Monster Party--Need Ideas

[elbenn]

I am thinking about doing a monster themed birthday party, and I need ideas! This is a 4 year old birthday party, so I would like to do some simple games. Maybe bean bag toss in a monster's mouth, or hide a monster and have the kids find it. Also, need ideas for decorations, party favors, etc. Would love some really creative, cute ideas!

Also, monster themed food ideas for snacks and treats would be helpful.

[misshollygolightly]

Oooh, fun! How about a simple craft like making monster masks (buy pre-cut foam masks and let kids glue foam pieces and stuff on to decorate them) or decorating paper bags or socks to make monster hand puppets (definitely need some googly eyes for that)? You could always read "Where the Wild Things Are" or another monster book. Maybe put together a playlist of party music with songs like "The Monster Mash" and "Purple People Eater" on it. You might could also have a game that involves guessing/identifying famous (child-friendly) monsters (starting with Cookie Monster, for example).

For snacks, maybe Monster Cookies (I love my mom's recipe, but I'm not sure what I've done with it so here's Paula Deen's: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/monster-cookies-recipe/index.html). You could, depending on the time, serve mini/individual pizzas that you or the kids "decorate" with toppings to look like monster faces (olive slices for eyes, etc.).

[lkarp]

I read about this monster party a couple of years ago. Looks like a lot of fun!

http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/33-the-monster-bash-part-one-the-look.html


http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/34-the-monster-bash-part-two-the-day.html

[SnuggleBuggles]

What a fantastically fun idea! I have no ideas but I am watching this thread and may do it for ds2's party next year. :) Have you looked at http://birthdaypartyideas.com/

Beth

[babyready]

Oh! I love that theme, sounds fun!

Here are some links that might be helpful:

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/10/real-parties-monster-mash-bash.html (Halloweeny but still some cute ideas)

http://lifeofmineblogged.blogspot.com/2010/04/maysoons-first-birthday-party-part-1.html

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-joshua-amp-justin-hawaii-oahu-135496

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-addieeugene-or-102065

http://polkadots-pirates.blogspot.com/2010/09/beckett-and-jacks-monster-bash.html

[elbenn]

I read about this monster party a couple of years ago. Looks like a lot of fun!

http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/33-the-monster-bash-part-one-the-look.html


http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/34-the-monster-bash-part-two-the-day.html

This party looks awesome!

[elbenn]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I like the Melissa & Doug Bowling set as one of the games--need to try to find a deal on it.

[elbenn]

Oh! I love that theme, sounds fun!

Here are some links that might be helpful:

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/10/real-parties-monster-mash-bash.html (Halloweeny but still some cute ideas)

http://lifeofmineblogged.blogspot.com/2010/04/maysoons-first-birthday-party-part-1.html

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-joshua-amp-justin-hawaii-oahu-135496

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-addieeugene-or-102065

http://polkadots-pirates.blogspot.com/2010/09/beckett-and-jacks-monster-bash.html

Great links! I love the birthday cake at the ohdeedoh link.

[kristac]

"If you're a monster and you know it" could be a fun activity (it's like if you're happy and you know it)
http://www.amazon.com/If-Youre-Monster-You-Know/dp/0545218292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294447835&sr=8-1

We got these doodle cards for Christmas and they are alot of fun. There's 50+ of them so plenty to go around.
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Doodles-Doodle-Cards-Fiona/dp/0794525504/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294447949&sr=1-1

Here's a similar freebie page
http://www.usborne.com/downloads/things-to-do/doodles/Monster%20shapes.pdf

Another book we are loving right now is Tickle Monster
http://www.amazon.com/Tickle-Monster-Laughter-Josie-Bissett/dp/1932319832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294448160&sr=8-1

[Krisrich]

These finger puppets would make great favors! I ordered Winnie the Pooh puppets from this seller for my DD's party and they are awesome!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62006136/monster-mania-finger-puppet-set-includes?ga_search_query=monster&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5464674

[Tondi G]

Birthday in a box has Monster themed party goods

http://www.birthdayinabox.com/party-themes/boxbuilder.asp?tab_cat_id=1&cat_id=5&dept_id=463&SSAID=393816

They actually have a page with some good suggestions/inspiration

http://www.birthdayinabox.com/party-ideas/guides.asp?bgs=66#title1

Oriental trading has some stuff too

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search/processRequest.do?D=monster+bash+party&gclid=CNC615XmqaYCFQYnbAodVC_goQ&Ntk=all&ms=search&N=0&No=0&Ntt=monster+bash+party&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&searchTerm=monster+bash+party&requestURI=searchMain&Ipp=16&BP=10677&cm_mmc=google-_-Theme+Packs+-+Adlucent+-+I+to+P-_-Monster+-+Party+Dynamic-_-40b2b9695348499aa58b7a7fefd4ec60

MONSTER CUPCAKES

these ones are funny http://www.flickr.com/photos/uplatecakes/1752963618/

http://boingboing.net/2007/10/02/howto-make-monster-h.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/halloween-monster-cupcakes

Not exactly monster but these mummy pizzas were so cute to me when I saw them around Halloween

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/pizza-mummies-688188/

[elbenn]

Thanks for these great ideas. I love that the cupcakes look so cute, but it doesn't look like you have to be Martha Stewart to make them look great.

[gatorsmom]

Haven't read the other replies so I may be repeating some things. One of the boys friends had a Halloween- themed party a few years ago for his birthday party (which is just before Halloween). The mom cut deli meats, cheeses, and slices of bread with cookie cutters in ghost and monster shapes ahead of time. The kids could build a monster sandwich themselves (which was fun, yummy and kept them busy).

She had some fun games but the one I remember the most was the "monster hunt." She gave each child a little paper bag with pretend binoculars, compass, and other little hunting trinkets. Then they had to go around looking for little monster figures hidden around the house. They got to take the monsters and the hunting gear home. Oh, and she encouraged everyone to come dressed up in costumes which was easy since it was halloween time. there were other games too, but that one really stuck in my mind as a favorite of all the kids.