Jewel the Mermaid Theme Party Supplies, Party Decorations, Favors,Tips and Ideas! If your child loves Jewel the Mermaid, Party Supplies by Vicki is the place for for all of your Jewel the Mermaid Theme Party Supplies and Party Decorations!

Fun Activities

Beach Outing

Take your little mermaids to the shore for a party at the beach! Let your guests know beforehand that the party will take place at a local lake, river or ocean beach. Advise your guests to bring beach towels, swimsuits and warm clothing. Pack sack lunches for everyone, buckets and shovels, beach balls, Frisbees, etc. For fun, bring a pair of binoculars for spotting mermaids!

If a beach trip is not an alternative, turn your party area into a seashore with fish nets, sea shells, coral, sand, etc. Use colored construction paper to make waves, mermaids, fish and other under-the-sea objects to decorate the walls. Hang blue or green crepe paper from the ceiling to create an under-the-sea feeling.

Lost Treasure
Everyone loves to find treasures! Use your child’s sandbox or fill a plastic swimming pool with sand. Add a bunch of different sea shells and bury them in the sand. Let the kids search for the shells and take them home as party favors. If you wish, add unusual rocks, mermaid figurines, squirt fish, faux jewels and other treasures that can be found under the sea. Assorted shells and stones are generally available at local craft or hobby stores.

Deep-Sea Fishing
First, fill a plastic baby pool with water. Cut out fish shapes from plastic sheets, one for each guest. Attach a steel paper clip to each fish and number them 1 - 10 with a permanent marker.

Then, tie a piece of string to a pole to make a fishing rod. Attach a magnet to the end of the line, which will be attracted to the paper clips.

Give each child a turn to fish in the “sea.” If a player happens to catch two fish, throw one back. Award small prizes according to the numbers printed on the fish.

Mermaid Madness
Everyone turns into a mermaid during this silly relay game! For each team, you’ll need a large potato sack (sold separately). Before the party, transform your potato sacks into “mermaid tails” with green construction paper or fabric. Attach a longer fin-shaped piece in back to make a floppy tail. Use markers or glitter glue to draw scales.

Since you’ll need lots of room, this game is best played outdoors. Line up teams beside each other with the first players on each team dressed in the mermaid tails. At your signal, they must hop across the yard in the sacks to a designated turn-around point and back to their teams. The next two players put on the mermaid tails, repeat the course, and so on. The first team to finish, wins!

Making Waves
You’ll need the following materials for this fun activity: cooking oil, glitter, confetti, a small, clear plastic bottle for each guest, blue or green food coloring, water and rubber cement glue.

Using a funnel, fill each container half full with water. Add food color, and gently shake to mix. Then, use the funnel to fill the bottle with oil, almost to the top. See how the oil floats above the water!

Drop in confetti and glitter to decorate the liquid inside. Create tiny mermaids, fish, etc., from construction paper for an added touch. When finished, seal the lid tightly with rubber cement. When the glue has dried, let your guests turn the bottles on their sides and gently tip them back and forth. They will love playing with the waves they’ve created!

Delectable Treats

Sea Shell Surprise
Turn macaroni and cheese into a special treat with sea shell pasta! Simply substitute the macaroni in your favorite recipe with small sea shell pasta. Or, try our quick and easy recipe, below:

In a large pot of salted water, boil 16 oz. small sea shell pasta for 5 min. until partially cooked; drain. Place in a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish.

Whisk together 2 eggs and 2 cups milk. Add 2 Tbs. melted butter and 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese to the egg mixture; mix well. Pour over the macaroni; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is brown. Cover with foil for the last 10 minutes to prevent scorching.

Mermaid Snack Mix
Combine your favorite trail mix ingredients in a bowl for your guests to munch on. Add fish crackers, fish candies, gummy sharks, and other theme-related treats to create a special snack fit only for a mermaid!

Seashore Slushie Ingredients:
3 cups ice
3 cups blue sports drink
3 large scoops vanilla ice cream/frozen yogurt

Directions:
Combine ice, sports drink and ice cream in a blender. Halve ingredients to avoid overflow, if necessary. Whirl until smooth and serve.

Seaweed Salad Cook approximately 32 oz. frozen french-cut green beans according to package directions. Drain and chill for 2-3 hours. Prepare dressing by combining the following: 2/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbs. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. dry mustard, 1/2 tsp. salt, and onion powder to taste. Stir until smooth. Toss dressing with beans and chill for several hours, or overnight.

Hint: For guests who aren’t fond of beans, make a completely different “seaweed” alternative. Use diced honeydew melon for a sweet salad. Add diced green grapes, green jello, and other tasty ingredients colored with green food coloring!

Starfish Cake
Make your child’s favorite cake, or purchase boxed cake mix. Follow the directions for preparation, and bake in two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans. When cool, leave one layer whole and cut the second layer into five equal sections. These five pieces will become the starfish’s legs.

Place the whole layer in the center of a large, flat serving tray. Trim the curved edges of the starfish’s legs, so they fit snugly against the round edge of the body. Arrange the legs neatly around the body of the starfish and attach with icing. Frost with bright yellow, orange, purple, or red icing. Decorate with colored sprinkles while the icing is still damp to give the starfish a spiny texture. For extra fun, spread blue frosting on the serving tray to make it look like the starfish is in the water.

Decorating Tips

Spread your tablecover on your party table. If your child has any theme-related toys, you can add them to the table for a more festive display. Cut several one-to-two-foot-long pieces of curling ribbon. Curl the ribbon by pulling it between your thumb and the blade of your scissors. Lay the resulting curls on your table for added color. Hang balloons in bunches for the best effect. If you choose to fill balloons with helium, wait until the party day to ensure they float well!

Use balloons to mark the party spot; hang them on the mailbox, near the front door, or tie them to the birthday child's chair to mark the seat of honor.

Place balloons anywhere that strikes your fancy. The more the better!

Gather six or eight streamers and attach them to the ceiling in the center of the party room (or over the table). Use a light fixture over the table, if you have one, as the center point for the streamers.

To create colorful two-tone streamers, put two differently colored streamers back-to-back, twist as you walk them to the wall, and attach at shoulder height.

Smile for the Camera!
Be sure to take lots of pictures. You and your child will want to remember this special party. A helpful hint: Order extra prints and send them to the parents afterward. Remember, it's not necessary to have everyone in each picture. Focus on small groups and avoid posing all the photos. Candids capture the laughter best!

© 2002 Birthday Express