Hitting a Piñata is a fun activity for a birthday party and other celebrations. You can purchase a Piñata already made and sometimes event already filled, or you can make your own. Here are some instructions for making a simple piñata. You can build upon these instructions to make a more complex creation.

You will need:

Balloon
String
White Glue
Newspaper
Paint or Crepe Paper
Prizes to fill the Pinata with

1. Tear newspapers into strips.
2. Mix the glue with water ¾ glue to ¼ part water. With thicker glue you may choose to add more water.
3. Blow up the balloon. Tape a string to the top of the balloon.
4. Dip newspaper strips in glue and cover the balloon with 2 layers of newspapers. Leave a small hole just large enough to remove the balloon and fill the piñata with prizes around the balloon string. Let dry. After paper is dry, cover the balloon with another two layers and let dry again. Once paper is completely dry, pop and remove the balloon using the string.
5. Decorate the piñata with paint or crepe paper. You can glue the ends of crepe paper strips or wrap the paper around the piñata.
6. Fill the piñata with prizes or treats
7. Poke 4 holes evenly around the edge of the hole on the top of the piñata. Thread two strings so each goes in one hole and out through the hole opposite. You will end up with four ends of string hanging out of the piñata. You can knot four strings around the individual holes if you prefer.
8. Cover the hole with masking tape and decorate with paint or crepe paper to match the rest of the piñata. Make sure that the ends of the string are still accessible, but you should be covering the part of the string that goes through the pinata.
9. Tie the four strings ends together so all hang at an equal length. Tie a long ribbon or string around the knot to hang the piñata.

Once you have the basic piñata construction down, you can start experimenting with different shapes and sizes. You can use multiple balloons of different sizes to make different animals. You can also use cardboard tubes to support parts of the piñata. Just make sure whatever you are using can be broken since breaking the piñata really is the whole point of the exercise.

When you are planning all the details for your party, be sure to check with AZ Party Rents for all your rental needs including tents, tables, and chairs.

If you are planning a party for a creative kid, why not make the party centered around arts and crafts. Pick an artistic setting, activity, or both, and the guests are sure to have a good time.

Make (or buy) creative invitations and be sure to tell the parents to send clothes that can get messy (if you are having the kids do any messy activities). You may also consider providing inexpensive aprons or smocks for the kids or in a pinch, cut a holes in garbage bags for the kids heads and arms and they can wear them to protect their clothes.

Museums like the Phoenix Art Museum and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix are interesting settings for birthday parties. Bring the kids on a tour of the Phoenix Art Museum which offers special kid activities. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix has birthday party packages which can include a variety of creative activities.

If you choose to have the party at home or at the park, there are plenty of art and craft activities you can include with your party. Your imagination really is the only limit.

Spin art is a fun, simple activity that all of the participants can enjoy, whether or not they can draw. Squeeze paint onto a spinning piece of paper or fabric to create an abstract masterpiece.

Sandy Candy is an interesting and edible event activity, perfect for creative kids who put everything in their mouth anyway. Participants layer edible colored “sand” in a clear plastic container to make a work of art.

If you are on a tight budget, think about what you can do using recycled materials. Old magazines can be cut up to make collages or used for reference material for painting or drawing. Leaves, sticks, feathers, and other natural items can also be used in collages or in sculptures. You can clean and decorate empty soup cans (make sure there are no sharp edges) to make pen holders or use in sculpture. You can make paper mache using old newspaper strips and a water and glue mix and sculpt over balloons, cardboard, or other armature materials.

Feeling inspired? Hopefully, you have lots of ideas for the party. If you are struggling for inspiration however, visit the local art or craft stores. Browsing the shelves or talking to the employees should help you come up with something great. There are also loads of books or online craft tutorials that you can look at for more ideas. And if all else fails, talk to the guest of honor and see what kind of activities they can come up with.

