Army Boot Camp Party Ideas

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

This year was Liam’s 9th birthday and he wanted to go to an outdoor adventure park.

But me being me I wanted to have the boys back for food and fun at our house afterwards.

(This could be adapted for a girlie party by using pink camouflage, so cute!)

INVITATIONSToo come soon!!!

COSTUMES

This year was real easy on everyone as Ashcroft park provided the camouflage jumpsuits for the kids, which they thought were fab.

Also gave them black and green face paints to camouflage their faces, a piece of camouflage fabric to tie around their heads, Arnie style.

And when they were split into teams a torn strip of red or blue fabric to be tied around the upper arm to determine which team they were on.

SETTING THE MOOD

YET TO COME!!!

DECORATIONS

I printed off poster for Briton wants you army recruitment posters and also Uncle Sam posters too.

Union Jake flags and U.S flags. (can also be strung together as bunting laminate if to used outside)

these army themed papers can be used for a multitude of things.

BANNERS

I printed off this free army birthday banner

from http://www.fun-pinata-party-ideas.com/

WATER BOTTLE LABELS

I removed the original water bottle label and printed off free camouflage paper

and placed a sticker with each child’s name so they would not get mixed up.

PAPER CUP LABELS

This was a last minute thought and next time it wouldn’t be left until midnight and I would print the name labels off and not hand write them but it saved me going threw lots of paper cups.

Also I only had alittle camouflage paper left.

FOOD & DRINKLiam had requested hot dogs so, as he was the birthday boy, that is what they had.

For desert they made their own ice cream sundaes (not very soldier like but never mind)

They had ice cream, squirty cream, raspberry sauce, sprinkles, chocolate flakes, smarties and they loved ever minute of it. They couldn’t eat all they had made but that doesn’t matter.

CUPCAKES & BISCUITS

I don’t know if you can see but I decided to put they little green Toy Story soldiers onto of some cakes and again some camouflage cake picks on others. The boys all went for the toy soldier ones.

P.S I cheat and buy ready made cakes from the local bakery and decorate them myself, I don’t think it matters and it leaves me time to sort out the decorations and games.

BIRTHDAY CAKE

Due to the fact that we went camping the week before the party and then I was back at work straight after we had a not very exciting shop bought cake this year.

This is what I wanted, BUT in green (Liam wouldn’t have been too happy with a pink cake)

I would have one layer and no beads

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

MEDAL OF HONOUR

On arrival back home I gave each boy the same medals which I had printed off and stuck them onto double sided sticky tape. The object of the game was to secretly remove others medals without them noticing, throughout the afternoon. If the other soldier felt them removing their medal the had to give it back and also one of their medals (this is where the honour bit came in). Who ever had the most medals at the end of the day was the winner. This caused all sorts of fun and a some sulky boys LOL.

SCAVENGER HUNT

The soldiers had to first find the laminated cards (a small clip art picture of a soldier) hidden around the garden, the run back to base with the morse code dots and dashes on them and decipher the letter, from the list on the table. when they had all letters they had to unscramble the letters which would lead them to their goody bags.

Which I had hidden up in the apple tree at the end of the garden.
More fun and games to come!!!!!
WATER BALLOON WAR

The backyard was decorated with camo nets and lots of random things to hide with buckets of filled water balloons behind each. And off to war they went.
OBSTACLE COURSE

Carrying homemade riffles, the boys had to:

climb the slide ladders and slide down

run through tires (fun inflatable pool tyres from the pound shop)

across a balance beam (a plank of wood on breeze blocks)

crawl under a camo net (or a pop up tunnel will do)

weave in and out of a row of swim foam noodles stood up right in buckets of sand

crawl under a table filled with black balloons (bombs)
RESCUE THE WOUNDED SOLDIER

Split them into the red and blue teams,

select one in each team to be the injured party.

get them to wrap the injured soldier using one full loo roll.

then they must carry the wounded soldier back home on a stretcher (a large beach towel)

first team home wins
CAPTURE THE FLAG

Place red and blue flags at two far corners of garden, you stand with your back to them between these flags.

The soldiers creep up whilst your back is turned, but have to freeze when you turn around,

if you catch them moving they are out. first team to get their flag wins.
FAVOUR BAGS & FAVOURS

As Liam’s birthday is in the summer holidays, and I thought the boys are getting to old for little knack toys. I bought them each a camouflage water bottle for the new school year with a sweets inside. I also printed of some individual dog tags for each. (saying ie. Sam Thanks for coming from Liam) punch a hole and they were attached with a caribeena clip.

