Christmas is a special time, with an opportunity for family, friends and loved ones to gather, spend time together, catch up & enjoy each others company.

It’s also holiday party time. Time for: fun, joy, celebration.

However, in the background, party preparation, lists and ideas can lead to a period of stress and 'party-organisation-misery' for the organiser left in charge.

Bendable Elf

Here at Party Kit 'n Kaboodle we come to the rescue with some quick party ideas!

Christmas Party Themes

Everyone loves Traditional Christmas fare - The Christmas Story, snowmen & St Nick - or Santa

Christmas is also a time to remember Peace & Love

Peace on Earth Tableware & Invites

Here in Australia, Christmas time means balmy summer time weather - Why not enjoy the beautiful days and cool nights with a Luau /tropical or Pool themed Christmas Party?

Invitations

Invite your guests in style with our unique Tropical Invitations in a Bottle - these are fun!

Tropical Invitation in a Bottle

Tableware & Table decorations

Your holiday party table & party area will look the party with our range of tableware, table covers, Tropical tableskirts & decorations

Hibiscus Flower Natural Raffia Table Skirt

Christmas Story

The Reason for The Season can be delightfully depicted with our range of Nativity Scenes and toys

Wooden Nativity Scene

Decorations

Deck the halls with our Christmas Decorations

3D Christmas Tree Centrepiece

Christmas Holiday Baking

Be creative and bake & decorate some Christmas goodies this year. Once your creations are ready - pack them in our lovely cupcake & goody boxes

Christmas Character Cupcake Picks     

Peace on Earth Cupcake Boxes

Stocking Stuffers & Christmas Gifts

Stuck for unique goodies or small gifts for their stockings?

Christmas Lights Rubber Duckies

Christmas Gift Wrappings

They will love your creativity when you present their Christmas gifts in these wonderful boxes and bags

Christmas Gift Bags with Arms & Legs

Christmas Activities, Games & Stickers

Give your guests some activities and games to partake in - they will love you for it!

Wind Up Snowman on Skis

Photo Door Banner - Photo Opportunity!

This is fun! Hang this Door Banner in a door way, grab your camera and snap your guest's faces. What a great memory of your best ever Christmas party yet!

Mr & Mrs Santa Photo Door Banner

We hope that this quick listing has been of help to you as you prepare for your party, and we invite you to visit us at Party Kit 'n Kaboodle any time for more great party ideas!

We also invite you to check out our New Products link regularly, as we update our range all of the time - you never know what you will find!

Happy Christmas from all The Team @ Party Kit 'n Kaboodle!

Birthday parties are fun, although it can be challenging to come up with a new theme every year.

Luckily, the team at Party Kit 'n Kaboodle have a comprehensive selection of party themes to suit all ages and tastes.

Our customers often ask us for suggestions for their child's next birthday party, so we've decided to compile a summary for you!

• 1st Birthday Party

I Love Puppies 1st Birthday Plates

Your child's First Birthday is a special milestone. Suitable for boys and girls, Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's 1st Birthday party supplies range from 1st Birthday Puppies to Farm 1st, jungle and safari - we also have a wonderful range of tableware, party goodies and party decorations.

• Baby Shower Party / New Mums

Baby Girl Letter Banner

Give the Mum to Be a Baby Shower party to remember with Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's  fantastic selection of Baby Shower games, novelties and decorations.

• Birthday Puppy Party

Plush Puppy Ear Headbands

Have a Birthday Puppy Party, because everyone loves puppies! Dress your guests up in our puppy gear and they'll be howling with laughter! We have everything from Dog Noses to “Wipe Your Paws” Birthday Puppy Tableware.

• Bugs Party

Wind Up Bugs

Are the kids crazy about creepy-crawlies & bugs? There’s everything you need here for the insect lover from Bug themed Tableware and party packs to Insect Tattoos and Ladybug wings! Bright, unusual and FUN! A really cute range of butterflies, dragonflies and bugs of all sorts.

• Cowboy Party

Bendable Cowboys

Yee-ha! Wanted –dead or alive! Because there's a little bit of outdoors in all, a Cowboy Themed Party is fun.Here’s everything from party loot bags stuffed with cowboy toys to tableware, horses and sheriff’s badges for that complete fun Cowboy experience.

