My daughter is turning thirteen and she wants to have a really memorable and cool party.

She is inviting lots of friends from school and the neighborhood.
We are going to be using the local basketball gym. It is pretty big, has a small kitchen area, bathrooms, and bleachers.

The only thing so far that she can come up with as far as a theme is LIPS in red and pink.

I have the food and the music worked out. Hoping these TEENS like to dance.

I do know that I am going to use cupcakes and I kinda know how that i am going to decorate them.

I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on decorating the gym in a LIPS kinda theme. What other decorations would go well with LIPS. And if anyone had ideas on cool ways to decorate.

I know there is some crafty ladies on here that can really come up with really great crafty ways of doing things on a budget. So any ideas will be appreciated. TIA

One thing is that these will be kids about thirteen to sixteen. And PLEASE be assured there will be plenty of ADULTS there the whole time. I am a very open eyed parent. Any parent is welcomed to stay. Most of the older kids are kids that she has practically grown up with.Lots of these kids are within say about two city blocks worth but we live in a very small town. And we have lived in the same house for 14 years. And alot of other families close by have also been here since their kids started grade school. We live one block from the grade scool. All my children are older now. The thirteen year old is the youngest. So alot of the kids attending are kids that she has grown up with or has carried through school with.

Sorry to ramble, my point is that she doesnt want anything to be like "little girl girlish" like she said NO FLOWERS, NO CHARACTERS LIKE BARBIE, she wants a more grown up teen kinda party. So the LIPS are pretty much as girlie as its gonna get.

What else would go with LIPS, or what decorations in general like streamers, etc. would look cool and how would yall decorate.

Thank you all for reading and for your ideas.
Crystal

The first thing that comes to mind is lipstick. Lip gloss, etc. But you could also have kisses (hershey).

for pure fun -- remember these??? wax lips

well, there are sooooooooo many very pretty make-up bag cakes w/ lipstick in the galleries to look at

after all a lady's lips and lipstick go together so well

for the boys: chap stick!

and the if it's a a part of their music scene...those infamous Rolling Stones lips (w/ tongue!)

and could do purse cake(s) w/ make-up items.

Maybe get intouch with your local Avon/ Mary Kay/ Arbonne rep and see if they have any promo stuff they could either sell or let you borrow? Are you going to have goodie bags or is that not cool anymore? (Sorry, it's been awhile since I was a teen and back then dolls were still cool for your birthday...lol!)

Besides that, I can only think of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with the lips....hehe, TOO young for that!

Hey these are great.

Tera, Hershey kisses are a great idea. I could could sit them in bowls around the gym like on all the tables.

Doug, that is really cool, the Rolling Stones, never would have thought of that. the music scene around here is actually pretty flexible. Most everyone around here likes a variety. Thanks

Puppylove, I asked about the goodie bags and she reminded me that she is not turning three. HAHA
Hey I will have to check out on the web the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I cant remember this very well. Thanks

All wonderful ideas. Thanks

Red and pink streamers and balloons.

And x-mas light or strobe light if they are available to you.

Maybe you could cut out some lips from construction paper and tape them around somewhere.

Also just to give it a little fun maybe draw a picture of a big face, cut out more lips and play put the lips on the face.It may be to baby, but it might also give others something to do.

Plus is there anyway any body has a karyoky(spelled wrong) machine? Then they could(lip sync).

Oh, if it is not to much you can rent bubble blowing machines, or we bought one at wal-mart it was like 20.00. That way bubbles will be blowing around everywhere.

Just a few ideas, hope I might have helped.

For the "NO " goodie bag.....you could combine a few ideas here....take wax lips and a lipgloss or chapstick ....wrap in a piece of tissue paper with a ribbon...just so no one walks away empty handed ...and its not a candy bag..?

for that gym area...Id get lots and lots of ballons....that helps with it not looking so bare!



Id still check on the mary kay thing too....on mothers day there were several little small give aways everywhere!! it was a little lotion wrapped in tissue with a ribbon....they might do it for the party....

oh....I juts thought of something else !!!


Get some of those disposable cameras too.....I think they even make them in pink and white ....have them on the table or maybe even tie themn to the end of some of the balloons....let them catch a lot of the memoires!!!



again just an idea!!

Living In Perpetual Splendor (LIPS) ?

the do glam routine...Mary Kay/Avon of course!

cameras (kisses to the photo)

cupcakes as a cupcake cake in shape of lips?

I don't know how much time you have to prepare for the party, but I was recently at a graduation party that had a home-made game that everyone enjoyed. It was an inclined piece of plywood (maybe 3x4 feet) with a hole cut in it, and a target painted around it (picture a bulls-eye) and another one just like it about 20 feet away. They had homemade bean bags, and you took turns tossing them trying to get them in the opposite bullseye. Does that make sense? Kind of like playing horse shoes. If you had time to make this like a big smiley face, with a hole where the mouth is, and lip beanbags?

For decorations, I would go to Michael's and get a bunch of the craft foam to make lips. It would be funny if you worked in pictures of Angelina Jolie somehow, since her lips are so infamous. LOL

Sounds like a great party, have fun!!

