Wizard of Oz Party Decorations

The Wizard of Oz is a timeless movie that everybody loves. It's also a great theme for a party. For best results, the birthday girl should dress as Dorothy, complete with a gingham smock and ruby shoes. The house should be decked on all sorts of Oz regalia. You can make a lot of the décor yourself, or find a whole host of options to purchase that would tickle any Oz fan's fancy.

Rainbows, ruby slippers, a little terrier in a picnic basket and a yellow brick road are musts for a Wizard of Oz party decorations. Construction paper makes for great rainbows and slippers, a cheap basket from the dollar store and small stuffed dog works for Toto. Hook up a yellow brick road by getting a large sheet of yellow paper off a roll, like wrapping or packing paper, and drawing bricks with black marker.

The Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow better make guests appearances at this party. Either make some neighbors dress up as life-size renditions of these characters or make three-dimensional characters with some simple items. Make three balloon heads for each of the characters, with faces drawn on them with markers. Stuff an old shirt with straw for the Scarecrow; paint a box silver with a red heart for the Tin Man, use an old fur or faux fur wrapped around a box Lion. Set them on chairs around the table so they can join the fun.

No Wizard of Oz theme would be complete without the wicked witch and her flying monkeys. Stuff a pair of striped socks with newspapers and stick them out from under the stove or other heavy appliance to depict the wicked witch. Her monkeys can be made by picking up some monkey figures at the dollar store or other inexpensive venue, safety pinning on some cardboard wings and hanging from the ceiling.

Pick out a plain red tablecloth, the same hue as a pair of ruby slippers, and deck it out with printed tableware. Sets are available that depict action scenes from the famous movie, some with Dorothy and Toto front and center, with the good witch peering over her shoulder like a positive omen. Sets include plates, cups and decorative napkins.

Since the Wizard of Oz is such a popular party theme, entire party sets are available. The Ultimate Party Pack (see Resources) comes with eight invitations and thank you notes, a full table setting, color-coordinated balloons, crepe paper, ribbon, confetti and cake candles. You even get a rainbow piñata and the candy to go inside as well as an "Over the Rainbow" bracelet party activity kit.