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I Finally Threw the Mermaid Party My Daughter Wanted and Nailed It
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items My kid asked for a mermaid birthday party and I panicked. Pinterest made it look impossible, everything was either $400 in decorations or required pastry school skills. After two weeks of research and one trial run, I pulled off a party that had ever...
Sections
4
Mermaid Decorations That Actually Look Like You Tried
Baking Supplies for the Blue Ombre Cake and Seashell Cupcakes
Pearl Necklace Craft Station for the Kids
Party Favors and Tableware That Tie It All Together
Mermaid Decorations That Actually Look Like You Tried
I used to think party decorations meant balloons and a tablecloth. Then I saw what other moms were pulling off and felt the pressure. These six things made the whole room look like an underwater scene without me needing a glue gun degree.
Grab this kit first because it covers the basics in one box. I was hunting for individual pieces for days before I found it, and it saved me three separate orders.
Joyfy, Mermaid Party Supplies, Multicolor
Hang these from the ceiling and suddenly the room feels like the ocean. My daughter's jaw dropped when she walked in, which is the only review that matters.
Mermaid 'Mermaid Wishes' Hanging Swirl Decorations (8pc)
Use this instead of a plain blue tablecloth. The scale pattern photographs so well that two moms at the party thought I had custom prints made.
Beistle - Mermaid Scales Tablecover - 54" x 108" - Pack of 12
Toss this behind the food table for an instant backdrop. For anyone who doesn't want to spend forty minutes taping up streamers, this takes thirty seconds.
Way To Celebrate Iridescent Foil Door Curtain, 8' x 3' Party
Snag a couple of these and anchor them near the entrance. They lasted three days after the party and my daughter refused to let me pop them.
Sea Balloons, Mermaid Tail Foil Balloons for Baby Shower
String these up with the swirls and the ceiling goes from boring to full grotto. I wish I had bought a second pack because they sold out right after.
Creative Converting 336719 Iridescent Mermaid Party
Baking Supplies for the Blue Ombre Cake and Seashell Cupcakes
The cake was the part that scared me most. I am not a baker. I burn toast regularly. But the right tools made it shockingly doable, and the seashell cupcakes took fifteen minutes flat.
Get these if you've never made a layered cake before. Each layer bakes evenly so you're not trying to slice one thick cake in half and watching it crumble.
Wilton Everyday Non-Stick Bakeware Round Cake Pans
Use tiny drops to get that gradient from dark to light blue. I mixed four shades in separate bowls and the ombre turned out better than the YouTube tutorial I followed.
AmeriColor, Soft Gel Paste Food Color, Sky Blue .75 oz
Pour melted chocolate into these for instant seashell cupcake toppers. My six year old helped and they still looked professional. Perfect for parents who want fancy without the fuss.
Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Mold, Sea Life
Swap this in if you don't want to make batter from scratch. Nobody at the party knew it was box mix, and I'm taking that secret to my grave.
Betty Crocker Super Moist White Cake Mix
Pair this with the gel color for frosting that actually holds its shape. I tried making buttercream once and it melted in twenty minutes. Never again.
Wilton Creamy White Decorator Icing Vanilla-Flavored 4 lb.
Scatter these on top of the cupcakes right before serving. They look like tiny real pearls and every kid tried to pick them off and eat them individually.
Edible 120g/ 4.2oz Sugar Black Pearl Sprinkles Candy
Pearl Necklace Craft Station for the Kids
I needed an activity that would keep twelve kids busy for at least twenty minutes and not destroy my living room. A pearl necklace making station did exactly that, and the kids wore them the rest of the party.
Grab two bags because kids will drop beads everywhere and you need backup. The pearlized finish makes them look way more expensive than they are.
Cousin DIY Assorted White Faux Pearl Beads Kit
Use this instead of regular string so the necklaces actually stretch over little heads. I learned this the hard way when three kids couldn't get their first attempts on.
Stretch Magic Bead & Jewelry Cord .7mmX5m-Clear
Mix these in with the pearls for color variety. The teal and aqua shades kept everything on theme and the kids loved picking their own combos.
Creativity Street Plastic Pony Beads - Green, Pkg of 1000
Keep these at the station for kids who finish early and want to decorate something else. They drew glitter starfish on paper plates and honestly it was adorable.
Customer reviews for Glitter Glue Pens (5-pack)
Toss a handful of these into each bead bowl for mermaid flair. The starfish shaped ones were the most fought over item at the entire party.
Darice Assorted Novelty Shapes Pop Beads, 160 Pieces
Set these out with paper seashell cutouts as a backup craft. For the kid who doesn't want to make jewelry, this kept them happy and the paint actually washed out of everything.
Crayola Colors of The World Washable Paint
Party Favors and Tableware That Tie It All Together
Favors were the last thing I planned and almost forgot. But sending kids home with something on theme made the whole event feel complete. These also covered plates and cups so I wasn't washing dishes until midnight.
Stuff these with candy and a few extra beads from the craft station. Parents told me their kids kept the bags on their nightstands for a week after.
Fun Express Nautical Anchor Cellophane Party Favor Bags
Get three packs because you'll use more than you think. Between cake, pizza, and snacks, we went through plates fast and I was glad I over-ordered.
20 Count 9IN White Dessert Paper Plates by Way
Match these with the plates so the table looks pulled together. For anyone who thinks cups don't matter, the kids literally fought over who got which design.
Legendary Mermaid Party Paper Cups, 9-Ounce, 8-Count
Stick a few in each favor bag because kids go absolutely wild for temporary tattoos. Three girls at the party applied them immediately and showed them off for the rest of the afternoon.
Mermaid Tattoos Temporary
Bring these out halfway through the party when energy starts dipping. Instant chaos in the best way. Every kid slapped one on and ran around comparing colors.
Rhode Island Novelty Valentine Day 9" Heart Slap
Toss these on the table right before cake time. The noise was intense but the photos of twelve kids blowing these at once were absolutely worth the headache.
Unique Industries 310001 The Little Mermaid Loot Bags