I have two birthday parties this month. Every other year we have just family celebrations but this year is the year we let them invite a few friends over. The 10th, is for a 13 yr old boy, he's pretty easy, no real theme necesary, just feed em and throw em outside to romp and stomp, (hope weather is permitting). The 25th is my girl turning 7's b-day, all the parties she attends, they give party favors, not that I think I need to keep up with the Jone's , but I'd like some suggestions or websites giving suggestions for homemade or very cheaply bought favors for some little girls, I've made beans bags for the last 2 parties, so thats out for this year, but a good one. I'd like to find something I don't have to buy, I do have some fabric and scraps of stuff, a glue gun, a sewing machine, etc. The expensive party favors you can buy are mostly junk anyway. Please any and all suggestions will be appreciated. Oh, I think I have some felt, maybe a site where there's a pattern for finger puppets. Thanks

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), September 05, 2001

Answers

Make something like crackers...I think that's what they're called. Put little things in a tp roll, wrap with fabric/paper, tie on ends.

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), September 05, 2001.

Two ideas I have that are along the same lines. One is bake cookies and let them decorate them, taking their goodies home as their treat. This also keeps them entertained for the time they are at the party. Maybe have a tea party with hats and heels? The other is, make plaster pins using chocolate molds to, again, let them decorate. Look what I made!

Quick story. My son had a pirate party. Everyone had eyepatches, kerchiefs, and fake beards. I made ships out of refrigerator boxes and the two ships threw sponges at each other. They searched for hidden treasure with clues planted through the yard and found a chest filled with goodies (candy and cheap toys, like a pinjaita). They decorated the treasure chests I made out of wood and leather. (It is amazing what you can make with a hot glue gun.) It was such a hit that his friends kept asking when they could to do it again.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 05, 2001.

You can make your own pinanta. My dad did that for me when I was a girl and it was a lot of fun, very inexpensive too.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), September 05, 2001.

You could make some hair scrunchies with your fabric. Do you have any elastic? Even recycled will do. I take it off old clothes before they hit the rag bag. Or you could make those triangle shaped head coverings that are so popular with little girls now. The ones that tie behind your neck. They must have a name but I can't think of it right now. Or maybe little cloth drawstring bags that they could decorate at the party.

-- Kari (prettyhere@truevine.net), September 06, 2001.

How about a treasure hunt - the treasure prize can be whatever little things and the cake.

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), September 06, 2001.

Carol, Go to www.ivillage.com this is a website geared towards womens topics. On the homepage there is a parenting link that has games, crafts, outdoor fun etc. Maybe you can find some crafty projects for a bad weather day or some outdoor fun for good weather. Good luck.

-- Kim In Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), September 06, 2001.

Try going to www.kidspartyfun.com for ideas.

Also www.craftathome.com - go to Free Craft Projects - then Childs Play and Pipe cleaners+ Pom Poms

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), September 06, 2001.

Could you do something with dried wild plant material, like letting each make a centerpiece for Fall or something? Maybe a picture frame with acorns or some other dried seed pods? What about something with gourds? My mother used to make pretty cute "chickens" out of the crook neck gourds by gluing some of those jiggly eyes on them and then sitting them in a basket of hay with a couple of the egg shaped gourds. They lasted for a couple of months and then we threw them on the compost heap (minus the eyes) when they started getting soft. You could do mini grapevine wreaths and show them how to decorate them at your house and then demonstrate how to personalize them with little items when they get home. And you could do any number of things with a few pinecones and a little glue and felt. Lately I have been working with willow twigs, they bend easily and I can make them into hearts or stars or whatever with just a little string, and then they are similar to the grapevine wreaths. The stars could be done with any thin sticks of about 12" or more and can be decorated with practically anything.

Best wishes to you. I think that children like party favors that they can make themselves even more than ones that are premade. And it also counts as an activity for the event!

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), September 06, 2001.

Part of the fun for my kids is planning and making decorations for MONTHS before the party. I don't spend a whole lot but my parties are REMEMBERED because no one does the old fashioned kind much anymore. My kids pick some wacky themes (FURBY/leprechaun party was one: all green theme with McDonalds furbie toys as decorations at each plate)

We did a cowgirl theme this year (table decs: cut flowers and weeds in an old milkbottle, old harness on table, rope and horse tack on backs of chairs). My daughter helped me make the invitations on the computer (found cowgirl gifs free on internet).

Since you have fabric scraps consider making little sewing kits/project boxes for everyone. I do this by buying a small sewing kit at Dollar store for each girl. Fill a shoe box with different kinds of fabric scraps, buttons, yarn scraps. I put a coupon in it for a free sewing/embroidery/crochet lesson. When they come back, we embroider their name in a small scrap, sew it and fill with stuffing (old pantyhose) and Viola! instant pin cushion.

I made art project party favors one year by taking empty 2 liter plastic soda bottles. I decorated the outside with leftover puffy paint (you can make your own)with each child's name and put flowers and squigglies on it. Out of the top of the bottle I placed a wand made with a stick found in backyard (my kids loved finding these and making these)I shaped a star out of a pipe cleaner (chenille)over a cookie cutter and attached the star to the stick.

I filled the inside with bags (recycled) filled with things I had on hand like (glitter), homemade playdough/paint, fabric scraps, googly eyes, recycyled things that could be made into art, colored paper scraps, etc.... ANd--mixed all the above up with shredded paper (save your colored junk mail or use magazine pages).

It was a big hit.

I have also taken pictures of each party goer before the party with my child, bought inexpensive frames (or you could make them with recycled cd holders).

