Wild Kratts - Creature Power themed birthday party

Get wild with "Wild Kratts - Creature power", a simple yet different from regular birthday party decoration. A wide spread of vegetarian party finger food ideas included. 

This Wild Kratts theme decor and ideas will function for both gender and animal themed party. Streamers and balloons were swapped with items lying in the house for a natural appearance with this party decor. 

Tried to keep the theme as a surprise as always, coz both my son's like surprises. All that my little prince insisted was the "Mango Mousse Cake". He specifically asked for his birthday like the one I made 3 years back for our close friends birthday party. Surprised with his memory power! Well, this is my 1st birthday cake I made for my son. Usually I outsource it from our favorite bakery as I always prefer an elaborate decoration and a wide food spread. 

Managed to hold back the decorations and food menu as a surprise for the entire family. However, 3 days before the party while I was getting the prints of the "Thank you notes", my little one ran to the printer as always to help me get them back. Boom! the secret theme was out :( Nevertheless, the excitement was palpable being his favorite show. 

Decoration:

Decoration was like child's play yet themed with no money spent for this Wild Kratts birthday party. Reusing items lying in the house was an easy way to pull the decoration together with minimal effort. 

Yes, I did visit the party stores for this theme, but unlucky to find even the basic animal themed item. Apparently, it was good to get creative and not give up with this theme. Moreover reusing items was always my kind, so why not give it a try! 

Leaf Bunting:

Artificial leaf bunches were pulled out from the floral wires and tied them to heavy duty twine for the wild vine looking effect. 

Working with few inches at a time, tied the leaves to the heavy duty twine using a thin natural twine creating the vine along its entire length. I made them with different sizes to give it a natural look. Hung them above the party table randomly sets up the wild ambience. 

Banner:
Blue gift wrapper was unrolled to create the banner. Taped an appropriate existing banner with a monkey image in the center. On either side goes the creature power symbols and some cut outs either printed or from the wild kratts toy box itself. Indubitably, its an inexpensive and easy recycle idea for any character themed party. Glued the cutouts randomly creating the banner. 

Backdrop: 
Stunning landscape painting - an oil on canvas, was tied as a backdrop and placed two small shutters on either sides for a window appearance.

Some stuffed animals that I made years back, along with store bought ones were placed in different spots as part of the decor. Monkeys, snake, skunk and butterflies are few to name.

Creature Power :
What is a wild Kratts theme without the creature power symbol, you will find it on either sides of the banner. Here's an easy way to create the symbol using poster boards. Cut circles on poster boards (blue and green) using my baking pans as a guide to get the perfect round. Used 10 inches spring form pan (1 each color) and the 4 inches spring form pan ( 3 each color). You may pick any large and round container lid and small bowls or cups or simply use a compass for the size you prefer. 

Creature Power discs streamer:
Print the discs using the link attached in "printables" using a regular white paper (to retain the original color of the discs) and cut it out. Glue half of the discs onto the green and remaining on the blue cardstocks making sure you create a border of either blue or green. Cut them and attach them to the twine or yarn using a tape. You may also cut 2 slits on each disc and string it through the thin twine forming a streamer. 

An easy alternative would be to print the discs directly onto the white cardstocks and cut them out leaving a thin white border if you prefer. Now, thread them to the twine and hang it in front of your table or above the banner like I did. 

Table display:
Natural fabric in green was the tablecloth used instead of the inexpensive plastic table cover. Sprinkled the green shredded paper for the grass effect as a filler in between the wide food spread.  Some mini themed cutouts and toys were also incorporated. The menu cards were handwritten on card stock with toy animals (from toy box) as holders were placed around the party table for a creepy crawly good time!

A globe from the study was on display for a world trekking. "Eat all but don't feed animals" was the eye-catching sign board.

Food:
A wide spread of vegetarian finger food along with Pizza and drinks were served.

Eggless Mango Mousse Cake:  

Admitting I wanted to try a 3 tier cake yet reluctant if this tropical flavored mousse can hold all the weight. After much compromise, came up with the easy creature power theme which ultimately turned out to be a smash-hit. A layer of white moist cake topped with ineffable velvety, light and extremely creamy layer of mango mousse decorated with white chocolate. For more details and recipe please click here.

Slithering Snake Sushi:

Japanese homemade California Sushi Rolls, "Hosomaki" with the nori (seaweed) on the outside and the other "Uramaki" rice on the outside and nori inside. For the recipe please click here. 

