inherent love of mystery and magic, it's safe to predict that this birthday theme will prove positively bewitching. The agenda includes a mix of exciting activities and quieter craft projects, perfect for setting a manageable pace for wizards in training, who can get a bit high-spirited in group gatherings.
PARTY POINTERS
• With a few decorating props--quilt batting spiderwebs, strings of twinkling lights, and a few plastic bugs and frogs--you can turn any room or yard into an enchanted wizards' lair.• Set the mood for a spellbinding time by inviting Harry Potter fans to take turns reading aloud their favorite excerpts from a book in the series.
PARTY PLANNER
• Collect old CDs to make Crystal Ball invitations.• Cut out yellow Con-Tact paper stars for decorating party hats.
• Collect jars to make Sorcerer's Glitter Globes.
• Buy plastic aquarium tubing, glitter and polymer clay for party crafts.
• Write clues and choose hiding spots for a magic bean treasure hunt.
CRYSTAL BALL INVITE
Spread the word about this party in true sorcerer's style--with a crystal
ball that reveals all there is to know about the upcoming event. For each one, start with a CD that you no longer use (or you can cut a circle out of silver gift wrap). On the unprinted side, attach a sticker star to the center, then use a permanent marker to print on the words "Prediction: A Magical Time" and the date of the party. Next, tape or glue the lower edge of the CD onto a colored-paper crystal ball base. Finally, cut out a paper circle on which to print the rest of the party information and glue or tape it to the back of the CD.
MAGIC WANDS
What's a wizard without his wand? With just a few basic supplies, each guest can conjure up one of these precious props. Beforehand, use a craft knife to cut 1/2-inch clear unflexible plastic aquarium tubing (sold in pet stores) into 1-foot lengths (one for each person). Seal one end of each tube with a bit of modeling clay. Then each child can fill his own tube with wiggle worms (metallic pipe cleaners) and dragon scales (sequins or glitter) before sealing the other end with clay.
WIZARD HATS
When it comes to magic, appearance is everything, so arriving guests
will be eager to don one of these easy-to-whip-up wizard caps.
For each one, lay a sheet of newspaper on a flat surface. Sandwich the sheet between two pieces of glossy gift wrap. Treating the stack as if it were a single sheet of paper, shape it into a large cone and tape the overlapping edges. Roll up the lower edge of the cone to create a brow band. Then each kid can adorn his hat with stars cut from bright-colored Con-Tact paper.
SORCERER'S GLITTER GLOBE
These crystal ball party favors are sure to cause a stir among attending
wizards. In the center of each one is a sparkly sorcerer's stone. Use your hands to mold some polymer clay (such as Sculpey III) into a small mushroom shape, then press plenty of glitter onto the clay surface. Next, press the bottom of the clay "stem" onto the inner lid of a small clean jar so that it is firmly attached. Fill the jar almost to the top with water and stir in a few drops of glycerin (sold at most pharmacies) and 1/2 teaspoon of glitter. The glycerin will increase the density of the water and cause the glitter to fall more slowly. Finally, tightly screw the lid onto the jar and invert the globe.
SEARCH FOR THE MAGIC BEANS
A job is always easier when great wizard minds join forces. In this case, that means solving a series of cleverly cryptic clues to find a stash of magic beans (a fanciful container filled with multiflavored jelly beans the kids can divvy up and take home).To set up the hunt, first choose four to six successive hiding spots around your house or yard (the last one being where you hide the treasure). Then write a clue that leads to each one. For example, the first clue, which might direct the kids to look under a pot of marigolds, could be printed backward so that they will have to hold it up to a mirror to read it. The second clue, hidden under the flowerpot, might lead them to the mailbox. This time you could write the clue with a white crayon on white paper and leave it with a colored marker and instructions to scribble all over the paper to reveal the message. For the remaining clues, consider posing a riddle, coming up with a numeric code and a key to translate each number into a letter, or even creating a word search puzzle.
MAGIC POTIONS
It wouldn't be a true gathering
of wizards if you could not sample the latest batch of potions. Fill assorted jars with a variety of colorful sports drinks or juices. Then set out ice-filled tumblers into which kids can pour their beverage of choice or perhaps mix a few together. For a little added authenticity, provide a sprig of magical herb--mint leaves that the guests can pull off and drop into their potions.
MENU
•Disappearing Tortilla Chips with Midnight (black bean) Dip•Celestial Sandwiches (bologna and cheese layered between white bread and cut into star and crescent moon shapes)
•Lizard Tongues (baby carrots halved lengthwise)
•Eyeballs of Newt (chilled red grapes)
• Wizard Cupcakes
Natalie Walker Whitlock is an Arizona writer and mother of five Harry Potter fans.