• Dinosaur Party

Dinosaur Cake Baking Tin

Dinosaur Themed Birthday parties are amazing! Boys and girls will be roaring with excitement with our dinosaur finger puppets or let them loose with dinosaur stampers. Have a look at the dinosaur skeletons and dinosaur dig kits. No party is complete without dinosaur balloons and dinosaur shaped cake topper candles!

• Farm Party & 1st Birthday

Cow Pinata

One of our favourites, because all kids love farm animals. Have a farm animal themed party! Excellent fun for all ages - from that very special First Birthday and beyond. Need cow spots? - check out our Cow Spots Tablecover, Cow Spot Print Balloons and Cow Print loot boxes. Require farmyard goody bags bursting with toys? Look no further for farm animal loot fillers and barnyard party gifts – it’s all here!

• Happy Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to you Meal Munch Box

For some unusual Happy Birthday Party ideas, check out Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's Happy Birthday party supplies. Heaps of fun ideas and SO easy to order.This is a theme for all ages – so there’s definitely something for you!

• Hen's Night & Bridal Showers

Wedding Party Rubber Duckie Set

A theme for all Brides-to-be, Bachelorettes, Bridesmaids and friends!
For a Bridal Shower, Hens Night and Wedding you’ll never forget - we have themed tableware, unique party ideas & mementos as well as heaps of great games to add to the fun. Don't forget the Wedding Bubble Bottles!
 

• Hoppy Frogs Party

Wooden Frog Bowling Set

If you ever thought frogs were boring, our cute little fellas will change your mind! Check ‘em out and get the kids hoppin’ with excitement at this delightful Frog Themed Party range. Everything from frog themed tableware and frog shaped cake topper candles to frog filled treat boxes exploding with frog themed goodies! It’s every frog lover’s dream!

• Jungle & Safari Party

Zoo Animal Plastic Mugs

After a ‘wild’ idea for a fun party? Serving up food in our Jungle Jeep Meal Munch Trays will get the kids roarin’! There’s everything here from safari print balloons and safari themed toys to jungle tableware. Be brave! Give the kids a party they’ll never forget.

• Ladybug Party

Ladybug Plush Basket

Our Ladybug Themed Party is a customer favourite - Everything ‘Ladybug’ that you could wish for is right here. This is a really delightful range to suit any age. Select a Ladybug Pinata, or Pull String Pinata, Ladybug Cake tin, even a Ladybug Apron. We have Ladybug Bubbles, Ladybug Filled Treat Bags, Spotty Loot Boxes, Tattoos and even Flipping Windup Ladybugs to name a few!

• Luau & Beach Party

  
  Decorative Fish Straws

Stuck for a fun party idea? Why not go tropical! Here’s a beach party theme for the whole family. Even Grandma will get into the swing with this one! Check out our huge range of unusual Hawaiian Luau party ideas. Need a luau rubber duckie, tropical hibiscus balloons or a hula costume for your dog? Decorate your table with our Hibiscus Flower Table Skirt. It’s all here! Prepare to be amazed…

• Mare & Foal Party

Mare & Foal Filled Treat Loot Box

Do you have a little girl who loves horses and ponies? Then here is the ideal party theme for you! Your friends will be thrilled when they see the delightful themed Mare and Foal tableware, horse themed craft kits, and pony party gifts such as horse rubber duckies.

• Monster Bash Party

Monster Bash Relaxable Ball

Bet you've always wanted a Monster themed party?
Check out our Monster Bash Themed Party range.These cute - not scary - critters occupy everything from Monster Bash paddle ball games to Monster Bash filled loot bags and Monster Bash Tableware. Find all things 'Monster' right here!

• Movie Night Party

Movie Buff Gold Trophy

Everyone loves movies so have a Movie Night Party! It’s so easy to decorate with just a few movie party decorations. Feel like a celebrity and have your photo taken with our Movie Night Photo Door Banner! Here is everything from Director's Wooden clapboards , movie night tableware to popcorn bags, invitations and Movie Popcorn Pinata. What more do you need for a fabulous night of fun!

• Outer Space Party / Alien Party

Astronaut Space Alien Rubber Duckies

Here's a party theme that's 'out of this world'!

Check out our Outer Space & Aliens Party Gear! From colourful themed Tableware/Invite sets, fun Filled Loot Bags, to awesome space shuttle gliders, cool space stickers, amazing craft kits, amusing themed figures and inflatable space shuttles. Why not add a rocket ship piñata? We have it all!

