Party Invitations
Blow up a balloon, and while holding the end closed, write the party details
onto the balloon with a waterproof marker. Deflate and put it into an envelope.
Games
Cut off the top third of a milk jug, leaving the handle. Use it for a party
penny toss game.
Make a game by removing the top of an egg carton and marking the insides
of the cups with the numbers 1, 2 and 3. Each child takes turns throwing the same amount of pennies. High scores wine.
Let kids string Life Savers on licorice whips or long ribbons to create
a fun necklace to be taken home after the party. Fruit Loop cereal can also be used.
Balloon Game
Have the players divide into pairs that stand back-to-back with their elbows
linked. Give one person on each team an inflated balloon. When the teams are told to go, they try to reach the finish line,
transfer the balloon to their partner with their arms still linked and be the first to return to the starting place.
Scavenger Hunt
No matter where the venue is, a scavenger hunt can be set up. Leave clues
around under rocks, behind sofa cushions, in a tree branch, on a swing, etc to lead kids to the hidden treasure. The treasure
can be the cake, the party favors, or something else special.
Cup and Ball
Before the kids arrive,
construct these party favor/games. Get plastic cups and with a craft knife cut a small hole in the bottoms. Cut string into
18-inch pieces. Tie a double overhand knot at one end of the string and thread the untied end through the bottom of the cup,
leaving the knot at the bottom outside. Thread the free end through a wooden bead and knot it. To play, hold the cup in one
hand, toss the bead into the air with a swinging motion and try to put into the cup. You can hold contests to see who can
get the ball in the most times in a certain amount of minutes. If the party has a theme, you can decorate the cups accordingly
Favors
Fill toilet tissue tubes with candy or tiny toys. Wrap the tubes in colored
tissue and tie the ends with ribbon or yarn. To open the "Crackers", the child pulls both ends real hard.
Fill coffee filter with treats for Halloween, a birthday party, etc. Tie
with a ribbon and decorate with stickers.
Keep watch all through the year for inexpensive items that kids love, ie.
stickers, sports cards, small toys. Buy lunch bags and have the kids decorate them, then fill with items and snacks. Buy or
make thank you notes and punch a hole in the end. Use colored ribbon and tie the top of the bag with note attached.
Misc.
Make icecream in a baggie as a game and a treat.
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 sandwich size plastic zipper bags
1 one gallon size plastic zipper bag
2 cups ice
1 tablespoon coarse salt
Put one small plastic bag inside another. Add the milk, half and half, sugar and vanilla to the
inside bag. Seal both bags securely, removing excess air. Add 2 cups ice and 1 tablespoon salt to large bag. Place small bag
inside and seal. Let the kids shake the bag for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve.
**The recipe I found doesn't say how much each bag makes but looks to be individual servings.***
Lay Lifesavors candy flat on the top of a frosted cake to hold the candles.
Use metal washer rings as weights to anchor helium balloons when using as
a party decoration. Just tie the washers to the end of the string and place it on the table or floor.
Fill an inflatable child's pool with ice to hold sodas, wine or beer for
a party. Place balloons or flowers in pool to decorate.
Gift ideas for a 50th wedding anniversary: Matching shirts that say "I've
been married to him/her for 50 years". A photocopy page of the headline front of a newspaper from the wedding day. This can
be gotten at the local library. A vintage record, possibly of "their song", or the song played at their wedding. Have it framed.
THEMES
Luau
- Make jello jigglers in tropical colors and cut them with cookie cutters shaped like star fish,
shells, fish shapes or have blue jello with gummy fish swimming in it
- Buy a whole coconut or pineapple. Make a big show of cutting them and pass out a sample of each
- Make tissue paper flowers using tissue paper in bright colors, and pipe cleaners. Fold the paper
like an accordian, until it is in 1 long thing strip; secure in the center with a pipe cleaner. Peel out the folds until you
have a large paper flower
- Play "limbo" with reggae music and a broom stick. See how low everyone can go!
- Play ring toss with using plastic leis.
- Have children make flower leis. Use silk flowers and let them string them. Divide the flowers
with cut pieces of sipping straw between the petals to keep them seperated.
- Girls can glue silk flowers to headbands for hair decorations.
- Make grass skirts using crepe paper
