Party Plans

Planning a party should be fun for all, including the birthday child! If your child enjoys these types of activities, make sure to include him/her in all of the pre-party planning, such as developing the guest lists, planning the games, selecting the decorations, even preparing the party treats.

If your child is younger, consider creating a countdown calendar to keep track of the number of days until the party. Think how excited he/she will be by the time the big day arrives!

Deliver or mail your invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance so that your guests can respond and plan accordingly.

Set a budget. Before you make any purchases or deposits, put together a list of all your expenses by item. If the total expenses are more than your budget, think of how you can creatively reduce your expenses by trimming some of the less important items. If necessary you may also need to trim your guest list.

Schedule

Consider limiting your party activities to no more than two hours. At this point the energy level of most children starts to fade, and all of those amazing party activities you have planned will cease to be fun. A two hour party will provide enough time for your child to greet all of his/her guests, play a few games, open gifts, celebrate with refreshments and cake, and say goodbyes.

Guests

It's tempting to not want to leave anyone out when planning a party for your child. Will this be a family event, or school friends only? What about brothers and sisters? Remember, it's important to keep the party size managable. If the weather permits, an outdoor event might provide more flexibility if you're working with a larger group. Together with your child develop his/her "wish" list of attendees, and then determine what will work best for your party setting. If the party is a large event with lots of guests, remember to include friends or family who are willing to lend a helping hand.

Decorations

Think about how you can "transform" areas of your home, yard, or other party space so that your guests truly experience the party theme. Reinforce the party theme with coordinating wall and table decorations. Under Construction includes a variety of Construction theme party decorations, including a Centrepiece, Hanging Cutouts, Printed Party Garland, Banner and Metallic Balloon.

Get creative! Turn your party site into a construction job site. Think about creating construction or building decorations that can also serve as activities at the party. A variety of different materials can be used, but cardboard boxes of varying sizes are probably easiest. Decorate these ahead of time to use at the party, or, provide paints and markers to your guests and let them have fun decorating. Check the internet, the library, or your local craft store for ideas on how best (and easiest!) to construct and design these items for your event.

If your party is at home, don't forget to decorate the outside of your house! This will help set the mood for the party and direct guests to the correct address. Consider: orange pylons, a road constructed from black tablecovers with yellow dashes (construction paper or tape) down the center, street signs, and yellow warning tape from your local hardware store.

Activities/Games

To encourage participation from everyone at the party, it's always a good idea to stick to simple games that children may already know or can learn easily. Consider starting with something less active to allow the party goers to warm up to each other. It's also good to have these kinds of activities or games at the end of the party also, so that your guests can start to wind down prior to refreshments and saying goodbye.

Think of simple ways to adapt standard party games to complement the theme of the party. For a Construction theme, these might include Ring Toss on the Pylon, and an Obstacle Course that involves hammering nails, filling a toy dump truck with dirt or sand, painting.

Think about your child's building toys that could be adapted to an activity at the party. Divide the group into teams and see which group can construct the tallest or most unique tower.

Do you have some extra large cardboard boxes? Why not have the kids "build" something? Bring out the craft supplies such as markers, paints, scissors, etc., and watch them go to work. You'll be amazed at the creative talent! (Of course, make sure whatever you have is safe to use. This activity may require extra hands and closer supervision.)

Make sure you have enough activities to last the length of the party, and then some. Running out of activities can quickly take your event from loads of fun to a party downer. Remember board games and craft materials can always be used in a pinch.

Other Ideas

Provide each child with a "time card" when they arrive at the party. Include a list of events for the day.

Teach your guests about tools. Have an adult at the party do a "show and tell", explaining a variety of different tools and how they are used.

Create a lifesize construction worker from cardboard, cutting out a hole for the face. Then, take a picture of each child standing behind the cutout and give it to them as a fun party momento.

Create a memory book or box of the event. Take lots of photos, everything from the guests, to the food, to the games, and the gifts. Make special note of the current events of the day. Include a few small decorations or momentos.

Include your guests in a group photo and include the photo as a momento with your thank you notes. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and treasure the memory for years to come!

Party Wearables

Encourage your guests to dress for the event by asking them to wear jeans, t-shirts, and work boots to the party. Creative Expressions offers Yellow Plastic Hard Hats - this makes a great take home keepsake for your guests. Personalize them with each child's name and distribute to the guests as they arrive at the party.

Check out your local hardware store for simple tool belts and work aprons. Talk to the manager - he might be willing to donate to your cause!

Favours / Prizes

Metal Construction Trucks and Plastic Hard Hats are both available from Creative Expressions and make great favours. Also consider Mini Tool Sets, Tool Aprons, Safety Goggles, or Orange Vests to give to your party guests.

