How to Arrange a Kids' Crafts Party

If your kids are envious of the time you spend crafting with friends, let them express their own creativity by arranging a crafts party just for them. Try these methods to host an inexpensive party that also gives you the opportunity to use some of your old supplies and help the kids create gifts for loved ones in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Email invitations
• Old sheets or plastic tarps
• Elastic string
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• Beads
• Door hangers
• Foam shapes and stickers
• Picture frames
• Paint and brushes
• Glitter and embellishments
• Glue
• Cakes or cupcakes
• Frosting tubes and sprinkles

Instructions

1. Send out email invitations that let the kids know the time, date and location of the party, as well as the request to wear "old" clothing since they'll be working with paint and other messy materials. Ensure you have all of their parents' email addresses so all of the kids receive their invitations. (See Resources)

2. Prepare the crafting area before the kids arrive. Cover the tables with newspaper or butcher paper and line the floors with old bed sheets or plastic painting tarps. Have a few old button-down shirts on hand in case any of the kids forget to wear play clothes.

3. Provide elastic string and a selection of beads (you can even use up mismatched remnants that you've got leftover from your beading projects) so they can string bracelets for mom. Clip a safety pin on one end of the string to hold the beads, then tie the ends together and remove the pin when the bracelet is complete.

4. Gather plain rubber door hangers and some foam stamps and letter stickers and let the kids create "Studying, Do Not Disturb," "Play in Progress" or "Keep Out" door signs for their siblings.

5. Coat plain paper picture frames with paint, then give the kids smaller paintbrushes to add their own designs on a project for dad. Also provide glue, glitter and leftover embellishments like buttons, metal charms and stickers that they can use to make a decorative arrangement. Take digital photos if you can develop them at home to include in the frame.

6. Let the kids be crafty during snack time, too. Frost two single-layer cakes with white frosting, then give each child a tube of icing and some candy sprinkles, gumdrops or jelly beans to decorate a portion of the cake. If there are a lot of kids, consider making cupcakes that they can decorate instead.

Resources

• Email invitations save you time and money.
• Elastic string makes quick bracelets.
• Door hangers are great gifts for siblings.
• Foam shapes make embellishing simple.
• Paper picture frames are easy to decorate.