'Tis the season to be jolly--and to bake, bedeck, and bedazzle your way through a heady run of holiday festivities. Whether it's a classroom party, an informal family get-together, or a merry houseful of caroling kids, we know that great parties call for great ideas. Ideas, especially, that kids can get in on.
So on the following pages, we present a plethora of our party favorites. Such as? Well, a truly kid-enticing eggnog (it's full of ice cream!), a silly reindeer game (think stickers), plus various easy-to-make crafts, like a glittering party hat and some elegant swirl-painted ornaments. We hope each idea will help your family and guests celebrate the season in all its fullness, sparkle, and joy.
Mr. Sandman
Scented with holiday spices, our scroll-bearing sandpaper-gingerbread folks couldn't be a more inviting way to get out the word about your cookie-making party. And when they're finished with their party come-hithers, these charming messengers can moonlight as tree ornaments.
The nuts and bolts of a candelabra
From Hanukkah's miraculous Festival of Lights to the symbolic seven candles of Kwanzaa, illumination is the warm heart of our winter celebrations. Our elegant candleholders can be adapted to suit any seasonal soiree (try arranging nuts around a flowerpot tray for a gorgeous solstice centerpiece), and although they look fancy, they could easily serve as a group party craft as well.
Swirl-a-balls
These ornaments are so much more than the sum of their parts: A flash of holiday alchemy transforms inexpensive glass globes and a few dropperfuls of paint into marbled masterpieces, and the guests at your ornament party will have a ball making them.
First-night Hats
You can count on our shiny hats to make the ideal topper for a New Year's party, but there's no reason to confine them to the countdown. Tailor the decorations to the mood and theme of your holiday party: Glue on large menorah-shaped sequins (available at party supply stores) or festoon the hats with mini candy canes.
You Could Even Say it Glows
Forget about joining in any reindeer games! With our pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey-style contest, Rudolph gets to star in his very own--the perfect party game for one foggy Christmas Eve. Those red dot stickers from the office supply store make superb reindeer noses, although Rudolph is likely to get a terrible case of the measles on his way to schnozzdom.
>Tortilla Snowflakes
Whatever the holiday weather where you live, you can set your kids to snowflake snipping and make our one-of-a-kind wintry snacks. They're almost too pretty to eat<-->but too delicious not to!
Little Latkes
These bite-size potato pancakes are like Hanukkah hash browns--the best ones you've ever eaten, that is--and you'l be amazed by their hasty disappearing act. A pinch of baking soda keeps the potatoes from discoloring in this well-loved family recipe.
Eggs-travagant Nog
Yes, it's good from the carton too, but nothing can beat the lush yumminess of our homemade version of this holiday party staple. This eggnog is cooked (so it's safe) and then chilled quickly with a sweet secret ingredient.
