While surfing for ideas for my daughter's 9th birthday party, I found your webiste and decided to tell you about her 8th birthday party, which was a shopping party.  I made the invitations on the computer inviting the girls to come and have fun shopping at Shannon's-shop-a-long (my daughter's name is Shannon).  I bought a whole lot of girly nick nacks at a discount store in Jbg, made a magazine" on the computer which had a story and activities in it.  My son then 14 made an ATM out of boxes.  We changed our play room into a shop with all the goodies and a till which my then 12yr old son manned. I collected a whole lot of 5c 10c and 20c pieces each girl got R4-00 (in a purse).  On arrival each guest received a 'credit card' (again which I had made on the computer) and then had to go to the ATM to draw their money my son pretended he was the ATM and spoke to the girls which they loved.  They then received a shopping basket which I had made out of plastic containers and went 'shopping'.  When they had finished their shopping they went to the 'coffee shop" which was our dining room transformed into the coffee shop I borrowed a couple of small tables and chairs placed flowers on each table with a menu (again which I made on the computer)  the girls then ordered their food from our waiters (my son and their friends) which was then brought through to them. We made coloured sprite (like 7up) with ice that we had coloured pink green blue and yellow each glass had a straw and an umbrella.  Their plate of food had fairy cakes crisps and other goodies. They then paid for their meal!  Each guest got to take their purchases home!  My daughter and her friends loved the party and still talk about it a year later!"