I have a now 5 yr old daughter, whose B-day was in Feb.  In early Jan we started to plan a B-day party, knowing full well this year it was going to be small - only 5-8 kids as we had deceided to only have cousins & friends from the neighborhood, as there are lots of boys in the class this yr & she really wanted something girlie".  Looked into Libby Lu - at $25-35 a child & I still had to do the food & cake - that was a bit out of my budget!  Same for Build a Bear.  So I Surfed the net & deceided on making my own Princess Make-over party!  I read lots of ideas - Just like you are doing now! and viola! I came up w/ a great party for less than $100.  Of course Researh was the key!  I really had to shop around & do some creative thinking/ brainstorming. I started off Making my own invitations - We made them on the computer on resume paperHear Ye Princes XXXX is invited to The XXXX kingdom to celebrate Princess Lizzy's Birthday.  Of coures the When that the kids would be "Princess-ified"... wear your best dress for the ball... RSVP ...You get the picture.  Then me & my daughter rolled the invitations & tied them in wire ribbon. Hand delivering them. The kids really got a kick out of that.  For Decorations we used the typical streamers Pink & purple table cloths & princess (dinsney) plates & bowls & a few helium balloons (the silver ones that last)  Then took a twist on the Mirror Mirror on the wall - we have a 3 foot by 4 foot mirror over the fire place - we temp took it down & dressed it up w/ wire ribbon & tule - then the girls could admire themselves in a full lengthe mirror.  Along w/ that we had an old kiddie chair - we went to the local fabric store & got a remenent of fuzzy purple material - upholstered (well covered it well - stapeled it down - it looked really cute) - then added some ribbons & tule bows - instant throne! The girls got a real kick out of getting made up in the princess chair!   As 1 girl sat in the chair having make up boas sparkles lip gloss Faux Hair & Crowns attached (Make up kit - Sams Club - total cost less than $20 Faux hair $1 ea - Target & Crown $1.50 ea - family Dollar) Meanwhile each child made their own necklace - (we had sand in a small 6"x15" container small gems hidden in it each shild found 2 gems - an adult hot glued them together w/ a Paper clip between then w/ beads added to a necleace- ($2.00 fo a set of 20 gems - already had all the beads & laces)  When done that w made foam wands (that way no one got hurt) - $5.00 for a kit (beat that) & for $1.00 last activity we got princess door hangers for the girls to color.  It took @ an hour.  After that we had cake (which I made - OK i 1/2 cheated it was a choc. box cake w/ home made icing - shaped like a crown - my daugher loved the way it looked - we put a figure on top of it. Sleeping beauty - got it for a $1 at the dollar store) ice cream fruit tray & dip Chip & dip popcorn pretzels nuts cheese  juiceboxes & Tea. Actually I let my daughter choose the menu - all her favorit snacks - it was her party why shouldn't she have what SHE wanted. (we decorated the table - sprinkled it w/ little gems) Present opening - even played a little game letting the girls take turns pitching the crumbled paper in the garbage  - funny they wanted to clean up! At the end I got fancy striped gift bags - It took some real looking to find them - but finally did at Big lots - $1.00 a bag. Each bag was filled w/ a jewelery making kit $1 at Jo Ann Fabric 2 lip Glosses & pictuer frame  & was a place for them to take home the Crown Boa Door knocker necklace. Each child got a picture frame - we took a group shot of all the princesses - When my daughter sends her thank yous we are sending a group shot as part of the thank you  Hopefully my experience will help you! Enjoy your party"