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“The Complete Birthday Party Planning Guide”

BIRTHDAY PARTY CHECKLIST...

3-4 Weeks before your party

[ ] Cuddle up with your child. Decide if you want a party theme.

[ ] Create the guest list. Guests generally range from friends at daycare, school or the neighborhood, then add close relatives.

[ ] Pick party date and time. Parties are generally 1 1/2 to 2 1/ 2 hours long.

[ ] Call and book your Professional Children's Entertainer... Charlie’s Kiddie Kapers 410- 575-6288

“Charlie’s Kiddie Kapers” can help make your child's party UNFORGETTABLE!

[ ] Get party supplies, decorations, party favors, activities and prizes for games. Be sure to get enough tableware for the adults attending, as well.

2-3 Weeks before your party

[ ] Send the invitations. It is best to ask guests to RSVP to get an estimate of how many children to expect.

[ ] Decide on activities and games to play. Consider the age of the children and plan games and activities accordingly. Plan more games than you expect to use in case you run out of activities before the party is over.

[ ] Plan your menu.

[ ] Arrange for extra help on the party day from friends or relatives.

1 Week before the party

[ ] Order cake from a bakery if you are not baking your own. Bake cake and freeze it, if making your own.

[ ] Make other foods that can be made ahead of time. Store in the freezer.

[ ] Write out a final schedule of activities for the party. Charlie provides a lot of Free Party Planning ideas on this web site, filled with great activities, games, decorating tips and recipes.

[ ] Confirm any orders placed for the cake and/or party supplies.

[ ] Let siblings invite a special friend over for the day so they won't feel left out. They can either play apart from the party or they can be helpers.

2-3 Days before the party

[ ] Buy remaining food for the party. Buy film and/or videotape.

[ ] Check batteries for the camera and/or camcorder.

[ ] Get an exact guest count. Call those who haven't responded.

[ ] Arrange to have balloons filled with helium to pick up the day of the party. It is fun to have each guest go home with a balloon. However, Charlie can provide his unique balloon sculptures, magically and fun created at the party!

1 Day before the party (Charlie will call around the dinner hour to confirm his appearance so we all can sleep knowing everything is in place!)

[ ] Finish decorating the cake, or pick up the cake from the bakery.

[ ] Make sure you have plenty of candles and matches.

[ ] Pick up helium-filled balloons. (if that is your choice)

[ ] Child-proof the party area.

[ ] Decorate any indoor areas (save outdoor decorating for day of the party).

[ ] Prepare food that can be made ahead of time.

Party Day

[ ] Prepare foods and beverages that could not be made ahead of time.

[ ] Take plenty of pictures and videos to commemorate this special day.

[ ] Plan a Nap for Yourself After the party!

Remember, young guests will be excited, mishaps may occur. Keep your sense of humor. Even if not every aspect of the party goes off as planned, the most important part is to enjoy the day as you celebrate the life of your child!

Party Games A Magic Birthday Planning Guide Party Recipes

Balloons & Streamers

Hang balloons in bunches for the best effect. Use them anywhere it strikes your fancy - doorways, walls, indoors or out. The more the better! If you choose to use helium balloons, wait until the party day to ensure they float well! Use curling ribbon to tie balloons together. Leave extra ribbon hanging and use scissors to curl it. Gather six or eight streamers and attach them to the ceiling in the center of the party room (or over the table). Use a light fixture over the table, if you have one, as the center point for the streamers. Twist each streamer as you walk it to the wall and attach it at shoulder height. Put two differently colored streamers back-to-back and twist to make attractive two-tone streamers.

Smile for the Camera

Be sure to take lots of pictures. You and your child will want to remember this special party. Polaroid pictures work well as party favors because they capture the fun instantly. If using regular film, a helpful hint is to have extra prints made and send them to the parents afterward. Remember, it's not necessary to have everyone in each picture. Focus on small groups and avoid posing all the photos. Candid photos capture the laughter best!

Table Decorations

Spread your Birthday table cover on your party table. If the table can be damaged, be sure to place a protective covering on first. If your child has any theme-related toys, you can add them to the table for a more festive display. Cut several one-to-two-foot-long pieces of curling ribbon. Curl it by pulling between your thumb and the blade of your scissors and lay the resulting curls on your table for added color. It's your choice whether to set out only the napkins, forks and spoons, saving the plates and cups until the food is served. However, the overall visual effect is greater when all the party ware is on the table when the guests arrive.

Tips for A Successful Birthday Party

1. Mail invitations two weeks before the party date.

2. Plan a safe, comfortable place for the party (One where the children can have fun and not hurt himself or herself or your home). If planning an outdoor party be sure to have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

3. Limit the party time to two hours or less for children less than six years of age. (Up to three hours is fine for older children.)

4. Have more activities than you plan to use prepared in advance. Activities often take less time than planned and you may want to keep the children busy.

5. Include the birthday child in preparations as often as possible. Have him or her stuff the party favor bags, make suggestions for games, help with the decorations, set the table, and mail the invitations - even if that only means putting them in the mailbox.

Party Tips - Have you booked Charlie's Kiddie Kapers yet? Call 410-575-6288.

1. Mail invitations two weeks before the party date.

2. Plan a safe, comfortable place for the party where the children can have fun, but will not hurt themselves or your home. If planning an outdoor party, have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

3. Limit the party time to about two hours or so, for children under six years of age. Up to three hours is fine for older children.

4. Prepare more activities than you plan to use in advance. Activities often take less time than planned and you may want to keep the children busy.

5. Include the birthday child in preparations as often as possible. Let him or her stuff the party favor bags, make suggestions for games, help with the decorations, set the table, and mail the invitations - even if that only means putting them in the mailbox.

Fun Activities

Dress Up? Make this a costume party by inviting your guests to come dressed as magicians, wizards or fortune tellers! Have extra clothes or accessories, to offer to those who come without costumes. Be sure to take photos for intriguing party favors!

