8 Birthday Crafts to Get the Kids Involved (And That Save You Money)

If your child loves to play with their hands, a craft party is the best way to celebrate your budding artist’s birthday.

Not only can it keep party guests engaged, but it’s also a low-cost alternative to an expensive birthday party. You can either focus on making just one single craft or treat your attendees to a wide variety of arts and crafts projects they can choose from.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or you already have an idea for the main activities, these birthday crafts can help you make the event feel complete.

Here are some of the most compelling (and low cost) ideas that will make your child’s party even better than last year.

1. Superhero Masks

For the kids obsessed with all things superheroes, a themed birthday party can be a great way to get them in the mood.

You can provide paper, colored pencils, and crayons to let them draw themselves as a superhero. Then, set up another table with felt, construction paper, and decorative elements (like glitter, pom poms, glue, etc) to make their own superhero mask.

2. Prince/Princess Crowns

If your child loves to imagine themselves as royalty, a paper prince or princess crown is the perfect way to create a fantasy or royalty themed birthday party.

With construction paper, plastic jewels, flowers, and glue, partygoers can make their own prince and princess crown–with a special crown for the birthday boy or girl.

3. Blizzard in a Jar

For a winter themed birthday party–or for the lovers of the Disney movie Frozen–you can help each partygoer make a blizzard in a jar.

First, take a small glass jar. An empty baby food jar is perfect–just make sure you remove the labels.

Then, take blue tissue paper and tear it into pieces. Put it in the jar along with a generous handful of silver and blue glitter. Add a drop or two of water to help the tissue stick.

Then close the jar and give it a few shakes. For the rest of the party, your child and their friends will be able to shake up a storm in the jar whenever they want.

4. DIY Photo Booth

Another fun party activity for all ages is a DIY photo booth.

Create your own creative backdrop for the kids to play around with. Paper decorations, a chalkboard, balloons, or vines can make a beautiful background for any photo.

Then, you can let the kids make their own photo booth props out of construction paper and traceable designs. Paper glasses, moustaches, hats, and masks will let the kids express their creativity–and come away with some fun photos.

To let the kids come away with more than just memories of a fun party, you can hire a professional to handle the photography at your photo booth. This expert photographer can take care of all your family photography needs.

5. Paper Lantern Jellyfish

These floating paper jellyfishes are great for an under the sea birthday party–and they can double as a nice room decoration for after the party is over.

First, start by unfolding a blue, purple, or grey paper lantern. Take a ribbon of the same color and glue it along the bottom of the lantern.

Then cut, more ribbons into thin strips. Pick a few that are the same color as the lantern and a few others that are transparent for a more iridescent effect.

You can then hang your paper lantern jellyfish from the ceiling or let your kids carry them around. Put a small light inside to light it up or even include a small fan inside to make the jellyfish ripple like it’s in the ocean.

6. Kool-Aid Lip Gloss

For pre-teens and teens alike, DIY cosmetics can be a fun birthday party activity.

First, pour different flavored Kool-Aid packets into bowls. Add a tablespoon of petroleum jelly and mix as well as you can. Then, microwave for about 15 seconds at a time until the solution is completely liquified.

Keep in mind that the Kool-Aid solution will be very, very hot. It might be best to let a parent or other adult handle this part of the process.

Then, you can pour each flavored mixture into a small lip gloss pot. Put it in the refrigerator until it’s completely solidified–which should take a few hours. You can also have the kids take them home to put them in a fridge on their own.

Each kid can also make their own label for their lip gloss–and pick out the flavor and color mix they want the most.

7. Snow Globe Aquarium

If your kid is a marine biologist in training or would love a nautical themed party, you can have them make their own mini aquarium.

Pass out small glass jars for the kids to use. Then put out a few bowls of assorted items like colored rocks, glitter, and small seashells.

You can also put out a bowl of tiny animal figurines with fish, sharks, seals, and more–let them pick one out to put in their tiny aquarium.

8. Candy Bracelets

Regardless of the party theme, candy bracelets are a fun (and delicious) craft that anybody can enjoy.

First, pick out a few different types of candy. You want something that is soft enough to push a needle through it. Gummies, jelly beans, and chewy candies are perfect for this.

Next, cut out an elastic cord to about 7 inches in length. Then thread the cord through the needle and push it through the candy.

Do this one by one until you have all the candy on the cord. Then you can triple knot the bracelet and cut off any excess thread.

Because of the sharp needle, it’s best to let an adult handle this one. But you can let the child pick out the candy they want and design the order they’d like then lined up in.

Birthday Crafts To Save You Money

With these simple and fun birthday crafts, your child can have a blast with their friends–without breaking the bank.

Whether it’s a superhero, nautical, or craft themed birthday party, there’s an activity out there for every kid. All it takes is some construction paper and a little creativity.

Looking for more ways to save money on your kid’s activities while still having fun? Check out our blog for more articles!