Fishy Dolphins:

Banana's are washed cut 3/4 sized (to stand still) with the stem on. the stem is slit for the Gold fish crackers to insert. Using a marker make a dot on both sides for eyes.

Bat Wings:

Totopos Tortilla chips (blend of 4 natural grains - Blue corn, Quinoa, Chia seeds and Maca) and organic tortilla with Nacho cheese sauce and Mango salsa for dipping. 

Eel Burrito Bite:

Mexican burrito wrap bites contains pinto beans, onions, bell peppers, lettuce, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo (salsa), sour cream and hot sauce wrapped tight with corn tortilla as spinach tortilla was not available. Hot Sriracha sauce blobs set the eyes. 

Jungle bones:

Mozzarella cheese sticks individually wrapped is great as is.

Caterpillars:

Red seedless grapes along with black olives and cheese in wooden skewers. Oops the eyes and antennas are missing ;)

Hermit Crabby Sandwiches:

Mini croissants are slit to spread the artichoke spread, then a cherry tomato and julienned red peppers (capsicum) are inserted. Using toothpicks, fix the sliced Kalamata black olives for the popping eyes. 

Monkey Poop:

Cocoa Puffs (cereals) dipped in chocolate frosting is great for sweet-tooths. 

Cheetah Tails:

Cheetos (cheese flavored puffed cornmeal) snack.

Hungry Hippo Dip:

Munch on veggie platter with french onion dip. Blanched cauliflower and broccoli along with fresh carrot, cucumbers, celery sticks and bell peppers with creamy flavorful dip. 

Tiger Club Cuties:

Markers marked these Cuties (mini oranges) for an attractive  fruit snack. 

Creepy Crab:

Rits crackers sandwiches with banana slices (cut from the "Fishy dolphins") along with pretzel stick legs and chocolate chip eyes for a sweet "Crabby bite". 

Walk on the Wild Side:

Animals crackers marching on dirty chocolate (frosted) celery sticks. 

Gorilla Grub:

A popcorn stand with a mini popcorn maker and variety of favors from butter, cheese, black pepper, garlic and caramel.

The Watering hole (pond):

Pitcher of drinking water flavored with lemon slices and minty ice cubes. 

Alligator-ade (Green Hawaiian punch), Creature Power-ade (Blue Hawaiian punch) and Paradise Parrot (lemon soda) 

Activity ideas:
1. Animal Tracks Match-up:

Google for "animal track identifier" and you will have umpteen options. The attached link below is for the "Animal tracks match-up". Printed them on construction paper/ chart paper, as I ran out of cardstocks. It was simple to cut out the construction paper to the A4 size paper and place it in the printer vola!

2. Animal HedBanz:

Found my kids Animal deck of cards and decided to set is like the HedBanz game  with a large rubber band that would fit on the head. You may create the creature power animal find using the printable creature discs. 

2. Forest explore:

Search and find the animals using the description given below. 


3. Origami:

The big kids can get busy with this activity.

4. Jumping Frogs - mainly for little kids

5. Animal riddles and Jokes : 

Links attached below in the printables or simply use your own.

Favors:
Return gifts/ favors for all wild friends. 

Amazon had a variety of Wild kratts books age appropriate for the younger kids and riddles for the older kids. 

Personalized handmade simple creature power bookmarks for all wild readers. 

Colorful pens held the "Thank you" cards in place. 

Meiji hello panda cookies was a little snack to munch on the way back home which completes this favor bag along with activity kits for the wild princesses grift wrapped with the paw prints on. 

Printables:
Pbs kids contains all the Wild kratts birthday party printables for invitation, favor tags, food labels, thank you notes and creature power discs. Although I was in need of only the "thank you" notes printables. 

The right sized creature power discs are from Olivia's Neat on the inside. They were perfect for the creature power bunting, table decor and also for personalized homemade bookmarks. Thank you Olivia, you made my work easy! Do visit her website she has a lot of creative and organization ideas and tips handy that might work for you as well. 

Activity printables:

Animal Tracks from deceptivelyeducational

Wild Kratts Forest Search and Find 

Animal Riddles from 4 riddles

Animal Jokes from Enchanted learning

One last tip for prints, if you run out of cardstock, just cut a poster board to the A4 size and place it in your printer. It worked like a gem!


Thank you to all my supportive readers for stopping by! Please leave a brief comment below with your suggestions.