Camp-tastic
Birthday Party
T
he trend of hosting a DIY kids birthday party is everywhere right now.
We know this idea may be a little daunting but an at home birthday
celebration can be stress free, amazing and fun for everyone! We have
created an easy to follow, step by step party guide to make the day
perfect for you and your guests. With a little planning and imagination
you will be able to create a birthday memory that will last a lifetime!
Since there are so many different elements that go into throwing a great party,
we have broken them into easy to follow steps and tips!
Theme
The theme of your party is the first step to decide on when you’re throwing a party and you already have that –
A Camp-tastic Birthday Celebration with fun, food and crafts! Your kids and guests will have a great time at
your creative campsite, making fun clay crafts for the kids to enjoy.
Food
The best part about throwing a camp-tastic birthday celebration is that the food is fun and easy. Keeping your
menu selection simple will help keep you stress free.
• Serve hot dogs and potato chips for lunch. Don’t forget the condiments!
• Remember the veggies! Kids love carrot sticks. Use ranch dressing at a dip.
• Ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins) are always a great snack. Just make sure none of
your guest have a peanut allergy.
• Be sure to quench your little campers thirst with water, lemonade or by creating your own fun punch.
Check out this idea http://www.shesaved.com/2013/05/hawaiian-punch-summer-drink-recipe.html
Desserts
S’more Cupcakes- This is a great way to incorporate s’mores into your party when you don’t have a campfire.
Plus these finger friendly treats are a great alternative to a traditional cake.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Smore-Cupcakes-With-Marshmallow-Frosting/
Dirt Cups-These deliciously gross treats with gummy worms are sure to put a smile on all the campers faces.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/dirt-cups-57763.aspx
Cookies–Another fast and easy dessert is to buy cookies and icing. Then take 2 cookies and put icing
in-between and sandwich them together. Roll the edges in sprinkles to add to the fun!
Music
Music is a must for any party. Since the music will be playing in the background make sure it’s age appropriate
for the guests. You can either make a playlist featuring their favorite songs or use a site like Spotify or Pandora.
GOODY
BAGS
What’s a party without goody bags! No one likes to leave a party empty handed. Besides the fun S’more
Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars the little campers will be making, send them home with a little something
sweet. Mix together this recipe for Campers Crunch for the perfect way to end perfect day. Check out the
full recipe here http://www.theloopyewe.com/sheri/2011/06/campers-crunch. You will need Golden Grahams
cereal, Mini Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips and single size serving treat bags
from your local craft store. Once you make the Campers Crunch, fill the
individual treat bags, tie the top with a cute ribbon and pass them out
to your guests before they leave.
Setting up
In order to make the adorable S’more Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars you will
need to do the following:
1. Find a work surface (or several) for people to sit and work at. Cover
the work surface(s) with plastic tablecloth(s) and set the supplies in
the middle of the table for the kids to share.
2. When people get there pre-heat your home oven to 250 ˚F for the
erasers and 275 ˚F for the Lightning Bug Jars.
Tip- Bake the s’more erasers first and then raise the temperature
to 275 ˚F to bake the pieces for the Lightning Bug Jars.
3. Have a timer handy.
Camp-tastic
Birthday Party
the Party
One Month
before
Plan
Finalize your guest list.
Send out invitations.
Finalize what games, activities, and food you will have.
Start your shopping list for decorations, games and groceries.
3 Weeks
before
1-2 Weeks
before
3 Days
before
1-2 Days
before
List
Depending on how many kids you invite, your
shopping list will change. The list below is for 10
kids to make these fun projects. (This doesn’t
include the sample we mentioned earlier)
Start shopping for your decoration supplies.
S’more Eraser Materials
Begin making your decorations and making sure you have
everything for your theme.
5- K3 7520 Sculpey Tasty Treats Clay Eraser Set
Plan out the music for the party.
Buy the supplies for the crafts and goody bags.
