops, fizz bombs, snowballs, rock candy, and Jiffy Pop. Stock up on soda, especially Dr. Pepper and Sprite. Create neon signature cocktails. Make sloppy joe sliders.

If you rent those arcade games you could give out prizes for the guest who wins the high score of the night.

Make sure you have a dance floor cleared, and use decorations to make sure the dance area is clear to all. Set up stations for people to do all the fun activities you’ve set out for them.

80s Party Decorations: DIY

It’s easy to find a lot of cut-outs for 80s-themed decorations, or to make your own. You could deck the walls with 80s movie posters or create Pac-Man themed cut outs. Put out black lights and glow sticks.

Just about anything neon will evoke that 80s feeling. So will retro video game prints and hanging swirls with cassette tape danglers.

80s Party Props

cassette tapesProps and favors are easy for 80s themed parties, and they can be one and the same.

  • Set out bowls with huge, angular glasses for guests to pluck up and wear.
  • Give out neon glitter pen bracelets and jelly bracelets.
  • Decorate with Rubix cubes and let your guests take them home if they want to.
  • Set out neon hats!
  • Set out tye-dyed pencils.
  • Set out little 80s themed erasers!
  • Give out 80s-themed keychains!

Other props could include neon glassware, plates, and napkins, as well as boom-box cut-outs, paper lanterns, and more.

80s Party Games for Adults

It’s hardly an 80s party without busting out the MadLibs, which can be made as clean (or as dirty) as you tell your guests to keep them. Set up an 80s trivia game.

We’ve already mentioned karaoke, lip-sync battles, and dance-offs, but you can turn them into full-scale contests. You can also give out a prize for the best music video.

You could even create a giant table full of Legos and just let people play. An 80s party is a great time for people to connect with each other and with the nostalgia of the past.

What do you wear to an 80s themed party?

To evoke the 80s style, don’t forget to tease up your hair and find yourself some shoulder pads. Wear some neon or dig up some leg warmers. Letter jackets and jean jackets are also a good call.

It was a colorful era, even for men, and there are plenty of options. Will you go punky, preppy, neon, or yuppie? The choice is up to you!

Have a totally tubular time!

rubix cube

Don’t overthink your 80s party. Right now you’ll be doing everyone in your life a favor by cheering them up with bright colors, music they haven’t heard in years, fun colors, and exciting games. Keep the energy up and go over-the-top: the 80s were all about going big and they were anything but sedate. And if this all sounds a little exhausting, you could always tone it down. Make a few glowy cocktails, set out a bowl of M&Ms, tell your friends to put on some 80s gear, and fire up Back to the Future, Die Hard, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

It was a bright, fun time, and we could all use a little more of that in our lives.

Do other decades interest you – 50s, 60s, 70s?

And, of course, if you come on down to Paper Plus you’ll find plenty of supplies, from cut-outs to favors to neon-themed glasses and cups. Our shelves are all stocked and waiting to help you launch some summer fun, so stop on by today!

Block Party Ideas For a Great Street Party

Friday, July 1st, 2022

neighbors socializing at block party

National Night Out is coming on August 2, and it’s the perfect excuse to throw a block party. We really encourage it, since it’s a chance to do what many of us have never done before: meet and communicate with your neighbors.

This can be intimidating if you’ve never thrown one before, so we’ve got some fun ideas to share.

What does a block party consist of?

Most block parties include:

  • Lots of free food and soft drinks. If you don’t want to pay for it all, you could set up a potluck table. Other block parties do it as a BBQ, a picnic, or even an ice cream social.
  • A lot of promotion in advance: people need to know about your block party if they’re going to go!
  • Plenty of tables to hold food, and kegs or ice chests to hold drinks and ice.
  • Music, if local ordinances allow.

Block parties help you have fun and meet people you’d never met before. They’re a great way to make friendships with people who live right where you do.

What can you do at a block party?

You can do anything you’d do at a normal party. Most block parties are kept family-friendly and allow space for the kids to show up and have a good time.

Most will include food, music, and some light games to help people get to know one another. You can block off an area for dancing as well, though you don’t want to blare the music too loudly. Ultimately, you want your neighbors to talk to one another.

How do you throw a small block party?

You may be having overwhelming visions of 40 to 50 strangers showing up to your event, but in truth you can control the size of your block party.

