Party Craft Ideas -- DIY Harry Potter Wands

Here's a great party giveaway idea for your Harry Potter themed party: chopstick wands! They're super quick and easy to make, and you'll save a bundle on party favors. Make them in advance and give one to each party guest, and invite your own Harry Potter entertainer to teach them how to use them! 

What you'll need: 

• 15" bamboo cooking chopsticks (like these ones)
• Assorted colors of brown acrylic paint
• Foam brushes
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks (about 2 sticks per wand, to be safe)
• Glossy spray paint

Remember, each wand is a little different, so don't be afraid to get creative! Follow along with this great step-by-step guide from Boxy Colonial. 

Party Craft Ideas: Pirate Telescope Craft

Looking for fun ideas for your upcoming Pirate themed party? Want to keep all your party guests busy and having fun until your very own Pirate entertainer arrives to inspire adventure on the high seas with pirate lessons, pirate face painting, balloon sword fighting, and pirate games? One Time Through has a great idea to do just that: DIY telescopes! They're super easy to make, and your little buccaneers will have hours of fun with them after the party, too. :) 

What you'll need:

• Paper cups (1 per telescope)
• Blue food coloring
• Small see-through cylindrical container a little bigger than the opening in a paper towel roll, and about 1/2" - 1" deep (1 per telescope)
• Acrylic paints or Paint Marker pens
• Glue gun
• Tape (electrical tape works great!)
• Things to decorate the outside of the telescope (they used black and gold paint, glitter foam sheets, thread, and plastic beads)

Here's the full step-by-step tutorial. Have fun, and happy crafting!

Party Snack Ideas - Rainbow Popsicles

Having a Rainbow themed party? These rainbow popsicles are a great treat for summer parties. They're SO pretty, and since they're made of fresh fruit, they won't bring that dreaded sugar crash the way store-bought treats tend to.

Here's what you'll need for each layer:


RED LAYER

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• water or liquid for blending

ORANGE LAYER

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1 small orange
• 1/4 cup frozen mango
• water or liquid for blending
•  

YELLOW LAYER

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• water or liquid for blending

GREEN LAYER

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 handful (or more) spinach
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• water or liquid for blending

BLUE LAYER

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• small amount of blue food coloring
• water or liquid for blending

PURPLE LAYER

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• water or liquid for blending

MAGENTA LAYER

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1/2 cup sliced beets
• 1 cup frozen strawberries or raspberries

 And here's the full recipe, with step-by-step instructions from The First Layer.


 Happy snacking!

Christmas Elves and Singing Princesses

Christmas is fast approaching!  All the Fire Pixie elves are out this week.. we're entertaining at holiday parties and Christmas-themed birthday parties all over the place, and having an absolute blast.

I love doing sing-a-longs this time of year because there are just so many fun Christmas carols to sing, and the kids are all so very enthusiastic about singing them.  I can't seem to remember all the words to Frosty the Snowman (I keep forgetting the "thumpety-thump thump" bit) but it seems nobody else knows the words to that one either... so we just fake it.  

Besides, when you're dressed as an Elf, if you sing with authority, nobody questions your version of the lyrics.  :)

My favorite thing about doing holiday shows is that lots of people book 2, 3, or 4 entertainers at once.  Being a part of a whole gaggle of Elves is unlike any other experience I can think of.  Most of the time we work individually, but Christmas is one of those times when I get to play with lots of the other entertainers in the company and that is just so much fun!  It's inspiring to watch Lanie twist balloons and play with puppets, or to face paint with Lena, or to do magic with Naomi.  I love how doing larger shows really builds the community and camaraderie between entertainers and strengthens the Fire Pixie culture.

We've been personalizing lots of copies of our Princess Christmas Video too.  This is a lot of fun.. I really enjoy seeing the messages people are sending to their daughters, granddaughters and nieces..  it's pretty special to get a glimpse into the Christmas Morning gifts these little girls are going to receive.  (And I wish someone was taking ME to Disneyland this year!)

Here's our free video.. show it to your favorite little girl this week to get her all excited about Christmas!