Our daughter turned 7 this year and we decided to have a Teddy Bear making party.  We started by inviting our guests to "Emily's Bear Factory" with homemade invitations all inside oragami envelopes done in a variety of printed dark brown scrapbooking paper, sealed with a teddy bear sticker. Inside the envelopes were two computer printed cards.  The first card gave all of the important details telling the children when and where the party would be and that they needed to RSVP to "Mama Bear" by returning the second card. The second card gave the children costume options for their Teddy Bears. They could choose from a princess, dancer, superhero or sports bear (with whatever sport they wanted). It also asked them for their name, favorite colour and their telephone number. We asked that the children return the cards to "Mama Bear" 3 weeks before the party so that each child's teddy bear would be ready for them on the day. I used a Simplicity pattern and made 9 teddy bears out of two shades of beige polar fleece and attached plastic eyes and noses.  I stuffed the bear's heads, arms and legs and left the tummies empty with a small opening in the back. Then I made the custom costumes that the children had "ordered" on the response cards.  We had 3 pink princesses, 1 blue princess, 2 superheros (done in green and purple spandex suits), 1 pink ballerina, 1 blue and silver jazz dancing bear, and 1 hockey bear (complete with skates).  When the children arrived they sat down at the kitchen table with their bears and costumes. I had cut out red felt hearts for each and asked the kids to make a wish, kiss the heart and put it inside their bear. Then they got to stuff their bears with polyester fibrefil.  Some were a little light in the tummy but most of them put in a good amount to give the bear a good shape.  I quickly slip-stitched the backs and then the children got to dressing their bears. When they were done they all took their bears into the livingroom, sat on a picnic blanket and we had a Teddy Bear's picnic.  My daughter used her plastic cups and plates for the Teddies and I had found some paper plates with Care Bears on them for the kids.  We had hot dogs, chips and "tea" and bear paw cupcakes (chocolate chip cupcakes with chocolate icing and white chocolate chips for the pawprints.) My daughter opened her presents and the children played with their bears while they waited for their parents to come and pick them up. Along with the Care Bear plates I found Care Bear loot bags and put in a package of Teddy Grahams and Gummi Bears.  It was lots of work but well worth the effort. The fabric and supplies cost under $50.00 for all nine of the bears.  It made each child feel special and they each got a new friend to bring home that will remind them of the fun they had celebrating my daughters birthday.  It was a "beary" good day.