A great party for your guests to allow their creativity to shine. Each party guest will receive all they need, in a drawstring party bag, to create an eye mask fit for a MASQUERADE BALL.

THE PARTY BECOMES THE PARTY BAG

PARTY INSTRUCTIONS

1. We suggest that you set up the party table before any guests arrive, with each guest given a space at the table where they can prepare their masks.

2. To protect against spills cover your party table with the pink table cover supplied.

3. Each place on the table should have:

. A Pair of Scissors

. A Bag of Decorations

. Glue Dots

. A Dimensional Writer

. An Ostrich Feather

. Feathers

. Pieces of Felt

. Glitter paper

. Ribbon

. A Stick

4. HINT: I always find it a good idea to have the guests party bag hanging on the back of their chair within easy reach, so as they finish with something they can place it into their bag, making sure that whatever they put in there is sealed if applicable!

5. We have included with the pack an A4 piece of card with the outline of a basic mask, showing the eye holes and the nose shape. It is strongly advised that for the nose and eyes you make use of this template, but apart from that the guests can design anything they like.

6. Using the piece of card supplied the guests should draw their design, bearing in mind that they should work around the nose shape.

7. Once they have designed their mask on the card they need to cut around the outside of the design. You now have the start of your mask.

8. Next, you need to cut out the eye holes - which can be a challenge! I always ask the children to poke a hole in the middle of the eye and then start cutting from that hole. Alternatively, you can have an adult remove the eye holes using something like a scalpel.

9. Now the guests need to get super creative and use the felt and glitter paper they have been given to cover the card. This is done by cutting out shapes from the materials supplied. There is no need for the felt or glitter paper to be cut into perfect shapes, rather let the material overlap as this adds to the effect of the mask. However, I have always found that the glitter paper works best if used first with felt being overlapped onto it.

10. The glitter paper is self-adhesive by removing the paper from the back. The felt should be stuck down using glue dots. REMEMBER, when sticking down the felt and glitter paper, the eye holes should not be covered!

11. Once the material has been stuck down, the guests can use their dimensional writers to highlight the mask, perhaps around the eyes or anywhere else where BLING is required!

12. They can then make use of all the other decorations to make their mask unique.

13. Now for the stick. Start with the satin ribbon at the top of the stick. Put a glue dot on the stick and then place the end of the ribbon over it. It may be advisable to have a glue dot on either side of the top of the stick. Wrap the satin ribbon around the top of the stick twice before spiralling it down the stick. HINT: It is easier to hold the ribbon against the stick and twirl the stick slowly in your hand as opposed to attempting to wrap the ribbon around the stick. Allow the satin ribbon to overlap slightly as you twirl down the stick. Use glue dots to stick the ribbon at the bottom of the stick.

14. Next the guests need to apply the curling ribbon to the stick. Using the glue dots to stick the ribbon at the top and bottom of the stick, the curling ribbon should be twirled around the stick in the middle of the satin ribbon.

15. Now that both the masks and the sticks have been decorated, an adult can glue the sticks to the back of the masks. There has been a single tube of glue supplied for this purpose, which is a strong glue that should be kept away from children. Apply the glue to the back of the mask and then hold the stick down against the glue.

16. The masks should ideally be left to dry for a while - a good chance for the guests to run around a little (or be fed!).

17. Last but not least, ask the guests to model their creation!

Preparing the Party Bags

Before the party write a party guests name onto each party bag. There are many ways you could do this including having the party girl write each guests name and special message in the heart printed on the bag. This allows the party girl to feel she has contributed to the party preparation.

OUR AIM IS TO SUPPLY A CREATIVE PARTY IDEA THAT KIDS WILL LOVE AND AFTER THE FUN - SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME TO TREASURE.

MASQUERADE PARTY GAMES

Musical Masquerade Ball

You will need: Chairs, CD player and Ball/ Popular music CD.

This game is played like musical chairs. Have one less chair than you have guests. Have the guests waltz in a circle around the chairs with their masks as if they were at a ball when the music plays. When the music is turned off the guests must sit in a chair. The guest who does not make it to a chair must sit out until the next game. Remove another chair and turn the music back on. Keep repeating this until there is only one guest left. Don't forget to take loads of photos.

Hint: It is advisable to have a tub of sweets or something similar to hand; this will keep those guests who are 'out' busy until you can finish the game!

Masquerade Relay

You will need: Two sets of "Ball wear" containing items like a ball gown/evening dress, hats, gloves, jewellery, high heels, handbag and anything that you would wear to a ball etc.

