Parties 4 Families

Simple Halloween Decor

2009-10-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

I made some simple, fun and inexpensive crafts to decorate for Halloween. I got some of my ideas from Better Homes and Gardens as well as Martha Stewart. I just adjusted their ideas to fit my budget. I hope you enjoy the ideas and are able to use them in your own home.

I use this corner to store some of the Halloween candy we have already received. I just need to add ribbon to make it look more festive. I'm sure I will add more candy, too.

I used a clear glass vase and added Halloween confetti on the outside and some on the inside. A small tea light candle makes it glow nicely in the dark.

I added lots of cob webs to this chandelier. I even have the burn to show for it. Ouch!

This is a recycled craft I did without planning ahead. My girls painted the rocks Halloween colors on both sides. A Halloween sticker was added to one side of each rock. I took a red crayon and melted the wax on the white candles to make it look like dripping blood. This looks so cute on our table and we finally lit the candles after having them for 6 years.

I made these Halloween witch hats a few years ago. I found the craft idea from Haunt Your House for Halloween Decorating Tricks and party Treats by Cindy Fuller. They are soooo simple and you can make a lot!

My Halloween picture tree. I bought this tree last year at Home Goods. I printed and pasted family pictures from past Halloweens onto foam sheets.

Our family silhouette tree. All I used was black and white cardstock paper and black poster board. I had to add Mickey bats flying around. Thank you to Annie for photo shopping my pictures.

Inspired by the mouse (Mickey of course) I made these cute silhouettes to go with the family silhouette tree

This wreath was created using a black wreath on sale at Michael's Crafts. I purchased Halloween bells at Beverly's Crafts. I used left over ribbon purchased from Michael's and glitter spider rings from Party City to finish off the wreath. Of course spider web is stretched around the wreath to give it an eerie yet happy Halloween feel.

Halloween treat tree. Everything here was used from outside tree branches, a black vase from the attic and construction paper cones to hold treats. A Halloween sticker was placed on the front of each cone and spider web is stretched from branch to branch.

Close up version of the treat cones

Store bought Halloween frames at Target for $5.00 each add a nice Halloween touch to this display. I filled 2 jars with black and silver beaded garland to match the ribbon that decorates the outside of the jars.

This simple pumpkin was made using toilet paper, fabric and a paper bag stem. No gluing involved!

I made this table scape using different sizes of circle shapes made out of construction paper, a cylinder clear glass vase and added Halloween confetti around the vase using removable glue dots, felt spider web place mats at each place setting, plastic spiders and paper confetti using a hole punch and construction paper

Simple place mats can be made using black felt in the shape of a spider web, covered with spider web and a spider in the corner

I added a spider and spider web to make these silhouettes look old and eerie

Recipes For All Occasions

2009-09-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

Recipes For All Occasions

Back To School Recipes

Drinks:

Strawberry lemonade - Purchase a carton of Minute Maid lemonade, pour in a pitcher and add frozen strawberries. Let sit a while and stir until it tastes sweet, serve over ice.

Sherbet 7UP - Pour 7up in a large punch bowl, add Rainbow Sherbet and serve.

Shirley Temples - Pour a 2-liter bottle of 7-up into a pitcher add about 4 or 5 shots of Grenadine, until it tastes a little sweet, add Maraschino Cherries, stir and serve over ice.

Root Beer Floats - Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup and add your favorite Root Beer, serve with a spoon

Food:

Serve snacks in festive summer bowls and platters. Serve up some watermelon and cantaloupe balls using the watermelon shell as the bowl.

Pigs in a blanket – 1 (8oz.) can crescent dinner rolls

24 fully cooked lil’ smokies cocktail wieners

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet. Unroll the dough and separate the triangles. Cut each triangle into three smaller triangles.

Place one wiener on the shortest side of each triangle. Roll up the wiener to the opposite point. Place point side down, on the greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 11-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ketchup and mustard.

Sandwich on a Stick - bread, cheese, lunch meat of your choice, grape

Tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, olives

Cut up cubes of bread, cheese and lunch meat (order ½ inch thick slices of turkey and ham or other meat at the deli)

Slide the cubes onto a wooden skewer. You can have these sandwiches already prepared or have your guests prepare them.

Set out a side of mayo and mustard to use for dipping.

Labor Day Recipes

Food:

Factory Worker’s Chicken

2 pounds chicken thighs

1 (16 ounce) bottle zesty Italian dressing

1 (16 ounce) jar salsa

To Marinate: Place chicken in a nonporous glass dish or bowl, poor dressing and salsa over chicken and turn to coat. Cover with lid or aluminum foil and refrigerate to marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to Grill/Broil.

Remove chicken from dish or bowl, discarding any remaining marinade. Grill/broil for about 20 minutes or until cooked through and juices run clear. Serve immediately.

Bucket Salad

2 heads iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

4 tomatoes, diced

1 large onion, chopped

6 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 (14.5 ounce) package corn tortilla chips, broken

2 (12 ounce) jars creamy Ranch salad dressing

1 (12 ounce) jar chunky salsa

2 pounds ground beef

As you tear and chop the lettuce, onion and tomatoes, place them into a large container. You can use a clean galvanize bucket, hence the name, and it is full when the salad is completed.

Crumble the tortilla chips and add the cheese. Stir in the two jars of Ranch salad dressing and the salsa. Mix well. Set aside.

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring and crumbling as it cooks. Drain off grease. Stir the beef into the salad just before serving.

Old Fashioned Baked Beans

1 pound dried Great Northern Beans

¼ pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup chopped onion (1 large)

½ cup molasses or maple syrup

¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

Place beans in a saucepan, cover with water. Bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain, discarding liquid and return beans to the pan. Cover with fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour or until beans are tender.

Drain, reserving liquid. Combine the beans, bacon and onion. Stir in one cup of the reserved liquid, molasses, brown sugar and dry mustard. Cover and bake at 300 degrees F for 2 ½ hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally (add additional reserved liquid if needed)

Classic Potato Salad

2 pounds potatoes (6 medium)

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup thinly sliced celery (2 stalks)

1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small)

½ cup sweet or dill pickle relish

6 hard boiled eggs

Paprika (optional)

In a medium saucepan place potatoes, ¼ teaspoon salt and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes or until just tender. Drain well, cool slightly. Peel and cube the potatoes.

Meanwhile, for dressing, in a large bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, ½ teaspoon salt and pepper.

Stir in the celery, onion and pickles. Add the potatoes and eggs. Toss lightly to coat. Cover and chill for 6 to 24 hours.

To serve, if desired, line a salad bowl with lettuce leaves. Transfer the potato salad to the bowl. Sprinkle with paprika.

Makes 12 side-dish servings

Melon and Berries Salad

2 cups chilled cantaloupe balls

2 cups chilled honeydew melon balls

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon snipped fresh mint

1 cup fresh blueberries and/or raspberries

In a medium bowl combine cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Drizzle honey and lime juice over melon; gently toss to mix. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.

Just before serving, add mint and toss gently to mix. Sprinkle with fresh berries.

Makes 4-6 side-dish servings

Chili

12 ounces extra lean ground beef

1 can (15 ¼ ounce) Del Monte Whole Kernel Golden Sweet Corn, drained

1 can (14 ½ ounce) Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with garlic and onion

2 cans red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 package of dried chili seasoning mix

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 bag of tortilla chips

On stovetop, brown meat in a skillet, drain. Transfer meat to a large pot and stir in corn, undrained tomatoes, kidney beans and package of chili seasoning. Cover and simmer 10-20 minutes. Top with cheddar cheese and serve with tortilla chips.

Drinks:

Cowboy punch

2 bottles white grape juice

1 large bottle club soda

2 large bottles 7-UpMix the ingredients. Chill thoroughly and serve.

White Sangria Punch

4 cups white grape juice

1 cup pink grapefruit juice

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 750ml bottle club soda

Garnish: pink grapefruit slices (optional)

In a large pitcher, combine grape, grapefruit and lime juices, refrigerate.

Just before serving add club soda and grapefruit slices.

Grape Cooler

1/3 cup grape juice

1/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup sprite

Ice

Mix ingredients and serve over ice.

Halloween Treats and Sweets

Mummies on a Stick

1 package of refrigerated breadsticks (11 ounces)

10 Popsicle sticks

10 hot dogs

Prepared mustard

Separate dough and roll 10 pieces into a 24-inch rope. Insert sticks into hot dogs. Starting at the stick end, wrap one dough rope around each hot dog leaving 2 inches of the hot dog uncovered at the top for the mummy head. Place mummies one inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Add dots of mustard for eyes.

Mummy Man Cheese Spread

2 port wine cheese logs, 12 ounces each

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon milk

2 whole peppercorns

1 pimiento strip

Cut cheese logs into pieces for mummy’s head, body arms and legs, arrange on a serving plate. In a small mixing bowl beat the cream cheese and milk. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag. Use basket weave tip #47. Pipe rows of cream cheese across the mummy creating bandages. Add peppercorns for eyes and pimiento strip for mouth. Chill and serve with crackers.

Halloween Snack Mix

Baked Skeleton Bones (pretzel sticks)

Bloated Ants (raisins)

Compressed Cobwebs (Chex cereal)

Witches’ Warts (chocolate chips)

Vulture Toenails (candy corn)

Rat Claws (shelled sunflower seeds)

Deep Fried Fingernails (Bugles Brand Snacks)

Mix together and serve in a plastic cauldron. For more snack mix ideas go to www.about.com and look up Halloween recipes.

Bat Chips

Bat and ghost cookie cutter

1 large flour tortilla per person

¼ cup olive oil

Salt

Preheat broiler. Cut each tortilla into bat and ghost shapes. Lightly brush both sides of each cut out with oil. Arrange on a cookie sheet, flipping once when they begin to brown. When brown on both sides, sprinkle lightly with salt.

Monster Brains Chip Dip

1 ½ pounds ground beef

1 pond bulk hot Italian sausage

1 cup chopped onion

1 package (8.8 ounces) ready to serve Spanish rice

1 can (16 ounces) refried beans

1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce

1 pound processed Velveeta cheese, cubed

Cook beef, sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and drain. Heat rice according to package. In a 3 quart slow cooker, combine the meat mixture, rice, beans, enchilada sauce and cheese. Cover and cook on low 1-1 ½ hours or until cheese is melted. Serve with Bat chips.

Ghoul – Aid

1 pkg. grape powdered fruit drink

1 pkg. orange powdered fruit drink

2 cups of sugar

3 quarts cold water

1 quart ginger ale

Combine both powdered fruit drink flavors in a pitcher and make according to package directions. Add ginger ale and mix well. Pour into a punch bowl and serve over ice.

Magic Potion Punch

2 pkgs. (3 ounces each) lime gelatin

½ cup of sugar

1 cup boiling water

3 cups cold water

1 quart non-carbonated lemon-lime drink, chilled

1 ½ quarts lemon-lime soda, chilled

Dissolve gelatin and sugar in boiling water, add cold water. Transfer to a punch bowl. Stir in lemon-lime drink and soda. Makes 4 quarts.

You can add dry ice to the punch by putting the dry ice in a smaller bowl of water and placing that bowl inside the larger punch bowl. This will create a great Halloween effect and no one will come in contact with the dry ice. Just make sure no one is putting their hands in the dry ice for it will burn.

