Epic DIY NERF Party

It's taken me a few months to get around to writing this post about my boys' joint NERF party, but today is the day I am finally sharing all the easy and inexpensive DIY party details. A NERF gun party is a perfect party for active kids, and my boys and their party guests had a great time. Keep reading for all the fun DIY signs, food, games, activities, loot bags, and details. You are going to love this epic DIY NERF party!

The party started with a simple DIY invitation. I made this one using a couple pictures of my boys and free online photo editing software (Picmonkey.com).

Then, I set the stage with simple DIY party signage and decor. I love the way the party signs add a professional touch to the party and tie everything together. You can download all my signs (for free) here. 

As the guests arrived, they were invited to "get their game face on". I set up a little station (by the door) with a sign, a dollar store mirror, and some face paint.

The kids were also given safety glasses, and they were required to wear them.

And, of course, it was important to keep all the party guests entertained and having fun, so we planned several NERF party games and activities. My boys really wanted an "epic NERF battle", so we made sure we had plenty of NERF guns and bullets.

We also used boxes, mats, and tents to set the stage for our battle.

We also set up a fun "target practice" area for the kids who wanted a break from the battle. I made all the elements from dollar store supplies, and you can find the instructions here.

And we also had a little table that held a simple "guess the number of candies" game.

Of course, we also set up a fantastic table of NERF-themed food because the kids needed "fuel for their battle". We had tons of blue and orange food and drinks! 

The backdrop for the food table included a sign I made using dollar store supplies, and you can read about how to make it here. 

The food table also held two NERF target cakes... one for each of the birthday boys!

Finally, all the parties left with fun NERF party favours. I had supplies for a water balloon battle and a blue and orange prize punch. You can read about our loot bags (and download the free printable tags) here.

Our NERF party was a huge success...

And all of our party guests had a great time!

I think all the DIY party details really made the NERF party special for my boys... and they are still talking about the "epic" NERF battle. If your kids enjoy running around and battling with their buddies, I highly suggest throwing a DIY NERF party for their next birthday celebration.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

For a closer look, check out the video I made here:

NERF Party Games and Activities

My boys love having NERF gun battles, so when it came to picking a party theme for my two youngest boys, it didn't require a lot of discussion. My 10 year old requested an "epic NERF battle", and my 8 year old wanted a "target shooting area". Today, I am sharing the details of all our super-fun NERF party games and activities.

Before the battle started, the kids applied their war paint.

Then, to ensure that everyone was safe, I made them all put on safety glasses.

Then, I set up a NERF gun battlefield. I spray painted some boxes with camo spray paint, I made some obstacles out of mats, I added some pop up tents we had a home, and blew up some orange and blue balloons.

The kids spent most of the party having their battle, but they took out a little time for some of the other games and activities too.

I created a DIY prize punch that they could shoot with their NERF guns. When they hit a prize, they got to keep it.

I also had a "guess the number of candies" station. The kids all made guesses, and the child that guessed closest got to keep the jar of blue and orange jelly beans.

I also made some fantastic shooting target games for the kids. 

To make a spinning target (see photo):

1) Cut four squares from a cardboard tri-fold. (I got mine at the dollar store.) Then, trim the squares in duct tape to make it look more colourful and neat.
2) Turn the four squares into round targets, and decorate with markers.
3) Tape a paper straw and coin to the back of the circles (for weight).
4) Insert a skewer through the straw, and tape the two ends to the tri-fold.

I also stacked plastic cups with army men, and converted another tri-fold by cutting out a rectangle and hanging plastic cups.

All of the NERF party games and activities we had at our party were easy and inexpensive to put together, and the kids all had a fantastic time. If you have a NERF gun fan in your house, you should give them a try!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)



PS - Find more NERF party ideas (including party food, FREE party signs and party favours) here.

Follow East Coast Mommy on Facebook for more easy and inexpensive ideas for family fun.

For a closer look, check out the video I made here:

NERF Party Signs

Party signs help keep things organized, and they create a fun party atmosphere. I love using party signage as decor, and today I am sharing the signs I used for my boys' joint NERF gun party... and you can download any of my NERF party signs for free.

As the kids came in, I had a sign that said "Enter Here if you are ready for Battle!" I also had a sign listing all the NERF battle safety rules.

To download the "Enter Here" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo. I attached mine to a piece of dollar store foam core and added a colourful target.

I printed a copy of the Battle Rules and put it in an inexpensive dollar store frame. To download the "NERF battle rules": click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I created a food table backdrop using a tri-fold from the dollar store. I added a "Fuel for Battle" sign, trimmed it with orange duct tape, and added some targets made from construction table circles.

To download the "Fuel for Battle" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I created an ammunition depot for all the NERF gun bullets. I printed a sign and put it in a dollar store frame.

To download the "Ammunition Depot" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I had a safety glasses station where all the kids picked up their safety glasses... because "safety first". I printed the sign and put it in a dollar store frame.

To download the "Safety Glasses" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I had a spot for the kids to "Get their game face on". I put a sign in a dollar store frame, and I added some black under eye make up and a dollar store mirror.

To download the "Get your game face on" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

One of our games was "Guess the Number of Candies". I put a sign in a dollar store frame and placed it behind a jar of candies.

To download the "Guess the number of candies sign": click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I also had a wall of "Target Practice". I printed a sign and placed it in a dollar store frame next to our targets.

To download the "Target Practice" sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save to your computer, and print like a regular 8X10 photo.

I think customized signs create fantastic party decor and add a fun, personalized element to parties. If you are planning a NERF party, I hope you have some fun with my free NERF party signs!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more NERF party ideas (including activities, food, party favors, etc...) here.

*** If you like this post, check out my DIY Parties website here. It's full of easy and inexpensive DIY party ideas. ***

For a closer look, check out the video I made here:

NERF Party Cake

I am not a professional cake decorator, but I love baking and decorating simple birthday cakes for my boys. They are always thrilled to have fun and unique cakes that match their party themes. Recently, I made a couple of NERF target cakes, and below, I am sharing all the simple DIY details and instructions.

I had a joint party for two of my boys, so I made one batch of vanilla cupcakes and one batch of chocolate cupcakes. Then, I arranged the cupcakes on dollar store pizza trays in the shape of targets (see picture below).

Then, I coloured icing yellow, orange, and blue... and I piped the icing onto the cupcakes.... and added some details with black icing.

I finished by adding a few (clean) NERF bullets.

My boys were sooooo pleased with their cakes, and it was easy for the party guests to grab cupcakes during breaks in their NERF battles.

Do you like to bake cakes for your children's parties? I am really pleased with how cute these cakes turned out to be... and how happy they made my sweet birthday boys!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

For a closer look, check out the video I made here: