Use coordinating colors of seam binding to make flirty skirts for a pair of stacked cake stands, and then continue the theme with a free-flowing chandelier.

Serve drinks on a memorable tray. Line the exterior bottom of an acrylic tray with a snapshot, enlarged, cut to fit, and attached with spray adhesive.

Display your message in a banner made from letters in different styles: in magazines, books, cards, and packaging. Enlarge each character to about 9 inches using a scanner or photocopier. Cut out; tape to card stock for a sturdy backing. Tape letters to ribbon, and hang.

This party place mat says it all. Print one of our number templates. Cut out, and trace shape onto 12-inch square scrapbook paper. Cut out shape. Tape origami paper underneath.

Send one-of-a-kind lantern invitations to set a playful tone for your party. Start by penciling lines for "ropes" on plain cards. Punch holes with a tack every 1/2 inch; erase lines. Using knotted embroidery floss, sew running stitches along each line, then double back, filling in spaces between stitches. With pinking shears, cut "lanterns" from wide-striped grosgrain ribbon. Cut "tassels" from colored paper; fold in half. Affix lanterns and tassels with a glue stick; write message.

For a fresh-looking party table that makes cleanup easy, start with an inexpensive roll of white paper. Use painters' tape to hold paper down, and decorate with garden-inspired rubber stamps: a hydrangea blossom (blue ink) and a pair of butterflies (red and pink).

To personalize party blowers, print messages onto colored paper. Cut them into stripes, stretch open the blowers, and glue on the messages.

These party hats can be as sophisticated or as silly as you like, depending on the colors and patterns of decorative paper you use.

Serve up a winning combination of place cards that display guests' names along with breadsticks infused with extracts of beet, carrot, parsley, or tomato.

With a few snips and folds, and a little imagination, you can turn humble paper bags into party-perfect decorations.

Use our alphabet clip art to make an unforgettable birthday garland.

Just use your hands to form a graceful letters from malleable aluminum wire. Hang with ribbon.

With a circle cutter, you can make inventive garland decorations and favors for your next party.

Adorn a plain paper mat with a picture in photo corners. For a small party, use them as place cards too --- choose pictures of the guests with the birthday boy or girl.

Wrap a glass holder in copper or silver metal tape to make the party table shine.

Use two pieces of crepe paper in coordinating colors to make a beautiful, low-cost runner for your party table.

Personalize table settings and add a touch of seafaring mystery to your party with message-in-a-bottle place cards.

Paper lanterns don't need to have lights in them to signal an instant party feel. String them above the deck as a festive decoration instead.

Paper bags, cardboard scraps, and small boxes become partywear when guests decorate them with items you've scavenged from around the house.

Make a cherry-blossom branch fashioned into a place card to greet your guests. Press the stem into a small floral frog, about the diameter of a quarter. Wrap a piece of pale-green grosgrain ribbon around the base, and secure with double-sided tape. Cut a leaf from a similar shade of vellum, write the invitee's name, and attach to the side of the branch using a hot-glue gun.

Use decorative craft punches to make paper butterflies that brighten up the party.

Document a life and make a big, bold visual statement at the same time. It's a snap to do -- and inexpensive, too. Print photos in various sizes. Lay them on the floor in the shape of the birthday number to determine your arrangement, then tape them to a wall. Attach more images to bottles with double-sided tape.

If you're hosting a birthday party, make it a "green" one with a candy stand made from paper plates.

Display memorable photos with a simple sewing project that uses paper instead of fabric.

Cover string lights with faux flowers to make your outdoor party shine.

Use bandanna and dot patterns to create playful party favors, hats, tassels, and cupcake toppers.

Use spray adhesive to attach photos (use photo-editing software for round, white borders) to Mylar balloons.

Use metallic paper to make streamers of shimmering circles that descend from above.

Combine a favorite image and a nifty computer program (called Rasterbator) to create d atiled birthday decoration that can fill a wall.

Mini oranges tucked inside strips of folded parchment paper bring warm color to the party table. Punch leaves from heavy paper, and have guests' names calligraphed. Tie on with waxed twine.

Decorate the wall with a shining letter from battery-powered LED lighting, sold by the yard with its own adhesive backing. (Cover cord ends with white gaffer's tape.) Wrap glass candleholders with punched tissue paper.

Made of fabric scraps, these cheerful goody bags sew up in a snap. Cut an 11-by-7 1/2-inch piece of fabric with pinking shears. Fold in half, right sides facing; machine-sew one short and each long side with a 1/2-inch seam allowance; turn inside out. Fill bag with treats, and tie with a strip of contrasting fabric.

Transform photos of the birthday celebrant into favor adornments using photo-editing software, our tag template, and card stock.

Make initialed monogram pins, napkin rings, and place cards from colorful chipboard letters that will make each party guest feel special.

Brighten up guests' plates with napkin rings made from crepe paper and ribbon.

Give the special occasion an extra pop of color with graphic medallion embellishments.

Create fun party favors using playful patterned paper and a circle cutter.

Provide the alphabet in gold letters for guests to label their own cups. To make personal coasters, print letters with a rubber stamp onto paper coasters.

Add festive flair to any table with these simple paper place cards.

Dress up your party with these glittery letters made from mat board. Scatter them around the tables, tape them to glass votive candleholders, or hang them on a wall.

Say cheers to the birthday boy or girl with festive ice cubes. Freeze water tinted with food coloring (or juice) in number-shaped ice trays.

Why buy decorated paper cups, napkins, and goodie bags when you can turn heads with your own?

Liven up the party table with handmade paper flowers that are as eye-catching as real ones.

Make a stand to prop up place cards on your party table.

Cut flags from tissue paper, stamp with letters, and attach to skewers or straws with double-sided tape for festive party decorations.

Make a festive table runner out of burlap or linen fabric.

A party  table can be fashioned with one (or several) of the simplest items: a cake stand. The pretty pedestals raise decorations and sweets high, elevating offerings in every sense. The displays here -- small stands atop large ones -- show off pots (actually teacups and votive holders) of miniature African violets and stacks of cookies whose ribbons repeat the colors of the flowers.

Give guests a sunny surprise: Trim sunflower stems short, so they fit into juice glasses. Cut paper into petal shapes and write guests' names on them. Then add an extra petal to each flower with dots of tacky white glue.

These dahlialike pom-poms appear to float in the air; in reality, they are hung from the ceiling with monofilament, imparting a cheerful radiance to any party.

Playful patterned cuffs spiff up paper napkins and make it a breeze for guests to grab their flatware at a buffet party.

Use a paper box lantern and satin and grosgrain ribbon to make colorful party decorations that hang from the ceiling.

Flag streamers signal instant fun, especially in casual stripes and solids.

Add a lacy border to your disposable party dishes. First, cut around the circumference of a plate with scallop scissors. Then use a variety of punches to make a pattern. (No need to measure -- just fire away!) If you like, slip a colored plate underneath a white one (or try the reverse) to highlight the design.

Give party decorations a lift by letting loose a flock of colorful paper butterflies on lanterns and cocktail straws.

Use green crepe paper to give basic straws a tropical makeover.

With bandannas and a few basic sewing supplies, you can make a colorful, casual, and altogether charming tablecloth for your party.

Pick especially silly or endearing photos of the guest of honor -- choose a few -- for these personalized takes on the classic party hat.

Any cocktail is more festive with a paper umbrella. To add a number, use a small foam brush to sponge white acrylic paint over a store-bought stencil.