Throwing a Super Mario-themed birthday party is an exciting way to celebrate, and the Super Mario decorations play a huge role in bringing the Mushroom Kingdom to life! Here’s how I created an epic Mario-themed setup for Naomi’s 6th birthday party, with plenty of DIY touches and creative details.
Front door sign DIY
To welcome guests and set the tone for the party, I made a fun sign using colourful cardstock. I printed a Super Star, layered three different colours behind it, and attached a ribbon for hanging. I also added a large number “6” (since Naomi was turning six) using spare string.
To complete the entrance, I printed and stuck the word “LEVEL” above the number, so it looked like a game level sign! Three colourful balloons were attached to the doorbell on the wall next to it for an extra festive touch.
Balloons
Balloons are a must for any party! I ordered a bundle from Temu and had them filled with helium at BigW, then arranged them into three bunches around the patio. A small gold foil “6” balloon couldn’t be helium-inflated, so I placed it on top of four small white balloons and stuck it onto the top of a Mystery Block as part of the photo booth setup.
For the backdrop, I made a white balloon arch to resemble clouds. This year’s arch was much easier than previous ones since it only required one color and was a lot shorter. I reused balloon arch tape from previous years, hung it on the backdrop frame first, and then filled it with the largest white balloons before working outward with smaller ones.
Photobooth Backdrop
Since I already had a frame from my YouTube videos, I bought a light blue material backdrop to hang from it. The fabric ended up being slimmer than expected, so I had to adjust my layout, but it still turned out adorable.
I printed cartoon-style white clouds and placed them beneath the balloon arch. Then, I hung golden coins made from paper plates spray-painted gold. While plastic plates would have had a shinier finish, I couldn’t find them due to the switch to biodegradable materials. The paper plates absorbed some of the paint, dulling the effect slightly, but they still worked!
Life Sized Warp Pipe
A life-sized warp pipe made from MDF was the centrepiece of the photo booth. Kids could stand behind it so it looked like they were popping out of the pipe! To ensure stability, I added a wooden base behind it where the kids stood, so their weight kept it from tipping forward. A step stool behind the pipe helped shorter kids stay visible.
To complete the scene, I placed Mystery Blocks and Brick Blocks on either side. The Brick Blocks were made using square packing boxes painted black, with brick patterns printed on photo paper and glued on for a polished look. The Mystery Blocks were painted yellow, with cutout question marks and corner dots attached in the same way as the piñata and game Mystery Blocks.
Goombas
Two Goombas sat on the ground in front of the warp pipe. I made them using small brown balloons attached to half foam spheres (painted brown) and stuck onto brown cardstock cut into the shape of their feet. Their faces were printed and glued onto the balloons, giving them a fun 3D effect.
Piranha Plants
For added Mario magic, I created two Piranha Plants—one for the photo booth and one for the food table. I used Pringles cans as bases, wrapping them in green foam with a slightly smaller ring of foam at the top to mimic the warp pipe lip. To weigh them down, I filled the cans with wood pieces.
The stems were wooden dowels painted green, with foam cutouts for leaves. The plant heads were made from red polka-dot paper rosettes, which I attached to thick cardboard to keep them open at the perfect angle. A printed mouthpiece completed the classic Piranha Plant look.
Mushrooms and Fire flowers
To decorate both the photo booth and food table, I printed various Mario characters on photo paper and mounted them on sturdy cardboard. To make them stand upright, I hot-glued small wooden blocks I had lying around to the backs.
The red mushroom joined the Piranha Plant in the photo booth, while the green mushroom and Fire Flowers added fun touches to the food table and favour display.
Additional Super Mario Decorations – Backdrop
I also purchased a fabric Mario-themed photo backdrop from Temu. While it wasn’t quite large enough for the main photo booth, I hung it on a spare brick wall using double-sided sticky tape. It stayed up well, but removing the tape afterward was a bit of a hassle!
With all these creative decorations, Naomi’s Super Mario-themed party was a hit! Whether you’re crafting a warp pipe, setting up a photo booth, or making DIY Goombas, these ideas will help you create an unforgettable celebration. Let me know if you try any of these at your own Mario party! And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out my other posts in this series on food, decor, and the main party post covering costumes and invites!