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Today is the day of DD’s making party. That’s why I’m sitting here typing away at the computer and sucking on one of the Chupa-Chups Marita sent for my kids. Do you remember chocolate flavoured chupa-chups???? Well, DS just asked me to unwrap a lollipop for him and it was a CHOCOLATE one. So I went rummaging in the box to see if there was another. And there was!!! So now I’m sitting here with a lollipop stick hanging out my mouth feeling like a big kid. It’s great fun!!!!

And of course, procrastinating on getting the rest of the stuff ready for DD’s party.

I spent most of yesterday getting stuff prepared. In fact, I’m not sure who’s doing all of the “making” for this party - me or the kids! I have to admit that this kind of party has taken a lot more preparation than I would normally put in for a party. In fact, DD’s last 2 party’s were “throw a snag on the barbie and the kids play on the playground” type parties. All I really needed to do was make a birthday cake and a pass the parcel.

But when Leighton turned 7, he had a football themed birthday party. So it seems we’ve begun a tradition of 7 being a “themed” party of some description.

So, what are we going to be making? Well, I’m so glad you asked because I just feel like talking to somebody about it. Guess that’s why I have a blog.

Firstly I made a heap of brown paper bags for the kids to decorate. Now that I’ve spent the last week making these 15 bags, I guess you’ll all give me an easier way I could have done this!!! I couldn’t find any plain gift bags in the shops other than some white glossy ones which I wasn’t sure texta would work on. Plus at $1.50 per bag that’s over $20 just for empty bags.

Instead I used a $3 roll of brown paper and made them myself. I’d show you a photo but I haven’t taken one. How did I do it? Basically I wrapped up a weet-bix box leaving the top part open. Voila! One paper bag about the size of a weet-bix box (a 1.2kg I think it was). Then I cut up the box (well, 2 boxes) to make a cardboard insert for the bottom.

We’ve got textas and stickers and glitter glue for the kids to decorate their bags with. Oh, and we’ll add some curling ribbon handles (providing I remember to get it out of the top cupboard).

Once that is done we have a list of edible treats for the kids to make:

1. Lolly bugs - 2 jaffas for eyes, 1 boiled lolly for the body and 2 bananas for the back end (tail or whatever you want to pretend it is). Wrap them in cellophane then add pipecleaner legs by wrapping the pipecleaners around the body. (I’ll try and put a photo up later)

2. Biscuit Puppets. The original idea for this came from some lollipop puppets I saw. Only problem was, the only lollipops I could find suitable were HUGE and $2 each. Instead, I pinched an idea from those kids packet mixes (Fairy Wands or something). Made up a plain batch of biscuits, rolled and cut out circles and inserted a popstick into each one. The kids can ice them and use lollies to turn them into whatever creature they want.

3. Icecream Biscuits. With the leftover dough I cut out some ice cream shaped biscuits for the kids to ice and decorate as well.

4. Fruit Loop necklaces. This one has very little preparation. The kids just thread fruit loops onto some string and tie the ends together.

Hmmmm……we lost our power so this post didn’t get finished. I’ve just iced DD’s birthday cake (phew! Another job down). Now where was I???

Oh….

5. Cheese Things Carrots. Just cheese things in a bag sticky-taped into a piping bag shape and tied with green curling ribbon.

6. Marshmallow Construction. BIG bowl of marshmallows and hundreds of toothpicks and let their creativity go nuts.

7. Chocolate Making. Now you can’t have a making party without making chocolates!!!! And since I have a box full of chocolate moulds, it was a logical activity to do.

Then to keep them occupied if they finish all that earlier than expected - butchers paper tablecloth and an ice cream bucket of crayons so they can decorate the tablecloth.

Only 3 non replies out of 12 invitations so I guess that’s not too bad.

Photo’s to come in the next day or so (I hope). If I disappear for a few days…. I’m probably in bed recovering!

P.S.  Don’t forget to check out Lightening’s Blogworld today.  My first “real” article was published and it’s all “official” like now.  Just need some visitors and comments to keep me smiling.