Plan a space themed party &nvite your friends!

• Pink Cowgirl Party

Pink Boot Filled Treat Bag

If you are crazy about horses and ponies, hold a Pink Cowgirl Party and be the talk of the town with our Cowgirl themed Party supplies! It’s all here from Pink Cowgirl Bubble Bottles, Pink Cowgirl Cake Topper Candles, Pink Boot Shaped Filled Loot Bags to Pink Cowgirl Balloons, Pink Cowgirl Photo Door Banners, Pink Cowgirl Tableware and craft kits. Load up your shopping cart and have fun!

• Pink Poodle Party

Plush Pink Poodle

Girls of all ages just love this cute Pink Poodle Party range! Just the right party theme for poodle people – you can’t go wrong! We have Pink Poodle tableware, Pink Poodle Hat Teat Boxes, poodle party favours and gifts…absolutely everything you need for a perfect party with a Parisian hint!.

• Pirate Party

Jumbo Inflatable Pirate

Ahoy there! This is an amazing & popular party for all pirate boys and pink pirate girls! Have a swash-buckling time with our MASSIVE range of pirate & pink pirate party supplies. Everything from Pirate Swords & Eye patches, gruesome bags of bones and Skeletons to Pirate Loot Bags & Pink Pirate Loot Bags stuffed with pirate loot. There are Pirate Skull & Cross Bones Invitations in a Bottle and pirate gifts for everyone!

• Pool Party Splish Splash

Flamingo Shot Glasses

Our Pool Party Splish SplashTheme is fun with our pool party supplies. Go tropical this spring or summer for a luau birthday, family fun get together or bbq by the pool party idea . For kids and adults - an easy fun party!

• Princess & Fairy Party

Cinderella Coach Meal Munch Tray

You will find everything to make your little girl’s ideal princess or fairy party come true. A delightfully lovely range - Rainbow Butterfly Wings And Antennae Headband, Glittery Wands, Pastel Rainbow Tutus, tiaras, princess party gifts and much more… Check out our fairy and princess fun craft ideas and games!

• Purr-fect Kitty Party

Purr-fect Kitty Tableware & Invites Set

Calling all kitten & cat lovers! Here is the kitty cat themed party for you! Team up our kitty themed tableware and Perr-fect Kitty Cake Topper Candles with a magenta table cover & some kitty decorations for that purr-fect kitten party!

• Racing Car Driver Party

Black & White Check Meal Munch Boxes

Gentlemen, start your engines! With this awesome party they'll be zooming to the finish line with this amazing collection of Racing Themed party supplies.
For kids and adults alike, you can give them a racing party to REALLY remember! Hang up a checkered flag pennant banner, decorate the table with our racing car tableware and let the fun begin! Everyone’s a winner at this racing car party so give them a racing trophy or Checkered Flag Baseball Cap to take home! Make it a party to remember!

• Robot Party Supplies

Robot Birthday Banner

Want an awesome party idea? Check out our Robot Party Themed Gear!
From colourful Robot Themed Napkins, fun Robot themed Filled Loot Boxes, to awesome Robot Ceiling Swirls, cool robot stickers, amazing craft kits, cool Robot Erasers and amusing Robot Rubber Duckies - we have it all!

Why not plan a Robot Themed Party for your next Birthday Party? Invite your friends!

• Rock Star & Diva Party

Rock Star Diva Filled Loot Bag

Turn your party guests into awesome Rock Stars and stunning Rock Star Divas…. Set the scene for your Rock Star party by taking photos of the guests as they arrive behind our fabulous Rock Star Photo Door Banner, & put the photos in their rock star VIP back stage passes. Check out our Rock Star & Rock Star Diva Tableware and Invitations, themed décor, rock star wigs and party ideas

• Slumber Party

Slumber Party Yarn Hair Dolls

 So… having a sleepover party? Here are plenty of ideas to make a slumber party fun AND above all stress-free! Keep the kids occupied with our craft kits and stickers. Brighten the table with our gorgeous Slumber Party Tableware & Invites and decorations. Give everyone a Slumber Party Filled Loot Bag stuffed with exciting sleepover gifts and slumber party toys!

• Soccer Party

Soccer Ball & Player Eraser Set

Parties are fun with our Soccer Sports Star Party Gear.