Thinking of having a soft serve ice cream machine at your event? Most people serve vanilla ice cream if they are just serving one flavor or vanilla and chocolate if they are serving two, but there are many flavors of ice cream that you can make with the machine. Additionally you can have a sundae bar with all sorts of toppings. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Soft Serve Flavors:

Flavor Burst Flavors:
Almond, Banana Ripple, Black Cherry, Blue Goo, Blue Hawaiian Coconut, Blue Raspberry, Blueberry, Bubble Gum, Butter Pecan, Butterscotch, Caramel, Chai, Cheesecake, Chocolate Swirl, Classic Cherry, Coffee ‘n’ Crème, Cool Lemon, Cool Mint, English Toffee, French Vanilla, Green Apple, Hazelnut, Hot Cinnamon, Licorice, Lime, Mango, Maple, Mocha Cappuccino, Peach Twist, Peanut Butter, Pina Colada, Pineapple, Pistachio Nut, Pumpkin Pie, Purple Grape, Raspberry, Root Beer, Strawberry, Tropical Orange, Walnut, and Watermelon

Magical Flavors:
American Peanut Butter, Banana Republic, Belgium Hazelnut, Black Cherry, Black Raspberry, Blueberry Euphoria, Bombay Mango, Bubble Gum, Butterscotch Bliss, California Cake Batter, Canadian Maplenut, Cappuccino, Caramel Fudge Éclair, Chai Karma, Cherries Jubilee, Chocolate Chip Mint, Chocolate Fudge Pudding, Classic Pumpkin Pie, Coco Loco Pina Colada, Coffee Espresso, Cool Watermelon, Creamy Caramel, Crème Brulee, Crème de Menthe, Dulce de Leche, English Toffee, Florida Key Lime, French Vanilla, Fresh Lemon, Fudge Brownie, Georgia Butter Pecan, German Chocolate Cake, Green Apple Pie, Hawaiian Pineapple, Hollywood Tutti Frutti, Honey Dew Heaven, Honolulu Coconut, Irish Cream, Italian Tiramisu, Kahlua (Coffee Liquor), Lemon Chiffon Custard, Mexican Cinnamon Spice, New Zealand Fresh, Kiwi, NY Cheesecake, Orange Sunshine, Peachy Peach, Philly Root Beer, Pink Cotton Candy, Pistachio, Pomegranate, Pure Classic Green Tea, Purple Cow Grape, Rainforest Acai Pomegranate, Red Velvet Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Delight, and White Chocolate Macadamia

Sauces:
Butterscotch
Caramel
Chocolate
Fruit: Cherry, Pineapple, Strawberry, ect
Marshmallow
Peanut Butter

Toppings and Extras:
Brownies
Candies: Butterfingers, Crunch Bar, Gum Balls, Gummi Bears, Kit Kat, Licorice, M&Ms, Marshmallows, Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Toffee, Twix, Whoppers
Cake
Chocolate Chips: Dark, Milk, and White
Chocolate Shavings
Cinnamon
Coconut
Cookies: Chocolate Chip, Oreos, Vanilla Waifers
Cookie Dough
Fruit: Apples, Banana, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Peaches, Pineapple, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, and Pineapple
Graham Crackers
Granola
Honey
Nuts: Almonds, Cashews, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pistachios, and Walnuts
Sprinkles
Whipped Cream

Writing this list really made me feel like eating an ice cream sundae. I hope it inspires you to come up with a fantastic soft serve creation or to put together your own soft serve sundae bar for an event.

Phoenix is a warm place. The average monthly temperature ranges from 55 degrees in December to 95 degrees in July with high temperatures that can go up to 122 degrees. That’s pretty hot! So how can you cool down an event in Phoenix?

Well, you could always hold your event indoors with air conditioning blasting, and things are sure to stay comfortable. You can have a party at a swimming pool so everyone can cool down in the water. You can shade your event with tents and cool things down with fans.

If those options won’t work for your event, it is just still to warm, or you just want to add a cool treat to your party, consider renting a soft serve ice cream machine. Some other cool treats to consider for events include Shaved Ice, Margaritas, and ice cream bars.

Soft serve ice cream machines are easy to use and make a great treat. Soft serve ice cream is a good concession to sell at fairs, concerts, and other public events or it is a fun addition to birthday parties, picnics, and other private events. Personalize your ice cream with a variety of flavors, cones, and toppings or just sell plain vanilla which is sure to please.

So if you are looking to cool down your event, consider serving a nice cool treat like Soft Serve Ice Cream.

Do you have a relative or friend who is loves participating in all sorts of dangerous activities? Or perhaps you are the one who is always looking for a thrill. For those thrill seekers who love to climb mountains, go bungee jumping, ride bulls, or do just about anything else for a kick, there are some great entertainment options for a party. These entertainment options provide thrills without so much risk, so all of the party goers can join in on the adventure and fun.

