Last-Minute Graduation Decorations, Favors, and Activities

Graduation is rapidly approaching—not just for high school, but for college, too!  Many colleges are finishing up their spring semesters in early May, so whether you’re graduating in May or June, it’s probably sneaking up on you.  Are you at the point of planning a graduation party in a frantic, frenzied state of mind?  Here are some ideas to help you.

Graduation Decoration Ideas

You can always stick with the classic (no pun intended) “Class of 2012” decorations, either in your favorite colors or in your school colors.  Those are fail-safe graduation decorations to use as your fallback.  You’ll be able to find tableware in the various solid colors (or a neutral-colored eco-friendly version, if you wish), but then you can also get personalized napkins imprinted with “Class of 2012” or “Congratulations, Graduate!”  You should also stock up on 2012 balloons in the various colors—then you can integrate streamers and centerpieces, maybe even ceiling swirls.

If you want more unique graduation party, take some time to look for a pattern you really like, then buy tableware in that pattern.  Then pull certain colors from it.  For example, if you like a fun daisy pattern, buy plates and maybe napkins pull the colors of the petals on the pattern.  Use those colors when you look for streamers and balloons. You could even pull a color or two from the pattern and get personalized napkins in that color!  By not using the pattern for the decorations and the tableware, your guests will see a much cleaner, more put-together party that they’ll think you spent a great deal of time planning.

Graduation Favor Ideas

Typically, favors take a long time to plan and put together.  If you’re in a crunch for time and need a few quick favor ideas, however, you can make your own mini-swag bags for your guests!  Buy bags and some filler, and then plan what favors you want to use to fill your swag bags with.  Some ideas are:

1. Bubbles!  A small bottle of bubbles will encourage your guests to have fun at your party—bubbles will also keep younger children very entertained throughout the day.
2. Candy!  Everyone loves candy, it’s a great way to say “thank you for coming” and fill your guests’ need for sugary goodness throughout the party.
3. Disposable camera: While most cameras nowadays are digital, it’s still possible to find 20-exposure disposable cameras for occasions such as weddings and parties.  Slip one in each swag bag and give your guests a way to remember the day they spent with you!  This also gives you a way to remember the day later, as you can ask them for the pictures after they take the camera to get developed.
4. A Thank-You Card:  Your guests will be touched that you took a minute to personalize each swag bag with a note written directly to them.  While this may seem a little time-consuming, it will mean more to your guests than you know.

Graduation Party Activities

Because your graduation party is (probably) in the summer, you’ll have beautiful weather to be outside in!  What better summer activities can you think of than water balloon fight?  This is an activity to warn your guests of ahead of time, so they can wear clothes that they won’t mind ruining.  You could also (if you elect to not have a water balloon fight) have all your guests wear white t-shirts and everyone come armed with a different-colored permanent marker or highlighter.  Then you can all write messages on each other’s shirts.  If you use highlighters, you can buy a black light later and your shirt (and the messages written on it) will glow!  That’s another cute favor that everyone will be able to take from your party.  You can also take a roll of solid-colored table cover and hang a lot of it on a wall so your guests can sign it and leave you a note.  You could also have a white graduation cap ready for your guests to simply sign—save the notes for the table cover.  You’ll be able to go back through your high school and college stuff later in life and find the messages from all the guests at your graduation party—think now about the memories it will bring back to you.

Unusual Graduation Theme Parties- Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Dr. Seuss Graduation Party for Big Kids

“Oh, the places you’ll go! Oh, the people you’ll meet!”  With these words, Dr. Seuss unknowingly created one of the most interesting graduation themes of the last few years.  A growing number of high school (and sometimes college) graduates are receiving copies of Oh, the Places You’ll Go from their parents and their older siblings.  It’s a way for parents to send their child into the big world of a path (hopefully) to success.

Decorating for this unusually graduation party will be easier than you think.  All of Dr. Seuss’s books have a wide variety of colors to pull from—Oh, the Places You’ll Go Is no different!  Choose a few different colors to use for your tableware.  This book looks at brighter versions of pastels.  You could either choose different-colored kit-n-kaboodles or you could get plates in one color, napkins in another (maybe have them personalized), and your table covers in a variety of colors.  You could choose matching colors (like purple, green, and blue) or you can pick as many colors as you can find and not really worry about them matching.  That’s the beauty of a Dr. Seuss-inspired graduation party—you can pick any combination of colors and not worry about them matching!

