How cool is it that the Smurfs Movie will hit the big screen later this year in a CGI/ live action version. Wouldn’t this make a fun party theme too? All of those Smurfs – all of that blue!  Think it would be fun?Read on for Smurf party ideas to bring these characters to life for your birthday child.

For your invitation, draw a Smurf handprint, paint it blue on both sides, and write your Smurf party details on one side.

For your party décor, this party has got to be about blue and you can vary different shades of blue to bring the theme alive, i.e. light blue, royal blue, blue, etc. Off set all of of the blue with white as a secondary color too.  Use blue and white for balloons, streamers, and tableware.

Additionally, mark a path to the front door with Smurf footprints and make Smurf paper handprints to place on the party walls.

When your party guests arrive, have a face painter to paint the kids’ faces blue.

As an opening craft activity, have the kids make Smurf hats that they can wear during the party and take home with them too.  The Smurf hats can be made out of white heavy card stock or felt.

Hand out cards with the various Smurf names on them and have the kids play Smurf Charades. Alternatively, call out a Smurf character name and have the kids mimic that Smurf.

Play Smurf, Smurf, Smurfette like Duck, Duck, Goose.

Hold a Smurf Treasure Hunt.  Hide blue candies around the party area and give the kids a few minutes to find them all.  Have them sing the Smurf song as they search too.

In the movie, the Smurfs find a hidden grotto that they drop into and wind up in Central Park in New York City – trying to stay away from Gargamel as they try to find their way back to their Village.  Have the kids jump through a large hula-hoop or into a large box to mimic their own fall through the grotto. From there tag someone to be Gargamel and play Gargamel Tag.

Create a menu any Smurf would love to eat!

Using a mushroom shaped cookie cutter and cut out Smurf sandwiches and fill with cream cheese and blueberry jam.

Serve a berry salad of blueberries and strawberries.

Blue tortilla chips with dips.

Serve Smurf Juice.  Using blue Kool Aid mix with Club Soda instead of regular water. Add ice cubes with berries frozen inside.

Make a favorite batch of cupcakes and have the kids frost and decorate their Smurf cupakes with blue frosting and blue and white candies.

As the kids depart, give them a blue tumbler with their names painted on them.  Fill with Smurf pencils, notebooks, stickers, and any other small thematic goodies.  Alternatively, give the kids a Smurf frame – a wooden frame painted blue.

Don’t forget to send them home with their Smurf hats too.

La, La, La, La, La, La!  Have a Smurfy good time!

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Darren and Pat try and figure out what to do now that Melissa is on vacation.

Grandparents often are an essential part of kids’ birthday parties.  Whether helping the parents plan their grandkids’ parties or charged with planning the special celebration, there are several essential tips for grandparents to keep in mind around kids’ parties.  Read below to keep the party planning smooth and to have a fabulous party to remember.

1. Make sure to define your party role. Do the parents expect you to plan the party or help out with the party?  Make sure to ask what the expectations are and to define it so you know what to do on the big day and stick to it.

2. If holding your own special celebration, make sure to clear your plans with the parents. Whether you are planning a special outing or a gathering with his friends, make sure the parents are aware and have given their “OK” for the plan to avoid disagreements during your special party.

3. If inviting your grandchild’s friends to a party, make sure to know whom to invite. Definitely ask the parents about who may be most appropriate.  There may be a best friend or others that should be included and you certainly don’t want to unintentionally not invite them due to not knowing.

4. A special outing is an additional birthday bonus. Often, parents are the ones charged with holding a party and an additional treat would be an outing with his grandparents, perhaps to a movie or sports game or simply ice cream at a favorite shop.  Think outside the box for a special outing to celebrate your grandchild.

5. Respect Gift Guidelines. Have you been told by the parents that only donations are being accepted to a favorite charity or no gifts are necessary?  Often, parents allow exceptions to these gift guidelines for close family members, but make sure to bring up the topic to make sure and to plan your present with everyone on the same page with what you intend to give.

Keep these top tips in mind when you are involved with planning your grandchildren’s parties to make it easy and stress-free.