TRAIN PARTY:
For my son's 5th birthday we decided to indulge his fascination with trains. I made Print Shop invitations using a train graphic available in the software with the wording, "All Aboard The Party Train!" on the cover and the party details inside, "Departure date, time, station/platform, etc." His birthday is near Halloween so I incorporated his costume which was a homemade Thomas the tank engine. I made the engine out of a copier paper box and shaped the front tank portion out of paper mache and then painted blue and added the details (face, etc.) The bottom of the box was cut out so he would step into it. I attached straps that went over his shoulders so he didn't have to hold the box in place. I dressed him in engineer overalls, hat and bandana so he when he put the box/engine on it looked like he was the engineer inside the train. I also had one box for each child with 4 black construction paper "wheels". During the party each child (with the parent's help if necessary) decorated their 'box cars' with paint, crayons, markers, glue, craft items and attached the wheels with brads. When all the cars were done they each got in their cars and lined up the engine (my son). The little train then went for a trip around the block. I gave my son a train whistle that he would toot periodically. The neighbors loved the show, the parents couldn't take enough pictures and the kids had a blast.