Magic Wands

1 ½ cups white chocolate or white chocolate chips

1 pkg. (10 ounces) pretzel rods

Colored candy stars or sprinkles

Colored sugar or edible glitter

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate, stir until smooth. Dip each pretzel rod halfway into the melted chocolate. Sprinkle with candy stars and colored sugar. Place on wax paper until cool and set. Store in an airtight container. Makes 2 dozen.

Worms in Dirt

Softened chocolate ice cream

Chocolate cookie crumbs (Oreo cookies smashed)

Gummy worms

Fill 9 ounce plastic cups about ¾ of the way full with softened chocolate ice cream. Top with ¼ inch of chocolate cookie crumbs. Place gummy worms in the “dirt” and eat.

Chocolate Orange Ooze Cupcakes

8 ounces cream cheese softened

1 egg

1/3 cup of sugar

Yellow and red food coloring

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix

Prepare cake mix according to directions on box for cupcakes, until it comes to baking. To make filling, combine cream cheese, egg and sugar. Blend in 2 drops of yellow food coloring and 1 drop of red food coloring. Add more or less food coloring to desired color. Pour cake mix into cupcake liners, fill 1/3 of the way. Add a little of the cream cheese filling and top with more cupcake mixture. Bake according to directions on box. You can frost each cupcake with vanilla frosting, add orange food coloring and top with a candy corn or pumpkin.

Candy Corn Rice Crispy Treat

½ cup of butter

10 cups of rice crispy cereal

9 cups of miniature marshmallows

Candy pumpkins or candy corn

Yellow and red food coloring, if desired

Melt butter and marshmallows, stir until smooth. Add in 2 drops of yellow food coloring and 1 drop of red food coloring to the marshmallow mixture. Add marshmallow mixture to the rice crispy cereal. Stir quickly to combine. Spread on a large buttered pan and press with buttered hands. While warm, press on candy pumpkins or candy corn 1 ½ to 2 inches apart. Refrigerate and cut into squares.

Apples with Caramel Dip

I serve this easy recipe a lot and the teens always eat it up. Slice up some apples of your choice, buy the caramel dip for apples. Set out on a platter and serve!

Corny Chili

2 ponds lean ground beef

1 pkg. (1 ¼ oz.) chili seasoning mix

1 can (29 oz.) Del Monte whole kernel corn, drained

2 cans (14 ½ oz. each) Del Monte diced tomatoes with garlic and onion

2 cans (15 oz. each) kidney beans, drained

1 can (7oz.) diced green chilies, drained (optional)

Brown meat in a large saucepan, drain. Add all remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Top with sliced green onions and cheddar cheese, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

For more Halloween recipes go to www.about.com and www.tasteofhome.com. Another great reference is Haunt Your House for Halloween Decorating Tricks and Treats by Cindy Fuller.

Autumn Harvest Festival Food

Simple Sausage Ring

1 pound bulk pork sausage

2 tubes (12 oz. each) refrigerated biscuits

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

In a skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain and set aside.

Flatten each biscuit to a 3 inch diameter. Press half of the biscuits onto the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of a greased 10 inch fluted tube pan. Spoon sausage over the dough, sprinkle with cheese and top with remaining biscuits.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand before inverting onto a serving plate. Makes 8-10 servings.

Crowd Chicken Casserole

10 cups diced cooked chicken

10 cups chopped celery

2 cups slivered almonds

2 bunches green onions with tops, sliced

2 cans 4oz. each) chopped green chilies

2 cans (2 ¼ oz. each) sliced ripe olives, drained

5 cups (20 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2 cups mayonnaise

2 cups (16 oz.) sour cream

5 cups crushed potato chips

In a very large bowl, combine the first six ingredients and add two cups of cheese. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and sour cream, add to chicken mixture and toss to coat.

Transfer to two greased 3 quart baking dishes. Sprinkle with chips and remaining cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. 2 casseroles make 12 servings each.

Fall Popcorn Mix

1 bag of microwave popcorn. Candy corn, peanuts or pecans, 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ cup of raisins. Microwave popcorn, while still warm, sprinkle sugar over popcorn and stir. When cooled add nuts, raisins and candy corn. Mix and serve.

Caramel Apples

½ cup butter, cubed

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

Dash of salt

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

10 -12 Popsicle sticks

10-12 medium tart apples, washed and dried

Salted peanuts, chopped, shredded coconut, mini M&M’s, gummy bears, sprinkles, red hots and any other toppings of your choice.

In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248 degrees (firm ball stage). Remove from the heat, stir in vanilla.

Insert Popsicle sticks into apples. Dip each apple into the hot caramel mixture, turn to coat. Dip or sprinkle toppings on caramel apples. Set on greased wax paper to cool. Make 10-12 apples.

Festive Pumpkin Dip

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

¾ cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/3 cup chopped dried beef

1/3 cup chopped green pepper

1/3 cup chopped sweet red pepper

1 can (2 ¼ oz.) sliced ripe olives, drained

1 round loaf (1 pound) Italian or pumpernickel bread

Fresh vegetables, crackers or tortilla chips

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, pumpkin, taco seasoning and garlic powder until smooth. Stir in beef, peppers and olives. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Just before serving, cut off the top of the bread; scoop out the bread from inside, leaving a ½ inch shell. Fill shell with cream cheese mixture. Serve with vegetables, crackers or tortilla chips. Makes about 3 cups.

Harvest Snack

Mix together Bugle brand chips, pretzels, candy corn, dry fruit/raisins, peanuts, sunflower seeds and M&M’s. You can add any other items you may like or buy a bag of Chex Mix and add some M&M’s.

Cider Cheese Fondue

¾ cup apple cider or apple juice

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 loaf (1 pound) French bread, cut into cubes

In a large saucepan, bring cider to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Toss the cheeses with the cornstarch and pepper; stir into cider. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Transfer to a small ceramic fondue pot or slow cooker; keep warm. Serve with bread cubes on skewers.

Orange Party Punch

1 can (12 oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled

1 can (46 oz.) pineapple juice, chilled

1 quart orange or pineapple sherbet

Prepare orange juice according to package directions; pour into a punch bowl. Stir in soda and pineapple juice. Top with scoops of sherbet. Serve immediately.

Hot Chocolate For A Crowd

1 ½ cups sugar

1 ¼ cups Cocoa

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup hot water

4 quarts milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

In a 6-quart saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt. Gradually add water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk, heat to serving temperature; stirring frequently. Do not boil. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Serve hot.

Easy Mulled Cider

Purchase a box of Mulling Spices from a Whole Foods store or other grocery store. Make according to the directions on the package. All you need is apple juice and you can make a large pot of hot apple cider.

Cowpies

Melt a bag of Wilton chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips according to the package directions. Add shredded coconut, nuts and raisins. Mix all the ingredients together and drop on wax paper. Let cool and serve. Yum!

Pumpkin Cookies For Everyone

1 cup of shortening

2 cups of sugar

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

4 eggs

4 cups of flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cloves

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 pkg. walnuts (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Mix together shortening, eggs and pumpkin. Combine all ingredients and add chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix until well combined, spoon on ungreased baking sheet at 375 degrees for 9 minutes or until golden brown.

For children you can serve up some hot dogs with buns or easy finger sandwiches. You can also serve simple favorites such as apple and pumpkin pie.

Spring Recipes

Strawberry Mango Salsa

2 medium mangos, peeled, pitted and cut into ½ inch cubes

½ pound of strawberries, cut into ½ inch cubes

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mexican chili powder

In a medium bowl, mix the mangos and strawberries with the vinegar, orange juice and lemon juice. Sprinkle chili powder on top of mixture and stir gently. Let the mixture rest for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, so the flavors can blend together. Serve with cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips.

Cinnamon and Sugar Tortilla Chips

1 package of Mission flour tortilla’s

Pam butter flavored cooking spray

Cinnamon and sugar mixture

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cut flour tortilla’s into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray the flour tortilla’s with cooking spray. Sprinkle each tortilla wedge with desired amount of cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat process with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes and serve with Strawberry Mango Salsa.

Strawberry Dip

½ to 1 pound of cleaned and hulled strawberries

1 8oz. package of cream cheese

1 7oz. jar of marshmallow cream

Food coloring (optional) use spring colors

Let cream cheese sit at room temperature until soft and pliable. Stir the cream cheese in a medium sized bowl until smooth. Add the marshmallow cream and stir until well combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use. Serve with strawberries.

PB & J Blossom Sandwiches

Bread

Peanut Butter or cream cheese

Jelly or jam

Flower cookie cutter

Water bottle cap

For each sandwich, cut two slices of bread into flower shapes with a cookie cutter. Cut a hole in one of the slices by pressing a water bottle into the center. Spread the peanut butter and jelly or cream cheese on the whole piece and place the slice with hole on top.

Fruit Kabobs

Variety of fruit (grapes, pineapple, banana, oranges, apples, strawberries, melon, kiwi)

Wooden skewers

Small shells or miniature flowers

Hot glue

Hot glue small shells or flowers on the top of each wooden skewer.

Stick fruit on each skewer, alternating fruit.

Fresh Fruit Parfaits

1 32 oz. container low-fat or fat free vanilla yogurt

1 box of granola cereal

Assorted fresh fruit cut up (strawberries, mango, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, etc.)

Ground cinnamon, to taste

Plastic clear cups and spoons

Mix cinnamon in yogurt, stir well. Place a spoonful of yogurt in a clear cup, add a spoonful of assorted fruit and granola. Continue layering the ingredients. Serve chilled.

Tortilla Roll Ups

1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoon mixed fresh herbs (parsley, dill, rosemary, ect.)

1 bunch green onions, finely chopped

½ pound thinly sliced ham or turkey

1 small cucumber, thinly sliced (optional)

1 large avocado, sliced (optional)

Alfalfa sprouts (optional)

4 12-inch whole wheat or flour tortillas

Place cream cheese and butter in a bowl and mix well. Add mixed herbs, blend well.

Spread mixture evenly over tortillas.

Place ham or turkey and optional toppings on top of spread mixture. Sprinkle with chopped green onions.

Starting at the edge of the tortilla, slowly and tightly roll the tortilla up. Cut into 1-inch slices. Place toothpicks in the middle so they don’t unravel. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Earth Day Bars

1 ½ cups Heart Healthy Bisquick mix

1 ½ cups instant oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup softened butter

1 egg

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Add-Ins: dried cranberries or other dried fruit, sweetened coconut flakes, chocolate chips, chopped nuts

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Bisquick, oats, brown sugar, butter, egg and cinnamon.

Stir the mix with a wooden spoon until you have a crumbly dough. Next, fold in 1 cup total of your add-ins.

Press the dough into an ungreased 9 by 13 inch pan and bake for 17 minutes or until the center is set and the bars are slightly brown. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Flower Power Cupcakes

Cupcakes

Frosting

Colored gumdrops

Large marshmallows

Food coloring optional

You can use any cupcake recipe you choose. Frost a cupcake with frosting of your choice. Place a gumdrop in the middle of the cupcake. Set a large marshmallow on its side and press it flat with your palm. Cut the marshmallow into thirds using kitchen shears. Repeat with a second marshmallow and arrange the petals around the gumdrop to resemble flower petals. For a complete picture you can go to www.familyfun.com.

