Easy DIY Summer Party Ideas on KSL

{Summer Party Tips For Any Gathering}

Thank-you summer.  Thank-you for bring the warmth of the sun, the cool of the pool, and the smell of the BBQ grill.

My fondest memories of childhood happened in the summertime. Family gatherings, beach trips, camping, picking berries...I think you all probably have similar feelings about summer. Now that I'm the "grown up" planning the event schedule for the summer I want my kids to love it as much as I did so I love to make each activity as easy and fun as possible.  

Over the years I have learned a few things about a having a successful summer party & I'm going to share a few of my favorite party activities with you! You will also be able to catch me on KSL Ch 5 in Salt Lake City (NBC affiliate) at 5:45 AM tomorrow morning talking about these fun ideas! 

{Easy Ideas for Any Outdoor Party}

Toad's Gathering Tip: Whether I'm in charge of a big family reunion or just getting together with friends,  I always like to have a little something ready to keep everyone busy and happy.  (For some great reunion ideas you can see my grandpa's 95th birthday party. My siblings, their wives, and my cousins are pretty amazing and had some pretty great things prepared!) 

Here are some of my most recent favorite summer party activities that are super easy, but have been big hits!

{Water Bottle Labels}

Bottle labels are the easiest way I know to add a little "party" to any party! 4th of July, sports team party, family reunions, birthdays...you name it, you can do it! These "Summer Party" printables are available from this previous post. Ah, I love summer. 

Sports Team Parties are another fun place to feature labels!

{Home Cotton Candy Machine}

Yes, a homemade cotton candy machine.  For Aidan's 5th birthday party last summer I ordered one off of Amazon for $40 and it was the hit of the party.  This is not the fastest cotton candy maker, but for a small crowd its a great fit. (If you have more than 15-20 people I would probably rent a big one.)

Joke: How many brother's does it take to make a serving of cotton candy? Answer: See picture below :)

{Water Fight Featuring Sponges!}

The staple of any summer fun is to have some sort of water fight.  If you don't want to worry about kids getting mad or hurt try these...sponges! They hold water you they make a good impact on your victim, but they don't hurt.  Another easy tip for any summer party. 

{DIY Huge Bubbles!}

Best ideas for any party. Seriously. Kids both young and old have the best time with these giant bubbles! Plus they are so easy to make!

These bubble makers are made of straws and string. Our ancestors would be proud. 

Yahoo! So fun! This was another hit at Aidan's birthday party last summer. Loved it.

Bubble Recipe
6 cups of water

1/2 cup blue Dawn dish detergent

1/2 cup corn starch

1 TBL baking powder

1 TBL Glycerine

Add all of the ingredients together and mix gently. Let set overnight.  Have the time of your life!

{Homemade Snow Cone Machine!}
Need I say more? Long gone are the days of the Snoopy Snow Cone Machine. Man, I love that thing as a kid...but boy was it SLOW!

This little gem makes cooling off in the summer so easy.  I don't know anyone who doesn't appreciate a snow cone.  Even my dad who is diabetic and make a nice slushy, put sugar-free syrup on it, and enjoy a treat with the rest of us!

Amazon: $25

{Happy Summer}
Whatever you do this summer...make it a fun adventure! Life's too short not to enjoy the simple things...right?!

XOXO, Toady
+Emily Ashby

Harry Potter Birthday Party

{Magical Memory}
You are really lucky to be a wizard especially if your mom is only a muggle. And I bet every muggle mom who has a little wizard turning 7 wishes for magical powers.  At least I do.

But since I don't have a wand, I just use Photoshop Elements and make sure to have an outdoor party.  It just makes them more magical...or in other words...easier.;)   

{Party Prep}

This is where its at.  Thank-you dollar store.  And here's a behind the scenes look at what we did before the little witches and wizards arrived...

Our little business wizard.  He named the place himself. Once his shop was set up we were 1/2 way finished.

{Magic Money}

And here is the currency of the party.  It was ready to be distributed to the kids as they "earned" it for things like...showing up, participating in the activities, and finding snakes and eyeballs (which will make more sense in a minute).

This was way easier than it looks...

Just bake the cake in bread pans, line up the cakes, and frost them.  I used 2 cake mixes and store bought frosting.  I love that frosting.;)

Stickers rock.  They are so easy and add so much. I found this darling Harry Potter clipart on Etsy in a shop called DigiMyWorld ($5.99) and then printed them out onto sticker (or label) paper. 

Note: That shop has some super cute stuff if you ever need anything!

Fizzy drink mix via Target ($4.99).  It was a hit...all colored and bubbly. 

Tip: Next time I would just buy Sprite and use the sugar Kool-Aid mix. I think it would be about the same.

Forgive me for the next few pictures...I love these little characters!:)

Potion Prep...simple.  I just grabbed some empty little Costco water bottles and filled them with white vinegar.  The cups had a bit of food coloring and baking soda. 

The oldest and best science experiment magic trick in the world...



Troll Snot.  Gak.  Gross and gooey...One part glue to one part liquid starch.  Add food coloring or glitter for effect.  Once again easy, gross, and fun. 



{And It Began...}
With Harry Potter theme music blasting, the kids arrived one by one and received their black sidesaddle bag.  They were asked to wear it because they needed it to put their wands, prizes, magic money, and other treasures into throughout the party. 



While waiting for everyone to arrive we found wands and make broomsticks.   (Remember my last post? Yep! That's the one!)

Then the Potions Class.  We were lucky to have my sister (who got some of the families magical abilities) to teach this class...

Thanks Marge! Your potions were amazing.



{Troll Snot}
After potions we moved right into Troll Snot.  Yes, that's right.  Sometime they sneeze on the trees in the back and this is what we get.  Note: This is not for people with weak stomachs.;)

{Sing It!}
Magical sparks were shooting out of this wand as we sang...fortunately this little wizard had the spell to put them out!

{Warming Up}

Its true, my husband is a wizard.  He got it from his father who is also very gifted.  It sure came in handy at the party as he "wowwed" the kids with his card trick he perpformed! (Don't tell anyone that he learned how to do off of UTube the night before.)

{The Hunt}
For every eyeball or snake they found they could trade it for "magic money" to spend at Ethan's Prize Shop.  Wouldn't you be running too?:)

{Great Day}
And when it was through we had some happy little wizards and witches.

And one happy muggle mom.

{Magical Movement}
And as for the little brother Aidan, he had quite the party too.   After swallowing a 1" screw on Thursday afternoon (yes, a screw...the xray confirmed it) he expelled it during Ethan's birthday party in a "special gift" in his britches.

Our prayers were answered as the Lord truly looked out for him during the ordeal.  There could have been some serious complications, but we are so blessed and grateful there weren't. 

And yes, I am making him pay us back for the visit to the Urgent Care when he makes it big someday.;)

{The Muggle}
Our father is a wizard and mother is a muggle.  In fact, have you heard of Bill the Magnificant?  Yep that's him.  For more you can see this post from our family reunion this summer.;)

I am a muggle, but my younger sister-who may now be called a witch-- truly worked some magic at this party.  Thanks again for all of your help Marge!

Picture taken today by Ethan ...

And as for our little wizard...

Happy 7th Birthday!  We love you!

Mom, Dad, & Aidan