• There are many options for cupcake-themed decorations.cupcakes image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Cupcakes are a favorite to be served at birthday parties, but they can also provide an opportunity for cheerful party decorations. Especially for children's parties, paper decorations are an easy, inexpensive and quick way to spruce up the party area without having to fear potential destruction due to their disposable nature.
  
  

Streamers

• Crepe paper streamers are a long-time favorite for birthday parties. Colorful and inexpensive, you can throw or drape streamers almost anywhere to add color to your party. For a cupcake theme and new twist, you could make streamers out of cupcake liners. Either punch holes in the bottoms of the liners and thread a stretch of yarn through the holes, or hot glue the liners together to make a streamer to drape wherever you like. You can choose either a solid streamer or mix and match different colored liners to fit whatever colors you choose for the party.
  
  

Confetti

• Cupcake confetti can be sprinkled on the serving table, the dinner table or the gift table to provide extra color surrounding the food or gifts. If you make your own, be sure to purchase a cupcake-shaped paper hole puncher, which can cut through card stock. Card stock ensures that even the candle on the top of the cupcake (in some designs) will stay firm and sturdy.
  
  

Plates, Cups and Napkins

• While you may not initially think of plates, cups or napkins as party decorations, the table can be brought to life with matching sets with cupcake designs. You can choose to color coordinate them or pick a different design for plates, napkins and cups to mix and match.
  
  

Cone Hats

• For self-decoration, cupcake paper cone hats are a way to draw the children into the theme of the party. You can purchase them in a variety of colors and cupcake designs, or you can make your own with some poster board, a stapler and some elastic string. These could also serve as an activity for children if you allow them to make their own personalized cupcake party hat at the start of the party.