Classic Cupcake Recipe

½ cup butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake tin with paper or foil liners. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Stir in the vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the butter mixture one third at a time, alternating with the milk. Pour into the prepared cupcake pan and bake for 18-24 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 package (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups), sifted

Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add the sugar gradually, beating until well blended after each addition. Makes enough frosting to frost 2 (8 or 9-inch) cake layers.

Rainbow Jello

5 or 6 small different colors of Jello

Sour cream

Choose colors and flavors of Jello that will make a rainbow (cherry or strawberry, orange, lemon, lime, blueberry, grape). For each color, dissolve Jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Divide in half and place in bowls. To one half of the mixture add 2 tablespoons of cold water. Pour into a 9x13 inch glass pan and refrigerate ½ hour. To the second half of the mixture add 1/3 cup of sour cream and keep at room temperature. When Jello is set, carefully pour sour cream mixture over the refrigerated mixture and refrigerate ½ hour. Repeat process for each color. When completely set, cover with Cool Whip and serve.

Easy Cheesy Pizza

1 container of Pillsbury Pizza Dough

2 garlic cloves minced

4 tablespoons olive oil (or more if necessary)

Fresh rosemary, chopped

Roma tomatoes, sliced

Red onion, sliced

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Optional toppings: pepperoni, olives, ham, pineapple, sausage

Put the garlic in the olive oil to flavor the oil. Spread out pizza dough according to directions. Spread olive oil mixture over dough. Cover with rosemary, tomatoes, onion and cheese.

Bake according to pizza dough directions. Slice and serve.

Ladybugs on a Stick

This recipe can be found at www.batterupkids.com.

Red grapes

Strawberries

Mini chocolate chips

Honeydew melon

For each ladybug, push half of a red grape onto a trimmed wooden skewer for the head. Next, push on a hulled strawberry body and score back to create the wings. For spots, use a wooden toothpick to gently press mini chocolate chips, tips down, into the fruit. Arrange the skewers on a honeydew melon half.

Flutter Delight Cupcakes

Baked cupcakes (recipe of choice)

White icing

Sour gummy worms

Candy fruit slices

Gumdrop slices (optional)

2 ½ inch pieces of red shoestring licorice

Frost the cupcakes and arrange the following on top. Gummy worm for the body of the butterfly, fruit slices for the wings and shoestring licorice for the antennae’s. You can use the gumdrops to garnish the middle of the wings and outline the wings with frosting. This recipe can be found at www.familyfun.com

Tarragon Chicken Salad Mini Croissants

This recipe makes 50 croissants, but you can scale it down

5 ½ pints purchased or homemade chicken salad

1/3 to ½ cup snipped fresh tarragon or mint

50 baked miniature croissants (4-inch or smaller) split

In a large bowl stir together the chicken salad and the tarragon or mint. Fill each split croissant with ¼ cup of chicken salad mixture. Layer filled croissants in a large pan, cover and chill up to 4 hours. Arrange on a serving platter.

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

1 (15 ounce) can of cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil, plus 4 tablespoons

¼ cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6 pitas

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Place the beans, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil and parsley in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl.

Cut each pita in half then into 8 wedges. Arrange the pita wedges on a large baking sheet. Pour the remaining oil over the pitas. Toss and spread out the wedges evenly. Sprinkle with the oregano, salt and pepper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until toasted and golden in color.

Flower Cupcake in a Cone

These are so good and fun to make as well.

1 box of cake mix, flavor of your choice

Flat bottomed ice cream cones

White frosting

Food coloring (optional)

Candy sprinkles (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake mix according to the box directions. Fill the bottom half of the ice cream cones with the cake batter. Place the cones in a muffin pan so they don’t topple over in the oven while baking. Bake for 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let the cones cool before frosting. Add food coloring to the frosting for a variety of colors and add candy sprinkles on top.

Strawberry Dippers

Fresh Strawberries washed and dried

1 or 2 bags of Wilton white or dark chocolate

Cookie sheet covered with wax paper

Boil water in a pan. Place chocolate in a separate pan and stir over boiling water. Use a double broiler if you have one. Make sure you do not get water in the chocolate, it will ruin the consistency of the chocolate. When chocolate is melted, dip the strawberries in the chocolate and place on wax paper. Put in refrigerator until chocolate is firm. Enjoy!

Strawberry Shortcake

2 eggs

1 ½ cups sugar, divided

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup milk

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 to 1 ½ quarts fresh strawberries, sliced

Whipped cream

In a large bowl, beat eggs on medium speed for 3 minutes. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, beat until thick and lemon-colored. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, beat into the egg mixture. Heat milk and butter just until butter begins to melt. Beat into batter with vanilla.

Pour into a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for at least 10 minutes.

Cut cake into serving size pieces. Cut each slice in half horizontally. Combine strawberries and remaining sugar. Spoon strawberries between cake slices and over the top of each serving. Top with whipped cream and serve.

Strawberry Salad

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

½ cup white sugar

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup distilled white vinegar

¼ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon minced red onion

10 ounces spring salad mix

1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced

¼ cup blanched and slivered almonds

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

In a large bowl, combine spring salad mix, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over the salad and toss. Refrigerate 10 minutes before serving.

Fresh Lemon Sunshine Cake

1 ½ cups sifted cake flour

¼ teaspoon salt

6 eggs

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 ½ cups sugar

5 tablespoons water

Grated peel and juice of 1 lemon (3 tablespoons juice)

Hint of Lemon Glaze or Lemon Cream Cheeses Frosting (see below)

Fresh berries and mint leaves (optional)

Makes 16 servings

Sift together flour and salt. In a large bowl, with electric mixer, beat eggs whites and cream of tartar at high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add ½ cup of sugar, beating until medium-stiff peaks form, set aside. With the same beater, in a medium bowl, beat egg yolks for 2 minutes. Gradually add remaining 1 cup of sugar, beating at high speed until egg yolk mixture is very thick. Beat in water and lemon juice, stir in lemon peel. Add the flour mixture all at once. Gently fold, then lightly stir until well blended. Carefully fold yolk mixture into beaten egg whites. Pour batter into ungreased 10 inch tube pan with removable bottom. Smooth top and cut through batter with table knife to remove any large air bubbles.

Bake at 325 degrees. For 45 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert on wire rack, cool completely upside down. With narrow spatula or knife, loosen around tube and sides. Lift out tube and cake, loosen cake around the bottom. Invert onto cake plate. Glaze top with Hint of Lemon Glaze or Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Garnish each serving with fresh berries and mint leaves, if desired.

Hint o’ Lemon Glaze

In a small bowl combine 1 ½ cups of confectioners sugar and 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice. Glaze over cake allowing some to drizzle over the sides. Let dry. Cover remaining glaze with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap. When top of cake is dry, drizzle or pipe remaining glaze(thinned with a few drops of lemon juice, if necessary) over the top of the cake in a decorative pattern.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened

¼ cup butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups confectioners’ sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon rind, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar in 2 additions. Beat until creamy. Add more icing sugar or juice as needed for easy spreading. Makes about 3 2/3 cup.

Cheesecake Cookies

1 8 ounce) package softened cream cheese

5 tablespoons softened butter

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup of flour

½ cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

½ teaspoon of vanilla

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl combine butter, brown sugar, and flour, blend until course crumbs form.

Take 1 cup of mixture and put aside.

Pour dough mixture and into a 9x13x2 pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

In another bowl add the sugar and cream cheese and blend until creamy. Add the milk, lemon juice, vanilla and blend. Pour over bake mixture and add the 1 cup of brown mixture you set aside on top. Bake for 25 minutes. Let chill for at least an hour before cutting into squares.

Carrot Cake

This is a healthier version from Dr. Weil’s recipes. You can still add homemade cream cheese frosting on top.

2 cups firmly packed finely grated carrots (3 large)

Juice of 1 large orange

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

¼ cup light olive oil

1 cup honey, liquefied in microwave (30 seconds)

½ cup crushed or chopped pineapple, drained

1 cup unbleached white flour

1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground allspice

¾ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a mixing bowl, stir together the carrots, orange juice, vanilla, olive oil, honey and pineapple until well blended.

In another bowl, stir together the flours, baking soda and spices. Mix in the walnuts.

Blend the dry ingredients into the carrot mixture, stirring until just mixed.

Pour the batter into a nonstick 8 inch square baking pan and bake for 45-60 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool slightly and remove from pan. Cut and serve.

Garden Party

2009-09-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Garden Party

Ages

3-12

Invitations

On a standard sized card or cardstock write on the front, “You’re invited to a Bloomin’ Fun Birthday!” Write the birthday party details on the back of the card. Attach the card to a silk flower and hand deliver. You can also purchase die cut flowers and glue them on the front of the card with the party information on the back.

You can also attach your invite card to a small terra cotta pot with floral ribbon. Inside the terra cotta tuck in a packet of flower seeds or place green plastic Seran Wrap inside the terra cotta pot and fill it with green jelly beans, rock candy or gummi worms.

You may also want to make a flower out of construction paper. Write, “Happy Birthday (your child’s name)” in the middle of the flower and write the party details on each of the petals of the flower.

Decorations

Decorate with spring colors such as, green, pink, lavender, yellow and light blue.

Use mini terra cotta pots as place settings for each child. Fill the terra cotta pots with green Seran Wrap and fill them with green jelly beans. Add a silk daisy and place in the middle of the jelly beans. You can also make flower sugar cookies and bake them on popsicle sticks and place those in the middle of the jelly beans. Write each child’s name or decorate the pots with permanent craft pens.

Use larger terra cotta pots as snack or candy holders in the middle of tables.

Use terra cotta or plastic pots lined with napkins to hold party utensils.

Place colored streamers on trees and branches outside. They will blow in the wind during the party.

Make large tissue paper flowers and place around the party area and on tables. Instructions can be found at www.birthdayinabox.com

Tin pails and watering cans can be used to hold flower arrangements. You can also tie some helium balloons on them to use as balloon weights.

You can make a banner on the computer or at a printer store that says, “Welcome to (your child’s name) Garden Party!”

Make a lollipop flower garden. Use sheets of colored foam from the craft store and wrapped lollipops. Buy pre-cut or cut out flower shapes out of the foam and poke a hole through the middle of the flower. Slide the foam flower onto the lollipop stick to create the flower. Add a foam or paper green leaf to the stem, if desired. Push all the lollipops into a grassy area in the ground. Label the area, “(your child’s name) Flower Patch. Let the children pick and eat the flowers.

Activities

Guessing game: Who Am I? – This is a flower or vegetable guessing game. As the children arrive, tape a seed packet picture to each guest. Have them receive clues from the other players to guess which flower or vegetable they are.

Have spring face painting

Have the children decorate plastic or foam visors. Provide a variety of materials for them to decorate with.

You can also have the children decorate their own plant stakes. You can find small wooden ones at a craft store or go to a garden center to find some plastic ones.

Decorate smooth rocks as garden characters. Provide paint, brushes and googly eyes.