The Magic Package This game takes advance preparation, but it's lots of fun to play. Before the party, find a small gift for each child, as well as varying sizes of paper or newspaper comics that you will use for wrapping. Wrap the best gift, the Magic Prize, first, with special gift wrap and then wrap it with a new prize, and wrap again, and again, continuing this process until you have wrapped enough gifts for each guest to unwrap one layer of paper to find a special gift for them- selves. At the party, seat your guests in a circle. Play some magical music and tell the children to pass the magic package around the circle as quickly as possible. When you stop the music, the lucky player holding the package must say "Abra Ca Dabra" before they are allowed to unwrap it. (Don't tell the kids there are other packages inside). Once a child has unwrapped the outer layer and found their gift, they must leave the circle with their gift. Start the music again and continue playing until each child has unwrapped a gift in the magic package. The child to open the last package wins the Magic Prize!

The Magic Penny Pick 5 pennies with different dates and place them in a 'magic' hat. Ask one of your guests to pick a penny and look at the date, without telling what it is. Pass the penny around so everyone knows the chosen date. Quickly put the penny back into the hat and shake up the pennies. Let your "Penny Magician" (birthday child) reach into the hat and pull out the chosen penny. The Penny Magician will know which penny was chosen because copper absorbs heat, making the penny that everyone has handled warmer than the rest. Once everyone learns the secret penny magic, let each child take a turn being the Penny Magician.

Hat Trick Set a 'magic' hat in the middle of a large room and tell the children to form a circle around it. Pass out an equal number of playing cards to each guest who take turns tossing the cards into the hat. (Adjust distance to match the skill and patience level of your guests.) Any player who gets a card in the hat gets to continue tossing until they miss. The player who tosses the most cards into the hat gets to start the next round.

Magic Jelly Bean Bag Before the party, fill a zip-lock bag with colored jelly beans. (Remember to count the jelly beans before putting them in the bag.) During the party, write down each child's guess of how many beans they think are in the bag. Later in the party, gather everyone together, announce the actual number of jelly beans in the bag. The child with the most accurate guess wins the bag of magic jelly beans!

Card Memory Take a deck of cards, or animal cards or flash number/alphabet cards and shuffle them well. Lay them face down on the floor or a large table. Each player takes a turn flipping two cards over. If they don't match, the player turns them back over and another player takes a turn. If they do match, the player keeps them and continues flipping until they are unable to make a match. The object of this game is to find as many matches as you can.

Sneaky Magician Only a sneaky magician can outwit a gang of thieves! Choose a child to be the Sneaky Magician, seat them in a chair, and blindfold them. Place a special magical item beneath the chair, (top hat, deck of cards, magic eight ball, etc.) which the Magician must protect from the thieves. Only one thief may try to steal from the Magician at any given time. Since the Magician is blindfolded he/she must listen closely for the thief and touch them with their hands or feet before they steal the magical item. A thief who is caught becomes the next Magician. If the Magician does not catch the thief, the magical item is replaced under the chair so another thief can try.

Delectable Treats

Magic Playing Card Treats Make your celebrations even more fun and easy with home-baked treats from Pillsbury77, a favorite brand of baking mixes. Ingredients (Makes 8 Treats) 8 (4section) graham crackers 1 1/4 cups Pillsbury77 Creamy Supreme77 Vanilla Frosting 10 drops red food color 1/4 cup Pillsbury77 Creamy Supreme77 Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Directions

1. Remove 1 section from each graham cracker; reserve single sections for another use. Frost graham crackers with 1 cup of the vanilla frosting.

2. Place remaining 1/4 cup vanilla frosting in small sealable plastic bag; seal bag. Add red food color; squeeze bag until well blended. Cut off 1 bottom corner of bag to form small hole. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting onto 4 graham crackers in heart and diamond patterns. 3. Place chocolate frosting in another small sealable plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off 1 bottom corner of bag to form small hole. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting onto remaining 4 graham crackers in club and spade patterns.

Queen of Tarts Purchase frozen pastry dough at your grocery store. Roll onto a lightly floured surface, cut into 3" circles, and press into tart pans. Chill while preparing filling. To make the filling, beat 3 eggs and blend in 1 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup chopped scallions, 2 teaspoon onion salt, a dash of nutmeg, and 1 1/4 cups grated Swiss cheese. Spoon filling into tart shells. Cut tiny heart shapes out of whole pimentos. Place one on each tart. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until puffy and golden. Serve warm.

Magic Wands Make your celebrations even more fun and easy with home-baked treats from Pillsbury77, a favorite brand of baking mixes.

Ingredients (Makes 16 Wands) 1 cup Pillsbury77 Creamy Supreme77 Chocolate Fudge Frosting 1 cup chocolate candy sprinkles 16 pretzel rods 1/4 cup Pillsbury77 Creamy Supreme77 Vanilla Frosting

Directions

1. Line cookie sheet with foil. Place chocolate frosting in microwave safe 13x9inch (3quart) glass baking dish. Microwave on HIGH for 10 to 15 seconds or until melted; stir until smooth. Place candy sprinkles in shallow dish.

2. Dip each pretzel rod in melted frosting, turning to coat completely. Roll in candy sprinkles; place on foil lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until frosting is set.

3. Place sheet of foil on work surface. Place vanilla frosting in small microwave safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 10 to 15 seconds or until softened. Dip 1 inch of each coated pretzel in vanilla frosting; place wands on foil. Let stand about 4 hours or until frosting is set.

Magic Rainbow Punch Create a drink that's as much fun to make as it is to drink. Freeze several of your child's favorite Kool-Aid77 flavors (berry, orange, lemon, lime, blue raspberry, grape, etc.) in ice cube trays. Fill trays half-full so more colored cubes will fit in each glass. When it's time to serve, place ice cubes in a large bowl and let each child fill their glass (tall clear cups work the best). Pour clear soda or juice over the colored cubes. Your guests will love watching as it turns into Magic Rainbow Punch.