When you find the colored tableware for your Dr. Seuss-themed graduation party, start looking for centerpieces.  Without centerpieces, your tables will look bare—that can’t happen for your graduation party!

Go Green for Your Graduation Party!

Almost along with the bright colors that go with a Dr. Seuss-themed graduation party, think about a hippy theme. Much of the same tableware you found and used for your Dr. Seuss-themed graduation party can be used here, too—mainly the table covers.  The thing to remember is color!  This time, try for the colors of the rainbow instead of just choosing a few different colors.

Usually, when people think “hippy,” the first thing that pop to mind is “environmentally friendly.”  Why not look into eco-friendly tableware to enhance your theme that much more?

For decorations, think about dizzy danglers to represent the hippies that twirl to music.  Don’t forget to add centerpieces to your tables—pick a couple different centerpieces and stagger them from table to table (or along the tables if you have long tables).

These are simply two ideas to help you get creative and make your graduation party unusual and unique.  It doesn’t matter what way you choose to celebrate your graduation, all that matters is that it’s a memorable day because you finally did it! Now it’s time to find new places to go and new people to meet.

Big Heads, Big Sports Trend, Big Fun

The biggest trend in college basketball student sections is really B-I-G.  Three feet tall, big head cutouts, numbering 150 strong at some schools are waved as an attempt to distract visiting players when shooting free throws.  Whether they are effective is debatable, but it’s clear their popularity has taken off.

“The big heads are very popular during the NCAA tourney. Those watching the games from parties at home or in bars wave personalized big head cutouts of their guests to produce a few laughs, while cheering on their favorite teams,” remarks Jacquie Downey, Director of Sales and Marketing at Shindigz, a leading national party supply company.

Making a BIG Impression

High schools are enjoying the action, too. Administrators and parents create big head cutouts to recognize players and coaches during games. “It was the highlight of the night and the talk of the town,” says one mother who used them during her sons’ final high school football game.

Cheering families of marathon runners find the big head cutout’s huge three feet size make a huge impact when their runner turns the corner and sees themselves larger than life.

“They’re not just for sporting events anymore. We get many orders for milestone birthdays.  Big head cutouts showing the guest of honor as a child and an adult really makes a big impression,” adds Downey.

About Shindigz

Since 1926, Shindigz has been a part of over 22 million events and delighted customers with creative party ideas, supplies, and decorations.

Photo Cards Give Your Invitations Flair

Upload Digital Pictures to Personalized Photo Cards

Personalized photo cards are the newest exciting way to give your birthday party invitations or graduation announcements a much more personal touch.  Create your own invitations or announcements by adding your own pictures and messages. Whether you’re planning an elegant event or a home party, photo cards are snappy invitations, place holders, keepsakes, and decorations.

Photo Card Styles & Dimensions

Choose from a wide variety of backgrounds for your personalized photo cards.  With two size options and two finish options, there are many ways to add your own personal flair to invitations or announcements.  You have the option of choosing between a matte finish and a glossy finish on a 4×6 card or a 5×7 card.  Create your personalized photo card for wedding announcements, bridal showers, and baby showers.  Proofread your photo card before placing your order.  Your personalized photo card will be sent to a computer and the photo cards will print in real time.

 Cheap Photo Invitations

The best part is the low cost—personalized photo cards start at 44 cents each!  When you place the order, expect delivery directly to your home.  Envelopes are included with your cards.  What a great way to flex your creative muscles and save money all at once!

Ideas for Your Awards Night Party Theme

Celebrate with a Red Carpet Party Theme

You’re already planning for your college mixer, school prom, adult cocktail party, corporate event, or kids birthday. We’re here to open the brainstorm with a few themes and supplies to get those creative juices flowing.

Awards Party Themes Take Center Stage

Note these dates on your social calendar and build your next theme party around a Bollywood party or Hollywood theme party.

