Aww, the inevitable slumber party. An event that will keep your kids’ bellies filled with sweet treats, sleep-deprived from too much fun, and laughing the night away. If you’re looking for ideas for your kid’s next birthday bash, or perhaps just want to invite a few children over for a sleepover, whatever the fun occasion, Martha Stewart tells you how to host the perfect slumber party.
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Build a Fortress
Sleeping bags? Been there, done that. Instead, invite the kids to curl up in these A-frame tents, draped with plain canvas they can cover in their own hand-drawn designs.
Make Sleeping Masks
They might be the only thing that’ll encourage your little partyers to get some shut-eye. Print out the template for our basic sleep mask; we added glittery eyelids and a pipe-cleaner border, but you can let the kids use their imaginations to decorate their masks with some basic crafting supplies. They double as cute party favors too.
Personalize Their Pillows
Good-bye, pillow talk; hello, pillow crafts! Fabric markers let kids transform inexpensive canvas bags into artful goody bags or no-sew pillowcases. Simply snip off the handles, then apply strips of self-adhesive Velcro tape inside the bag’s opening. Stuff in a pillow and Velcro the bag closed.
Pass the Popcorn
Let’s get this party poppin’! Play a movie and let them get their hands sticky on these sweet-and-salty toffee-almond popcorn balls.
Swap Friendship Bracelets
Who doesn’t remember knotting these macrame trinkets for a BFF? Offer them a rainbow array of colored threads from which they pick and choose their favorites, then show them how to make (and exchange) friendship bracelets.
Fun Fingertips
DIY miniature mani-pedis, anyone? Using nail polish and a No. 1 (very thin) paintbrush from an art-supply store, kids can paint each others’ nails with designs they love, whether it’s tennis balls, polka dots, or their favorite fruits.
Chalkboard Snapshot Frame
Did someone say #ultimatesleepover? Here’s a fun photo-booth setup! Have kids take their picture with this DIY chalkboard frame. After the party, you can assemble all of the pictures into a scrapbook — or if you’ve got tweens, watch as they Instagram the night away.
Time for Tea Sandwiches
Anyone up for a midnight snack? These fairy-tale-inspired sandwiches are made with moon-shaped cutouts and layered with briny olive-caper butter and smoked salmon for an endearing take on bagels and lox. Paper stars atop toothpicks add an extra touch of whimsy to the nocturnal theme.
Chocolate ZZZ Cookies
Okay, just one more snack! Catch some Zs of the delicious kind with a platter of these sweets. Pair with warm milk or, an even tastier treat, Nutella hot chocolate.
3-D Glitter Stars
Lights out, ladies! Transform the ceiling into a starry sky with a set of these glittery star ornaments. After that, watch the kids as they gaze up in awe and wonder.
Serve Up Breakfast
And the next morning, serve up a big buffet of treats that the kids are sure to love. Think: festive flapjacks, Honey Nut Cereal Bars, French Toast Kebabs, and Cinnamon Bun Bites
This was great fun! Love these suggestions. My babes are too young for a sleepover, but I’m glad to have suggestions for when that day comes. Is this a new layout for your site? I really like it. Looks really professional with all the posts suggestions. One thing in case you want to know – the font is a little hard for me to read. For some reason the vertical lines are really faint. Or you can overlook and call me an old lady. I’ll understand! Wish you the best.