Pipe Cleaner Garden: You will need, one 2” terra cotta pot for each guest, one Styrofoam ball for each guest to fill the bottom of the pot, green crinkle paper, 6-10 green pipe cleaners per guest, large buttons and/or large beads, green crepe paper, scissors and glue.

Directions: Squeeze glue around the inside of the bottom of the pot. Put a Styrofoam ball on top of the glue. Cover each ball with a small pile of crinkle paper. Push beads or buttons onto pipe cleaners and push the pipe cleaners into the Styrofoam. (You may want to glue the buttons onto the pipe cleaners and let them dry). Cut out leaves from crepe paper and glue them into place at the base of the pipe cleaner stems.

Sunflower Seed Flower Craft: You will need, sunflower seeds, white glue, heavy construction paper or cardstock, glitter or small dried beans and green pipe cleaners (one for each guest).

Directions: Use a mug as a guide to draw a circle on a piece of construction paper for each guest. Hand out one piece of construction paper to each guest. Show the children how to glue the sunflower seeds onto the construction paper. The points of the seeds should be facing outward. These are the flower petals. Then let them glue a second row of seeds inside the first row. To fill the center of the flower pass out either glitter or small dried beans and let the children glue them in place. Add a pipe cleaner as a stem and glue it to the construction paper. This will complete the flower. Let the pictures dry and they will be ready to take home after the party.

Watering can relay: Divide children into teams. Use a small watering can to move water from one bucket to another. First team done wins!

Fill the vase relay: Teams transport a bouquet (one bloom at a time) from a bucket to a vase. You can use silk flowers bought at a craft store if you do not want to use real flowers. The fastest team wins!

Dirt shoveling relay: Use a kid safe shovel to carry dirt from a pile to a bucket. The team to finish first wins!

Have children hit a garden themed piñata.

Play a game of Plant the Seed. Using large seeds, such as sunflower seeds or dry beans, give each child 10 seeds. Have each child take turns standing in front of a cleaned out gallon plastic jug. Whoever can drop the most seeds into the jug is the winner.

Food

Serve punch from a clean plastic watering can.

Cut sandwiches from a flower cookie cutter.

English muffin pizzas – Children can make their own pizzas using English Muffins and any toppings you provide. Toppings can include, pizza or spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, olives, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and sausage. Once the children put their toppings on their pizza bake them on a cookie sheet for about 7-10 minutes under the broiler. They are done when the cheese is melted and the pizzas are crispy.

Make flower shaped rice krispy treats with candy sprinkles mixed inside. They are colorful and delicious. Make the rice krispy treats according to the package, add in candy sprinkles, let cool and cut with a flower shaped cookie cutter.

Worms in dirt – Layer clear plastic cups with chocolate pudding and crushed Oreo cookies. Add Gummi Worms on top of the final layer. Serve with small plastic shovels to use as spoons, if desired.

Finger Jello – This is just like Jello Jigglers. When I was younger, my mom would call these finger jello. This was way before Jello Jigglers ever came out. Make the Jello Jigglers according to the Jello package. You can use any color you prefer. Once the Jello has set, cut the Jello into flower shapes using a cookie cutter. Keep cold until ready to serve.

Ladybug fruit treat – Cut a red apple in half and cut out the core and seeds. Push chocolate chips, points first, into the apples skin to make the ladybug spots. You may need to use a toothpick to make the holes before you push in the chocolate chips.

Vegetable patch – arrange veggies in a row on a platter to make a vegetable patch. Add a small metal (lead free) or plastic pail of dip in the corner.

Additional food ideas can be found in the recipe section.

Goody Bags/Prizes

Fill small watering cans, flower pots or small metal pails (found at craft stores) with a variety of garden themed items such as, a packet of seeds, kids gardening gloves, bug gummi candies, flower shaped cookies and stickers.

Buy kid sized butterfly nets available at dollar stores and fill them with any of these, seed packets, bubbles, a flower cookie cutter, bug stickers, a mini frisbee, sidewalk chalk, squirt gun, magnifying glass and miniature kites.

You can also send home a silk flower to each guest in a garden themed goody bag. Add bug candy and stickers to the bag and anything else you can find that’s garden related.

Thank You Cards

An easy way to say thank you is to add a little note card to the goody bags.

You can also take pictures of the children during the party and send them out to the party guests with a note card saying thank you.

You can also make the cookie lollipops, add a thank you card saying, “Thank you for coming to my party. Together we have made our friendship Grow stronger.”

Flower Power Party

2009-09-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

Flower Power Party

Ages

3-12

Invitations

Here is a cute idea for a flower balloon invitation I found from www.marthastewart.com.

Punch 6 holes in a plain store bought card or use cardstock and fold into a card. Have one hole in the center and five holes surrounding it. Starting at the center, weave a long deflated balloon through the holes. Tie them off inside the card and trim off the excess. Thread a green balloon through four punched holes under the flower to make the stem and leaf. Write your party details inside the card.

Flower pen invitations can be made using regular Bic pens. Pop the round circle at the top of the pen off. Hot glue a silk flower top inside the top. Punch a hole in the corner of your invitation and attach it to the pen using ribbon or pipe cleaner. Hand deliver.

Here is a cute flower invitation. You will need cardstock for this, so it will be sturdy. Make a circle out of cardstock, small enough to make petals around it and glue it to a card made out of cardstock. Cut out petals for your flower. Attach the petals to the middle of the flower using a brad fastener. Add the party details on each flower petal. Close the petals, so when your guests read the invitation they have to open the petals to reveal a blooming flower. Glue or tape just the middle of the flower onto the card. Make a green stem with leaves, if desired. You can use something like this on the petals: Roses are red, Violets are blue, I’m having a party, and inviting you. Please help me celebrate my 7^th birthday. Include, date and time of party, party location, you can put the guest of honors name on the front of the flower such as, Happy Birthday, (insert child’s name).

Decorations

Use bright colors such as, yellow, pink, green and orange. You can also use neon colors as well.

Put bright colored or flower tablecloths on tables.

Put vases filled with fresh or silk daisies on the tables as centerpieces. You can also cut some silk flowers bought on sale at a craft store and scatter them on the tables under the vases.

Use different colored plastic utensils such as, yellow, orange and pink, and place them in a green napkin to resemble flowers blooming in the grass.

Make some flower balloons. You can go to www.marhtastewart.com for specific directions on how to make some big flower balloons. An easier way is to combine 5 round balloons and tie them together. Attach a silk flower in the middle of the balloons. You can place them randomly around the party area or purchase plastic stakes and attach the bottom of the silk flower to the stake using floral tape and stake them into the ground.

Make flower plates. Cut yellow petals out of construction paper and glue or tape the petals around white paper plates.

To make straws, cut out different colored construction paper flowers or buy foam flowers. Punch a hole in the middle and slide a straw through the hole. Serve with drinks.

Activities

Give each guest a name tag with a flower name on it (daisy, violet, petunia, etc.). Attach the name tag to a bag of jelly beans or jelly belly’s. If someone calls that person by their real name and not their flower name, then that person has to give them a jelly bean from their own bag.

Face painting is always fun. Decorate the children’s faces with flowers, bees, butterflies and ladybugs.

Decorate visors purchased at a craft store and decorate with craft paint and foam stickers.

Have your guests decorate small terra cotta pots. Fill each pot with salt water taffy and stick a pinwheel in the middle.

Children love decorating their own cupcakes. Prebake cupcakes before the guests arrive. Have them decorate their cupcake using different colors of frosting. Use Popsicle sticks to make spreading the frosting easy. Have the children decorate the cupcake with string licorice to make peace signs and Necco wafers and Pez candy to make flower designs on their cupcakes.

Provide neon colored poster board for the guests to decorate and the guest of honor can keep. Provide glitter, markers, flower stencils and stickers to decorate with.

Have the children make flower pens. Purchase Bic pens, floral tape and silk flowers. Cut the silk flowers to fit the length of the pen if necessary. Using floral tape, wrap the flower stem and the pen together. Make sure you wrap tightly so the tape will stick. Cut the tape when you have reached the top of the flower. You can add a small piece of Styrofoam to a mini terra cotta pot and have the children stick their pen into the Styrofoam. Cover the top of the Styrofoam with green crinkle paper or floral moss.

Homemade Clay Beads – Ingredients: 2 cups of flour, ½ cup of salt, ¾ cup of water, toothpicks or small dowel, acrylic paint, string, newspaper, paintbrushes.

Directions: Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl, add water. Mix and knead the dough for 5 minutes. Put in the fridge for 15 minutes or until cool. Shape the dough into beads. You can make them round , long or any shape you choose. Use a toothpick or dowel to poke a hole through each of the beads. Make sure the holes are nice and big. Lay parchment paper on a pan. Arrange the beads on the pan and bake in the over at 350 degrees for 2 hours or until the beads are a dark, golden brown. When the beads are cooled and dry, you can paint them in your desired colors. When the paint is dry, string your decorated beads. You can make necklaces or bracelets.

Finger Paint Bags – Have guests’ finger paint flowers on white bags. Dip your pinkie finger in yellow paint, place dots around the bag for the center of the flowers. Next, dip a thumb in red finger paint (or color of choice) and make thumbprint petals around the yellow centers. For additional decorations, you can use flower stickers, stamps and markers.

Flower Craft – Make a circle on several pieces of construction paper the size of a medium sized lid. Hand out one piece of construction paper to each guest. Show the children how to glue sunflower seeds onto the circle on the construction paper. The points of the seeds should be pointing out. Then let them glue a second row of seeds inside the first row. These are the flower petals. Glue a third row if needed. To fill the center of the flower pass out either glitter or small dried beans and let the children glue them in place. Glue a green pipe cleaner to the bottom of the flower as the stem to complete the flower. Let the flowers dry and they will be ready to take home after the party.

Watering Can Relay – You will need 2 watering cans, one for each team. Have teams form a line between a hose and 2 kiddie pools, or use two separate hoses and have each team line up by their hose. See how quickly each team can fill up their pool using the watering cans.

Who’s In My Garden – One person holds the end of the hose with their back toward the group (as if watering the garden). The group tries to sneak up on the gardener to tag her/him but if they get caught then the gardener sprays the person with the water and they need to sit out. The one who tags the gardener gets to be it next.

Water The Plant – Divide the guests into 2 teams. Each team sits in a single file line (one person in back of the other). At the beginning of the lines there is a large bucket of water. The first person in each team dips his/her cup into the bucket and then without turning around has to pour the water into the cup of the person behind them. The second person pours what water is left in their cup to the person behind them until it reaches the end of the line where the few drops that are left in the cup are pored into a flower pot. This continues until time runs out or the flower pot is full.

Flower Toss – Place flower pots in different areas on the ground. Have the children toss plastic bugs or stuffed animals into the flower pots. For each one that lands in the flower pot give out a prize.

Pass The Parcel – Wrap a box with different layers of flower or garden themed paper. (You can make your own using construction paper or decorate white paper). Attach a flower themed item to each layer of paper, such as, a flower pencil, sticker, tattoo, ring, etc…Each guest that takes off a layer of paper gets the prize attached to it. You can play this to music and when the music stops a layer of paper comes off the box. Make sure you have enough layers and items for each guest.

Pin The Petals On the Flower – Draw a flower on white poster board. Do not include the petals. Cut out petals from construction paper. Write the children’s names on their petal. Have children blind folded and try to pin their petal on the flower.

