I decided a fun way to get the kids into the groove of the party would be to start with a little treasure hunt. I made up little cards for each family coming to the party. I had picked up these mermaid Barbie-like dolls at a dollar store - two dolls (mermaid "sisters") for a dollar. I then wrote the name of each girl coming on the back of each set dolls. We had some boys coming, so I bought toy dragons at a toy store and wrote their names on them (I had a bit of hard time trying to incorporate the boys into this theme, but this worked out great!). The cards, which we handed to each family coming in the door, said "To Earn Your Fairy Wings The evil sorceress has locked the mermaids of Mermaidia away in a far-away cave! It is your job to rescue them and bring them back to their home in Mermaidia! If you do so, you will earn your fairy wings. 1.Go to the cave (trampoline). There are two mermaid sisters in the cave that have your name written on their backs. Find your mermaid sisters and rescue them from the cave. 2.Take your mermaid sisters, and slide them down the magical waterfall (water slide). The magic water will make them feel stronger for their journey back to Mermaidia. 3.Take your mermaids from the magical waterfall, and into the land of Mermaidia (the pool). The mermaids will be so happy to be home, they will most likely want to leap and flip into the air, landing in the water. Throw them up so they land in the water and return safely to their homes. Try on a mermaid tail to see how you like being a mermaid! 4.The mermaid sisters are yours to keep, so once you are done swimming in Mermaidia, please bring them inside with you and put them with your things.  Congratulations! You have saved the mermaids from the evil sorceress, and you have now earned your fairy wings.! Good job!!" My mom and I had sewn the mermaid tails ourselves.