6 Ways to Punch Up Any Party Without Spending a Dime

Party planner to the stars Mary Giuliani literally wrote the book on cocktail parties (appropriately titled: The Cocktail Party) and she’s here to show you that you don’t have to spend much (or anything) to throw a great bash!

Here are 6 fun party projects that you can make with the odds and ends you have cluttering up your cupboards:

Wine-Cork Cocktail Stirrers

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Got corks lying around? Put them to good use by turning them into cocktail stirrers that double as drink markers. Just insert leftover wooden skewers into the bottom of the cork, then have your guests write their name on the cork with a sharpie. No one will lose their glass, and there will be less dishes for you later!

Leftover Champagne Jell-O Shots

Leftover champagne quickly gets flat and warm -- pretty unappealing. Give it a second life by making a tray of Jell-O with champagne, gelatin and white grape juice (plus vodka if you’re feeling adventurous). After the Jell-O sets, Mary slices into cubes and dusts the top with leftover sugar sprinkles to add sparkle.

Stale Candy Placeholders

If you have old, stale gummy candy lying around, don’t break a tooth by trying to eat it, instead try slicing into it and inserting a place card. Instant colorful place holders!

Pipe Cleaner + Marble Balloon Weight

Don’t waste your money buying balloon weights or ribbon. Use pipe cleaners twisted into fun shapes with a marble attached to the bottom to weigh the balloon down.

Leftover Streamer Confetti

Never buy confetti again! Just grab the leftover streamers you have from all the various gatherings you’ve hosted over the years and cut into tiny pieces with scissors.

Mismatched Disposable Dinnerware

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We’ve all been there: you’ve had a bunch of parties and now you have a huge assortment of leftover mismatched paper plates, napkins and utensils. Use them all at the same party for a fun, eclectic vibe.