• Zee Cine Awards- Sunday, February 5
• The Grammys- Sunday, February 12
• The Oscars (Academy Awards 2012)- Sunday, February 26
• Academy of Country Music- Sunday, April 1
• Cannes Film Festival- May 16- 27
• MTV Movie Awards- Sunday, June 3
• Tony Awards- Sunday, June 10
• MTV Video Music Awards- Sunday, September 9

Movie Theme Parties

Pop popcorn and snuggle in with the fam for movie night or dream big and snuggle up to a Marilyn Monroe party.

Film Festival Theme Party Decorations

Whisk your intellectual crowd into a sophisticated night of wine, International party supplies, and the sultry, Abhi Mujhe Mein Kahin or organize France party supplies throughout the banquet facility of your Cannes Film Festival event.

Country Music Party Theme

Celebrate country music in our cowboy party store. Show them city slickers that your tableware party supplies don’t have to be fancy because a Dirt Road Anthem surrounded by NASCAR party supplies is the party theme to remember. Invite military families to your event and open the welcome home theme party with We Take Care of Our Own.

City Theme Party Decorations

Go downtown and dance away at a sweaty, city theme party. Continuously play music videos and movies on wide screen TVs. Promote fresh, theme party faces like pop’s Asher Monroe,

soul’s Adele,

or Bollywood’s Vidya Balan.

Political Theme Party Supplies

Want to shake it up? Times are changing. Make a statement with your theme party supplies and political rally decorations. Anjulie will turn heads and so will Occupy party supplies or national debt party supplies peppered throughout your theme party decorations.

College Theme Parties

There’s time to coordinate a frat party, toga party, or birthday with the MTV awards night. Just add a few props, cocktail accessories, and rock star party supplies to go.

Corporate Theme Parties

Let music loosen up the execs. Invite Taylor Swift to your private concert or just watch her perform at the Grammys along with Coldplay.

Give guests a few elephant hats and decorate with baby elephant standees, safari decorations, and other mascot costumes to get in the spirit of Coldplay’s Paradise video. Paul McCartney will be honored at this year’s Grammys. Celebrate the successes of yesterday, while your company presses ahead into 2012. These retro theme party supply or Wizard of Oz party stores can help you emphasize both achievements and goals.

Funny Theme Parties

Laugh it up with clips of Billy Crystal going Off the Grid for the Academy.

Dress up as your favorite nominee. Send party invitations and decorate with party favors, party tableware, and party decorations (such as Money Ball baseball party supplies) that revolve around your picks. Give awards night male statuettes or awards night female statuettes to the most creative or funny, theme party costumes.

Awards party themes spice up winter dull drums and celebrate successes. Host your own Academy, Grammy, MTV, Bollywood, or Hollywood theme party!

Last Minute Ideas for Teen After-Prom & Graduation Parties

Life is busy, especially in the spring time, and you may be in panic mode because you are still trying to figure out what to do for a teen after-prom or graduation party this year. Take back control of your schedule with these creative, fun, and affordable last minute party ideas! Put these ready-made theme parties into quick action with your special personalized touch:

Beach Party Theme
Everybody loves the beach! Ideally your party day will be warm and sunny, but even if the weather turns out to be less than perfect, take your beach party inside with radical beach party supplies. Beach party props or luau party props set a way cool beach scene for your party. There is even beach party tableware to make your life easier.

Retro Party Theme
Go back in time to a retro era with a ‘70’s retro party theme and decorate for your event with groovy, out-a-sight, dy-na-mite retro party supplies. Hang a
peace, love, party door curtain up and include your own wording above the door. There is even retro apparel for cools cats to wear.

Pirate Party Theme
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are entertaining and enjoyable for people of all ages! Have a pirate themed party and end the event with the group watching a showing of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Steal your way over to the pirate party supplies and find a real treasure! Your crew of pirates will dig the pirate party tableware and decorations. Deck out your pirate with pirate apparel.

Rock Star Theme
Set up a stage and open the microphone for your favorite group of rock stars with this riotous rock star theme party. There tons of head banging rock star party supplies to amp up your after-prom or graduation party. Guitar hero continues to be a popular party activity for kids and adults, set up an area to let them rock the night (or day) away and be sure to include rock star party decorations!

For more great party ideas and party supplies, shop Shindigz and get your party started!

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