Game prizes are fun for both winners and losers. Keep the prizes simple so others do not feel left out. Make sure to have some silly prizes on hand for the losers as well so they have something to take home.

Food

Treat your guests to a variety of creative snacks that tie to the construction theme. For example, think about foods that resemble dirt (brownies, crushed chocolate wafer cookies) and think of unique recipes or ways to present the snack. Or have them "construct" their snack - have on hand toppings for pizza and let them make their own! Just like at the job site, why not serve each lunch or meal in a lunch pail, or brown bag?

 Lets Hula / Luau Party Tips By Creative Converting

Party Plans

Planning a party should be fun for all, including the birthday child! If your child enjoys these types of activities, make sure to include him/her in all of the pre-party planning, such as developing the guest lists, planning the games, selecting the decorations, even preparing the party treats.

If your child is younger, consider creating a countdown calendar to keep track of the number of days until the party. Think how excited he/she will be by the time the big day arrives!

Deliver or mail your invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance so that your guests can respond and plan accordingly.

Set a budget. Before you make any purchases or deposits, put together a list of all your expenses by item. If the total expenses are more than your budget, think of how you can creatively reduce your expenses by trimming some of the less important items. If necessary you may also need to trim your guest list.

Schedule

Consider limiting your party activities to no more than two hours. At this point the energy level of most children starts to fade, and all of those amazing party activities you have planned will cease to be fun. A two hour party will provide enough time for your child to greet all of his/her guests, play a few games, open gifts, celebrate with refreshments and cake, and say goodbyes.

Guests

It's tempting to not want to leave anyone out when planning a party for your child. Will this be a family event, or school friends only? What about brothers and sisters? Remember, it's important to keep the party size managable. If the weather permits, an outdoor event might provide more flexibility if you're working with a larger group. Together with your child develop his/her "wish" list of attendees, and then determine what will work best for your party setting. If the party is a large event with lots of guests, remember to include friends or family who are willing to lend a helping hand.

Decorations

Think about how you can "transform" areas of your home, yard, or other party space so that your guests truly experience the party theme. Reinforce the party theme with coordinating wall and table decorations. Let's Hula includes Banners, Centerpieces, Printed Hanging Cutouts, Lantern Garlands, and Party Fringe. With this theme the possibilities are endless, so don't stop there!

Are you creative? Try crafting a mini tiki hut for your party. A variety of different materials can be used depending on your level of detail and targeted finished size. Purchase bamboo sticks to create the frame of the hut. Use raffia, inexpensive match stick blinds, grass skirts or tablecovers for the hut roof. Check the internet, the library, or your local craft store for ideas on how best (and easiest!) to construct this item for your event.

If your party is at home, don't forget to decorate the outside of your house! This will help set the mood for the party and direct guests to the correct address. Consider: Palm trees, flower garlands, pink flamingos, coconuts, tissue or foam parrots, fish nets, and more.

If your guests are a little older, consider adding additional seasonal decorations for a more authentic look. Include items like fish net, sea shells, sand, tissue tropical fish, plastic coconut cups, and tissue drink umbrellas.

Activities/Games

To encourage participation from everyone at the party, it's always a good idea to stick to simple games that children may already know or can learn easily. Consider starting with something less active to allow the party goers to warm up to each other. It's also good to have these kinds of activities or games at the end of the party also, so that your guests can start to wind down prior to refreshments and saying goodbye.

Think of simple ways to adapt standard party games to complement the theme of the party. These include Pin the Lei on the Hula Girl, Hula Bingo, or Musical Chairs played with Hawaiian Music. If your event is taking place outdoors, consider different activities that involve the use of water. And of course, don't forget the popular Luau favorite - Limbo!

Make sure you have enough activities to last the length of the party, and then some. Running out of activities can quickly take your event from loads of fun to a party downer. Remember board games and craft materials can always be used in a pinch.

Other Ideas

Create Hawaiian names for each of your guests. As the guests arrive provide them with their own personalized lei to wear at the party. This also makes a great keepsake for the guests to take home.

Why not teach your guests a luau dance? Purchase instructive videos for your guests to watch and learn. Or, if you are more daring, purchase hawaiian music and teach your own hula dance! Of course, you can also check your local area - for a small fee you may be able to hire an instructor.

Create a memory book or box of the event. Take lots of photos, everything from the guests, to the food, to the games, and the gifts. Make special note of the current events of the day. Include a few small decorations or momentos.

Include your guests in a group photo and include the photo as a momento with your thank you notes. Your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and treasure the memory for years to come!

Party Wearables

Make all of your party guests hula dancers for the afternoon! When you send out your invitations, ask your guests to come dressed for a Luau. For girls, this might be bathing suit tops and fringe luau skirts. For boys, suggest Hawaiian shirts, bermuda style shorts, sandals, and other tropical attire. Be sure to have a few extra things on hand for guests that may forget or arrive "underdressed". Creative Expressions offers Hula Skirts, Leis, Hair Bands, and Bracelets.

