Kids Summer Party

For a kid, there's nothing more worthy of a celebration than summer. This Kids Summer Party gives you ideas for every aspect of the party from homemade party decor to homemade party favors. Party throwing is a cinch when you have simple, easy steps like these ones. These party craft ideas add a personalized touch to your party. Get craftin' and go crazy!

Materials:

• cardstock in a variety of colors
• straws
• twine
• napkins
• toothpicks

Instructions:

Pool Party Invitation

1. Silhouette a 4" x 6" picture of your child
2. Mat on a 4" wide blue rectangle of cardstock with a wave punched border.
3. Using the Rectangle Shape Template, cut a 3" x 1.5" rectangle out of orange cardstock.
4. Center the 3.5" x 2" rectangle template over previously cut rectangle and cut again to create frame for goggles.
5. Cut another rectangle from a transparency and adhere beneath.
6. Adhere to card along with a straw cut to size as shown using glue dots and foam adhesive.

While you have out the Boundary Waters border punch, run a wave border along one edge of your napkins, too!

Food Crafts

1. Either tape a design on or punch a hole to thread the straw through.
2. This submarine goes together quickly and can double as a cupcake decoration, too, by cutting down the straw and inserting instead of splash toothpicks. The submarine is a speech bubble from the Bubbles template with the tail trimmed, layered with three pop-up circle punches and a medium Round 'n Round squeeze punch cut in half.
3. Trim top of straw if needed.

Luau Lei

1. Cut thin twine long enough to be tied and easily removed over the child's head.
2. Tie a button on one end temporarily to keep everything on until tied.
3. Punch a bunch of assorted Poppy Burst flowers.
4. Punch a 1/4" star at the center of each and have children thread onto twine with cut straws for spacers.

Crafy Touches to Serving Dishes

1. Cut 3" strips of green cardstock and cut slits to mimic a grass skirt.
2. After crumpling up the skirting, temporarily adhere around cake stand with Glue Dots.
3. Top with leftover flower punches with white lines drawn radiating from center.

DIY Party Favor

1. Cut a 3-1/8 x 3-5/8" rectangle of thin, brown cardstock and run through Paper Crimper.
2. Adhere around roll of candy using line of glue dots where paper overlaps.
3. Cut a random shape from chipboard for a little island to anchor the tree.
4. Adhere roll of candy to island using a couple Glue Dots.
5. Top with leaves cut from Flowers template, folded in half and fringe-cut with scissors, and coconuts punched using pop-up circle punch.