Parties By Kaci: [$25 DIY Party] Sweet Shoppe Candy Party

This party cost less than $25!

Candy buffets have been popular for some time now. You would think that people are sick of candy by now...but my candy buffet post still gets the most hits to this day. So, I wanted to show you a very simple and cute candy buffet for...you guessed it...less than $25!

Here's what you need to buy to re-create this candy table:

1. 4 Different Colors Of Tissue Paper: $3.41 (Walmart)
2. 2 White Poster Boards: $1.18 (Joanne's)
3. 3 Spools Of Different Colored Ribbon: $1.50 (Joanne's or Walmart)
4. Blue Paper Bags: $1.00 (Dollar Store)
5. Large Bag Taffy: $1.84 (Walmart)
6. Large Bag Skittles: $2.48 (Walmart)
7. 2 Bags Sour Worm Candy: $3.24 (Walmart)
8. 4 Different Colors Small Containers Acrylic Paint: $1.77 (Joanne's On Sale)
9. Large Bag M&M's: $2.98 (Walmart)
10. Large Bag Blow Pops: $1.97 (Walmart)
11. Large Bag Red Vines: $1.00 (Dollar Store)
12. 2 Bags Gummy Bears: $2.56 (Walmart)
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TOTAL: $24.93 (Man, I REALLY cut it close this time!!)

Here's how to put it all together:

Get your paint ready.

I'm not a painter so this is how I was able to paint that some-what-tricky shape around the words, "Sweet Shoppe". Start with 4 incomplete triangles on each side of the poster board.

Then connect the points with curvy lines.

Add another color to the inside. I chose orange.

Paint the words "Sweet Shoppe" on the inside of your shape and add polka dots around the edges. If you want.

Using the same technique, paint the names of all the different candies on your extra poster board. For this I first wrote out the names then made the shape around it.

Now for the giant lollipops. Cut a piece of tissue paper in half like this.

Then overlap them slightly. (You are trying to make a long piece of tissue paper.)

Without using glue or tape to make your tissue paper longer, roll the entire thing like this. It doesn't have to be perfect at all.

With your extra poster board, start gluing the rolled tissue paper in a swirl, leaving space for the next color.

Then add another color making sure you don't see any white. I had to sometimes make my tissue paper roll a little less tight to make sure to fill in the gaps.

Cut out the swirl nice and tight around the tissue paper so that you don't see any white poster board when you're done.

For the lollipop sticks simply cut out 4 long strips from the poster board and glue them onto the back of the swirl.

Tie a bow around each "stick" with 2 colors of ribbon.

Tape the lollipops to the wall.

I taped them on either side of the "Sweet Shoppe" sign.

Cover some boxes to add height to your candy jars.

Wrap them just like a present. (Sorry it's so blurry.)

Get your jars and vases ready. Make sure they are nice and clean. You can even use glasses, goblets and bowls if you don't have vases like these. Or,you can even save your old metal cans and cover those with tissue paper or just leave the silver showing.

Tie a ribbon around each jar.

Cut out your labels and punch a hole in each corner.

Tie the label on with a bow.

Figure out where you will put all the vases. I like to make this very symmetrical. I actually decided to get rid of the box under the red vines. The jar already had a stem which made it taller than all the rest anyway. You might have to play around with it until it looks just right.

Add scoops to your jars so people don't use their hands. If you don't have something like this then you can use spoons, measuring cups, ladles... or whatever you got.