Favours / Prizes

Look for Plastic Sunglasses,Temporary Tattoos, Leis, Stickers

Game prizes are fun for both winners and losers. Keep the prizes simple so others do not feel left out. Make sure to have some silly prizes on hand for the losers as well so they have something to take home.

Food

Treat your guests to a variety of creative Luau snacks complete with fun Hawaiian names. Try incorporating a variety of traditional island treats, including pineapple and coconut. Depending on the age group, create your own non-alcholic versions of Mai-tais or Pina Coladas for your guests to enjoy.

Racing Car Party Tips By Creative Converting

Party Plans

Planning a party should be fun for all, including the birthday child! If your child enjoys these types of activities, make sure to include him/her in all of the pre-party planning, such as developing the guest lists, planning the games, selecting the decorations, even preparing the party treats.

If your child is younger, consider creating a countdown calendar to keep track of the number of days until the party. Think how excited he/she will be by the time the big day arrives!

Make sure you deliver or mail your invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance so that your guests can respond and plan accordingly.

Set a budget. Before you make any purchases or deposits, put together a list of all your expenses by item. If the total expenses are more than your budget, think of how you can creatively reduce your expenses by trimming some of the less important items. If necessary you may also need to trim your guest list.

Schedule

Consider limiting your party activities to no more than two hours. At this point the energy level of most children starts to fade, and all of those amazing party activities you have planned will cease to be fun. A two hour party will provide enough time for your child to greet all of his/her guests, play a few games, open gifts, celebrate with refreshments and cake, and say goodbyes.

Decorations

Think about how you can "transform" areas of your home, yard, or other party space so that your guests truly experience the party theme. Reinforce the party theme with coordinating wall and table decorations. Start Your Engines includes banners, danglers, garlands, centerpieces, balloons, flags & more. With this theme the possibilities are endless, so don't stop there!

Are you creative? Try crafting various stations to be used throughout the party. These could include a Registration Desk, Pit Stop, Garage area, VIP Box, Finish Line or Victory Circle. Create activities or challenges for each area to give your guests a true racing experience. Check the internet, the library, or your local craft store for ideas on how best (and easiest!) to design these areas for your event.

If your party is at home, don't forget to decorate the outside of your house! This will help set the mood for the party and direct guests to the correct address. Consider: Black & White Checkered Flags lining the driveway & sidewalk, a balloon arch, and "Welcome Race Fans" banners & signs.

Activities/Games

As guests arrive, direct them to check-in at the "Registration Area". Provide a Pit Pass for each guest (which can be personalized with a photo) and a paper license plate for them to decorate while you wait for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Think of simple ways to adapt standard party games to complement the theme of the party. These could include Red Light/Green Light, Pin the Helmet on the Driver and Pass the Car (like Hot Potato).

Make sure you have enough activities to last the length of the party, and then some. Running out of activities can quickly take your event from loads of fun to a party downer. Remember board games and craft materials can always be used in a pinch.

Other Ideas

There are a lot of creative & fun ways to make the most of your race-themed party with just a little planning. Create a "Racing School" with a variety of different stations for your guests to complete. These can include a race track obstacle course, tire-changing station (attach colored plates to a cardboard "race car" box with velcro and have the guests change out with different colored plates), and Race Car painting with paper or wooden cars. At the end of the party, award your guests with Racing School Certificates.

Design a celebration area for your awards ceremony and gift opening with the Victory Circle Decorating Kit from Creative Expressions. The checkered floor mat & victory banner make a fun backdrop for those many photo opportunities!

Create a memory book or box of the event. Take lots of photos, everything from the guests, to the food, to the games, and the gifts. Make special note of the current events of the day. Include a few small decorations or momentos.

Use the Photo Op Banner to create fun memories from your party. Include the photo as a momento with your thank you notes - your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and treasure the memory for years to come!

Party Wearables

In addition to the Pit Passes, consider providing t-shirts if you plan on playing team games. These could be pre-made or you could have your guests decorate with their race team names & sponsors as a fun party activity.

Favours/Prizes

Look for Trophies, Black & White Flags, Gold Medal Favors and Stickers.

Game prizes are fun for both winners and losers. Keep the prizes simple so others do not feel left out. Make sure to have some silly prizes on hand for the losers as well so they have something to take home.

Food

Treat your guests to a variety of creative Race Day snacks at the "Party Pit Stop". Brainstorm creative new names for your favorite party snacks such as "pit crew popcorn" or "speedy pizza" . Or create box lunches for that at-the-track feel.