Food

Serve food out of clean, plastic flower pots.

Serve pink lemonade in a clean, plastic watering can.

Make a garden salad. Use lettuce, tomatoes, edible pansies, sunflower kernels, mandarin oranges and apple wedges. Use dressing of choice.

Serve raspberry sherbet. Pour sherbet into cupcake liners the night before the party and freeze. The day of the party, place M&M’s on top of the sherbet in the shape of a flower. You can use regular or Mini M&M’s.

Here is a fun drink to serve. 1 pack (13 ounces) unsweetened drink mix. Use any flavor and bright colors such as, red, blue, purple. Lemon-lime flavored carbonated soda, chilled. Mix the pack of drink mix with 1 ½ cups of water. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze solid. To serve, pour the soda into clear plastic cups. Put 1-2 flavored ice cubes into each cup. As the ice cubes dissolve, the drink will magically change color and flavor.

Prepare the ice cubes in several different flavors so that each guest will have colored drinks. Do not mix colors in one drink.

Cookie Lollipops – These can be used for the goody bags as well.

1 package (12 ounces) vanilla chips

2 tablespoons shortening, divided

1 package (16 ounces) double-stuffed Oreo cookies

32 wooden Popsicle or craft sticks

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

In a microwave or double broiler, melt vanilla chips and 1 tablespoon of shortening; stir until smooth. Twist apart the Oreo cookies. Dip the end of each popsicle stick into the melted chips, place on a cookie half and top with the other half. Place the cookies on waxed paper lined baking sheets. Freeze for 15 minutes. Reheat vanilla chip mixture again if needed. Dip frozen cookies into mixture until completely covered. Return to the baking sheet. Freeze 30 minutes longer. Melt the chocolate chips and remaining shortening. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Store in an airtight container. Makes 32 servings.

For additional recipes, please visit the spring recipe section.

Goody Bags/Prizes

Fill small flowerpots with seed packets, flower stickers and gummi worms.

Tie up favors in colorful bandanas for guests to take home.

Fill mini pails ( sold at party supply stores) with candy and give each pail a paper daisy with a lollipop poked through the middle. You can also use mini pin wheels in the middle of the pails.

As prizes or take home gifts use old school candy such as, Pop Rocks, Tootsie Rolls, Salt Water Candy, Ring Pops, Candy Necklaces. You can also purchase flower necklaces, rings and bracelets as favors.

Thank You Cards

Attach a simple note to your goody bags or mail thank you cards. Insert a poem such as, “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life. Thanks for coming to my party.”

“If friends were flowers, I’d pick you. Thank you for attending my party.”

Autumn Harvest

2009-09-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Autumn Harvest Party

Ages:

All

Invitations:

Print up an invite on fall stationary or use fall clipart. Add fall confetti inside the envelopes.

Hand deliver mini pumpkins with a note card attached to the stem stating the party information. Tie on with raffia.

Glue a silk or paper leaf on cardstock. Write or type the party details on the back.

If you can find a large leaf, write the party details on it with Sharpie. Make sure the leaf is clean before you write on it. Deliver before the leaf dries out.

Decorations:

Place scarecrows, hay bails and cornstalks around the outside of the party area. You can purchase hay bails and cornstalks at a local farm that sells pumpkins during the month of October. Use some harvest colored balloons and streamers to decorate the inside of the party area. Add a child’s red wagon filled with pumpkins and gourds sitting in a corner.

Place store bought leaf garland (or make your own from construction paper) around mantels and shelves. Place paper leaves and mini pumpkins on tables with harvest colored candles.

Fill some weaved baskets with decorator apples, leaves and gourds. Place larger pumpkins inside and around the house. You could even carve them with leaf patterns and a turkey. Go to www.pumpkinlady.com for some great free pumpkin carving printables. Here’s a tip – local ranches that sell pumpkins usually have hay bails, pumpkins and gourds on sale the day after Halloween.

Activities:

Have a leaf wreath sign in board. Have guests trace their hand on fall colored construction paper. Have them write a message in their hand, cut it out and tape onto poster board cut in the shape of a leaf.

Make cornucopias out of paper plates. This is a good activity for younger children. You will need four white paper plates per child. Have one plate cut in a half moon shape to resemble the back of the cornucopia. Have children paint the plates brown and glue them together overlapping them to form the shape of a cornucopia. Color and glue paper fruits and vegetable patterns on the front of the first plate. Punch a hole at the top of the cornucopia and tie a string of black yarn to hang.

Use terra cotta pots and wrap raffia or fall ribbon around the top of it. Add some floral Styrofoam inside and glue on floral grass. Place a mini scarecrow or fall foliage pick in the center. You can also have paints out to decorate the terra cotta pots. All this can be found at your local craft store.

Have an apple bobbing contest. This is quite fun when guests get involved and don’t mind getting wet. Make sure you have towels handy. You can purchase large orange or black plastic buckets at Target. Place the bucket on a bail of hay to give it some height. Fill the bucket with water and float the apples in it. You can also use a large plastic cauldron.

This is a fun game for teens. Place a piece of bubble gum in two pie tins. Cover the pie tin and gum with whipped cream. Have two guests race to see who can find their piece of gum first. They must only use their mouths. Once they find their gum, they must chew it and blow a bubble. The first player to blow a bubble first, wins! Provide new pie tins for each player or wash the ones already used.

Have a fall scavenger hunt. Have players form two teams. Give each team a list of items to find. They can find them around the party area or go to neighborhood houses. Some items to find may include: sunflower seeds, a gourd, Indian corn, a mini pumpkin, yellow leaf, acorn, pie tin, November Magazine, red leaf, candy corn, red apple, pie tin and a brown paper bag. Give the players a time limit. The team that has the most items wins the game.

Here’s a fun game for children of all ages. Have players separate into teams. Have the team members build a scarecrow using one of their teammates. Make sure each team has the same amount of clothing to put on. The first team to complete the outfit on their teammate wins the game.

Have a pumpkin rolling contest. Have a starting point and a finishing line. Have players get into teams. Each player must roll a pumpkin with their feet from the starting point to the finishing line and back to their team. The team that finishes first wins. Players must roll the pumpkin with their feet only. Kicking a pumpkin doesn’t quite work.

For younger children, play a game of ring the pumpkin. Line up three pumpkins. Have each pumpkin a little further from each other. Mark one pumpkin with the number 10, the other pumpkin with the number 20 and the last one with the number 30. Give each guest three hula hoops or three wooden embroidery hoops. Have each player try to get the ring around the pumpkin or if using an embroidery hoop try to get the hoop around the pumpkin stem.

Have an apple relay. You will need two teams and 1 large apple per team. Each team player tries to pass the apple to each teammate without using their hands. They can use their arms, knees, chins and elbows or any other body part. If the apple drops then it goes back one person and

the game continues. The first team to finish wins!

Have a leaf pile hunt. Scatter leaves or hay outside. Throw candy in them and have the children find as many as they can. They can take home what they find.

You can also have a paper pumpkin hunt. Hang paper pumpkins around the party area. Divide the children into two teams. Have both teams search for the pumpkins. The team that has the most wins.

For older kids, make nature luminary candle holders. You can find the directions at www.kaboose.com.

Younger children might like to make leaf stamps and placemats. Glue a large leaf on a folded sheet of construction paper. Apply paint on the leaf and press down the leaf pattern on a large sheet of construction paper. The children can also add leaf rubbings or paper leaves to their placemat. Cover the placemat with clear contact paper once the paint is dry. You can also do this project using a photograph of the child.

Have a corn husking race. Give players one or two ears of corn with the husks still on. Have each player race to see who can husk their corn first. You can time this if you wish. The first one done wins! After the corns have been husked you can cook them up for a tasty and healthy snack.

Here’s a fun game called turkey in the straw. Fill a wading pool with straw and hide a small picture of a turkey in it. Have your guests try to find the turkey. The first one to find it wins!

Have a cotton ball relay. Have each guest choose a partner. Have each partner hold a bowl full of cotton while the other player must try to empty that bowl and fill another one with a spoon. You cannot use your fingers. The first team to fill the empty bowl wins the game.

Younger children might enjoy this game. Set up some empty 2-liter bottles. Have each player try to knock down the bottles by rolling a pumpkin into them. Give a prize for each bottle knocked down.

If you happen to have access to a bunch of hay bails, you can play musical hay bails instead of musical chairs.

Play a game of pin the hat on the scarecrow. You can make or purchase a scarecrow and have the children try to place a hat on his head.

You can also play a game of harvest bingo. You can design bingo cards at www.dltk-cards.com.

Set up a face painting booth. Ask an adult or teen who is creative at drawing to do this. Have a sheet of pictures that can be painted on the guests face.

Have a jelly bean count. Fill a jar with jelly beans and have each guest try to guess how many jelly beans are in the jar.

You can create scarecrow picture ops. Get a sheet of poster board and draw or print a picture of a scarecrow. Cut the face out for guests to put their face in. The pictures can then be used as thank you cards later on.

Here’s a fun game called straw savers. Have each player pick a partner. Have each player put one end of a straw in their mouth. One life saver is placed on one straw. Each player must try to get the life saver on their partner’s straw without using their hands. The first team to do this wins!

You can have young children decorate fall cookie shapes. Provide frosting and edible decorations for them to use. This is something they can take home as part of their goody bag.

This is a fun recipe. You can make for the kids and attach a recipe card for them to make it at home. Pumpkin Play Dough: 5 ½ cups flour, 2 cups salt, 8 tsp. cream of tartar, ¾ cup vegetable oil, 1 (1 1/12 oz.) container of pumpkin pie spice, orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red), 4 cups of water. Mix all the wet ingredients first then all of the dry. Mix all of the ingredients together. Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps are gone. Knead dough on a flowered surface until smooth. Caution: The dough will be hot! Store in an airtight container.

Food:

Go to the recipe section of this website to find some autumn harvest recipes.

Prizes/Goody Bags:

Prizes for children can consist of fall pencils, bubbles, beaded necklaces, pumpkin rings and caramel apple lollipops. You can also add in some fall printables at www.familyeducation.com. Go to www.orientaltrading.com for some great fall prizes.

You can use brown paper lunch bags as goody bags. Decorate the front of them with cut out leaves with the child’s name on it.

I have made cornucopias out of construction paper. I used fall colors and added some candy and a popcorn ball with a tag attached saying thank you for coming to our party.

Fall colored cups can be used as goody cups. Add some candy or other fall items for children to take home.

Thank You Cards:

Add a mulled cider package and a small apple juice in a harvest mug. You can purchase a box of mulled cider from Whole Foods and you can find fall mugs at a party supply store. Attach a thank you card with some raffia.

Have guests take home some pumpkin cookies with the recipe attached and a thank you card.

Wrap small wedding bubbles in tulle and tie a fall ribbon around it. Attach a thank you tag.

Thanksgiving Day

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Thanksgiving Day Party

Ages

All

Invitations

Turkey Invitation: Trace your hand on a sheet of brown construction paper. Draw an eye or glue a wiggly eye on the thumb. Cut out a small orange triangle and glue it on the thumb for a beak. Cut out a red paper throat wattle and glue it under the chin of the turkey. Write the date, time, place and R.S.V.P on the fingers of the turkey. In the palm of the hand write a message describing the party or write a thanksgiving poem.