Fantastic No-Bake Cake Your guests are sure to be intrigued when you tell them this cake was "baked" in the freezer! You will need: 24 chocolate chip cookies, 3/4 cup quick oats, 2 cup melted butter or margarine, 2 gallon ice cream or frozen yogurt (one or two flavors), and your child's favorite candies for decoration. First, place the ice cream in the refrigerator to soften. Meanwhile, put 16 cookies in a plastic bag and crush well with a rolling pin. Put crushed cookies in a bowl, add 2 cup quick oats, and stir in 1/4 melted butter. Press mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9 2-inch spring form pan. Scoop out half the softened ice cream and spread evenly over the crust. Crush the remaining cookies, and combine with the remaining quick oats and melted butter. Spread mixture over the first layer of ice cream. Then, add the second layer of ice cream and decorate as desired. Freeze until party time. Adapt this cake to your party theme by making a magician's top hat out of black construction paper, leaving the top piece off. Make sure the hat's diameter is larger than the cake, so it fits around it without touching. Before serving, place the hat over the cake, with the brim up, as if you will be pulling the cake out of the hat. (This also allows you to light the birthday candles.) Tap the hat with a magic wand, and say "Abra Ca Dabra!" before lifting the hat off the cake. For extra fun, place a magic rabbit ice cream ball (recipe below) on top!

Magic Rabbit Ice Cream Balls Make a large ice cream ball for each of your guests. Roll each ball in coconut flakes and set it on a flattened cupcake wrapper. Use black jelly beans for the rabbit's eyes, and a red jelly bean for its nose. Use halved sugar cookies to make the rabbit's "ears." Store them in the freezer until ready to serve. These treats are sure to disappear fast!

Decorating Tips

Spread your table cover on your party table. If your child has any theme-related toys, you can add them to the table for a more festive display. Cut several one-to-two-foot-long pieces of curling ribbon. Curl the ribbon by pulling it between your thumb and the blade of your scissors. Lay the resulting curls on your table for added color. Hang balloons in bunches for the best effect. If you choose to fill balloons with helium, wait until the party day to ensure they float well!

Use balloons to mark the party spot; hang them on the mailbox, near the front door, tie them to the birthday child's chair to mark the seat of honor. Place balloons anywhere that strikes your fancy. The more the better! Gather six or eight streamers and attach them to the ceiling in the center of the party room (or over the table). Use a light fixture over the table, if you have one, as the center point for the streamers. To create colorful two-tone streamers, put two differently colored streamers back-to-back, twist as you walk them to the wall, and attach at shoulder height.

Smile for the Camera!

Be sure to take lots of pictures. You and your child will want to remember this special party. Polaroid pictures work well as party favors because they capture the fun instantly.

A helpful hint when using regular film: Order extra prints and send them to the parents afterward. Remember, it's not necessary to have everyone in each picture. Focus on small groups and avoid posing all the photos. Candid photos capture the laughter best!

TIP: Don't forget to get pictures of the Birthday Child with Charlie! A group picture, of guests surrounding the Birthday Child, may need some extra help and time to organize.

Fun Party Games...

Make them even more fun by adapting them to the theme of your party.

There's A Bug On My Back Pair up your party guests (three's okay too). Put a sticker or a picture of a bug on each child's back. Have guests try to guess what the bug is by asking questions that can be answered with only "yes" or "no." For example, "Do I have legs?", "Can I fly?" and "Am I Green?"

Duck, Duck, Goose This classic children's game is perfect for any party. Have the guests sit in a circle and have the birthday child begin as the "Goose." He/she walks around the circle tapping each child on the head, saying "Duck" with each tap. When they are ready to choose the next person to be the Goose, he/she says "Goose" when tapping that person on the head. That child gets up and chases the birthday child around the circle. If the new Goose does not tag the birthday child before he/she makes it all the way around the circle and sits in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes "it." If the new Goose tags the birthday child, then the birthday child remains "it" for the next round and the game continues.

Musical Animal Acts Everyone gets into the act with this fun variation of musical chairs. Set up one fewer chair than the number of guests at your party. Start the music and have the children walk in a circle around the chairs, until you stop the music. When the music stops, the children try to sit in one of the chairs. The player left standing must pull the name of an animal, written on a piece of paper, out of a hat and act it out while the other guests try to guess what the animal is. Start the music again and repeat the game until all the animals in the hat have been acted out.

Jungle Knots This game will make your party guests tumble with laughter. Have guests stand in a circle facing inward. Everyone extends his or her right hand into the ring and takes a hold of someone else's hand. They then do the same with their left hand. See if they can untangle the "knot" by stepping over, ducking under people, or turning around. Whatever happens, they can't let go of hands!

Floating Balloons Pass out a large balloon to each guest. Have them blow up their balloon and offer your help tying each balloon. The object of this game is to hit the balloons up into the air and keep them afloat for the longest period of time. This is a fun easy way to start or end any party!

Roundabout Relay Your guests will jump for joy during this fun relay. Before the party, cut four large shapes out of cardboard. (Birthday Express shipping boxes works well for this activity). For added fun, make the shapes theme-specific to your party, (i.e. Flying saucers for a Star Wars party). At the party, divide your guests into two equal lines and give the first person in each line two of the cardboard shapes. These become the only thing they can step on as they travel from the front of the line, around a chair and back to the line again. The game begins by having the children place one cardboard shape on the ground and stepping on it, then placing the other cardboard shape on the ground in front and stepping on it. They then pick up the first cardboard shape and place it on the ground in front of the other, etc. When they reach the finish line, they hand the two cardboard shapes to the next player in line. The team to make it all the way around the course first, wins!

Pin the Tail on the Donkey This game can be made theme-specific by pinning any object that is relevant to your party's theme, (i.e. for a Pirate party, you can draw a treasure map and have your guests try to pin treasure chests nearest the area where "X" marks the spot). When it's time to play the game, mount your poster on the wall and place a piece of tape on the back of each object the child will be pinning on the poster. Before each child takes a turn, have them close their eyes, spin them around, and point them toward the poster. The child who pins their object closest to the designated spot, is the winner! You may want to play this game several times to give your guests more chances to win.

Ha, Ha, Ha The object of this game is to keep a straight face while the other players try to make you laugh. The players form a circle and one player begins by saying, "ha." The next player says, "ha, ha," followed by the next player who says, "ha, ha, ha," and so on around the circle with each player adding a "ha" to the string. Each player must pronounce their "ha ha"s as solemnly as they can, to avoid laughter as long as possible. Any player who laughs or makes a mistake must drop out of the "ha ha" circle. However, that player now gets to try to make the remaining players laugh in any way they can (except by touching them or talking). The player who keeps a straight face the longest, wins!

