Plan An Enchanted Birthday Party

Little girls that believe in the magic of fairies will enjoy a birthday celebration centered around this timeless theme. The details of this party plan are designed for younger girls between the ages of four and seven. A little creativity can be used to adapt the party to include boys if necessary or older children. This party plan is designed for a moderate budget.

Invitations should be mailed approximately two weeks before the party. Stationary with a garden theme, butterflies, or fairies can be used to print your own invitations. Colorful pastel envelopes can be used to enclose the printed invites. Use fairy stickers to seal the envelopes. Don't forget to enclose a bit of fairy dust (glitter) inside the envelope so guests will have a preview of the magical celebration that awaits them. Consider inviting birthday guests to come dressed as their favorite fairy. Remind the birthday girl to place an invitation outdoors around a tree or flower garden to invite real fairies to the party. After all, there is nothing sprites enjoy more than a festive celebration.

Decorations for the party can include a variety of items. White twinkling Christmas lights draped in bushes, trees, and doorways resemble starlight even in the daytime. Fresh flowers add a fresh fairy inspired touch to tabletops. Silk flower garlands can be used in doorways and as an accent to a covered tabletop. Glitter or confetti stars on tabletops add sparkle to the festivities. Pastel balloons, streamers, and oversized silk butterflies can also be used to decorate. Lavender tulle and flower garland can be used to adorn a special chair for the birthday fairy. Consider setting up a special area indoors or outdoors for photo purposes. Resin garden statues of fairies, elves, gnomes, mushrooms, and frogs can be used in this space. If you are artistic or have a friend who can paint, an enchanted mural can be used as a backdrop for the photo area. Don't forget to select music for the party as you are decorating. Celtic music is a good choice for a fairy-themed party because many of the fairy legends originate from Celtic origins.

Young girls enjoy makeup, so enlist the help of older siblings or relatives to transform the guests into shining fairies. Supply individual glitter lip-gloss, sparkly eye shadow, and jewel-toned fingernail polish for the guests as they arrive. These items can be placed in party bags as favors. Make sure each party bag is marked with each guest's name ahead of time and put away until the party is over. This will cut down on confusion at the end of the party.

Flower wreaths are an easy and inexpensive craft activity. Flexible floral wire, silk flowers, ribbons, floral tape, or hot glue are the supplies needed to complete this craft. Older helpers are definitely recommended if a hot glue gun is going to be used. Threading tiny bells onto thin silk ribbon to make fairy bracelets is another craft idea. The creation of magical fairy dust can be achieved by providing guests with small silk pouches purchased in the wedding supply department of craft stores. Sugar and glitter can be mixed and placed in the pouch to be used at a later time to attract pixies.

There are several traditional party games that can be adapted for this theme. Make sure the birthday fairy has a magical wand. Fairy Tag involves using the wand to tag other players as the pixie guests flit about outdoors. The fairy tagged with the magical wand become IT and is passed the magic wand. Hosts of the party may consider presenting each fairy with their own wand if budget considerations allow for this favor. They can be found at dollar stores or online at a reasonable price. Fairy wands can also be made prior to the party by using extra long plastic straws and pipe cleaners bent into the shape of a star or heart. Ribbon streamers and miniature pearl strands can be hot-glued onto the wands along with the formed pipe cleaners. Fairy, Fairy, Troll is an adaptation of the classic Duck, Duck, Goose game and is sure to get guests giggling and ready for snacks, cake, and ice cream. Musical Lilly pads is played like Musical Chairs. The last child in the game is declared the winner and is awarded a special prize. Lilly pads can easily be constructed out of green poster board and a pattern isn't even needed. Lilly pads come in all shapes and sizes, but try and make each pad close to the same size. A butterfly or flower piñata is another activity to entertain partygoers.

A digital camera can be used to take a group photo of the fairy troupe assembled in the photo area you arranged before the party. Take several pictures so you will have several to choose from to enclose with a thank you note to each guest. This photo will provide guests with a keepsake to remember the fairy celebration.

The birthday cake can be a simple store bought cake decorated with silk flowers and a special birthday message for the birthday girl. Individual cupcake decorating is also an idea that offers a lot of fun for guests. Fairy Fizz is punch that a parent adds Pop Rocks candy to so that fizzing occurs right before the guests' eyes. This treat is usually a big hit. Parents may consider placing the candy in a silk pouch ahead of time and announcing that you are adding special fairy dust to each guests' drink. Give sandwiches a magical touch by using a cookie cutter form them into star and flower shapes.

Party favors can include miniature bubbles, fairy stickers and fairy tattoos. Pixie stick candy, hair accessories, and polished "magical" stones are also favor options. You don't have to be extravagant with the goody bags because guests also have the craft items and the glitter makeup kits to take home.

For younger children, consider integrating fairy story time and limiting or simplifying some of the craft activities. Perhaps Grandma can be encouraged to dress up as a Fairy Godmother with her own set of wings, feather boa, and body glitter. Older kids will enjoy a more interactive experience. Incorporate some of the legends and myths surrounding fairy lore. Encourage guests to share their own knowledge of fairies. Plan a scavenger hunt with enchanting clues and treasures to be found. Older girls may also enjoy a fairy tea party as a fun way to experiment with proper table manners and etiquette. If boys are invited to the party, encourage them to come dressed as Peter Pan or perhaps a wizard.