5- NDC60- Sculpey Modeling Tool Set (use for S’more
Erasers and Lightning Bug Jars)
3- AMMC- Sculpey Metal Crinkle Cutters-Geometric
Lightning Bug Jar Materials
Check your supply of chairs, serving dishes,
flatware and glassware
10 – Large Mason Jars
Make a schedule for party day so that you have a timeline.
5 bars- Sculpey III Purple
Make sample of the S’more Eraser and Lightning Bug Jar.
5 bars- Sculpey III Glow in the Dark
Depending on your RSVP date- call guests who have not yet.
3 Bars- Sculpey III White
Buy your groceries for the party lunch.
2 Bars- Sculpey III Black
2- AMMC- Sculpey Mini Metal Cutters- Basic Shapes
Bake or buy the cupcakes.
2- APM76- Sculpey Letters & Numbers
Flexible Push Molds
Make the Campers Crunch and Dirt Cups.
1” Eye Pins- (1 package of 50 pins)
Prepare any other food and beverage items you
can make ahead of time.
2 Small Spray Bottles for Water
Decorate your house or area where you will be
having the party.
1 Thin Eyeglass Screwdriver
Set up the work surfaces with crafting supplies.
Day
of the
Party
the Shopping
Set up food area with your serving platters.
Put out food that can stay out ahead of time.
Set the table where everyone will be eating.
Set up your game areas.
Put on your music.
1 Spool of Thin Nylon Monofilament Cord (50 meters)
1 pair of Scissors
1 pair of Wire Cutters
(if you have to cut the eye pins down)
Clear, Fast Drying Glue
Oven Thermometer (if you don’t already have one)
A Ruler
Wait for your guests to arrive.
Sample Party Day Schedule
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Greet your guests as they arrive.
Play your first game (See our suggested games.) (Allow 10 minutes.)
Lunch (Allow 30 minutes.)
Craft Time! Make your Lightning Bug Jars and Erasers and get ready for baking.
(Allow 40 minutes)
Play your second game (Allow 10 minutes.)
Presents and Cupcakes (Allow 40 minutest.)
(**During your second game, presents and cupcakes- use this time to bake the
clay pieces and get them ready to assemble. You may need a partner to help you
with this so one person can keep an eye on the kids and one person can be baking.)
Assemble the crafts (Allow 30 minutes.)
Pass out the goody bags and thank everyone for coming.
Game Suggestions
Marshmallow Race- Give each kid a spoon with a marshmallow
balanced on top. Have them race from to a designated spot and
back without dropping the marshmallow. The first one back wins.
Bear Catcher-In this game of tag, one player is the bear catcher
and the rest are bears. Place one sleeping bag for each bear around
the campsite. Have each bear go to his cave (sit on a sleeping bag)
and have the bear catcher stand in the center of the play area. On
the word “go!” (called by a non-player), the bears must race to a new
cave before the bear catcher can tag them. When a player is tagged,
he becomes the new bear catcher. (From About.com)
Sleeping Bag Races- Line the kids up and have them step into
sleeping bags (similar to a potato sack race). Have them race to a
designated spot and back. The first one back wins.
Camp-tastic
Birthday Party
Project Instructions: S’more Eraser
Getting Started
To Make the
Graham Cracker
To Make the
Chocolate
To Make the
Marshmallow
To Assemble
To Bake
Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area.
Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth.
Begin by preheating oven to 250 °F (120 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay.
For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly.
Mix 1/2 block of White clay with 1/8 of a block of Brown. Roll out
into a thin sheet about 1/8” thick. Cut out two squares using the
square Crinkle Cutter. Using the flat edge of the Pointer Tool,
press a line down the middle, then use the pointer end to press
holes into the top. Follow this step for the other square.
Roll out a small amount of Brown clay into a 1/8” thick sheet.
Use the Craft Knife to cut out a square slightly smaller than the
graham cracker. Use the flat edge of the Pointer Tool to press
four lines into it.