First, use old-fashioned methods to advertise your party. Don’t jump on Nextdoor or Facebook. Pick a few streets, perhaps the street above and below yours, or even just your own street. Hang a few invitations on people’s doors or send them through the mail after taking a walk to gather the addresses.

If you want to let people invite friends, family, or relatives, say so on the flier. If you want to restrict it to people who live on your street or block, you can say that, too.

Block Party Games

office chair races at block partyWhile the words “block party” can evoke images of wild parties, they can be family-friendly events, too. In fact, we encourage it, especially for National Night out! Here are a few ideas.

  • An egg toss.
  • A bean bag toss with canisters of different heights and widths.
  • Office chair races with helmets.
  • Hold a simple best dog contest: let people enter and show off their dog’s tricks and award points for loudest clapping.
  • Hold a pet costume contest.
  • Get local businesses to donate prizes and hold drawings or give them out as prizes for pet contests.
  • Think old time games: musical chairs or Red Rover can offer good, clean family fun.

Tips For a Good Street Party

potato sack races at block partyHere are a few tips to get you started.

  1. Check with your neighbors. They may be planning block parties too. You can team up or if more appropriate, choose another date.
  2. Advertise at least 4 weeks in advance. You might want to send out reminder fliers two weeks in advance.
  3. Parties should be finished before 9:00pm, especially if there are kids or seniors on your street.
  4. Keep it on the lawn but keep your garage as a rain-out option, or, if you can get a permit, reserve the whole street. If you’re not comfortable having people wandering around your home you can keep the party on your back and front lawn.
  5. Make food fun and accessible. For example, renting a cotton candy machine, a popcorn machine, or both can make outdoor-accessible food easy and fun.
  6. Check your local regulations before you put on a party, as there may be ordinances that impact you. You may, for example, require a permit.
  7. Set out balloons to mark entrances and exits. This shows it’s an organized activity.
  8. Use colorful signs to direct people to the party-accessible areas, and the off-limits areas.
  9. Get some volunteers! You’ll need people to help you post signs, advertise the party, serve food, and even circulate among the crowd making sure everyone has someone to talk to. Some might even be amateur entertainers who will be willing to make your block party even better.
  10. Set out a sign-in book so you can get contact information for your neighbors. This can come in handy for future block parties, but can also help bring your neighborhood together in a crisis.
  11. Encourage security. Remind neighbors to lock up doors and equipment while they’re at your party.
  12. Don’t forget to clean up after your party. You won’t endear yourself to your neighbors if you leave trash all over the street after it is done.

You’re ready to meet the neighbors!

Don’t stress out too much! If you get some people joining in and having a good time with food and fun, you’ve done more than most. And after two grim Covid years most people will appreciate an opportunity to have some fun.

Don’t forget you can come on down to Paper Plus to get balloons, disposable flatware, table cloths, sign supplies, game supplies, and more. Our shelves are fully stocked and we’ve got great prices. Come on down and see us! We like meeting our neighbors, too!

How Do You Throw an Ice Cream Party?

Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

cups of ice cream and cones with toppings around

An ice cream sundae party is a time-honored tradition. The ice cream social is an early American phenomenon dating back to 1744. An ice cream birthday party may be the first thought that jumps to mind, but the very first social was a dinner party, hosted by Maryland governor Thomas Bladen, who served ice cream for dinner. President Thomas Jefferson would later go on to host one in the White House in 1802.

They’re perfect for block parties, church socials, fundraisers, birthday parties, housewarming parties, and even chic afternoon get-togethers. Here are some ideas to help you launch yours.

Ice Cream Party Food Ideas

bowl of ice cream with fruitThe star of the show is, of course, the ice cream, but consider going the extra mile. Set up a sundae bar with multiple flavors and toppings, arranged and decorated in a way that promotes a festive atmosphere.

If you don’t know all your guests, consider adding at least one pint of dairy-free ice cream and at least one pint of sugar-free ice cream, to accommodate everyone’s needs.

If you want an ultra-healthy hack for those who can’t have much sugar, frozen bananas run through a food processor creates a totally healthy ice cream substitute that even has the right flavor and texture.

Want to try a sophisticated twist? Serve up a roast pear & sherry ice cream with a side of sherry.  Or try a few savory ice cream flavors.

Don’t want to send your guests to the moon with a major sugar high? If you’re going the dinner party route, add a few protein-heavy appetizers to help ground them a little. Meatballs on a stick, satay skewers with spicy peanut sauce, cheeseball lollipops and pineapple skewers can keep the theme a little light-hearted and fun while offering the same sophisticated twist.

