Paint Your Own Toast

Share & remember has a fun way to play with your food.  They'll show you how to paint your toast using just milk, food coloring and some paint brushes.  A good after school activity and snack combined.  

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://shareandremember.blogspot.com/2011/06/rainbow-painted-toast.html

Individual Mini Pinatas

Ruffled blog has the cutest idea for how to make individual pinatas using paper mache. Their idea is for wedding favors but they could easily be adapted for kids.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ruffledblog.com/diy-mini-pinata-wedding-favors/

One charming party also has a mini pinata tutorial using two white paper cones, tissue garland, ribbon and of course fun candy and prizes. She uses a hot glue gun but tape should work as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://onecharmingparty.com/2011/04/29/cinco-de-mayo-pinata/


Not martha makes individual pinatas using a balloon, laundry starch, and tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/tinypinata/

Refinery 29 shares very thorough instructions for 2 different pinatas and has a great idea for how to get the balloon to be a rounder shape - putting masking tape on the oblong end.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.refinery29.com/diy-pinatas/slideshow?page=1#slide-1

Studio diy share how to make a pinata using a square kleenex box as the base.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.studiodiy.com/2012/04/26/diy-mini-pinatas-for-cinco-de-mayo/

Artificial Pet Jellyfish

Bhoomplay has a video tutorial for how to make a jellyfish in a bottle and they look so real.  All it takes is a plastic water bottle, a transparent plastic grocery bag (the thinner the better, like the ones used in the produce department) and some food coloring. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://bhoomplay.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/diy_jellyfish_eng/

Paper Mache Bank

Smaller has the cutest idea for how to make a bank using paper mache.  They call the money balls and start with an inflated balloon. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://smallmagazine.typepad.com/smaller/2010/02/heres--a-creative-way-to-encourage-saving-which-lets-face.html

Snowball Search Game

The amazing mess has the cutest idea for a game that brings the outdoors inside. Hide cotton balls (snowballs) throughout the house and then give each child an ice cube tray for collection, that way they'll know if they've found all of the snowballs.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.amazingmess.com/2012/01/indoor-snowball-hunt.html

Colorful Thread Bowl

Elizabeth Andree shows how to make a beautiful bowl out of colored yarn and paste. Your kids will love getting messy with the paste and love the pretty bowl they made as well.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://elisabethandree.posterous.com/threads-threads-lots-of-threads

Eighteen 25 has a similar tutorial as well.

http://www.eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/03/yarn-baskets.html

How to Make a Bouncing Ball

about.com's chemistry guide has instructions for how to make a polymer bouncing ball.  Once again, the main ingredient, as with most of the science projects is borax.  Beyond that it's just cornstarch and glue and some food coloring to make it pretty.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/ss/bounceball.htm

Candy Cane Science Experiment

Candy experiments shows yohow to see the colors that make up a candy cane.  All you need is a shallow dish of water and a candy cane and the stripes of the candy cane will slowly melt into the water.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.candyexperiments.com/2011/12/candy-cane-stripes.html

Make a Snowman Out of Soap

Mama in Wonderland has a really cute idea for making a snowman out of soap.  The main ingredient is a grated bar of white soap. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mamainwonderland.blogspot.com/2011/12/yet-another-easy-holiday-craft-for-kids.html

How to Make a Snow Globe

Ask listen learn show you how to make a snow globe using glass jars, glitter and virtually any small plastic object.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.asklistenlearn.com/blog/make-your-own-snow-globe

Design mom shares photo snowglobes.  She "laminates" the photos by placing them between clear packing tape before inserting and adds grated pvc pipe for the "snow."

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designmom.com/2010/12/diy-photo-snowglobes/

My so called crafty life uses plastic wine glasses and scrap booking paper for a pretty base.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.mysocalledcraftylife.com/2012/11/06/diy-vintage-inspired-bell-jar-ornaments/ 

Six in the suburbs uses glass jars, small trinkets, glitter, distilled water and glue.

Get the instructions here:
http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/home-made-snow-globes.html 

Apartment therapy uses mason jars to make giant snow globes. The good thing about these is that you can fit a lot more items into them.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-mason-jar-snow-globes-apartment-therapy-tutorials-181673

Paper Lantern for the Chinese New Year

Kiboomu has details on how to create a paper lantern for the Chinese new year.  It's tradition that the celebrations begin with a lantern festival.  Each color means something different.  

