Art Birthday Party Ideas

An art birthday party is such a popular party theme for kids because it gives them the opportunity to express their creativity. With so many different types of art, there is sure to be something of interest to every child at the party. This is a great party theme for kids of all ages – the smallest guests can have fun with finger paint (parental supervision still required, of course) and the older kids could paint their own pottery pieces at a studio. There’s no limit to your imagination with this party theme! I created this party in partnership with Birthday In A Box so several of the party supplies you’ll see featured here are from their online store.  The full Arts and Crafts Party details below! If you are looking for the art cupcake trays you can use these paint palettes!

Art Birthday Party – Invitations:

This party could be held in your own backyard or at a local art studio. Some art galleries also provide a creative space for rent that would be perfect for a child’s party. Some creative location ideas include:

• pottery painting studio
• local art gallery studio
• community hall with a large space for rent
• paint nite location
• children’s art studio
• local craft store (sometimes they have studios available for parties)

You could turn your invitations into a fun craft project and have your child design and create them. For an easier DIY idea, check out these free printable invitations. If your activity will be messy, you’ll want to let the guests know that they should wear clothes that they don’t mind getting a little dirty.

Decorations:

One of the great things about an art-themed party is that the party activities also double as decorations. Since art is all about different colors and textures, you don’t have to worry about matching colors. Some art-themed decorations could include:

• A paint splashed painting sheet as a backdrop for the party table (your kids will have a blast helping to create this!)
• Inexpensive decorative wooden craft frames spray painted in a variety of colors and displayed on the back wall behind the food table (you’ll find these at your local craft store)
• Mini art easels, paint and brushes at each place setting
• A mixture of solid colors for paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins, paper straws and cups

For the Cupcake “painting” trays I used these great Palette trays you can buy on Amazon. To hold the cookies while they decorate them you can use these adorable mini easels.

On each of the guests’ chairs, you could include an art apron personalized with an iron-on label with each child’s name. Iron-on labels are really easy to make with special iron-on paper made for at-home printer use.

Arts & Crafts Activities:

For an art birthday party, there can be several different stations set up for different types of masterpieces. Some art station ideas include:

• mini canvases with paint
• large roll of paper with crayons and markers
• clay for making sculptures
• jewelry station for making necklaces
• melting and making your own crayon colors
• art notebooks and stickers for decorating the covers

Depending on the type of art stations you have planned, some supplies could include:

• paint brushes
• water for rinsing brushes
• water and soap for washing hands
• paint tray for mixing colors
• crayons
• markers
• paint
• clay
• mini and large art easels
• glitter glue
• paint aprons
• paint sheet on the ground

You may want to start the creative art portion of the party early so that the masterpieces have time to dry before the children take them home. While you are waiting for the art to dry, a fun art-inspired game to play would be Pictionary.

After all of the art pieces are complete, you can host a mini art show where the children have an opportunity to showcase their talent.

Art Birthday Party Food:

For an art-themed party, colorful food also acts as a party decoration. Some examples of colorful food decorations include:

• different colors of gummy candy in clear plastic paint cans
• colorful fruit on a plastic paint palette
• licorice in a rainbow of colors

Art doesn’t have to be restricted to paper, paint and clay – the food at the party could be another way to express creativity! In your own “Starving Artists” buffet, supply the guests with square bread (like flatbread) and a variety of pizza toppings. They can then use this bread canvas to create their own pizza. Or set out cupcakes in mini paint palettes with a variety of colorful toppings like sprinkles, jelly beans and other small decorating candies.

Other easy snack ideas include colorful chips labeled as “Paint Chips” with colorful juices labeled as “Creative Juice”.

Another fun dessert plus art project includes a cookie painting station with plain sugar cookies (squares with white royal icing like canvases), food coloring pens and sprinkles. You’d want to ice these cookies at least 24 hours in advance so the white icing base has time to harden. You can use these adorable mini easels to hold the cookies while they “paint” them.

Art Birthday Party Favors:

The little guests can take home their art masterpieces and personalized art aprons as part of their favor. Other fun ideas include:

• paint with water book
• sidewalk chalk
• small plastic paint cans filled with candy or mini art supplies
• small set of paints
• mini art easel and canvas
• small plastic craft box filled with crayons and markers

For more creative party ideas, visit our Birthday Party page and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

*Disclosure: I was compensated for this post and I am an affiliate with Birthday in a Box. All opinions expressed here are my own.