PARTY THEME: HOST A SANTA'S COOKIE WORKSHOP PARTY

Martie Duncan June 11, 2014

I remember baking holiday cookies with my mom. I'd drag up a kitchen stool and stand on it while she mixed up the batter then she would let me spoon them onto the baking sheets. Baking cookies and cookie decorating is a timeless holiday tradition and creates wonderful memories for the kids in your family. Make this cookie workshop an annual party the week before Christmas. It’s a perfect holiday party theme for schools, churches, and neighborhoods, too.

A Santa's Cookie Workshop party is so easy to host and each child gets to take home his/her own special cookies for Santa.

holiday party ideas cookie decorating party for kids

Easy party decorations include cookie cutters and small kitchen tools as tree decorations.

Let the kids create their own cookie masterpiece for Santa.

Cookie Workshop Party MyRecipes.com 3.jpg

This is the perfect last minute party for kids hanging around the house waiting for Santa to arrive. They can make their own cookies to leave for Old St. Nick and all you need to throw the party is listed below.

Send an email or even call in your invitation since it is last minute during the busy holiday season. Do ask for an RSVP... you need to know how many guests are coming so you don't overbuy supplies.

Bake plenty of plain cookies for the kids to decorate before party time.

I usually bake all of the cookies in advance so the party doesn't take all day. I'll let each child cut out a few cookies when they arrive in their favorite holiday shape so there is that delicious smell of cookies baking as the party progresses. I like to make vanilla sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies and let the kids decorate them especially for Santa.

Clear off or pop up a large table and cover it with white or brown Kraft paper you can get at the craft store.

Put brown paper over your table to protect it. Place all of the decorating supplies in low plates or shallow bowls to make it easy for little hands.

Line the center of the table with supplies like tubes of icing, sprinkles, candies, gum drops, etc.

Make a work station for each child and write their name above it in crayon so they know where they are to create their cookies.

Design a few simple cookies in advance so the children can have an example.

Food and beverages should be simple. I like to offer bite size treats with a hot chocolate bar for this party. Keep it simple and self-serve so your hosting duties are easy.

Set up a pretty buffet of cookies and candy plus coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, and other holiday favorites.

A few party games, caroling, a holiday movie, or a visit from Santa can keep the kids occupied while their creations dry. Make sure to have some paper bags, tin containers, Asian take-out boxes, or foil wrap available so guests can pack up their cookies to take home after the party.

Have plenty of supplies available for guests to take their cookies home after the party.

Your little angel will love leaving his personal cookie creation for Santa, sure to become a holiday tradition at your house!

MYRECIPES.COM has a cookie collection with over 1,000 recipes for all kinds of cookies including drop cookies, bar cookies, slice-and-bake, shaped, and rolled! http://www.myrecipes.com/cookie-recipes/

PARTY THEME: BACKYARD OLYMPICS PARTY

Martie Duncan June 10, 2014

One of my favorite party themes for summer fun for the 4th of July or a get-together with the neighbors or cousins is a Backyard Olympics party. Easy to host; all you need is a big back yard and some creativity! Old school lawn games like the sack race, three-legged race, egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow races, hula-hoop contest, bubble blowing contest are just the ticket for summer fun. This is also one of the most affordable party ideas because most of the games require very little in the way of supplies.

All photos: Arden Ward, Arden Photography

Backyard Olympics Party games Martie Duncan

Get the gang together for some old-fashioned fun by throwing a Backyard Olympics party this 4th of July.

Hula-hoops and other backyard game supplies can be found at the dollar store or toy store. Oriental Trading Company has many backyard party games available online.

Old fashioned games like the "wheelbarrow" race or the three-legged race make for lots of laughs and summer fun.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

It is an All-American theme keep the menu classic with hot dogs and hamburgers or fried chicken. Whether you make the food yourself, get it at the store or your favorite restaurant, or asks guests to bring a dish, that's up to you.