You could cut out different pictures of celebrity's lips and play 'whose lips are these'.

There is always the old standby - spin the bottle, though it is probably for older kids????

Wasn't there a disco group called Lipps, Inc. that sang Funky town? Course, there is always KISS, or Prince's song KISS.

momsandraven-

I know that game....it's called cornhole, and it's wildly popular over here. Almost everyone owns a set.

In a big, open area like a gym, LOTS of balloons and streemers, in red, pink and white to ease some of the emptiness of that kind of area.
If you have time before the party, you should look into these. The inflatable lips are cool for pillows and hitting people (hehe). They are a little expensive on this site, maybe you can find them cheaper somewhere else?

http://www.prankplace.com/inflatable_lips.htm

Also, I can't find any online, but I'm pretty sure that you can buy an inflatable lips chair. That would look really good with your theme and your daughter could open up her presents in it!

As for games, I know they aren't cool to have a parties when you're that age, but if you can talk her into this, it would fit the theme and she and her friends will love it:Buy make-up at the dollar store, powder blush, lots of lipstick, and eyeshadow. you also need a bandana. Blindfold one person with the bandana and spin them around a little bit (or not, if thats not cool) and hand them makeup, ready to be applied. Then have them apply it to a waiting victim- especially a boy- and see how it comes out! it's really funny. but its hard to get people to volunteer to be the victim in this game, so bring a couple large size dolls too. I think your daughter would find it amusing. I am 18 years old, so tell her it's not babyish to have games- especially this one!- at parties.. this comming from a teen!

Something else that would be really nice for her, as a memory.. As the guests are entering, have them all apply dark red lipstick (buy lots of tubes of it and bring rubbing alcohol to sanatize) and kiss and sign (with a sharpie) a piece of white poster board. Maybe you could put a picture of her in the middle and have them do this around it. It would be a great memory for her to have a "kiss" and a signature from all her friends.

You guys really are the greatest in the world.

It is so wonderful to know that there really are some great people out there that is so willing to put there minds together to help out one another.

Thank you guys so much for all the wonderful ideas.
I like them all so much I believe I am going to find a way to include all of your ideas.

Yall dont think it would be too much do ya???
I think it would provide a wonderful collage of great fun and memories!!

I really promise I will take lots of close up photos of the decorations and show as many ideas as I can from everyone.

The only dissapointment is that it is not until January but i am the worlds worst for waiting till the last minute so I promised myself and her that I will get started early so that everything will be perfect.

Thanks again, yall are great!!!

Thanks guys!!! This is great. I knew that this is the place to go for wonderful ideas!!!!

Please keep those ideas coming!!!!

Any one else with some ideas?

Thanks

i think LIPS is a wonderful theme for a party. sounds like lots of fun. When i graduated high school, my mom threw me a party(supervised) that was so much fun. I remember one of the games we played was everyone gets an ice cream popper(really cheap from oriental trading). we went around popping each other and if you got popped you had to kiss the person that popped you... it was fun you could have the girls with their lipstick on and have a prize for the guy and girl that have the most "smooches" (lipstick marks)It's hilarious cause guys have to wear lipstick too. I think for decorating you can find really cheap valentines day stuff on sale at places like party city.. get some lip confetti to decorate the tables and seal the invites with a kiss....if youre not able to get the mary kay/avon samples, have each of the girls bring a tube of lipstick of their moms...You could also make banners on the computer (since you mentioned youre on a budget) and make the invites too... I like the hershey kisses idea as well. i think that would be cute...there is also a neat trick for bowls that i like to use, its by pampered chef... you get balloons and blow them up and dip them in melted semi-sweet choc. let it dy then pop the balloon..voila a choclate bowl that is very elegant. it is delicate too so be carfeul when removing the balloon.thats also cheap and really pretty for decorating, you could have one per table and fill it with choc covered strawberries or m&ms. candles and balloons are also cheap and look great too....tell us how the party goes! good luck!

Thanks mookey. Those are some great ideas.
The idea about chocolate bowls is really neat.

I wish there was a website that had thousands of ideas like that. It could be in categories.

Would anyone know of a site that has homemade decorating ideas for parties?

Thanks again everyone!!

My friend's 12 yr old daughter just had a Bratz party and they went with the whole lips thing. Here is a link to an place where she got a few of her party favors...

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=5/1128&mode=Searching&erec=2&D=lips&Ntt=lips&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=10&N=0&x=27&sd=PURSE+W/GUMMY+LIPS


http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=14/110&mode=Searching&erec=8&D=lips&Ntt=lips&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=10&N=0&x=27&sd=ASSORTED+FRUIT+LIP+GLOSS+-+83&%23162%3B+PER+PIECE

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=/K285&mode=Searching&erec=0&D=lips&Ntt=lips&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=10&N=0&x=27&sd=RED+WAX+LIPS


http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=32/727&mode=Searching&erec=0&No=12&D=lips&Ntt=lips&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=10&N=0&x=27&sd=LIP+STICK+GUM

Thank you.

Those are great!!