Write party information on a smooth surfaced gourd and hand deliver.

Make invites using Thanksgiving clip art and print on card stock. Go to www.leehansen.com for some Thanksgiving Day clip art. Add leaf confetti to the envelopes.

Decorations

Use yellow, red, orange and brown streamers and balloons to decorate the inside and outside of the party area.

Hang Indian corn from the outside light fixtures.

Combine bundles of cornstalks and tie them with fall ribbon or hang Indian corn from the ribbon. Place gourds and pumpkins at the base of each cornstalk and place on either side of the doorway.

Place a picture of a turkey on the front door. You can print one up on the computer, make one out of brown construction paper or paper bags or purchase one. Write “Happy Thanksgiving” on or under the turkey.

Cover tables with fall colored tablecloths or placemats. Place silk or paper leaves on the tables.

Purchase small galvanized buckets at your local craft store; put 2 paper apples in each bucket. Tie a small note card to the handle of the bucket with the guest’s name on it. On one paper apple write something positive about that person and place it in the bucket. Have each guest find their bucket and ask them to write down on the other apple what they are thankful for. You can also fill each bucket with something each guest can take home such as, a piece of candy, a cookie or a small votive candle.

Use cornucopias as centerpieces. Fill them with gourds, Indian corn and leaves.

Activities

Make turkey placemats. You can make cut outs of turkeys and leaves then write what you are thankful for on each turkey. Glue them on construction paper and cover with clear contact paper.

Here’s a fun recipe and activity for an apple turkey:

1 apple per child, toothpicks, colorful gummy worms, 2 white paper turkey head shapes (one for the left side and one for the right side) per child, and crayons.

Have the children draw a face on the turkey head and glue the two pieces together onto a toothpick. Lay the apple on the side and push the toothpick into the bottom end of the apple. Push one gummy worm onto each toothpick. Leave half of the toothpick exposed. Make about 10 per turkey. Push the other end of the toothpick into the apple to create the tail feathers on the turkey.

Here’s a simple idea to make Indian head bands. You can make easy Indian head bands by measuring a child’s head with construction paper, stapling it and have the child glue feathers, sequins and other fun craft items to the head band.

Here is a different version of hot potato called hot corn. You will need an ear of Indian corn, a drum or tin can and a drum stick or a wooden spoon. Have the children and adults sit in a circle. Hand one child the Indian corn. Have an adult beat the drum or tin can. When the drum starts beating then the Indian corn is passed around the circle. When the drum stops beating, then the person who is holding the corn is out of the game. That person is then given a special treat. The game continues until one person is left not holding the ear of corn. That person is the winner!

This is a fun time to have a corn husking contest because you can cook up the corn after the game. You can also have a pumpkin pie eating contest after dinner. Serve each player a slice of pie. The person who finishes it first wins a whole pie.

As a kid, I remember playing the “Ha” game. Have each player lay on the floor with their heads on each other’s stomach. The first player says “Ha”, the second player says “Ha, Ha”. Then the third player adds on another “Ha” and this continues until someone laughs. Those that do laugh are eliminated. The winner is the last one or two players that are left.

Here’s a fun game called The Turkey Game. All you need is paper and a pencil for each player and a pair of dice. Each player rolls the dice until someone rolls a pair of sixes to start drawing the picture of a turkey. Then each player will need these numbers to complete their turkey pictures.

2 sixes: body

A number 2: leg

A number 3: toe

A number 4: neck

A number 5: wattle

A number 6: eye’s

Numbers adding up to 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 for the 5 tail feathers

The first person to finish drawing their turkey first wins!

Food

Use some of your family traditions for the menu. If you want to try something new you can look up Autumn Harvest food recipes in my recipe section. www.tasteofhome.com and www.bhg.com along with www.foodnetwork.com have some great recipes for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Prizes/Goody Bags

You can use candy corn, popcorn balls, boxes of cracker jacks, small footballs, pumpkin and turkey shaped cookies, bead necklaces for prizes and goody bags.

Thank You cards

You can make toilet paper cardboard tubes treats. Cover each tube with tissue paper or wrapping paper, tie one end with curling ribbon, fill the tube with candy corn or other small treats. Tie the other end with curling ribbon. Write the name of each guest on each tube or you can write, “We are truly blessed you are here”. These make great place card settings or take home gifts.

Halloween Party

2009-09-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

Ages:

5-12

Invitations:

Cut out pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper. Write the party information on the pumpkins. Add small packages of candy corn, mail or hand deliver. You can also make bat shapes out of black construction paper. Write the party information on white paper and glue on the bat.

Make up a haunted rhyme or poem with the party details included. Go to www.rosebriar.uk.com for some fun Halloween poems, rhymes and jokes.

Here’s a ghostly invite: Write the party information on a piece of paper. Crumble the paper invitations into a ball. Cover the ball with 2 squares of tissue paper. Tie orange and black yarn around the base of the ball and attach a tag that says, “Untie Me!” Draw a face on the tissue paper to make a ghost.

Decorations:

You can use traditional Halloween decorations, such as, store bought cobwebs and spiders. Use festive plates, cups, napkins and utensils or stick with Halloween colors like black and orange. Cover tables with plastic tablecloths and add plastic spiders on the tables.

Make some monster footprints. Using a Sharpie, draw a footprint on a large sponge and cut out. Using washable paint, paint the sponge and press the footprints on the concrete leading up to your house. Flip the sponge over to do the other foot.

If you’re setting out jack o’ lanterns, use battery operated candles. It’s much safer. Although, you can display black and orange votive or tapered candles, just don’t light them.

Make scarecrows out of old clothes and stuff them with newspaper. Use a pumpkin as the head. Have the scarecrows sitting in a chair greeting guests outside or by the front door.

Make tombstones out of cardboard boxes. Paint the cardboard with gray paint and write epitaphs in purple or black paint. Some examples of Halloween epitaphs are: Al B. Rightback, Barry M. Alyve, C.U. Sune, I.M. Gone, Ima Ghost, Justin Piece, M.T. Tomb, Myra Mains, U.R. Next, Will B. Back, Yul B. Next, Dracula – Fangs for the memories, Rob R. Duckie – You’re the one, A.O. Elle – 1985-2005 Connection Terminated. You can go to www.all-about-halloween.com for more

Halloween epitaph ideas.

You can also make tombstone slip covers for chairs out of poster board and attach them to the backs of the chairs using black yarn or fishing wire.

Activities:

On the invitations, suggest that each guest bring a carved pumpkin to display at the

party. Have a contest for the funniest, scariest, most creative and best overall pumpkin.

Purchase or download Halloween songs and sound effects. Some Halloween cd’s may

include, Kidz Bop Halloween and The Monster Mash Rock n’ Roll Party cd. You can purchase these at www.amazon.com.

Have a costume parade for young children. You can parade up and down your street while playing The Monster Mash.

Make masks or flying bats out of construction paper. You can print out masks online.

Go to www.familyeducation.com for some mask ideas.

Make a Halloween leaf wreath. You need white paper plates, black and orange construction paper, crayons or markers, scissors and glue or glue sticks. Cut the center out of white paper plates. Cut out different shaped leaves from orange and black construction paper. Have the children glue the leaves around the rim of the paper plate and hang with black yarn.

At the beginning or at the end of the party you can introduce a Halloween book. If you choose to read the story at the beginning of the party you can then have the children go on a mini pumpkin hunt. Then they can decorate the pumpkins that they find and take them home. At the end of the party, read a story to the children while they are waiting for their parents. Some suggested books are: Five Little Pumpkins (any version), Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa, My Working Mom by Peter Glassman, Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman, Inside A House That Is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. There are many other books you can find at your local book store or library. Disney has a Halloween sing a long DVD called Happy Haunting which you can purchase at www.amazon.com.

Have a costume contest for scariest, cutest, ugliest, gutsiest, most original and best overall costume.

For older kids, play a game of Trick and Treats. Give each player a bag of candy with 10 pieces in each bag. Put their name on the bag. The object of this game is to catch people saying any of these words: Halloween, candy, witch, party, ghost and pumpkin. If you catch someone saying any one of these words then they give you a piece of their candy. The person who has the most candy at the end of the game wins.

Play a game of find the pumpkin. Have guests find mini pumpkins. Once found, have them decorate them. Provide foam or felt shapes, googly eyes, markers, sequins, jewels, feathers, anything you can find to use as decorations.

Here’s a fun game for young children. Pin the wart on the witch! Purchase or make a large witch with a wart on her face. Out of construction paper, make a wart for each guest. Apply tape on the wart, blindfold each player and have them try to place the paper wart on the witch’s wart. The player who has the wart closest to the witch’s wart wins! Another version is pin the stem on the pumpkin. You can also use jack o lantern faces on the pumpkin.

Play a game of musical chairs but use witch’s hats instead. Draw witches hats and tape them onto the floor. Have someone play and stop the music. Each time the music stops the players must sit on a witch’s hat. The player who is not on a witch’s hat is out and a witch hat is removed. This continues until there is one player left, who wins the game.

Play a game of hot potato, but use a mini pumpkin instead.

For older kids, provide some Halloween feel boxes around the party area. Use cardboard boxes or cereal boxes. Cut a hole in the box big enough for a hand to fit inside it. Cover the boxes with construction paper. Write the name of the item on the box. For example, brains, spiders, worms, etc. Here are some ideas to put in the feel boxes: Brains – damp, course sponge, Spiders – twisted chenille stems, Worms or Veins – cooked, cold spaghetti noodles, Eyeballs – peeled grapes, Guts and Blood – pumpkin guts, Cockroaches – popped popcorn, Fingers – 5 baby carrots, Vampire Teeth – tines of a plastic fork, Bones - small sticks, Skin – soft flour tortilla with a little oil rubbed on it. You can find more ideas at www.about.com.

For young children make noodle bat necklaces. You can find the instructions at www.about.com.

Decorate Halloween bags. You can use orange, black or purple party bags with handles or use canvas bags that you can purchase at a craft store. Have children at the party decorate their bags and write their names on all the guests’ bags and what they were wearing at the party.

Make Halloween sugar cookies and have the children decorate and take them home.

Have a Halloween freeze dance for young children.

Make Halloween masks out of paper plates and attach popsicle sticks to the bottom of the plate. Cut two eye holes in the middle of the plate and have the children decorate them. Use a cut up egg carton for noses, feathers or yarn for hair, provide markers, foam cut outs, construction paper, scissors and glue.

Here’s a game called with sticks that would be fun for young children. Purchase or save a large canning jar. Buy popsicle or craft sticks and print out the witch pictures from www.billybear4kids.com. Print and cut out 12 witch pictures. Glue each picture to the top of the popsicle sticks. Have each child drop in 3 witch sticks into the jar. Give them a piece of candy for each one dropped in. For older kids, the person who gets the most in out of 12 wins a prize.

Candy corn guessing game: Fill a jar with candy corn and have each guest guess how many are in the jar. The person closest to the exact amount wins the jar of candy.