Red: Good fortune 
Pink: Romance 
Peach: Opportunities 
Orange: Money 
Yellow: Success 
White: Health 
Green: Growth 

Blue: Hope 

Purple: Idealism

Everyone chooses the color that shows their wishes and writes down a written message on the lantern itself.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kiboomu.com/2012/01/19/chinese-new-year-paper-lantern-craft/

Balloon Birthday Present: Balloon Birthday Party

Choose craftiness has a really innovative idea for making balloons into a very special birthday gift.  She recommends placing dollars and special notes into blown up balloons and then tying and mailing them.  Kids will have so much fun receiving a box of balloons and even more fun popping them to find all of the gifts inside.

Get the instructions here:
http://choosecraftiness.blogspot.com/2012/01/birthday-balloons.html

Be different act normal has a similar idea adding confetti to the balloons as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2012/05/money-balloons-gift-wrap.html

 11 cupcakes shares how to make the balloon packaging really cute.

Get the instructions here:
http://11cupcakes.com/2011/07/25/gift-wrapping-balloon-pop-2/

Increasingly domestic hangs the balloons up to be popped in the air.

Get the instructions:
http://increasinglydomestic.blogspot.com/2011/04/very-extra-special-happy-birthday.html

The dating divas suggest sending out balloons to the number of people of the birthday person's age to be, having them blow up the balloons, write a message, deflate and send to the birthday person to open on their special day.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thedatingdivas.com/just-the-two-of-us/birthday-floats/

Balloon Favor Bags

Domestic goddesque simply ties a helium balloon onto the favor bags for a really pretty favor.

Get the instructions here:
http://domesticgoddesque.com/2012/03/rainbow-themed-birthday-party/

Balloon Candy Favors

Turnstall times has a very cute way of turning a giant pixie stick into a balloon party favor by simply taping on a cutout balloon and writing a short note.

Get the instructions here:
http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.com/2011/08/classroom-pictures-part-2-d-o-n-e.html

Balloon Messages: Balloon Birthday Pary

The dating divas has a fun and inexpensive and memorable gift idea for a balloon themed birthday party.  Along with the invitation mail guests a balloon.  Ask them to blow it up and write a message on it and either bring it to the party or send it back in the mail in time for the birthday.  On the day of the birthday have the birthday boy or girl blow them up and read all of the messages. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thedatingdivas.com/just-the-two-of-us/birthday-floats/

Balloon Lollipop Party Favors: Balloon Birthday Party

One charming party has a very cute and easy idea for party favors - wrapping a lollipop in fabric and tying with string. The end result looks like a balloon. She used yellow gingham fabric and bakers twine, but you could use more festive color fabric and curling ribbon to emulate balloons instead.

Get the instructions here:
http://onecharmingparty.com/2012/04/20/spring-party-2/

Balloon Animal Party Favors: Balloon Birthday Party

Make your own balloon animal kits start at about $5.  Kids will love to see you make them and they make a great party favor.

Balloon Races - Balloon Birthday Party Activity

A little learning for two has a really great balloon game featuring a balloon, straw and piece of string for each participant.  Each child blows up their balloon and tapes it to the straw and they let go.

Get the instructions here:
http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com/2010/11/balloon-rockets.html

Parents.com has a cute game using balloons, pool noodles and a laundry basket.  Kids need to use only the noodles and see how many balloons they can get into the laundry basket in 5 minutes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.parents.com/fun/games/family/camp-mom-20-activities-to-make-summer-awesome-for-everyone/?page=9 

Science sparks shoots what she calls flying balloons into the air and watch them circle around.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/08/17/flying-balloons/

Balloon Jewelry Activity: Balloon Birthday Party

Michelle page has a great way to use balloons to make an easy bracelet, a perfect activity for a quieter and less messy option for a balloon birthday party.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://michellepaige.blogspot.com/2011/08/make-your-own-balloon-bracelets.html

Water Balloon YoYos: Balloon Birthday Party

Zakka life has a fantastic idea for a party activity and/or favor -- making water balloon yoyos.  Think of what fun it will be when they break. 

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-yo-yo-balloons.html

Ballloon Scavenger Hunt: Balloon Birthday Party

Activity mom shares a great game for a balloon birthday party.  Blow up 10 balloons and number them 1-10.  Hide them around the house and have the kids search for them in order.  When they find them have them pop it for the next clue.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.activity-mom.com/2012/07/balloon-game.html

Water Balloon Target Range: Balloon Birthday Party

Motherhood on a dime has a great idea for a balloon party game.  Using chalk she created a target with points and circles and then gave kids water balloons to throw at the target and accumulate points.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/kids/water-balloon-target-practice/

Balloon Activity Countdown: Balloon Birthday Party

Real dana gentry has an idea for how to use balloons for a slumber party.  She puts written activities inside balloons and marks each with a time.  When the time arrives the kids pop the balloon to see what they're next going to be doing.

