Fun Party Themes and DIY Craft Projects for Any Celebration

Coming up with different party themes for your next celebration is almost as fun as the big day itself. With intimate parties the new normal, adding homemade touches to an event is more popular and achievable than ever. And, whether you’re a craft novice or a DIY expert, these ideas are a unique way to add creative touches to any themed party.

Added bonus? The benefits of crafting: hands-on arts and crafts activities can lead to “flow” – a deep work state that can be both restorative and meditative. So, clear the kitchen table, it’s time to embrace the joy of celebrating and creating.

Metallic Chic

Metallic-themed party decorations are a fun way to add a touch of glamour to your event.

Metallics, whether they’re gold, silver, copper or rose gold, are still gloriously on-trend when it comes to themed parties: it’s a chic way to celebrate a landmark birthday, anniversary or even housewarming.

Four clever ways to add shiny metallic party decorations to your soiree include hand-painted coasters, vases covered in high-shine washi tape, cute and quirky name placement cards and a gorgeous paper fan, perfect for balmy nights.

How to Craft the Paper Fan

Add a metallic sheen to your party theme with these fun DIY projects.

Creating a unique paper fan to suit your metallic theme is a cinch. The hardest part – the design and printing – is done for you, leaving you with just simple cutting and gluing together. It’s so easy you can create them in front of your favourite Netflix show.

Step 1: Head to the Officeworks website to design and print your card, then have them delivered straight to your door.

Step 2: Cut out a shape on a piece of cardboard and trace it over your printed card, then cut the edge of the printed card into the shape of your template.

Step 3: Create another template shape, a bigger version of the original, that you can use to trace over shiny metallic cardboard and then cut that out.

Step 4: Glue the printed card onto your shiny metallic board, so the designed card has a lovely frame of metallic.

Step 5: Add a jumbo popsicle stick to the back of the metallic board using warm glue that dries instantly.

We have lots of easy and fun DIY ideas for your metallic party theme.

What You'll Need for the Metallic Theme

‍Whimsical and Bright

Need great ideas for your next themed party? Bright pastels and retro colours are a fun nod to nostalgia.

There’s something joyful about bright colours and retro touches when it comes to party themes and decor. These effervescent party decorations are perfect for a baby shower, kitchen tea or charity event. With pops of pastels and nods to nostalgia thanks to pinwheels, homemade envelopes and a decorated message box, it’s hard not to smile when you look at these DIY projects.

Add in a perfectly paired Thank You card, so all you have to do is add your own message and have it printed and delivered.

‍How to Make Pretty Pinwheels

Make paper pinwheels using this whimsical party theme featuring bright pastels to set the scene for your celebration.

Paper pinwheels are a simple and fun way to add a unique point-of-difference to a celebration. Attaching a baking stick or a popsicle stick transforms them into a swizzle stick or a lovely cake topper.

Step 1: Take two sheets of coloured paper, overlap them and fold in half.

Step 2: Fold in half again. Then take back a corner of the paper and press back over itself into a triangle. This helps create a perfect square. Trim the paper by cutting along the long fold, and at the edge of the triangle.

Step 3: Take the small squares, one of each colour, and glue on top of one another. Fold each square along the other diagonal, so you can see four triangle shapes on each of your double-sided squares.

Step 4: Cut along the diagonal lines at each of the four corners, but be careful not to cut all the way to the centre.

Step 5: Peel forward one corner along the cut and glue to the middle. Skip to the next quarter and peel forward the following corner, gluing that on top, and repeat with the other two quarters to make a pinwheel.

Step 6: Using the tip of scissors, push a small hole through the middle of the pinwheel and then press a paper fastener through.

Step 7: Take the ends of the paper fastener and wrap around a baking stick or popsicle stick, spin the pinwheel and enjoy!

A whimsical party theme using bright pastels for your party decorations will set the scene for your celebration.

What You'll Need for the Whimsical and Bright Theme

Minimal Monochrome

A monochrome party theme is the ultimate in sophistication. Our black and white party decorations are easy to make, too.

Classic and ever-elegant, black and white will never go out of style. This makes it the perfect party theme for weddings and milestone birthdays.

Hand-made DIY can take an event from pretty to personal, and projects like paper tassel bunting, bon-bon gift boxes and hand-scripted chalk boards will all add to the sophisticated feel. A matching monochrome invite sets the tone right from the get-go.

How to Make the Paper Tassel Bunting

A GIF series of craft steps to make black and white tassel bunting. — Elegant black and white tassel bunting is one of the fun DIY projects in our monochrome party theme.

Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor event, tassel bunting adds atmosphere and style. These tissue paper tassels are so easy and, once you get in a rhythm, they become a beautiful practice in craft mindfulness. You’ll find yourself relaxing as you fold, cut and twist, fold, cut and twist.

Step 1: Take a large piece of tissue paper, open it up to create one long piece with a fold at the top.

Step 2: Cut from bottom to top, creating smaller sections that still have a fold at the top. There will be a few layers of tissue paper in each section.

Step 3: Using scissors, cut each section repeatedly from bottom to top, stopping around an inch (2.5cm) from the fold, to create a fringe.

Step 4: Open up your section and lay it flat with the fold seam in the middle.

‍Step 5: Roll the section lengthways, and then gently twist the uncut middle section of the tissue around and around till it resembles a section of rope.

Step 6: Bend the twisted middle section, and leaving a loop at the top, secure the fold with a piece of washi tape.

Step 7: Repeat until you have a big pile of tassels, then string together.

Overhead shot of products to make DIY party decorations, including a black and white crate paper, chalkboard menus, custom party invitations, spray paint, scissors and Posca pens. — These easy DIY projects will help you create an amazing monochrome party theme for your next celebration.

What You'll Need for Monochrome Theme

Unique Watercolour

Overhead shot of DIY party decorations, including polka dot bunting, napkins and custom invitations. — For a soft and pretty party theme, think DIY watercolour party decorations.

Modern and on-trend, watercolour will give any event a pretty, one-of-a-kind flair. Its colour and energy is just-right for a hen’s day, kitchen tea, garden or spring party theme. Think hand-painted bunting, paint-dipped napkins, or a small frame with a watercolour background and an instant photo from the day as a thoughtful favour option.

Create matching watercolour Save The Dates online at Officeworks, and the inspiration will start from the moment your guests receive them in the mail.

How to Create the Watercolour Bunting

A GIF series of craft steps to make DIY watercolour polka dot bunting. — Create this pretty bunting as part of our watercolour party theme.

Bunting is a great party decoration and looks incredible strung across a ceiling or attached to high poles and criss-crossed over outdoor trestles. But it’s also just as sweet hanging in long strands from a doorway or from a wooden pole as a decorative backdrop to a cake table.

Step 1: Using a watercolour set, create sheets of painted paper and allow to dry.

Step 2: Using scissors, cut out lots of circles. You can also do hearts, diamonds or any shape you like.

Step 3: Layer two circles and glue them together, so when the bunting is hung it’s decorative on both sides.

Step 4: Using the tips of scissors or a small hole punch, make a small hole through the top of each double-sided circle.

Step 5: Weave string through the holes of the circles, mixing up colours as you go to create a kaleidoscope of pretty shades.

Overhead shot of products for DIY craft decorations, including watercolour palette, white cloth napkins, white twine, white Instax instant camera, glue stick and scissors.