Easy Kids Party Popper

...or as Higgins calls it, the Party Gun. He also thought we should put toppings like sprinkles in it and shoot at ice cream. (He could be onto something!) We made this for the 4th of July with red, blue, and white confetti. However, these would be great at all different kinds of parties and could be a cute kid craft at a birthday party. The color of the tape, balloon, and confetti can all be customized to the party!

You will need:

• Plastic bottle (1 per)
• Construction paper
• Masking or Painters tape
• Balloon (1 per)

Directions:

1. Remove label and cap from the bottle. Cut the top of the bottle off. You want some of the straight part of the bottle, about 1-2 inches.
2. Wrap the tape around the cut edge of the bottle to protect from sharp edges.
3. Attach a balloon to the bottle top. You want some give to the balloon, but not too much. Adjust the balloon if needed.
4. Cut confetti from the construction paper. Place inside bottle and shake a little to get it to go into the balloon if needed.
5. Hold the popper at the base, making sure to hold the balloon in place.
6. Pull the balloon back and let go to make the confetti fly!

Balloon Time Fun, Piñata Style

This is a fun alternative to having a pinata. The treats are inside the balloons! Because I don't trust the kids with pointy darts yet, we had a stomp/sit popping event. However, you could also try it using throwing darts or a thumb tack on the end of a dowel rod.

You will need:

• Balloons
• Prizes/Candy
• Tape or Stapler 
• Foam board, cardboard box, plywood

Directions:

1. Cut board or box to the size you want.

2. Insert candy into some of the balloons. I found it easiest to hold open and then slide the candy in. Blow up balloons. I used candy for the filler since the boys were going to sit on the balloons. However, if you were going to use darts or the thumb tack to pop the balloons, small toys or gift cards could also work!
3. Attach balloons to the board/wood. I used a staple around the edges and Duct Tape for the balloons the stapler wouldn't reach. Because it's so close to the 4th of July, I arranged the balloons in a flag pattern.

4. Pop the balloons and find the treats!

Home Depot Birthday Time

Home Depot just gave me another reason to choose them over another big box hardware store. Not only do they have their free kids workshops (see my Freebies For Kids post), but they also do parties! While at one of the local stores, I saw a sign for a free birthday party. Who can go wrong with free!? I asked at the front desk to get more information. Our store offered a two hour party, on the day and time of our choosing for a party of 10-15 kids. Everyone got a building kit and an apron. The birthday boy would received his own personalized hard hat. We had just started the process of moving when I signed Bernardo up, so he ended up picking the moving truck to build at his party. We were also allowed to bring in decorations and any food/drinks we wanted.

We arrived a few minutes early and they had a table set up for food and gifts, and a bunch of tables together for the kids to work at. As the kids arrived, Frank (the wonderful Home Depot worker) wrote their names on their aprons and on a plate. Once everyone arrived, he went over a few safety tips with the kids and the adults. HINT: Get the nails started, hold the edges of the wood and then let the kids hammer the nails the rest of the way in so you don't get smashed fingers.

Once everyone received their kits, we started building. I am happy to report that no one received a smashed finger! Once everyone had glued and nailed their kits together, Frank brought out the paint. The kids placed their trucks on their plate and started painting away. There were all kinds of colors to choose from: pink, purple, yellow, green, lime green, white, black, orange, brown. Everyone was happy to have a color they liked. After the trucks were painted, we placed the decorative stickers and wheel pieces in the kids aprons to be put on after the trucks dried.

Next, it was onto singing Happy Birthday and food/cake/presents. On our way out, Frank brought plastic bags to place the still wet trucks in so that our cars wouldn't get messy. We all had a great time and the kids love their trucks. Higgins has already placed several of his Lego figures in the back of his.

The Home Depot did a great job making all the kids feel special with their own aprons and Bernardo loves his hard hat.

DM TIPS:

1. Make sure to read the directions, especially if your kit has wheels. If you place the piece where the wheels will go in upside down, the axles/wheels may not fit when you try to put them in later. Not that I know from personal experience or anything...
2. If you have a sliding piece, like the moving trucks back door, take it out of the piece while it dries. Ours dried shut but I managed to open it with a small flat headed screwdriver.

**Each store is different. Some of them offer individual parties and some will set aside a large table at their free Saturday workshops for your group. Make sure to stop in your local store or give them a call to figure out the details. Our store also asked that there be 1 adult for every child to help with the build. If your helpers did a good job, please send Home Depot an email with the names of your helpers and store location. Our party helpers were not allowed to receive tips, but did get rewards from Home Depot based on positive feedback from customers.

Feed The Monster

The boys have mentioned (quite a few times) that we haven't been making as many crafts at the new house. Halloween is the perfect time to get back on the crafting wagon, so I started getting some ideas for Halloween crafts. The first one was a big hit. We made a Feed The Monster game and they love it!

You will need:

• Tissue box (1 per monster)
• Paint
• Googly eyes (There are a ton of options and sizes out there: Various sizes, Peel and Stick, Oval, Glow In The Dark)
• Glue
• Decorations (These could be stickers, paint, cut outs glued on, etc.)
• Small, softer balls like Nerf Ballistic balls or these small foam balls 

Directions:

1. Prepare tissue box: tear out the plastic liner and cut out teeth or make the opening larger (optional). This will be the mouth.

2. Optional: Paint the tissue box and let dry. We had floral tissue boxes, which no self respecting boy monster wants to be seen in. DM TIP: I spray painted the boxes black while the boys were at school so they would be ready when they got home.

3. Decorate! This is fun to just sit back and watch their creativity. Higgins painted all the teeth white, used the round office labeling stickers and his monster had to have feet. Bernardo preferred painting on his monsters face.

4. Let any paint or glue dry.

5. Place the box and take turns throwing the balls into the monsters mouth ("feeding the monster")!

DM Learning: After awhile of playing, the Elmer's glue did not hold the googly eyes on very well. Hot glue might be a better option.

DM Idea: This would also be a fun take home craft for a monster themed birthday!