Doc McStuffins Breakfast Party

This Doc McStuffins Party post is courtesy of our contributor Dawn…When people hear the words ‘affordable’ or ‘budget-friendly’ when it comes to parties, most people read ‘cheap’. That shouldn’t be the case! You can have a super cute party without spending a ton of cash…although Pinterest may lead you to believe otherwise.

Today, I’m going to show you fun ways to throw a character party for less using Doc McStuffins as an example. My nieces are obsessed with them and since I only have boys, this is my chance for a little girl fun with a Doc McStuffins Breakfast Party. Why breakfast? We’ll talk about that a little later as one of my budget tips…

Set the tone with a few themed items and solids colors for everything else

Purchase a few items to set the tone and use solid, coordinating colors to round out everything else. I found the mini Doc McStuffins foam mats at the dollar store that I used as the table runner. You can purchase themed plates and use solid napkins and cups, or vice versa. Purchase a few character balloons and use solid colored latex ones.  The point is to let everyone know what the theme is…without screaming what the theme is.

My table cover is butcher paper, one of my favorite things to use for decorating. It comes in lots of colors and for the same price, is much nicer than plastic tablecloths. I’ve also used butcher paper to cover walls as a backdrop. An extra bonus – it’s recyclable.

Hit up the dollar store and dollar spots

Over the years, Dollar Tree has become the bomb spot for party ware, favors and craft items. Soon, Target, Michaels and others followed suit with their dollar spots. You would be surprised what you can find there…from party straws to twine, treat bags and jars. At Target, I found these cute pill boxes for a $1 each that I filled with Sixlets for a sweet sendoff.

Before you shell out big money at big box party stores for solid colored tableware, check at Dollar Tree first. They don’t have every color (I picked up gold stuff during Christmastime that I haven’t seen since) but you may luck out…that’s where I found the purple cups. I also picked up the multi-colored band-aids there to dress them up.

Easy Decorating Ideas

Sometimes, necessity is the mother of creativity and using items outside of their normal use is another penny saver. I stumbled across these pennant shaped Post-Its at Staples that were the perfect backdrop and I still have plenty to use for future parties.

Oversized quins aren’t just for baked goods…dress up your plain white plates by attaching the quins with frosting.

Place cards are always a fun addition to any party. For kids, it’s a must because there is usually a fight over who sits where. I created these super quick in Illustrator but you can do the same thing with Word and clip art

Timing Is Everything

Hosting a party between mealtimes like after lunch means you don’t need to provide a meal.  Trust me, if your party time is at 5 p.m., guests are expecting dinner. But if you are wanting to serve a meal and get a real bang for your buck, breakfast and brunch are your best bet.

There are lots of inexpensive options, especially DIY ones like a waffle or cereal bar (like buying cereal in bulk). I opted for a parfait bar. Set out yogurt (I tinted mine purple), your choice of cereal and fruit and you have yourself a buffet that satisfies kids of all ages.

Anything mini is made for a party…kids don’t each much at parties so keep portions and sizes small. This is a great way to save money on food because nothing hurts my feelings more than throwing food with just one bite. The same applies to drinks…smaller cups or bottles are the way to go.

Cute up simple food like cheese with toothpicks and heart stickers. If you can’t find stickers, make flags instead with decorative tape for just as much fun.

Use What You Got To Get What You Want

Look around your house for vessels to use at your party.  All-purpose containers like apothecary jars can be used for home decor and called into duty for a party. The glassware holding the fruit are drinking glasses and appetizer plates became great serving ware for the cheese skewers and mini bagels.

Don’t be afraid to break out the good silverware and china that only comes out for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Surprisingly enough, when I’ve done it for parties, it was the adults breaking stuff and not the kids. Just using your ‘good stuff’ makes any table special.

Look around your home for props that can work for your party. Having a LEGO party? Build a centerpiece with the thousands of bricks he has. Display her favorite dolls at her tea party. You would be surprised how many things you may have to use.

Doc McStuffins Party Printables:

I hope you have been inspired for your next party!  If you would like to plan your own Doc McStuffins or doctor/nurse themed breakfast party, I’m sharing the 2.5 inch red circle food cards I used as a free download! Plus, I made ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Thank You’ versions so you can turn them into cupcake toppers, thank you tags, lollipop labels, whatever you’d like.

Click on the photo to download:

Happy partying! Don’t forget to visit the Doc McStuffins category on Moms & Munchkins for even more fun ideas!

We’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Dawn of Not Just A Mommy for sharing this adorable party idea with us. Over on her blog you’ll find loads of inspiration for all types of parties. You can also follow her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for even more creative ideas. These Strawberry White Chocolate Trifles would be perfect for Mother’s Day!