Day Five

Step 5- Create

• Once you have all of your materials, it is time to create and decorate! I usually start with the invitation. It creates excitement for the party so I like to make them extra special. BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers have acid-free ink (no added acid, no measureable p.H) and come in 36 beautiful, bold colors so they are perfect for creating your own invitations. I used them to personalize the envelopes and make each invitation extra-special for my daughter’s friends.


• The door to the party room should represent the theme you and your child have chose! I covered the door with green paper and aluminum foil and added finishing touches with BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. The door decorations should match the party invitation, favors, and then thank-you notes to tie the entire theme together!


• I made the horse using construction paper, paint, ribbon and BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. I also created the Magician behind the green curtain using paper, paint and BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. Green fabric and a rope created the curtain. The kids had a blast going behind the curtain!





• Favor boxes that were given at the end of the party were cardboard boxes decorated as baskets. I purchased them online from a party store. I added a personalized touch with tissue paper, a gingham ribbon and a hand written tag that said “Thank you for coming to my party”.


• Thank you notes also tied back to the theme. My daughter and I used pictures from her party to add a personalized touch to the thank you notes. It was a simple and fun activity to do together—all we used was card stock, pictures, and of course BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers!

Even though this party took a lot of time and planning, it did come out great and in the end did not break the bank! Most of all, my daughter was very happy and had a great time and so did her friends. As I tucked her into bed that night she gave me a hug and told me that it was the best party she ever had.

Day Four

STEP 4- Go Shopping!

• First go shopping around your house for supplies. Grab your BIC® Mechanical Pencils and BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers and look for things that you can use for the party. A cardboard box, a roll of wrapping paper (white side up) and BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers was what I used to make the house and witch’s legs in the picture below. I added black and white striped tights (left over from Halloween) that I stuffed with paper towels and attached my daughter’s old dress up red slippers.


• Cardboard cut-outs are a great way to get the kids interested in and excited about the theme, while providing for some cute photo opportunities. I recreated cardboard cut-outs by drawing free-hand using a BIC® Mechanical Pencil. I then painted the designs and used Tuxedo black BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers to add in all the details. The kids (and parents) loved the cut-outs!





• The brown paper used as packing material that was in the many packages I ordered for Christmas was used to make the tree with the apples. I used construction paper to create the face and apples, and drew the other character next to it using silver paint and the Tuxedo Black and Stone Grey BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers.


• After using all the materials I had at home, I searched several stores and the Internet for the remaining materials I needed. I searched craft stores, Office Supply stores, Discount stores and even Home Improvement stores. I shopped after holiday clearance sales for decorations and favors for goody bags. If you start early you can find great bargains!

Check back tomorrow to learn about my favorite part—the fifth and final step!

Day Three

STEP 3- Plan Early!

• As a Mom of three kids I am REALLY busy!!! So I start planning my parties at least 3-6 months in advance. After I come up with some ideas, I make a budget and decide what I will purchase and/or rent for the party and what I will re-create myself. If the budget allows, I also plan for entertainment and/or a craft that goes with the theme. For my daughter’s party I had a Magician and the girls made rainbow bead bracelets.

What did I do next in order to get the party planning started? Check back tomorrow for Step 4!

Day Two

STEP 2– Research

• Read books, research at the library, and research on the Internet. I look at party supply websites along with party planning sites for ideas. Print out pictures of things you may want to purchase or re-create.

Are you wondering what the next steps are? Tomorrow I will post Step 3 and more pictures from the party!

Day One

The key to a great birthday party without breaking the bank involves a little imagination, a lot of planning, research, and inexpensive products like BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers! BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers’ 36 bold, long lasting colors along with simple supplies like rolls of paper, cardboard boxes, household items and fabric helped me to transform my house into a fantasy themed birthday party for kids to enjoy!

But long before transforming my house, I had to sit down and put together a game plan and a budget. By following my 5 simple steps and using cost saving art supplies like BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers, you will be able to create a FABULOUS budget friendly party that won’t leave your pockets empty, but will leave the kids talking about your party for weeks!

STEP 1 – Pick a Theme

• Pick a theme that is easy to recreate and that you are able to find party supplies for. Think out-of-the-box. Look for everyday inspiration and talk to your kids about their favorite things. Maybe create a theme out of your daughter’s favorite activity or your son’s favorite sport.


• The theme should tie all elements of the party together—from the invitations to the decorations to the thank you cards.

Check back for tomorrow for Step 2 and additional party pictures!

Q. In the Q&A it said that these Mark It!'s were acid free, but are they completely scrapbooking safe? Are they archival quality? Thanks!

A. Thank you for your question and interest in BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. Yes the markers are made from an alcohol-based ink and are acid free, meaning there is no added acid or measurable p.H. Furthermore, the inks used in the BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers have undergone a toxicological review by Duke University Medical Center Occupational Health Service under the ACMI (Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc.) certification program for art and creative materials.

BIC writing instruments are designed for general purpose usage in the office, home and school. We do not make the claim that our writing instruments are archival safe.

Direct exposure to light can affect the writing quality depending on the light source, the intensity of the light source, and the length of exposure. The chemical composition of the document on which you are writing can affect the quality of writing as well.

We suggest you visit a local arts supply store in your area. They might carry a pen that will suit your specific needs.

Q. Bought a package of BIC Mark It 36 this week. AT least one of the pens does not write (I haven't used them all yet), so now I am concerned how long they will be usable. What is the best way to store them to make them last the longest?

A. Thank you for your question and interest in BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. The best way to store BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers is with the cap on. In regards to your comment on one of the markers being dried up, please contact BIC’s Consumer Affairs Department. Use the link below to contact the Consumer Affairs Department so that they can send you a replacement product:

http://www.bicworld.com/us/pages/contact/

Q. I tried out Mark-It markers on a glass candy dish. After drying, it wiped right off with a wet cloth. So I let it sit overnight and had the same results. Any suggestions?

A. Thank you for your question and interest in BIC Mark-It™. BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers are permanent on glass surfaces, as well as a variety of other surfaces including metal, plastic, photos, foils, coated paper, oily and damp surfaces. Generally, hot soapy water will remove the permanent marker.

Q. I was told that when scrapbooking I have to be careful with permanent markers because they will bleed thought over time and I was wondering if the BIC ultra fine tip markers would do that.

A. Thank you for your question and interest in BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers have acid-free ink—no added acid, no measureable pH, which make them the perfect tool for scrapbooking.

Q. When making paper bag book covers is there any way the marker will bleed through to the book if so how should I remove the marks with out harming the book?

A. Thank you for your question and interest in BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers. Since the markers are permanent, you should protect the surface between the book and book cover since ink penetration may occur.