Jell-O ¨ Eatin' Contest Make one bowl of Jell-O for each child (plus have a few extra on hand). Line the bowls along the ground. It's a good idea to place a tablecloth or other protection on the ground for easy clean up. Put a cartoon pooch's name (Dino, Muttly, Scooby, Huckleberry, etc.) on each bowl, it'll make calling the race more fun. Each player places their hands on the ground beside their bowl and must keep them there throughout the game. When the command is given to start, all the contestants begin eating their Jell-O. The first one to clean their bowl wins. Be sure to have a camera ready to capture the memorable moment.

Smile a Thaumatrope This is a quick and fun way to show kids the concept of animation. Cut a 2-inch square piece of cardboard, make a small hole on two opposing edges. Attach short pieces of string or rubber bands through the holes. Draw a circle on one side of the cardboard and a smiling mouth and eyes on the other. Hold the string between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Begin to twirl the square rapidly. While it is twirling you will see a composite face. It's this principle of rapidly changing static images that make cartoons possible. Science and fun, all in one.

Bean Bag Throw This is a great activity for kids of all ages. Purchase bean bags suitable for tossing. Draw a character (or image) relevant to your theme on the side of a cardboard box. Birthday Express shipping boxes work great for this game. Cut a hole in the box, large enough for the bean bags to be thrown through easily. If using a character like Scooby-Doo, have the character's mouth be the hole. Place the box about ten feet away and give each child several chances to toss the bean bags through the hole.

Birthday Cake Hunt Children love to hunt for surprises! So on this special day, create a special hunt for the birthday cake! You will need the help of at least a few family members, neighbors, or friends. Have the children separate into teams and give each team a set of clues and party favors to find. Give each child a bag to put the favors in and see that each guest has at least one favor so nobody feels left out. The clues and favors should lead them to the location of the cake. We recommend keeping the cake close to home and under adult supervision. Excited children running through the house with a cake can be messy! The first team to locate the cake gets served first.

Water Brigade Divide the partygoers into two teams. Line the teams up next to each other. Give the first person in each line a small bucket or cup full of water. About thirty feet away, place an empty cup or bucket for each team. When you say "GO!," the first person runs down to the empty bucket, pours the water from his or her bucket into the empty one, and races back to their team with the empty bucket. The next teammate must then race down to the full bucket and pour the water from the bucket into his or her empty container, then return the full bucket to the next person in line. Your guests will have fun trying to keep as much water as they can in their buckets. The game ends when each team member has run down and come back one time.

Bobbing for Apples Before the party, purchase a small apple for each child who will be in attendance. Tie a string to the stem of each apple. Then either hang the apples from a fixture in your home, a tree branch, or a swing set. Be sure to make sure they're low enough so the children can reach them with their mouths. Have each child try to take a bite out of their apple without touching it with their hands. The children will have a challenging time keeping the apples still long enough to take a bite. This activity makes a wonderful photo opportunity so be sure to have your camera ready.

Decorate A Birthday Banner There may be a young Matisse coming to your party and here's a great way to find out. Purchase a large piece of white butcher paper from your local arts and crafts store. At the top of the banner, write "Happy Birthday (your child's name)." Mount the paper on a wall within easy reach of your guests. You can also lay the paper on the floor if you're worried some of the artists may mistake your wall for their canvas. Provide a variety of crayons and colored pencils (markers can be messy) and let them create their own masterpieces. Have them finish by writing their name and age beside their drawing. You can even encourage them to write a special message to the birthday child. After the party, fold it up and save it, or if you'd prefer, take a close-up picture so you can tuck it inside your photo album later.

The Magic Penny Pick five pennies with different dates on them. Place the pennies in your magic hat and ask one of your guests to pick a penny and look at the date, but not tell what it is. Have all the guests pass the penny around to look at the date. Quickly put the penny back into the hat and shake up the pennies. Have your Penny Magician reach into the hat and pull out the chosen penny. The secret? The Penny Magician knows which penny was chosen because copper absorbs heat, so the penny everyone has handled will be warm. Once everyone knows how the magic is done, let all the children take a turn being the Penny Magician.

Story Time Have everyone sit in a circle to hear a wonderful story. While the children listen, you can also have them color a picture related to your party's theme. This activity will not only keep the children entertained, but it will also help calm them down as the party comes to an end.

Honey Bee Guess Before the party, fill a jar with yellow and black jelly beans. Count the jelly beans before you put them into the jar. Put a "Honey" label on the front. As your guests arrive, have each one guess how many beans they think are in the jar. Write down each person's guess. At the end of the party, the person who guesses the closest number is the winner and gets to take home the "Honey Jar of Jelly Bees!"

Delightful Ballroom Dress-Up Your party girls are ready for a magical ball, they just need a little dressing up! Collect dresses, skirts, blouses, scarves, high-heeled shoes, ribbons, shawls, hats, gloves and costume jewelry, to create your own beauty box. Neighbors, friends, relatives and secondhand stores are excellent sources for dress-up items. Encourage them (it won't take much) to make themselves even more beautiful than they already are by donning the clothing and accessories of their choice. Try to have a mirror on hand so they can admire themselves in the party room, or have one nearby which they can use. Play music to set the mood while they dress. Once elegantly attired, give them the opportunity to dance around to the music. It's a perfect photo opportunity for you. Use a Polaroid camera so you can send home a photo with each guest. If you don't have a Polaroid camera, develop films (double prints?) as soon as possible. Send a print to each guest with a thank-you note.

