Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Design Me A Party Please

Toy Story Theme

You can easily take one of the characters from the movie that your child likes and base the entire party of of that.

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Buzz Lightyear Cupcakes
You can find out how to make them yourself here.


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Buzz Rocket Ship Cake
You can find directions on how to make your own here.

Crafts


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Buzz Lightyear paper airplane
You can print this here.


Decorations

The best colors for your Toy Story party decorations are lime (or neon) green, orange, purple and turquoise. It's great to have balloons and paper streamers in those colors.

You can use a sidewalk chalk to draw a picture of a rocket (with LGM looking out the window) and write a birthday message (get your child to help you). Hang a sign (or banner) above your front door saying "Welcome to Star Command Control Center."

Put 'glow in the dark' stars on the ceiling of your party room and hang dark neon styrofoam balls to look like planets. Spread theme items like Buzz Lightyear toys, space puzzles, etch-a-sketch, etc. around the room. You can hang posters with space or Buzz Lightyear theme on the wall.

Cover your table with Buzz Lightyear birthday party theme table cloth. Put Buzz Lightyear toy or any neon-colored items that you might have as centerpieces (you can get some inexpensive neon toys from a dollar store). Hang personalized "Happy Birthday!" banner near the party table.

Favors


Kids will be excited about their special Toy Story party favors. You can give out Buzz Lightyear characters, sticker sheets, toy spacecrafts, candies, glow necklaces, etc. You don't have to spend a lot of money - just make your favors as personable as possible!

Games


Space Treasure Hunt: You can play this game inside or outside. Get the kids excited to go on an "Outer Space Mission" to find items that Buzz left behind him. The treasure hunt items can include paper plates, candy, toys, etc. Some kids (depending on their age) might need some help - so be there for them!

Space Mission Relay: Before the Buzz Lightyear birthday party, cut out 4 large foot-shaped pieces from a green cardboard (about 12"X15"). Divide the kids into 2 equal teams. Line them up and explain that the feet become the only thing they can step on as they travel from the front of the line, around a chair and back to the line again.

The game starts as first two players on each team step on one foot with one leg. Then they put a second foot in front of them and step with another leg on it. When the first player from each team crosses the finish line, he or she passes the "cardboard feet" to the next player in line.

The team that finishes the course first - wins. Tip: Keep your course short, but adjust the length of the course based on the kids' age and ability.

Food

Pizza Planet: You can never go wrong with having pizza at your child's birthday party. Just make sure to have various flavors - Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Extra-Cheese, etc.

Buzz Star P&Js: Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Cut them with star-shaped cookie cutter.

Space Fries with green (alien) Ketchup (Made by Heinz)

Moon Cookies


Drinks

Alien Green Fizz: Mix green sherbet and lemon-lime soda together for a delicious drink

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Design Me A Party Please

Princess Theme

Are you throwing a Princess Party and need some ideas. I have searched and found a few great ideas to complete your party.

Princess Party Pointers
• Ask guests to wear their fanciest dresses, then provide a box filled with extra dress-up items and costume jewelry for everyone to accessorize with.
• For a magical touch, decorate with a string of white Christmas lights.
• Use pink ribbon and a soft pillow to transform a seat at the party table into a throne for the birthday girl.


Games:
-Sifting for Gems
Get a shoe box filled with clean sand or white cornmeal and a few plastic rhinestones (sold in most craft stores) to bury in it.

Have the princesses take turns until each one has 2 gems.

You can make pendants by hot-gluing a paper clip between each pair of gems (adults only) and stringing silvery elastic cord through one of the clip's looped ends.

-Kiss the Frog
What you need:
Green poster board
Red or pink poster board
White paper
Glue
Scissors
Felt-tip pen

To set up the game, draw a big frog on green poster board. It's easier than you think: just make a big oval head with eyes at the top and an hourglass-shaped body with pointy webbed feet at the bottom.

Cut out the frog shape. Then cut out 2 large, white paper eyeballs and glue them in place. Draw on pupils, a mouth, and nostrils.

From red or pink poster board, cut out a pair of lips for each princess and apply a small ball of poster tack (sold at most office supply stores) to the back.

During the game, have each child shut her eyes tight, then point her in the right direction to try to pin her smooch on Mr. Frog. Continue taking turns until everyone succeeds.

A Royal Menu
Serve dainty cracker-and-cream-cheese sandwiches, pink lemonade poured into pretty punch glasses

Favors
Candy rings, stickers, plastic wands, tiaras, hair clips


Cake
Here's my take on a Princess Enchanted Castle
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