Make leis
by accordion folding strips of crepe paper, running a needle and thread through the folds.
A Hawaiian party is often called a luau. Hawaiian is a festive theme for a summer party by the pool, but an indoor winter luau is the prefect way to banish the mid-winter "blahs." It is difficult to find tropical-themed party supplies in the stores in the winter, but you can easily make your own. So turn up the heat and the Don Ho music and invite your friends to an indoor luau. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Draw a surfboard shape on paper. Use it as a pattern to cut pieces of foam board and self-adhesive paper. Stick the paper to the foam board to make invitations. Write the party information on the board with permanent marker.
2. Decorate your party room by hanging beach towels on the walls and scattering sand toys and beach balls around. Turn up the heat and play tropical music by Don Ho, Iz and Jimmy Buffett.
3. Remove the plastic centers and stems from silk flowers, so that you have rings of petals with a hole in the middle. Cut drinking straws into 1/2-inch pieces. String the petals on pieces of string, alternating them with pieces of straw, to make leis. You may use cupcake liners cut into a petal shape instead of silk flower petals. You may make the leis before the party or allow the guest to make them as a craft activity.
4. Hang a piece of string across the room five feet from the floor. Have your guests get on their knees for a game of indoor volley ball using a beach ball. When a team misses or knocks the ball out of bounds the other team gets a letter. The first team to spell "Aloha" wins.
5. Serve skewers of fruit and cheese cubes by sticking them in half a pineapple. Crush graham crackers and use them to make a beach on top of your iced cake, decorate the beach with candy seashells. Serve ice cream from a sand bucket. Make a tropical trail mix of dried pineapple, dried papaya, raisins, macadamia nuts and peanuts. Give the guests small bags of trail mix as favors.
Tags: foam board, make leis