Have a Bug-Themed Garden Party

In Maine, bugs are a natural part of outdoor life, and a garden party isn't an exception! Here are some fun ideas for a creepy-crawly bug-themed garden party.

Food
What's a party without refreshments? For these insect-themed treats, give yourself some time and have fun making them.

Ants on a Log - This is the easiest bug food! Just wash and cut some celery stalks into 2-inch pieces, fill the middle with peanut butter, and set raisins in the peanut butter!
Bumblebee No-Bake Cookies - Another easy and fun treat, the recipe can be found here.
Salad - Danielle's Place has a Buggy Salad that's sure to please with ladybugs, inchworms, and bees. It can be found here.
Dirt Pie - Recipes for this can be found just about anywhere. Kraft Foods has one here. Just make a cup and set a gummi worm on top, and you have a taste snack that's both quick and easy to make.
Real bugs - For the brave, you can even purchase chocolate-covered ants or grasshoppers. CandyDirect.com has chocolate-covered insects available here.
Caterpillar Shishkabob - For a heavier fare, make some shishkabob using whatever ingedients you'd like, then use pipe cleaners or colored toothpicks for little legs and antennae, turning them into caterpillars!
Bug Ice Cubes - At any dollar store, you should be able to find small plastic bugs. Fill an ice cube tray with just a little water and let it freeze, then put the rest of the water and put a bug in each ice cube, then freeze completely. You'll have an insect in each ice cube!

Décor
To complete your party's look, try these big-themed decorations.

Tablecloths - Any fabric or craft store near you should have something you can use, be it a ladybug print or plain tablecloths with insect-themed confetti to strew on the table.
Balloons - Try buying a pack of round, black balloons, and some black pipe cleaners, and make yourself some ants by attaching 3 balloons and putting the pipe cleaners on for legs and antennae. Spiders can be made the same way. Ladybugs are as simple as red balloons and a black marker.
Invitations - Use regular invitations and draw bugs for the simplest invitation. For something more complicated, use corrugated scissors (they make a scalloped design) and green invitations, cutting out corners that have been "eaten."
Party favors - For a cute party favor, load up on tiny beany babies or dollar-store insects. It'll be a fun way to give your guests something to take home. Flyswatters can also be a funny gift, especially if you use them in a game of some sort.