for my daughter's 5th birthday, we sent out invitations asking that the girls come in old clothes. As each arrived, they were handed a pink feather duster and instructed to dust the furniture. Once all the guests had arrived and were busy dusting, a basket of invitations was "discovered" at the front door. There was a personal note for each girl inviting her to the ball.  We then went outside to a table and "made" our ball gowns.  (I purchased cheap white pillowcases, made a slit in each side for the arms and a V-shaped cut in the top for the head.)The girls decorated with feathers, sequins and rhinestone jewels. Each girl received a Variety Store tiara and a net skirt (I gathered pink netting, sewed a ribbon on the top and put Velcro fasteners on the ribbon). They dressed for the ball and then came into the living room where they danced to the nutcracker suite.  (My oldest son was a good sport - he put on a suit and a crown and danced! with all the girls). After the ball, we had a castle cake (use ice cream cones upside down for the towers). The girls got to take home their dress, skirt, tiara and duster.