THANK YOU NOTES

The thank you notes were yet again a photo memento of the day, a group photo in their camouflage jumpsuits for all children who attended. For people who sent Liam cards and presents a photo of just Liam, in gear.

Or each guest and birthday child could posed for individual pictures in front of a large flag.

They all were to stand at attention and salute for the photos.

Star Wars Party Ideas

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

Here’s a Star Wars party I am pulling together for a friend.

Continue reading →

Raingutta Regatta

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

I just love this idea and am pulling it together for the school holidays.

Although I am cheating and buying wooden boat kits, but the children (and grown ups)

can still sand, glue and decorate them.

Free printable raingutter regatta invitation

Continue reading →

Water Fight Party Ideas

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

Well it’s been an unusually great summer so far here in the UK.

Some days have been just too hot for the children to be outside unless they are playing in / with water.

So Liam invited afew chums over after school on Friday for a water extraviganza. Now I know water fights can get way out of hand very quickly, so had afew activities ready also and it was only for 90 mins!!!

Free printable Water Fight party Invitation

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Circus Party Ideas

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

Here’s some fabulous ideas for a circus party…
(don’t forget links to things you’ll need are at the bottom of the page)

CHECK OUT THE CLOWN RACE BELOW!!!

Continue reading →

Harry Potter Party Ideas

Posted on April 21, 2012 by ybyatt

Well with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (part one)

only a month away, it got me thinking about Potter Parties…..

INVITATIONS

A howler

There are some really complicated instructions here but I sat up last night making a basic pattern.
Will try and pull it together this week.

by owl post

COSTUMES
Free printable Harry glass from here

DECORATIONS

Make a 9 3/4 sign and put over the front doorway

paint a brick wall on an old sheet thread a bamboo cane throw the top

cut a slit up the middle and hang over front door

so they can walk through the 9 3/4 platform

BANNER / BUNTING

A banner / bunting made from pennants for each house team

(Right click on image and save image and use as required)

Gryffindor – on burgundy pennat

Huffle Puff – on a yellow

Slytherin – on an emerald green pennant

Ravenclaw – on blue pennant

Badges for each child : reduce the size of each tean badge

and put double sided sticky tape and place on each child

Individual Hogwarts pennants – on black

Broomsticks, wands, hats, spell books, owls

Flying key mobile.

GAMES & ACTIVITES

THE SORTING HAT

Sort the group of children into teams have them come to the front

put the sorting hat (a battered witches hat) onto their head

And have them pull a slip of paper from a poitions jar.

HUT THE SNITCH

Glue wings on ping pong balls, spray them gold and hide them around the garden

QUIDITCH

Martha Smartha

Hoola hoops sprayed and attached to stakes at different hieghts.

take turns in throwing the quaffle (ball) threw them.

Give points for each hoop.

Marauders Map Treasure Trail

This is a fantastic invite by britta you can adapt for your treasure trail.

You will have to go to the site as they are copy protected, but you can download them for personal use.

They are well worth the effort, I promise.

GIANT CHESS

Something for them to do whilst you are busy elsewhere.

FOOD & DRINK

Accent the party

butter beer and broomsticks

Butterbeer Recipe

12 ounces (one bottle) of ginger beer
36 ounces (three bottles) of cream soda
3 T of butterscotch ice cream topping

Thoroughly chill the unopened ginger beer and cream soda in the refrigerator until they are icy cold. Refrigerate the empty glass jug as also.
Once the beverages are chilled, in a small mixing bowl or tall glass, stir 1-2 ounces of cream soda into the butterscotch topping until it’s thoroughly combined.
Pour all the remaining soda into the chilled pitcher.
Quickly add the butterscotch mixture to the jug.
Stir until it is just combined – do not over stir.
Pour it over the ice and serve them immediately.
This recipe serves 6.

To add a frothy sparkle to the drinks, dip the rim of each glass in corn syrup, pulling drips of syrup downward with a toothpick.
Then dip each glass rim in a mixture of colored sugar.
Before dipping, spread the corn syrup & sugar mixture each onto a separate, flat-bottomed plate.

pumpkin juice (really fresh orange juice)

or
you could print these and stick them to your soda bottles.