Help with 4 year old Party

[ID10T37]

Not really sure where to put this . . .

My daughter wants a Fancy Nancy birthday party and I've been thinking of ways to do this . . .

I already thought about having a "parfait" station (of course the adults will get the ice cream and help the kids add their toppings)

What I really need help with is an idea that I had . . . .

I'm thinking about making Tutu's for the girls to have their "fancy attaire" and they can take it home after the party to "dress up" later. We will also have Mardi Gras beads for the kids to have some "accessories". . . . Does any one know of an inexpensive place to get tulle for the tutu's? Also, about how many yards do you think would be needed for each tutu - 15 yds?

Also, what about for the boys? I know there will be one boy, but I'M not sure what to do? Do I look for top hats for kids? any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[poohfriend77]

Ooh, la la! That sounds so fun.

I think the best way to get tulle is to use a coupon and JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby. You can sign up for coupons at JoAnn's web site if you don't already get them. HL coupons are usually in the Sunday paper. The type of tutu you're making will determine how much tulle you need. I made no-sew tutus for my DDs a couple years ago (there are lots of tutorials on line, just google "no-sew tutu" if you need help). I think I used about 6-8 yards for each??? Maybe start by buying a whole bolt of tulle using the 40% off coupon, and see how far that gets you.

I like the top hat idea for the boys. I bet a party store would have an inexpensive plastic one. Maybe you could draw on a mustache with an eyeliner pencil (curly at the ends, of course!)

Have fun!

 

[ID10T37]

Thank you! Yes it will be super fun . . . . we are thinking of having hubby do some face painting also . . .

I found some 6" wide tulle on e-bay for $1.80 for 25 yards with free shipping - I looked at JoAnns and and I saw that the price was $5.99 even with the coupon it would still be too expensive.

I'm debating on making the Fairy wings (I know I can do this with wire hangers and panty hose), but I'm not really sure . . . I mean it would be what, fairy wings for the girls and dragon wings for the boys?

Again, thanks for the suggestions about JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby . . . my problem is the Hobby Lobby is 40 miles away so I think I will have to look at Michaels also.

This will be the first year that we have "goody bags". Besides the kids taking the tutu's and top hats, what else? It will be the weekend of halloween, so we were thinking maybe some spider rings and also the girly jewel rings. I really don't want to do candy since it is halloween weekend - any other suggestions?

 

[poohfriend77]

Oh, let me clarify... I used the tulle that comes on bolts like fabric, then I cut it into strips. The 6-in kind would definitely work, but you would obviously need a lot more that I originally suggested. It sounds like you found a good deal on eBay, though!

Honestly, I probably wouldn't do treat bags if they're taking home the dress up pieces. But if you really want to do something, what about cookie or Rice Crispy treat wands? Cut the cookies or treats into star shapes and put on a large lollipop stick. Wrap the top in plastic wrap, and send home after the party.

 

[ID10T37]

Thanks for the idea about the treat wands . . . I would have never thought about that . . . .

I did think about the birthday cake and just doing a 9 inch round cake and use some pink frosting and put a tiara on the top for the decoration . . . keeping up with the OOH LA LA theme.

We are planning on having some signs around the house like the area where the beads will be have it say "ACCESSORIES" (that's a fancy word for stuff).

 

[sunshine74]

My DD went to a Fancy Nancy birthday party last year (first grade, all girl party). The mom read one of the books to the girls while they ate. She had little martini type plastic glasses with ribbons on them for their lemonade, and each girl had a tiara. Then they decorated their own cupcakes with fancy sprinkles and toppings. After the story and food, they did manicures (birthday girl had an older sister and friend who manned the manicure station). And they played dress up and with dolls the rest of the party.

I thought it was a really cute party!

 

[GatorMama]

I always think of feather boas and cutesy sunglasses when I think of fancy nancy. I know you can get cute glasses at party stores for relatively cheap. And I KNOW somewhere I've seen $1 feather boas... btu I can't remember where.

I think you'll find that the $5.99/yard tulle at JoAnn's is a MUCH better deal then a small spool of 6" tulle...

 

[ID10T37]

For clairifacation . . . the $5.99 tulle was for 6" x 25 YD not the huge bolt.

We are doing mixture of colors - we have some gator fans so they will have orange and blue and some LSU (purple and gold) and also FSU (burgandy and gold) - then we will have hot pink and green and fuschia and pink . . .

I found the top hats for $5 for a dozen at the local party store. I would love to do the plastic martini glasses, but with about a dozen 3 and 4 year olds , I think I will stick with the Motts Totts juice boxes.

Besides the face painting and the parfait station, we also thought about an area where the girls and boys could do some type of craft thing - maybe stamping on paper or something? Grandma and Grandpa are doing a bounce house, so there will be a little down time. I truly believe there will only be one boy (he is a twin and his sister will be there) - we have known them since birth and all of our kids play together.