Hold an awesome Soccer Party with our fantastic soccer party themed decorations such as our Soccer Pennant Banners and soccer party tableware. Feeling creative? Use our Soccer Ball Baking Pans & decorate your own themed cake! When it comes to soccer party supplies & sports star party supplies - we've got you covered!
 

• Spooks, Ghosts, Scary Halloween

Halloween Spooky Drink Bottle Labels.

No need to wait 'tll Halloween or Friday the 13th! Need scary party supplies for your ghost or Halloween party? Check out our delightfully ghoulish selection - if you dare!!

Haunted Mansion Tableware, Skulls in a Bag, Dangling Skeletons for your closet, monsters, Inflatable Ghosts and all manner of spooky stuff .... all of your dreams!

• Under the Big Top Carnival Party

Admit One Sticker Roll

Roll up! Roll up!
Welcome to the Carnival! Come see the Circus; Come see the Clowns!

Carnival Party Supplies are masses of fun for all the family. Hurry, hurry, hurry! Step right up for the most colourful Under The Big Top Carnival party theme in town! Have a carnival or a circus in your backyard or indoors with our large selection of carnival theme party supplies and decorations. Decorate your table with our Under The Big Top tableware and use our Carnival Meal Munch Boxes.
See the clowns with their clown shoes, Clown Ties and Clown Wigs; check out the Carnival rubber duckies, Under the Big Top Photo Boor Banners, and Carnival Bunting!
 

• Zoo Animal Party

Inflatable Zoo Animal Friends

You will love our amazing range of Zoo Animal Birthday Party Ideas!
- Go wild and celebrate with a fun zoo or jungle themed animal party. Kids will love the idea of a zoo birthday party because of a chance to pretend to be a lion, tiger, bear, giraffe, elephant or monkey! Want Zoo Animal Bubbles, Animal Finger Puppets, Zoo Animal Tableware, Zoo Tablecovers or even filled loot bags? It’s all here!

Feel inspired?

Feel free to contact the friendly team @ Party Kit 'n Kaboodle for more ideas or assistance! Remember - you can shop online 24/7 with speedy delivery to your door.

We update our range often, so please bookmark us & visit often - you never know what you may find!

It’s never too early to start thinking about throwing a Halloween Party.

Along with this collection of fun scary party ideas, Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's collection of Spooky Party products have a bit of everything that you will need.

Take a look and see the spooktacular ideas we have!

This theme is not just for Halloween- use it for Friday 13th parties too or just any time you feel like being spooky!

To lure your guests, you will need invitations:

These Coffin Invitations in a Box are deliciously ghoulish:

Coffin Invitations in a Box

Next, set the scene with a spine-chilling assortment of decorations to really add to the mood to your haunted house:

From skeletons to ghosts, and spiders to monsters, you are sure to find some frightfully eerie trimmings!

Dangling Skeleton

Halloween Spider Pinata

Halloween Spooky Fright Tape

Your table has never looked so horrendously delicious with our spectral collection of tablecovers, tableware, glasses, and straws.

Skeleton Hand Glasses

Skeleton Straws

Here are some simple Spooky Party Food ideas which your guests will find divinely delicious:

Cheese Fingers:

Cheese Fingers

Kids love them!

1. Buy some cheese sticks for ‘fingers’.
2. Get a green pepper and cut bits up for the finger nails.
3. Use a little cream cheese to stick the finger nails on to the fingers.
4. With the back of a knife or a fork make creases on the fingers to make ‘joints’.


Pizza Mummies

Have these spooky-looking snacks any time of year.
All you do really is spoon the pizza sauce on the English muffins and making the mummy faces with the cheese and vegetables or fruit

Pizza Mummies

You need:
English muffins
Pizza sauce
Sultanas for eye
Red or green peppers cheese slices

Heat the oven to 180 C 350° F.
Toast the underside of each muffin first.
For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin
Put thin olive slices or sultanas in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or if you refer bits of red or green pepper for pupils
Lay strips of cheese across the muffin for the mummy’s wrappings.
Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty.

Spiders

Cracker Spiders

For each spider you will need:
2 round crackers or plain biscuits
2 teaspoons smooth peanut butter or cheese spread
8 small pretzel sticks
2 raisins
With the peanut butter or cheese spread, make a cracker sandwich.
Push eight pretzel "legs" into the filling.
With 2 dabs of cheese spread put two raisin "eyes" on top.
Easy!