Zombie game: Here’s a fun game for older kids to play. One person is chosen to be “it”. The other players lay on the floor as still as Zombie’s. The person who was chosen to be “it” must try to get the Zombie’s to move, without touching them. He/she can laugh at them, make faces and say funny things. When the person who is “it” gets someone to move then that person joins him/her and tries to get the other Zombie’s to move. The last Zombie wins the game!

Halloween memory game: Set out different Halloween or fall related items on a tray. Have the party guests study them for 30 seconds, longer for younger children. Take the tray away and have everyone write down on a sheet of paper as many items as they can remember. You can use items such as, an apple, leaf, mini pumpkin, plastic spider, Halloween cd, a movie, candy bar and a mask. The person who has the most written down, wins!

Play a game of ghost bingo. Print out on orange cardstock. Have the word GHOST written at the top instead of BINGO. Use a pumpkin clip art for the free space and use candy corn as markers. The child who wins yells, “BOO!”

Food:

There are so many fun Halloween food recipes, so I have posted them under recipes.

Prizes/Goody Bags:

Prizes can consist of candy, small packaged Halloween toys, pencils, stickers and small toys. You can also purchase Halloween items at www.orientaltrading.com,

Make a handy Halloween treat. Purchase clear plastic food gloves, fill each finger tip with a piece of candy corn or hot tamale to resemble fingertips. Fill the glove with popcorn and tie at the wrist with black and orange curling ribbon or raffia. Place a plastic spider ring on one of the fingers. Attach a thank you tag.

You can make a surprise Halloween tube. Fill empty toilet paper rolls with Halloween treats. Wrap black, orange or purple tissue paper around the toilet paper roll and tie the ends with yarn or curling ribbon.

Purchase miniature Hershey bars and hot glue 3 pipe cleaners to the bottom of the Hershey bar and glue on some googly eyes to make a spider. For more Hershey’s Halloween ideas go to their website at www.hersheys.com.

You can purchase white fabric and fill it with candy and small toys. Bunch the fabric at the top and tie with black yarn. Draw a ghost face with black Sharpie on the fabric.

Thank You Cards:

Attach thank you cards to the goody bags or take pictures during the party and send them out

with the cards

Halloween Haunt

2009-09-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

Halloween Haunt

Ages:

Teen to Adult

Invitations:

Purchase mini pumpkins and write the party details in Sharpie on the pumpkin and hand deliver.

Mail or hand deliver masks made from poster board. Glue or tape a craft stick to the back of the mask. Include the party details on a small tag attached to the mask. Have the guests decorate their masks and bring them to the party for a mask contest.

Have a psychic message and print out on Halloween stationary:

This is a psychic message

A spirit seeks your presence at a séance

Materialize at the haunted house on (date, address, time of party)

Contact the “Medium” at (phone #)

Tell ‘em (child’s name or adult) sent you.

If having a themed party make sure you state that in the invitations. Some examples of

themed parties can be found at www.about.com.

Decorations:

Use black, orange and dark purple as your theme colors. Purchase paper products and utensils to match. Use coordinating streamers and balloons.

Bobbing Ghosts: purchase white balloons filled with helium. Draw ghost faces on the balloons

with a black Sharpie.

Use cobwebs and black lights for the entry way. Cover the tables with plastic tablecloths and add spiders to the tables.

You can place black and orange tapered candles on a mantel or a table as a centerpiece. Cut a hole at the top of mini pumpkins and place tapered candles inside for a festive look.

Activities:

Purchase a Halloween effects cd and play it as the gusts arrive.

Have balloons filled with a dollar in each of them. Before guests leave tell them of the riches that hide inside. This can replace any goody bag!

Guess Who Game: as each guest arrives, tape a piece of paper on their back with a

Halloween character on it. Have each guest figure out who they are by asking other guests yes or

no questions about the picture on their back. Once they have figured it out, they can take the

picture off their back.

Halloween Word Scramble: write a long Halloween related word at the top of a sheet of

paper for each guest. Such as, Halloween, scarecrow, Frankenstein, graveyard, tombstone and skeleton. Set a time limit 1-3 minutes and see how many words can be made using the chosen word.

Candy Corn Guessing Game: Fill a jar with candy corn or other Halloween candy. Have

guests guess how much candy is in the jar. The person closest to the exact number wins the jar of

candy.

Have a costume contest. Give out prizes for cutest costume, ugliest costume, scariest

costume, most original, gutsiest and best overall.

Murder Wink Game: Have guests make a circle. One person is chosen to be “it” by having everyone close their eyes and a person not playing the game taps someone on the shoulder to be chosen. Whoever is “it” winks at another person without making it obvious. That person falls and pretends to die and is out of the game. The person who is “it” continues to wink at as many people as he/she can. If a player thinks they can identify the person who is “it” then he/she points and says, “I accuse you!” If the person is wrong then both players are out of the game and a new game starts. The “killer” tries to go the whole game without being caught.

Pass The Pumpkin: Have a large circle of friends. One person is given a pumpkin.

He/she places it under their chin and tries to pass it to the next person without using their

hands. If the pumpkin drops both players are out of the game. This continues until there are only

two players left. When the pumpkin drops between those players a vote is taken to determine the

winner or have both of them win.

Pass The Pretzel: Gather Q-tips and small curly pretzels. Divide the guests into 2 teams and have them line up. Ask guests to put one end of the Q-tip in their mouth and put their hands behind their backs. On the count of three put a pretzel on the Q-tip of the first player in each team and have them pass it to the next player without using their hands. The first team that passes their pretzel down the line wins. If the pretzel drops the person who dropped it must place it back on their Q-tip and continue playing.

Costume Relay Race: You need two teams and a box of costumes containing the same number of clothing. For example, shirts, pants, shoes, mask, wig. Each person runs to the box to put on the costume, takes it off and runs to the next person in line who then repeats the process. The team who finishes first, wins!

Dr. Gross’s Lab: Decorate a variety of shoe boxes and cut a hole in the box large enough for a hand to fit through. Mark the boxes with what is inside. Eyeballs –peeled grapes, Guts – oiled spaghetti, skin – oiled flour tortilla, teeth – unpopped popcorn. Go to www.about.com for more eerie box fillers. Place these boxes around the house for some Halloween fun.

Ghost Story: Dim the lights and have the guests sit in a circle. Hold up a flashlight to illuminate the ghost teller’s face. There are several ghost stories you can find online. Start out with a sentence and have each guest continue the story with a sentence of their own.

Towards the end of the party, you can play a Halloween movie. It’s tradition in my home

to play The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. Other good Halloween movies are Casper, The Lost Boys, The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monster House, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Phantom of the Opera, Halloween and Friday the 13^th. Some movies may not be suitable for younger teens.

Creepy Quotes: Read allowed quotes from horror movies and have guests write down the name of

the movie. 1 point for each one correct. The person with the most points wins. Here are some

examples: “It’s Alive!” (Frankenstein),“You’ll just be staying the one night.” (Psycho), “They’re

heeere…” (Poltergeist), “Wake up! They get you when you sleep. They grow out of those pods.”

(Invasion of the Body Snatchers), “Michael, did you here your father? Out of the water, now!”

(Jaws).

Write scary movie titles on small pieces of paper. Have each guest choose a piece of paper and act out a scene from the movie on their paper. Some examples are: Psycho, Halloween, Friday the 13^th, Jaws, Nightmare on Elm Street and Frankenstein.

Play some Halloween music throughout the party. Some great Halloween music can

Include: Elvira, I Want Candy, Dead Man’s Party, The Freaks Come Out At Night,

People Are Strange, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Thriller, The Time Warp, Somebody’s Watching Me, Monster Mash, Ghostbusters, Witch Doctor and many more.

Go to www.amazon.com or your local party supply store for some great Halloween cd’s

Food:

Go to the recipe page for some Halloween food ideas.

Prizes/goody bags:

Prizes for games should be small. Small toys or candy will do.

For some goody bag ideas you can check out the Halloween party for ages 5-12. You can also create stickers to place on candy bars thanking your guests for coming. Have everyone take home a mini pumpkin they can set out at their home. Fill plastic Halloween cups with some goodies.

You can also collect baby food jars and fill them with candy, tie raffia around the bottom of the lid. You can put stickers or rub on stencils on the jar to make it look festive.

Purchase 8” tulle circles in black or another color. Fill the tulle with candy and tie the top with festive ribbon or black pipe cleaner. Make swirls in the pipe cleaner with a pencil to look like a spider.

Thank You Cards:

Take pictures of your guests during the party. Have a Halloween prop set out for your guests. Send them a copy of their picture and include a thank you card.

Labor Day

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Labor Day

Ages:

All

Invitations:

You can hand out small flags with the party information written on the flag with Sharpie.

Print invitations on the computer using a patriotic picture. Go to www.leehansen.com
for some free patriotic clipart. Roll the invites and tie with red, white and blue
curling ribbon.

Purchase miniature galvanize buckets and fill them with peppermint candy. Cover the bucket with cellophane or Seran Wrap and tie the top with red, white and blue curling ribbon.

If you're planning on having a potluck, send out 2 recipe cards per guest. Have the party info on the first card and have guests write down the recipe of the dish they are bringing. Have extra cards out during the party for those that want to write down some recipes.

If you are going for a picnic theme, purchase some red and white gingham stationary or use ant clipart to decorate your invites.

Decorations:

For a picnic theme, decorate with gingham patterned tablecloths and red, white balloons. Create some large ants out of black construction paper and place them on the tables.

For a red, white and blue theme, decorate with red, white and blue balloons and tablecloths. Use flags as decorations in dips and around the party area.

Activities:

Some activites may include water balloon fights, guess the number of peppermints in a jar, bubble blowing, hoola hoops, jump ropes, frisbee throwing, yo-yo's, football toss and Twister.

Bring a couple of throw away cameras, you'll get some fun pictures.

Food:

Having a potluck is the cheapest way to go for a Labor Day party. (Less Labor!). Some food items may include, potato salad, baked beans, rolls, fruit salad, cupcakes with sugar sprinkles to match the decorations, strawberry or cherry lemonade, bucket salad (see recipe), factory workers chicken (see recipe), bbq roast beef sandwiches (see recipe), chili (see recipe), veggie's and dip, hot dogs, hamburgers and cole slaw.

Drinks may include Sherbet Punch (see recipe in back to school recipes) and soda

Remember, popsicles for the kids!

Goody Bags:

It's not necessary to have goodie bags, but you can supply small treats for young children such as, stickers, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and coloring pages. You can also use the galvanize bucket invite as a goody bag.

Thank you Cards:

If you want to thank your guests for sharing Labor Day with you, place some mints in Seran Wrap and tie at the top with curling ribbon.

You can also purchase some inexpensive tools at a 99 cent store and attach a small note card saying,"Thank You For Fixin' Up Some Fun With Us/Me This Labor Day!"

Back To School Party Bash

2009-09-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Back To School Party Bash!

Ages:

Teens

Invitations:

Report Card Invitation (see sample)

Mini notepads or mini composition books with the part information on the first page.

Create invitations on the computer using the logo of the school.

Decorations:

You can cluster three balloons and tie them to some chairs or hang streamers in your school’s colors.

Stack a few classic books on a table for a centerpiece.

Cover some hardback books using the old fashioned paper bag book covers and have a container of markers, stickers and other misc. items out so the guests can decorate the book covers.

