by Hannah Walton aka The Cheapskate Mom

For my son's first birthday, we've opted to go with a nautical party theme! We're super excited to plan this and share with you some awesome products from Birthday Express – as well as a round-up of ideas from all over the web (used with permission) from nautical party food and menu ideas to nautical decorations and activities (including a diy cardboard sailboat!). Enjoy, folks!

Jump To:
Preppy Ocean Blue Party Ideas
Nautical & Sailing Party Decorations To Make
Nautical Favors & Decorations To Buy
Nautical & Sailing Party Food Ideas
Nautical & Sailing Party Activities
 

Nautical Party Ideas:
In exchange for my honest review, I received the birthday package of my choice from Birthday Express. It took me forever to choose as I was in love with everything on their site! I finally had to go with the Anchors Aweigh 1st Birthday Classic Party Pack for 16for our little guy's first birthday. We totally love our anchors aweigh theme supplies !

I am so excited for this nautical themed birthday party – and I had a wonderful time searching online and checking out other moms' and designers' awesome nautical parties to find DIY ideas that will complement my Anchors Aweigh! birthday package!

Some Fun Make Yourself Nautical Decoration Party Ideas :

 

Sand & Flag Nautical Party Centerpiece
This elegant, cheap and easy to make centerpiece  from paper & ink is the perfect complement for your Anchors Aweigh party!

Ocean Party Goldfish Snacks Bar
What party food is more perfect for little tikes and moms on budgets than Goldfish? This brilliant goldfish bar idea and photo from Life on The Mom List  is the perfect accompaniment for your nautical themed party!

 

Anchor Mobile
Can you believe a five year old made this beautiful anchors mobile? Check out this project and other nautical party ideas from My House of Giggles!

Cardboard Box Sailboat
Got a cardboard box? Whether your Anchors Aweigh party is indoors or outdoors – you can still have fun on a boat. Take a cardboard box and make it into a sailboat with this wonderful idea from 6th Street Design School – the kids will go wild for this awesome and so easy decoration – and the photographs will look excellent !

 

Beach Party Sand Pail Cake
Easy to make, affordable and delicious – this sand pail cake from Casa Camacho is sure to be a conversation starter amongst kids and grown ups alike.

 

 

Nautical Birthday Party Food Ideas:

Go Fishing : Give the kids celery sticks and peanut butter – plus tiny dishes of goldfish. Have the kids dip the celery in peanut butter and then "go fishing" in the dish of goldfish (the peanut butter will make the goldfish stick to the celery sticks!).

Make a Jello Pond:
Fill a clear bowl with blue jello – then make slits in the jello to insert gummy fish. This looks totally awesome!

Make Ocean Water : Add blue food coloring to lemonade. Maybe top off with blueberries!!

Beach Ball Fruit Salad:
Using a bunch of colorful fruit, arrange fruit on a plate to resemble a beach ball. Super easy and super cute

Serve Sea Weed :
Serve Green Licorice Sticks or Green Fruit Roll Ups!
 

 

Nautical Birthday Party Activity Ideas:

Water Pinatas :
Fill up water balloons and hang outside (if you have monkey bars this would work great). Include a treat in each "pinata".

Sailboat Sandbox:
If you have a sandbox, drape a sheet over it to make it look like a sailboat. Have boats and pails for the kids to play with.

Make Popsicle Stick Boat Building Contest:
Fill a tub with water – and give the kids popsicle sticks, glue, and construction paper. After they make their boats, have a boat building contest (make sure everyone gets a prize) and have a maiden voyage in the tub of water!

Make Newspaper Sailor Hats:
Give the kids glue and newspaper sheets – and have them make their own sailor party hats!

Sailor Tattoo Parlor :
Go old timey – like Popeye – and have a bunch of fake tattoos or face painting designs for kids to pick from and get "tattooed". Make sure the camera is ready.

Have a Treasure Hunt :
Make maps – hide a pot of gold (chocolates) – and break into teams for the kids to go treasure hunting – pirate style. Argghhhhhh!

Nautical & Sailing Decorations To Buy:

Sail Party Personalized Lollipops – 12 for $12.99
These yummy, fruit flavored lollipops are made personalized for your birthday boy or girl – perfect for your party guests to sail on home with!

 

Nautical Favor Bags for .99!These nautical favor bags are absolutely adorable and sell for only .99 a bag. Fill these bags with craft projects, candy, or a nautical themed coloring book and crayons (whether you buy one or make one – you can also make your own crayons for super cheap!).

Preppy Blue Ocean Party Supplies   & Preppy Pink Party Supplies: this series offers cute and fun nautical and sailing decorations from plates to cups to invitations and even nautical high chair decorating kits for first birthdays! Very cheap too

 

Sailing Party Personalized Buttons Print up a custom button for each party guest with their own name on it for only $.89 cents a button.
Cute, easy and cheap. I love it!

 

 

 

Nautical Felt Banner This felt banner is absolutely perfect for any nautical or sailing themed party – it's bright and fun and would work for a boy or girl's party! 12 alternating images of saliboats and very cute whales. Cheap – but reusable! Love it

 

My Review:
My birthday package arrived promptly and customer service was a breeze.  The quality of all the plates, invitations, centerpiece, cups and hats are excellent and sure to be a hit with my friends and family. I love having all of my little guy's party supplies in a box – ready to open the day of his party. Until then – I can forget about it because I know it's all done. Way to go, Birthday Express! A+!

Buy It:
The Anchors Aweigh! Birthday Theme starts at $22.99 . Birthday Express sells lots of different party packages and supplies – and they cater to all budgets. For a more simple nautical party – you could choose a solid color set in blue or red from their color themes – or you could choose their Anchors Aweigh! deluxe package if you wanted to get a bit fancy!

Win It:
One lucky winner will receive the Birthday Express package of their choice – up to $50.00 usd in value. Winner must be 18+ and reside within the continental United States. For more information, please read the specific terms and conditions. Contact hannah (at) thecheapskatemom (dot) com with any and all questions!

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