Monday, April 27, 2015

DIY Graduation Party Ideas


It's hard to believe that graduation season is upon us! Congratulations to the proud parents of those amazing grads this year! To help you celebrate (and keep that bash affordable), here are a few fun DIY graduation party ideas to try this year with items you can find at your local Goodwill store!


Serve Up Drinks in a Fun Way

I love to share drinks with my friends in unique ways. Look at items at Goodwill in  new ways and consider using an item from the store as a unique drink display. Old dressers can be made into a fun drink station, a rusty wheelbarrow is just perfect for putting your drinks on ice, a tool cart can be made into a family-friendly bar cart, or an old wagon can be the perfect spot for making your drinks perfectly portable on the patio. In fact, here are 82 ideas that BuzzFeed has gathered up for your drink displays for the perfect party! 

Create a Mason Jar Centerpiece

Centerpieces can be expensive, but can be made affordable and easily with mason jars, a commonly donated item. Pear Tree showcases an easy DIY Mason Jar Centerpiece that you can create with a little fabric, ribbon, glitter tape, personalized tags, and a few beautiful blooms. 

When on the hunt for fabric, consider beautifully printed clothing items, tablecloths, or vintage sheets for beautiful textiles on a budget.

Use Old Suitcases for Table Displays

Old suitcases can be the perfect addition to any party whether it is adding height to a table or for smart displays and storage. With a theme like, "Oh, the Places You'll Go," for your graduation party, you can easily pull together a beautiful display with old maps, suitcases, and a pretty table banner honoring this easy travel theme. 

Hunt around your house for suitcases or picnic baskets that can be used for your table display and round it out with a few fun finds from Goodwill. The bonus? Transporting items from the table to indoors couldn't be easier! Check out LoveFeast Table for lots of fun party displays for this easy-to-execute theme! 



Serve Up Treats in Champagne Glasses

Balancing treats while mingling is always a challenge as a party guest so consider hunting for fun glassware like champagne or wine glasses that can be used for plating your treats. I love when party displays feel more homey and eclectic so, in this case, mixing and matching of glasses can be a fun way to create a beautiful food display for your party without spending a lot of money! Consider these glasses a cute way to create mini fruit salads, individual trifles, or a pretty way to serve yogurt parfaits for a brunch-themed event. The possibilities are endless with this one! (picture source unknown- pin found here)




Create a DIY Photo Booth

Nothing is a hit at a party quite like a photo booth and what graduate wouldn't want to have this available to take pictures with all of their friends with them on this special day? This photo booth set up from Little Leopard Book is such a cute idea and so budget-friendly. Visit Goodwill for loads of props and create a photo booth for your favorite graduate and their pals with this fantastic tutorial! 

We hope these ideas offer loads of inspiration as you honor a special graduate in your life. Have any tips for parents preparing for their first party? Leave them below in the comments section!