Tank Tops & Tattoos
A Complete Planning Guide for a Bold Birthday Celebration
Ready to turn your birthday celebration into a mix of creativity, fun, and a dash of rebellion? The Tank Tops & Tattoos themed party is all about embracing self-expression, making bold choices, and having a blast with the people who mean the most to you. The twist? Everyone embroiders the tattoo they’ve always wanted onto their tank top, then heads out to get it for real. Plus, tiny desserts and a post-tattoo dinner and drinks round off this unique, unforgettable event. If you’ve ever wanted to bring your tattoo ideas to life in a creative and experiential way, this is the party for you!
The Planning
Setting the Scene – Creative, Tattoo-Inspired Vibes
The party’s vibe should feel artsy, laid-back, and full of personal style. Think tattoo shops meets DIY art studio, with a little bit of rock-n-roll thrown in. You’ll want to create an environment that inspires creativity, while still keeping the energy fun and casual.
Lighting: Bold & Vibrant
Neon Signs & LED Lights: Light up the room with neon signs that scream “tattoo parlor vibes” or fun phrases like “Ink it Up” or “Tattoo You”. Add LED strip lights to highlight certain areas and set a dynamic, colorful atmosphere.
Industrial Feel: Think exposed bulbs and string lights to give it that tattoo shop-meets-gallery vibe.
Decor: Artistic, Edgy, and Personal
DIY Station: Set up a DIY embroidery station where guests can design their “tattoos” to be embroidered onto their tank tops. Provide embroidery hoops, thread in various colors, and needles.
Tattoo Flash Art: Display classic tattoo flash art around the room—think iconic images like anchors, hearts, skulls, roses, and geometric patterns. This will help inspire your guests and add to the tattoo parlor ambiance.
Artist Supplies: Scatter art supplies like sketch pads, pencils, markers, and stencils around the room, so guests can play around with different tattoo designs before choosing the one they want to embroider.
DIY Photo Wall: Create a photo backdrop that mimics a tattoo parlor with a minimalist vibe. Include props like temporary tattoo sheets, fake tattoos, and cool art prints.
Color Palette: Black, Bold, and Bright
Black and White Base: Start with a neutral black-and-white color scheme to give the party a bold and chic edge.
Pop of Colors: Incorporate bright colors, especially neon pinks, greens, or blues, to add energy and life, much like the colorful tattoos guests will be creating.
Step 2: The Embroidery Station – Design Your Tattoo
The core activity of this party is the embroidery station where guests get to create their own "tiny tattoo" design to embroider onto a tank top. This is where the fun starts and your party truly takes shape.
Station Setup:
Tank Tops & Embroidery Materials: Provide plain black, white, or even pastel-colored tank tops for each guest. Lay out a variety of embroidery hoops (small to medium size), threads in an array of colors, and sharp needles.
Design Templates & Inspiration: Set out a range of tattoo flash art or print out minimalist tattoo designs like tiny hearts, arrows, stars, and skulls for guests to trace or use for inspiration. You can even create custom design sheets for the party based on shared interests (e.g., travel, music, personal symbols).
Tutorials & Guidance: If you have a friend or professional who’s experienced in embroidery, invite them to give a mini tutorial on how to get started. For a more relaxed vibe, simply encourage guests to experiment and have fun with their designs.
Tattoo Ideas Wall: As guests start sketching their tattoos, set up a bulletin board where they can pin their designs, and others can gather inspiration from what their friends are planning to "get tattooed."
Getting Inked Later:
After everyone has embroidered their tiny tattoo, it’s time to head to a local tattoo parlor. Confirm with a tattoo artist in advance to ensure they’re cool with your group coming in for quick, small tattoos. Keep the designs simple and small, as they’ll be easier to execute in a short time. Each guest will have their embroidered design ready, and it’s time to make it permanent!
The Menu – Tiny Desserts
Just because this party is all about tattoos doesn’t mean it can’t be sweet. A collection of tiny desserts is the perfect menu to complement the bold tattoo vibes. Think bite-sized treats that pack a punch in flavor and fun.
