The theme of your party is the first step to decide on when you’re throwing a party and you already have that – A Camp-tastic Birthday Celebration with fun, food and crafts! Your kids and guests will have a great time at your creative campsite, making fun clay crafts for the kids to enjoy.

The best part about throwing a camp-tastic birthday celebration is that the food is fun and easy. Keeping your menu selection simple will help keep you stress free. • Serve hot dogs and potato chips for lunch. Don’t forget the condiments! • Remember the veggies! Kids love carrot sticks. Use ranch dressing at a dip. • Ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins) are always a great snack. Just make sure none of your guest have a peanut allergy. • Be sure to quench your little campers thirst with water, lemonade or by creating your own fun punch. Check out this idea http://www.shesaved.com/2013/05/hawaiian-punch-summer-drink-recipe.html

S’more Cupcakes- This is a great way to incorporate s’mores into your party when you don’t have a campfire. Plus these finger friendly treats are a great alternative to a traditional cake. http://www.instructables.com/id/Smore-Cupcakes-With-Marshmallow-Frosting/

Dirt Cups-These deliciously gross treats with gummy worms are sure to put a smile on all the campers faces. http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/dirt-cups-57763.aspx

Cookies–Another fast and easy dessert is to buy cookies and icing. Then take 2 cookies and put icing in-between and sandwich them together. Roll the edges in sprinkles to add to the fun!

Music is a must for any party. Since the music will be playing in the background make sure it’s age appropriate for the guests. You can either make a playlist featuring their favorite songs or use a site like Spotify or Pandora.

What’s a party without goody bags! No one likes to leave a party empty handed. Besides the fun S’more Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars the little campers will be making, send them home with a little something sweet. Mix together this recipe for Campers Crunch for the perfect way to end perfect day. Check out the full recipe here http://www.theloopyewe.com/sheri/2011/06/campers-crunch. You will need Golden Grahams cereal, Mini Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips and single size serving treat bags from your local craft store. Once you make the Campers Crunch, fill the individual treat bags, tie the top with a cute ribbon and pass them out to your guests before they leave.

In order to make the adorable S’more Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars you will need to do the following: 1. Find a work surface (or several) for people to sit and work at. Cover the work surface(s) with plastic tablecloth(s) and set the supplies in the middle of the table for the kids to share. 2. When people get there pre-heat your home oven to 250 ˚F for the erasers and 275 ˚F for the Lightning Bug Jars. Tip- Bake the s’more erasers first and then raise the temperature to 275 ˚F to bake the pieces for the Lightning Bug Jars. 3. Have a timer handy.

Theme

Food

Desserts

Music

GOODYBAGS

Setting up

Camp-tasticBirthday Party

he trend of hosting a DIY kids birthday party is everywhere right now. We know this idea may be a little daunting but an at home birthday

celebration can be stress free, amazing and fun for everyone! We have created an easy to follow, step by step party guide to make the day perfect for you and your guests. With a little planning and imagination you will be able to create a birthday memory that will last a lifetime!

Since there are so many different elements that go into throwing a great party, we have broken them into easy to follow steps and tips!

T

• Greet your guests as they arrive.

• Play your first game (See our suggested games.) (Allow 10 minutes.)

• Lunch (Allow 30 minutes.)

• Craft Time! Make your Lightning Bug Jars and Erasers and get ready for baking. (Allow 40 minutes)

• Play your second game (Allow 10 minutes.)

• Presents and Cupcakes (Allow 40 minutest.)

(**During your second game, presents and cupcakes- use this time to bake the clay pieces and get them ready to assemble. You may need a partner to help you with this so one person can keep an eye on the kids and one person can be baking.)

• Assemble the crafts (Allow 30 minutes.)

• Pass out the goody bags and thank everyone for coming.

Finalize your guest list.

Send out invitations.

Finalize what games, activities, and food you will have.

Start your shopping list for decorations, games and groceries.

Start shopping for your decoration supplies.

Begin making your decorations and making sure you have everything for your theme.

Plan out the music for the party.

Buy the supplies for the crafts and goody bags.

Check your supply of chairs, serving dishes, flatware and glassware

Make a schedule for party day so that you have a timeline.

Make sample of the S’more Eraser and Lightning Bug Jar.

Depending on your RSVP date- call guests who have not yet.

Buy your groceries for the party lunch.

Bake or buy the cupcakes.

Make the Campers Crunch and Dirt Cups.

Prepare any other food and beverage items you can make ahead of time.

Decorate your house or area where you will be having the party.

Set up the work surfaces with crafting supplies.

Set up food area with your serving platters. Put out food that can stay out ahead of time.

Set the table where everyone will be eating.

Set up your game areas.

Put on your music.

Wait for your guests to arrive.

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S’more Eraser Materials5- K3 7520 Sculpey Tasty Treats Clay Eraser Set

5- NDC60- Sculpey Modeling Tool Set (use for S’more Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars)

3- AMMC- Sculpey Metal Crinkle Cutters-Geometric

Lightning Bug Jar Materials

10 – Large Mason Jars

5 bars- Sculpey III Purple

5 bars- Sculpey III Glow in the Dark

3 Bars- Sculpey III White

2 Bars- Sculpey III Black

2- AMMC- Sculpey Mini Metal Cutters- Basic Shapes

2- APM76- Sculpey Letters & Numbers Flexible Push Molds

1” Eye Pins- (1 package of 50 pins)

2 Small Spray Bottles for Water

1 Spool of Thin Nylon Monofilament Cord (50 meters)

1 Thin Eyeglass Screwdriver

1 pair of Scissors

1 pair of Wire Cutters (if you have to cut the eye pins down)

Clear, Fast Drying Glue

Oven Thermometer (if you don’t already have one)

A Ruler

Camp-tasticBirthday Party

Sample Party Day ScheduleMarshmallow Race- Give each kid a spoon with a marshmallow balanced on top. Have them race from to a designated spot and back without dropping the marshmallow. The first one back wins.

