Slumber parties are a delightful rite of passage for young girls, and a little planning and creativity can make them extra-special.

Darcy Miller, editorial director at Martha Stewart Weddings, recently hosted a slumber party for two dozen girls at event space Asphalt Green to celebrate her daughter Ella's fifth birthday.

Darcy shares some crowd-pleasing ideas from the party. 

Pillowcase Decorating

Let creativity shine by having the girls decorate plain pillowcases with a variety of designs and embellishments.

• Pillowcases, pillowcase.net
• Transfermations glitter iron-on letters, Horizon Group USA
• Sharpie permanent markers and retractable markers

Flashlight Decorating

Flashlights give the slumber party a distinctly nocturnal feel, and they double as take-home favors when decorated with pretty beads.

• Flashlights, Axis Promotions
• Beads, Oriental Trading

Journal Decorating
Send party guests home with customized diaries adorned with stickers and glitter, perfect for recounting favorite memories from the night before.

• White journals, Oriental Trading
• Glow-in-the-dark mini stars, InAndOutGifts.com
• Sharpie permanent markers and retractable markers
• Double-sided adhesive sheet, Du-All

Martha Stewart Crafts Products

• Glitter glue
• Pink felt alphabet stickers
• Lavender gem stickers
• Pink elegant scroll gemstones
• Dimensional pearl stickers
• Sheep punch
• Birthday cake punch
• Glow-in-the-dark glitter

Invitations

Create dazzling slumber party invitations like Darcy's with these simple materials.

• Stickers, Martha Stewart Crafts (see above)
• Teddy bear punch, Martha Stewart Crafts
• Stars and moons in glassine bag, Artistry in Motion
• Sleeping bag envelopes, Pottery Barn Kids

Accessories and Favors

Choose some of the following whimsical products to give as adorable treats and party favors.

• "Fancy Nancy and the Late, Late, LATE Night" book (HarperCollins), Amazon
• Sleepover Mad Libs, Amazon
• "Goodnight Moon" book (HarperCollins), Amazon
• Prism balls, Old Navy
• Pink boas and light-up diamond rings, PartyMart
• Glow-in-the-dark star wands, InAndOutGifts.com
• Favor boxes and custom stickers, Namemaker
• Alarm clocks, Present Time
• Pails, Pottery Barn
• Jelly beans, chocolate-covered gummy bears, and strawberry circus sticks, Dylan's Candy Bar
• Teddy bears, Build-A-Bear
• Lollipops, Hammond's Candies
• Amscan paper cups, Amazon
• Horns, Party Partners
• Chocolate bear and star pops, Chocolate Favor World
• Cake, One Tough Cookie

Resources

Party photo by Donna Newman. Illustration by Darcy Miller Designs. Download the Clip Art