Where's the Slipper? This pass-around activity requires a small amount of advance setup time. You will need a small pair of doll slippers, scissors, tape, wrapping paper, and music. Wrap one slipper in tissue. Cut another small piece of paper and wrap the slipper again. Repeat wrapping individual layers around and around. Remember to use as little paper as necessary, to make the unwrapping easy. About halfway through the number of layers you choose to use, insert the other slipper, and keep wrapping. At the party, seat your guest in a circle, start the music and have the children begin passing the tissue ball quickly from one person to another. Stop the music. The guest holding the ball removes a layer. Continue until you find the first slipper. Reverse the passing order until the second slipper is uncovered. A small prize may be awarded to the person who finally finds the matching slipper, or you can choose to wrap a small trinket in each layer, rewarding all of the guests throughout the game. (See 'The Magic Package' game for more information.)

Blind Drivers Bluff Blindfold the person who will be the "driver." (It usually works best to let the birthday child be the first driver. Spin the blindfolded player around several times. Have the other players move around the driver making car and truck noises. The driver tries to locate the players by their sounds and tag the person closet to them. The first player who is tagged becomes the driver and the game continues.

Fill the Bucket You will need: 2 buckets or bowls of equal size One spoon or small shovel for each guest A pile of sand next to each bucket (make sure you have enough sand to feel each bucket). This game can also be played in a sandbox. Divide your guests into two teams. Have each team sit around their bucket. When you say "GO," each team must try to fill their bucket with sand, using only their spoons or shovels.

Digging for Buried Treasure This is a perfect game for someone who has a sandbox. Hide some small toys in a sandbox and have your guests dig through the sand in search of fun treasures!

Leap Frog This classic children's game is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your party. It's best played outside where there's lots of room to leap. Have your guests get into a frog position by bending down and dividing their weight evenly between their hands and feet. (Remind them to keep their heads down). The frog at the end of the line begins by placing their hands on the back of the frog in front of them, jumping in the air a little, and sliding their legs around the body of the frog they're leaping over. They continue jumping over all the other frogs in line. The person who is now at the end of the line, does the same thing, and so on, until everyone has jumped through the line several times. Try mixing up the order of the frogs and keep leaping!

Balloon Relay Race Have the children stand in two single-file lines, facing the same direction. Place a balloon between the knees of the first child in each line. When the race starts the child turns to face the next person in line, the second child must grasp the balloon with his or her knees and turn to pass it on to the third person, and so on. If the balloon falls to the ground the team must start over. The first team to successfully pass the balloon down the line, wins!

Fire Alarm Relay Sound the alarm and put on the gear - there's no time to waste! Your fire fighters will need to dress as fast as possible, run to the blazing fire, attempt to put it out, undress, and return to their team line. Before the party, collect two sets of fire fighter's clothing - boots, oversized jackets, hats, and gloves. Use masking tape to mark the start/finish line on the floor. Put chairs across the room with an empty wrapping paper tube on them. This serves as the location of your fire and the hose to put it out. At the party, divide your fire fighters into two equal groups and have them stand in two lines. Either you or the birthday child should demonstrate what you want them to do. They will need to run to the chair, pick up the hose, run around the chair with the hose spraying the fire, set the hose back on the chair, return to where they put on the clothes and take them off, and go back to their line. The next person in line then repeats all these actions until all team members have taken a turn. The team that completes the relay first, wins!

Building Muscles Jet pilots have to be strong to handle their planes. So here's a quick workout for your little Top Guns. This game will take some preparation but it's worth it. You'll need 50 to 100 small balloons. Recruit some help (Dads work well because they're full of hot air). Divide the kids into two teams. Select one guest on each team to be the "weakling," the remaining guests will be "personal trainers." Have the teams gather on opposite sides of the room and divide the balloons between them. Have each weakling put a union suit (one-piece long underwear) over their clothes. When you say "GO," the teams of personal trainers must make the weaklings grow instant muscles by stuffing as many balloons as possible into the union suits. Give the teams one minute to do this. When time is up, let everyone admire the weaklings' new muscles (have a camera handy). Then remove and count the balloons, the team that used the most balloons, wins! Try again with new weaklings this time.

Freeze Tag Have guests spread out in the party area (or better yet, outside where there's room to run). Let the birthday child be the first "tagger." The tagger tries to tag all other guests. If a player is tagged, they must freeze. Players who are not frozen can "melt" frozen players by touching them. First player to be frozen three times becomes next tagger.

Red Light, Green Light Before the game, lay two lengths of rope, or crepe paper, about 20 feet apart in your play area. The birthday child stands in front of one line (they're the Police Officer), and the others stand behind the opposite line. The game starts when the Police Officer turns his/her back on the other players and shouts, "Green Light!" They then turn their back and count to five. While he/she is counting, the other players try to run or walk quickly toward the Police Officer. When the Police Officer has finished counting to five he/she shouts, "Red Light!" and turns around quickly. The other players must freeze instantly. If the Police Officer catches anyone moving, they must return to the starting line. Play continues until one of the players crosses the line while the Police Officer's back is turned. That player then becomes the Police Officer.

Fishing Pond You will need a helper for this activity. Tie a string across the room and lay a sheet across it so no one can see what is on the other side. Use an old fishing pole, or make one using a stick and some string. Attach a clothespin on the end of the fishing pole's string. Let each guest take a turn "casting" their line over the sheet. Have your helper stand on the other side and attach small gifts, favors, or treats to the clothespin. When they're done, the helper gives a slight tug on the line. When the kids "reel" in their lines, they'll be delighted to see what they've caught!

The Magic Package This game takes advance preparation, but it's lots of fun to play. Before the party, find a small gift for each child, as well as varying sizes of paper or newspaper comics that you will use for wrapping. Wrap the best gift, the Magic Prize, first, with special gift wrap and then wrap it with a new prize, and wrap again, and again, continuing this process until you have wrapped enough gifts for each guest to unwrap one layer of paper to find a special gift for themselves. At the party, seat your guests in a circle. Play some magical music and tell the children to pass the magic package around the circle as quickly as possible. When you stop the music, the lucky player holding the package must say "Abra Ca Dabra" before they are allowed to unwrap it. (Don't tell the kids there are other packages inside). Once a child has unwrapped the outer layer and found their gift, they must leave the circle with their gift. Start the music again and continue playing until each child has unwrapped a gift in the magic package. The child to open the last package is the winner of the Magic Prize! This is good game to play after the Birthday Child has opened their gifts and the guests are waiting for rides to go home!