Each set of 'Ball' gear needs to have similar if not exactly the same items.

Have your guests divide into two teams. For this relay all team members begin at a start/finish line. One at a time each team has a member run to the pile of 'Ball' gear, put on one item then run back to the start/finish line and pass the item on to the awaiting team member. After the "Ball" gear is on the new team member they run down to the pile of beach gear and put on another item, run back to the start/finish line and pass off the "Ball" gear to the next awaiting team member. Each person takes a turn in the relay until the first person wearing ALL the gear crosses the start finish line. This is a great game to take fun photos of your Masquerade guests!!!

Hawaiian Relay - Version 2

You will need: Put together several sets of "Ball gear". Each set of "Ball" gear needs to have similar if not exactly the same items. Put a chair, cone or some type of marker several yards from the start/finish line which everyone will need to run around.

Have the kids divide into the same amount of teams as you have "ball" gear. For this relay all team members begin at a start/finish line along with the pile of "Ball" gear. At the start the first player for each team puts on ALL of the "Ball" gear then runs down to and round the marker with all the gear on then back to the start/finish line where they take off all the "Ball" gear passing it to player two. Once player two has on all of the gear they run down to the marker and back to the start/finish line. Each player must put on all the gear and run around the marker. The first team to have their last team member cross the finish line wins! This is a great game to take fun photos of your Masquerade guests!!!

Pass the Mask

You will need: A mask, CD player and some "Ball" or popular music CD.

Have everyone sit in a circle. While the music plays the mask is passed around the circle. When the music is stopped whoever is left holding the mask leaves the circle. The last person left wins!

Hint: It is advisable to have a tub of sweets or something similar to hand; this will keep those guests who are 'out' busy until you can finish the game!

Masquerade Pictionary

You will need: Large Pads of Paper, or an Easel with large pad of paper or Wipe Board or Chalk Board. Sheets of paper with names of items, places and Masquerade/Mardi Gras themes, placed in a hat/bag, etc.

Create two teams and flip a coin to see who goes first. Each team then alternates turns. The first guest from team one pulls a piece of paper from the hat/bag and must then use drawings to give their team members clues as to what they are drawing. The team members have 2 minutes to make a correct guess. If they do not correctly guess then team two can guess to steal the point. Team two then has one team member pull a piece of paper and so on. The first team to reach 10 points wins.

Masquerade Pictionary Relay

You will need: A Large Pad of Paper for each team. A list of names of items, places and Masquerade / Mardi Gras themes - there should be one word for each guest in a team.

Split the party guests into teams of up to five guests in each team. Give each team a pile of paper and ask them to find a team area where they can draw on the paper without other teams seeing them. Have someone watch over each team to ensure they complete each task. Have one of the party supervisors hold the list of names/themes. Ask one party guest from each team to approach the person with the list, where they are told the first word on the list. These party guests now need to rush back to their team area and use drawings to help their team guess the name/theme. Once guessed correctly (to the satisfaction of the person supervising the team!) another party guest from the team runs to the person with the list to get the second name/theme. The process is followed until every guest has had a turn and the winning team is the first to guess all the names/themes.

Masquerade Statues

Have the guests dance around with their masks as if they were at a ball and when the music stops they must become statues. The guest who moves must sit out. The last statue wins.

Sleeping Beauty

Lay out a 'bed' with a blanket on the floor. Designate a player to be "IT".

That player lies down on the blanket and pretends to sleep.

The other players try to wake her (make her laugh) with funny noises, songs jokes, or phrases when 'IT' wakes, she then chooses the next player. If she stays asleep for the allotted time, usually one minute maximum then she wins a prize to add to her bag.

Name that Tune

Young children and preteens alike will love this fun, musical game?

. A mixed CD of Popular Songs

. A CD Player

Have the children sit down around the CD player. Play the first song on the mix, and let the guessing begin!

Give a small prize to the first person to guess the correct title of each song after it's played. Or, keep score during the game, awarding one point for every correct song title and another point for every correct artist named. Award a prize to the child or children with the most points at the end of the game.

Telephone

Everyone will get a good laugh during this goofy game of changing phrases?

Have everyone sit in a circle on the floor. Have the birthday girl start the game by thinking up a goofy line, such as "Purple cows sit in the pasture eating grass and making grape-flavoured milk." She should then whisper this line in the ear of the person sitting to her left, and so on around the circle until everyone has heard the phrase (or some variation of it).