Toes

Sausage Toes

You will need:
Small sausages or cheerios' cut up into ‘toe sizes’
Small 15 cms soft tortilla wraps
Ketchup and some toothpicks
1. Cook the sausages
2. Cut a small wedge shape at the end of each sausage to make a toenail shape.
3. Cut the tortillas into strips about 9 cms long and 2 cms wide. Throw away the ends.
4. Roll each piece of sausage in a tortilla strip and secure with a toothpick.
5. Fill the toenails with ketchup.
6. Take the toothpicks out before serving.

Spooky Cupcakes:

Halloween Cupcake Feet

Spread pre-baked cupcakes with a frosting that you like.
Decorate with gummy worms, lolly spiders…or anything spooky

Just love to bake?

Check out our Halloween Cookie Shapes Tin, or selection of Spooky Halloween Cupcake Picks

Halloween Cookie Shapes Tin

Get your guests to dress up & play some Spooky Games.......

(Don't forget to award some prizes, such as Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's Spooky Costume Trophies!)

Spooky Costume Trophies

The Secret Chamber Game

This is a game of tag, where you choose one kid to be the monster. the other kids are witches and wizards. Tell all the kids that the Secret Chamber has been opened and an evil monster has been let loose! Once the monster touches a witches or wizard he petrifies them and they must freeze. Petrified players can only be freed by the unfrozen players when tagged by them. Once a player is frozen three times they then remain permanently petrified. The last player to avoid being petrified is the winner!

The Mad Scientist and his Treasure Box Game

Mad Scientist Wig

The kids pretend they are in a mad scientist's scary laboratory. You can dress up in a white lab coat, wear a freaky wig or gel your hair!
You will need a cardboard box with a hole (not too large) cut out in the front for the children to put their hand through.
Place different foods in bowls in the box one at time and the children have to guess what they are....jelly can be a liver, tinned skinless tomatoes or peeled grapes can feel like eyeballs, cooked spaghetti feels horribly like intestines, peanut shells or dry pasta shapes crushed are toenails, cooked cold cauliflower feels like soggy brains. Get the idea?! The kids will be squealing!

Pin the Bone on the Skeleton Game

Taken from the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey using a skeleton instead. You can buy a cardboard skeleton or make your own... but leave off one arm or leg. See who can pin it in the right place after being blindfolded!

Of course, your guests will need some gifts to take away as an eerie memento of their spooky party experience. Loot Bags filled with chillingly good devilish treasures will make them scream with joy.

Coffin Shaped Gift Bag

Inflatable Glow in the Dark Skulls

Glow in the Dark Eyeball Tattoos

Spider & Web Stampers

 
Some Spooky Craft ideas

Make a Scary Snake

You will need:
Paper
Scissors
Black paper
Materials for decoration

1. Cut out a length of paper about 40 cm x 3 cm.
2. Slightly round off one end of the paper strip for the snake’s head.
3. Cut the other end to a point for the tail.
4. Glue on eyes and a forked tongue from coloured paper scraps or material
5. Decorate the body of the snake with anything bright.
6. Finish the Scary Snake by folding the entire length of the snake’s body into an accordion fold. Kids love them!

Feel inspired? 

For more macabre and ghoulish ideas & party goodies, visit Party Kit 'n Kaboodle's Spooks, Ghosts, Scary & Halloween Party Theme today!

Or contact our friendly team for more information.

Don’t panic! These creatures come in peace!

Monster Bash Loot Bag

Give your kids the coolest Monster Bash themed birthday party in the universe. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to make sure your birthday boy or girl has a blast - and you can do it all at down–to-earth prices.

Are they monsters? Are they aliens? We have some really cute critters that are so friendly that their big bright smiles will melt your heart.

Instead of the traditional party hat, the kids will shriek with delight when they see themselves wearing a Monster Bash Head Bopper – bright, fuzzy and full of fun. You

Monster Bash Head Bopper

could join in too and wear one…go on… give the kids a laugh! Make a fashion statement! Or look like a crazy loon and wear a mad scientist wig…

Get the idea?...Are you on a roll?....Great!

