Recommended Age Group: 6-9 year olds, but it can be adapted for other ages
Guest List: 8-10
Time: 2 – 3 hours
Invitations
Create your own invitations with Old English font and print out on parchment paper. Burn the edges of the invitations with a lighter to create an antiquated feel. Tear each invitation into large pieces and place into an envelope. When opened, the pieces need to be put together like a puzzle. Include instructions on a separate slip of paper inside the envelope.
Decorations Make white flags with white skull and cross bones using white fabric and black electrical tape. Place at the entrance and around the backyard. Make clusters of black and red balloons to add to the pirate feel. Use black fabric cotton as a tablecloth and sprinkle with gold chocolate coins. Create a treasure table centrepiece. Spray paint a small chest, and other treasure items like goblets and vases. Place china, goblets, vases, gold chocolate coins and costume jewellery in and around the chest. Drape fishing nets in the main party area and swirls of blue fabric to represent the sea. Place starfish, crabs and fish in net -marine bath toys are ideal. Wine barrels, chests and a skeleton would also add to the ambience. Find more Browse online for party decorations and supplies Party Food Ideas and Recipes
Serving food on large platters will add to the Pirate appeal. Make a Pirate birthday cake Eyeball Jelly Cups - Set jelly in cups with an eyeball lolly or gob stopper. Cupcakes: decorate each cupcake with licorice cross bones and wriggly snakes Watermelon Basket – Cut a watermelon in half and scoop out small balls of watermelon using a fruit scoop. Place watermelon balls into the basket and serve. Crumbed Fish and Chips Mini Frankfurts Corn Chips and Salsa Fruit Punch served in plastic wine goblets Search all party food recipes Search top ten birthday cake recipes
Party Games and Activities
Walk the Plank Set up a plank or balancing beam for the pirates to walk along. Use pillows or gym mats to break the fall. Award prizes for the pirates who make it across. Shark Attack Place 7 pieces of newspaper in the backyard to represent dry land. The guests walk around the newspaper until “shark attack” is called, at which point the pirates run to the safety of the newspaper island. As each round progresses the newspaper is removed and then torn into smaller pieces until only one pirate remains. In the final rounds, pirates can hold onto each other and are still ‘in’, as long at least one foot is on the newspaper, and no other parts are touching the ground. Pin the Patch on the Pirate Create a pirate face or use a “Pirates of the Caribbean” poster to pin on the missing patch. Black Beard Choose some brave pirates, who are then blindfolded, and told that a famous pirate is coming to visit. The blindfolded pirates feel the stump of a leg (an adults knee), a whiskery beard (a broom) and then the missing eye (an open tomato). This game is not recommended for guests who are easily scared but it is awesome for pirates who like adventure. Message in a Bottle Treasure Hunt Create two teams and give them a plastic bottle with a scrolled treasure map inside. Each team follows the clues and map to find the treasure. Face Body Painting Apply beards and adhesive tattoos Capture the Flag The pirates are divided into two teams with the objective of defending their own flag, and capturing the opposing team’s flag. Find more: Search the activity finder for party games
Party Bags Cut out the left over black fabric into squares. Fill with pirate loot, including gold coins and prizes. Tie with white cord and fasten a gold chocolate coin.
Theme: Princess party
Colour Scheme: Pink and Silver
Recommended Age Group: 5-7 year olds, but it can be adapted for other ages
Guest List: 6-8 kids
Nothing could be more fun than a girl-y princess party with sparkles, tulle skirts and, of course, who could forget the tiara!
Invitations
Set the tone for the party with a spectacular Princess Gift Box invitation. Fill a pink square gift box with a tiara swathed in pink tulle and place the scrolled invitation on top. You can buy a tiara at the local discount store.
Type your invitations using a cursive font and print out on pink paper. Stick a silver star, gemstone or fabric swatch at the top in the middle of the invitation to add some extra sparkle.
Decorations
Create a grand pink carpet entrance using 3- 4 metres of pink fabric leading into the party. Make sure that you secure the ends of the fabric so it doesn’t blow away and place a doormat at the front of the carpet so that the girls can wipe their feet.
Decorate the table with pink tulle fabric and a sprinkling of silver stars down the middle. Silver napkins and cutlery can be used on the table. Use teacups and plastic wine glasses for the girls to drink hot chocolate and apple cider. A cupcake holder and a variety of large platters give the table a royal feel.
Use silver tinsel and Christmas baubles to decorate the main room. This can be very cost effective especially if you buy the decorations out of season.
Pink and silver balloons will transform the main party room and can also be used for the letterbox and each side of the grand entrance.
Set the table for each guest with a name place tag written in silver cursive font. Silver Christmas bon-bons can also be used to decorate the table.
Browse online for birthday party supplies: Decorations & Balloons Party food ideas and recipes
Preparing miniature food and serving the food on large platters will add to the regal atmosphere.
Princess birthday cake
Cupcakes – Use pink pastel icing, top with a large turret shaped marshmallow and finish off with a sparkling silver sparkling cachous. Biscuit wands Icecream cake cones Kiss biscuits Cups and saucers Flower biscuits Fairy bread fingers Watermelon stars Swirly sandwiches Stained glass window sandwiches Mini quiches Mini hot dogs Homemade sausage rolls Hot Chocolate served in teacups Apple Cider in plastic wine goblets Browse our top ten easy recipes for kid's birthday cakes
Party Games and Activities Grand Entrance – On arrival each princess is adorned with a treasure from the dress up box and then has her photo taken. Music can also enhance the arrival. Treasure Hunt – Use transparent, plastic Christmas baubles. Many come apart and allow you to hide treasure in the bauble. Dancing Statues – Get the princesses to dance around to classical or pop music and freeze when the music stops. Pass the parcel - Use pink wrapping paper and make sure that each layer has a princess goodie. Decorate cupcakes - pre ice the cupcakes and allow the guests to decorate using their favourite lollies and sprinkles Princess Pampering - have a family friend paint nails and apply silvery eye shadow and lip-gloss. Test princess poise with a book balancing game Pin The Crown on the Princess - use a Disney poster and cut out a tiara using silver cardboard Watch a favourite part of the Disney Princess movie Craft – make a regal crown or an edible necklace or bracelet