Ever been rock climbing? I hear it is a lot of fun, but I am a bit afraid of heights myself, so I stay off of the mountains. I know many people who like to climb, and I have heard stories of near disasters that make me glad I am not one of them. I wouldn’t hesitate to climb a climbing wall however, and a climbing wall makes a great entertainment option for parties and events. Experienced climbers enjoy the opportunity to practice and play while those who are new to the sport get a chance enjoy climbing without spending a ton of money on equipment or risking their life on a mountain.

Want to try bungee jumping? Monkey Motion is a bungee trampoline system that can also be set up to simulate wakeboarding or snowboarding. I’m not brave enough to jump from any great heights, but this looks like fun!

Ever ridden a bull? I suspect most people have not, but a mechanical bull is a good alternative that is guaranteed not to gore you once you fall off,… and you will fall off. When people asked me about falling off my horse, I told them that the actual fall was kind of a rush, it was the landing that stunk. When you fall off our mechanical bull, you land on a nice soft inflatable, so enjoy the ride.

Want more thrills? How about playing Laser Tag? How else can you run around shooting people without going to jail (or get shot and not end up at the hospital)? No one gets hurt, but everyone has a lot of fun.

Whether the guests are thrill seeker or they just want to pretend to be, there are plenty of fun options for adding adventure into a party.

Trying to figure out a snack to have at an event? Nachos make a popular snack for sporting events, parties, and all sorts of other events. Basic nachos are easy and inexpensive to make or you can add extra toppings to make the Nachos into a more nourishing snack.

If you are thinking of adding extra toppings to the Nachos, here are some ideas:

Meat: ground beef, shredded beef, shredded chicken
Vegetables: green onions, black olives, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, shredded lettuce, corn, beans, cilantro
Sauces: salsa, sour cream, guacamole
Shredded cheese: Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Mozzarella

There are also a wide variety of chips that you can serve with your Nachos. Most people go with a plain corn tortilla chip, but even among corn tortilla chips there are many choices.

Whether you serve the Nachos plain or with an assortment of toppings, they are sure to be a hit. Have sodas and other beverages available as well, as nachos tend to make people very thirsty- especially if they have are topped with spicy condiments.

Have you ever been bungee jumping? One of the casinos in Reno put in a ride called the Big Rush where people are lifted 180’ in the air and free fall with a bungee cord. The ride has proven very popular and as you drive by on the highway you can almost always see someone taking the plunge. Personally, as someone who is scared of heights, the whole idea terrifies me.

Monkey Motion combines the thrill of bungee jumping with the fun of bouncing on a trampoline. The great attraction is tons of fun, and for those people, like me, who don’t feel comfortable falling from a great height, it is a lot less scary than taking tall rides like the Big Rush. The distance isn’t nearly as far and the trampoline landing is nice and soft. Monkey Motion allows users to fly up to 25’ in the air, which is still quite a distance!

Monkey Motion can be set up with up to 4 stations, to reduce the time people have to wait for their turn. The activity is fun for kids and adults of all ages. It is a great addition to all sorts of events including fairs, outdoor concerts, and parties.

Want to see how much fun Monkey Motion can be? Check out this product video on u-tube.

The weather may be warm and sunny, but alas Arizona is nowhere near the beach. Those of us wanting to cool off on a hot summer day have to make due with a lake, a pool, or the sprinklers.

The beach may be far away, but there is nothing to stop you from creating a beach themed party. Here are some ideas to make your party a whale of a good time…

Get beach themed invitations to invite the kids to your beach party. Be sure to tell them to bring a suit, sunglasses, sandals, sunscreen, and a beach towel. They may not get too wet, but what kind of a beach party is it if you don’t dress the part?

Get sea shells, beach balls, beach toys, decorated plates, cups, and decorations at the party, craft or dollar store. Make or buy a cake with an ocean or fish theme. It can be simple as decorating the cake sand brown or sea blue and putting seashells or plastic sealife, ocean, reef, shark, or whale figures on it.

Pick an outdoor setting with lots of space. Get out the beach toys and set up a sand box for the kids to make sand castles. Set up a wading pool so the kids can cool off when they get hot (be sure to keep an extra close eye on little kids around the water. You could also consider having your party at a pool or a lake, but remember having kids around the water requires extra supervision.