Here are the things I got off the internet for our cowgirl party: *** Party Type: Birthday Invitation: picture of a farm yard on primary colored paper it read, backyard barnyard birthday party rustle up your ponies and join us, round up time is a at? Decor: red table cloths on tables with blue bandnas on top cans painted in cow print with sunflowers inside I painted cable spools to look like a cow,pig and horse the kids later used them as tables to sit and eat at Food: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, biskets Music: country music chicken dance cotton i joe Highlight: barn shaped jumping balloon for the kids to jump in a visit from a farmer who brought a pony, goat and baby chicks the cake was a 1/2 sheet and on top stood a barn and gin made out of cake with plastic farm animals all around

Party Type: Birthday Invitation: cowboy hats made out of red construction paper with request to wear boots if they had them. We purposly asked for no holsters and toy guns. It's not needed because the main emphasis is on the horse. Decor: outside party only. guests were given hats and bandanas upon arrival. We did use helium baloons. Food: cake decorated like a horse pasture with miniature horses,streams,fences and trees. finger foods like fruit slices,cheese cubes, and pretzels. Pre-schoolers love to eat with there hands. Music: none Highlight: the pony rides of course! We also had stick horse races and a bouncy rocking horse for those afraid of the real one. We took polaroid pictures and made simple frames out of popcicle sticks and glued wagon wheel pasta to it. Parents loved it!

Party Type: Birthday Invitation: Using a computer graphics program and a digital camera, I incorporated my daughter's face onto a cowgirls head & body on the outside of the invitation. Inside, I had western objects scattered about along with pertinent information concerning the party. Decor: Wild West plates, napkins and tablecloths. Also using my computer, I printed signs such as "Leah's Lazy T Ranch Party this way!". Also, using my digital camera & my computer, I made each child at the party a "Wanted Poster" with their picture on it. This was a big success! Food: Using packaged cake mix and icing and a 13 x 9 pan, I cut cake up to form a horse head and used candies (licorice sticks, etc.) to decorate. Music: None Highlight: Hired a local pony ride service. We had a horse, pony and 5 to 6 animals for a petting zoo. The kids really enjoyed and so did the parents (who got to ride the horse!). GREAT FUN FOR ALL! Party Type: Birthday Invitation: I used store bought invitations. We called it a "Cow Party" because my daughter, Valerie, loves cows. Everyone was asked to come dressed in farmer, cow or cowboy duds. Decor: We had the party outdoors at our river lot. The weather is just starting to get nice at the end of May here in Pennsylvania. It was our first cookout of the season. We wanted to use hay bales but we forgot to get them out of storage in our hurry to set up the party! I purchased lots of balloons with cows on them. We used a red and white checked tablecloth. The cups and paper plates matched the invitations. Food: We had a cookout. We used our grill and made hot dogs and hamburgers. We also had other picnic food like baked beans, chips, pretzels, potato salad, etc. Every year I make a special cake to go with the theme so I made a cow cake and also bought a cake that had a farm scene on it. Music: No music, just the sounds of little kids having fun! Highlight: I rented a miniature horse for an hour so all of the kids could ride. I took photos of each child on the horse with the river as a backdrop. I put these photos in the thank you cards. I also ordered a "My Twinn" Doll and dressed it up like my daughter before I wrapped it. When she opened the present, her doll looked just like her and was dressed for the "Cow Party". :)

Party Type: Birthday Invitation: I used store bought invitations. We called it a "Cow Party" because my daughter, Valerie, loves cows. Everyone was asked to come dressed in farmer, cow or cowboy duds. Decor: We had the party outdoors at our river lot. The weather is just starting to get nice at the end of May here in Pennsylvania. It was our first cookout of the season. We wanted to use hay bales but we forgot to get them out of storage in our hurry to set up the party! I purchased lots of balloons with cows on them. We used a red and white checked tablecloth. The cups and paper plates matched the invitations. Food: We had a cookout. We used our grill and made hot dogs and hamburgers. We also had other picnic food like baked beans, chips, pretzels, potato salad, etc. Every year I make a special cake to go with the theme so I made a cow cake and also bought a cake that had a farm scene on it. Music: No music, just the sounds of little kids having fun! Highlight: I rented a miniature horse for an hour so all of the kids could ride. I took photos of each child on the horse with the river as a backdrop. I put these photos in the thank you cards. I also ordered a "My Twinn" Doll and dressed it up like my daughter before I wrapped it. When she opened the present, her doll looked just like her and was dressed for the "Cow Party". :) ***

Hope that helps, Tell us what you end up doing....

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 06, 2001.

Gosh, some great ideas, and the one about the hair kerchiefs and scrunchies, that very idea dawned on me this morning when my daughter brought one out this morning to ask if it mathced her outfit, I don't have enough elastic for scrunchies but will go thru our old clothes stuff and see if I can rustle up some. Thanks so much everyone, I knew I could get some great ideas from ya'll.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), September 06, 2001.

If you need cute project ideas for creative girls' birthdays here are a few...

You know the plain wooden craft boxes you can get at walmart for a dollar, buy one for each girl and have them paint them. while they dry, have the girls play games like twister or pin the tail on the donkey to win things they can put in their little boxes like those fake rings and plastic necklaces. Also the scrunci & Kerchief ideas are cute. Another idea is you buy a large bag of popsicle sticks and make picture frames out of them, then have them decorate them with macaroni, black beans, lima beans, ect. One more idea is buy those large wooden clothes pins not the kind with the metal thingys on the sides but the plain wood ones, you also need scraps of fabric, pipe cleaners, or yarn. each girl could decorate their clothes pins to look like the girl sitting to the left of them

-- katherine Colvin 13 years old (katcolvin@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.