Squirting Gallery Partygoers can try out their accuracy with this fun outdoor game. Set up a number of plastic pop bottles about eight to ten feet away from where the kids will be standing. Place a jump rope on the ground to designate where the kids should stand. Give the kids squirt bottles or squirt guns and have them see how many bottles they can knock down. For younger children, decrease the distance between the bottles and the shooting line.

Party Recipes...

made even more fun by adapting them to the theme of your party.

Bugs on a Log These "bugs" are here to add fun and a little silliness to your party. Cut celery into six inch lengths and fill the curve with peanut butter. Put raisins (bugs) the length of the celery in an uneven pattern. Bugs on a Log are fun for the birthday child to help prepare before the party.

Silly-Face Pizza You will need: English muffins (one half per guest) Pizza sauce Shredded American or mozzarella cheese Pizza toppings Split English muffins in half and top with prepared pizza sauce and shredded American or mozzarella cheese. Place a muffin half in front of each child and let them decorate their pizza with pepperoni, sliced olives, mushrooms, green peppers or other favorite pizza toppings to make a silly face or design. Bake pizzas on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese melts.

Jell-O Jigglers77 Purchase several packages of your child's favorite flavors of Jell-O brand gelatin. Follow the directions on the package to make the popular Jell-O Jigglers. To make these treats even more fun to eat, use cookie cutters to create fun shapes and display them on a platter and let the kids help themselves.

Crunchy Munchies For an easy-to-grab snack, combine your favorite treats in a large bowl (m&m candies77 peanuts, licorice pieces, granola, pretzels, raisins, coconut, and dried fruit). Then have your guests scoop out their own cupful of munchies to snack on.

Pigs in a Blanket Your guests are sure to squeal over these delectable delights. Purchase your favorite brand of hot dogs, cheese, and refrigerator croissants. Slice hot dogs lengthwise and cut cheese into strips. Unroll croissants and stuff them with hot dogs and cheese. Roll croissants back up and bake as directed, or until golden brown. Then sit back and watch as the kids clean every last crumb from their plates. Don't be surprised if they make pigs of themselves and come back for more!

Shooting Star Sandwiches Create star-shaped treats by making your child's favorite sandwiches and cutting them into star shapes, using a cookie cutter. Or serve triangular-shaped sandwiches laid out in a star-shaped arrangement (by placing sandwiches in a circle with points facing towards the edge of the tray).

Brontosaurus Eggs For guests with a ravenous appetite. Boil 4 eggs for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are hard-boiled. Run cold water over the eggs, then crack and peel carefully. Divide 2 pound of ground breakfast sausage into 4 equal portions and flatten each into about a 5-inch round patty. Wrap each patty around each of the hard-boiled eggs, covering the egg completely. Beat one raw egg thoroughly in a small bowl. Roll each sausage-wrapped egg in the beaten egg mixture. Roll each egg in crushed saltine crackers, covering completely. Arrange eggs in a shallow baking dish and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until sausage is no longer pink. Serve up these tasty brontosaurus eggs warm or cold.

Scooby Snacks Combine 2 cup of each of the following ingredients in a large mixing bowl: margarine, peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar and one egg; mix until well blended. Add 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 3/4 tsp. baking soda and 1/4 tsp. salt; mix well. Mix in 2 cup English toffee pieces and 2 cup chocolate chips. Chill dough for 1 hour. Roll dough into 2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Flatten each ball with a fork. Bake at 37511 for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven, cool and serve in a bowl.

Moose Moss Crispy Squares Mix 6 drops of green food coloring with 1 Tbs. water. Place 3 cups of shredded coconut into a one-quart container and add the green-colored mixture. Cover the container and shake vigorously until the coconut is evenly tinted; set aside. Melt 1 cup butter or margarine in a large saucepan and add 4 cups of marshmallows. Stir over low heat until the marshmallows are melted and the mixture is smooth. Tint the mixture bright blue using several drops of food coloring. Remove pan from the heat and add 8 cups of Rice Krispies Cereal77. Stir until evenly coated. With buttered hands, place mixture in a 9 x 12-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the mixture with green coconut and press firmly into place, compressing slightly. Store in the refrigerator until about 1 hour before the party. Cut into squares and serve at room temperature.

Devilishly Green Eggs To make 12 "green eggs," you'll need six hard-boiled eggs. Slice eggs in half and scoop out the yolk. Mix the yolks with 2 drops of blue food coloring and 1 drop of yellow; then add 1 tsp. prepared mustard and 1 Tbs. mayonnaise. Mix with a fork until smooth. Scoop the yolk mixture into each egg white half. Serve on a platter and let your guests help themselves.

Magic Wand Cookies Make your favorite sugar cookies using a star-shaped cookie cutter. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven and still soft to touch, carefully push a plastic straw between any two points of the star. This makes the handle for your wand. Frost the cookies with glossy icing. Glossy icing is easy to make: Simply sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl, slowly adding hot water while mixing, until it becomes a smooth paste. Add a few drops of food coloring to make extra colorful treats. These wand cookies are somewhat fragile, but they're delicious and a lot of fun to eat!

Cinderella's Crunchy Vegetable Dip Coach Just like in the magical fairy tale, your fancy coach turns back into a pumpkin (and can now be used to serve vegetable dip to your party guests). Scrape out the insides of a small pumpkin. If pumpkins are not in season, use a large butternut squash instead. Wash the pumpkin and then turn it upside down to dry. Fill it with your favorite dip and set it on a bed of lettuce. Arrange an assortment of freshly sliced vegetables on top of the lettuce. Place three small rubber mice near the pumpkin (to serve as the former groomsmen who were turned back into mice at the stroke of midnight).

Speedy Sandwiches You will need: Bread, pretzel sticks, your child's favorite sandwich fillers, and olives or gum drops for the wheels. Build cars by making triple decker sandwiches. Remove crusts and cut sandwiches in half. Place two halves together. Hold them in place using two pretzel sticks for axles. If sandwiches are made of meats and cheeses, place half an olive at end of each pretzel stick, for wheels. If using peanut butter and jelly, use gum drops for wheels. Make a raceway out of your platter, and place the cars in different positions so they appear to be racing around the platter.

