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By Kim Vij

DIY Birthday Party Decorations with Elementary Aged Kids

Create a fun ocean themed party with your child using just a few simple art supplies and build fun memories together.

Here’s how we created ours.

Easy DIY Birthday Decorations with Kids for Ocean Themed Party

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make Your Own Birthday Party Decorations

It was Birthday Weekend at our house!  My oldest daughter turned 7!  Can’t believe she’ll be starting Second Grade next Monday. It’s no secret that we love having birthday parties at our house and I’m always looking for fun way to involve the kids.  

Supplies Needed

  • Permanent Markers
  • Washable Kids Paint
  • Drawing Paper Roll
  • Scissors
  • Masking Tape

How to Create Ocean Themed Animal Decorations

This year her party was an Ocean Theme.  I wanted to share with you a fun way to get your child involved with their birthday party. 

Yes, you can go onto Etsy and pay quite a bit of money for coordinated party supplies, but I love parties with a kid’s touch that are made from the heart too.  

Child celebrating birthday with cookie cake

Our Little Mermaid

She created her own wall hangings from the party that was ocean themed.  

We jumped onto the computer and found a few clip art images that we liked and then copied those ideas onto large pieces of paper using our new markers.  

The paper we used is the leftover paper that we got from our local newspaper for free!   

Making art for Ocean Themed Birthday Party with kids

Using Markers we sketched out our shapes and then she used Poster Paint to paint the pictures. She chose to paint a Mermaid, Whale, Dolphin, Sea Turtle and fish. Both my daughters worked on this project together which was fun to do for preparing for a sibling’s birthday too.  

My daughter had so much fun preparing all week for her party and it really made it a memorable event for her and her friends that was budget friendly for me.  

Clothespin Mermaid Craft Idea for Kids at Ocean Themed Birthday Party

Mermaid Craft with Clothespins

Here’s a fun little Mermaid craft that we made at the birthday party with her friends. 

Supplies Needed

  • Clothespin Pegs
  • Craft Glue
  • Foam Sheets
  • Fine Tip Sharpie Markers
  • Scissors
  • Multicolor Yarn
  • Sequins

We were inspired by transforming the concept of a clothespin doll into a mermaid by using colorful foam and Permanent Markers to add the details. The girls then selected yard hair to glue on and some sequins to decorate!

Worked out to be super easy and fun, I love how different they each looked at the end of it!  

We also created Mermaid Necklaces too!

What are ways that you personalize your child’s birthday? 

You may also enjoy these Ocean inspired ideas for your child…

Drip drip drop outdoor water game
Ocean Activities for Kids of All Ages
Sea Shell Craft and MORE Ocean Themed Playdate Activities

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Arts Tagged With: grade school, mermaid, Ocean, Ocean Theme, Party Ideas, Preschool, Summer, water

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

« Shark Themed Activities for Shark Week
Finding Sight Words with Dory Sensory Bag »

Comments

  1. albertteinsteinn1 says

    August 19, 2013 at 1:30 am

    Thank you for sharing valuable information

  2. Jacquie@KCEdventures says

    August 14, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    What a wonderful birthday! my daughter is also a mermaid fan. Thanks for featuring our Under the Sea world too!

  3. Raising a Happy Child says

    August 14, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    Happy birthday to your crafty girl! She looks so happy and proud!

  4. Kelly at Little Wonders' Days says

    August 12, 2013 at 11:22 am

    It looks like such a cute and fun party! Happy birthday to your girl.

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Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
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