Check out our Monster Bash Squirts, Monster Bubble Bottles, paddleball games,

Monster Bash Paddle Ball Game

pop-ups and craft kits. Turn the pieces on our Puzzle Cubes to create your monsters!

Monster Bash Relaxable Balls

Kick off your shoes and relax with a Monster Relaxable ball when the party is over and all the kids have gone home wild and happy clutching their Monster Bash Filled Treat Bags stuffed with cheerful monster toys!

Feeling creative? Then how about making a Spaceship Photo Cut Out?
Before the party, draw a large spaceship on a piece of stiff cardboard. Cut an oval window in the spaceship big enough for a child's face to fit in. When the party guests arrive, let the children stand behind the spaceship and stick their heads through the window…then take a photo of the new astronauts! A photo is always a nice memory to take home.

Cut fat monster feet from green cardboard and stick them to the floor leading from the door to the main party room.

Play monster music like Sesame Street’s Monster in the Mirror, Monster Mash, The Purple People Eater, Addams Family Theme and Ghostbusters.

Consider a pull-string piñata if you would rather not have small children swinging a bat.

Decorate your monster birthday party table with star tablecloth.

Monster Bash 40pc Tableware/Invite Set

Now for the food!

Alien Space Ship Cake
Make a simple alien space ship cake using one round 9-inch sponge cake and a dome shaped cake baked in a pudding bowl. First place the round cake on a foil-covered plate and put the dome cake upside down on top of that to make a space craft. Cover with a coloured frosting of your choice. Decorate the cake with edible glitter and add round lollies for "windows" to the sides of the dome cake. Too easy!

Here are a few ideas to help you get thinking…

Give a futuristic feel to any treat by using cookie cutters in the shape of stars and moons. Create star, rocket, astronaut or alien shapes for sandwiches, cookies and melon slices.

• Decorate sandwiches and cookies with star shaped sprinkles
• Make flying saucer sandwiches with pita bread
• Decorate everything space-themed lollies like alien or rocket ship gummies
• Chocolate bars sometimes have wrappers with space themes
• Give any treat a monster themed name like “Martian Munchies” etc

Have fun!
 

Winter’s here. Feel the need to snuggle up real close with someone adorable?

Someone who has a soft heart, someone who knows your inner most secrets but will never ever tell. Someone who looks good, feels good, has a great body and dresses well! Sound like your ideal soul-mate? OK…then LOOK NO FURTHER!

We have found you the ultimate friend… a real Snuggle Pal…and it’s someone you can make into exactly who you want them to be -  Fancy a hunky soldier? A tough rough cowboy or a beautiful ballerina?

Snuggle Pals are for everyone so there is definitely one for you! There’s no sewing….you just stuff the body then pull the belly button threads to fasten off. SOOOO easy!

Snuggle Pal bodies are BIG– between 35 - 40cm. There are teddy bears, dogs, cats, tigers and lions. You don’t even need to be ‘crafty’. Simple instructions are included along with everything you need – stuffing, a beautiful body and a complimentary Party Kit ’n Kaboodle T-shirt for your Pal. You also get a Birth Certificate and a Satin Wishing Star. After you have made a secret wish, the Wishing Star is put in your new Pal’s body before you finishing stuffing. Your secret is safe forever….how cool is that!

You will adore your new Pal - someone to treasure forever - or surprise someone you love with this great gift!

Need an outfit for your new Pal? There are HEAPS of options. Fancy a fireman, bikie, doctor? Go for it! The world is your lobster - There’s even a super soccer outfit, fairy and ballerina. The choice is almost limitless.

Go on…stuff away until your heart’s content.

Make sure you check out our current Snuggle Pal Super Specials - you won't be disappointed

Filled Ladybug Treat Bag

Why stick to normal old red balloons when you can have red ones with black spots! Keep the red and black ladybug feel without being dull – get some bright red plain balloons, some black paper and double sided sticky tape. Create your own spots by sticking circles of black paper about 5 cms diameter all over the balloons for an instant exciting ladybug effect! If you can’t get your paws on double sided tape then use ordinary sticky tape. All you do is cut a piece and wrap it round your finger – sticky side out, dear, sticky side out! – and make a circle. Stick the circle on to the black spot and then press the whole thing on to the balloon.

Great isn’t it? And don’t you feel such a nice sense of achievement?!