Tiny Desserts:
Mini Cupcakes: Serve small, pastel-colored cupcakes with tattoo-inspired toppers like tiny heart or skull decorations made from fondant.
Tattoo Cookie Stamps: Create cookies shaped like hearts, stars, or other tattoo motifs. Use edible ink pens or fondant to draw tiny, tattoo-like designs onto each cookie.
Mini Cheesecake Bites: Serve small, creamy cheesecake bites topped with fruit, or with tiny fondant tattoos placed on top for a whimsical touch.
Tattoo Pops: Create cake pops shaped like tattoo needles or ink bottles. Or, dip mini pops in black or bright-colored icing with "tattoo" designs piped on top.
Tiny Jars of Pudding: Layer chocolate mousse or vanilla pudding in small mason jars. Top them with chocolate "tattoos" made from edible ink or chocolate stencil art.
Macaron Tattoos: Delicate macarons with a touch of edible gold or silver dust. You could even print mini designs on each one to give it a tattoo-like edge.
Tattoo Ice Cream Sandwiches: Small, bite-sized ice cream sandwiches, with edible ink designs on the cookies. A fun and cool treat to eat before getting inked!
Signature Drinks:
Ink Black Sangria: A bold, deep red sangria with dark fruits and a splash of blackberries or black currant juice.
Tattooed Margaritas: Serve margaritas in unique colors like pink or blue (add food coloring) to keep with the theme, and garnish them with mini umbrellas or a touch of black salt on the rim.
Tattooed Mocktails: For the non-drinkers, offer a vibrant mocktail with lime, ginger beer, and a splash of grenadine, served in clear glasses with tattoo-inspired stirrers.
The Party
Experience of a Lifetime Timeline
Guest Arrival & Welcome Drinks: Let your guests settle in, take some photos and mingle before starting to create your tank tops!
Tiny Desserts & Tank Top Making: Now the fun part! Embroider your tiny tattoo idea on your tank top and snack on some tiny desserts while your do :)
Getting Inked – The Main Event: Now that everyone has designed their tattoo and embroidered it on their tank tops, it’s time to head out and make it permanent. Here’s the fun part: the tattoo experience.
Tattoo Parlor Plans:
Prearranged Group Tattoo Appointment: Contact your favorite tattoo shop beforehand and set up a group appointment for quick, simple tattoos. It’s best to focus on minimalist tattoos that can be done in a short time (think tiny hearts, stars, moons, or meaningful symbols).
Custom Design for the Group: You can even work with the tattoo artist to create a unique design for your group, something that unites everyone’s tattoos together—like a shared word, symbol, or motif.
Have temporary tattoos available for those that don’t want to commit to getting a full blown tattoo
Inked Afterparty: Once everyone’s inked, head back to the party venue or a nearby bar to celebrate! Make sure to have some celebratory shots or drinks lined up for everyone to toast to their new tattoos.
Afterparty – Dinner & Drinks: Once everyone has gotten their tattoo, it’s time for the afterparty. A casual, fun vibe is perfect for this part of the night, where you can celebrate your new ink and relive the creative energy from earlier in the day.
Dinner Plans:
Comfort Food: After a day of art and ink, go for comfort food at a local eatery. Think pizza, burgers, or tasty finger foods, paired with craft beers or cocktails.
Tattoo-Inspired Dishes: If you want to keep the tattoo theme going, you could have your food presented in a tattoo-inspired way (e.g., heart-shaped pizzas, skull-shaped fries, or black-colored cocktails).
Tattoo Shop Vibes: If you want to lean into the theme, head to a casual bar or diner with an industrial or tattoo-parlor atmosphere, complete with cool music and edgy decor.
Favors: A Keepsake to Remember the Night
Send your guests home with a little reminder of the bold, creative night they shared with you:
Mini Tattoo Kits: Create small tattoo kits with temporary tattoos, aftercare products (like ointments), or a mini notebook where guests can design future tattoos.
Customized Ink Bottles: Little bottles of ink (like ink for writing) or scented ink-based candles, each with a fun, personalized label.
Tattoo Stickers: Temporary tattoos that match the ones your guests got for real. Fun and quirky, they’re perfect for remembering the night.