Lil' Slugger Birthday Bash

Hit a home run with this party! It is easier than you think to throw a big-league bash.

Invitations: A simple DIY idea for invitations is to cut circles from white card stock. Then print or write out party details down the center. Using a red marker trim with red stitching to resemble a baseball. Or use a craft glue to attach two strips of red ric-rac to get the same effect. Ask guests to wear a shirt from their favorite team.

Family Fun Magazine has a free printable invitation with a baseball theme. Oriental Trading Company has pre-printed Baseball Jersey Party invitations with matching party packs available. Birthday in a Box has invitations that can be personalized for your birthday child and party.

Decorations: Focus your decor on colors to match your child's favorite team. An easy way to decorate is with one-stop shopping by purchasing a "party set". The Birthday Express Deluxe Party Pack includes a themed center piece, a faux grass table cloth, a Mylar baseball balloon, 18 balloons in three colors with matching curling ribbon and crepe paper rolls and baseball candles for the cake. If you like, you can add an assortment of baseball gear (hats, bats, helmets, shirts), signs, banners, and posters of favorite players.

Activities: An excellent ice breaker is to take a photo of each little slugger when they arrive. Have an adult helper print them off during the party. Before serving the food, have kids make a craft foam frame for their picture.

Crafts: Cut out a frame shape from a sheet of craft foam (one source Jo-Ann Sewing and Crafts). Make sure window is large enough to fit the photo. To decorate, use pre-cut self-adhesive foam shapes and letters from Darice. To finish, tape photo to the back.

Games: A fun activity is a "guess how many" jar. Fill a jar with a secure lid with a known quantity of peanuts in a shell. Provide slips of paper for guests to write their name and their "guess" and a small box to collect the entries. At the end of the party award the jar of goodies to the child with the closest guess.

A good circle game for the party is "hot baseball" played like hot potato. Silly baseball drills can be played like Simon Says. "Do 10 jumping jacks." "Touch your toes five times." "Run in place."

Organize a ball target toss using a "nerf" ball (inside) or a real baseball (outside) to hit a target, or throw through a hoop. Oriental Trading Company sells a baseball-themed bean bag toss.

To work off some energy challenge guests with a long jump contest. This can be done indoors, but works better outside. If playing indoors clear the area of breakables and sharp corners. The idea is to complete a standing long jump, so running starts are not allowed. Mark a starting line with masking tape on the floor or ground. Measure or mark each jump. The player with the longest jump wins. You may want to allow one or several practice jumps.

Another good game for outside is to see how long the group can keep a balloon up in the air.

Food: Fun foods for a baseball party include mini ball park dogs and popcorn. If your crowd is extra hungry add another ball park favorite - soft pretzels with or without mustard. Excellent beverage choices include root beer or sport drinks like Gatorade.

Cake: Several choices work with this theme. Choose the one that matches your skill level. B is for Baseball Cupcakes can be decorated by your party guests. Supply bowls of white frosting and purchase red decorating frosting tubes.

There are two choices for a baseball cake. One can be made in your own oven-proof bowl. The other is made with a Wilton Soccer Ball Pan.

If you are feeling a little more ambitious cap off your party with a Baseball Hat Cake. Or decorate a sheet cake to look like a baseball diamond. To streamline the process and cost ask your bakery to ice a cake plain with green icing so you can put on your own finishing touches. Make a "diamond" with crushed graham crackers or vanilla wavers. Outline the diamond with white decorating frosting. Use cut pieces of fruit leather for bases. Add tiny baseball figures to complete.

Favors: Fill an old-fashioned popcorn box or bag with some major-league treats, such as trading cards, bouncy balls, wiffle balls, wrist bands, baseball stickers, baseball gum balls, Cracker Jacks, Power Bars, or Fruit Snacks.