My Party File - blog

Archive for the ‘prizes’ Category

My lovely rellie, Gill, just held a Rubber Ducky party for her son Oliver - and I wish I could have been there to see the “Pluck a Duck”  game she organised.  She filled a large container with water that she had tinted with blue food colouring.  She bought a rubber duck for each guest and then wrote numbers on the bottom of each duck with a permanent marker, and then sat them in the water.  She also bought a variety of prizes and popped each one into a paper bag, and wrote a number on each bag that corresponded to each duck.  Each guest had to pluck a duck from the water, and were then awarded a paper bag with the number that matched (and got to keep their duck).  Whilst the little kids could use their hands to grab a duck, the bigger kids had to use their teeth!!!  You could also add another level of difficulty by blindfolding the kids.

This game would be a good lead into the “Rub-a-Ducky” game.  Get the kids to place their duckies somewhere, and whilst they are distracted (with a different game, or food), smother the duckies in honey, vegemite, icing or whatever you have in the pantry, and then exclaim “Oh No!  What have these little duckies been up to?  We need to clean them before you take them home!”  Give the kids some soapy, bubbly water and a face washer - you’ll be surprised how much fun the kids have cleaning their ducks!

This is a simple idea for a craft at a sleepover party, and it can double as a party favour.  The raw wooden words are available at craft stores (I got these from Spotlight), and come in a variety of words, including “dream”, “princess” and “diva”. Simply paint in a desired colour with acrylic craft paint. When dry, paint a coat of clear glitter paint on top.

My girls actually painted these themselves to give as birthday presents. We attached a tag that said “Handpainted by (name)”.

Anything can become a part of your theme with a little creativity and a hot glue gun.  I purchased these starfish decorations sure I could add them in some way to my daughter’s mermaid party - and I did.  Using a hot glue gun I stuck them on to cheap hair ties.  Perfect for any little mermaid!

This goodie “bag” was made from a round cardboard craft box (they come in a variety of sizes), and simply painted red.  Then I used a black marker to draw a line down the middle and to add the head  - and the spots, of course!  I actually used a correction fluid pen for the whites of the eyes, before drawing in the pupil with the black marker pen.   Coat with a sealer, if desired.  You can write each child’s name on the base or side of the box, or tie a ribbon around the base with a small tag attached.

Alternative:  Paint the boxes prior to the party, and then have the kids decorate them as an arrival activity (have a completed box as an example).  Provide them with black marker pens, black dot stickers, googly eyes,  glitter pens, black pipe cleaners and glue.

Buy a bug catcher and fill it with lollies and trinkets.  Add a ribbon and thank-you tag and stick a bug on the lid.  Viola.  Simple and effective.

I found this cute and clever idea on Zakka Life, and just had to give it a go!  These paper cup gift boxes make such wonderful party favour boxes (and would be great for small Easter treats!).  So, next time you buy paper cups for your party, make sure you have a few extra for the goodie bags - or scrounge out your collection of left over paper cups!  To make these, you will need:

• paper cups (any size)
• scissors
• sticky tape
• sticker or label or bow

Follow these instructions.  If required, print the ladybug tag for the paper cup goodie bag.

This post is linking to The Idea Room link round up

Have a look at this wonderfully creative idea I spotted on Cap Creations’ blog.   I had to look twice when I came across it - it’s not a real fish in a bag - it is soap!  What a wonderful idea for a prize or party favour for an Under the Sea theme.  Check out the tutorial on how to make these at Cap Creations.

These are sweet party favours for a princess party, and can be really cheap if you make them yourself.  Make the bows from some pretty ribbon and simply use a hot glue gun to attach to a bobby pin.  Print our princess clip holder onto card (I used glossy photo paper) and make two vertical slits (each 1.5cm high and 1.5 cm apart) with a stanley knife in the middle of the card.  Slide the clip through the slits, and  there you go - fit for a princess!

Any little girl will be excited to find nail polish in their party bag.  You can add it to all sorts of themes, from princess and mermaid parties to circus and movie parties.  I found these small bottles in a pack of seven, which made them very affordable - about $1 each.  I also included a coloured nail file, which you can get in bulk from a variety store.

Alternatively, use these as prizes or even make an activity out of painting guests’ nails.

A princess party wouldn’t be complete without princess tiaras for the guests.  You can usually find these at your local variety store.  Either provide them to guests as they enter the party or after they have proven they are princesses (by playing princess party games such as the princess and the pea game or showing princess manners).  Either way, we hope the tiaras will turn them into little princesses in many ways!