Hosting your own St. Patrick's Day party is a fun way to celebrate the holiday without leaving home _ or spending a fortune. Whether your soiree is for 50 of your friends or just immediate family, you don't have to break the bank to make it an epic event.
RAID YOUR CLOSET
Part of the fun of this festive holiday is dressing up in green garb. Instead of running to the store, save money on clothes this year by raiding the back of your closet for green shirts, pants, leggings and shoes.
Both solid green and patterned items with green accents can be part of your holiday wardrobe. Set items aside as you locate them and then compile an outfit from your favorite finds.
There's no need to dress in head-to-toe green, either. Accent your outfit with a green scarf, socks or necktie for a subtle way to celebrate while maintaining your signature style. If you really need to purchase an accessory or two, Party City offers an assortment of themed socks from 99 cents and ties for as little as $2.
MAKE YOUR OWN ST. PATRICK'S DAY OUTFIT
If wearing green isn't enough to make you feel party ready, make your own shamrock T-shirt to celebrate this special day. Start with a plain white shirt _ you can buy one at Michaels for around $3 or find one in your closet for free. You can also purchase a five-pack from Wal-Mart or another department store for around $10.
To make your shamrock shirt, cut out a paper shamrock, tape it to the front of the shirt and slide a piece of wax paper or cardboard inside the shirt to prevent paint from bleeding through. Use a new pencil eraser to dab different shades of green acrylic craft paint over the shirt, making a confetti-style design around the shamrock. A 2-ounce bottle of paint can be purchased for less than $1 at Michaels and other craft stores.
When you finish painting, remove the paper, tape and cardboard from the shirt and give it an hour to dry.
FIND ST. PATRICK'S DAY PRINTABLES
If you don't have an artistic bone in your body, fear not. You don't have to design your own St. Patrick's Day decorations. Free printables, sized specifically for picture frames, make the decorating process both speedy and simple. You can find free, downloadable text art specifically for St. Patrick's Day on sites such as Eighteen25 and HGTV.
Place the printed designs in standard picture frames. You can temporarily repurpose pictures frames already on your walls or visit the dollar store for cheap finds. Display the framed images in prominent places in the party room.
Additionally, you can create a mantel centerpiece with a few green or white vases, jars or small potted plants. Turn inexpensive clear vases or jars green by swirling some of the green craft paint from the T-shirt project inside each one. Allow them to dry completely before touching.
HAVE GUESTS BRING THE GOODIES
Hosting a large party complete with St. Patrick's Day food, desserts and beverages can be costly. Save money by hosting a BYOB (bring your own beverage) party or making the event a potluck, where each guest brings a favorite St. Patrick's Day-inspired dish.
Make sure to give your guests plenty of notice if you expect them to cook, and try to coordinate items ahead of time so you don't wind up with 10 trays of corned beef. If the party doesn't include a full meal, ask guests to bring Irish-themed snacks or St. Patrick's Day desserts.
Don't forget to supply plenty of plates, cutlery, napkins and cups for the party. If you're hosting a small gathering, utilize your existing kitchenware. For a large party, recyclables might be the better option. Shop at a dollar store in the party supply section to find green plates, napkins, cups and cutlery. Clear, recyclable cups will suffice if green ones aren't available.