Pro-tip: you can pre-scoop ice cream scoops and freeze them so you can get everyone served up quickly and easily, without having to fight with an over-frozen carton.

ice cream sunday in glass cup

Ice Cream Party Games

Kids and grownups alike love games, and you have quite a few options with an ice cream social. A blind taste test to see who can identify the most ice cream flavors is one fun option, especially if you throw in some of the lesser-known flavors.

Rolling dice to see what toppings you can add to your sundae is another fun game, though this game works better when you have a room full of adventurous eaters!

For kids, you could do a fun race where you have them hold a maraschino cherry on a spoon, and then try to race from one end of the yard to the other without dropping their cherry. Or you can have a sundae relay, requiring each kid to stop at a station to top off a stunning sundae before running the finished product to the end of the line.

Ice Cream Party Favors

Use colored paper to make cone-shaped goodie bags and fill them with sweet treats. Pens, pencils, and erasers that are shaped like ice cream cones or decorated to look like them can also be fun for certain age groups.

For adult guests, try putting a ribbon around an ice cream scoop and pass them out to your guests. A fair number of them are probably still bending their spoons beyond recognition at home. They’ll appreciate a proper scoop!

Ice Cream Party Decorations

ice cream cone with toppingsYou’ve got so many options! Honeycomb paper ice cream cones are a fun option, but there are also ice cream cone cut-outs that you can buy and place on your wall. You could also create an old-fashioned ice cream parlor sign, or use color chalk to create a menu board. You can turn party hats into ice cream cones, or create decorations out of balloons where the balloon is the ice cream and the cone is made of paper.

There are several pre-made ice cream centerpieces as well, though if you are crafty you can easily make your own.

Think bright, cheerful colors and whimsical styling unless you’re going ultra-sophisticated, at which point you may want to do similar things in tones of white, gold, and silver.

Don’t overthink your ice cream social!

Right now everyone is looking for just about any reason to celebrate and have some fun. Put your own twist on your ice cream social and send out the invites! Anything cheerful is going to be a big hit right now, and you’ll be doing your friends, family members, or neighbors a huge favor.

Want to add cupcakes?

Want to DIY some favors or decorations? Need the perfect party favor? Come on down to Paper Plus to get prepared for your ice cream party! We’ve got plenty of supplies in stock and we’re excited to see you.

 

Sweet 16 Party Ideas

Sunday, April 3rd, 2022

pink donuts to celebrate sweet 16

For many girls, the sweet 16 party is going to be one of the highlights of their childhood (or the quinceanera at 15). It’s a time to go all out to create the most amazing birthday bash you can possibly manage.

If you’re searching for unique sweet 16 party ideas then you’ve come to the right place.

Sweet 16 Themes

mardi gras mask beads and makeup

Playing with themes is a great way to help set your sweet sixteen party apart from the one that all the other girls will be having this year.

If your daughter’s birthday is in February then you could go with a Mardi Gras theme, complete with beads, masks, and hurricane mocktails.  Serve up some po-boys and, as they say in South Louisiana, “you be laughin’.”

If you have a winter child, then a winter wonderland sweet sixteen theme can be a wonderful choice.

You can also center the party theme around your daughter’s favorite colors, or you can go with hobbies. Sweet sixteen glow parties are also all the rage this year.

mittens and snowflake for winter wonderland sweet 16 theme

Sweet 16 Party Ideas at Home

Some parents compete to try to make their sweet sixteen parties more and more outlandish. They rent giant venues and treat it almost like a wedding.

Yet you don’t have to do that to make the day special. Collaborate with your daughter’s friends to set up a surprise party at home and the day can be just as meaningful. In fact, this may be your last chance to really set one up: after they turn sixteen it’s almost impossible to keep a party a secret.

Sweet 16 Birthday Ideas on a Budget

Save a lot of money by keeping the party in the home, but really punch up the theme to make it festive. Cook all of your own food.

Do those two things and you’ll honestly tackle the two biggest expenses associated with sweet sixteen parties.

If you’re crafty, consider making some of your own decorations as well. If you can’t, don’t worry. Decorations are rarely very expensive and you can do a lot of creative things with a very small budget.