Get the instructions here:
http://realdanagentry.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-2012-new-years-eve-pinteresting.html

Chasing cheerios has a similar idea but instead of using the countdown for a slumber party she uses it to count down the days until the child's birthday, letting them pop one everyday for a new surprise.

Get the instructions here:
http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2012/07/birthday-balloon-countdown.html

How does she does it for New Year's Eve.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.howdoesshe.com/new-years-eve-ideas/

Water Balloon Walkway: Balloon Birthday Party

Another great way to use balloons for a summer birthday is a water balloon walkway or patch on the lawn.  Kids will love stomping, throwing, slipping and sliding.

Balloon Pinata Activity: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

Scrap Happy Heather has a great idea for a balloon activity.  Hang water balloons and use them as mini-pinatas.  The kids will love getting wet.  If your balloon party is in the winter you can always change the water to candy or toys.

For winter parties fill the balloons with confetti.  

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://scraphappyheather.blogspot.com/2011/07/water-balloon-pinata.html 

As an alternative for a colder weather party try filling the balloons with small prizes and giving each kid a pin to break the balloon and get a favor.

Balloon Ping Pong Activity: Balloon Birthday Party

Pen and paper flowers has a fun idea for a balloon party activity. All you need are some popsicle sticks, paper plates and a balloon and you have a make your own balloon ping pong game.

Get the instructions here:
http://penandpaperflowers.blogspot.com/2011/03/ellas-classic-red-ball-birthday.html

Balloon Painting Activity: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

Share and Remember has a great balloon party activity.  Fill the balloons with different objects such as rice, flour, salt, water, corn and other small objects and use them as paint brushes, let the kids dip them in paint and use the balloons to make a design.  The kids will have fun with the different textures and trying to guess what's inside each balloon.  They'll also have a nice art project to take home. 

Get the instructions here:
http://shareandremember.blogspot.com/2011/07/sensory-balloons-painting-rainbows.html

Tot treasures north bay shares the same idea, but suggests some other fillings to make the balloons have different scents such as baby powder and hair gel and coffee beans.

Get the instructions here:
http://tottreasuresnorthbay.blogspot.com/2012/01/sensory-balloons.html

Jada roo takes a more messy approach blowing up the balloons with just air.  Kids will need to beware because the balloons can pop at any time especially the more they bounce them.

Get the instructions here:
http://jadaroo.blogspot.com/2011/04/balloon-painting.html

Future cnc has a more messy idea filling balloons with paint and taping them to a poster board.  The kids then get to pop the balloons to create a really nifty and messy painting.

Get the instructions here:
http://futurecnc.code.arc.cmu.edu/assignment02/assignment-02-proposal-erica/

Balloon Flip Flops Activity - Balloon Birthday Party

Tip junkie has a great idea for a balloon party activity or favor that's functional as well as fun. All you need to do is double know a whole lot of colorful balloons around a pair of flip flops. That's it.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://go.tipjunkie.com/kd/703/www.oneshetwoshe.com/2010/05/balloon-flip-flops-she-roberta.html

Balloon Birthday Cake Toppers

Martha Stewart blows up balloons just little and ties them to craft sticks to decorate a birthday cake for a cute balloon themed birthday party.

Get the instructions here:
http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2013/01/office-party-good-things.html

Balloon Cupcake Idea: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

Continue on the balloon theme with this easy to make and assemble cupcake balloon cake.  One great thing about this cake is that the balloon bunch can grow to as many guests as you have.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/balloon-cupcakes-685709/

Frozen Water Balloon Cooler: Balloon Birthday Party

One really creative and functional way to use balloons at your party is to freeze water balloons and then use them instead of ice to keep the drinks cool. It should also be less messy since the ice will melt inside the balloons.

Balloon Filled Window: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

Balloon Walkway: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

 

Balloon Wakeup: Balloon Themed Birthday Party

Crafty moods has a very festive idea for how to wake up the birthday boy or girl on their special day by filling the room with helium balloons.

http://www.craftymoods.com/2010/12/kids-priceless-morning-birthday.html

Chronicles of a southern scrapper has a balloon wake up idea as well. She suggests writing messages on balloons about what you love about the child. She also suggests having a balloon for each month the child is old. So every year there are 12 more balloons.

http://chroniclesofasouthernscrapper.blogspot.com/2011/02/celebrate-new-birthday-tradition.html

The berry suggests attaching photos of the previous years to the bottom of the balloon strings to show the events and changes that have occurred.

http://theberry.com/2012/04/10/morning-coffee-39-photos-152/mc-random-31-141/