We’ve been hosting our annual Chrismukkah Party in some form or another since 2004, and each year we choose a different theme or scheme for our party. We’ve had everything from homemade rustic to candy themed to super swanky and sophisticated to an all-white winterland. But when my sister showed me an image of a menorasaurus at Chrismukkah 2014, I just knew that this year had to be JURASSIC! I also knew that this year’s gathering had to be on a shoestring budget, so DIY and penny-pinching was the name of the game. Time to break out my glue gun and some duct tape!
1. DOUBLE-DECKER DINO SERVING PLATTER:
I got this gem of an idea from the internets, and luckily my husband has a buddy at work who operates a band saw and was able to cut the plastic T-rex for me. From there it was all hot glue and a lot of figuring out how to balance the trays.
COST: $3
2. GOODIE BAGS:
Found some awesome glow-in-the-dark fossil kits at Dollar Tree so we bought enough for each kid. Added in some mini plastic dinos, stickers, a dreidel, and some rock candy (all I could find was PopRocks and candy coal lol) and voila – one dozen fun goodie bags for under $2 each. We also offered each child a gift on their way home – a color-your-own dino tote bag or assorted dino sticker activity books!
COST: Approximately $1.65/goodie bag and $1/gift
3. MENORASAURUS:
This is one of the most low-effort, high-impact DIYs I have ever done! There are probably twenty different ways to execute this, but no mater what its only two steps: 1) attach things to hold candles 2) paint. I already had all material except the dinosaur on hand, and I found this very handsome stegosaurus for only $1. Cheapest. Menorah. Ever. (And yes, if you’re knit-picking – I do realize that the shamos should be taller than all the other candles but it just looks so awesome on his head!)
COST: $1
4. DINO ORNAMENTS:
Uber easy! Get screw hooks and screw them into tiny dino figures. You could also paint them for a more finished, custom look.
COST: Approximately $3.50/dozen
When it came to planning the event, decided was to set up a limited snack buffet and offer a potluck option on the invite to help offset the cost of feeding a bunch of people. (Having the party in the middle of the afternoon eliminated the obligation of having to serve lunch or dinner, whew!) But what to serve at a jurassic celebration?
On the menu:
Dinosaur Eggs in a Nest (donut holes)
Tar Pits (chocolate pudding layered with crushed Oreos)
Fossils (dino print sugar cookies)
Sticks & Logs (assorted pretzels)
Jurassic Punch & Primordial Ooze (lemon-lime flavor)
In addition, our friends brought: homemade spinach water chestnut dip, homemade baked mac’n’cheese, crab rangoon, Canadian meat pies, and Joe’s mom made her signature vegetarian eggrolls and fried rice. SO DELICIOUS!
Good times, good food, good friends – what could be better? Oh wait, it could be better – by not costing an arm and a leg! We threw a fun, festive party for our family and friends, including gifts and goodie bags for each kid, for under $75. It was awesome and it didn’t break our bank! But now that it’s over, I need a break before Christmas…which is just around the corner! Hope you’re enjoying Doing It Yourself this season! Happy Holidaze!
making the mostest 