mermaid party

Normally my daughter Brielle doesn't like to be "normal" so I was SHOCKED she chose a mermaid theme for her 11th birthday. Like, REALLY shocked.

We make our kids choose a party or a present, and they always seem to choose a party. :)

Here's what I did for a SUPER CUTE set up for SUPER CHEAP:

I started with this cupcake idea from The Cake Mamas - from this blog post. (Now remember, before you click on it, I always try to make mine a bit easier and cheaper...) :)

The end result: pretty darn good if you ask me!

Here's the inspiration compared to mine. Yeah, it's not professional but, you have to keep in mind that nobody had the first one to compare it to, and my audience was a bunch of 10 and 11 year old girls. They thought mine were magical. :) And I didn't spent $5 per cupcake, ya know?

These are the cupcake toppers I used: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Party-Baking/Themed-Party-Collections/Mermaid-Party/Mermaid-Tail-Cupcake-Toppers/p/80905187

Besides the cupcakes, the table just had two disposable tablecloths from Walmart (one was iridescent and wipe-able so I saved it, one cheap-o pink one layered down the center--both of which can be re-used!), and then a fish net from Hobby Lobby as well (at 40% off of course): https://www.hobbylobby.com/Party-Baking/Themed-Party-Collections/Mermaid-Party/Turquoise-Fishing-Net/p/80909142

We got plain plates, and paired them with these napkins: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Party-Baking/Themed-Party-Collections/Mermaid-Party/Silver-Foil-Mermaid-Napkins/p/80905179

I even had leftover napkins so I cut them up and made some decor for my magnetic board:

Altogether, the table looked like this (with our leftover butter beer mugs from a Harry Potter party years ago, and leftover purple forks too! score!):

That cupcake display thing is this one from Hobby Lobby, and it's been used at probably almost 3 parties EVERY YEAR for many many years. Like, ten years maybe?? That's a seriously low cost-per-use. :) I don't even have all the pieces anymore and we still make it work. :)

A few takeaway tips:

1. Keep your party small enough that don't need to buy multiple packs of everything!

2. Figure out what leftovers you already have, and then just buy a couple things to make it feel new (like the napkins and the fish net).

3. Once again, layering is what makes this cute. Without the $1 pink tablecloth folded down the middle, this would not be as cute.

4. If you make cupcakes for every bday like I do, BUY A CUPCAKE DISPLAY THING.

Was it fancy??? not really...

Was it good enough? The 11 year old sure thought so!!