Make Your own Party Games and Decorations

Planning a party? You can make your own fun and games with these great ideas from Lakeshore Learning.
Party Piñata Decoration (Ages 5 and up)
Decorate your party spot with this colorful, festive piñata craft.
What You’ll Need:
• Tissue paper, cut in strips and squares
• Beads
• Lakeshore Easy-Stick Glitter Shapes
• Yarn
• Glue
• Scissors
• White paper bag
• Newspaper
• Hole punch
Step 1: Stuff a white paper bag with newspaper.
Step 2: Choose four to six strips of different colors of tissue paper. Cut the strips into fringe, leaving about 1 inch uncut at the top edge.
Step 3: Starting at the bottom of the paper bag, glue the strips around the bag so that the fringe comes down and covers the glued area of the previous strip. Layer the strips until the bag is covered.
Step 4: Glue the tissue paper squares onto the top half of the bag. Set aside to dry.
Step 5: Embellish the piñata with Easy-Stick Glitter Shapes.
Step 6: Punch six holes around the top of the bag, about 2 inches apart. Thread a piece of yarn through each hole and secure the two ends together with a knot, leaving enough length to string beads.
Step 7: Add beads to the yarn and secure with a knot.
 
 
Bubble Wands and Solution (Ages 4 and up)
 
Let your party guests make their own bubble wands and then let the bubbles fly!
 
What You’ll Need:
 
For the Wands:
• Plastic drinking straw
• Plastic six-pack holder
• Wooden stick (about 10 inches long)
• Lightweight rope
• Tape
 
For the Solution:
• ½ cup dishwashing soap
• 1½ cups water
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Large bowl or pan
Bubble Solution
Step 1: Pour the dish soap into a large bowl or pan.
Step 2: Add the water and sugar to the bowl. Gently stir the mixture.
Step 3: Once the ingredients are mixed, the solution is ready to use.
Six-At-Once Bubble Wand
Step 1: Use tape to attach a plastic six-pack holder to the end of a drinking straw. (You can also cut the six-pack holder into a few smaller pieces to create 4- or 2-ring wands.)
Step 2: Dip the rings into the bubble solution, then pull them out and wave the wand around to create lots of bubbles!
Rope Wand
Step 1: Use tape to attach a short length of lightweight rope to the wooden stick. Attach the rope so that it forms a loop at the end of the stick.
Step 2: Dip the rope into the bubble solution.
Step 3: Run to open up the loop … and create giant-size bubbles!
 Find more fun summer craft ideas at www.lakeshorelearning.com. Click on crafts and activities, under resources. Or drop by any Lakeshore Learning Store Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for Free Crafts for Kids. There are locations in in Walnut Creek, San Leandro and San Jose.