Thank everyone so much for all of the party ideas . . . .

 

[erinmomof2]

Joannes has different types of tulle. Mine has it by the yard for I think $1.99 a yard. Also our Walmart sells it by the yard for $1.49 a yard.

 

[hollypoast]

I'm doing a Fancy Nancy party for my daughter's 5th birthday in October. This is what we are doing... thought I'd share in case any of my ideas are helpful to you.

I bought the invites from Etsy. There are so many great Fancy Nancy items. Many of the invites are customized for you. They send you the file and you can print at home or a print shop. I also found these awesome edible butterflies to decorate the cake/food with. (http://www.etsy.com/listing/74853653/edible-butterflies-24-light-pink)

I bought boas (Marabou), head bands, flowers with jewels from the Ribbon Retreat. It's a wholesale website that I came across while searching for ideas. The boas are long enough that I plan to tie and cut each in half. The prices on this website are the lowest I've found. They also have tutus.

I found "marabou" topped bags on Amazon that I plan to use for the girls goody bags. (http://www.amazon.com/Print-Gift-Bags-Marabou-Trim/dp/B0026VUYZM)

I bought "I Can Read" paper back Fancy Nancy books on walmart.com for $2.40 each that I plan to put in each girls goody bag.

At Party City there is a line a bachelorette party items that are bright pink that are perfect for this type of party... I bought tiaras and beads. Both came in packs of 6 and where reasonably priced. I also picked up loose, fax gems that I plan to use to decorate with.

JoAnn Fabrics has Fancy Nancy fabric that I will use as a table cloth along with some satin and jewels. I also have left over fax flower petals that I saved from her party last year that I plan to sprinkle around.

I found a book promotion/event website to celebrate Fancy Nancy book sales. There are two great, reproducible activities that I had printed in color at our local print shop. One is a coloring page and the other is a "make Nancy's room fancy" page that I have been picking up stickers and other do-dads for the girls to use to decorate.

At Claire's there are often great, buy one get one free sales. I picked up super cute butterfly clips, rings and those jewel swirly clips for everyone's hair. I also have some bows left over from Christmas that I plan to put out because in the books Fancy Nancy sometimes uses them in her hair, too.

My favorite part of the party is dessert. I've have been shopping a local thrift shops, picking up old, fancy, frilly, flowery tea cups and saucers. I plan to serve the girls a fancy chocolate mouse in the tea cups topped with a couple of of the edible butterflies. After the party I am going to let each girl take their tea cup home with them. (We plan to have mouse for Marin's friend's party and cake at her family party... and will use butterflies on both.)

I think that's it. Good luck with your party!

 

[woodkins]

I used to sell tutu's. Nashville Wraps website has great prices on the 6" tulle tons of colors and it is soft, not scratchy and rough.

I also suggest boas, sunglasses etc.

 

[hambirg]

For clairifacation . . . the $5.99 tulle was for 6" x 25 YD not the huge bolt.

We are doing mixture of colors - we have some gator fans so they will have orange and blue and some LSU (purple and gold) and also FSU (burgandy and gold) - then we will have hot pink and green and fuschia and pink . . .

I found the top hats for $5 for a dozen at the local party store. I would love to do the plastic martini glasses, but with about a dozen 3 and 4 year olds , I think I will stick with the Motts Totts juice boxes.

Besides the face painting and the parfait station, we also thought about an area where the girls and boys could do some type of craft thing - maybe stamping on paper or something? Grandma and Grandpa are doing a bounce house, so there will be a little down time. I truly believe there will only be one boy (he is a twin and his sister will be there) - we have known them since birth and all of our kids play together.

Thank everyone so much for all of the party ideas . . . .

I always have the kids decorate their treat bags when they arrive. I just buy the plain white sandwich bags and have markers, glitter, etc. I used to teach and the idea of having an entrance activity is always nice, because kids stagger in sometimes. That way they all have something to do while everyone arrives.

 

[sleepymomof4]

We had a lot of fun with our Fancy Nancy party. I ordered super cheap(quality was still good) tutus, beads and tiaras from Halo Heaven, probably even cheaper than making them. I got the lucky the year we did it and came across cuye boas at a dollar store for $1. This will probably always remain one of our favorite parties. Have fun!

 

[torinsmom]

I saw a lot of tiara/boa/wand stuff at Dollar Tree when I was there this past week. The one near me also has the plastic "champagne" glasses, packs of jewel rings, etc.

 

[MSSANDRA]

One thought...do not totally dismiss the fact that a little boy, if he young and the only boy, might want all the same stuff the little girls have. I would have an extra just in case....might save a lot of tears

 

[mom2cookies]

we have a store called JO-Mar. It sells material and clothing very cheaply. If you have a store like that, i would get it there. We got material there for ren-faire costumes.