Animal Cookies Have your guests decorate their own animal cookies! Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe and create all the animals in the jungle using cookie cutters. Use as many different animal-shaped cookie cutters as you can find. To make glossy icing, sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl and slowly add hot water while mixing until it becomes a smooth paste. Add different color food coloring to bowls of icing to create an array of animal colors. Lay cookies, bowls of icing, sprinkles, and other creative toppings on a table. Let kids loose to decorate 2-3 of their own animal cookies.

Crank Case Oil Sundaes You will need: Vanilla ice cream Chocolate syrup Chopped peanuts Toothpicks Red construction paper. Place one scoop of vanilla ice cream in each guests' bowl and add chocolate syrup. Be sure to ask each guest if they would like chopped peanuts added to their sundae. Then add a toothpick with a homemade "stop sign" glued to the top. Your guests will love that extra special touch, but nothing will stop them from devouring these scrumptious sundaes.

Monster Truck Wheels You will need: 2 English muffin for each child Hot dogs 16 oz. can of baked beans 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese Split English muffins in half and arrange on a cookie sheet. Spread beans on top of the muffin halves and sprinkle cheese on top of the beans. Cut hot dogs into thirds, then cut each lengthwise into four strips. Arrange 6 hot dog strips (for wheel spokes) on top of each muffin. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese melts.

High-Flying Cloud in a Cup Meal Even though your guests may be grounded on the tarmac, fool their tummies into thinking they're flying high in the sky with this tasty treat. Cook one cup of macaroni until tender; drain. Saute 1 small chopped onion in margarine until tender. Add 2 Tbs. cornstarch and 2 cups nonfat milk; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Reduce heat and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and 2 cups frozen corn to the onion mixture, stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Separate 4 eggs. Beat egg yolks and slowly add the cheese mixture, stirring constantly. Fold in drained macaroni. Beat egg whites and 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Fill 8 oven proof mugs (coffee mugs work well), 1/4 full with the cheese and macaroni mixture. Top with a heaping spoonful of egg white to form clouds. Place mugs on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Airline Lunch Box Make each guest an individual party snack packed in a box, like Chinese takeout or other small boxes, decorated with your own airline logo. Each can include: 1 Ham or Turkey sandwich in plastic wrap (using 1 slice of meat and 1 slice of cheese on a dinner roll). 1 packet of mustard, carrot/celery sticks, 1 lunch-size bag of chips, 1 mini chocolate bar, 1 juice box.

Seaweed Slaw Cook three 10 oz. packages of french-cut style green beans according to directions on the package. Drain and chill for two hours. Prepare dressing by combining 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbs. lemon juice, 1 Tbs. sugar, 2 tsp. dry mustard, 2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. onion powder. Stir until smooth. Toss dressing with beans and chill for several hours, or overnight.

Rainbow Fruit Parfait This refreshing treat is sure to hit the spot! In a parfait cup, layer: yogurt (any flavor), granola, fresh fruit (pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries work well). Top it all off with whipped topping and serve with a long handled spoon.

Popcorn Ball Bags Popcorn balls are easy and fun to make. To begin, pop 2 2 quarts of popcorn and set aside. Combine 2 cup corn syrup, 1/3 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 2 teaspoon salt in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a hard-boil stage (525 degrees F). Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature. Whisk in 1/4 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. If desired, add food coloring, a few drops at a time to determine color. Pour mixture over popcorn and toss until popcorn is well coated. Spread mixture on large baking sheets or pieces of waxed paper and let cool slightly before forming into balls. Lay popcorn balls on pieces of clear or colored cellophane, gather excess cellophane at the top and tie with a ribbon.

Madeline Cake Recipe

MADELINE CAKE DIRECTIONS

Before undertaking this project, read through all four recipes, and plan out a schedule to complete each one. Allow yourself plenty of time, so that you do not have to rush at the last minute. The following recipes are listed in order of assembly for the party day, however, some steps can be completed a few days beforehand and stored. Note: The rolled fondant icing can be made well in advance and frozen or refrigerated until the party day. The Madeline cake hat decorations can also be made a day or two before the party. With these two steps out of the way, preparation of the cake on the party day will be much simpler.

EASY YELLOW BUTTER CAKE An easy way to begin making the Madeline cake is to purchase a cake mix, follow package directions, and bake it in two round cake pans. However, if you prefer to make a home-made cake, follow the simple cake recipe below for "Easy Yellow Butter Cake."

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoon salt 1 2 cups sugar 2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 or 9-inch round cake pans, or grease and line with waxed paper. Sift dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, cream the sugar and the butter together. Add eggs, milk and vanilla to the butter mixture and beat well with an electric mixer. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well. Pour batter into prepared cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes, until wooden pick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 -15 minutes. Loosen cake edges from the pan, invert them on a cooling rack, remove waxed paper, and cool completely (45-55 minutes) before decorating.

QUICK BUTTER FROSTING Ready-made frosting is the simplest way to frost the cake. However, if you prefer to make your own frosting you'll have plenty of time while the cake is cooling. If you don't have a favorite frosting recipe, try one of the "Quick Butter Frosting" variations provided:

Ingredients: 1/3 cup butter or margarine 4 22 cups sifted powdered sugar 33 cup milk 1 22 tsp. Vanilla

Directions: In a bowl, beat butter or margarine until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in the milk and vanilla. Slowly beat in the remaining sugar. Add additional milk, if needed, to make the frosting of spreading consistency. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Frosts tops and sides of two 8 or 9-inch cake layers. Chocolate Butter Frosting - Prepare as above, except beat in 22 cup unsweetened cocoa powder into butter or margarine. Mocha Butter Frosting - Prepare as above, except beat in 22 cup unsweetened cocoa powder into butter or margarine. Add 1 tablespoon instant coffee crystals to the milk, and stir well before adding to the frosting mixture. Lemon or Orange Butter Frosting - Prepare as above, except substitute fresh lemon juice or orange juice for the milk and add 22 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel or 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel with the juice. Peanut-Butter Frosting - Prepare as above, except substitute creamy peanut butter for the butter or margarine. After you've chosen and made your frosting, cover a large tray or platter with foil or waxed paper for easy cleanup. Set the first cake layer on the tray and spread a layer of frosting on it. Carefully stack the second layer on the first, so that it is evenly balanced. Spread the top and sides of the cake with frosting. It is not necessary to apply a thick layer of frosting (unless desired) because the rolled fondant icing will conceal the frosting when it is draped over the cake.

