If your kids are fans of Harry Potter - and who under the age of 30 isn't? - then treat them to tea at Hogwarts. Diane Cross explains how to throw a magical party… on a budget
My daughter has just been to her third Tweenies party in as many months. Environmental considerations aside, the economic implications of all those matching paper plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths and hats is all too apparent to any parent who has had the pleasure of arranging a children's party.
Oh, and expect to be lynched if you dare to end the proceedings without supplying a party bag.
As more and more households fall for the literary charms of J K Rowling, so the prospect mounts of being asked to hold a Harry Potter party. Some theme-party catalogues already have pages devoted to Potter parties, although you'll need a magic bottomless purse to afford many of them.
Expect to part with £3.95 for six gold-star-shaped plates, £2.99 for 16 napkins, £3.95 for eight tumblers and £3.50 for eight gold balloons. It's just hogwarts. Inviting 15 children would involve an initial outlay of over £30, and that's before you've even started on the food.
So, for the cost-conscious witches and wizards out there, here are some ideas for keeping to a theme while keeping to a budget:
Harry Potter party food
:- Hogwart's Trifle
- Snape's Fizzing Jelly Bugs
- Cauldron Cakes
- Hagrid's Eyeballs
- Cockroach Crispy Clusters
- Flitwick's Wands
- Ginger Harrys
- Wizard's Crumpets
Potter place settings
Stock up on plastic or picnic tableware. This can often be picked up cheaply at the end of the summer from stores like Woolworths or supermarkets (but check that they're dishwasher safe). Although this may seem more expensive, the plates can be washed and reused, and costs are soon recouped.
Pick a neutral colour, and then use wizardry to tie it in to the theme. For Harry Potter, fill your plates with chocolate stars, a chocolate magic wand and an assortment of food mentioned in the books - such as 'Jelly Slugs' (Rowntrees' Bursting Bugs would do), a liquorice wand, marshmallows and some of Bertie Bott's every-flavoured beans (a mixture of colourful jelly beans).
Magical colours
If you're buying disposable plates, you can create a colour-coordinated theme. For Harry Potter, you have two options: the wine-red and yellow of his house colours, Gryffindor, or the standard wizarding colours of black, gold and purple.
Buy the tableware and napkins in these colours (or buy white plates - always cheaper - and just use coloured napkins). Supermarkets offer a reasonable range and are cheaper than the party catalogues. Then introduce the colour elsewhere (in the room decorations, balloons and the food) so there is a common theme.
You could also make little wizard hats as place names. Cut out circles of card and paint them in one of your themed colours. When dry, make a straight cut from the edge to the centre, then roll into a cone shape. Secure it with some tape, glue or staples then write the guest's name around the rim using a felt pen or correction-fluid pen.
Over the page: Potter decorations
Gryffindor garlands
If you've gone for the colours of Gryffindor, then pick the red and yellow balloons out of the mixed packs and place these round the room. Save the rest for the dreaded party bags.
To make a garland, cut large triangles out of card (old cereal packets are good for this), and paint half in burgundy and half in yellow - the children will love helping with this. When dry, paint or stencil on the letters for 'Happy Birthday' and the child's name on alternate colours, punch a hole at either end of the short, straight side, and thread onto black wool or similar.
If you want to go a step further, cut out some large stars and lightning strikes. Paint them silver and gold and string them down from the main banner.
Party bags
Finally, prepare the party bags. The best way to keep this cheap is to buy a couple of sets of Harry Potter-themed goodies, such as pens, notepads and erasers, then divide the individual pieces across the party bags. Throw in a few jelly jeans, Bursting Bugs, balloons and a chocolate wand and you should hear few complaints.
Then start the tidying up. If only you had magical powers…