Bear Catcher-In this game of tag, one player is the bear catcher and the rest are bears. Place one sleeping bag for each bear around the campsite. Have each bear go to his cave (sit on a sleeping bag) and have the bear catcher stand in the center of the play area. On the word “go!” (called by a non-player), the bears must race to a new cave before the bear catcher can tag them. When a player is tagged, he becomes the new bear catcher. (From About.com)

Sleeping Bag Races- Line the kids up and have them step into sleeping bags (similar to a potato sack race). Have them race to a designated spot and back. The first one back wins.

Game Suggestions

Party Planthe Shopping Listthe

Depending on how many kids you invite, your shopping list will change. The list below is for 10 kids to make these fun projects. (This doesn’t include the sample we mentioned earlier)

Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. Begin by preheating oven to 250 °F (120 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay.For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly.

Camp-tasticBirthday Party

Project Instructions: S’more Eraser

Getting Started

Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 250 °F (120 °C) for 20 minutes per 1/4” (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult.

To Bake

Mix 1/2 block of White clay with 1/8 of a block of Brown. Roll out into a thin sheet about 1/8” thick. Cut out two squares using the square Crinkle Cutter. Using the flat edge of the Pointer Tool, press a line down the middle, then use the pointer end to press holes into the top. Follow this step for the other square.

Roll out a small amount of Brown clay into a 1/8” thick sheet. Use the Craft Knife to cut out a square slightly smaller than the graham cracker. Use the flat edge of the Pointer Tool to press four lines into it.

Roll 1/4 block of White clay into a ball. Then press the ball flat so it looks similar to a marshmallow.

Stack the piece of Chocolate clay on top of one of the graham crackers (make sure the detailed side is facing out), then stack the marshmallow on top of the chocolate. Finish the s’more by stacking the other graham cracker on top.

To Make theGraham Cracker

To Make theChocolate

To Make theMarshmallow

To Assemble

Camp-tasticBirthday Party

Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly.

Begin by preheating oven to 275°F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay.

GettingStarted

Using the craft knife, cut the rows in the bars of Glow in the Dark into quarters. Each child will get 8 quarters of Glow in the Dark clay (or 1/2 bar of clay). Form 5 of the quarter pieces into ovals for the bodies.

Roll another quarter of Glow in the Dark into a 5" long thin snake. Use the craft knife to cut off 10- 1/2” pieces for the antennas. Roll in one end of the antennas as pictured. You will need to make 10 total antennas, 2 for each head.

Set the other pieces of Glow in the Dark aside for the sign.

Cut the Purple bars of clay into quarter pieces, the same way as you did for the Glow in the Dark. Each child will get 8 quarters of Purple clay (or 1/2 bar of clay).

Using 1 of the quarter pieces, make a 1/2” ball for the head.

Using another quarter piece, pinch off enough to make 6 small balls for the feet. You will need 30 small balls total for all 5 bugs.

Cut the White bars of clay into fourths, following the lines marked on the bars of clay. Each child will get 1 row of White clay.

Using the Plastic Roller and one row of White clay, roll the White clay into a sheet. Use the tear drop Mini Cutter to cut out 10 wing shapes.

From the remainder of the White sheet, pinch off enough to make 10 small balls for the eyes.

Pinch off a small amount of Black from the bar of clay to make 10 tiny balls for the pupils of the eyes. You will need a very small amount of this color, so it may be helpful for an adult to make the pupils.

To Makethe Bugs

Use the Plastic Roller and roll the other pieces of the Glow In The Dark that you set aside into a sheet. Using the craft knife cut out a rectangle 3” x 1” (this dimension may vary depending on how long the name is). Press the rectangle on to the glass jar.

Lightly mist the Alphabet Mold with water. Use the rest of the Purple pieces you set aside to form a long snake. Pinch off sections of the snake and press it into the desired letters and gently remove the letter from the mold.

Press the letters on to the rectangle.

To Makethe Sign

Bake you bugs and jars on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130°C) for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult.

Allow the bugs and jars to cool before handling.

To Bake

Press the Purple head onto the Glow in the Dark body. Press the antennas into the top of the head. Assemble the eyes by pressing the Black pupils onto the White eyeballs. Press the eyes onto the face. Press the 6 legs onto the bottom of the body. Lastly, press the wings onto the bugs back. Finish the bug by using the craft knife to press a smile into the face and press the lines into the feet. Press an eye pin into the body right behind the head so it will be able to hang in the jar once baked.

Cut the clear monofilament cord to different lengths to make sure the bugs hang at different levels. We cut ours starting at 7” all the way down to 4” (remember to add an 1” to each piece to make sure you have enough to tie to the lid and the bug). DO NOT tie the cord to bugs until after they are baked.

ToAssemblethe Bugs

Attach the pieces of monofilament cord to the bugs.

Then, using your small eyeglass screwdriver, poke 5 holes into the lid as shown. Thread the monofilament cord through the holes and tie the cord on top of the lid. (This step should be completed by an adult).

To ensure your knots are secure you can apply a dot of clear fast drying glue to each knot on top of the lid.

To Assemblethe Jar

Project Instructions: Lightning Bug Jar