Create a sign-in board. Have party guests sign-in on a poster board. Place the poster board on a table or hang on a wall. Leave out a container of markers, crayons and other items for guests to use to decorate the board. This is a nice, quiet activity for those that aren’t ready to participate in other activities.

Activities:

Gift exchange. On invitations you can ask the guests to bring a $5 - $10 gift. During the party, have guests pick a gift they did not bring. You can place the gifts in a large decorated cardboard box, large bucket or a couple of backpacks.

Have a tattoo table set up. Using washable markers, draw tattoos on guests. Have some examples of tattoos on a sheet of paper. You can also use rub on tattoos.

Show a movie related to school. Such as, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Never Been Kissed, One Crazy Summer and 16 Candles. Look online or go to your local video rental store for teenage appropriate movies.

Keep teens busy with some fun relay’s such as:

Squeeze Play Relay – 2 teams and 2 hula hoops

Divide players into two teams. Have each team form a circle holding hands. Place a hula hoop between the hands of two players in the circle. Each player must try to squeeze their body through the hula hoop and pass it to the next person without letting go of anyone’s hands. The team that gets the hula hoop back to the starting point first, wins!

Cross The River – 2 sheets of paper for each player.

Each player has to cross a specified area using a sheet of paper under each foot. A hard, smooth surface works best for this. Each player must keep their feet on the paper at all times. If a player steps off the paper then they have to start over. The first player to cross the river, wins.

Pass The Hat – 1 hat per team for a group

Have players form a large circle. Place a hat on one of the players in which that player must pass the hat to the player next to him/her without using their hands. If a player drops the hat then he/she is out. The winner is the last player standing with the hat on their head.

Knocked Knee – 2 or more teams

This game can be played outside with water balloons or inside with confetti filled balloons. Have each player race across a designated area with a balloon between their knees. When they have reached the end of the specified area they need to pop the balloon by sitting on it and race back to their team so the next player can take their turn. The first team to finish, wins.

Paper Clip Chain – 2 or more teams or individually

Have teams form a line. Each player connects a paper clip to form a chain and continues to connect the paper clips down the line until a specified time is up. For example, you can time the teams for 40 seconds and the team with the longest chain, wins.

Truth, Truth and Lie – Index cards and a pencil for each player.

Each player writes his/her name on an index card and writes two things that are true about themselves and one that is a lie. The players exchange cards to see if they can figure out what the person on the card has lied about. If the names are not written on the card then everyone can guess who the person is and what their lie is.

Foot Script – Markers and paper.

Have guests write their name on a sheet of paper using their feet or toes. Whoever has the best “footwriting” wins!

Clothing Relay – 2 teams and 2 bags of clothes (makeup is optional in each bag)

Have teams line up. The first player in each team runs to the bag of clothes, puts on all the clothes in the bag, takes the clothes off, then runs back and tags the next player in line. Each player repeats the process and the first team to finish, wins.

Food:

Teens can eat! So, try serving a variety of foods. Some suggestions may include, chips and dip, cherry lemonade, a few varieties of soda, watermelon and cantaloupe balls served in the watermelon shell, apples and caramel dip.

If you feel like cooking, you can make hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries or order some pizza. You can serve the food on styrofoam trays. For dessert, you can have cookies, brownies or cupcakes. I would recommend having some candy out to munch on, such as, M&M’S, red licorice, Starbursts or Skittles. Also, have plenty of water bottles available.

Prizes/Goody Bags:

Prizes for games should be inexpensive. A variety of candy, popsicles or any small trinkets will do. I would choose a large bag of Starbursts and another bag of individually wrapped candy, something different than the candy you are setting out to eat. You can pass out one piece of candy to the winning team. These games are mostly for fun, they don’t need expensive prizes for winning.

If you are doing the gift exchange, then you don’t really need any goody bags. Everyone will go home with something.

If you decide to make goody bags, you can pass out inexpensive pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers, mini notepads, anything related to school that comes in packages to keep the cost low.

You can even throw in a small bag of chips or cookies and place all the goodies in brown paper lunch bags.

Thank You Cards:

Write in Sharpie on the paper lunch bags, “Thank You For A Great Back To School Bash!”or “Here’s To A Great Year!”

Try to get a group picture of all the party guests. You can mail these or pass them out at school with a thank you card.

End Of Summer Beach Blast

2009-09-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

End Of Summer Beach Blast

Ages:

Teens

Invitations:

You can purchase end of summer items, such as, lei’s and attach a homemade invitation with the party details on it.

Buy some festive hibiscus paper plates and write the party details on the plate with a Sharpie.

If you want to mail out invitations, you can purchase or make stationary on the computer and print out all the party details.

Buy some decorative summer paper cups or brightly colored plastic cups and fill them with colorful shredded paper or a sheet of tissue paper. Add some wrapped candy, such as, Starbursts, mints, Tootsie Rolls or lollipops. Add a small card inside the cup with the party details. You can title it, “This sweet summer isn’t over, yet! We still need to have more fun! Join me/us for an end of the summer beach blast!”

Decorations:

You can use decorative plates and cups or brightly colored ones, such as, turquoise blue, bright pink, purple, yellow, orange and bright green. Use a combination of colors, such as, turquoise blue, bright green and yellow. You can also use brightly colored plastic tablecloths to cover any eating area.

Use lei’s and shells as decorations on the tables or around the house.

Use paper fish, flower and flip flop patterns to add to the décor around the house or outside.

You can also purchase a net at a party supply store to put on top of a tablecloth or use the fish net to cover large plastic fish decorations and hang on a wall.

If you are going to have the party run into the evening time then you can purchase inexpensive tiki torches at a party supply store and stake them into the ground outside.

Activities:

Here are some fun relays and games for teens to play:

Balloon Squat Relay – 2 or more teams, 2 or more buckets of water balloons

Designate a finish line. Each team lines up. The first player on each team picks up a water balloon from the bucket and runs to the finish line. The players then sit on the balloon until it pops and runs back to the starting line. Each player continues. If the water balloon pops before they reach the finish line then they must go back and get another balloon. First team to finish first wins!

Duck Duck Splash – One sponge, a bucket of water and a group of friends

This game is played the same way Duck, Duck, Goose is played, but when you say, “Goose!” you wring out the water from the sponge over the persons head.

Tug Of War - You can tie a few jump ropes together if you don’t have a large rope to use. Play boys vs. girls or divide into teams.

Ice Cubed Piggies – 2 wading pools, 2 large bags of ice cubes, two teams

Fill the wading pools with water and put the ice cube bags in each pool. Have teams race to see who can take out the most ice cubes using their toes or feet within a certain time frame. Have each player place their ice cubes in a large bowl. The team with the most ice cubes in the bowl wins!

Ice Cube Melt – One ice cube per team, 2 or more teams

Have each team line up. The first person in each team holds and rubs the ice cube until their hands are too cold. Then they pass it on to the next player. This continues until the ice melts. The first team to melt the ice wins!

Watermelon Relay – 2 watermelons, 2 teams

Each team lines up in a pool behind a floating watermelon. The first person in line pushes the watermelon to the other side of the pool and back again, then they pass it on to the next person. The first team to finish wins!

Twister – play a game of Twister, but to make it more fun spray water on the mat.

Wet T-Shirt Relay – One bucket of water per team, one XXL T-Shirt per team

Each team lines up. The first person on each team runs to their bucket of water dunks the T-Shirt into the water, puts on the shirt and runs back to the line, then takes off the shirt and gives it to the next player in line who repeats this process.

Jenga – This is a nice and quiet indoor game you can play or you can play any of the Scene It DVD games.

1-100 – A sheet of paper, two six sided dice and a pen

Have players write their names on a sheet of paper in a column on the left. Leave a few spaces between the names. Have everyone stand around a table. Player one rolls the dice until a double number is rolled. Player one then writes the number’s 1, 2, 3, 4… and continues writing the number’s until another player rolls a double. Player one stops writing and the player that rolled the double number takes the paper and starts writing the number’s 1-100 by his/her name until someone else rolls a double number. This continues until someone reaches the number 100 and wins the game.

Movie Time - You can also show a movie, such as, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, High School Musical, One Crazy Summer, The Lizzy Mcguire Movie, Tuck Everlasting, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Pretty In Pink.

Food:

Have a pitcher or two of cherry lemonade or strawberry lemonade. Combine a carton of Minute Maid Lemonade and add frozen strawberries. Stir and let sit for a while until it tastes sweet. Serve over ice.

If it’s a hot day, make sure you have plenty of water bottles available or pitchers of ice water. You can also serve pink lemonade, 2-liter bottles of soda, make a pitcher full of Shirley Temples. Pour a 2-liter bottle of 7-up into a pitcher add about 4 or 5 shots of Grenadine, until it tastes a little sweet, add Maraschino Cherries, stir and serve over ice.

An easy and favorite cool down drink is Root Beer Floats. Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup and add your favorite Root Beer, serve with a spoon.

Another fun cool down drink is Rainbow Sherbet and 7-up. Pour 7-up in a large punch bowl and add scoops of Rainbow Sherbet, serve in cups

Serve snacks in festive summer bowls and platters. Serve up some watermelon and cantaloupe balls using the watermelon shell as the bowl.

Pigs in a blanket is always a hit (see recipe page).

Purchase a variety of snacks, such as, chips, Chex Mix, red licorice, M&M’s, Skittles, Starbursts or any other favorite snack food.

Pizza might be an easier low-cost food item if you’re serving lunch. Many pizzeria’s have $5.00 deals when you are ordering multiple pizza’s. Make sure you order at least one cheese pizza for those that like their pizza plain.

Prizes/Goody Bags:

Keep prizes low in cost. You can use small bags of candy, gum, mini candy bars and lollipops.

Goody bags can consist of school items, such as, pens, pencils, mini notepads and erasers. Anything you can purchase in packages with multiple items in them.

You can also send guests home with end of the summer items like waterguns, squirt toys, bubbles, anything you can find on sale.

Purchase small shovels, fill the shovel scoop with candy and wrap in Seran Wrap, tie the top of the Seran Wrap with curling ribbon to keep it closed.

You can also purchase small sand pails and fill them with any of the treats mentioned above.

Thank You Cards:

You can take pictures during the party of everyone having fun or take a group picture and send each person a picture with a thank you card.

Attach thank you cards to goody bags, it will save time and you won’t have to send them out later.

If you can find the long water noodles on sale, you can send your guests home with one noodle and attach a thank you note using some curling ribbon.

Fill small paper plates with cookies, candy and a water toy. Cover with Seran Wrap and tie the end with brightly colored curling ribbon. Attach a thank you card. You can say,” Thank’s For Making The End Of This Summer A Blast!”

2009-09-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

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Welcome and thank you for visiting Parties4Families. For years, I have searched party books and the internet for budget friendly party ideas. I found myself spending hours at a time searching for ideas that would work well for our family's budget. What I wanted to do was spend more time coordinating the parties and less time searching, so I decided to build this site. My goal is to provide your family with fun and entertaining party ideas that are easy on your budget. My ideas come from a variety of books, internet resources and from personal party experiences. I have put themed party ideas together from start to finish to make the search easier for you. I welcome all new party ideas and comments to make this site a success!