Ladybug Bubble Bottles

Right…now that you are on a roll, have a bash at this one…

• Do the same with a plain red plastic table cover too. It looks just fantastic, trust me, it really does. Get more black paper and make bigger spots – go really wild if you want and make them different sizes ? Stick them all over the plastic cloth in gay abandon! It’s original – and it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg to create a wonderful atmosphere which just has to be a bonus ?

Ok…ready for the next one? This is simple. A bug head band. Keep to the red and black colour theme for the best effect. You’ll need to use your kid’s head as a template for the size of the headband. This is the part in the craft session where you start using bribery with chocolate if the little ‘light of your life’ is giving you a hard time by not standing still to be measured. Amazing what can be accomplished with a bag of lollies isn’t it? Anyway, here you go…

• Make a ‘bug’ headband for each guest using a strip of coloured card and two straws or pipe cleaners with fluffy craft bobbles on top for antennae –or raid the bathroom cupboard and use small cotton wool balls. Stick everything together with the good old sticky tape. Don’t you just love that stuff?!

Ladybug Cake Topper Candles

Ladybug Cake for people who aren’t great cooks!

Go on…give this a go – and if all else fails you can always secretly give it to the dog. He’ll be a very willing silent ‘partner in crime’.

Ladybug Cake

Make a cake that looks like a ladybug.

Ladybug Cake

You will need:

• 1 large pudding bowl for the body – check out the picture to give you an idea of sizes

• 1 smaller pudding bowl for the head

• Baking paper to line the bowls so that it’s easier to get the cooked sponges out

• 2 pkts of sponge cake mix from the supermarket

• 3 cups or more red frosting or butter icing coloured with red food dye (Butter icing is dead easy to make. It’s just sieved icing sugar and soft butter beaten together. Use about 2 times more icing sugar than butter and make it so it’s like toothpaste consistency. Add a couple of drops of milk if it’s too stiff –but it’s very easy to overdo it so be careful – drop by drop is best or you’ll get into one heck of a state)

• Junior M & Ms or mini Smarties

• 2 green gumdrops

• Black shoestring liquorice

Ok… so here’s what you do:

1. First off you’d better put the oven on at the temperature advised on the sponge packet or you aren’t going to get anywhere

2. Line the 2 pudding bowls with the baking paper – cut to fit reasonably well but no need to be really fussy. It just makes it so much easier to turn the sponges out of the bowls and stops all the swearing and cursing

3. Make up the sponge mix as directed on the packets

4. Pour the stuff into 2 pudding bowls – you’ll probably have too much for the smaller bowl so doesn’t waste it! You could let the kids lick the bowl now and be ‘the best parent in the whole wide world’ but I’d give the bigger bowl a bit more mixture instead. Your ladybug will have a nice chubby ladybug body…and better her than you so maybe you should lay off licking the bowl out too.

5. The smaller sponge will be ready quicker than the big one so keep your eye on it in the oven. Check them by pressing the sponges gently in the middle with your finger. If you leave a bit of a dent in the top then they aren’t cooked. The sponges should spring back into shape and feel spongy. You can also check to see if the middle is done by pushing a metal skewer (or something similar) down into the middle. If it comes out clean then everything’s fine. If it’s got sponge mix sticking to it then put the bowl back in the oven for a bit longer. When the sponges are cooked – let them cool off a little before turning them out of the bowls. Leave them ‘dome side up’.

6. When they are completely cold put them on your serving plate and then cover them with the red frosting. Don’t even think about doing this if the sponges are still a little bit warm – the frosting will melt and you will get into one heck of a mess. Whack the frosting on the sponges in quite a thick layer and smooth it over – but be gentle and don’t muck around with it too much otherwise you’ll ‘churn up’ sponge crumbs into the frosting and your ladybug’s red coat will have cake bits in it. If this does happen then just don’t panic! Either pick them out or, when you go on to the next stage of decorating the red body with Smarties, push the Smarties into the red frosting on top of any dodgy bits to camouflage it.

7. Ok – so now you have a nice spotty body. Wonderful!

8. Put the green gumdrop eyes on with a Smartie pupil – use a bit of frosting to stick the pupil on.

9. Cut some liquorice for a little smiley mouth and the liquorice antennae. Put those on the cake and you are done!!

There you go…too easy!! Looks fantastic ?

Now that wasn’t TOO stressful was it!?