Sweet 16 Party Decorations

confetti flying in air

Balloons, napkins, plates, and confetti that say 16 or have ones and sixes on them are easy to find. If your child’s friends would enjoy wearing them there are also headbands with the number 16 on the bopper. You can make your child queen for a day with a tiara or a sash.

Adding a balloon arch where teens can take photographs and selfies is always a big hit.

Put together a rocking playlist and clear some dance floor space, too! If you can, enlist your birthday girl’s BFF to get the playlist made and to come up with ideas for activities. They’ll have a better idea of what your daughter will want to do than you will, and can help you ensure that none of the festivities embarrass your child for being a little too young or a little too stodgy.

Don’t miss your chance to throw the party of a lifetime!

While putting together a sweet sixteen party can seem intimidating it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really show your child you care. Don’t be afraid to brainstorm some ideas or to think outside the box a little bit. You might find the right ideas on Pinterest or after talking to your child’s friends.

Once you know what kind of sweet sixteen party you’re going to be putting together, don’t wait! Head on down to Paper Plus at 1629 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA to get all the supplies you’ll need to throw an amazing party. 

Anniversary Party Ideas

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

couple celebrating 55th annivesary with balloons

While we often think of an anniversary as being between members of a married couple, there are other important anniversaries in our lives. For example, best friends can celebrate the day they met or friend groups could celebrate the way they came together. People also celebrate sobriety birthdays or 100-day celebrations as well.

No matter what type of anniversary you’re celebrating this year or how many years you and your loved ones have been together, there are a wide variety of celebrations to choose from. An anniversary party can be any size…often the success of the event really just boils down to capturing the spirit of the milestone. Read on for our anniversary party ideas!

Happy Anniversary Balloons

Getting balloons for your anniversary is one of the quickest, easiest ways to spruce up a space. You can get them numbered to match the day you’re celebrating. Most people who are celebrating anything other than a wedding anniversary stick with silver for a 25th year anniversary party or gold for a 50th anniversary party.

You can make up your own though: number balloons come in all colors, and you don’t have to make them say “anniversary.” Or, if you want the word “anniversary” you can spell it out with letter balloons.

Don’t forget balloon decorations can create some pretty cool effects as well. For example, if you’re having a big party you can make an arch with the numbers in the middle. You’d then adorn them with spirals on the side. Or go for several balloon bouquets.

30th anniversary party spelled in balloons

Other Anniversary Party Decorations

There are loads of other ideas for anniversary party decorations you can come up with.

For example, anniversaries are all about numbers, so try putting numbers on sticks. These can be waved, or be placed in a plant or vase to make a centerpiece. You can target the time of year as well: during the fall one of our customers put succulents in mini-pumpkins and then decorated them with a wreath, which we thought was very creative.

You can also use glitter, glue, and stencils to decorate just about anything.

Themed Favors for Anniversary Parties

If you’re doing a wedding anniversary then every anniversary has a theme, such as “paper,” or “wood.” You’re not bound to those if you’re doing a friendaversary, but you can still use them for inspiration.

If you do, you can then create favors based around those themes. You don’t have to be literal about it: if it’s a sapphire anniversary then you can just offer sapphire blue favors; you don’t have to literally shower people with jewels.

A Nice Meal

What would an anniversary celebration be without a wonderful meal? You can go small or elaborate depending on who you’re throwing your anniversary party for. If you’re having a backyard anniversary party then there’s nothing wrong with a BBQ, but something more elegant is usually appropriate.

Friendaversaries can be a little bit more low-key. For those, you might consider tapas or other small plates just to keep things light and fun.

cake with candles numbered 50 for annivesary party

Anniversary Cupcakes or Cookies

What’s for dessert? You’ve got a lot of options, but we recommend cupcakes or cookies.

Cupcakes and cookies offer nice places to put celebratory numbers, either as candles or as decorative icing. They’re also nice single-serve treats that you can make or buy in dozens of different colors.

candles spelling happy on cupcakes for anniversary

Are You Planning Your Anniversary Party Ideas on a Budget?

Remember you don’t have to buy most of your anniversary party decorations! It’s perfectly okay to just make yours. Doing so can be a lot of fun and can make your celebration a lot more personal…and it can save you some money, too!

Need supplies for your anniversary celebration? Whether you’re making them yourself or want them ready-to-go, Paper Plus can help. Stop by to see what we have in stock!

