Rock Band Themed Teen Party

• A few large bags of M&Ms. Sort the different colored M&Ms out into separate containers in true rock star form.

• Different types of water, soda, lemonade and energy drinks. Line each type up carefully as if it were perfectly placed on display in their backstage dressing room.

• Any other favorite types of candy, cupcakes, cookies or appetizers on trays and in big bowls for your guests to feast on.

• Pop Rocks and rock candy are perfectly on theme, making them a great pick for the candy bar. Display oversized lollipops by burying their sticks in a flower vase filled with rock salt or rock candy.

Inflatable Guitars and Giant Microphones

Using masking or duct tape, affix three or four inflatable guitars in a row along a blank wall in the party area to mimic the look of a famous rock star's favorite guitar collection.

Inflate giant microphones and use them as props around the party area, or affix them to the walls similar to the inflatable guitars. At only $2 per pop (from Windy City Novelties), they make a big statement for just a few dollars.

Streamers & Lighting

Hang shiny metallic door streamers from the entrances to and from the party area with signs that say "Now Entering VIP." Place an oversized stuffed animal (or dummy) on a stool at the entrance to the VIP section. Dress the stuffed animal in a black t-shirt, dark sunglasses and wireless headpiece so mimic a backstage security guard.

For perfect stage lighting, a mini strobe light or disco light is the way to go. Or, simply scatter candles in hurricane vases around your house for a moody rock star vibe.

1. If you or someone you know has great Adobe Photoshop (or similar program) skills, this project will be a snap. With Photoshop access you can design your own full-size Rock Band party invitation poster, similar to a vintage music group tour poster.

2. Find images online of your favorite rock stars, and create a collage layering them over each other in a horizontal line (so it looks like they're all performing at the same time).

3. Create a cool border for the outside edge of the poster to frame the picture professionally.

4. Use a rock-worthy font to type "Rock Band Party for __________" (insert your name, or whoever the party is in honor of). Make sure to include the rest of the party details with subsections in a smaller font that read "What", "Where", "When" and any other pertinent details.

5. Make a note at the bottom letting friends know to arrive dressed as a musician from their favorite rock band. To encourage guests to go all out with their rock star attire, mention that the best dressed musician will win a prize (a great themed prize is an Apple iTunes gift card).

6. If you can get access to your school's large size poster printer, that is a great (free!) way to print out the posters. Otherwise, take the poster file (on a jump drive) to your local Kinkos and have them print out as many as you need. To do the printing at home, size your poster design for an 11 x 17 inch piece of paper to give it dramatic length.

7. To send out the invitations, buy poster tubes from a mailing supply store like Office Depot and make sure you have enough postage stamps to ship them. When in doubt, take one poster to the post office and ask them to weigh it for you.

8. If you have at least a month before the party, customize the stamps with a picture of you, a rock band or your favorite musician through Stamps.com.

9. Using the same font, border and colors as the poster, create a printable VIP pass for your guests and include it in the poster tube as their official pass into the party. Laminate it, hole punch the top and hang it from a ribbon or shoestring for an authentic look.