You can rent the Sea Creature Toddler Play Center which is an ocean themed inflatable for toddlers and little kids. Larger kids may prefer the Seaworld Bounce House or surf at your party with a surfing machine.

Beach parties are lots of fun and with a little imagination you can have one far away from the beach. Arizona’s warm weather makes it a great place for an outdoor party.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Have any plans yet? There are many events around Arizona for moms to celebrate the special day, or you can plan your own special event to make mom feel appreciated.

How many people are going to be included in your mother’s day celebration? Is it just you and mom or are there others who will need to be included? Some families are small but other families are really big. My own grandmother had 7 kids who each had kids of their own and now some of those kids are having kids too. As a result our family gatherings get pretty large.

Brunch is a traditional meal for Mother’s Day, though most mom’s will appreciate any sort of break from preparing food. If you decide to make mom breakfast in bed or a different meal at home, be sure to plan on cleaning up after the meal as well. The celebration loses something if mom has to do the clean up after it is done. If clean up is an issue, it may be a better idea to bring mom out to eat or pick up food.

If your Mother’s Day celebration is too big to have at home, there are many other options available. Many restaurants have banquet space and would be happy to accommodate your group. Just be sure to book in advance since Mother’s Day tends to be a busy occasion for restaurants.

If you are on a budget and you like doing things yourself, consider having your Mother’s Day party at the park. Picnic areas are available at the parks to reserve and on a first come first served basis. Since Arizona has nice weather most of the year, picnic’s are almost always pleasant; however, a shelter is never a bad idea just in case and so guests can get out of the sun. If there is not a shelter available at the place you have picked for your party, you can rent a tent. You can also rent tables and chairs  if you need them. If you have kids involved in your party the park is great as playgrounds provide built in entertainment or you can rent an inflatable for the kids to play in.

Looking for the perfect gift for mom? Flowers, chocolates, and jewelry are popular traditional choices, but each mom has different tastes. Perhaps mom would like artwork created by her kid(s) or a personalized creation using photos. Use your imagination and what you know about mom to pick her the perfect gift. Mother’s Day is a great time to let your mom know just how much you appreciate her, and letting her know how much you care is the best gift you can give.

Spring is here again and Easter is right around the corner. If you are organizing an Easter Egg hunt this year for your church, family, friends, or another group, here are some tips to help you get started.

First consider where you are going to hold your Easter Egg Hunt. Will it be in your back yard, at a church, at a park, or in another place? You can hold an Easter Egg hunt pretty much anywhere as long as there is sufficient space for the people who are attending and any activities you have planned. However, if you are holding your party at a public venue, like a park, you will need to keep an eye on things and wait to hide your Easter Eggs until right before the hunt to make sure they don’t get picked up by people who are not part of your event.

Decide what kind of eggs and treats you want to hide. You can use hard boiled eggs that are decorated before the egg hunt. If your party is long enough, decorating the eggs can be part of the event as well, but make sure there is sufficient time for the eggs to dry. You may prefer to use plastic eggs if they are going to be hidden in advance, you are worried about spoilage, or you just want things to be simpler. Plastic eggs can be filled them with treats and toys or hidden empty.

Make sure there are plenty off eggs for all the kids who are participating. You will probably need to limit the number of eggs for each participant so there are no egg hogs. One idea is to have a dozen eggs hidden for each child then have each child use an egg carton to put their eggs on instead of using a basket to make sure no-one takes more than their fare share. If cost is an issue, have the parents bring a dozen decorated eggs for each child who is participating.

Make sure that each child has a basket or some sort of container for their eggs. If there are a lot of kids involved, have different areas or different times for kids of various ages so you don’t have the older kids getting all of the eggs. One ides if you have a limited number of eggs is having the parents hide the eggs for the older kids who would find the eggs then re-hide the same eggs for the younger kids.

If you are serving food with your Easter Egg Hunt, decide if you will be making the food, having it catered, or having a pot luck. Make sure the space you have chosen for the event has sufficient facilities for food prep and dining. You can rent tables and chairs if needed. Pick up Easter decorations, table clothes, plates, and other holiday items at a local dollar store or party store.

Hope your Easter Egg Hunt is a big success!