Sandwiches …that sounds SO boring especially at a party but try these ideas. It’s the shape that kids love so use your cookie cutters. They are quick and easy. No cookie cutters? Don’t give up! Make up a sandwich and cut out a shape using a sharp knife.

• Butterfly-shaped sandwiches with a thin strip of carrot down the centre for a butterfly body.

Pullback Ladybug

• Flower and love heart shaped sandwiches.

Ever eaten a caterpillar? No? Never? I bet you’ll try this one…

• Make a fruit caterpillar by placing a wriggly line of grapes and melon balls down a platter

However full you feel after a meal there’s ALWAYS room for desert especially these little Jelly Ladybugs

• Make up a red jelly as directed on the packet.

• Pour into plastic cups after it has cooled slightly.

• Put in the refrigerator until set

• Turn out onto plates

• Decorate using liquorice for the legs or chocolate drops/buttons for the spots

Or these wonderful little creatures…

Strawberry ice-cream ladybugs

Scoop of ice-cream shaped into a ball, decorated with chocolate dots, and liquorice for legs and antennae

The kids will love ‘em!

After eating all this food the kids will be thirsty…so serve up some of this…

Ladybug juice!

Serve fruit juice or cordial (red if you dare!) from a jug with black cardboard dots stuck on the outside

Enjoy the sounds of victory! Get your Soccer Ball Clappers, Soccer Ball Horns,

Air blasters and Soccer Ball Whistles to cheer on your team. Score big with teammates and fans by having these plastic noisemakers in the stands and on the sidelines. Wave your Soccer Ball Clappers around to applaud great plays and winning goals! Help support your team, give ’em a hand!

It’s Party Time while the game is on…

Kick off your victory party by handing out Relaxable Soccer Sport Balls.

Relaxable Soccer Balls

Hey…now THIS is what you need…and it’s all so easy!

What about some awesome Soccer Sports Star Tableware and Invitations? Party tableware sets are perfect for any soccer or sports themed event. They include invitations with envelopes, soccer jersey shaped party plates, cups and soccer napkins. Looks great teamed up with a bright green or soccer themed table cover. Come on…what more could you want?!

Go visit local sports shops to see if they can spare any old advertising material or promotional posters. Pin them up around the room. Gives a great feel to the event. Invite your party guests to dress in their soccer gear – that’ll really get everyone in the sporty mood.

Here are a couple of games to play during half time…

Soccer Bowling:

• Set up bowling pins or empty plastic milk bottles. Line the pins up in two rows – two pins in the front and three at the back.

• Have your party guests kick a ball and knock down as many pins as they can. One point is awarded for each pin knocked down.

• The player with the most points wins. Give the winner an Award Ribbon or a trophy

Obstacle Dribble:

• Make an obstacle course in your yard out of cones, chairs, the dog (if he’ll sit still), grandma or any other items.

• Have the guests form a line.

• Then they take turns dribbling a soccer ball around the obstacle course to the end and back.

• Add some daft activities like kicking the ball through a big cardboard box and then crawling through after it.

Ok…after all this activity and excitement, everyone is hungry.

So feed ‘em! What about making a terrific cake? I buy sponge mix packets from the supermarket – they always turn out a darn sight nicer than my ‘homemade from scratch’ sponges and they actually get eaten. Just follow the easy instructions…fool proof unless you burn it…

Soccer Ball Cake:

Mix up a packet of sponge mix

Bake a flat rectangular sponge cake.

Cover it with green frosting.

Put the cake to one side.

This is the playing field.

Mix up another packet sponge mix.

Grease Pyrex pudding bowl and pour in the sponge mix.

Bake a little longer than recommended baking time.

This is the soccer ball…well – it will be when you turn it out!

Tip the “soccer ball cake” out of the pudding bowl onto the rectangular sponge cake you made in the beginning.

Sprinkle green-tinted coconut around the ball cake so make the grass.

Put a layer of white icing all over the soccer ball cake.

Finally, using a toothpick, draw a soccer ball design on the white icing and outline the design with black icing.

Kick the winning goal at the end of the party …

Be the talk of the town by giving all your soccer fans an awesome Sport Ball Filled Treat Bag to take home. A great gift and a super memento of a fantastic day.

Terrific huh?! Enjoy!

That’s all folks!

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How about an “invitation in a Bottle” or a magnetic invitation for guests to keep in their fridge?