Roll 1/4 block of White clay into a ball. Then press the ball flat so
it looks similar to a marshmallow.
Stack the piece of Chocolate clay on top of one of the graham
crackers (make sure the detailed side is facing out), then stack
the marshmallow on top of the chocolate. Finish the s’more by
stacking the other graham cracker on top.
Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 250 °F (120 °C) for 20 minutes per 1/4” (6 mm) thickness.
For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE
TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult.
Camp-tastic
Birthday Party
Project Instructions:
Lightning Bug Jar
Getting
Started
To Make
the Bugs
To
Assemble
the Bugs
To Make
the Sign
Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax
paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors.
Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly.
Begin by preheating oven to 275°F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay.
Using the craft knife, cut the rows in the bars of Glow in the Dark into quarters. Each child will get 8 quarters of
Glow in the Dark clay (or 1/2 bar of clay). Form 5 of the quarter pieces into ovals for the bodies.
Roll another quarter of Glow in the Dark into a 5" long thin snake. Use the craft knife to cut off 10- 1/2” pieces for the antennas.
Roll in one end of the antennas as pictured. You will need to make 10 total antennas, 2 for each head.
Set the other pieces of Glow in the Dark aside for the sign.
Cut the Purple bars of clay into quarter pieces, the same way as you did for the Glow in the Dark.
Each child will get 8 quarters of Purple clay (or 1/2 bar of clay).
Using 1 of the quarter pieces, make a 1/2” ball for the head.
Using another quarter piece, pinch off enough to make 6 small balls for the feet.
You will need 30 small balls total for all 5 bugs.
Cut the White bars of clay into fourths, following the lines marked on the bars of clay.
Each child will get 1 row of White clay.
Using the Plastic Roller and one row of White clay, roll the White clay into a sheet.
Use the tear drop Mini Cutter to cut out 10 wing shapes.
From the remainder of the White sheet, pinch off enough to make 10 small balls for the eyes.
Pinch off a small amount of Black from the bar of clay to make 10 tiny balls for the pupils of the eyes.
You will need a very small amount of this color, so it may be helpful for an adult to make the pupils.
Press the Purple head onto the Glow in the Dark body. Press the antennas into the top of the head. Assemble the eyes by pressing the Black pupils onto
the White eyeballs. Press the eyes onto the face. Press the 6 legs onto the bottom of the body. Lastly, press the wings onto the bugs back. Finish the bug
by using the craft knife to press a smile into the face and press the lines into the feet. Press an eye pin into the body right behind the head so it will be
able to hang in the jar once baked.
Cut the clear monofilament cord to different lengths to make sure the bugs hang at different levels. We cut ours starting at 7” all the way down to 4”
(remember to add an 1” to each piece to make sure you have enough to tie to the lid and the bug). DO NOT tie the cord to bugs until after they are baked.
Use the Plastic Roller and roll the other pieces of the Glow In The Dark that you set aside
into a sheet. Using the craft knife cut out a rectangle 3” x 1” (this dimension may vary
depending on how long the name is). Press the rectangle on to the glass jar.
Lightly mist the Alphabet Mold with water. Use the rest of the Purple pieces you set
aside to form a long snake. Pinch off sections of the snake and press it into the desired
letters and gently remove the letter from the mold.
Press the letters on to the rectangle.
To Bake
Bake you bugs and jars on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130°C) for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an
oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after
use. Baking should be completed by an adult.
Allow the bugs and jars to cool before handling.
To Assemble
the Jar
Attach the pieces of monofilament cord to the bugs.
Then, using your small eyeglass screwdriver, poke 5 holes into the lid as shown. Thread the monofilament cord through the holes and tie the cord on
top of the lid. (This step should be completed by an adult).
To ensure your knots are secure you can apply a dot of clear fast drying glue to each knot on top of the lid.