These Olympic Watch Party Ideas Will Make Your Gathering One to Remember

Tuesday, February 1st, 2022

figure skater in olympics spinning jump

If you’ve set out to host an Olympics watch party this year then you’ve set a big goal for yourself! After all, the Olympics is a major event that only comes around once every two years.

As the winter Olympics is up next, we’ll talk about putting together a winter Olympics viewing party. Yet many of these principles would work just as well for a summer Olympics viewing party.

Choose Your Time

Scheduling is probably everyone’s biggest party hurdle. There are a couple of ways to do it.

The first way is just by targeting the opening ceremony and a handful of events on the first day of the 2.5 week Olympics competition. Choose this date if you want to get everyone pumped about the rest of the events. You might keep the excitement going throughout the event by setting up a temporary Discord server or Slack channel where you can chatter about other events after the party is over.

Another way is to focus on a specific event that everyone loves. Figure skating is a great one because those competitions are such fun visually, but you can choose any event that excites your partygoers.

Of course, it might be a matter of convenience. You can use the WhenIsGood tool at WhenIsGood.net to find a time that works for most of your guest list.

watching bobsled olympic event

Decorate Like Crazy for Your Olympic Viewing Party

Decoration is the best way to get all your guests into the spirit of the Olympic events!

Here are a few ideas.

Flags

Olympic flags and national flags can really get people in the mood. You can get tiny hanging flags on a line or flags that you can group in vases for centerpieces. Toothpicks with flags on them are great to place in certain finger foods.

Sporty Decorations

If you’re theming your party around a specific event then you can often find decorations that celebrate that event. Hanging decorations, cut-outs that offer a stick figure of someone skiing or skating, or other decorations can create a specific atmosphere.

Pom Poms

Winter sports may not traditionally come along with cheerleaders, but if you’re cheering on the USA Hockey Team you might want to capture some of that spirit. Pom Poms are also festive and fun!

Olympic Torches

You can create torches out of vases and red, yellow, and orange tissue paper. You can also get torch cut-outs to put on the wall.

curling stone

Make it Interactive

You can just have everyone settle in front of the television with a passel of snacks. That’s a perfectly valid way to host a winter Olympics watch party.

Yet if you want your party to be a bit more memorable, it’s always fun to add some interactive elements. Since the Olympics are the main event you don’t want to do anything that will distract, so incorporate some games into the watch party.

One way is by filling out some score cards. You can have your guests raise their cards and compare them to the judges’ scores. They get a point every time they make an accurate prediction. Give out gold, silver, and bronze medals to the winners.
If you know the event very well and don’t have any beliefs against gambling then you could also set up a friendly, small scale Olympics betting pool. There are a few printable examples online, or you can make up your own. Nobody minds winning a little lunch money!

Theme Up the Food

Make cookies in the shape of rings and then use colored sugar to turn them into the Olympic rings. Theme plates after the 5 colors of the Olympics. Create ‘torch’ displays with long glasses and pretzels.

Your creativity is the only limit. Many of the game day foods that people use at the Super Bowl or other watch parties are great for an Olympics watch party, too.

How do you celebrate the Olympics at home?

Once the party is over there will typically be a lot more Olympics to watch! Keep it fun by snacking on a few of those leftover party cupcakes every now and then, or make certain events into family fun nights. That Discord or Slack channel will sure come in handy too. Or host a virtual watch party for family members and friends who couldn’t be at your physical one. It’s a great way to get a gold medal in event planning!

Need supplies for your Olympics watch party? Head on down to Paper Plus at 1629 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA to get all the flags, decorations, and other supplies that you could possibly need.

 

 

As We Head into 2022, Party Days Are Here Again

Wednesday, December 1st, 2021

paper party decorations

Everybody wanted to see the end of 2020. Some people even posted signs that said, “Happy New Year, Good Riddance, 2020.”

Maybe it’s 2021 they should have been looking to say goodbye to though because 2021 is where we turned the corner. We know, because we know what nobody bought in 2020, and we know what is starting to fly off the shelves today.

What’s made a comeback?

boy blowing out birthday candlesBulk plates, napkins, forks, spoons, table rolls, and cups tell us people are starting to launch big gatherings once more. People are also pulling out the stops on their parties a lot more than they used to. We’re seeing lots of requests for all theme decorations. This year is the perfect year to finally run that Luau party, that Pride party, or that Mardi Gras party you’ve been putting off.

