DORA THE EXPLORER PARTY~ MY DAUGHTER FOR HER 3RD BIRTHDAY, WANTED A DORA PARTY! I KNEW THAT THERE WERE NO PRODUCTS FOR DORA YET, SO I HAD TO BE VERY CREATIVE. FIRST FOR TABLEWARE AND DECORATIONS, I PRINTED OUT DORA IMAGES THAT WILL FIT ONTO PLATES. THEN I CUT AND PASTES THE IMAGE DOWN TO A PLASTIC PLATE (ANY COLOR TO MATCH PARTY) AND COVERED IT WITH A CLEAR PLATE. THEN I MADE DORA CUP WRAPPERS. AFTER I PRINTED THOSE UP I CUT AND AFFIXED THEM TO MY 9OZ CUPS. FINALLY FOR NAPKINS, I KNEW IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO PRINT ON SO I MADE DORA NAPKINS RINGS. I PRINTED THOSE OUT CUT THEM AND FOLDED IT AROUND THE NAPKIN AND ADDED A SPOON. I PERSONALIZED EVERYTHING WITH MY DAUGHTER'S NAME AS WELL. I FOUND SOMEONE LOCALLY THAT MADE ME A DORA BIRTHDAY CAKE-(WHICH CAME OUT FANTASTIC!)AND I KEPT THE FOOD SIMPLE. I SET UP A LITTLE MINI TACO STAND. THE CHILDREN ENJOYED MAKING THEIR OWN TACOS AND OF COURSE FOR THE ADULTS I MADE RICE, BAKED ZITI, EMPANADAS AND SALAD. THE DECORATIONS I DREW ALL THE DORA THE EXPLORER CHARACTERS ON POSTER BOARD COLORED AND CUT THEM OUT. I ALSO MADE PALM TREES AS WELL. TO GREET MY INVITED GUEST I DREW UP MAP AND LISTED ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE WERE PLANNING TO DO. FOR THE GOODIE BAGS I MADE "BACKPACK" OUT OF PURPLE LUNCH BAGS. I FILLED THEM WITH A DORA BRACELET, DORA STICKERS AND A DORA CERTIFICATE AND A DORA PARTY HAT. I MADE UP ALL THE FAVORS MYSELF.  I ALSO MADE A LIFE SIZE DORA AND BOOTS CUT OUT ON FOAM BOARD SO THE KIDS CAN STICK THERE FACE THROUGH AND TAKE A PICTURE. FOR THE PARTY GAMES, INSTEAD OF MUSICAL CHAIRS WE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR. I PRINTED OUT ALL OF DORA FRIENDS ON CARD STOCK PAPER, TRACED A 8" CIRCLE AROUND THEM AND USED THEM FOR THIS GAME I CALLED "THE DORA CIRCLE OF FRIENDS". PLACE CHARACTERS IN ANY ORDER ON THE FLOOR IN A CIRCLE (MAKE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE GUESTS IN THE PARTY.) WHEN THE MUSIC IS PLAYING (I USED THE DORA THEME SONG) HAVE CHILDREN MOVE FROM CIRCLE TO CIRCLE CLOCKWISE, WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS PICK OUT A PICTURE FROM A HAT, IF THE CHILD IS STANDING ON THE PICTURE YOU CALL OUT THEY PICK UP THE PICTURE AND LEAVE THE GAME. CONTINUE THAT UNTIL THERE IS A WINNER. WE ALSO DID WHO HAS STOLEN THE MAP OUT OF BACKPACK AND PIN THE BOOTS ON BOOTS. TOWARDS THE END OF THE PARTY WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BREAK THE PINATA. I TOLD ALL THE KIDS THAT I INVITED 2 SPECIAL GUESTS TO THE PARTY. EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED WHEN DORA AND BOOTS CAME TO HELP EVERYONE BREAK THE BOOTS PINATA!!!! (I FOUND A PINK SHIRT AND ORANGE PANTS AND DRESSED UP AS DORA AND I ALSO MADE BOOTS EARS AND TAIL FOR MY 15 YEAR OLD NIECE TO DRESS UP AS BOOTS!!)THE PINATA I MADE MYSELF AT HOME WITH NEWSPAPER CREPE PAPER AND GLUE. A PARTY THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO LAST ONLY TWO HOURS LASTED UNTIL EVENING. THE KIDS DID NOT WANT TO STOP. THEY KEPT PLAYING THE GAMES OVER AND OVER!!! THIS WAS A PARTY NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET!