Throwing a luau-themed party usually means spending a lot of money on decorations. By the time you figure out the price for tiki torches, flowered leis and other decorations, you barely have enough left over to serve poi. If you want to save some money and throw a luau without breaking your budget, then try making some of your own decorations. With a little help from your local party and craft stores, you'll have enough left over to serve your friends a feast. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Make a message in a bottle for everyone at the party and use those as a menu holder and a holder for name cards. Print out copies of the menu, roll each one and tie with a piece of ribbon. Write the name of the guest on the front and slide each one into a clear glass or plastic bottle. Set one at each table setting.
2. Use fresh fruit as decorations by splitting coconuts and pineapples in half, draining out the juices and hollowing out the centers. Fill with fresh fruits and melon balls, with a stack of toothpicks next to each one for easy serving and snacking.
3. Set homemade candle holders in the center of each table as a centerpiece. Set white candles on small glass plates and cover each plate with sand, pushing it up to cover the bottom edges of the candle. Decorate the top of the sand with small shells or flowers.
4. Cut artificial flowers from the fake stems to make your own leis. String one flower onto a piece of twine, add a few beads and keep alternating between beads and fake flowers. Tie off the ends and give one to each guest. Make a few longer pieces to use as garland around the luau area.
5. Create colorful lanterns from folded pieces of construction paper. Fold the paper as if you were creating a fan, by folding under and then over. Glue the ends of the paper together and use a hole punch to make two holes at the top. Hang the lanterns under white Christmas tree lights to make them look like real lanterns.
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