Party Crafts

• Stock up on stiff paper, card stock or oak tag; craft paints and permanent markers (be sure to include black, gold and red); skull-and-crossbones stickers; elastic; wooden dowels; plastic mugs; sheets of balsa wood; tissue paper; rhinestones or cabochons; small wooden shapes or cardboard boxes; empty, washed one-liter soda bottles or empty paper towel rolls; and cake-decorating sugars or candies.
  
  Pirate Hat and Eye Patch
  Use black paper and gold paint to create pirate hats and eye patches. For the hat, cut two rounded isosceles triangles (8 inches high and about 16-24 inches wide, depending on the child's head size). With the point at the top, each child paints a skull-and-crossbones on the wide black "triangles" or adds a sticker. Cut a strip of card stock to fit around the child's head and staple or glue onto a headband; then with adult supervision, kids glue the headband between the triangles. Allow to dry before wearing. For the eye patch, cut a smaller circle to cover the eye. Depending on the child's age, adults can draw the shapes on paper and youngsters can cut them out using safety scissors. Adults should poke holes at the top of the eye patch and tie elastic through the holes so kids can wear them without trouble.
  
  Pirate Flag
  Kids can draw a Jolly Roger, rose or personalized picture on card stock or oak tag with paints or markers. An adult staples a dowel between two pieces to create a pirate flag. Be sure the dowel is strong enough to support the weight of the oak tag.
  
  Sword
  Adults cut three to five layers of balsa wood in the shape of a small sword, dagger or scimitar. Children glue them directly on top of each other for added strength and then use gold paint and rhinestones to dress up the finished product. Cut in the shape of a parrot for more peaceful pirates.
  
  Stained Glass
  Kids draw or trace a picture on black card (for example, a ship with sail), then cut inside so the line drawing is left. Adults can help with this step, since it may take a while for a youngster to cut the whole design, and kids could become frustrated. Kids cut or rip tissue paper to fit the holes, then glue it over them. Layer with more tissue paper for a darker effect.
  
  Mug
  For a personalized pirate mug, children can draw pirate images on plastic mugs with permanent marker. Provide examples such as a sword, rose, or coin.
  
  Spyglass
  Adults cut off the bottom of a one-liter soda bottle and help the child to cover it with black paper to make a spyglass. Users will hold the mouth of the bottle to their eye to inspect doings over the horizon. Alternately, cover a paper towel roll with colored paper for a plastic-free craft.
  
  Treasure
  Glue large rhinestones or cabochons to wooden shapes or boxes. Small wood blocks like circles, rectangles, eggs, bells, loving cups or letters are available at craft or art supply stores. Paint wooden eggs like Fabergé eggs or circles like gold doubloons. Adults should collect and hide them. Later, send children on a treasure hunt to find their creations.
  
  Golden Cakes
  Kids enjoy decorating their own individual cakes, so provide colored sugars and candies in small bowls so little hands can design at their own whim. Include miniature pirate flags on toothpicks for added fierceness.