One big return to normalcy is kids are having birthday parties again, but they’re simpler. Whereas we used to see big, expensive parties, now we’re watching parents take off with craft items in big quantities, such as beads that will let the whole group make jewelry together. This is a nice trend, one that perhaps signals an emphasis on spending face-to-face time together, talking with friends.

We also see a more whimsical spirit, because people are buying wearables: buttons, sashes, hats, tiaras.

People are starting to relax a little because bubbles are blowing off the shelves. Prior to that nobody wanted to see anyone blow germs around. Candles are back for birthday cakes…another sign that people are a little less afraid.

girl blowing bubblesKids aren’t the only ones partying. Plastic champagne and wine glasses are flying off the shelves, too! People are also buying platters for big dinner parties.

We can also tell that organizations are starting to run events once more. We’re seeing things like raffle tickets sell, which is a sure sign of groups that are running little backyard fairs and other, similar fun events.

What’s new?

One big surprise is that certain things that people were handling via email or the internet are now being handled with physical, paper snail mail. That is, a lot of people are coming in both for real paper invitations and for thank you notes. It indicates a nice shift back to a highly personal touch.

Ready to get back in the game?

If you’ve been a little slow to jump back on the entertaining trend then now may be the time. Start planning for your New Year’s party now, or find something fun in January’s 119 other holidays to create a party around. National Hot Buttered Rum day on January 17th? National Popcorn Day on January 19th? National Cheese Lover’s Day on January 20th? You know you can do something cool with this!

If you do, your local party store is waiting to help. Talk to the employees: they’ll have ideas and suggestions that can make your party even better.

We’re doing everything we can to keep these hot items in stock! Stop on by and see us and we’ll help you make your next bash a real blow-out!

How to Have the Best Glow-in-the-Dark Party this Halloween

Friday, October 1st, 2021

glowing halloween decorations

Glow-in-the-dark parties are a fun way to celebrate a super spooky Halloween. With the right supplies, you can transform your home, garage, or backyard into a spooky monster revelry zone that your guests will absolutely love.

In fact, these parties are perfect for kids and adults alike.

Here are a few glow-in-the-dark party ideas to get you started.

Glow-in-the-Dark Decorations

Let’s start with the decorations. You can start with glow-in-the-dark balloons (these would make a great balloon costume, too!). You don’t have to stop there, though. Glow in the dark paint can help you transform your jack-o-lanterns into spooky sentinels. Add a few glow sticks to jars wrapped with a little masking tape, add some googly eyes, and you’ve got little mummies to turn into centerpieces.

Grab black plastic tablecloths and splatter them with glow paint, then add them to all of your tables.

To get the best results you’re going to want to block out all the light, so cover all your windows in black builders plastic. You can splatter those with glow paint, too! You’re also going to want to add LED black lights to ensure all your glowy items look their best.

glow in the dark bottles halloweenYou can find pre-made glow-in-the-dark decorations too. There are glowy party letters, glowy balloons, and other fluorescent and neon party supplies that can help you make your space look amazing. Use your imagination!

Glow-in-the-Dark Party Favors

You can create glow-in-the-dark confetti and place it into jars to create some awesome party favors that people love at just about any age. The same paint could be used to glow up small bags that can hold just about anything, from candy to tiny bottles of alcohol.

Glow Party Food

glow in the dark ghosts halloweenYou’d be amazed how many party foods you can make glow. Certain ingredients do it naturally, including tonic water, cooking oil, eggs, honey, olive oil, ketchup, pineapples, and milk.

Some foods also reflect black light, like marshmallows, white bread, pasta, rice, and chips.

Create food that incorporates any of these glow-up ingredients or use some of the ideas below.

Here are a few ideas:

Here’s one last trick: you can add liquid vitamin B2 to foods to add some additional glow!

Glow-in-the-Dark Party Ideas for Adults

You’ve already seen how just about any adult party cocktail can be given a glow-up.

glow in the dark facepaint halloween

Pump up the jams, make sure there’s plenty of space on the dance floor, and add some tiny liquor bottles to your glow-in-the-dark piñata, put plenty of food out and you should have the party atmosphere good to go.

Glow-in-the-Dark Face Paint

What would Halloween be without face paint? Get a black light makeup kit and get creative. Go spooky with ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, or skeleton features.

We’ve got all your glow-in-the-dark party supplies right here!

Here at Paper Plus, we keep all sorts of glow-in-the-dark party supplies in stock. Stop by and we’ll help you stock up for your Halloween party!

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