ROLLED FONDANT ICING (uncooked) There are cooked versions of fondant that are more complex, but this uncooked version is easier, and works just as well. Uncooked fondant can be well-wrapped and refrigerated overnight, or frozen for several weeks. Bring to room temperature before using. Makes about 2 cups. Double recipe for extra decorations, if necessary.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 5 cups sifted powdered sugar (un-sifted powdered sugar will result in lumpy fondant) 1/4 cup evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: Beat butter or margarine in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Sift powdered sugar and gradually beat it into the butter mixture. Beat in milk and vanilla. If the fondant seems too sticky, gradually add small amounts of powdered sugar. If, after adding additional sugar, it is still too sticky to work with, set it aside for 2-3 hours. Fondant will become much more manageable the longer it sits. (Making fondant well in advance of the party will avoid this frustration.) 1. When the fondant is ready, sprinkle your kneading surface and your hands with powdered sugar. Knead the fondant (like bread dough) until it becomes smooth and glossy. Divide in half and knead in blue paste color (or added drops of food coloring). When the color looks evenly distributed, roll fondant out with a rolling pin into a circular shape about 16 inches in diameter. (Thickness should be 1/8 - 1/4 inch.) Carefully drape rolled fondant over the cake like a table cover. If the circle is too large, cut away excess and gently press edges down at the base of the cake. You can use the excess to form a tube-like ring at the base of the cake, if desired. 2. Take the second portion of the fondant and color with blue (or other) coloring as before. (Even if the shade is not exactly the same as the first, the cake will still look wonderful.) Roll out into a circle about 10-11 inches in diameter, and 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Find the center of the circle, and cut a plus sign (two perpendicular lines about 3 inches long each.) Then, cut an "X" through the plus sign, so that you have 8 equal sections coming together in a point (this is where the Madeline centerpiece will stand). Then, lay the fondant over the cake, making sure to center it. Fold the 8 sections up and out in a flower-like display. Pattern the edges of the fondant hanging over the side of the cake any way you like. (This can be done before or after you lay it on the cake.) Use your finger, or the handle of a thick wooden spoon, to form a wavy look. Lastly, don't forget to place your Madeline centerpiece on top! **Some novelty stores sell pre-made fondant, but it is not a common supermarket item.

MADELINE HAT CAKE DECORATIONS Create a finishing touch with these cute yellow Madeline hats! Candy Melts come in a variety of colors and flavors (vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, etc.) Choose white candy melts for this recipe, so you can color the hats yellow with food coloring. If you choose white chocolate candy melts, it is best to chop or flake it into pieces before heating. White chocolate will turn into a solid, grainy mass if overheated, so monitor it carefully when melting it.

Ingredients: 14 oz. bag of Candy Melts (available at craft stores) 1/3 cup light corn syrup Yellow food coloring & tube of black decorating gel

Directions: Melt Candy Melts following package directions. Add 4 drops of food coloring; stir to blend. Add corn syrup; stir to blend. Place mixture on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper; let set at room temperature to dry (overnight). Wrap and store at room temperature until needed. To Use: Mixture will start out hard; knead a small portion at a time until workable. If mixture gets too soft, refrigerate briefly. When rolling out mixture, place 22 cup-size amount between two pieces of waxed paper; roll to approx. 1/8" thickness. To Form Hats: Use the bottom of a Birthday cup to cut out circles; set aside. Roll a small amount of mixture on a flat surface to form a ball. Place ball in the center of each circle and press down gently; use your fingers to adjust shape. With black decorating gel, draw a bow on the brim of each hat and circle the inside rim. Cookie Cards Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe or purchase ready-made dough at your grocery store. Roll dough onto a floured cutting board and, using a knife, cut 2" x 3" rectangles. Bake according to directions. When cool, coat with a layer of white icing. Decorate the cookies with red and black icing, using a real deck of cards as your model. Place cookies on a platter to look like a fanned out deck of playing cards!

Tea Pot Cake Bake your favorite flavor of cake using a round ball cake pan. Purchase ready-made cookie dough from your grocery store, or make your own favorite sugar cookie recipe at home. Roll cookie dough to the recommended thickness and cut in the shape of two tea pot handles and spouts. It's a good idea to make extra pieces, just in case the cookies break. When the cookies have cooled, place frosting on one tea pot handle cookie and stick the other cookie to it. Do the same for the tea pot spout. (This makes the handle and spout stronger). After the cake has cooled, carefully press the cookie handle and spout into the cake. Then, decorate your tea pot with white icing by using a star-shaped frosting tip. To add the finishing touch, use colored frosting to add different colored flowers to your tea pot cake.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries We recommend that you use both white and dark chocolate to make this treat especially sweet. Begin by heating either white or dark chocolate in a pan. The double boiler method works best to keep the chocolate from burning. Taking one strawberry at a time, dip the fruit (with stems still attached) into the chocolate. Dip only half of each strawberry into the chocolate. Lay dipped strawberries on waxed paper, to cool. Arrange the strawberries on a fancy platter with a lace paper doily. Repeat the above steps with the other type of chocolate. We guarantee that your guests will feel oh so special when eating these delectable treats!

Magical Rabbit Ice Cream Balls Scoop a large ice cream ball for each of your guests. Roll ball in coconut flakes and set on a flattened cupcake wrapper. Use black jelly beans for the rabbit's eyes, a red jelly bean for its nose, and cut out "ears" from pink construction paper, or use halved sugar cookies for the ears. Store ice cream balls in the freezer until they're ready to be served. Have each guest close their eyes and say "Abra-Ca-Dabra" before their rabbit magically appears in front of them.