Dora Birthday Fiesta

Backpack invitation folded with info or map inside - or e-mail invitations with backpack & map that has the info...

Where are we going?
....... 4th Birthday at .....
When are we going?
.......
Come on Vamanos
Everybody let's go
I know that we can do it

Earth friendly gift ideas...
You can set up a gift registry at alternative gift registry (the center for a new American dream), you can ask for newspaper gift wrap, used books, second hand toys etc to make the party earth friendly ;)

gift bag pattern - for gifts or party treats You could use purple like Dora's backpack

Map for Birthday activities
Where are we going?

We had free play for the first part of the party while we finished dinner. Crafts - Paper Plate Maracas, Beads for bracelets, tissue paper for Mexican roses, Dora and Mexico books, Dora fiesta and Mariachi music, swing and beach ball.

Mexican Dinner
Tamales - recipe from package
Shredded Chicken Tacos shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream
Chile paste, Salsa Verde and Mole
Mango Tango, hot corn dip and chips
peaches
Limeade to drink

Dora Adventure
We map a map and wrote a little story where Boots's Boots are swiped by swiper and taken to star tunnel.
The map went Bridge - Puddle - Forest - Tunnel

Troll Bridge (dad played the troll and asked riddles - when the kids got the riddle right they were given a bean bag to put on their head to balance as they walked a line - over the bridge We used Dora/Diego fabric to make the bean bags they were simple, fun and easy.)
Mud Puddle (we hung a rope from the basketball standard for the kids to swing over a "mud puddle"
Fiesta Forest (bean bag/jungle bell dance. We had Dora fiesta music playing as each of the kids called out a move to do. Lots of the kids chose jumping.)
Star Tunnel (overflow section of church that was dark. I hung up 5 stars and numbered them uno to cinco. The kids found all the stars then we read them in order. Next we looked for Boots's Boots after they were found we pulled the strings for the star pinata.)

Pinata - reuse newspaper
In a Dora party episode they have a star pinata with strings - each child pulls a string to open a paper pinata. This saves you from the baseball bat in the head - America's funniest home video incidents.
pinata info
how to make a pinata
paper bag pinata
Swiper will be swiping the birthday treasure box and we'll have to go through all the activities to find it.
Or you can have swiper when the pinata is opened and the kids can say swiper no swiping. We're having our eldest wear a fox tail, bandit mask and gloves.
Fill pinata with hot tamales - beading/maraca kit supplies

Our pinata was 2 pieces of newspaper. I drew a star one them then glued the bottom half. I let that dry then we filled it then I added the strings and glued the top half shut. It worked great! You could paint the paper first for added color.

Craft supplies & treat inside pinata
We ended up doing the crafts 1st while dinner was getting ready.

A few options....
Craft - bracelets with fimo beads - inspired by Dora's bracelet. We're going to make beads before the party for the kids to use and maybe make some while they are there? Then the kids can string them. You can also make maracas

Here is a perfect pony bead pattern to make a Dora flower bracelet link

You could use this pattern to make a tricky pony bead flower for your Dora bracelet

other pony bead critter patterns
link
link 2

fiesta crafts
making friends

Mexican dancing doll

paper plate maraca

Poncho Libre
For hip poolside duds, try these no-sew, fun-to-make towel cover-ups.
by Vickie Howell
Parents out there, let’s take a moment to mourn what I like to call, “The Insanity Solstice” (aka summer vacation). Ok, moment’s over. Now it’s time to gather ourselves and band together to come up with ways to enrich our children’s creative spirits while passing the time until the arrival of the blessed Fall Semester. Hey, if we can also teach them to lend that creativity to environmentally-conscious crafting, well then, bonus!

My contributions to the cause are these stay-dry ponchos. Turn a trip to a thrift store into a scavenger hunt for the perfect swimsuit cover-up. Look hard enough and you’ll find old towels from the 60s and 70s—a period that due to psychedelic times produced more colorful washing wraps than modern day. Throw in some scissors, glue and a little imagination and you’ve got your child some post-pool garb that is as easy to make, as it is fun to wear.
Materials
Bath Towel
Scissors
Fabric Glue
Marking Pen
Salad Plate
Embellishments (rickrack, ribbon, ball-fringe, felt, embroidery floss, buttons, etc.)
7/8” Double Fold Quilt Binding (optional)
Sewing Needle & Thread (optional)
Towel Tips
• Vintage bath towels are smaller, so they work best for tikes.
• Hand towel ponchos make great baby bibs.
• Towel ponchos make a great project for a kids’ pool party.
• Get crazy. Break out the sewing machine and add a washcloth hood.

Thrift it. Cut it. Decorate it.
1. Fold towel in half width-wise. Place half of a salad plate at the center of the folded edge and trace a semi-circle around out. Cut along the line to create a hole for the head. On the “Flower Power” version, cut a downwards 2-inch slit from the center of the cutout on the front side. This will create a little opening that you can weave a ribbon tie through.

2. With the right side up, lay towel flat. For the “Flower Power,” use fabric glue to attach quilt binding by folding it over the entire cut edge. If necessary, tack down ends with needle and thread. For the “Green Machine,” glue rickrack around the neckline instead.

3. Glue ball fringe, ribbon or desired embellishment along the bottoms of the front and back of poncho.

4. Add a little extra flair by sewing on decorative buttons (see “Flower Power”) or gluing on some felt circles, pre-embroidered with the running stitch.

Let it dry and then it’s ready to wear to the next beach bash or pool party.

Cake and Treats
Mexican hot chocolate with vanilla ice cream mmmmmm
I haven't decided on a cake yet. - We went with Brownies my daughters favorite and just got some Dora graham cracker treats for the top.
Mexican wedding cookies are another tasty option
We had Day of the Dead bread as well
I'm going to try these cinnamon ones another day.

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