DIY Bug Birthday Party

Looking for a good DIY birthday theme? Why not call upon our six-legged friends for your next birthday party? Most kids go through a bug-fascination stage--and not just boys (think butterflies, ladybugs, and caterpillars in girly colors). Bug decorations and food are cute, cheap and easy to make, making it perfect for do-it-yourself.

Invitations: Make your invitations in any bug shape that you wish. For boys, bumblebees, dragonflies, or big fat beetles work well. Girl invitations can be butterflies, ladybugs, or dragonflies as well. For either gender, consider a caterpillar made up of five circles: the first for the head (with eyes and a smile), the second to state who the party is for, the third for the date, fourth for the time, and the last for the place. Make each circle in a different color.

Decorations: If your party is for a boy, use green tablecloths and bright green tableware, or yellow and black if you are going for a bumblebee theme. Add plastic bugs to the table. If you are celebrating a girl's birthday, use red and black polka dots for ladybug decor. Make butterflies using tissue paper for wings and a clothes pin (the rounded top kind) for the body. Set out small plastic bug catchers, each labeled with the name of a guest.

Cake: Bake the cake in a shape of your child's favorite insect. Round cake pans come in handy here. Bake one round for the body of a beetle or ladybug, then cut a round in half to attach as a head. Round cakes can also be used as wings for butterflies. If cupcakes are more your thing, go with the caterpillar theme again. Ice each cupcake in a different color, or use the same color, adding stripes to each cake. Draw a face on the first circle, arrange them in a squiggle, and add legs with chocolate-covered pretzel sticks or even round malt chocolate balls.

Snacks: Make ants on a log with celery smeared with peanut butter or cream cheese, then topped with raisins (consider ages and any allergies of your guests before you make these. These ingredients are a choking hazard for very young children, and some kids may be allergic to peanuts). You can also use the caterpillar theme for many different types of snacks. Place snowball snack cakes in a squiggly line on a plate, then use pretzels or string Twizzlers for legs and antennae. Thread melon balls and grapes onto a toothpick or short skewer for healthy individual caterpillar snacks.

Games: Use the plastic bug catchers to go on a bug hunt (make sure you provide plenty of adult supervision). Let the kids collect specimens, then help them identify what they've caught. Set out art paper, crayons, markers, etc. and let the guests draw a picture of their finest catch to take home. Be sure to release the bugs when you're done!

For another fun game, give each guest a new plastic flyswatter and a small plastic bug. Have each child put the plastic bug on the flyswatter and hold it out in front of them so the bug doesn't fall off. Have a race with the kids running with the flyswatter, being careful not to drop the bug.

Party Favors: Instead of goodie bags, fill a butterfly net with bug items, such as stickers, plastic bugs, small magnifying glass, gummy worms (I know they're not bugs, but they still fall into the creepy crawly category), and bug rings. For a girl party, add flower items as well.

These are just a few of the many DIY ideas for a bug birthday party. Be creative, tailor the party and decorations to your child's personality (butterflies, girly, etc.), and you're sure to have a great bug birthday bash!