The last player to hear the phrase should tell everyone what she thinks they heard, and then the birthday girl should tell everyone the original phrase. The whole group will get a good laugh from the silly transition the birthday girl's phrase has undergone.

Play several rounds, letting guests take turns coming up with goofy lines.

Scavenger Hunt

Create a custom scavengers hunt that all of your guests will enjoy?

Hide several prizes either indoors or outdoors. You can use all different items to fit in with your theme. Write out a list of clues to help your guests find the hidden prizes, and print enough copies so that each child can have her own list.

Ask the group if they would like to work alone, in pairs or in groups of two. (Take a vote, if necessary.) Pass out copies of the clues (one per child or one per group. See if they can find all of the prizes within a certain time limit and/or reward the child or group that finds the most prizes during the course of the party.

There are many variations of this game from which to choose, be creative, and play a different way every time!

"I'm Grateful?" Chairs Game

Try this fun variation of "musical" chairs that's perfect for older kids?

Form a circle with chairs, using one fewer chair than there are players. Have each player take a turn saying a characteristic that they?re "grateful for." For instance "I'm grateful for people with brown eyes," "I'm grateful for people wearing jeans," or "I'm grateful for people wearing red." When one player names something she is grateful for, all of the players who DO NOT have that characteristic should sit down immediately. The players that DO have that characteristic must then scramble for a seat. Whoever is left standing is out for the rest of the game, and the player who sat down last gets to say what they are "grateful" for next (which gives them one round to keep their seat).

Once there are only 3 players left, one of the adults present should remove two of the three remaining chairs, and then say, "I'm grateful for people named?"

and name all three children. Whoever gets the last seat is the winner!

Wits and Consequences

Partygoers will have a fabulous time with this question & answer game where everyone has a chance to win?

. A Bag of Balloons (at least 2 per guest)

. Strips of Paper (at least 2 per guest)

. 2 Large Dustbin Bags

. A Pen or Marker

Take half of the strips of paper, and write a different question related to your theme on each or keep it to general questions about popular T.V. shows, cartoons, or movies. Place each strip of paper inside of a balloon. Blow the balloons up and tie them off, making sure that the questions are visible inside. Label the two large dustbin bags "A" and "B," and then place all of the balloons in bag "A." Grab the second set of papers, and write some silly tasks on them, such as, "Rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time," or "Strut and cluck like a chicken three times." Place these inside the remaining balloons, blow them up, tie them off, and drop them into bag "B." Let each guest take a turn pulling a balloon out of bag "A" and reading the question contained inside out loud. Each guest should try to answer the question she selected. If the question is answered correctly, give the guest a small prize or sweet. If your guest can't give the correct answer, she must reach into bag "B," grab a balloon, and perform the silly task inside. If the guest performs the task, award her a small prize or sweet.

Pass the Parcel

Guests of all ages will love this version.

When creating the parcel, within each wrapping layer include a piece of paper upon which you have written a task. The idea being that each child who unwraps a layer of the parcel will have a task to perform. The tasks can be anything you can think of which is appropriate to the age group. What we have used before is to have the children dance to a specific song, like the ?Macarena?, or ?Show me the Way to Amarillo?. So, when a child reads the task it will say 'Dance the ??,

all you need to do is ensure you make a note of the order of the tasks and that you have the songs ready to play (the 'Now That's What I Call Music' CD's generally have the latest songs for this purpose). The child who received the task will start the dance and then the rest of the children can join in. Once the child has performed their dance you can use the remainder of the song to get the parcel moving again. Other tasks could be

. Singing a nursery rhyme in the voice of an opera singer/cartoon character/etc.

. Be a ballerina

. Act like a teacher from school.

There are endless options.

Don't forget the tub of sweets!

Be prepared take loads of fun pics, you and your child will want to remember this special party. A helpful hint: Order extra prints or make a CD and send them to the guests as a special thank you afterwards or give each guest their own disposable camera to use. Remember, it's not necessary to have everyone in each picture. Focus on small groups and avoid posing all the photos. Candids capture the laughter best!

PARTY FOOD

When it comes to food, kids are usually perfectly content to eat pizza, hamburgers or hotdogs, which is certainly much easier on the hosts!

An easy FUN idea for dessert is an ice-cream bar. Set up a table with a selection of sweets, chocolates, sauces and anything you may wish to add to an ice-cream sundae. Let the guests make their own sundaes. Supervision may be required to make sure they don?t go overboard!