Happy Monday! I’m thrilled to share highlights from our weekend celebration. Our little one turns two today (how did that happen so fast?), but we celebrated with family and friends on Saturday and it was a lovely, low-cost party full of smiles.
I promised myself this wouldn’t be an over-the-top event, and of course I got a bit carried away. That’s the truth of hosting parties for toddlers—most of the décor is for the adults who appreciate it. My daughter won’t remember everything, but I’m glad we were able to create a pretty scene without spending a fortune.
Here’s the decor and setup breakdown:
Sweets table – A thrifted dresser I originally revamped for her bedroom served as the dessert display.
Curtains & rod – I used curtains I’d already made and hung them on a spray-painted curtain rod attached with 3M Command Hooks.
Banner – A simple burlap banner made from twine and printed pennants.
Cupcake stand – Found at Goodwill for $3 and cleaned up for the table.
Vases – Two white pitchers from a thrift store filled with faux pink peonies ($2 each) and other faux flowers I already owned.
Pink scroll chargers – Ceiling medallions from Goodwill that I spray painted Ballet Slipper for wall accents later.
Gumball jar – An apothecary jar repurposed from our bathroom to hold gumballs.
Tutu garland – Twine, clothespins, and tulle (tulle spools run about $3 each) provided by my mother-in-law and clipped into a playful garland.
White cake stand – A DIY piece I made last year from a candlestick and plate for about $5.
Pointe shoes – My old ballet pointe shoes brought out of storage for a sentimental touch.
Lace tablecloth – Found among party supplies at Walmart for around $3.
Total spent on the party setup: $45.00 — not including items we already owned and repurposed like the dresser and curtains.
The tutu garland doubled as favors at the end of the party.
Sweet guest Joslyn modeled one of the tutus. I used this easy no-sew tutu tutorial to make them; each took about 20–30 minutes and cost roughly $3 in materials.
We bought grocery-store cupcakes for under 50 cents each and placed them in nicer wrappers for a polished look.
Most of the sugar cookies were made using staples I already had in the kitchen.
I picked up gumballs on sale and made dipped Rice Krispie treats on sticks by following a classic recipe and dipping them in pink candy melts.
Simple, affordable sweets can still look elegant and intentional.
I’m so glad I saved my old pointe shoes—they added a personal, sentimental touch to the décor.
We had planned a simple craft activity, but guests were eager to snack, so we skipped it. The supplies were things we already owned, so it was an easy option if needed.
More pointe shoes and a thrifted pitcher full of Walmart flowers served as a centerpiece on a burlap runner I’ve used for months.
The finished sweets table felt cohesive and is something I’d consider framing for Olivia’s room.
I designed the sweets table labels and the craft sign using PicMonkey and printed them at home—quick and inexpensive.
I also painted a small fishbowl blue so a little boy guest could make a handprint goldfish if he preferred something other than a tutu craft.
Favors included a tiny plastic tiara, a bubble bottle, a small Play-Doh, and a ring pop—assembled from Dollar Store items so each favor box cost about $2. That said, favors aren’t essential; if you’re trimming the budget, you can skip them without offending guests.
To avoid a full meal and keep costs down, we scheduled the party from 3:00–5:00 p.m., after naps and between lunch and dinner. That way we served appetizers and sweets, and everyone seemed satisfied.
Menu — What we served:
Sweet BBQ crockpot meatballs
Sausage dip with tortilla chips
Stuffed mushrooms (vegetarian option)
Mini chicken salad sandwiches (made with store-bought chicken salad and sandwich bread)
Chips and French onion dip
Veggie tray with ranch
Deviled eggs
Fruit and cheese tray
Cheese ball with pita points
Olivia loved every minute. Seeing her joy made the planning and little splurges worth it.
She’s already a pro at posing for photos—please slow down, toddler years!
After cupcakes, we surprised her with the big gift from her grandparents—a backyard play structure she adored. Watching her run to it was priceless.
Pure joy.
Grandaddy got to try the slide first—so sweet.
A bubble machine was a huge hit with the kids—and it felt like a win when it came from a recent store return credit.
I’m very pleased with how it all came together. Even without all the extras, having the people we love around us was the most important part. Toddlers don’t keep score of décor—what they remember is laughter and attention.
Her birthday always gets me emotional. It’s the day I first met this little girl who changed my life, and celebrating her is something I’ll always treasure.
Now we’re off to enjoy leftover cupcakes and spend more time outside. This post ended up longer than I planned, but I hope these budget-friendly, DIY ideas inspire your next toddler birthday party.
Take a moment this week to act like a kid: dance in your living room, eat chocolate without guilt, and count your blessings. That’s what we’ll be doing.
Love and hugs,
