| Recycle/Reuse Philosophy |
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| Stretch your budget without sacrificing creativity or fun! |
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| My husband once painted a moon on a 36" circle of cardboard for my daughter's Swan Princess birthday party. That was 11 years ago. Since then, that moon has resurfaced for a Titanic party, 3 Murder Mystery parties, an Outer Space party, a Christmas party, and 11 Halloween Parties! Who knew that a recycled piece of cardboard and some paint would become such a valuable party prop? |
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| Out of the necessity that came from a limited budget, I soon learned that the best decorations were almost always the ones I made myself...usually out of something I already had. And so...my Recycle/Reuse philosophy was born! |
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| As you plan your event, keep these Recycle/Reuse concepts in mind and you may be bringing out that one special prop over and over again: |
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| Try to use what you already have in a new way |
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| Turn glass bowls or water goblets into candleholders, metal watering cans or buckets can double as vases, a peasant skirt can become a gypsy costume, your own patio table makes a wonderful banquet table, and so on. Really look at what you own in a new light. |
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| Borrow whatever you can from friends or family |
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| I once hosted a party with a Mountain Ski Lodge theme. I thought about my friends who just happen to have a mounted deer head in their garage and I borrowed it from them. They were so excited about helping me with the theme, they loaned me some old skiis, lanterns, and a bear trap as well! The house looked great. The point is, you never know what you can get until you ask. |
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| Use lots of paper and paint |
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| Buy a roll of white butcher paper, several colors of tempera paint (in the 1 pint bottles available at teacher supply stores), and a few sizes of paint brushes and you'll have a decorating tool that will last for years. I believe that most people are more artistic than they think they are. Maybe you're convinced you can't paint something just because you've never tried. Give it a go! Paint signs, banners, backdrops...whatever comes to mind, and see what a difference it makes. |
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| Purchase with "reuse" in mind |
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| As long as you're going to spend the money, spend it on something you can use again. A $5 paper die-cut cowboy from a party store can only be used at an Old West party. But a $5 metal lantern can dress up that same Old West party as well as many parties after that. |
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