Rev up your ’80s party with three creative additions
Madonna. Neon bracelets. Cassette tapes. Acid wash denim. Hair scrunchies…and so much more! Many teens are choosing to throw an ’80s party for a special birthday or other celebration. We recently went to an ’80s party that had three ideas so fresh and creative, we had to share them with you.
Even one of these ideas will add a little something extra to your party! Let’s check them out…
1.Ultimate ’80s Photo Booth
To make the photo booth backdrop, our hostess found colorful pictures of ’80s music icons, TV shows, pop culture items, sayings, and movies. Simply print out the pictures and tape them together. Hang your backdrop with clothes pins onto thick twine. Affix to your tent wall, fence, or tack up with reusable, paint-safe gum adhesive to a wall in your home.
Next, make a prop box for guests to use with your booth by printing out more key ’80s sayings, video game characters, logos, and faces of pop music and movie icons. Glue the props to large craft sticks, found at Target or any craft store. Your guests will have a blast taking silly photos with these props.
2. “Boom Box” Amplifier
A quick and easy way to play a raging ’80s playlist is through your smart phone or tablet. Putting one of these devices in a bowl or box amplifies the sound a lot – just right for a large party setting.
Likely, if you grew up in the ’80s, you had a boom box like this. But this isn’t real! This is a rectangular cardboard box with the back (or, really, the top flaps) left open. What’s inside? An iPad playing ’80s hits! Just cover the box with pale gray paper. Then print out a picture of a real boom box and tape it to the box plane that’s opposite the open section. The box will amplify your tunes and provide a conversation starter. Decorate your “boom box” with a few cassette tapes…if you can find them.
3. Life-Sized Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube is probably the toy/game most people associate with the 1980s. These life-sized cubes are fun and easy to make. The one shown was turned into a piñata. You can do that or make a few of these cubes in different sizes to accent your food or gift table, or your dance floor.
How to make?
Find one or more square-shaped cardboard boxes. Cover each side of your box with craft paper in traditional Rubik’s Cube colors: white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow. Use thin, black duct tape to segment off nine squares on each side, and tape the edges, too. Rulers are necessary for good measurements and perfect squares. Always start with pencil first, then tape!
We hope these ideas have inspired you to create your own ’80s party. Totally awesome!