[heatherbell89]

I love the cupcake idea and know my kids owuld be impressed, but personally hate the [email="cr@ppy"]cr@ppy[/email] trinkety cheapo plastic toys, much more in favour of one nice thing or a few nice lollies.

[Lyra]

For my daughter's 6th birthday party we did a treasure hunt but before we went out they all decorated a treasure box. A very, very good friend of mine had painted the boxes pink inside and out and put a gold glittery bottom on the inside of the box. Then the guests decorated the boxes with stickers and jewels. Then they followed a treasure map to different points around the yard and collected all manner of things. They thought this was the best thing ever! And, I had parents and guests telling me weeks later how much fun they had

[Julie3Girls]

If they are going to win prizes and have a treasure hunt, I would actually recommend have party bags - either just bags of some sort, or noodle boxes. Put their name on it with big black texta, and then get them to put their "loot" into their own bags when they win stuff. Keeps it all safe, and so much easier when it's time to go home and they are trying to find their bits and pieces that they won.

When we have had an entertainer, I've always scheduled them to arrive 30 minutes after the official party start time, to allow time for the kids to all arrive and settle. So you could put a table somewhere with noddle boxes, or brown paper bags, and a whole heap of stickers (pirate theme is pretty easy to find - those little pads of stickers, with pages of themed stickers), let them decorate their own bag and put their name on it. Gives them something to do while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Leave them all the table so the kids can put stuff in there after games etc. Keeps their stuff safe, not lost, and something to take home at the end. If you wanted you could throw in some little stuff at some point when the kids are occupied elsewhere ("There is stuff in there? Really? How did that get there? It must have been the fairies?")

Oh, and an alternative to helium balloons if you wanted ... I've got the punching balloons from the reject shop for a couple of parties. Big round balloons with an elastic loop on it for punching. The kids love them, and they last a bit better than the helium balloons.

[bark]

The cupcake sounds good to me, although I would not get them to decorate it.I would have pirate ones ready, all packaged up to go.

[Mercurial]

I did this for DD's birthday party and the kids loved it. Let them decorate over a tiled area though!!

[hampoky]

My daughter went to a party and was given a colouring in book and a little pack of pencils as a party favour , she was very happy. but I do like the cupcake idea.

[BabyBumbleBee]

I think the cupcake idea is fine but if the kids are decorating the cakes themselves during the party I think you're going to have a hard time stopping most of the kids from eating the cupcake then and there and therefore they'd be left with just the balloon at home time.

This post has been edited by BabyBumbleBee: 09/07/2012, 09:52 AM

[Anita02]

After reading some of the PPs, I've decided to have the cupcakes already iced, so the kids don;t get into them before home time
Also I won't bother with balloons and put in a couple of freddos in the loot bag.

Thanks everyone

[Ducky*Fuzz]

Woolies used to have Disney books at the checkouts that were $2-$3 each. I used to give those out.