Frugal Valentine’s Day Fun!

Enjoy this wonderful guest post by my friend and fellow blogger, Cristy…

Hi everyone, Cristy here from Pretty My Party bringing you some fabulously frugal Valentine’s Day inspiration. If you’re planning a red hot Valentine’s Day party or a Love themed baby shower or bridal shower, there are many DIY projects out there you can incorporate into your party that won’t break the bank.

Let’s start with décor. Throwing a party doesn’t have to be costly. A little DIY magic can make your party fabulous. All you need is some patience. Votives are a cheap way to add a little ambiance to a room. If you have some left over mason jars lying around and a little glitter you can make some fabulous valentine votives for your tables or mantle. Heart candy is definitely a must-have for Valentine’s Day. But what if you create a fun wreath like the one shown for your front door. Something as simple as a doily can be turned into a fun and festive banner. Add some lights for a little ambiance to give it a more intimate and romantic feel.

Clockwise: DIY Valentine Glitter Votives: Tatertots & Jello; Heart Candy Wreath: Pinterest; Doily Wreath: Full House

Have you ever gone to Home Depot to look for paint colors for a home improvement project? Those free color swatches can be turned into some fun Valentine’s Day décor. Just cut out hearts with a paper punch and make a banner to hang above the dessert table. You never have to go far to find some FREE printables to decorate your party space. Pretty My Party has free Valentine’s Day printables for instant download. Valentine’s Day is all about love, right? How cute are these wooden letters that spell out LOVE? You can find wooden letters at any craft store. Just grab some paint and you can have a great centerpiece for your candy bar or dessert table.

Paint Chip Paper Punch Garland: Grace and Light; Free Valentine’s Day Printables: Pretty My Party; Wooden Letters: Delish

Now for everyone’s favorite: Desserts! Who doesn’t love Rice Krispie treats? Make them festive by grabbing a heart cookie cutter and a lollipop stick and you can serve your guests some fun Valentine’s Day heart wands. They will even make cute table centerpieces. Sugar cookies are a quick and easy dessert for even the novice baker. Heart shaped sugar cookies with sprinkles like the ones shown will be a favorite among your guests. They can even be used as favors! For a healthier option, try heart fruit skewers or heart shaped strawberries on a stick. You can even add a delicious fruit dip.

Rice Krispie Treat Heart Wand: Catch My Party; Heart Sugar Cookies: Such Pretty Things; Heart Fruit Skewers: Life in Wonderland; Strawberry Skewers: Catch My Party

Show your guests some love with handmade favors. How cute are these cupcake liner heart ribbons? Kids will feel special wearing your handmade hard work! Looking for a fun favor bag? What about making these adorable love owl bags. The kids will think it’s a hoot! Looking for a fun and unique favor? What about these cute heart crayons. They are super easy to make. Just take your broken crayons, place them in a silicone cupcake tray and bake on 250 for about 15 minutes. Place them in a treat bag, add a ribbon and tag and you’re set! Don’t want to make your own favor bags? No worries! Etsy has a ton of shops that sell cute and affordable favor bags. I just love these red heart burlap bags! Add candy, cookies, or even a love note!

Cupcake Liner Heart Ribbons: Too Stinkin’ Cute; Love Owl Bags: One Fantastic Party; Heart Crayons: The Joys of Home Educating; Red Heart Burlap Bag: Funky Shique

Sweets for your sweet! You don’t have to be a professional to make this teal and pink cake with a cute heart topper. For the more advanced bakers, this pink ombre heart cake is definitely party worthy. Marshmallow pops are a popular choice on dessert tables these days. Dip them in red or pink candy melts, add some sprinkles, and you have a quick and easy treat. Cupcakes are an easy dessert option for any party. What about adding an arrow to some delicious red velvet cupcakes. Overwhelmed with all the DIY and baking you have to do? Involve the kids. They will find it more exciting if they are helping out and will feel a sense of accomplishment. They will be so excited to share their labor of love with their friends, family and classmates!

Teal and Pink Cake: Sprinkle Bakes; Pink Heart Ombre Cake: Martha Stewart Living; Red Velvet Cupcakes: Bakerella; Marshmallow Pops: Pint Sized Baker