Throw a theme party without breaking the bank

So your toddler is insisting on an Elmo party? Your 10-year-old wants to celebrate with Kung Fu Panda? But you've looked at the price of all the supplies and cringed?

Actually, party supplies aren't that expensive, but there's no reason to go overboard. You can create the right party theme with some well choosen elements backed up by good basic items.

Start where it's most important to set the theme - the invitations. Do you really have to have the "official" themed invites to set the tone? If you're throwing a Kung Fu Panda party, for example, could you use an Asian themed invite instead of the ones with Po? How about making a gong out of gold circles? Sending fortune cookies? Your goal is to have a Kung Fu Panda party, but not everything has to be Kung Fu Panda to make it happen.

Think next about decorations. Let's say your toddler girl wants an Abby Cadabby birthday party. She's a toddler. Don't go overboard buying the Abby Cadabby balloons, table cover, plates, napkins, centerpiece. Whew! That's a lot of Abby! Pick just one or two items that help convey the theme - maybe a centerpiece and napkins. Then pair that with solid colors for everything else; in Abby's case, pink, purple and turquoise.

The last area that can really rack up the cost is the favors for the guests. Again, with Kung Fu Panda, how about getting plain white Chinese food take-out boxes, then let the kids decorate them. Fits with the theme and gives you another activity. Think about things your theme character likes to do when picking items to go in the loot bags. SpongeBob loves blowing bubbles so a bottle would be perfect choice, while a Surf's Up party bag could include sunglasses.

Need more party ideas and tips? Check out my friend Janet's webpage on birthday party themes with tons of great ideas or my friend Linette's blog, The Kid's Birthday Fun Review.