This year my two boys and I decided we would have a Pirate Party. I started planning this party with plenty of time and decide that their invites would have to be pirate maps.  I bought white butcher paper (the kind they use on bulletin boards at school) and cut the paper 9 x 12.  I boiled coffee and poured the coffee into a cake pan for easy dipping.  I dipped each sheet of paper in coffee and set to dry and dipped again for an even better aged look.  I then ironed each sheet flat to be able to print on computer. I printed a map that was created by me included a treasure, a pirate ship and a message in a bottle. On the other side I used the picture of a skull from dead men tell no tales and wrote: Ahoy mateys! captain ---- and captain ----- will sail back to the days of old... and so on. I then ripped the edge of each sheet all around and used a stamp pad to shade edges to look like burnt edges on the map.  I bought some tubes used for invites that looked like tubes used in the old days for sending messages.  I rolled the invites tightly and used a small pirate flag sticker to hold it and inserted the invite into the tubes.  I bought leather rope and tied it around one end and on the ends of the leather rope I put two small skull beads and a old key (like a key for the treasure). The invites were a hit people loved them soooo much that their comments were " IF this is what the invites look like I want to see the party decor".  We usually have big parties for the boys so I rent a large out door park. I had 9 very long tables and needed plenty of decorations for it.  First I bought black fabric to make the linens to cover the entire table, I also bought red and white stripes fabric for accent square linens and fish nets. On each table I had three decorations , some had a large skull purchased at BIg LOts that I decorated with a pirate hat, a patch, a bandana and a gold hoop earring the in the middle were pirate ships  13 inches tall with pirate flags on them and on the base was a small pirate skull piggy bank bought at the pirate store at Disneyland and on the far end was a small chest that I bought and decorated using foam inside and covered it with black suede like fabric and glued rings and necklaces and plastic coins and chocolate coins. The middle decoration ( the ship) had black, white and red balloons and a pirate balloon . I bought coins off  website that had my boys name engraved on each side ----- pirate party.I scattered them along with rings and necklaces all over the table.  I also bought some cheap fish napkin holders and spray painted them gold. Each table also had a bowl for chips that I bought and the decorations were skulls. The place I rented had a large patio with lots of pillars. I decorated it by draping red and white fabric and fish nets.  Each pillar had a palm tree we hand made (last years party) and some had full skeletons which we dress up by making them a vest and red and white pants and a red sash.  They each had a pirate bandana and pirate hat and patch with earring. The park has a beautiful entrance and we made sure it would fit the theme. I bought a inflatable balloon arch at Walmart that was perfect for the party. I had a large skull at the top will flames at each end. I played the music of Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me! As our guests came in the were greeted by us dressed as pirates and each boy was given a bag with a bandana, patch and a moustach and each girl was walked over to a scene with a skeleton and broken plastic bottles and a big treasure chest that they would pick a necklace and ring for themselves.  We also made a sign that told guests were they could go... one said dead men tell no tales pirates ( was the area were we had professional clowns dressed as pirates that were doing face painting and balloon swords) another sign said pirates cove ( area with large astro jumps and huge pirate ship made by a friend of mine) and last one said pirates grub ( area catered with fish tacos and eating area. We had pinatas of a pirate and a pirate ship stuffed with candy, rings, coins and pirate stickers. I made a three tier cake with skulls a map and plenty of chocolate coins. The candy bags were made with suede like fabric that we made into pouches.  I created a stencil of a skull and swords and stenciled each bag with white paint. I used the leather rope to tie the pouches and tied little skull at the ends ( they were so nice) I filled them with skull rings and white bubble bottles that I decorated with a pirated flag sticker and ring pops and coins.  We played games and guests were given a black t-shirt that had a stenciled skull and swords and the boys names. The party was an all day event 12-8 the park had a security guard and children could run all over the place and parents could feel free to have fun as well knowing the kids couldn't leave the park without them.  I also gave kids paper braceletes for each family and according to their age for the games and the lines for breaking the pinata. Everyone had a great time... I still have people saying what a wonderful party that was for all ages.