Save time by shopping for party supplies at Etsy.com

You've chosen your party's theme, you have an idea of what you'd like for decorations, but the thought of hopping in the car and driving to a party store (only to spend hours plowing through the luau and graduation decorations on the way to your real destination) drives you mad. Worry not! Armed with your credit card (or a PayPal account) and 15 minutes you can find everything you need at Etsy.com.

Etsy is a crafty online marketplace, connecting world-wide crafters with buyers. The site's mission "is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers." Party planners will find everything from party hats to pinatas and banners to bachelorette decor.

In less than 10 seconds, a search for "pirate party" returned 526 results. Etsy offers pirate treasure chests (perfect for holding party favors), invitations, pirate skull cupcake toppers, and even pirate wedding cake toppers. All can be ordered with the click of a button and delivered within days, saving you a trip to the store and supporting crafters and artisans.

Etsy will also allow you to search the site for local artists, returning the 100 most recently updated shops in your area. By buying from these shops you're participating in locally sustainable business practices and supporting local artists.

So whether you're searching for bachelor party invites or edible cake toppers, check out Etsy. You'll save time and support an entrepreneur -- nothing better than that!

Electronic invites save time and money!

Rather than taking the time to send written invitations for your next party, save time, money, and paper by sending electronic invitations. Here are a few of the easiest and quickest invites to send over the Web.

Evite
Evite.com is one of the original sites for electronic invitations. With themed invites for everything from March Madness and Twilight parties to fundraisers and professional events, Evite has customizable content that allows users to poll guests for event start times and enables hosts to track what food and beverages guests will be bringing to the party. The site will also track RSVPs and sends out reminders before your event.

MyPunchbowl
Offering party planning services as well as electronic invitations, MyPunchbowl.com touts cool features like a "Date Decider" option which allows hosts to poll guests about the best days for a party, and cute electronic invites that look like real cards. The site also lists wacky holidays, providing potential hosts with dozens of reasons to party.

Pingg
Featuring beautiful photographs on its invitations, Pingg.com allows hosts to send invites via e-mail, social networking sites, and even personalized event web pages, all for free. For a fee, Pingg will send paper copies of the invites you design, saving valuable time that would be spent addressing and stuffing envelopes.

PurpleTrail
Specializing in adorable electronic announcements and save the date notices, PurpleTrail.com allows users to customize content with their own photos and embellishments. Like Pingg, PurpleTrail also allows users to send paper versions of their electronic invitations, making it a wonderful mixed-media option for party planners.