Planning a Beach Theme Birthday Party

Hosting a beach theme birthday party is a simple and fun way to celebrate the day. The first thing you will need to decide how many guest will be attending the party. This will help you determine how much food you will need, as well as other supplies. You should always add 5 extra guest per every 10 you invite. Remember, parents, girl or boyfriends, and siblings of those you invite might also be attending the party. Also, even if you write "RSVP" on the card, not everyone does.

Invitations:
There are many different styles of invites on the market today that will do just fine for your beach theme party. However, making your own can save money, and make the event more personal.

Beach Ball Invites:
To make your own beach ball invites you will need:
White card stock paper, or thick construction paper
Paint, crayons, or markers in the colors you want your beach ball to be
A circle pattern - You can use a large glass or a small bowl
Scissors
Envelops your card will fit in, unless you plan on hand delivering - Let over un-used Christmas card envelopes work great.

First draw a circle using your circle pattern on your card stock or construction paper, then cut the circle out. Nest draw your lines on your beach ball, and color or paint in your stripes. On the back of your card write the party information. If you like you can write a message on the front of the beach ball using a black permanent marker. "Life's a Beach", "Let's have a ball", and "Your invited" are just a few suggestions.

Flip Flop Invites:
You will need:
A small child's flip flop for a pattern.
Markers, crayons, or paint,
Elmer's glue
Ribbon
Envelopes
Card stock paper, or thick construction paper
Scissors

Trace the child's flip flop onto the card stock or construction paper, and cut out. If you want to decorate the flip flop use your crayons, markers, or paint to make the designs you want. Next glue the ribbon in place to make the straps that go between your toes, to the side of the shoe. Once the glue is dried you can write your party information on the back.

Cakes:

Beach Ball Cake
You will need:
Round cake pan
Food coloring
White icing
Food Coloring
Icing gel pen

First bake your cake in a round cake pan following the directions on the cake mix. Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the cake pan, and let it cool for 1 hour. Next divide your white icing into 3 quart size ziplock bags. Add the food coloring of your choice to each of the bags making 3 different colors. Carefully spread each colored icing to form the beach ball stripes. Make sure you remember to do the sides as well. Once all the icing is on you can use your gel icing pen to outline the stripes. HINT: You can also make cup cakes the same way!

Fish cake
You will need:
Round cake pan
Square cake pan
White icing
Food coloring
Icing gel pen

First bake the two cakes (square, and round) following the directions on the box. Once the cakes are finished baking remove them from the pans, and let them cool for 1 hour. When the cakes are cool, cut the square cake from point to point making 2 triangles. Place one of the triangles, point up against the circle to make the fish tail. Add food coloring to your icing to make the color of the fish you want, then cover your cake. Using the gel icing pen you can outline details such as scales, eyes, and fins.
The other triangle can be used to create a sign using food coloring to color your icing, and the gel pen to add details, or to write on it. "No Swimming Zone", "Shark In Area", "Kids At Play", etc...

Food:

A beach theme birthday party should have beach food. The best part about beach food is, it's cheap. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and all make great beach foods. Use bright colored plates to display your food. For chips, consider displaying them is a large sand pail.

Decorations:

Beach balls are great usable decorations. Buy stacking beach balls in different places around the party zone, not only do you have decorations, but the kids can play with them, and take them home. Beach balls are really affordable. At www.orientaltrading.com you can buy 18" beach balls for $9.95 a dozen, and 7" beach balls for $8.95 for 25. Oriental Trading also has other usable decorations such as a 4 foot palm tree, with a 2 foot inflatable cooler. Not only is this one a great decoration, it's also a wonderful, and fun way to keep the soda's cold, and it only cost $11.95. If you don't need the cooler you might like the 5" inflatable palm tree that's only $9.95. Maybe the plastic life preservers can find a place at your party. You get a set of 3 for just $5.95. TIP: You can either hang these preservers, or place them on a table and set small bowls of dips for your chips in the center.

Games:

Inflatable kiddie pools are perfect for birthday parties. Kids can really entertain themselves, especially the little ones. You can also use a kiddie pool as a sand box. You can find playground sand at any home improvement store, and at Wal-Mart. Add a few sand pails, and shovels to complete the sandy beach. But, every party needs games right.

Water Balloon Toss:
You will need a bucket full of filled water balloons. For this game kids will need to pair up in sets of two. Have all the player in a row with the partners in another row facing them. Start out at 3 feet apart. When you say go, all the players toss their balloons to their partners. If a balloon breaks that team is out. Now make them take 2 steps back, and toss the balloon back to their partner when you tell them to. Repeat these steps until there is only one team left. That will be the winning team.

Beach Ball Hot Potato:
This is played just like hot potato, but with a beach ball. Have all the players stand in a large circle. When the music starts they must toss the ball to another player, when the music stops the player with the ball is out. The last one standing wins. If you have a large group of kids use 2 or 3 beach balls at one time.

GOODIES AND EXTRAS:

I really love the deals you can find at www.orientaltrading.com. You can find wonderful goodies such as:
Sand Pails with Tools $11.95 dozen
Sunglasses $7.95 dozen
and 2" Beach Theme Rubber Duckies $5.95 a dozen. These are so cute, and they also make great little decorations.