Deviled eggs, potato salad, slaw, and pickles are traditional picnic side dishes that we can never seem to get enough of in the summertime. Apple pie topped with homemade (or store-bought) vanilla ice cream completes the All-American menu.

Dispensers of ice cold sweet tea, lemonade, and flavored water (orange is always a good choice) makes serving easy and keeps bartender duties to a minimum.

Set up a beverage station at the game course with a big tub of bottled water, sports drinks, and other cold beverages on ice so the kids stay hydrated.

DECORATIONS

It is a Red, White, and Blue Patriotic theme for this party so use leftover 4th of July themed napkins, flags, ribbons, and other supplies to give an Olympic village feel to the table decorations. Hydrangea is a wonderful summer flower; use them in clusters and you'll only need a few stems.

Make quick lanterns using LED lights or glo-sticks and a piece of scrapbook paper. Easy, pretty, and functional, too.

ENTERTAINMENT

The games are the fun for this party. A frisbee toss, baggo, croquet, badminton, volleyball, bocce ball, and kickball are all great games if you have the equipment. There are so many fun yard games to play that require little or no equipment at all. Remember the wheelbarrow race, three legged race, egg toss, egg and spoon race, and

PARTY THEME: HOST A PICKLING PARTY

Martie Duncan June 10, 2014

Getting pickled at girls’ night has a whole new meaning! Who knew? Canning and pickling are the hip new trend! With more people planting a garden or hitting the farmers’ market in an effort to save money and eat a healthier diet, what could be better than a pickling party? Putting up fresh fruit and veggies, making homemade pickles, chow-chow, salsa, soup mix, and chutney is not only fun, it is economical and you get a jump on special homemade holiday gifts, too! So gather your girlfriends for this recession buster bash and get pickling!

When I start working on a party theme—I try to find one central item to design the whole party around. For this party, glass mason jars, and pretty repurposed bottles will take center stage. Other essential items will be baskets of produce and tons of spices. Greet your guests with an inexpensive monogrammed apron; many of the monogram stores now have them for under $10. This is a functional favor that will last long after the party is over!

This party is all about the activity. Everyone gets in on the action… the result? Guests get to take home the goodies to fill the pantry or to gift. But you certainly don’t need 20 jars of pickles in your pantry. When I hosted my party, I asked each guest if they had a recipe they’d like to make. We decided on the recipes and each guest brought items necessary for their recipe. I provided the mason jars, the food, and the fun.

Canning jars are the centerpiece of the party.

Baskets of produce is a functional decoration; use them for canning and pickling.

Make your own pepper sauce to use as a condiment for turnip or collard greens; make enough to give as holiday gifts.

My easy White Cheddar Cheese Puffs are the perfect make-ahead for this party.

For the food, I kept it simple. An appetizer buffet is really the best way to go. Select items that can sit out and don’t require a lot of attention; you’ll be busy pickling. Try easy to make recipes like these Cheese Puffs or my ever-popular Ham Delights. You can't go wrong with Southern Classics like homemade Cheese Straws or even a simple cheese board with do the trick.

For the drinks, a signature cocktail is always easy because you can make them in advance and nobody gets stuck with bartending duties. I love Sangria for a party like this---easy to make and perfect for a crowd.

For our party, we made Peppery Texas Pickles, Green Tomato Pickles and Easy Refrigerator Pickles. And because they are perfect in a Bloody Mary or in a salad, we made Dilled Green Beans, Spicy Pickled Okra, and Spicy Pickled Vegetables. In the South, we like a garden in our Bloody Mary but there are many other easy to make recipes available.

Homemade pickles are the perfect housewarming, hostess, or holiday gifts. Other easy to make ideas include: Infused oils, vanilla sugar, Limoncello, and homemade pepper sauce Give them alone or in a gift basket with homemade or bakery bread. Or you could do a Bloody Mary basket complete with your pickled veggies, a bottle of Bloody Mary mix, and your favorite vodka. Your friends will love getting these gifts and you’ll love all the fun you had making them!